PixlBit

BaD #26

Hello everyone, how are you? Last time's post was about Metal Gear Solid 2, today I'll turn my attention to the Tactical Espionage epic, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater...

               

Despite being the 3rd Metal Gear Solid game, it is in fact a prequel to the whole franchise as if that wasn't confusing enough. You might be wondering, will we have another Raiden situation since it's a prequel? No. You see, this isn't the same Snake from MGS1 and 2, it is a different Snake referred to as Naked Snake, but we will refer to him as Snake to avoid confusion. Maybe it'll confuse you some more? So that crisis is averted. Maybe.

The game takes place in 1964 during the Cold War and Snake is sent on a mission named the Virtuous Mission to rescue a rocket scientist in the jungles of Tselinoyarsk in the USSR. Snake isn't alone because like in the previous installments, Snake is aided via radio with the help of Major Zero, Commander of the FOX Unit, which is the unit Snake is from, Para-Medic who gives you information on medical stuff as well as plants and wildlife and to save your game, and Sigint who gives you info on weapons and equipment.

There's also other characters you can communicate with later on in the game too, you can also tune into radio frenquencies and listen to songs. It's always a treat to communicate with them, but mostly Para-Medic because after she saves your game, she talks to you about movies, real ones. I remember this one that involved a 007 movie and Snake said he wasn't a fan, then Major Zero butted in and was upset that Snake didn't like those movies, it was funny.   

Snake gets betrayed by his mentor in the game, and now Snake is on another mission called Operation Snake Eater to rescue the rocket scientist again and Snake must also take down his former mentor. Really can't say anymore on the plot because I'll give stuff away, and I can imagine I already have.

The gameplay is fundamentaly the same if you have played MGS2, but with some added new features. For starters, there's now a camoflage meter known as camoflage index, meaning Snake can now properly blend in with his surroundings. You see, majority of the game takes place on rainforests in the Soviet Union and you go through different enviroments, and you have to use that enviroment to your advantage to sneak around without getting spotted. You can hide in the water, climb trees, hide under under vehicles, and go all Pokemon and hide in the tall grass. Not only that, but you have access to different suits and facepaint with different camo patterns on them to maximize the effectiveness of the camoflage meter. The higher the meter, the better you are camoflaged and you have less odds of being spotted. If your camo index is 100%, you are completely invisible to the enemy and will not detect you.

You also have CQC or Close Quarters Combat that was added. In the previous games, I think it was just punching, but here it is a fighting style that you can use against enemies. You can use it for non-lethal or lethal takedowns. You can use it armed or unarmed, like you can choke an enemy unconscious, kill the them by slitting their throat, or interrogate them for info.

There's also a stamina meter now. If the meter decreses, it affects the gameplay, as Snake wont be able to aim weapons properly and Snakes stomach starts to grumble. If that happens, it alerts enemies. You can restore it by eating food from your backpack, or hunting wildlife and plants. Food that you obtain from hunting rots overtime so don't eat that. Or anything dubious as it may contain poison.

You also have to keep track of body injuries, such as falling from a high place may break Snakes leg, or gunshot wounds from fights. Even getting poisoned from food. A broken leg results in Snake running slower obviously, so it affects the gameplay. You have to treat these injuries or Snake's healthbar will take a while to recover. These are some nice additions to the gameplay that they went the extra mile to make it authentic.

The enviroments are lush with trees and greenery and sometimes you'll be in the mountains, in caves or inside a base or warehouse. The new features make sure you take advantage of the enviroment you are currently are. You'll come back to to some of them, but majority of the game takes place outside, contrary to the previous games taking place on a base.

Boss fights in the series might just be my favorite boss fights from the Metal Gear games I've played. Each of them are unique, as you have to do different things on these fights and there are more to them than just taking down the enemy. As like in the previous game, you can take down the enemy in a lethal or non-lethal way. There's this one that involves placing rotten food to lure out a boss to attack him, and there's even this one that keeps track of every enemy you've killed, including bosses.

I remember someone telling me of this boss called The End, and that it was the best one in the game. The thing is, when I first played the game, I never encountered him. I remember seeing him at one point and I sniped him, but he got away. Then I heard an explosion inside the building he escaped to, and I got a trophy. It was funny. Perhaps that's why I never fought him. On my second playthrough, I did and it was awesome. That one and the last one are my favorites.

The music in the game is just great, it really matches the theme and setting of the game well. The music feels like you're watching an old spy movie as that is the vibe it gives you and it is what it sounds like. Even the music you can get in your radio is great too, it was a nice touch they added.

Final Thoughts: The game is great, no it is fantastic. To be honest, I have no complaints about it, or things I didn't like about it. Everything they did they executed it well. The new stealth mechanics work great and add more depth and realism and give you a variety of options to avoid confrontations with enemies. Using the environment to your advantage gives you a more tactical advantage against the enemies. The stamina and medical procedures gives you the impression that it is also a survival game, as you have to live off the land and know it well and take care of yourself in order for Snake to finish the mission.

The story is great, it just works really well, there's more to it, but can't say anything because of spoilors. There are the plot twists and surprises the series is known for, but at least it isn't confusing as in MGS2. The music is great, it matches the game and theme well and like I said, it feels like an old spy movie. Boss fights are my favorite ones from the Metal Gear games I've played. Really like how the different ways to take down a boss adds a new dynamic to them.

Overall, I highly recommend this, it is one of those rare times a prequel was done right and doesn't feel like an unnecessary prequel to an established franchise. I can see this working as a movie.

That's it for this. Have you ever played MGS3? Thanks for reading and...