GAS

An in-game item and hazard representing fuel or chemical gas, appearing in Metal Slug 3, Batman Forever, and Trap Gunner.

Action

Games

1993–1998

Years

Platforms

About

In the Metal Slug franchise, including Metal Slug 3, Gas serves as a vital fuel item used to replenish the energy of player-controlled vehicles like the Metal Slug tank. In Batman Forever, gas canisters or gas-based weapons are utilized as gadgets, while in Trap Gunner, gas acts as a deployable trap to damage and disorient opponents. Across these titles, the item functions variously as a resource, weapon, or environmental hazard.

Represented visually as a red jerrycan in Metal Slug 3 (1993), this item frequently drops from destroyed enemy structures or supply crates. Players must actively seek these canisters during high-intensity scrolling segments to prolong their vehicle usage, which directly influences high-score runs and survival rates in cooperative modes.

For Batman Forever (1995), the item integrates into the character select and loadout screens, where players allocate their limited inventory slots before entering levels. The deployment of these canisters requires precise directional inputs, reflecting the game's fighting-game-inspired control scheme.

In Trap Gunner (1998), the item is deployed on a tactical grid. Its placement requires anticipation of enemy movement patterns, and it can be combined with remote detonators to trigger chain reactions. This grid-based implementation highlights a shift toward strategic planning in late-1990s action titles.

Together, these appearances across the franchise's history demonstrate how a singular thematic element was adapted to suit different gameplay genres, from run-and-gun shooters to side-scrolling beat 'em ups and tactical trap-setting games.