Afterthoughts: Metal Gear Solid 3

I was skimming through an old personal gaming blog I used to run over on 1up, and this post in particular seemed worthy of reposting. I think my statements at the time still hold up today. Here are the highlights of my review:

25 hours, 5 minutes, and 23 seconds.

That's what Metal Gear Solid 3 took out of my life (and then some, since I restarted parts a few times) and what it will probably take several times over in the coming months and years. There are games that I can play through and revisit on a rainy day (or so I tell myself), and then there are games that demand to be played again and again. Final Fantasy X, Zelda Ocarina of Time, Metroid Fusion, Tales of Symphonia; where MGS Twin Snakes once stood among these games, now Snake Eater stands proud. It shines as an example of perfect packaging (particularly with Subsistence) of gameplay, graphics, sound, ambiance, and storyline. This is what videogames are all about.

The storyline, while maybe not thematically as great as the original MGS, still draws me in like few others have. I'm not afraid to admit that the final cutscenes, in which you learn the truth about your mission, drove me to tears. Call me a sissy if you want (my girlfriend certainly had no problem), but it truly is a tragic tale. The characters were definitely a highlight of the whole experience. Between the bonding of Snake and Sigint; Para-Medic's constant movie talk (which actually made me want to watch some of the movies mentioned); The Boss's devotion both to her mission, Country, and Snake; and Ocelot's foibles: there was never a dull moment. In fact, I'd have to say that Snake Eater is one of the funniest and heart-wrenching tales ever told on a videogame.

While Metal Gear Solid had some outstanding gameplay (more so with the Gamecube remake), Snake Eater ups the ante considerably. The game doesn't make getting through the mission simple, which is something I really appreciated. Very infrequently would it directly give you a needed item (like the Scientist uniform), so exploration was a necessity in a title that, on the surface, discourages such behavior. However, it's the non-linearity of the gameplay that's really appealing. Choices concerning how to tackle a given situation is left up to the player entirely. Kill every guard you come across if you want, tranquilize them to make speaking by simpler, be completely stealthy without the use of guns, or tranquilize guards and then knife them to death. These are but a few options given to the player, and we haven't even touched upon the new additions to MGS3.

I'd also like to add that because of the ambiance of Snake Eater, I may never again look at birds, snakes, rabbits, and the great outdoors again the same way. Just today, I was outside and saw a bird in a tree. I'm not joking that I thought about how it would taste if I shot it (and I don't even have a gun). Thanks a bunch Kojima.

Another MGS Post?! I Know; I'm Sorry...

This should be the last one until I start playing the game. I just felt like I should comment on something, namely the Penny Arcade strip that was posted on Friday:I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed in this comic strip. As of late, I've been very frustrated by the videogame journalism. Most of the time, it stems from the always ridiculous 100 point scale that websites like IGN insist on using, or habit of watermarking the crap out of any media posted on their site, despite that fact that the website does not, in fact, own the art assests, screenshots, and videos which they watermark. However, the review in question was fair, as near as I can tell, and 9.3 is a perfectly legitimate score. Note to the fanbase: as much as we all love Metal Gear, we must admit that the series has its flaws.

I've been disappointed with review scores in the past as well. I've always felt that Tales of Symphonia for the Gamecube was underrated by Electronic Gaming Monthly when it was released, and the following the game has garnered since its release only reinforces this notion. But it didn't begrudge EGM for it. In the long run, what matters is whether you yourself enjoy a game, and not whether it earned a perfect score on a gaming website. Lighten up, gamers!

Also, fans of Metal Gear Solid 2 should give this analysis a careful read. It's a very intriguing take on the controversal and often convoluted plot of MGS2.

MGS4: The Unboxing

It arrived today! I am now officially the proud owner of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Why am I sitting at my laptop instead of playing the greatly anticipated game? Well, as I noted last time, MGS4 is a videogame that I am completely unable to play, due to my lack of Playstation 3. The important thing though is that my collection of Metal Gear games is nearing completion. All I need now is to possibly grab a used copy of Metal Gear Solid 1 from the recently released collection. I'd really love to play the original PS1 version of Metal Gear Solid to complement my copy of The Twin Snakes.


Below are some pictures of unwrapping of MGS4, along with the preorder goodies and my MGS collection.

MGS4 + the Pre-order Goodies

From the artbook: A short synopsis of the MGS plot thus far

Looks like there's also nice content to read in the artbook

From the artbook: the Beauties/Beasts

The open blu-ray case: showing the disc and manual

From the manual: How to play MGS4 (told through comic panels)

The two Metal Gear Saga bonus DVDS (the first came with MGS3: Subsistence)

My Metal Gear Collection: Possibly Incomplete?

Metal Gear Sucker

Well, today I pre-ordered a game for a game console that I don't own and probably won't own for two years. Yes, I'm talking about Metal Gear Solid 4: the final chapter in a game series I've been hopelessly following for years. Why did I spend money on a game I won't be able to play. The answer in four-fold:

1) My local Gamestop had the pre-order bonus DVD: Metal Gear Saga, Vol. 2
2) I was promised an art book with my copy of the game when it arrives on the 12th.
3) I had spent the morning watching a retrospective (courtesy of GameTrailers) on the entire Metal Gear franchise.
4) I'm an effing GEEK!

I was powerless to resist; really, I was! I went to the counter to ask whether they still had copies of the DVD. I honestly believed they would not - other stores had long since sold out. I would have left then, but the clerks told me that yes, they did have a couple copies left. They pulled one out and set it on the counter. Still I faltered. Then two words crossed their collective lips that rendered me unable to resist: art book. Before I knew it, my wallet was in one hand, the special DVD was in the other, and - left with no third hand - the receipt was sandwiched firmly between my lips. I felt like a dog, heeling to the call of my master: Hideo Kojima.

On the bright side though, I'm getting Metal Gear Solid 4 on Thursday. ^_^