Bioshock's story vs Metal Gear Solid's story

First of all if somebody has Snake or a Big Daddy in their profile pic ignore their comments.

If you are looking for a story driven game, and you are well read... Bioshock. The game mixes German existentialism and American objectivism with action and horror in a completely unique way. I have never seen video-games as both intellectual and art in the same way that I saw Bioshock.

If the only reason you don't want to pick MGS4 is because you don't want to play the nonPS3 MG games, then my advice to you is to simply play MGS4 and skip the older MG games.

So you won't get a few easter eggs or you won't instantly understand some of the relationships between the characters when they walk onscreen - I think you'll live. And I think you will be able to figure out the important stuff if you pay attention to what the characters say to each other.

I have played all the MG games, and guess what-I played them out of order. The first MG I played was Sons of Liberty and I loved it on my first playthrough. Later on I played the Twin Snakes and realized I missed out on some references to that game when I played SoL, but the fact remains that I loved SoL even when I didn't get all the references. I understand that MGS4 ties in a lot with the old games, but I still think it can stand on its own just fine.

MGS4 provides a very unique gaming experience that you won't get from any other game. It is totally immersive and compelling. Bioshock on the other hand, doesn't really add too much new to the table. Bioshock's story telling device is the same thing we have seen in many games (notably Half Life) . And keep in mind that the political science discussion that you are really into in Bioshock is told through tape recordings-not exactly the most immersive story telling device ever created and it is also really just backstory.

If I could only play one of these games, I would pick MGS4 in a heartbeat. Of course, if you are planning on getting a bunch of PS3 games anyway, I don't understand why you just don't pick up both MGS4 and Bioshock since you seem interested in both.

I've never played a previous MGS game and bought MGS4. Let me tell you I wasn't confused much at all, the game does a very good game introducing new players to the story. If you want to get a complete grasp of everything going on, look up the backstories of the previous games. chopstx667

Haven't seen any comparisons of these. Bottom line is that I have to choose one. I was leaning towards Bioshock because Bioshock II is about to come out. BUT Bioshock kind of seems too easy and plays too much like Oblvion. However, I like the horror theme, and the water envrionments. Played through Demo--liked it for what it was.

Metal Gear Solid seems amazing. I just read an article about it in Business Week. BUT, the fact that I have never played any of the previous games before kind of makes me afraid of being too confused. Snake sounds like Beavis in "Beavis and Butthead." And he is soooo old. I like the anti-war message to it all and hope the cutscenses are worth it. ( I was watching in-game cutscene on youtube and it seemed kind of lame. A little girl kept offering Snake coffee and he kept refusing-- it was a really lame joke, and some other lewd lame humor (too Japanese for me). Did anyone else fear that the acting would be kind of corny, but then once they got it were proven wrong?

Snakeeyes8855

(topic) if you've never played it how can you compare. I thought you were talking about the story, not the level design. Anyway...

I like MGS4 better, but that could be because I've been playing MG since the NES.

First of all if somebody has Snake or a Big Daddy in their profile pic ignore their comments.

If you are looking for a story driven game, and you are well read... Bioshock. The game mixes German existentialism and American objectivism with action and horror in a completely unique way. I have never seen video-games as both intellectual and art in the same way that I saw Bioshock.

MGS4 is a small portion of the Metal Gear storyline. Metal Gear storyline is 20 years old and it's a pretty long complicated deep awesome story that is divided into 7 chapters:

1- Metal Gear(1987)
2- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake(1990)
3- Metal Gear Solid(1998)
4- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty(2001)
5- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(2004)
6- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops(2006)
7- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots(2008)
8- Metal Gear Solid 5: ?????????????(201?)

So you just can't compare Bioshock's story to Metal Gear's story because we all know that Bioshock's story is really small comparing to the giant that is Metal Gear.

MGS4 is a small portion of the Metal Gear storyline. Metal Gear storyline is 20 years old and it's a pretty long complicated deep awesome story that is divided into 7 chapters:

1- Metal Gear(1987)
2- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake(1990)
3- Metal Gear Solid(1998)
4- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty(2001)
5- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(2004)
6- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops(2006)
7- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots(2008)
8- Metal Gear Solid 5: ?????????????(201?)

So you just can't compare Bioshock's story to Metal Gear's story because we all know that Bioshock's story is really small comparing to the giant that is Metal Gear.

THQ88

Agreed, but you should really point out more facts if you're going to help the TC make his decision. Is Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake really worth mention? There's basically no story at all other than Solid Snake enters a fortress and beats Big Boss..... Twice. :)

[QUOTE="THQ88"]

MGS4 is a small portion of the Metal Gear storyline. Metal Gear storyline is 20 years old and it's a pretty long complicated deep awesome story that is divided into 7 chapters:

1- Metal Gear(1987)
2- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake(1990)
3- Metal Gear Solid(1998)
4- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty(2001)
5- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(2004)
6- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops(2006)
7- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots(2008)
8- Metal Gear Solid 5: ?????????????(201?)

So you just can't compare Bioshock's story to Metal Gear's story because we all know that Bioshock's story is really small comparing to the giant that is Metal Gear.

Nephilim83

Agreed, but you should really point out more facts if you're going to help the TC make his decision. Is Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake really worth mention? There's basically no story at all other than Solid Snake enters a fortress and beats Big Boss..... Twice. :)

With all due respect to your knowledge of the storyline, but there are reasons why Big Boss did what he did in Outer Heaven and Zanzibar and there is history behind them. Yes it's worth mentioning much like any other Metal Gear. If you've played Portable Ops you'd know why Big Boss did what he did in the first Metal Gear which dates back to 1987.

[QUOTE="Snakeeyes8855"][QUOTE="edthetinker"]

First of all if somebody has Snake or a Big Daddy in their profile pic ignore their comments.

If you are looking for a story driven game, and you are well read... Bioshock. The game mixes German existentialism and American objectivism with action and horror in a completely unique way. I have never seen video-games as both intellectual and art in the same way that I saw Bioshock.

Nephilim83

Sounds more like psychology then philosophy. Don't take that as an attack please, the two fields cross in and out of each other all the time, and my favorite philosopher saw himself as a psychologist first, but perhaps the reason you can't think of any "fancy" names is because men struggling with their own feelings towards war, government, etc. are having psychological conflicts. Men struggling with self-creation, finding "meaning" or the age old purpose of life, and is there a god questions are having existential problems. Perhaps the reason MGS4 is not as appealing to me is that I had to find answers to these same psychological questions while I served in the Army, under Bush. The don't seem as amazing to me because I lived a soldiers life (and a questioning soldiers life at that) My new civilian freedom has made the questions of higher purpose to "true" self more relevant than any reactionary impulse i have to my government, boss, orgirlfriend.

MGS4 is a good game and the TC will more than likely play both games, but in the hypothetical world where only one can be played I will stick by my recommendation for Bioshock because of its courage to ask the player if they are a product of their own will or if they are the proverbial flies in the marketplace.

My vote goes to MGS4 with ease. I liked Bioshock, but it's no MGS4 that's for sure. But what was great about Bioshock is it's length, but story wise it is no contest.

[QUOTE="Nephilim83"]

[QUOTE="THQ88"]

MGS4 is a small portion of the Metal Gear storyline. Metal Gear storyline is 20 years old and it's a pretty long complicated deep awesome story that is divided into 7 chapters:

1- Metal Gear(1987)
2- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake(1990)
3- Metal Gear Solid(1998)
4- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty(2001)
5- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(2004)
6- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops(2006)
7- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots(2008)
8- Metal Gear Solid 5: ?????????????(201?)

So you just can't compare Bioshock's story to Metal Gear's story because we all know that Bioshock's story is really small comparing to the giant that is Metal Gear.

THQ88

Agreed, but you should really point out more facts if you're going to help the TC make his decision. Is Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake really worth mention? There's basically no story at all other than Solid Snake enters a fortress and beats Big Boss..... Twice. :)

With all due respect to your knowledge of the storyline, but there are reasons why Big Boss did what he did in Outer Heaven and Zanzibar and there is history behind them. Yes it's worth mentioning much like any other Metal Gear. If you've played Portable Ops you'd know why Big Boss did what he did in the first Metal Gear which dates back to 1987.

Yeah, there are important reasons why Big Boss did what he did, but its not explained in either the original titles. In those two games we're just left to believe he's some evil mastermind. Like you said, portable ops is the one game that really tells you where Big Boss got the idea for Outer Heaven and why he did it. I actually argued on one thread that Portable Ops is an important addition to the MGS canon, but I was told that it was not and that NOBODY played it. I recommend if anybody hasn't played it to check it out. Its quite worth it. Anyway, I was just saying as far as getting the whole story goes those first two games are not very important. You actually know the whole story from the first MGS. They're fun to attempt a play through, though. If you can beat those games you are quite the gamer. :)

Philosophy's a bunch of bullcrap anyway.

Sounds more like psychology then philosophy. Don't take that as an attack please, the two fields cross in and out of each other all the time, and my favorite philosopher saw himself as a psychologist first, but perhaps the reason you can't think of any "fancy" names is because men struggling with their own feelings towards war, government, etc. are having psychological conflicts. Men struggling with self-creation, finding "meaning" or the age old purpose of life, and is there a god questions are having existential problems. Perhaps the reason MGS4 is not as appealing to me is that I had to find answers to these same psychological questions while I served in the Army, under Bush. The don't seem as amazing to me because I lived a soldiers life (and a questioning soldiers life at that) My new civilian freedom has made the questions of higher purpose to "true" self more relevant than any reactionary impulse i have to my government, boss, orgirlfriend.

MGS4 is a good game and the TC will more than likely play both games, but in the hypothetical world where only one can be played I will stick by my recommendation for Bioshock because of its courage to ask the player if they are a product of their own will or if they are the proverbial flies in the marketplace.

edthetinker

Actually, its a whole lot of both. As far as the characters go, yes, they deal with a lot of phycological issues. But isn't it their philosophies that drive them? I really don't think Bioshock was all that deep. I never felt like questioning myself or why I do the thinks I do. I drive myself through this life just as much as I am a passenger in the great American machine. We all are. I like Bioshock and all its craziness, but there's really not a whole lot to it if you ask me. There's really only one major plot twist sprinkled in with a few extras, and as far as why Rapture existed... that was pretty much explained in the get go. Its cool, but there wasn't really much to keep it interesting the whole way through. Of course, it was ruined for me when some arse on this very forum told me the big twist before I ever finished the game. Would you kindly never do that? :) Anyway, MGS is packed full of plot twists. There's one around every corner. YOu almost always have a dozen or more questions burning in your head that you can't wait to reveal, so you have to keep playing. And at first you think you agree with what you are fighting for (usually to destroy a big nuclear-armed mech) but once you hear WHY the villians are doing what they are doing you tend to ask yourself (if you're anything like me anyway) is that really a bad thing? Where the villian's attack may be against country, government, and a million people its always for the greater good of all mankind. Kind of like the Watchmen (greatest graphic novel of all time. Movie=perfect). I've never question my own personal views because of a game until I became a fan of MGS.

Anyway, you make some great points. I appreciate the explanation of Existentialism (or whatever). I tend to be existential from time to time. I like pychology a lot. I tooka year of it in college and almost changed my major. I just never explored it deeply enough to learn all those fancy terms. I could hardly get past the "Skinner Box." That's hilarious! :)......... I'm sure the TC will end up playing both games. I really think he should. I more or less was trying to give him a clear reason why MGS4 is a must play, so he doesn't end up passing it up all together.

P.S. Sorry you had to serve under Bush. Bet you did do a whole lot of questioning..........

Philosophy's a bunch of bullcrap anyway.

Scianix-Black

Haven't seen any comparisons of these. Bottom line is that I have to choose one. I was leaning towards Bioshock because Bioshock II is about to come out. BUT Bioshock kind of seems too easy and plays too much like Oblvion. However, I like the horror theme, and the water envrionments. Played through Demo--liked it for what it was.

Metal Gear Solid seems amazing. I just read an article about it in Business Week. BUT, the fact that I have never played any of the previous games before kind of makes me afraid of being too confused. Snake sounds like Beavis in "Beavis and Butthead." And he is soooo old. I like the anti-war message to it all and hope the cutscenses are worth it. ( I was watching in-game cutscene on youtube and it seemed kind of lame. A little girl kept offering Snake coffee and he kept refusing-- it was a really lame joke, and some other lewd lame humor (too Japanese for me). Did anyone else fear that the acting would be kind of corny, but then once they got it were proven wrong?

Snakeeyes8855

i wrote a descent sized blog comparing these two games a few months ago. sadly it's the only blog i've written, but maybe you should take a quick glance at it. it may help your decision. leave me a comment if it has helped. ;) http://www.gamespot.com/users/zmbi_gmr/

umm tough one, i found metal gear solid a good story because i was listening to everything and got drawn into the story...

i also found myself getting drawn into Bioshock but for different reasons, Bioshock "shocked me" (sorry about the pun, lol) because i didnt think it would be that good

Sorry if any one tried my link, and it didn't work. the new link should work for you now. obviously you can view my blog be simply clicking on my avatar as well. to the tc: both games are gems that should no doubt be played and enjoyed by all. :D

Bioshocks story is excellent and was compelling for a while, the game play was a little off setting because you had to switch back and forth between plasmids and guns. With MGS4 the cut scenes and the story were awesome. I didn't play any of the previous games, but I understood everything.

With MGS4 the cut scenes and the story were awesome. I didn't play any of the previous games, but I understood everything.

lobert124

I'd say mgs4 from a laymens pov.

Both are extremely intresting and they both draw you into the plot, and this for me really makes a game. mgs pips it tho' for sheer length of the cutscenes, having to watch literaly over an hour of story at 1 point with little or no gameplay in between was great for me and made this a whole lot more of a story than a game. while the gameplay being an absolutly brilliant added bonus.

mp sux tho ;)

I would suggest you to get Bioshock cause first of all, it's less expensive than MGS4 which is good, (2) you don't need to play previous games to totally understand the whol;e story. If someone tells you they totally understand the whole MSG lore by playing only the 4th one, they don't know anything about MGS. Bioshock is probably the first shooter i played that the story was actually really entertainning. I would suggest you to get Bioshock so when bioshock 2 comes around you know a bit of story of the 1st one. If you're opting for MGS, I'd say get Twin Snakes on Gamecube, get Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater on PS2 (PS3 if urs capable of playing PS2 games) then get the 4th one to fully enjoy it. Both games are sure values tho. Bioshock is cheaper :P

Nothing beats Metal Gear Solid story.

BioShock wins, imo. I never liked the characters in the MGS universe and the story was always way out there.

In my opinion, I think it would be kind of hard to compare the two. The Metal Gear Solid series is full of different characters and countless interactions between them. With BioShock, we were basically given the middle of a story(a pretty awesome one) and even though it was a very solid experience, it would be hard to compare it with MGS. I'm not saying either game is bad or anything as I own both, but I'm just saying that you would probably have to pick-and-choose the differences to see which one is more appealing. If that makes any sense...