It’s been a three year wait, but Snake is back for another complex, interesting, and very memorable adventure.
about in previous Metal Gear Solid titles. Snake’s newest mission takes place in the 1960’s during the heart of the Cold War in a mountainous region of the Soviet Union where he is forced to embark on a dangerous mission to rescue a Russian scientist who has requested asylum in the West. This scientist has created a weapon of mass destruction that is capable of turning the Cold War “red-hot” so to speak. This new weapon is the first incarnation of Metal Gear, a nuclear-equipped walking tank with the capability to make a nuclear strike anywhere on the face of the planet. This new setting not only treats gamers with new environments to explore, but also gives a fresh perspective from which to understand the story, and suffice it to say, following and understanding the story is an integral part of the Metal Gear Solid experience. You will literally spend hours watching long cut-scenes that further the game’s in-depth story. If you’re the type of person that can barely sit still for a two-hour movie then this title might not be for you, as nearly half of your time will be spent watching cut-scenes rather than just playing. This opens up Snake Eater, or any other Metal Gear Solid title for that matter, for some just criticism. You play games to play them, right? If you wanted to watch something then you could turn on your television or pop in a movie. While this is true, the story that you will experience is better than what’s playing at the movies or airing on TV. Snake Eater is a game that you can truly, and please pardon my pun, sink your teeth into. The experience is so immersive that you may soon forget that you are sitting in your living room playing a game. This is much more than just your typical run-and-gun; it’s a work of art.
During the first few hours of the game, you will be introduced to some of the game’s extremely important as well as very fascinating characters. Most notably of these characters is a much younger version of Revolver Ocelot, Snake’s nemesis from previous titles, and Snake’s former mentor, known only as “The Boss.” Both of these characters, as well as many others, are very dynamic and play vital roles in understanding the game’s story. Players will see many familiar faces as well as many new ones. The bosses in the game will also hit home with fans of the series as they are as wild and unique as ever. One boss fight puts you into a sniper fight that can literally take hours depending on your strategy. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say that’s the tip of the iceberg.
The gameplay hasn’t changed dramatically from previous Metal Gear Solid titles. The action still takes place from a third-person perspective with a limited amount of camera adjustability. You can switch the action to a first-person view whenever needed by the simple click of a shoulder button whether you need to scope out your surroundings or take down a squad of enemy troops. You still can’t move or even strafe in this view, but it really doesn’t affect the gameplay much as the controls are extremely solid and with a little practice, are quite easy to get the hang of. Without nitpicking, the only true gripe about the gameplay is the lack of camera control which is understandable because it would have involved changing the entire gameplay mechanics, but still a bit disappointing as some action sequences can be cumbersome to play. You’ll run into a situation or two where you can’t see your foes, but they have a clear shot at you. Another new feature is the ability to change your camouflage uniforms and face paints in order to blend in better with your surroundings. You will acquire new camo patterns as you go, some of which will even have hidden abilities. Another significant change is the removal of the radar. Venturing through the terrain without the aid of a radar is a difficult change to get used to, but once you do, it makes the game’s action that much more tense and exciting. A few other alterations such as a new close-quarter’s combat engine and the ability to heal your injuries have also been added, but such things are a bit abstract and don’t affect the overall gameplay in a substantial manner. As in other previous Metal Gear Solid titles, Snake Eater has many unique and thrilling moments to experience such as having to slowly walk through a river with nearby enemy sentries searching for you or having to snipe out a group of soldiers slacking off in an abandoned cabin. For a game that is so story-driven, Snake Eater has an equal amount of impressive gameplay. This installment in the franchise is also a substantially longer experience than its predecessors. It should take you a good 20-25 hours to complete the game and you will likely want to play through it a few more times to better understand the story and to play through some of the games more exciting moments again.
The graphics have improved significantly since the previous installments. The environments are extremely detailed as you will see rivers flowing, animals creeping in the background, and even individual blades of grass blowing in the wind. The character models and lighting affects also have a very impressive look to them. The lip-synching during the cut-scenes could still use a little work, but for as much as Snake Eater does right on such dated hardware, who’s complaining?
The sound is another aspect of the game that has been done exceptionally well. The sound effects are truly outstanding. The cracks of guns blazing, alarms going off, leaves rustling in the wind, and even soldiers being dropped to the ground are all spot-on. As with all Metal Gear Solid titles, the voice acting is generally of great quality. David Hayter is back as the voice of Solid Snake and all of the other voice actors for the main characters do great jobs of bringing their characters to life. Snake Eater’s soundtrack is also done incredibly well. From the unique theme song to the music during the credits, the music in this game will make the ambiance that much more immersive. Dolby Pro Logic II support is another welcome feature that really adds a lot to the overall gameplay experience as it gives you an accurate understanding of where your enemies are onscreen.
In the end, Metal Gear Solid 3 is simply a game that you need to play. Not everyone is going to enjoy the drawn out cut-scenes or the bewildering story, but as a gamer, you really should give this style of game a try. As I stated earlier, Metal Gear Solid is much more than a series of games; the franchise truly is a work of art and a labor of love. Everything from the outstanding story to the attention to detail in the jungle makes Snake Eater the kind of game that outshines virtually every other game out there. Pick this one up now. Yes, it’s that good.