Another Masterpiece From Snake

We've all been waiting since the masterful Metal Gear Solid was first released on the playstation for it's worthy follow-up. No other game has created such a gripping story line and characters that seem so real. Metal Gear Solid 2 was a great game in its own right, but it just wasn't the same. Finally, after over 5 years of waiting, a worthy follow-up has been created, and this time, it is just as good, and possibly even better as the first one.

Metal Gear Solid 3 does something totally surprising to the game's setting, as it takes place before the other Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid games have, and based in the 1960s. The main character is a special operations unit man who works for an organization called Fox Hound. His real name is Jack, but he operates under the code name of Snake. Unfortunately, this isn't the real Solid Snake that we've learned to love from the previous games. However, the character design, and voice actor is the same, as well as the character's personality. It's no surprise that this character is actually Snake's predecessor.

Along on this blast to the past is another famous character from the Metal Gear Solid games. His name is Ocelot, and you remember him as the guy that got his arm chopped off by Grey Fox back when Snake was in Alaska. Portrayed here isn't the old, war-experienced commando, but rather a young, newly promoted commander with little experience, but strong skills (especially with his revolver, as displayed in every Metal Gear Solid game). Whether or not this character is actually the Ocelot from the other games, or something different remains a mystery.

There are also a few familiar things from each of the games implemented into the game. You still have your communication capabilities, and the basic frequencies are the same. Saving is 140.96, and to talk to the main commander is 140.85. However, the frequency ranges are random from then on. You also do not have radar in this game, as there is no technology for this created yet. (They're still talking about this new "space-age" food called "instant noodles." You can't expect that high of technology.)

There is also a new system that has been implemented into the game. This is most likely a response to the Splinter Cell games which were more realistic in the stealth aspect, making Metal Gear Solid look like a baby in comparison to it's stealth systems, so they responded by making a new, complex, camouflage index. You have to change your clothing to help you blend into your environments, and the less you are camouflaged, the more you get hit. Speaking of which, the health system is more accurate in this game, and a few hits from the enemy’s guns, and you are dead. Also, another new feature is the food capturing. Since you are placed in a large jungle, you have to crawl around and find food for yourself to restore stamina and to feed basic hunger cravings. Basically, many new features that make the game more realistic have been added into the game. Most importantly though, none of these features take away from the gameplay experience. (Although the food capturing gets really frustrating some times.)

The gameplay however, is the same signature Metal Gear Solid style that we've all come to love. You look from a top-view 3rd person perspective, and you don't have the freedom of camera movement like usual. There are still various bosses that you have to fight (although they have more stealth involved in them this time around) and there is, as always, a gripping storyline that makes you feel that action that is happening around your character. There are also some of the signature features of the game, like hiding in lockers, and being able to carry off and hide bodies, and of course, the alarm system.

The plot is much more like the first Metal Gear Solid game (not the original, the playstation one) rather than the second game, although it has more plot links to the second game rather than the first. (Talking about the patriots and things like that.) You have to take down an organization that is lead by The Boss, who is the character that originally trained Snake. There are various threats against the world including nuclear warheads, and things like that you have to be on the watch for. Most importantly though, is the first ever, Metal Gear, that you have to take down. The organization is the cobras, and you have to take down each and every member.

Along the way, you are to receive help from two special agents, ADAM and EVA. Although ADAM never comes when he is supposed to, EVA comes along and helps Snake through various tight situations, and spends much of the game trying to flirt with Snake. (Much like the Meryl aspect of the first Metal Gear Solid game.)

Major Highlights:
Some of the major highlights of this game for me when I played it, were the boss battles. The bosses were much more fun to fight up against than many of the bosses in the previous games. (Only exception being Fat man from MGS2.) The bosses seemed more threatening, and you had to think about what you were doing, as opposed to running around trying to find the boss and shoot them. The most enjoyable boss fight for me was against The Fury. The Fury was simply an amazing character, and his boss fight was amazing to take out. When you play the game, you should look forward to that fight, as it is the finest in the entire game.

Another major highlight for me, was the whole jungle aspect and having to scrounge around finding means of supporting yourself physically and mentally. It got frustrating and times, but was ultimately rewarding.

Of course, the most important highlight of the game for me, was the entire game play of the game, and the plot line. The game play was very fun to carry out, and when I beat the game finally, I definitely felt like I had gotten the 50 dollars that I had paid for the game back. I defiantly would play through the game again. The plot was very realistic, and it makes you wonder if something like this didn't happen 50 years ago.

Major Disappointments:
I was very disappointed by the way that EVA's character was done. It was like an attempt to arouse the player while they were playing the game, which was something that definitely wasn't vital to the plot of the game (although it sort of was in a way) or to the gameplay of the game.

The only other major disappointment for me, was the fact that it once more, implemented the sloppy game interface that every Metal Gear Solid game has had. It's not enough to hurt the game, but you don't have any camera control, and it's hard to aim and shoot. Splinter Cell showed what the game aspect should have been like, and I almost wish that the game creators had improved the interface a bit more, rather than just make it the same each time. However, it has been much improved since the first game. I just wish that you could move around with the first person view on sometimes. Nothing major though.

In Conclusion
To end this review, I'll basically say that this is one of the best games that I have ever played, and is the best game of 2004 hands-down. (It beats out previous favorite, Pandora Tomorrow.) Everything about it is great, and it is definitely the video game that we have been waiting forever since Solid Snake first debuted on the Playstation.