Metal Gear Solid

This review comes after only over 20 hours of playtime, still on the first of two disks. It is meant to provide a relatively accurate accessment of the quality of the game.)

 Metal Gear Solid was produced by Konami and released in Japan on September 3rd, just 4 days before  this review. The game comes with 3 compact disks, two for MGS and one for the playable demo of Suikoden. The cover design is extremely plain (much like that for Final Fantasy VII)- in Japan, that appears to be an indication of top-notch quality, as I will describe. A sticker on the plastic wrap states that a Japanese magazine (Famitsu Weekly) has review the game and gave its best rating. An indication of things to come.

The game starts with a movie showing a submarine racing toward some destination, in an artistic style that is distinctly MGS: dark, primary colors, and solid polygons and shades. Konami had elected to not use CGI and decided on rendering the movie using hi-res polygons, and it really pays off. The transitions from the actual game and the cut-scenes are flawless and offer no distractions. The cinematography is superbly done, and the letterbox format makes you feel like you're watching a movie. So the story begins... Armed terrorists have ransomed the world with a nuclear threat, and they have built a hide-out on an island off the coast of Alaska. You're Solid Snake, the legendary hero sent with two initial missions: (1) to rescue two hostages, one arms supplier president (Kenneth Baker) and one team leader, and (2) to find out if the terrorists' threat is real. The way for Solid Snake to reach the island hide-out is by getting close to the island by being shot out within a torpedo (SDV- Small Delivery Vehicle), then he must get out and swim to the island. Time is limited, and Snake didn't bring anything with him (except for a communication device implanted in his ear). From  here, the plot thickens and the action starts.

  Personally, what is most impressive about Metal Gear Solid is the gamemaker's attempt to create a alternate reality. Metal Gear Solid is built around a complete world, and it shows in the in-game briefing and text descriptions of Solid Snake's previous missions. (I should note that I didn't play any of the previous games. They must have been impressive.) This world then is used to carry a deep and complicated story that gradually unfolds and sucks the player in. The story can always be reviewed everytime you reload an old game, just so that you stay on top of what has happened. Also, during the progression of the plot, Solid Snake develops from a stoic, war-worn soldier to a more caring person.In this process, he is helped by his various assistants who advice him on the wireless, implanted radio. These assistants, ranging from weapons specialists and mentor to communication officer to mysterious friends, all have distinctive personalities and have engaging stories to tell.
They fill the MGS world and brings it to life.

 Now, the game... The first thing you will notice is the visual, the graphics. There is an enormous attention to
 detail, and that detail requires some top-notch graphics from the 3-year-old PlayStation. And it surely delivers.
 The details in MGS comes in the form of hi-res textures that doesn't pixelate much when you zoom in (more on
 this later), and the polygons are solid and exhibit no break-ups. Although most of the game is played in the
 top-down perspective, you can change the view to a 1st person view by using a single button or by using a binoculars.

 Next, of course the graphics are built around a world in which Solid Snake can move around in. The level designs are excellent, ranging from in-door hangers with elevated walkways to out-door areas with caves and
crevices. The detailed environment allow Snake to do what he need to do: sneak around. To do that, the controls include a crawl button (X button), attack/shoot (square button), action (circle button), 1st person view (triangle button), accessory choice (L2), weapon choice (L1), accessory on/off (L1), weapon on/off (R1), and radio on/off (select button). Snake will hug against a wall anytime he touches one-which is a necessity but the implementation is less than perfect. Metal Gear Solid definitely requires the use of the analog control for rapid movement but also the digital controls for fine tuning. The control is the only area that MGS may need a bit of tuning, as often the directions for movement and attack can get confusing (which isn't helpful in tight spots). The options in MGS is numerous for both accessories and weapons. Accessories include things as night vision goggles, binoculars, rations, binoculars, gas masks, to ketchup bottles (?). (When you look through the binoculars and zoom in on the guards, you will be astounded by the beauty of MGS and the power of the
PlayStation). Weapons include sniper rifle (Wow!), chaff granades, semi-automatics, rifles, and mote-controlled missile launchers.

Still, MGS is a game about stealth, not head-on confrontations. There is a training mode to teach you the basics of avoiding guards, crawling into holes, and creating distractions (if you hug a wall and use the action
button, you can make noises to attract some guards). So, what about the guards? Typically, there are 2-3 guards  working in an area, and they survey along set routes. As long as you stay out of sight and not make any noises, they will go about their own business. But, if you are detected (by the guards or video cams), you are in deep trouble- the guards will swarm in on you, fire their automatic rifles, or knock you down with their guns then fill you with bullets. Whenever that happens, just run to the nearest exit and get out of the room (or toss a stun
granade). Enemy AI is sufficiently good that they will surprise you from time to time. Still, the words are "don't get caught!!". Metal Gear Solid employs an interesting and great system for getting you thru its puzzles and tight spots. Snake can contact anyone of his assistants for advice, although they won't necessarily give everything they know at first. So, if you want to try to muddle through on your own, you can do just that. However, if you are stuck, you can keep asking questions and eventually you will learn the best way to tack the problems. In the
process, they will tell you quite a bit about themselves.

Lastly, the soundtrack/sound effects of MGS is pretty  subdued and laid-back. In some ways, it sounds like the
soundtrack from 'Speed' the movie, starring Keanu  Reeves and Sandra Bullock. The nice metallic beat does
with 'Metal' Gear Solid, and it pushes you along and gets  you going. Of course, it has very enjoyable main and end themes; the end theme sounds like celtic music, which adds more style and mood to the excellent atmosphere created by the story and graphics.

In the end, Metal Gear Solid delivers what it promised. An excellent story is supported by believable characters that evolve, graphics that provide deep gameplay, and music that conveys the mood. As the press has already hyped, the graphics are increadible in MGS (just think of the replays in Gran Turismo, or may something even better...). Still, I believe that the graphics is meant to serve the well-developed and engaging story, and they both work perfectly. Leave no doubt. Metal Gear Solid is one of the finest videogames available, on any console or PC. It well deserves the attention it has received, and it ranks up there with Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo, Resident Evil, and Tobal 2 as the pinnacle of PlayStation software development.
 
Review Submitted By:
        geoff <[email protected]>