The Retrospective 09.19.06: Metal Gear (Part 3 of 3)
Posted by Sean McCabe on 09.19.2006
The end of our sneaking mission is in sight, as we chow down on some fine cuisine. Apparently it's made from Anaconda meat...
Well, now's the time. The time to examine just what makes the Metal Gear Solid series so famous, or infamous depending on whom you ask. The original Metal Gear Solid for the PSX may have been a highly critically acclaimed and popular game, but really, that was only the beginning of what was to come…
The Introspective
Well, pretty slow week really, Nintendo only revealed a whole batch of new details and trailers for the Wii, none of which excite me at all. That noise you hear is all the sarcasm detectors in the world breaking simultaneously, and several bullshit detectors probably to. Well, yeah, right now I would probably sacrifice a kitten to the dark Gods of yore if it would get me a Wii earlier than December the 8th, but hey, it's at least quite a short wait, isn't it Sony?
As for my actual playtime this week, most of it has been spent on the first Shadow Hearts. I just beat it a couple of hours before I wrote this. Great game, probably rarer than gold dust so I encourage you, that if you ever see it snap it up there and then. Even better if you can find Covenant and Koudelka, but the latter is probably even rarer than Shadow Hearts. I have it, of course. What I don't have is From the New World, since a subsidiary of Square-Enix have the license to that over Midway. And I'm sure the fact that they haven't yet decided to bring it over here has absolutely nothing to do with manipulating the markets and the competition they have in Europe at all, nope, nothing to do with it. No sound this time, since there's no more Sarcasm detectors left anymore. Anyway, I know I've been talking about Shadow Hearts quite a bit over the past couple of weeks, but for those sick and tired of it, rejoice; because this'll pretty much be the last I say about it until From the New World appears in my games collection, which will probably be when I have a Swap Magic import disc. And then once I beat that and Koudelka, the greatest J-RPG series of all time (don't like it, then go back to playing your emo-games, posers) will become the subject of this column. Anyway, to get us to a new subject, here's another babe.
The Greek Goddess of Ass-Kickery, Cassandra.
Yeah, I really do call her that. You'd see why when you saw me playing as her though. And yes, I too am hoping for a Soul Calibur Wii game. It's a possibility, who knows. Oh, and I have to say I was somewhat disappointed about the Wii's European price. I'd be angry if Nintendo were the only ones who shaft us on price, but since everybody does it without exception, including our own companies, I can't really hold it against them. I did notice on my trawl through the Internet, a serious amount of whining from people who believe their being forced to pay for Wii Sports. However, I believe the cost of developing the game was so negligible that in truth Nintendo are probably giving the thing away for free, and well, ripping it out of the package would probably not make the Wii any cheaper. The controller prices are also a bit high, but since the controller is in essence the Wii's libido, I guess I can let that slide to. Considering I have at least one friend who is definitely thinking about buying a Wii to, (and I think he most definitely will when I tell him about the Mii thing) so that is a second controller taken care of.
Then again, I won't need a second Wii controller to play Twilight Princess. And other games might as well not exist then. So, heh, I'll be fine for a while.
No real feedback this week, so I guess it's time to move onto business.
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Format: Gamecube
Release: 2004
Notes: Developed by respected house Silicon Knights, the Cut scenes were also directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, the director of films such as Versus and Azumi.
I think in an odd way, the Gamecube somehow became the home of the re-imaginings of the truly great PSX games. If FFVII had been given the treatment, then that would have been it really. Anyway, what we have here is pretty much a straight remake of the original Metal Gear Solid, with some gameplay elements taken from Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty such as a first person view and interactive lockers. The script is more or less the same, despite being re-recorded for the game, and the cast is also the same. What did change was the physical choreography of the game's cut scenes, which were far more over the top than the previous incarnation. Some were changed for the better; such as the scene in which the Ninja exoskeleton slaughters a group of guards. This sequence was made far more visceral and stylish, and was a definite improvement. Others however, mostly of Snake showing him self to be more acrobatic than Spiderman, were really more cheesy than anything else. Even so, the power of the game's story was ultimately enhanced by the polygon upgrade, and the gameplay was also, at least in my opinion, improved. Yes, it is true that Twin Snakes was easier than the original on default, but then that is what things like European Extreme were invented for. However the first person view and lockers definitely made the game more interesting than it otherwise would have been. The Twin Snakes however, suffered in sales due to the fact that not enough was really added or changed in order to make it worth playing by anybody other than the more ardent Metal Gear fans. Considering Resident Evil Remake sold a bit better; that is because that did have a lot of new content.
In Retrospect: I think a must own game for anybody with a real interest in the Metal Gear universe, the ability to see the Series' most popular story told in spectacular 128 bit graphics alone really is worth owning it for. However, it was mostly overshadowed, partly because it was Gamecube exclusive, which as much as I like the Gamecube almost certainly hurt its sales; and partly because ultimately, not a whole lot was added to what the original game accomplished.
And now, onto what must be the most controversial game of the series. You're about to seem an almost JT like in defence of… yes, Raiden.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty/Substance
Format: PS2/PS2, Xbox
Release: 2002/2003
Notes: The build up and anticipation to this game were off the charts, and I think I can sum up a lot with the very Sony-like soundbite, Individual melting Ice cubes! A demo showing the tanker section of the game was included in with Zone of the Enders, and that game probably sold ten times as many copies as it otherwise would have. Oh, and don't forget that dude with the white hair you play as. He kinda annoyed some people.
Hm, this is an interesting game for me to write about. I didn't buy so much into the hype as other people did, I mean I liked Metal Gear Solid but come on, How likely was it that Konami could follow up with something half as good? Generally I thought that because MGS was as much a movie as a game in many ways, and film directors often have a lot of trouble besting their older work with sequels. And "Individual melting Ice Cubes" was only so exciting after all. I also didn't have a PS2 when the game finally did release, so whilst many of the people I knew had bought and played it… it shocked me that most of them had just taken it back or traded it after they were done with it. I then assumed that it didn't live up to the hype. Still, the advantage of a lot of people trading copies back into shops meant its value quickly depreciated and I got a copy for a very cheap price when I finally did have a PS2 to play it on.
And all I can say is Wow. What we have here is one of the greatest cases of an underappreciated work of art in the gaming industry, probably along the lines of a Grim Fandango and an Eternal Darkness. In short, those who anticipated this game so much were left disappointed and those who didn't found an incredible game. I think there's a message there. But anyway, I said this was going to be an In Defense of, and by golly it will be. Not a very good one, since I don't have the kind of time to write a really in depth one, but I'm hoping to bring about an understanding on these issues, at least from how I see it. So, without further ado, lets take the three major issues that need defending.
In defence of… Only playing as Snake for the Tanker section
The charges – Snake is a badass, and people want to play as him, so in not allowing that, it hurt the game's fun quota.
The defence – Snake is just an avatar through which the messages and themes of the first Metal Gear Solid were communicated through. This made him an ideal starting point for Sons of Liberty, however, for the story to be able to branch out and allow for more messages and themes to be expressed, it was practically required for another point of view to be brought into the story, hence Raiden.
Snake is "badass"? Undeniably, But games like Devil May Cry are for people who care about that. Metal Gear Solid is for people who care more about art, and the integrity of a story. Because yes, considering the sheer amount of non-interactive-gameplay time, MGS will always be more a medium for the transmission of a story than a game, and because of that, expanding the possibilities out with one character was a very good thing to do. There's always more than one interesting protagonist in a good story anyway.
In Defence of… Raiden
The charges – Raiden's teh gay, Raiden's a n00b, Raiden sucks…. You get the idea
The Defence - I've already defended of actually playing as Raiden, but the character of Raiden could use a defence himself, such is the nature of his character. One thing people disliked about him was his apparent inexperience, the fact that his behaviour and expressions are very… rookieish. But this was quite deliberate. The purpose of his character was first to show how easily people can be controlled and manipulated, playing the part of Snake against his own will without the benefit of Snake's experience, but also he deliberately was made out to be a far more melodramatic figure than Snake. His tragic past, his uncertainty about his life, his inability to put the nightmares of his childhood to rest, he was an even more intense version of what Snake used to be. But Unlike what Snake had, he had the benefit of the real Solid Snake by his side. Through that his character matured, and through his experiences of being manipulated, he developed a true sense of purpose. I believe the MGS4 trailer is just a small taste of the character Raiden has become, and I suspect his detractors will quickly shut their mouths. After all, he's the Ninja. They're cool by default, aren't they?
In Defence of… That Ending
The Charges – didn't make sense, was very stupid etc.
The Defence - Yep, that ending. The one where Rose and the Colonel are revealed to be, shall we say, not quite human? Or not even quite that real? Yeah, I thought it was Evangelion syndrome to when I first saw it. But, on repeated plays, I began to think that in a twisted way, the ending makes sense. It really does. Of course, it would take me about 4 pages to explain it fully, but the short of it is that the Patriots are claiming to be non-corporeal beings born out of the politics of human beings. Yeah, pretty screwed up, but I think it's best to wait until MGS4 before really judging the ending of Sons of Liberty either way.
In Retrospect: Personally, for me it was a game that redefined awesomeness, and if it weren't for a certain MGS3 would be my favourite game of the series, because although the game followed similar mechanics to the original MGS… in terms of story direction couldn't be more different. In the grander scheme of things, MGS2 was just successful enough to be considered a major hit, and it was by no means a failure. But I often wonder if it could have been an even bigger smash if people would be a bit less conservative and embrace change more.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater/Subsistence
Release: 2004/2005
Format: PS2/PS2
Notes: The prequel to the entire series: players take on the role of soldier who would become known to the world as Big Boss. A wild departure from the other games in terms of gameplay, which I will explain.
I love this game. If this game were a woman, it would be the kind of woman who would tell you every day she loves you, and who serviced you in ways you didn't think were possible… okay, I guess this isn't the place for fantasising, but basically, Snake Eater is the pinnacle of the series. Hideo Kojima took everything he had learned through creating every Metal Gear game up to this point, and sculpted a beautiful work of art from it.
The story acts as the beginning of everything. Foxhound's first mission, likely the mission from which the concept of Metal Gear stems from, and the beginning of the man who would become known as Big Boss's story. This man, going by the codename of Naked Snake, would infiltrate a Russian facility in the Caucasus, in order to rescue a defector Scientist held captive, force to finish his work on a terrifying weapon. Snake would rescue Sokolov, the scientist in question, only to be betrayed by his Mentor, a woman known as The Boss, and her unit. A rogue Russian General, Volgin, who employs them, then uses The Boss's "gift" of a nuclear warhead to spark a diplomatic incident, which forces another daring mission for Naked Snake; Stop Volgin, destroy Sokolov's research, and kill The Boss and her unit. If he doesn't, then the Cold War comes to a fiery end. It's a deceptively simply story for an MGS game, especially considering Sons of Liberty, but in actuality, Snake Eater's tale has more twists in it than a coiled Python. All of it leads to a tragic ending which explains the motivation of Big Boss for his future actions, and also explains the origins of a man very much entrenched in the antagonist end of the series, Revolver Ocelot.
The Gameplay saw some very interesting changes and additions. Gone is the Soliton Radar, in it's place more archaic equipment. The changes in scenery means Snake can't easily rely on nooks and crannies to hide in, but must use camouflage to disguise himself in the open. He can also fight up close with a knife, using a highly advanced combat technique taught to him by The Boss. The health bar is still present, but added to it is a stamina bar, which requires food to replenish it and the ability to receive specific injuries, which require specific treatments. That and other little improvements make Snake Eater by far the most in-depth experience of the series.
In Retrospect: The best game on the PS2, in my estimation, and the best game in the Metal Gear series. The reason for that is because more than any game ever created, Snake Eater immerses you into the environment you must traverse. Not only that, but the game has one of the most varied combat systems you could ever get to grips with, and to top it all off, a memorable story which helps explain a lot about the series. Great stuff, plain and simple
It's plugging time!
Remind me, I have to shove King of Fighters XI, 2006 and Samurai Showdown Tenkaichi up Vincent Chiucchi's keester due to his comments about SNK's current form in this weeks Gaming Trends,Great article though.
Jordan Williams speaks the truth in Under/Over. Pity he wasn't hard enough on Square, maybe I should write an article taking them apart. Someone has to, right?
Thise weeks Top 5. is all about the J-RPGs. I think you guys already know what my number one is.
Damian Sarcuni is the anti-christ for Games companies, see it all in Angry Gaming. This time he's had it with rehashes!
This weeks Fact or Fiction isn't as cool as last weeks. First it doesn't contain me and second, there's no conflict, so no drama. But you should still check it out, this could be the only perfect score we see... or the first of many. It is up to fate.
Will Scott rants about one of my own personal pet hates, the MMORPG, in his latest Game Rants.
Well, that's it. I'll be taking a break for a week, since having one weekend where I don't have to worry about a column would be really nice right now, but in two weeks, I will start another epic journey, through the streets of a place called Racoon City…
Until then, show zombies what discrimination is all about. Always keep things in perspective, and goodbye!
