The game also marks the return of SNK Playmore as a third-party developer for a Nintendo console since the SNES era.

The graphics are virtually the same as the original versions released on arcade (and the more recent titles published on the PS2 and Xbox).

The only major change is that all games now display at a converted 480i resolution (compared to the standard 240p).

This is the same with the characters and abilities, which have all been kept the same, but the game's manual erroneously states that the 'slide' ability is achievable in Metal Slug 4, 5, and 6 — Metal Slug 4 and 6 do not include this feature in either the arcade or console version.

The game includes several special features: The Metal Slug Anthology received positive reviews, but was criticized for its lack of Classic Controller support on the Wii version's Western releases.