Hairbuster Riberts

Prototype Heavy Bomber "Hairbuster Riberts"
Full Name	Prototype Heavy Bomber "Hairbuster Riberts"
Weapons	Guided missiles Bouncing bombs Missile turret
Games	Metal Slug Metal Slug 3 Metal Slug Mobile 3 Metal Slug SV-001 Metal Slug Defense Metal Slug Attack
Sprite

The Hairbuster Riberts is the boss of Mission 2 from Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001. It also appears as a mini-boss in the Final Mission of Metal Slug 3, and as the second boss of Metal Slug Mobile 3.

Information

The Hairbuster Riberts is a prototype heavy bomber created by the Rebel Army and is equipped with several forms of armaments, such as guided missiles and bouncing bombs, making it a versatile weapons platform capable of quickly adjusting to the situation. Over a hundred of these units were produced, all in their testing phase. General Morden attempted to escape from the Regular Army troops in Ronbertburg City on board a Riberts, but it was shot down by the Peregrine Falcons Squad. Unfortunately, Morden still escaped, caught in mid-air by a Flying Tara.

Boss Synopsis

The players fight the Hairbuster Riberts on train flatcars, with it flying at the same speed as the train. The flatcars itself have three lifts that individually rise and lower. The flashing light below each lift flash to signify that the respective lift is about to rise up.

The Hairbuster Ribert's main attack method is to launch propelled missiles from the hidden mechanical arm, which have a number of patterns, such as going straightforward or making loops, from the bottom. It will also fly to the top-right corner of the screen, where it will drop a large amount of bombs that bounce on the train randomly, making them a little difficult to dodge. There is a retractable cabin located at its side from which a Rebel soldier will appear in a turret that fires homing missiles. After the Riberts sustains a high amount of damage, General Morden himself will appear at the cabin, firing rockets from his bazooka constantly.

In Other Games

Metal Slug 3

The Hairbuster Riberts makes an appearance in Metal Slug 3's final mission as the first mini-boss. The battle takes place during a flying segment, which makes dodging the Riberts' attacks somewhat easier, but it also makes returning fire somewhat harder. In addition, Morden is replaced by Allen O'Neil, who will use his trademark attacks instead: throwing grenades when the player is below the craft, firing his M60 when the player is at Allen's level, and using his knife when the player gets too close.

Metal Slug SV-001

The Hairbuster Riberts appears as the second boss. It is piloted by Corporal Vasser Gutenschiff (ヴァッサー・グーテンシッフ). Unique to this game is that the homing missiles now explode in the middle of the screen with the area of effect applied to the entire floor.

Metal Slug Defense

The Hairbuster Riberts was introduced in the 1.24.0 update. It costs 400 medals, the same cost as the Hi-Do. It costs 600 AP to deploy, which makes it tied with the Metal Rear. However, its movement speed is very fast, making it the fastest deployable boss unit in the game.

It has two attacks. Its long range is firing a missile from below its body. Its special is randomly deploying either a Rebel with a missile launcher, Allen O'Neil with his grenades, or Donald Morden with his bazooka.

Metal Slug Attack

The Hairbuster Riberts was originally introduced as a Medal/VIP Crank unit. Nowadays it can be obtained via Battle Monthly Reward, specific Cranks, or by the Shops. Its AP cost is reduced to 500 (400 on platinum). It' new ability is to do a suicide attack when destroyed (requires Skill 2) which does a large deal of damage on a wide area. New variants are introduced.

Variants

	Hairbuster Riberts: The original prototype heavy bomber. In Metal Slug Attack, it and its variants provide a last-ditch explosion attack onto enemy units once destroyed.
	Hairbuster Riberts (Amadeus): A Riberts sporting a purple and gold color scheme created by the Amadeus Syndicate. Cyborg Allen attacks from the cabin and can drop out of the exploding aircraft to fight on his own.
	Dynamite Rebirth Jr.: A small, blue and gold Riberts that is part of El Dorado's collection. He calls one out to drop onto his enemies.
	Hairbuster Riberts MK II:  A red and black Riberts designed for carrying Allen O'Neil. Allen attacks alongside the aircraft.
	Naomi's Hairbuster Riberts: A dark-grey Riberts with Naomi commanding on the cabin.

Gallery

Hairbuster Riberts official artwork

Pilot Vasser in Metal Slug SV-001

Battle Screen

Trivia

• The final retro-futuristic design of Hairbuster Riberts appears to be inspired by a number of 20th century flying boats, however not necessarily biplanes:
  • Tail and canopy design bear resemblance to the Japanese H6K.
  • Rear-rotor top-mounted single-engine configuration strongly resembles the Soviet MBR-2 or the German Do-15. 
  • The biplane wing configuration is reminiscent of aircraft seen in WWI.

Early concept of Hairbuster Riberts

• An early design of the Hairbuster Riberts would have used its jet engines as a form of attack, but it was unused due to the fact that it was impossible to keep this plane flying over the train at low speed.
• The earlier version of this boss may have resembled a Consolidated PBY-Catalina, which is a WWII armored aircraft and convertible vehicle and the Grumman G21 Goose and the Grumman Mallard.