The Metal Gear Solid franchise exploded on the scene on the original Playstation which became an instant hit on so many levels. It had an immersive story, amazing graphics, (At the time) great sound and voice acting as well as a cast of characters you couldn't get enough of. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty was of the same catagory, yet again redefining the stealth genre to what it is today. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is no different. The beginning is the same as the others in the series, you start in a foreign enviroment with nothing except a gun and your wits. For the first half hour, you may feel you made a mistake by buying this game as it starts out very slow, teaching how to use the newly introduced CQC system as well as other things. The first mission, Virtuous Mission, is basically a learning part for those who haven't played before, and those who want to get used to it's new style of Gameplay. The game doesn't really pick up until you start your second mission, Snake Eater, when you meet new characters, get new weapons and learn more about what's happening and why you are in the Motherland of the U.S.S.R.. As the game progresses, you develop a sort of bond with the characters as you learn their story and everything about them. The ending brought a number of powerful emotions to me, that I can't reveal without spoiling the game. MGS3 makes many improvement from the lukewarm response of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The story takes many twists but is still understandable. The camera system still hurts in some situations, but now you can control it with the right analog stick. There are no vicious surprises such as playing as Raiden. The cut scene amount has been cut back heavily and most of the Codec calls are ones that you make, as most conversation scenes are in as cut scene. Foe those concerned about the length of these scenes, most of us look forward to the downtime that they bring. Snake Eater brings tons of new features to the table. First and most obvious is the jungle theme. I was a bit skeptical at first about it, but when you actually play it, you can really appriciate the change it brongs to the series. Second, is the addition of the close quarter combat or CQC. This is my new favorite feature. You can sneak up behind a guard, and do a number of things: Throw him to the ground, knock him out, knife his throat, or use him as a human shield. You can do all of this without wasting a bullet. Another feature is having to feed and care for yourself. First things first. You have to have patience to do this. Every time you get hurt you have to heal, or whenever the scene changes, you have to switch camoflage. It tries your patience at some times (Especially during boss fights) but doesn't really dampen the experience. As far as graphics and sound go, don't get me started. On the Playstation 2, this is as good as it gets. When crawling through the grass, blades of grass fold in front of you as if they were real. Soldiers have eyes that dart from your hostage to you, making a hostage situation seem so much more frantic. Amazing? Yes. Explosions look like they are straight from a movie, even the animals look incredible. As for sound, the voice acting is superb, and the jugle noises are crystal clear, even coming out of your grandma's old 5 inch TV. MGS3 comes with a minigame already unlocked, Snake Vs. Monkeys. Is this a killer app? No. But is it enough tif you just want to take a break from the story and just shoot stuff? Absolutely. The great thing about this minigame is these is no blood, camoflage changing or food needs, so anyone can play it especially younger children. In the end, was Snake Eater worth the wait? Absolutely. It brings so much to the table that diehard fans and casual gamers alike can play this game without any regrets. Will haters of the series be changed by this game? Probably not. But will open minds find a great game in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater? Yes.
Other Helpful Reviews for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Metal Gear Solid series has been known for it's outstanding graphics, it's brilliant story telling, and it's incredibly complex yet efficient gameplay style. I wasn't sure if I would like the style, the predecessors... Read Full Review
When the prologue to the game took me almost 2 hours to get through, I knew I had something special. After the explosive opening to the game, the beginning credits roll with a song entitled Snake Eater. I was surprised, ... Read Full Review
