AQWBlaZer91's First Impressions: Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D EShop Demo

Game Title: Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Genre: Stealth Action

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Kojima Productions

Demo Released: 16th February 2012

Date of Full Game Release: 21st 2012 (North America), March 8th 2012 (Japan), March 8th 2012 (Europe), March 8th 2012 (Australia)

Age Rating: BBFC: 15, CERO: 18+/D, ESRB: M, OFLC: (AUS) MA15+, OFLC: (NZ) R16, PEGI: 16+,18+ (Subsistence), USK: 16

Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game back in 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3 made for the disappointments that Metal Gear Solid 2 made and improved them as well as introducing Big Boss himself Naked Snake. 8 years later Snake sneaks his way onto Nintendo's 3D Hand held console with remake of the third game in the Metal Gear Solid series.

Snake Eater's events take place in 1964 during the Cold War where the protagonist Snake is sent on a mission in the jungles of Tselinoyarsk to rescue a Soviet scientist named Sokolov. Snake is assisted by Major Zero, Para-Medic, and his former mentor The Boss who are there to offer support whenever needed. The game is told through impressive cinematic cut-scenes that have excellent voice acting and an amazing script.

The Snake Eater Demo is limited to 30 uses before it expires and it lasts till you reach where Sokolov is being held.

Like previous entries Snake Eater focuses on working your way through point A to point B without being detected by the enemies on patrol. What I'll have to note down is that the series trademark cardboard box that Snake usually can hide in is not in the Demo.

The best way to avoid detection is too stay crouched and use the Survival Menu to even your chances of avoiding detection. You can use a uniform customization set up which allows you to change your Camouflage. You can also change your face colour, make Snake go shirtless or you can take a picture using the 3DS camera so that you use the image on your uniform. There's a meter that shows how well the uniform fits with the environment. If you run around too much then you'll be easy to spot but however if you stay crouched and use the right uniform for the environment you're in you won't stick like a sore thumb.

The Gameplay is shown on the top screen while your options and Item and Weapon swapping is handled on the Touch Screen. The game is played using the D-Pad and the 4 Face buttons. The game also supports the Circle Pad Pro but I do knot have the device so I can't make any comments aside from using both Circle Pads to Aim and Move. The Stylus would have been helpful for aiming.

You can conceal yourself inside the grass or by finding tunnels to hide in. You can also put your back onto a wall in which you can knock on the wall to distract the enemy from his patrol which makes it easier to get through without being noticed. You can use an Item which allows you to detect enemies on patrol but however it drains it's power so turn it off when you don't need it.

Whenever you get seen by the enemy you'll get a little time to get to cover before the enemy engages you in combat. You can knock out your enemy or you can use them as a shield or you can stab them from behind and then hide them so that nobody notices the dead body. You can not only move the body but also can check the body by picking up the body and dropping it so it can drop useful items. There are also food items laying around but for me I don't know how this plays later on in the game.

I already mentioned that the controls for aiming would have handled nicely with Stylus. You control movement with the Circle Pad and Camera control is handled with the X, Y, B and A Buttons. R Attacks and L aims your weapon. On the touch screen you can change the aiming setup which consists of Auto aiming, TPS aiming and FPS aiming. It's easier to use suppressive weapons if you don't want to draw more enemies. For a stealth game it's much more improved then it's predecessor but I can't really say if the gameplay is any better then it's PlayStation 2 counterpart.

The 3D effect is quite excellent for a 3DS game which very detailed jungle environments, great particle and blood effects and impressive character models. The cutscenes are amazing to watch but in this game they are shortened then it's predecessors but gamers have the option to skip through the cutscenes anytime. The sound effects are great alongside the excellent voice acting and the soundtrack is outstanding.

I never played through Metal Gear Solid 3 before on the PS2 but since the game is released on the 3DS it's impressive to see how this prequel improves upon Sons of Liberty's faults. Maybe I'll get myself a cardboard box and sneak my through the game to see if Snake is still worthy of the word Stealth.

Although it's pointless for me to post my first impressions playing the demo due to the games already out but I'm doing this to show off my opinions on playing it.

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Anthony Hayball (AQWBlaZer91)