Demon Front
IGS Horizontal Action 2 Players 2000 System: PGM Technics/Graphical: 10 Sound: 8 Details: 10 Ideas: 9 Fun/Replayvalue: 9 Playability: 9 Overall Rating: 9 (of 10)

U thought Metal Slug was good? U liked Metal Slug X best? Well man, u should get ur hands on Demon Front then. Although the vehicles from the Slug series are missing this game will shake ur Arcade machine.
We already know that the PGM system is a technically very capable system, we know that sound usually rocks and that it can handle a lot of gfx-power... BUT... ive never seen so much going on while never slowing down. Great work IGS.

Theres so much to say about this game that i will cut this review into chapters:
1. Sound: Okay...ive heard better soundtracks and to be honest i am used to better sounds on the PGM system. Its not bad though, but as i said...IGS could have done better. Still... its good.
2. Backgrounds: This game even beats Metal Slug series on background grafix for miles. Never seen such bright colors, detailed background and good ideas. Best level is the Pirate stage. Very very very well done.

3. Characters: U got 4 characters to choose from. An ape (Maya), a girl, Jack and Dr. J, which all play - apart from details - the same. Every character has its own upgradeable sidekick. Sarah for example starts with a hovering rabbit (sweet) that upgrades gradually into some strange but powerful alien fish. Sidekicks can be used for a special shot (hold fire) or forcefield for ur character. The more levels it has the more powerful the special gets.
4. Animations: Both characters and enemies are very well animated. Every enemy has its own style of attack and they all rock. Never seen so many different ideas and styles of attacks. And they all fit into the game. NICE!

5. Gameplay: The game uses 3 buttons. One for fireing/sidekick special shot, one for jumping and one for using the sidekick as a forcefield around ur character. 
On close range u use ur hand-to-hand weapon against enemies much like Metal Slug, but with a twist: If u kill enemies with ur weapon (long range) u get Skulls for every killed enemy, filling a blue bar at the top of the screen powering ur character up. 
Kill enemies at close range and u get Hearts filling a red bar at the top of the screen, powering ur sidekick up.
6. Weapons: Much like Metal Slug u approach many kinds of different weapons like Spreadbombs, Shotguns, Ice-thrower (wonderfully animated), Machineguns aso.

7. Stages: 5 endless stages and a final stage featuring one (of i assume 5) endboss(es). Everytime u play theres another random endboss. I read this game is too short... hm cant say thats true. Stages are very long. Much like Metal Slug, with the advantage of no artificially streched levels. My favorite: The Pirate Stage. Level Endbosses fit nicely into the levels and are not too easy (but also not too tough/unfair).
8. Secrets: Loads... hidden levels, hidden extras and so on. As soon as i have some time ill write down some details. In the meantime perhaps somebody could tell me what those strange crystal devices are for that u can find (but not take) in some secret levels...