A prequel to the two previous Metal Gear stories we’ve seen in 3D, Metal
Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater comes with high expectation. Hideo Kojima has promised a
revolution in the series, attracting old hands and newbies alike – but has Snake
got what it takes to keep up with the times?
The title appears to be a very tidy package. The Title Screen seems to dance and
the loading times are, for the PlayStation2, quite remarkable. Konami have stated on many occasions that one
of the main ideas in the game is that of the relationship built with your character, in
this case, Snake, and have created many new elements – such as the much talked
about hunting aspect – centred around this bridging the gap between player and on
screen avatar. The cut-scenes are very well presented as much of the story, in the usual
Metal Gear Solid tradition, is told by these pre-recorded pieces. In fact, it’s
these spates of story telling that are one of the games loosest connections to the new Metal
Gear ideal, allowing a distancing between yourself and Snake as, to begin with,
your are presented with a 30 minute long introduction. In addition to this the beginning
two to three hours are so fragmented by Comm. Talk and cut-scenes that many less hardcore
fans of the series may turn away before understanding the principle of Metal Gear.
The gameplay follows many of the usual traditions of the series; the Alert/Evasion
System, Shoulder Button Item Menus and a heavy influence to crawl are all present and,
shockingly, remain entirely as in previous titles. The new additions are also rather lack
lustre. The “hunting” consists of slashing wildly with your knife at any random
creature you find in order to fill your Stamina Meter, which in turn slowly recharges your
Health Meter. While Hideo Kojima claims he wishes “to abolish the Health Pack”,
this new feature seems to be little more than a distraction from the common used
replenisher as cycling through the menus often become tiring.  As with the Cure technique, which involves you selecting several
items to remedy any major injuries – becoming more common later in the game. Although
the occasional cut-scene of Snake impersonating Rambo; removing shells and
eating rats is a nice touch, it’s little reward for all the fiddling with lists and
remembering Snake’s tastes and inevitably adds to the distance between the
player and their on-screen avatar. It almost feels as if the addition of these features
just hasn’t been though through. The last of the major new features is the Camouflage
Index. While it may be nice to spend time hiding from guards and dropping from trees onto
them, during play of the actual mission it’s often ignorable, setting to the
most grass-like kit and progressing without thinking twice.
One of the biggest complaints of the first two Metal Gear titles was their
brevity. Kojima has obviously made note of this but, unfortunately, taken it a little too
literally. The added length of the title does not seem to come from action, but instead a
reliance on Comm. Talk, cut-scenes and extended empty “corridors” between areas
of interest. Many of the set-pieces in the game demonstrate much freedom, allowing you to
carve a way through the title with your own sense of style, but are obviously limited by
the previously mentioned outdated traditions of the series.
The titles graphics are impressive for the PlayStation2. While falling far short of
recent competitors on the GameCube and Xbox; it seems that Sony’s system is beginning
to show signs of age - the title remains one of the most well conceived visual delights on
the console. The extensive Comm. Talk is very stylised and a lot prettier and fogging has
been kept to a minimum. The sound is superb; the reeds and grass rustle in the wind and a
footstep is as distinctive as a frog song. A true spectacle in what can be done
with the PlayStation2.
 While there is little reason for fans of the series
to be upset by the new features and oppressive story, I feel that both these
features have been detrimental to Konami’s original idea for this instalment and will
be a turn off point for those now besotted with Sam Fisher. With what has been presented
here I cannot say that there is anything I could recommend to stealth enthusiast
that’s 2004’s remake of the original Metal Gear
Solid on the GameCube does not present. The gameplay isn’t bad, it’s
just getting tired and, as Capcom have found with the Resident Evil franchise, is
in serious need of an overhaul, as opposed to an update.
|
