I know there is a thread (official) for MGS3... but I missed out on a lot of the talk that I normally would have given had I played/beaten with you guys when everyone in the world got it. Special time for me on these boards when MGS2 came out... because in all honesty... the backlash against the game didn't come out until it settled in.
So, yes, there was a moment for us all that MGS2 was AMAZING OMG!! (and maybe it still is... but after MGS3... prolly not).
Just wanted to put out some of my own thoughts about the game, the storyline, and where it is all headed (or where I think/hope) down in a thread... respond if you want. There will be SPOILERS, so do not read unless you have played the game.
First off: The game is really good. I got a BIG kick out of the beginning (after having chosen the MGS2 option) and really appreciated Kojima's sense of humor... really shoved it up everyone's asses with this one (remember how he said there was a BIG plot twist in the first 10 minutes of the game? I love you, Hideo). But the thing of it was... I didn't see how good this game was until much later on. This contrasts vastly with MGS and MGS2 where I could tell from the onset that I was in for a treat. Maybe this is personal preference... but the game started out slow. Not just the story either... but the controls were a bit hard to get used to... the new camera... the new codec... etc. It took me about a good two hours (after having been introduced to ALL of the elements of the game) that I truly appreciated how deep this game went and how much time Kojima and Co. spent putting more gameplay elements into the game. Sure there are long cutscenes... but I'm a cutscene whore. I'm going off on a slight tangent here... my point is... it took me a bit to realize how good this game really was.
The graphics really made me happy. The game was, for the most part, surprisingly smooth. I've been reading up on a few of our threads here and I'd have to agree... a smooth control scheme does indeed help with the overall feel and look of the game. You get your moments when you wanna punch the screen because Snake is kneeling... then crawlin... NO KNEELING... FUCK STAND UP!!! ...you know what I mean? But I think you need that in every game... it takes time to master a control scheme completely... MGS3 is no different (e.g. it wasn't happening to me later in the game). I'm rereading this paragraph right now and I'm shocked that I'm placing control in with the graphics... but I think many of you can understand why to SOME extent. So... away with the controls... I've watched a few of the "behind the scenes" MGS3 making of bullshit to see how they created some of the battles in the cutscenes... and it's cool stuff. Snake meeting Boss and Ocelot really came out well and was both well staged and well animate. Felt real. Snake taking a beating from Volgin actually had me cringe a bit.
Another thing that goes along the lines of graphics is Kojima's love for the movies. Lemme explain... MGS3 had, more than any MGS before, a very HUGE movie-like undertone to it. I loved this. The way the animation was presented... slow motions... motion blurs... THE FUCKING CHASE SCENE!!!! (I'll get into that later)... just amazing stuff. Random thought: Something that blew me away that SCREAMED "movie" was when Snake was climbing that ridiculously long ladder up towards... uh... I forget... but while he was climbing... what happened? The Snake Eater theme hit as he was climbing. Just... just fucking awesome shit. I laughed when it hit... especially because it was a remix of the song.
And Kojima trying to make Snake... BOND-ish (it's there... look for it) was great as well. It's not overly apparent... but there were times where you could see that Kojima was really trying to juxtapose the two... this may have been in other MGSs... but I felt it REALLY apparent in this one (I can point them out... but I don't want this to be TOO long).
The boss battles were great. Everyone really liked The End... but I'm gonna say that the whole END sequence (Chase, Shagahod, Chase, rinse repeat) was just spectacular. It really gave me a sense of urgency and heroicism unlike any of the MGSs had before. This is the difinitive man battle against a MACHINE in any MGS... and perhaps... ANY video game I've played (and I've played many).
Now onto the story itself: I'm GLAD they made this game a separate game. What I mean is... I think there was a quasi-expectation that this game would be a big CONNECTION between all of the current MGS games. This wasn't the case at all. This was Snake, in the beginning, doing his thing. Now... does that mean it left me completely happy? No. Why did Snake (Big Boss) turn and how (I can guess how
but I still wanted to see it happen ala Anakin Skywalker turning into Darth Vader)? Why the FUCK did they call them the Philosophers only to tell us all in a fucking TEXT TIMELINE that they decided to change the name to the Patriots (is it as simple as... the US's branch of Philosophers changed there names to the Patriots)? Regardless... faux pas. No mention of Le Enfantes Terrible... something I was looking forward to seeing (minus that timeline bullshit). I do not feel the connection was made as strong as it should have been with the Patriots, the US Government, and Ocelot. Something that also confused me... haven't that Patriots been dead for over 100 years?!!?
As for what I do like... Ocelot. Man he just fucks them all over in every, single, game. Anyone else picking up how important and amazing this character is? After every MGS I always say to myself... "this game is a STEP away from being about Ocelot." He says he's working with the Patriots... but goddamn... he just gets better and better after every sequel (see how quickly he learns shit? hahaha awesome). If you are following what I said in the paragraph before... if the Patriots have been dead for over 100 years... that means SOMEONE has to be in charge? Ocelot? Dunno how that fits in or even if it's probable... but I'd like his role to become even larger in the next installment. It's his time to shine... and still not his time to die either (Liquid's arm... ha) -- I liked seeing where Solid and Liquid CAME from. I think it'll be even more interesting to view MGS2-3 when the 4th game comes out. -- The similarities between all three games (It's not over yet, Snake! ... Metal Gear?). -- The setup of the ACTUAL Metal Gear. -- And of course... the fact that I still feel the game is moving in positive directions.
I'm continually impressed. I'm continually amused. And I'll continually buy this franchise.
I would, however, like to see an earth shattering plot twist in the next game... but... not at the sacrifice of it not making sense and it ruining the game (see M. Night Shamalan's The Village... a movie that was actually DIRECTED by a plot twist... it doesn't work).
Thanks Kojima. Can we see old man Solid in the next one now, please?
So, yes, there was a moment for us all that MGS2 was AMAZING OMG!! (and maybe it still is... but after MGS3... prolly not).
Just wanted to put out some of my own thoughts about the game, the storyline, and where it is all headed (or where I think/hope) down in a thread... respond if you want. There will be SPOILERS, so do not read unless you have played the game.
First off: The game is really good. I got a BIG kick out of the beginning (after having chosen the MGS2 option) and really appreciated Kojima's sense of humor... really shoved it up everyone's asses with this one (remember how he said there was a BIG plot twist in the first 10 minutes of the game? I love you, Hideo). But the thing of it was... I didn't see how good this game was until much later on. This contrasts vastly with MGS and MGS2 where I could tell from the onset that I was in for a treat. Maybe this is personal preference... but the game started out slow. Not just the story either... but the controls were a bit hard to get used to... the new camera... the new codec... etc. It took me about a good two hours (after having been introduced to ALL of the elements of the game) that I truly appreciated how deep this game went and how much time Kojima and Co. spent putting more gameplay elements into the game. Sure there are long cutscenes... but I'm a cutscene whore. I'm going off on a slight tangent here... my point is... it took me a bit to realize how good this game really was.
The graphics really made me happy. The game was, for the most part, surprisingly smooth. I've been reading up on a few of our threads here and I'd have to agree... a smooth control scheme does indeed help with the overall feel and look of the game. You get your moments when you wanna punch the screen because Snake is kneeling... then crawlin... NO KNEELING... FUCK STAND UP!!! ...you know what I mean? But I think you need that in every game... it takes time to master a control scheme completely... MGS3 is no different (e.g. it wasn't happening to me later in the game). I'm rereading this paragraph right now and I'm shocked that I'm placing control in with the graphics... but I think many of you can understand why to SOME extent. So... away with the controls... I've watched a few of the "behind the scenes" MGS3 making of bullshit to see how they created some of the battles in the cutscenes... and it's cool stuff. Snake meeting Boss and Ocelot really came out well and was both well staged and well animate. Felt real. Snake taking a beating from Volgin actually had me cringe a bit.
Another thing that goes along the lines of graphics is Kojima's love for the movies. Lemme explain... MGS3 had, more than any MGS before, a very HUGE movie-like undertone to it. I loved this. The way the animation was presented... slow motions... motion blurs... THE FUCKING CHASE SCENE!!!! (I'll get into that later)... just amazing stuff. Random thought: Something that blew me away that SCREAMED "movie" was when Snake was climbing that ridiculously long ladder up towards... uh... I forget... but while he was climbing... what happened? The Snake Eater theme hit as he was climbing. Just... just fucking awesome shit. I laughed when it hit... especially because it was a remix of the song.
And Kojima trying to make Snake... BOND-ish (it's there... look for it) was great as well. It's not overly apparent... but there were times where you could see that Kojima was really trying to juxtapose the two... this may have been in other MGSs... but I felt it REALLY apparent in this one (I can point them out... but I don't want this to be TOO long).
The boss battles were great. Everyone really liked The End... but I'm gonna say that the whole END sequence (Chase, Shagahod, Chase, rinse repeat) was just spectacular. It really gave me a sense of urgency and heroicism unlike any of the MGSs had before. This is the difinitive man battle against a MACHINE in any MGS... and perhaps... ANY video game I've played (and I've played many).
Now onto the story itself: I'm GLAD they made this game a separate game. What I mean is... I think there was a quasi-expectation that this game would be a big CONNECTION between all of the current MGS games. This wasn't the case at all. This was Snake, in the beginning, doing his thing. Now... does that mean it left me completely happy? No. Why did Snake (Big Boss) turn and how (I can guess how
but I still wanted to see it happen ala Anakin Skywalker turning into Darth Vader)? Why the FUCK did they call them the Philosophers only to tell us all in a fucking TEXT TIMELINE that they decided to change the name to the Patriots (is it as simple as... the US's branch of Philosophers changed there names to the Patriots)? Regardless... faux pas. No mention of Le Enfantes Terrible... something I was looking forward to seeing (minus that timeline bullshit). I do not feel the connection was made as strong as it should have been with the Patriots, the US Government, and Ocelot. Something that also confused me... haven't that Patriots been dead for over 100 years?!!?As for what I do like... Ocelot. Man he just fucks them all over in every, single, game. Anyone else picking up how important and amazing this character is? After every MGS I always say to myself... "this game is a STEP away from being about Ocelot." He says he's working with the Patriots... but goddamn... he just gets better and better after every sequel (see how quickly he learns shit? hahaha awesome). If you are following what I said in the paragraph before... if the Patriots have been dead for over 100 years... that means SOMEONE has to be in charge? Ocelot? Dunno how that fits in or even if it's probable... but I'd like his role to become even larger in the next installment. It's his time to shine... and still not his time to die either (Liquid's arm... ha) -- I liked seeing where Solid and Liquid CAME from. I think it'll be even more interesting to view MGS2-3 when the 4th game comes out. -- The similarities between all three games (It's not over yet, Snake! ... Metal Gear?). -- The setup of the ACTUAL Metal Gear. -- And of course... the fact that I still feel the game is moving in positive directions.
I'm continually impressed. I'm continually amused. And I'll continually buy this franchise.
I would, however, like to see an earth shattering plot twist in the next game... but... not at the sacrifice of it not making sense and it ruining the game (see M. Night Shamalan's The Village... a movie that was actually DIRECTED by a plot twist... it doesn't work).
Thanks Kojima. Can we see old man Solid in the next one now, please?