May 25^th, 2004 (12:00am) - SNK NEOGEO USA CONSUMER CORPORATION, the US publishing arm of the SNK NEOGEO CORPORATION, announced today that the company has shipped the first home version of the hit arcade title METAL SLUG 3 for the Xbox. METAL SLUG 3 will support the Xbox Live leaderboards and is exclusively for the Xbox in North America.

In addition to everything that made the arcade original a worldwide hit, the Xbox version of METAL SLUG 3 will have some brand new features and original missions accessible once you’ve cleared certain conditions. Players can choose from over 10 new slug vehicles exclusive to METAL SLUG 3, including the Slug Copter and the very unusual Elephant Slug, which comes complete with a trunk-spray weapon. METAL SLUG 3 features stunning hand drawn animation, detailed backgrounds, and massive bosses and explosions.

"We’re delighted with the fantastic response METAL SLUG 3 has received from the press," said Ben Herman, SNK NEOGEO USA CONSUMER CORPORATION President. "The METAL SLUG franchise has always been a consumer favorite, and now fans can see exactly how they stack up against everyone else on its Xbox Live Leaderboard."

METAL SLUG 3 features includes:
• 5 challenging stages and a wide array of unique enemies
• Fight off huge crab-like creatures and large locusts on a deserted island in the South Seas
• Release the souls of zombies emerging from a plane crash in snow-covered mountains
• Dive into a battle against submarines and frogmen guarding an underwater bio-weapons factory
• Battle evil forces in the blazing South American desert
• Journey into outer space to encounter Morden at his stronghold
• Take alternate routes and explore exciting new stages with Crossroad Entrances on each level
• Attack vehicles include the METAL SLUG, Camel Slug, Rebel Armor, Slug Mariner, Ostrich Slug, and more. Find all 10 models for increased firepower and defensive capabilities.
• Cool weapons include handguns, power-up guns, grenades, cannons, and more!