Kojima's masterpiece
The game mends the mistakes Metal Gear Solid 2 created, and the confusing storyline is much simpler this time round. The story is original and the game goes back in time to reveal more about Big Boss, father of Solid and Liquid Snake. In MGS3, players are given an insight as to why and how Big Boss became who he is.
Graphics wise, the game is astonishingly detailed. After playing San Andreas, MGS3's graphics are refreshing. There are hardly any jagged lines on screen, even when playing on a normal CRT television. The environment, characters, vehicles and weapons are all highly detailed. One of the best visuals on the PS2. However, the flipside to all this detail is the framerate, which isn't as smooth as MGS2, but still runs at a respectable 30 to 50 fps.
The sound and music are great as usual. You may get goosebumps when you hear the James Bond-like intro music "Snake Eater". Some original pieces of music from previous MGS games will also feature, but what I particularly enjoyed were the 'alert mode' music pieces, which reach crescendo when you are in alert mode, then gradually slows down as you evade the enemy. You may find yourself getting alerted by the enemy on purpose just to hear the soundtrack.
Some people find the gameplay to be quite a nuisance due to the new camera system. Somehow Kojima always messes this up, but it's only a minor annoyance and isn't overly frustrating. Apart from that, the gunfights and sneaking are just as exhilarating as before.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a must-have for action gamers and previous MGS fans. You can't call yourself a true gamer without this on your shelf. Get it now.