PixlBit

First, some mood music:

Journey back with me to 1998, friends. Back then, the Playstation console had been released to the public three years earlier, and was starting to hit its stride. Developers were lining up to release games for the machine, and Konami was no exception. They turned to Hideo Kojima to do this, who created Metal Gear and MG2. He brought his experience with Policenauts and Snatcher into the mix, and sought out to create the best Playstation game ever. Some would argue that he succeeded.

I judge games on three criteria. Presentation, Gameplay and World. I am no reviewer, but those elements seem like the most basic to any fun game. Metal Gear Solid really delivered to me on all fronts. For the Presentation, MGS had an amazing soundtrack, and the audio was top notch. The characters in the game really came alive with excellent voice acting by all involved as well. With regards to the Gameplay, it was just a pleasure to play. It was so much fun to sneak around and then fight bosses. Progression was really grand as well, since you basically had to start off with no items and had to find stuff and use them in interesting ways. And the World in the game was just great. No other way to say it. The places you had to traverse and story were essential elements to the experience. Lastly, the graphics were pleasant to the eyes, even if they don't hold up all that well today.

[*sidebar* And don't forget about VR Missions a year later. Even though it wasn't really a full game, it took the training levels in MGS and expanded on them. The game was fun, but more of an expansion pack than anything else. *endsidebar*]

Three years later, Konami followed up with MGS 2 for the Playstation 2. I remember the hype being huge for this game, because they released a demo a year before it was released. Fans were ecstatic. Little did everybody know that it was a huge bait and switch! Instead of another adventure with Solid Snake, the game took an abrupt U-Turn by starring a totally new protagonist. Let's just say that Raiden was NOT loved by fans. He was effiminate, and his characterization was very annoying. That's why I LOL to this day. Because even though the "Snake level" of the tanker made it into the final game, it was only a small part of the whole thing. Characters you thought you knew ended up having personality disorders and dark pasts, like sleeping with their stepmother. And how about the last hour or two of the game? The storyline got so batshit crazy that the players were going WTF and trying to figure out how something so good became so wrong.

After that debacle, gamers were thrown a curve ball with MGS 3. It turned out to be a prequel starring the final boss of the original Metal Gear, Big Boss. Turns out that Solid Snake really was a clone of Big Boss, and this game was Kojima's story on how Naked Snake became a villain in the Cold War era. I only played a few hours into this game, which is a shame, because I hear it is really good. When I get the time, I would like to go back and give it an honest chance.

MGS 4 was a flagship title for the Playstation 3. It was also heralded as Kojima's "swan song" for the series. They really did go all out for this game. They wrapped up plot holes and gave most all of the characters closure. The game was also very cinematic, moreso than any of the other games. While a lot of detractors criticised them, you have to admit that they are gorgeous even today. Not only that, they are skippable, so I don't see what all the complaints are about. Yes, I understand that the gameplay is relatively short compared others in the franchise, but the level design was still very fun. Plus, if you have ever played through any of the other games, you know you shed a manly tear in at least one of the endings!

Not only were they NOT content to rest on their laurels with past games, but they took chances on spinoffs as well. The Metal Gear Ac!d games combined tactics games with cards, and Portable Ops had you recruit allies in a squad based stealth game (which was basically MGS 3.5). Even the Game Boy Color got some love with a spinoff called Ghost Babel. The last of the side games, Peace Walker focused on Big Boss' later years which took place before MGS 4. I suppose you could say that game was MGS 3.75. Even the remake of the original MGS, Twin Snakes, decided to do something different last gen. Anyway, it's up in the air as to how good they all were, but the point is that the franchise is an important IP for Konami. You know they can't retire it, even though Kojima once pleaded with fans to let the series rest in his Twitter feed. That led to a humorous meme in which people cried, "Kojima-san doesn't have to make Metal Gear anymore!"

And that brings us to Rising. What to say, what to say... HM! I know! Let's just say that the game is fun! Because it is. Actually, the full name for it is

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

You know they can't be serious with that title, right? Between the Substance and Subsistance versions of 2 and 3, respectively, I think that they knew that the new title wouldn't be taken seriously. Especially since Kojima stepped down as the Director. ESPECIALLY since the game was in development hell because the studio just couldn't perfect Raiden's gameplay with a sword. So they did what any other respectable publisher would do. They outsourced the unfinished game. To Platinum Games. You know. The guys who made the wacky action game Bayonetta. The game with fan service and floating hearts during combat. That one. How did it turn out? Actually, not too bad! The game is a little flat in spots, but playing it is just so over the top. It's definitely worth the rental just to see the insane hijinx at the end. It's not the best action game ever - that honor falls to DMC in my opinion. Hell, it's not even the best Metal Gear game, but it's ballsy. Like bathing cats.

So FIFTEEN something games later, and I have some great memories. In fact, I have only played less than half of this series. I guess what I like about them is that they also deal with serious philosophical issues in addition to the military style action. The themes of not being chained to your fate, or what it really means to be free. Also, if you like your plots complicated, then by all means. Take a look under the hood. I think you'll be surprised and entertained. There's a little something for everybody. Until next time, enjoy this screen shot: