Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Metal Slug Advance is easiest to learn as a health-bar run-and-gun, not as a one-hit arcade game. Eat food to refill health, treat pits and crushing attacks as instant death, and remember the rule that governs every rescue: prisoners and cards collected on a run are kept only when you finish that mission without dying. Continue returns you to a checkpoint, but it does not preserve that attempt’s POWs or cards.
Rescue the hostage first, then decide whether to pick up the item they drop. You can jump away from a weak or duplicate weapon and keep a stronger gun. The safest first campaign is to clear the five missions on the easier setting, bank a partial hostage haul rather than risk a death at a boss, then return after unlocking the Dungeon’s IR Sensor and X-Ray Sensor for a full sweep.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What must you remember before the first mission?
The life bar changes everything. Normal bullets and explosions remove varying amounts of health, while falling into a pit or being crushed kills instantly. Food such as bread, canned food, bananas, turkey and fish restores health, so take a short detour for food when the bar is low.
A death opens two choices: Continue restarts at the previous checkpoint, while Back to Camp returns to the main menu. Both discard every prisoner and card collected since the mission began. Returning to camp from the pause menu has the same collection penalty as dying. You do not need to finish a mission without taking damage; you need to finish it without another death after collecting the POWs or cards.
Popular on Amazon
- 【90 Degree Full Function USB C Adapter】Supports the latest USB4 standard for up to 40Gbps of bandwidth, 8K video support, and up to 240W Fast charging; Support USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (EPR) including 140W, 180W and 240W. Your productivity is easily doubled. *Warm Tip: For the best fit, please make sure the USB-C port is fully exposed; thick or bulky cases may affect compatibility.
- 【Reliable Quality】Made from high-quality, scratch-resistant aluminum alloy, delicate metal frame. get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation. Non-Slip Design for easier insertion and removal.
- 【Small and portable】Ultra thin size, ultra compact design, a petite physique that matches the minimalist design of your modern laptops. Coming with a slim figure that won't block the port next to the one it's plugged into.
- 【Compatibility】Widely work with most usb c, thunderbolt 4/3 devices. Compatibilit for ROG Ally, Steam Deck, Switch, MacBook Pro, Quest 3 VR headset, Surface Book 2, iPhone 18/17/16/15, Samsung Galaxy S23/S22/S21, Note 20/10, Google Pixel, ChromeBook, etc.
- 【Excellence Customer Support】If you experience any issues or cable failure, simply reach out to our dedicated customer service team. We provide a prompt response within 18 hours, providing you with the necessary technical support to resolve any concerns.
That distinction is the central beginner habit. Eight banked prisoners are worth more than fifteen rescues erased by a greedy boss attempt. Spend grenades, special ammunition and a Slug to secure the clear when the exit is close.
The game was developed by Noise Factory and published by SNK Playmore for Game Boy Advance in 2004. Wikipedia lists regional releases on 18 November 2004 in Japan, 30 November in North America and 17 December in Europe; GameSpot’s database instead displays 12 November 2004, so treat that as a conflicting database date rather than a fourth regional launch.
How should I set up a first play?
- Choose the easier difficulty. Hard mode keeps the enemy count but changes attack patterns and increases firing speed, according to the 4Wilko GameFAQs guide. It is a later challenge, not the best training ground for a first hostage sweep.
- Pick either character. The recruits are Walter Ryan and Tyra Elson. No published source in the available documentation gives them different speed, health or weapon statistics. Older copy sometimes spells her name “Tyler,” a documented manual and anniversary-site error; use Tyra.
- Leave turbo/autofire off. Autofire is disabled by default. The 4Wilko guide warns that turbo can waste ammunition and may fire immediately after a knife swing.
- Learn the controls. D-pad moves and aims; B fires or knifes on foot; A jumps; R throws grenades on foot and fires a vehicle’s cannon or missiles; down+A ejects from a Slug. L is only useful on foot when Stealth is equipped, and in a vehicle it triggers the Metal Slug Attack, sending the vehicle forward to explode.
How do I survive ordinary combat?
Use the infinite-ammo handgun for isolated soldiers and save special weapons for shields, clustered enemies and bosses. Knifing conserves ammunition; with the S.S. Sword card, the knife can also damage enemy tanks and stationary targets.
Shots in normal play are often slow enough to dodge, but that guide observation should not be applied to Hard mode’s faster firing patterns. Keep moving, jump over low fire, and avoid pacing just off-screen: enemies respawn when you move a short distance away and return. An unrescued prisoner can also respawn, which is useful for a missed hostage but dangerous if you repeatedly trigger fresh soldiers.
Grenades arc over obstacles and are more valuable than a spotless ammunition count. A pickup supplies 10 grenades, or 20 after the Grenade Clip upgrade; once that card is owned, Walter and Tyra begin each mission with 20 grenades. Use them immediately when a boss or hard-to-reach enemy threatens the run.
The Slug is a survival tool, not just a damage upgrade. The standard SV-001 has an all-around vulcan and arcing cannon. Hold down in it to throw grenades, run over soldiers, and, with Crawler+, heavily damage mechanical enemies by contact. Entering or ejecting with down+A provides a brief invincible window; 4Wilko estimates it at about one second, not a documented exact frame count. If the Slug is nearly empty and no gas can is available, that guide recommends ejecting or kamikazeing it rather than waiting for an explosion while surrounded.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How do POW rescues and their item drops work?
Each of the five story missions contains 15 prisoners, according to CO_Mel’s 2024 GameFAQs locator. The Dungeon, unlocked after Mission 5, contains 25 more. Freeing a prisoner counts the rescue immediately; the weapon, food or card icon that appears afterward is a separate pickup decision.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Do not automatically collect every icon. 4Wilko’s most useful advice is: “You don’t have to take everything a prisoner gives you. You can rescue the prisoner then run/jump away so you don’t replace a more beneficial weapon.” Keep a Heavy Machine Gun, Flame Shot, Laser or Super Grenade rather than swapping it for a weak pistol-tier drop. A repeat pickup of the same weapon gives only half the normal ammunition, while a different weapon provides a full new magazine but replaces the old gun.
Hidden hostages are embedded in scenery. Shoot ceilings, walls, crates, torches, branches, nests and other background objects; some spots require several hits. At Mission 1’s start, aim up and keep firing at the far-left ceiling to release the S. Clip prisoner. The next early hostages provide a Heavy Machine Gun and bread, teaching the pattern of shooting before advancing.
Some rescues are intentionally unavailable on a first visit. Mission 1’s bookshelf room opens after the Dungeon’s Tutor’s Love card. Mission 3’s square entrances require the ancient-ruins cards. Do not interpret a blocked route as a missed shot or a broken save.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What should I do after dying?
Choose Continue when the checkpoint is understood and the boss or exit is close; choose Back to Camp when the route is already compromised and you want to restart with a safer plan. Neither option saves the current haul. On the next attempt, prioritize food and the checkpoint route over repeating every rescue immediately.
If a prisoner was missed but remains unrescued, briefly moving off-screen and returning can respawn that hostage, as well as enemies. Use this only as a recovery tactic. Repeated backtracking can refill the room with soldiers and turn a safe run into a death that erases the entire bank.
What is the safest mission-by-mission campaign order?
- Mission 1: Shoot up at the starting point for S. Clip, take the early Heavy Machine Gun, rescue visible hostages and eat food when needed. Learn to jump pits and defeat Formor, the large green SV-001 that shoots and jumps. Finish even if several hostages remain; the clear banks what you rescued.
- Mission 2: Practice the standard Slug and down+A ejects. The mission offers Level 1 Armor, which reduces Slug damage by 10%, and S.S. Sword, which lets the knife hit tanks. Emain Macha is a twin-tank boss with heavy explosives and a bazooka soldier on top, so use grenades and knife attacks to preserve gun ammunition.
- Mission 3: Prioritize Grenade Clip, Hyper Vulcan, Crawler+ and available armor cards. Level 2 and Level 5 Armor cards describe 20% and 50% less Slug damage respectively. Leave Paper Thin and Marsnium off: Paper Thin makes one hit fatal, while Marsnium makes the Slug invincible only while its health slowly drains. Kaladgolg uses mines, a chain gun and a lethal energy beam.
- Mission 4: Take useful upgrades such as Shotgun+, Super TNT, Army Knife and Level 3 Armor. Type-R is optional; its vulcan fires backward (except vertically), which can confuse a new player. The Keesi III combines turrets, ground troops and a ground-smash attack, so enter the boss area with grenades or a strong weapon.
- Mission 5: The opening jet path has no prisoners or cards. Use its forward-only vulcan for soldiers, save missiles for tanks, and leave the jet when the route forces you out; L makes it kamikaze. On the tower, the top-path dead end contains the Dungeon card, alongside a turkey prisoner and a laser prisoner. Rumi briefly drops food and runs away; she is not a tied hostage. Allen Jr. is a mini-boss whose card requires surviving a second knife sequence, but the card is optional. Finish Cabracan, whose earthquake weapon is joined by electric pods, arcing energy balls and bouncing lasers.
- Dungeon: After clearing Mission 5 with the Dungeon card, enter from the top-left of the mission-select screen. This maze contains 25 prisoners, IR Sensor, X-Ray Sensor, Slug Gunner and cards that open the blocked Mission 1 and 3 routes. Because a Dungeon death also discards newly collected cards, use a room list rather than wandering until the health bar fails.
Which cards help a beginner most?
There are 100 cards. Most are achievement records, but a smaller group changes ammunition, damage, movement or routes. Permanent upgrades remain once banked; only cards in the toggle set can be switched on and off.
| Card | Effect and timing | Beginner advice |
|---|---|---|
| S. Clip (011) | Doubles shotgun ammunition; Mission 1 | Take it at the opening hidden hostage. |
| Handgun+ (018) | Improves the infinite-ammo handgun; Mission 1 | Useful when saving special ammunition. |
| Level 1 Armor (032) | 10% less damage to the Slug; Mission 2 | Keep it equipped. |
| S.S. Sword (003) | Knife damages tanks; Mission 2 | Use it to conserve bullets. |
| Grenade Clip (017) | Doubles grenade and fire-bomb supply; Mission 3 | One of the highest-value early upgrades. |
| Crawler+ (041) | Lets the Slug stomp enemy tanks; Mission 3 | Turn it on for mechanical-heavy routes. |
| Paper Thin (004) | One hit destroys the player; Mission 3 | Leave it off except for a prepared challenge run. |
| Marsnium (002) | Slug is invincible while its health drains; Mission 3 | Use only as a short emergency option. |
| Stealth (001) | L makes the player invisible; Mission 3 | Toggle for a crossing, then disable before combat. |
| Black Hound (006) | Replaces the Slug with delayed homing rockets; Mission 5 | A strong late-game default after it is unlocked. |
| IR Sensor (042) | Shows unseen hostages with a red glow; Dungeon | Use for the cleanup sweep. |
| X-Ray Sensor (043) | Shows hidden items with a green glow; Dungeon | Use alongside IR Sensor for completion. |
Flak Jacket reduces player damage by 10% and appears in Mission 5. Level 3 and Level 4 Armor describe 30% and 40% less Slug damage, while Level 5 describes 50%. Thruster+ increases the Slug’s jump height and can make some late hostage routes reachable. Slug Gunner is a Dungeon unlock, but it is optional; the 4Wilko guide prefers Black Hound for its homing rockets.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Also popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Toggle cards are limited to cards 001–007, 039, 040, 042 and 043. Clips, weapon-plus cards, armor and Crawler+ are permanent. Adjust the toggle set for the area and boss rather than leaving challenge cards active by accident.
How should I manage weapons and ammunition?
The 4Wilko FAQ’s magazine figures are guide values, not an official SNK specification:
| Weapon | Normal magazine | With matching clip | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Machine Gun | 100 | 200 | General combat; four shots per press, with extra ammunition spent while aiming up or down. |
| Shotgun | 15 | 30 | Short-range power and shield-piercing. |
| Rocket Launcher | 15 | 30 | Explosives; its homing drift is not universally useful. |
| Drop Shot | 15 | 30 | Bouncing bombs for specific layouts. |
| Iron Lizard | 15 | 30 | Ground crawlers against enemies on other platforms. |
| Enemy Chaser | 20 | 40 | Open spaces and some hidden targets. |
| Flame Shot | 15 | 30 | Slow, piercing damage; the flame rises. |
| Laser | Similar to Heavy Machine Gun | Clip increases supply | Instant-travel shots, but no angled fire. |
| Super Grenade | 10 | 20 | Rare, powerful shells; save for difficult bosses. |
Weapon pickups also include Grenade, Fire Bomb and Armor Piercer. A Flame Shot, Super Grenade or Heavy Machine Gun is usually worth protecting over a duplicate or weaker drop. The Slug’s cannon shells are limited, and the available data documents only one location for extra cannon ammunition, so use shells on tanks and bosses rather than routine soldiers.
How do I handle bosses and boss cards?
Boss cards are completionist rewards, not requirements for a first clear. GameFAQs cheat notes say they drop only when a boss is destroyed very quickly, generally with grenades, a strong weapon or a Slug. On a learning run, spend those resources to stay alive; return later with permanent upgrades for speed kills.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall- Formor: watch its jump and keep moving under or around the large vehicle.
- Emain Macha: avoid the twin tank explosives and the bazooka soldier; grenades and S.S. Sword help conserve ammunition.
- Kaladgolg: save powerful explosives for its beam phases. The Super Grenade is especially useful here because it is rare and powerful.
- The Keesi III: alternate between ground troops and turret fire while staying ready for the ground smash.
- Cabracan: expect earthquakes, electric pods, arcing energy balls and bouncing lasers. Enter with a Slug, grenades and a health buffer.
Allen Jr. appears as Mission 5’s mini-boss. He survives the first encounter and later attacks with a knife; the card is collected after that sequence, so do not mistake the first phase for a failed kill.
How do I confirm a full rescue?
Hostage-proof cards record cumulative totals at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 prisoners, followed by All Saved at 100 hostages. These are not one-mission grades: rescuing 15 in Mission 1 does not create a special “Mission 1 complete” hostage card.
After a mission clear, the map shows a completion marker. StrategyWiki describes leaf icons and a further state for finding all cards and prisoners; a GameFAQs cheat entry describes a golden “COMPLETE” sign. The descriptions may refer to the same full-collection display, so use the practical test: replay any mission without the full marker, with IR Sensor and X-Ray Sensor enabled.
Also popular on Amazon
- Portable and powerful USB-C HUB: BENFEI USB Type-C HUB, with super-soft and knot-free silicone woven design cable, meets most mobile office needs. Compact, lightweight, stylish, and powerful portable USB C Hub equipped with 1 x HDMI port, 1 x 100W charging, and 3 x USB ports. 18-month warranty, 24-hour response, to ensure you feel at ease when using our product.
- Design centered on comfort and reliability: Thanks to BENFEI's end-to-end in-house cable production capability, in-house PCBA and assembly capability, using the industry's most advanced silicone woven design and process, 20cm cable in length, no knots, super-soft, the HUB is easy to use in all scenarios: laptop, tablet, stand etc. Super-soft, 25000+ life cycles, to meet your daily carrying and office needs.
- 100W Charging: Support up to 90W USB C pass-through charging via Type-C port to keep your laptop powered. 10W is reserved for other interface operations. No data and video function on the Type-C port.
- 4K HDMI Display: The HDMI port supports media display at resolutions up to 4K 30Hz, keeping every incredible moment detailed and ultra vivid. Please note that the C port of the Host device needs to support video output.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Transfer files and from your laptop at speeds up to 10 Gbps with USB A 3.2 port. Extra 2 USB A 2.0 ports are perfectly for your keyboards and mouse.
The Dungeon is essential to a true sweep because it supplies the sensors and route-opening cards. Once those are banked, revisit Missions 1 and 3 for the formerly blocked rooms. Decoration, Washout, Soldier D for 999 kills and All Cards are optional completionist goals, not prerequisites for surviving the campaign.
Can I play Metal Slug Advance today?
The original, clearly documented product is the Game Boy Advance cartridge. Wikipedia reports that Nintendo Classics is scheduled to add the game on 14 October 2026, alongside other Game Boy Advance titles, but that report is secondary to Nintendo’s own catalog and should be treated as availability subject to confirmation. Wikipedia also reports a 2027 Metal Slug Ultimate Collection entry; that is a future report, not a product to rely on now. Metal Slug Anthology is a separate compilation and should not be assumed to contain this GBA game.
The rules in this guide do not change between cartridge play and any later licensed release: health, food, death penalties, hostage counts and card unlocks remain the same.
Frequently asked questions
Is Metal Slug Advance a two-player game?
No. It is a single-player Game Boy Advance title. The lack of a two-player mode was specifically listed as a drawback in contemporary reception, so a second controller cannot share the campaign or rescue duties.
Does rescuing a POW give points or a score bonus?
No published source in the available documentation gives a points-per-POW value, rank medal or score multiplier for Advance. The documented rewards are the item the prisoner drops, any card they carry and the cumulative hostage-proof cards.
Can I get every prisoner on my first run?
Not reliably, and not completely. Mission 1 and Mission 3 contain rooms gated by Dungeon cards, so those hostages require a later replay. Even in open areas, the safer plan is to bank a clear first and return with IR Sensor and X-Ray Sensor rather than risk losing every rescue to a boss.
Should I use Paper Thin for a faster clear?
No. Paper Thin restores the series’ one-hit deaths and is tied to the Decoration challenge card. It turns an ordinary stray bullet into a full loss of unbanked cards and POWs, making it unsuitable for learning, first clears or completion sweeps.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Read before You Buy】 Note: This adapter is USB 2.0 version and cannot transmit HDM, VGA, or other video signals. Nevertheless, they are fully capable of charging devices,duplicating files, and can be seamlessly integrated with USB-C earphones, wireless network adapters, and SD card adapters.
- 【Easy to Use and Safe】Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, we've made these adapters sufficiently compact so that they can remain inserted in your device without noticeable protrusion or inconvenience. This means you don't have to constantly plug and unplug them, reducing the likelihood of wear and misalignment, and making them more convenient to carry around.
- 【Reliable Quality】Engineered for enhanced durability, durable aluminum alloy shell material,get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation,the male USB C and female USB connectors & the male USB and female USB C connectors are designed to be plugged and unplugged up to 20000 times. Provides data transfer, device charging, memory space expansion, and additional computer peripherals.
- 【Think more for you】Do you need to connect a USB-C-enabled device to an odd device that only has USB-A ports? Then these USB-A male to USB-C female adapters are made for you.Simply insert the adapter into the USB-A port on the device, and you can instantly connect your USB-C device to the device that originally didn't have the correct connection port.
- 【Trusted xiwxi Quality and Service】As a responsible brand seller, you will receive xiwxi's 12-month Quality assurance and lifetime friendly customer service, you're not just buying a product,you're investing in peace of mind with all-round quality and exceptional customer service.
Which character is easier, Walter or Tyra?
Neither has a documented beginner advantage. The available sources do not publish different hit points, movement speed or weapon statistics, so choose on preference; the Grenade Clip upgrade and its 20-grenade mission start apply to both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metal Slug Advance a two-player game?
No. It is a single-player Game Boy Advance title, and contemporary reception listed the lack of a two-player mode as a drawback.
Does rescuing a POW give points or a score bonus?
No published source gives a points-per-POW value, rank medal or score multiplier. Documented rewards are the dropped item, any card carried and cumulative hostage-proof cards.
Can I get every prisoner on my first run?
Not completely. Dungeon cards are required for gated rooms in Missions 1 and 3, so a later replay with IR Sensor and X-Ray Sensor is necessary.
Should I use Paper Thin for a faster clear?
No. Paper Thin restores one-hit deaths and is intended for the Decoration challenge, not learning or hostage sweeps.
Which character is easier, Walter or Tyra?
Neither has a documented stat advantage. The available sources do not publish different health, speed or weapon statistics for them.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute
