Metal Slug 9 - The Great Beyond (Lord Moogoo)

Overview


"You seek fame, vengeance and glory, General Morden ? Those are merely temptations of a mere human fool. Though my plans have been set back thanks to the regular army, it seems the Martians have joined us to destroy this pathetic Earth and cleanse it with the true power of the Ultimate Being !"

Metal Slug 9, also known as Metal Slug IX, The Great Beyond is a sequel title to Metal Slug 8, which had received critical acclaim. It is published by SNK Playmore and Tencent. Tencent had pledged that there would be no microtransactions to the game.

The game has added some new gameplay elements, including some puzzle sections, some platforming sections and infiltration missions. It also gives some split paths, allowing for new replays based on the planets you fought at. You can also buy cosmetics for your characters.

The story looks at how the revived Ptolemaios, an ancient god from Metal Slug 5 had managed to create a new order, harnessing the power of the enslaved people of the planets. He's using them to power his army, with the help of the Martians who were promised protection from the Invaders to take over the Earth and enslave those pesky inhabitants of the Earth ! And now, General Morden landed right into his trap.

Now, the regular army will have to take to space, travel across different alien planets to reach the unknown Ancient Planet before Ptolemaios reawakens the True Elder, the one ultimate being that will rewrite history. And who knows, it seems that Abigail, the rebel leader on Earth has a crush on Trevor Spacey, a regular army recruit. Maybe change would be possible !

Chapter 1 - Time for a break !
The world is recovering after the events of Metal Slug 8, with the collapse of the Amadeus Satellite Cannon. It seems the White Baby virus is gone, saving all the technology on the planet. The remnants of the Amadeus army had surrendered to the regular army.

The world is celebrating the return of the regular forces, and it seems like world peace is finally at last !

Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fio and the gang return back to the earth, much to the celebration of all. The president comes and gives them war badges, along with a tasty feast ! It seems that the new generation of peace is finally here, with so many strong strikes against the rebel army. It seemed that General Morden was missing in action, and presumed dead. However, they still needed to do some cleanup missions, aware that a change of the rebel armies leadership could present new challenges.

The rebel army on the Earth, was lead by Abigail, who had started a coup against general Morden. She is frustrated, knowing the state of her army and how the alliance with the Amadeus syndicate had failed. To supply their army, she knew they would need resources and manpower. Not just ones on the Earth, but ones from outer space. But, as of now, they had to play the defensive against the regular army.

Chapter 2 - The Darkening Of The Clouds
Without any threat by the rebel army, citizens rejoiced, some after being subjugated to Morden's reign of terror. He had always said he wanted to curb corruption, but ironically, with all the mistreatment by the rebel army actually increased corruption. They were so grateful for the return to a true democracy.

The next few months later, the weather begins to get unpredictable. People assumed it was global warming, but something was not quite right. For example, the Moon had turned bright green, the sun was moving slower and meteor strikes began to skyrocket. Something was very wrong, and the regular army quickly tasked Trevor Spacey, a skilled technician to investigate the weather with his mobile satellite. New vigilante groups began breaking out across the Earth, and with all the chaos going on, Abigail seized the moment to regain power to the Rebel Army. With new vigilante groups such as the Beast Battalion and the Eragus Affiliation declared loyalty to the Rebel Army. With this new power, Abigail launched an invasion to retake the Earth under her grasp. With the Regular Army struggling to help citizens with all the natural disasters, she has enough time to rebuild her army. The first target - Mordenia, the homeplace of General Morden. By seizing the capital of the Rebel Army, she could finally prove to her soldiers that she was the true sucessor of that corrupt dictator.

Meanwhile, on an Alien planet, General Morden and his army had crash landed into an alien planet and set up a small base. Morden is scouting the alien planet on his space buggy made out of the rocket scrap. He's going to look for materials to rebuild his rocket and get back to the Earth. Running low supplies, Morden sends his men out to forage for any possible food on the planet. A soldier goes to pick up something that looks like an apple, but it turns out to be a trap.

Towers pop out of the ground, with sirens and searchlights. The soldier screams, and runs back to base camp as something huge crawls out of the ground. Morden panicks and gets into his Space Tank, but the cliff breaks below his tank, sending him into a dark void below.

Morden and his troops end up in a dark cave. Suddenly, their exit behind them is blocked. Then, out of the darkness comes a whole army of Martians with displeased looking faces. They aren't pleased to see Morden, given how their mothership, the Rugname and their Leader Rootmars were destroyed because of his incompetence. They take him and his army deep into an alien lab, surrounded by mysterious cloaked members. Giant vats of liquid and creatures lie in the vat. In a dark corridor, sitting on a throne is Ptolemaios, sitting with a grin. He offers Morden to help him take over the world, crushing those pathetic P.F. Squadron members who defeated him once before in Metal Slug 5. Perhaps he might let him live. For now.

With the help of the Martians, Ptolemaios had constructed large space bases, enslaving other alien planets, including some similar to the Earth itself. Once they garner enough power, they were able to awaken the true elder. No one knew of it's power, but it was written in the manuscripts of all species, including the martians. While they were initially scared and afraid to side with the Ptolemaic army, Ptolemaios saw potential in them and offered them protection from their natural predator, the Invaders. While their Invader Queen was killed, the Invader God on that alien planet swore revenge. Amongst those aliens was the professor, the leader of the aliens who also had a common goal of conquering Earth.

"Perfect" thought Ptolemaios. He was going to use the Alien's cloning machine to duplicate a fake Alien Morden who was going to broadcast himself to the Earth, claiming that he was planning to destroy the Earth. He was going to send the decoy to a small, unimportant planet far away to distract all the regular and rebel forces, while he could direct his forces straight towards the weaker defended Earth. By doing so, he would distract the Regular Army into thinking Morden was behind the space attacks, buying more time to unleash the Elder One. Then, they were going to send Morden and soldiers to an alien sweatshop to work and produce weaponry. They even found blueprints from the Amadeus syndicate and fused alien weaponry with machinery into a new breed of powerful weapons.

Chapter 3 - Cleaning Up The Rebels on Earth
Deep in the snowy mountains, a small battalion of rebel soldiers were wandering. They came across large footsteps and saw a cave. Hungry and cold, they headed towards the cave for warmth. However, as they made their way into the cave, there was a large shadow at the end. To their shock, they found a large sized muscular man who had grown a beard. He was looking at the waterfall on the other side of the cave, deep in thought. He had wrapped himself in a big cast, from battle injuries. The rebels cautiously approached the man. To their shock, it was none other than Allen O Neil who had spent months after being hit by a rocket from Metal Slug 8. He had seemed to have changed in personality. He seemed less aggressive and more calm. It was an odd departure of his usual persona. He had turned around and asked simply where General Morden was. After being told that he was missing in action and that he was no longer the general, he wasn't furious. He just nodded and turned back to the waterfall. When offered by the rebels to join them to the rebel camp, he did not move and was left in silence.

Allen saw a giant apparition in the sky look at him with his glowing eyes. It looked like his long deceased father talking to him. It told Allen, that it was not his destiny to work for the Rebel Army but to serve the Ptolemaic Legion ! A blinding light struck him, and his mind awoke to his true destiny.

Meanwhile, the regular army had received reports that the weather was being controlled by a machine in a rebel army base, based on Trevor's report. He had detected their IP address. Unfortunately for them, they did not know this was a trap to cause chaos between the regular and rebel armies and distract them from the true threat from space. It seems that a Ptolemaic spy, called Dragunov had tampered with the signaling of the rebel base. With the help of her ally Yoshino, she used her fast movement speed to confuse the rebel guards there before defeating them.

The regular army immediately mobilized and headed towards the rebel base. They battled some rebel armies guarding the facility. Abigail wanted to secure the facility, unaware that her base had been sabotaged by Ptolemaic Spies. Even worse, alien clones of rebel soldiers loyal to the Ptolemaic army were popping everywhere (thanks to the Martian technology). The regular army was able to capture the facility, but to their shock found that the weather was still going chaotic, despite Trevor's findings. They knew something was very wrong. When Abigail attempted to escape, she was ambushed by some Ptolemaic soldiers who had hurt her. She was rescued by the regular army paramedics. She was interrogated, but refused to say anything. However, the regular army sent in Trevor to interrogate her, and she reluctantly talked to him. She had told him about her assailants, giving the regular army good information that the Ptolemaic army was active. Trevor is very uneasy with Abigail, but the base goes under-attack.

Chapter 4 - Ptolemaic Invasion !
Deep, in the Ptolemaic's secret lair on their ancient planet of awakening, Ptolemaios launches a large scale offensive on Earth with a huge Ptolemaic aircraft carrier dropping guards all over the world. Their mission - Convert the humans into his loyal clerics. With enough clerics, Ptolemaios can awaken the True Elder. Thanks to the aliens promising to help Ptolemaios for protection against the Invaders, the aliens use their technology with the Ptolemaic tech to create super weapons.

General Morden has made a good hostage. Whole armies that were caught on the planet were forced to work for the new enemy risking Morden's untimely death from Ptolemaios. However, it seems an old friend, the Professor and Percier are planning to break Morden free... for some reason.

Ptolemaios is using large space bases to send the new clerics to his home planet to awaken the True Elder. It turns out that the "Rebel" groups that had joined the Rebel Army was full of Ptolemaic Cult Leaders and they sprung their trap. They waited till they arrived to Mordenia and proceeded to ransack Morden's office, stealing some kind of crystal. With this coup in action, Abigail decided to temporarily align with the Regular Forces to eliminate the Ptolemaic-Martian allegiance.

Chapter 5 - The Warbases

As the Rebels and Regular Army traveled in space towards Morden's Space Base, Ptolemaios decided to use his enslaved forces and loyal armies from several of his colonies to slow down the offensive, and thus allowing more time for the Elder One to be finished. He was extremely persuasive, using mind control power to influence expert mechanic Caroline and Ilia to build powerful war-mechs, while Yoshino and Dragonov could enforce brutal repression of any invader.

As the Perigrinne Squad traveled in their spaceship, a Rebel soldier came in the intercommunication systems, pointing that invading fleets had appeared. Deciding to neutralize the threat, the Regular and Rebel army landed on the planets to defeat the Commanders of the 5 colonies. They were disguised as Martians, and informed Ptolemaios of their whereabouts and progress. Finally, Ptolemaios decided to use the infected space station housing the fake Morden to attack the Earth.

Chapter 6 - Point Bastion

Missions
Mission 1 - Canadian Outback - The Regular Army is reported of the unfolding events in Mordenia with Abigail and Beatriz attempting to restore the capital city under Rebel control. The Rebel Army has regained control of the area, and has laid many traps for the Regular Army in the forest such as hidden turrets.

Mission 2 - Satelite Center - The Satelite Center is a Rebel outpost, but has been hijacked by Ptolemaic spies ! Take out the Rebel troops guarding the factory and find out who is behind the madness !

Mission 3 - Mordenia - The Regular Army is falsely tricked into thinking the Rebel Army is responsible for the catastrophic weather patterns. The Regular Army travels deep into Morden's homeland, where the Rebel Army has set strong reinforcements. Abigail battles the Regular Army in a large mech suit in the city square. However, after the destruction, it is revealed that General Morden (the fake alien copy) is ready for a space attack !

Mission 4 - 8 - Multiple Planets

Mission 9 - Rebel Space Colony - The Regular Army lands on this planetary base, assuming that Morden is here. They begin to realize that the soldiers aren't human, and dissolve into alien puddles of ooze. This fake General Morden mutates into an abomination, while the real Morden is shown being caught in a cryogenic sphere by Martian forces. With the Rebel Colony down, Ptolemaios can initiate a full invasion of the Earth.

Mission 10 - Ptolemaic Planet - This is a massive planet, home to Ptolemaios. Covered in wetlands and also rich in tribal monuments, the Mars People and Ptolemaic priests can harness elemental energy.

Mission 11 - Ptolemaic Spire - This is a massive tower at the top of the palace in Ptolemaic capital territory.

Mission 12 - Ptolemaic Core - The center of operations in an ancient tomb housing the Elder One. Ptolemaios fights the players here, undergoing multiple transformations before turning into a demonic entity. He is destroyed, while Morden reveals his role in waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Mission 13 - Attack on Earth - The Elder One flies towards the Earth, hell-bent on it's destruction ! The Rebels, Martians and Regular Army team up to stop the invasion. At the end of the madness, it turns out General Morden had gotten the upper-hand, stealing the Ptolemaic gem, and essentially controlling the Elder One. However, he is beaten with a super-charged shot, sending him flying into space. A large chunk of ice forms around, and he is flung into space, with mouth agape.

Boss List
Ptolemaios has enslaved many planets with some extremely fierce machines and mercenaries of death !

Mission 4 -

Mission 12 Bosses : Mecha Yoshino - Ptolemaios was a master manipulator, and was able to buy the loyalty of many, such as Yoshino. By extracting her DNA and infusing it with Amadeus technlogy, he released a giant mechanical warrior to assault the Regular Army. It uses a large electrical hammer, laser beams and an energy cannon to attack.

After Mecha Yoshino was destroyed, Ptolemaios electrocuted Yoshino, finding her to be unworthy. Besides, these mortal beings were nothing more than tools for perfection.

Guardians of the Spire - These are 4 animal type golem statues that guard the entrance to the Elder One. They look similar to a large cat, dog, horse and elephant. (Miniboss)

Black Death - This monstrous machine is the final evolution of the Black Hound. It was tested on many foreign planets and single-handedly elimnated their population. According to Ptolemaios, it is the Elder One's top machine of choice.


 * There are three forms of the Black Death
 * Each Form is more deadlier than the previous, and have unique attack patterns.
 * Form 1 : Tank Mode - Appears as Mad Max-Type tank, with Martians and Ptolemaic Commanders armed with bazookas and energy cannons.
 * Form 2 : Beast Mode - The Black Death opens it's jaws, revealing sharp teeth and a burning incinerator inside, almost like a Blazing Bull. In this mode, it dives under the sand and bursts out, attempt to rip anyone that gets caught in it's jaws.
 * Form 3 : Giga-Goliath Hunting Hound Mode - Harnessing Ptolemaic energy, it reveals it's true form of a huge skeleton-beast wrapped in armor. It fires blue balls of energy, claws at the player with it's huge hands. On it's chest is a large Ptolemaic emblem which it uses to channel powerful bursts of energy. Any Martian or Commander on the tank is burnt alive.

Ptolemaios - Undergoes several transformtions. Starts as a Floating Tower, into a young elemental priest and finally into a demonic entity.


 * Ptolemaios - Metal Slug 5 Boss.gifQuote (Form 1) : You've done exceptionally well for a group of mortals ! But now witness your divine destruction by the wrath of a god !
 * Form 1 : Uses his elemental spire to crush the opponent with giant slabs, but can harness the elements of earth, water, wind,
 * fire, darkness and the light of the Elder One to eviscerate his opponents. Regularly sends top priests to support his cause.
 * Quote (Form 2) : Oh, Elder One, besiege me with your eternal powers ! Aharam Meazow Buchalarak !Young Ptolemaios.png* Form 2 : Uses the Elder One's magic to revert to Young Ptolemaios, an extremely powerful magician who attacks with powerful curses.
 * Quote (Form 3) : You have desecrated our lord and master, the Elder One ! Now feel our combined wrath and die !
 * Form 3 : Ptolemaios turns into a giant demon creature similar to Evil Spirit Incarnate

Mission 13 Finale :

The Elder One - Ptolemaios frees the Elder One, and it possesses his body, turning into the Ultimate Devil Of Despair


 * The Elder One gets progressively angrier and more powerful when damaged. He eventually finds Ptolemaios as unworthy, killing him.
 * General Morden takes control of the Elder One with the Elder Jewel, and Yoshino sacrifices herself to save the Regular Army from it's energy blast.
 * As our heroes escape to Earth, the Elder One tries to claw us to death, where it turns out General Morden had gained control of the monstrosity. By capturing Mordenia with the machine he declared an ultimate war to recontrol the world. He was defeated and sent flying into space, with the Elder One self-combusting as the Ptolemaic Jewel was shattered. Before this, Allen O Neil, enraged that Morden had killed his daughter grabbed Morden and held him into the wall and began punching him furiously. Morden laughed wickedly, before Allen threw him into the destroyed Elder One and sent him hurtling into space.