Fear’s Thoughts on the Metal Gear Series
After breaking down a few other series I’ve decided to break down what I consider my favorite series, Metal Gear Solid. I have been a fan of this series since MGS2 (I know that might shock a few readers), but became huge fan after playing MGS3. I do have the HD collect along so I could have played MG1 and MG2, but I never have so I won’t talk about those. In this post I will be talking about MGS 1-5 and also Peace Walker. Of course I will be pointing out what I liked about the games, and even though I love the series, I will point out what I had issues with. I won’t go into the story on a deep level, there are so many twists and turns I’d rather just keep it to my impressions of the story. So let’s jump in!
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid was the first game in the series I played. To be honest when this game came out, I really didn’t pay any attention to it until the chatter from classmates picked up. I was in high school when the game dropped and the thing I heard most about the game was that if you grabbed a guard and pressed square enough, you would snap his neck. I also heard about how this game was stealthy and challenging. So after a few days of hearing about it, I went to the local game store and rented a copy. Over the course of the next few days (3 maybe…it’s been a while since you could rent games, let alone since this game came out) I snuck around, snapping necks and taking names, and then I returned the game and went on with my life. I did like what I played, but I will admit; I wasn’t in love with the game. It became one of those games you see on a store shelf and you think to yourself, “one day I’ll buy”. After playing MGS2 I went out and bought MGS1 finally. I played and loved it, now use to the controls, invested in the story, and wanting to see how it all played out after what I had been hearing for the last few years. But when I got to the Revolver Ocelot fight, the controls and how the camera was centered in the game frustrated me into putting the game away again. Flash forward to early 2005 and after beating MGS3, I was determined to play this game so I would have the full MGS experience. I am so glad I did, even years after the games release, this game was great on all levels.
The story was deeper than most games that came out in the late 90’s, and while the game had some fantasy level boss fights, somehow it all tied in together. The hero Solid Snake was caught up trying to take out a terrorist group, only to find himself personally tied to what was going on. He finds out he is a clone, his “brother” clone has set up this whole ordeal and also was acting as one of his former officers. One of the people on the team also injected him with a sort of poison called Fox Die that was meant to kill Snake; all in all just a bad day at the office. The cast of characters from the hero Snake, to the wimpy but loveable Otacon, the villainous Liquid Snake, and Revolver Ocelot who over the course of the series would change who he works for more than most people at Walmart change their underwear. There is a sort of love interest with a woman named Meryl and Otacon also happens to have a crush on the sniper whose code name is Sniper Wolf. The way these characters interact with each other and come in and out of the story is great. The story to this game was also well done because at 16 when I played this, I had no idea there were games already out for the series, but the story was self- contained that all you needed to know from the past games was given to you in dialogue and the games booklet had a huge amount of history in it.
The boss fights are really good in this game as well. From having to dodge and attack Revolver Ocelot with a bomb between you two, to the sniper Wolf Sniper battle, and of course the fight with Psycho Mantis is legendary. Not only would he read your memory (card) he would also seem to know every move you were going to make. The way to beat him was so easy but so outside of the box; you had to plug your controller into the 2nd controller port. The thing about the boss fights is they were all unique, and this is still in a time where most games were pretty much “go here and shoot/punch this guy until he dies”. In this game, we were welcomed to some truly outside the box strategies.
Nostalgia is a tricky thing; this is especially true when it comes to video games from 3 generations ago. The good news is if you can look past the blocky graphics and some control awkwardness, you will still find a great game in Metal Gear Solid. It’s even playable on PS3, PSP, and PS Vita if you don’t have a copy of the game and a PS1 or PS2. I would rate this game today as a solid 8, going with a retro gaming review I’d give it a high 9.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Misdirection is the word I think will come to mind to a lot of gamers when they think of the advertising of this game. For months the gaming world was shown videos of Solid Snake sneaking around and taking out guards. However when gamers made it maybe an hour or so into the game, they found themselves switched to playing as Raiden, a rookie hotshot member of Foxhound. Now I can understand the upset gamers, they fell in love with Solid Snake, was shown to be able to play as Snake, and now they were a new guy? For me thought, it wasn’t a big deal. How could that not be a big deal? Let me explain.
As I mentioned before, I enjoyed what I had played up that point in the first Metal Gear Solid, but I wasn’t in love with the series at that point. In fact, I didn’t go to the video game store to even buy this game. The store was having a sale that if you traded in X amount of games, you could get a free one from a certain list. After trading in some games I noticed the only two games on the list I didn’t have was the latest Crash Bandicoot game, and this game. Both had just been released that month, but outside of playing a little of each games previous games, I wasn’t sure which I would get. The guy behind the counter assured me MGS2 was the way go. I laugh about it now, but I was leaning toward Crash.
Another reason it didn’t bother me was since I hadn’t formed a connection to Solid Snake at that point, I never made it too far into the original when I started playing this to see the twist and turns; I didn’t mind playing as a new character. I think I was lucky because of this, it allowed me to enjoy the game, see the cool twist, but it didn’t affect me in any negative way. I also enjoyed having Snake as a side character and I was always excited to see him pop in and out.
The boss fights in this game were the beginning of the over the top style that the series would stick with. Sure in MGS1 they were over the top, but in this game we had an overweight bomb expert planting bombs with roller blading. The Character Vamp had some crazy boss fights as well, and I actually was creeped out by that dude. Then you have the battle against a crazy amount of Metal Gears, and a battle on the capital building with a 3rd clone, one who just happened to be the former president. As crazy as they sound and could be, I really did enjoy what they did with this game as far as the boss fights go. None felt like I had done it several times, and they all had a nice challenge to them.
The gameplay was also well done. More options for stealth like hanging from rails and first person aiming were great editions. The combat in the game was lacking, to the point I tried to avoid it all together. That’s not a bad thing though as the stealth in this game was great. From the leaning around corners, shooting fire extinguishers causing smoke to cover you path to holding up guards for dog tags and ammo, this game had a lot to offer.
The story gets a little convoluted toward the end. To this day after reading several plot breakdowns, I still can’t swear that I can tell you the full story. But that isn’t import since this game opened me up to the series in a way the first game didn’t. This wasn’t the game that made me love the series, but it was the one that when I was done I knew I would be interested in another game. It also is the reason I went out and bought the first game, though I still wouldn’t beat it. I would rate this game a 9.25 back then, and even today.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
This was the game that opened my eyes to how incredible the series was. Hands down this is my favorite game of all time. I even tested that out back in 2013 as I waited for GTAV to drop. I played though the remastered HD edition on an all stealth run with no kills. I was curious if in the 9 years since I had first played this game if other games like Red Dead Redemption, or even MGS4 would have taken its place on my favorite games list. The truth is I was so wrapped up in this game that I didn’t want it to end. From the action, stealth, and gunplay, to the story, characters, and the survival aspect of the game; everything about this game is great. I am happy to say that not only did it remain my favorite game in 2013, but now in 2015, 11 years since its release it is still my favorite game.
Of course going into the game I had no idea I would love the game so much. After enjoying my time with MGS2 I knew that if there was going to be another game in the series, I would be interested in it. I had seen a preview for the game mentioning that you would be in the jungle and having to survive by eating and tending to your wounds. I also saw a few screenshots of Snake in the water with a crocodile head on as a hat. I knew I wanted this game. Then I found out you would be playing as Big Boss, a character I knew a little of, but one that interested me as I want to find out how I would be playing as him as a good guy, only for him to turn evil. Even though GTA San Andreas took up some of my time when this released, it didn’t take long for me to put away GTA and get lost in this game.
For starters, I connected with Snake (yeah Big Boss uses the same name as his future clone, just go with it) in this game more than I did with Solid Snake or Raiden in the other games. To me the writing in this game was great. The story had it’s over the top bosses and moments, but there was also some real grounded weight as well. Snake’s relationship with Boss, his mentor, was handled in a way that wasn’t the normal love story. It was love as a mentor/student, and as two people who have been to war together. So when she becomes a traitor in the opening and Snake’s mission is to kill her, you get wrapped up in it. Every time he comes across her in the game, he usually ends up on the losing end. But there is this hesitation to both of them that they don’t want to be pawns in the scenario they are in. In the end, after finally taking out the Boss, there isn’t a real since of joy or celebration felt because the Boss has you take her gun and fire the kill shot. You were pulled into the story and felt for Snake having to fulfil his mission. The real twist comes in after all is said and done and you’re watching the final cut scene. You find out Boss was never a traitor, an unplanned action by the other villain of the game Volgin left Boss with no choice but to allow you to kill her to maintain America’s innocence. This is being told as the President awards Snake the title of Big Boss and you can see how Big Boss is becoming, not evil or bad yet, but disenfranchised with the USA and really any government. While the game would end there, it was setting up Big Boss eventually setting up Outer Heaven as a country for soldiers to no longer be pawns of war.
Gameplay was also improved in a few ways as well. Gone were the awkward punches and kicks of previous games, well maybe not gone but now you could control Snake with greater ease in a hand to hand situation. To keep in tone with the time settings, you no longer had the radar that told you where your enemies were looking. You had radars that would show you the area they were in, and other sonar type devices. The evolution of the gameplay was the inclusion of camo. These camo uniforms had an index that let you know how well you were blending into the environment. I really enjoyed this feature, and it would be expanded upon in future games in the series as well. To go along with the survival idea behind the game, you also had to preform first aid on yourself and eat to stay healthy. While this might seem like a chore, I liked seeing how the actions you did caused a reaction in the game. Took too many bullets but you didn’t gather supplies, you might be in trouble. Decided to fill your weapon and equipment slots to the max, well that weight is going to burn your stamina away. These were simple features that really expanded upon a great game.
I’d be crazy not to talk about boss fights in this game. There is a guy covered in bees that will attack you. You fight a young Ocelot who is deadly but inexperienced. You fight Volgin while he is riding on the precursor to the Metal Gear weapon. But the best fight; and one that is on several “Best Fights” list has to be against The End. The End is a very old sniper but don’t let that fool you, you could be spending hours fight him. Or you could set your PS2/3’s clock ahead a week and he will have died of old age. Or you can snipe him much earlier in the game after a cut scene and miss the entire fight. The truth is missing out on the battle is not recommended, the sniping battle with him takes place over 3 areas, and it really is a test of will and skill to see who can find who first.
As I said, this is my favorite game of all time. This is the game that made me become a huge fan of the series, and it is also the game that motivated me to go back and finally play and beat MGS1. This game made Big Boss one of the best characters in gaming to me. A lot of times we are told the backstory of a villain and we wonder why or how they went down that path. Thought I haven’t beaten MGSV just yet to find out, after this game’s ending, I can understand why he path would turn the way it did.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
After MGS3 made me a huge fan of the franchise, I replayed the older games and this series became THE series for me. So less than a year after MGS3 dropped I saw a cover of PlayStation Magazine that debuted MGS4, and I was understandably excited. Of course it would take another 3 years for the game to come out, but man when it did, it was clear this wasn’t just a simple sequel, this was an overhaul on the game play, and a story that was to end the saga.
The gameplay to this game alone was much smoother than previous games. Of course it was on PS3 so that allowed for more options, but the general feeling was of the gameplay was much improved over what had previously been done. See as great as MGS 1, 2, and 3 were; there was always a slight awkwardness to their controls. CQC was fun, gunplay was always good, and the stealth aspect with crawling and whatnot were well done as well, but with MGS4 everything was refined. CQC felt more in line with some of the best 3rd person action games, and gunplay was tighter, and the cover system was great.
One of my favorite features of this game was the gun customization. One of my favorite weapons in any game I’ve ever played is the M4 with a shotgun attached, laser scope, and silencer I made in this game. Another great feature was even if you made a killing machine like this, you could change the ammo that went into it from lethal to non-lethal. This feature made we want to collect different weapons to see what all I could do with them. Another great feature was the economy system. Every weapon you picked up could be sold to buy more weapons or attachments to the weapons you have. It was very robust, didn’t distract, and added a lot to the game. The stealth suit was also a great evolution from MGS3’s camo system as well.
Now comes the confusing part; I loved the story and the great cut scenes. It was a great send off to Snake, while at the same time tying up several loose ends, and making sense of MGS2’s confusing at times story and ending. Having said that, there are around 7 hours of cut scenes. Now on my first play through, this didn’t bother me as I was invested in the story taking place. But over the years as I have replayed the game, they tend to happen in a way that interprets the gameplay flow. These scenes last from 10-30 minutes at times, and they can happen in the middle of a mission, not just as bookends. Again, I’m not against these, as they were welcomed in my first play through, but I can see how some non-franchise fans were turned off trying to play this. Luckily there is a skip button, and a pause button, so you don’t have to sit through any of these.
This was a great game, and possible the best of the franchise overall. Even now looking back I have to give this game a high 9.75. A great game to send off a great hero in Solid Snake in a great way.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Ok this game is going to be a little different when it comes to my review of it. This is a game that I have played over the years. It’s not a game I started playing and didn’t stop. There are 2 reasons for that. The biggest on is it’s on the PSP, and while I love my PSP and still play it, since around the time this game came out I have not played on it as much as I did in the first 5 years of the PSP’s life. It doesn’t mean I didn’t really enjoy the game, I just don’t go the PSP as my first method to game.
There were several time I played this game on PSP for days at a time. The other reason was the controls. The controls used the face buttons as a way to move the camera. On my last few times playing the game I came to the understanding this was a major issue that stopped me from truly playing the game as much as I would have liked to. To both of those issues I have the solution; in 2011 Peace Walker was released along with MG1, MG2, MGS2, and MGS3 in HD on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
I made it about 75% of the way through the main game on PSP, though I did very little side ops. That really comes down to the way I played PSP, mostly pick and go, here and there, no more than 20 mins at a time. For that the mission structure worked will for me, but it didn’t get me to play a lot of side ops, which meant I really missed out on a lot. Then I got to one of the major battles in the game against the Chrysalis boss. That was where I became stuck. The controls had me fighting the game as much as I fought the boss. It wasn’t so much a design issue, it came down to my own skills, but it did stop me in my tracks. I played some side ops, I did some deployment missions, but I just could not get past the boss. So the game stopped being played.
On Father’s Day 2013 I received the PS3 HD Metal Gear Solid collection. This allowed me to transfer my PSP save to my PS3 and play Peace walker with a second analog stick which helped me get past the boss fight. Now I won’t say that I didn’t stop playing until I beat the game, but I did play it more again. Starting in late 2014 I started really playing the game. I was able to finally beat the game, but as I mentioned, I hadn’t done many of the side ops so I have a confession to make…I didn’t beat it legit. I downloaded a save file, with all the weapons and outfits unlocked so that I could play the last two missions that I was just stuck on. So yes I did beat all the main missions, but I had to get help since I neglected to do the side ops.
Overall the game was really good, with a cool story that really fleshed out Boss and Big Boss’s ideals. Now it was Metal Gear so the story had some “odd” moments, but a great game. Personally I would have preferred the camera was static like the first Metal Gear Solid game was, thus eliminating the control issues I had. Overall I would have to give this game an 8.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros
This was a game that I am torn about. When it came out I used Red Box to play it. Why not buy this game since I am such a fan? I read reviews and I can confirm it took me one hour to beat the game. That’s it. And they charged 30 to buy the game. Now flash forward to January of 2015 and I had a PS4 finally and this game was only 5 bucks on the PSN store so I bought it and replayed it. For that price it was worth it. A lot was changed to the gameplay, and this was a great taste…as long as you paid 10 or less.
See to me this game was the first chapter of MGSV, it even has that in the title, but what I mean is in MGS2 and 3, the opening of the games was an introduction. This is what this game was, and introduction to what was to come in the real MGSV, and as such I would have preferred them to wait and just let it come out with MGSV. But as it stands, and pricing aside, it was a great game. The gameplay was smooth, the graphics were great, and I even really liked the change up of Snake voice actors. And this game also brought back side ops from Peace Walker which added to the game. In fact I started the game again in August of this year to get familiar with the controls again before I went into MGSV TPP, and I spent almost 2 weeks just working on the side ops, trying to perfect them and get the best score.
Not looking at price I would have to give this game a 7.5. Yes it’s great, but there isn’t a lot to this package. An hour mission and if you’re not trying to get perfect scores a few hours’ worth of side ops, you can really do and see all in less than 4 hours.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Without a doubt, MGSV: TPP is the pinnacle of the evolution of the gameplay in this series. As much as MGS4 refined the gameplay and took some of the awkwardness from the gameplay, MGSV pushes this game to not only be as smooth as other 3rdperson action games, but it also exceeds almost every other action game out there in terms of games. The graphics are also amazing, and again really push this generation of hardware in a lot of ways. The style of the game is different than any other game in the series, and while it works, it leads to the game’s biggest weakness; the story.
Let’s start with what works first, and the gameplay would be the first thing that comes to mind with I think about what is most impressive about this game. Smooth is the word I would use. Rather it’s quickly switching between your primary or secondary weapons, your tools and items, all of it is a breeze. In past games you had to hold the directional pad to the left or right and cycle through all weapons or items. In this game you set up a load out before each mission or side op. On top of that, you can customize each weapon to add scopes or even grenade launchers to set up weapons for you own playstyle. Running is limitless, and you can also crouch and walk like in mgs4. Shooting felt spot on as well.
The set up the game has you choosing between a main mission or side op (extra mission for more money), then setting where you want to drop in, then your helicopter flies you in. With this the game also has some great AI friends to help with. D-Dog is amazing, D-horse is really just a cheap vehicle that poops, D-Walker is a mini Metal Gear like tank that once I figured out how to apply the upgrades I was buying (it’s easy, you can apply upgrades to it and you helicopter on the customize menu…I have no idea how I didn’t catch that until I was done with the game) really becomes a handy “buddy”. Then there is Quiet the sniper. I won’t lie, until I unlocked some of her medium and high attacks I preferred D-Dog, but man once you get her commands unlocked, she becomes almost too good of a buddy. No lie, she can clear an entire outpost before you even get there. Honestly for the last 2/3s of the game, it was like her and I were partners. The buddy system is amazing. I won’t say what happens, but I really hope some DLC with her comes out at some point.
I’m going to break down the story in 2 parts. First let’s talk about the gameplay of them. For the most part all 50 missions are a blast to play and replay. The game world is not as huge as other open world games, but it isn’t small either. What makes it a nice size is the depth and style of each area. From small outpost scattered throughout Afghanistan and Africa, to larger bases, and even some industrial areas, there is plenty to do. And when you factor in where you start the missions can be in many different locations, which can affect where and how you get to your destination, and which (if any) buddy you take, you end up with a very replayable game. Also I have to point out that most of the mission have objectives that make for some challenging but fun gameplay. This also applies to how you attack any outpost you come across. I can honestly say that I had conversations with friends where we would discuss several different ways to take out one outpost. It really made the game great, esp with all the different weapons and upgrades you can unlock. There were several times I took out an outpost to realize that I had done it before just from a different angle.
One thing to point out is that after mission 31 the missions take on a few different types. There are a few new ones, but there are also missions you replay in two styles. One style is going in with no weapons to accomplish the mission while have to find weapons. The other is the mission is now on very hard (subsistence) mode. I really enjoyed the ones where you had to find weapons.
Now the 2ndpart of the story, and this is where the game takes a mistake. Gone are the long cut scenes that tell you the story. While there are a few 5 minute scenes here and there, for the most part almost all of the story is told through cassette tapes you unlock after certain missions. While I’m sure this was done as a way to counter some of the criticism of MGS4, I didn’t get much out of the story having to listen to them while I starred at Snake in his helicopter, or just sitting around during free roam. While it did get the story across, I just felt like it was lacking. I didn’t mind having the side or not essential story elements told this way, I would have really enjoyed the main story beats being done in cut scenes; I mean this is a Metal Gear Solid game right?! People will also talk about the ending and how they like it or hated it. At first I was unsure how I felt about it, I knew something was up, but not to this level. However, after some thinking of how it tied into the series, I really enjoyed it. And while (spoiler alert), you don’t see Big Boss go full evil, if you read between the lines you can see how the story went to where it does in it legacy.
One other thing to point out is the way you go in and out of missions and side ops. For the most part you can just stay in free roam and go from mission to mission that way, but for the most part you will pick a place to drop and be picked up from. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does make you feel disconnected with the world in a way. It’s hard for me to put it into words, but I believe if you have played this game you will see what I mean. It also feels like one long loading screen as you fly in and out after doing it so many times.
Another negative to point out is what was cut from the game. Google the issues making this game and you get an idea why certain things were cut, but sadly the gamers are the ones that lose in this. There is an entire plot line that is vital to the series that is just ends with no answers. There is video of what the final mission would have been and honestly it looks amazing. Sadly we may never see what might have been as DLC.
It takes a page from Peace Walkers book and you create your own army. Once you have started to fulton soldiers out from the field, they make up your army. You can send them on missions to gather resources, and also assign them to different jobs to help with base development, medical, Intel, development, and security. One really cool feature is you can improve your security rankings but playing as those soldiers during side ops. These soldiers have abilities as well. Some run faster, some are better shots. It helps keep the game feeling fresh.
Now having an army is great but where do you put it? This game also has you building Mother Base, and this includes building new platforms for each area, a wildlife area, and also some hidden diamonds worth good money. While this is a cool feature, after a while you will only visit for story moments and a shower (yep you do that). I would have liked to have seen a few more areas like what you use in the helicopter or on you iDroid but in a different perspective.
Online FOB missions are a lot of fun. With this you can sneak onto other gamers self-made FOBs and steal resources. If you are seen a wormhole is created for that player to invade your FOB. If you manage to get to the core of their FOB without being seen, they will have no idea who invaded them. I really enjoy this mode. The MGO game itself is pretty fun. I wish there made more of an effort to make the teams different, being shirts or whatever.
I really enjoyed this game. Is it my favorite; no that is still MGS3. Is it the best in the series? Honestly to me it is between this one and MGS4. Do you prefer well done story but with long cut scenes? Or do you want hardly any story movies played and amazing gameplay. Personally I would give this game an easy 9.75, it would have been a 10 had the story been displayed better. Good story but lackluster presentation.
In Conclusion
All in all I have loved the MGS games. And I plan on very soon replaying the games again, included tying MG and MG 2 for the first time. This is the series that really sold me on the story telling in video games. Part of that is why as much as I love MGSV, I feel a little let down they story is not complete. I look forward to seeing a part 6 if one is made. This series has been great from the start and has only gotten better. Sure there are a few things that could be improved, but overall this has been my favorite series. If you are still reading after all this, I’m sure you can see why.
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