>>714567908
>2 and 3
>"Real" Metal Slug
Fake fan. Metal Slug 1 is the only "real" game in the series, it actually focused on portraying a grim war setting with cartoon violence, and treated the subject matter more seriously. Which made its endings far more heartfelt and earned in their gravitas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqvmIAX0tXs
The series went off the deep end when it started doing goofy stuff with aliens rather than letting the cartoony presentation be a grim contrast to the themes of combat and war which is what made the level of violence present in the game so perfect.