So awesome to see "Killer Instinct" return. I remember playing the hell out of the original. I remember thinking how awesome it was that it had a black SNES cartridge and contained the soundtrack. Shame this is only for XBOX though; I do not intend on buying that system.
Though the initial shock a couple months back has now grown into acceptance, for me, seeing someone else besides David Hayter playing Snake is a huge disappointment. Some may recall that, on an earlier comment that I wrote on the news story that reported that Hayter wasn't coming back, I bet that they were replacing him with a celebrity that they would use for the in-development "Metal Gear" movie. While it isn't confirmed yet, I wouldn't be surprised that if/when the film goes into production that Sutherland will be cast as Snake.
The reasons that Kojma listed feel like damage control and sound like an insult to Hayter. For one, "Metal Gear" games have always had a dark tone. And Hayter can be subtle. And if he wanted him to be more subtle, well, that is why they have VOICE DIRECTORS to, you know, DIRECT him. Kojima wants someone in his late 40s? Hayter is 44. In MGS4 he played Snake (who was 42 years old in that game) as a man suffering from rapid aging and made him sound like he was in his 70s, give or take.
Facial animation? There has been a mocap actor for Snake in the other MGS games since MGS2; having one person do his motion/facial capture does not mean he needs a new voice actor. (Hayter has performed in live-action movies as well, by the way.) Really, I'm already giving these reasons too much credence than they are worth. We all know the real reason behind this change: Money. This is an attempt to get a celebrity in the game to promote sales and try to cast a wider net and get new fans, despite the abrupt break in continuity and lack of respect to the fans and, above all, to Hayter.
The "Metal Gear" series showed me how much care can be put into storytelling in games. Kojima showed me a series that cared about its continuity, story and actors. It had a vision that was uncompromised by cheap attempts at commercialism to gain as big a profit as possible.
It looks like this has all been forgotten with MGSV.
I enjoy Sutherland as an actor, and am sure he will try his best. And I am sure that Kojima and his team are trying their best to make an excellent game. But this is the second MGS game that he has made after the story ended in MGS4. Obviously there is some financial reasons behind this. Of course there is. I understand that. It is a job. But the way that this has been gone about has left me cold. I will always treasure the original MGS games. But I do not agree with, or appreciate the practices behind this "new direction and approach" that Kojima is attempting, and I will not support it with a purchase of this game.
FEAR EFFECT. I LOVED those games. Fascinating characters and mythology. Great voice acting and a dark, sexy tone that was mature but didn't feel like exploitation. The series had everything going for it and started a good ground work for a future series. That no one has ever tried to make another game after the cancelled third one depresses the hell out of me.
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