Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater PlayStation 2

Released on 04/03/2005

• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review

  It's back to basics for Snake...

  Hideo Kojima is an absolute riot.

  Upon launching a fresh game of Snake Eater, you'll be asked to answer a brief questionnaire about the series so far. Declare your affection for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and you'll find yourself staring at what appears to be an erstwhile hero; his blonde locks and unforgettable femininity staring you back in the face. For a moment, you feel uncomfortable. You're confused. You possibly even feel cheated. It's him again. However, just as you're about to lose all faith in a game you've been waiting four years for, you're asked to "remove your disguise" and Snake is revealed, in all his rugged, chisel-jawed glory.

  Raiden's brief appearance in Snake Eater is Kojima's tongue-in-cheek jab at Sons of Liberty and those who disagree with his inclusion as the main character. Let me stipulate for you right now that I never had too much of a problem with Raiden. In fact, I considered him to be an essential piece of the puzzle-like story. Kojima has often rightly defended his decision to include him, giving the player a chance to look at Snake from another perspective.

  Ambiguity?

  You see, people lambasted Metal Gear Solid 2 for being overly confusing. I'm not quite sure where they're coming from. Sure, the ending wasn't entirely without ambiguity, but every great story has its loose-ends. Final Fantasy VII is [rightly] often referred to as one of the finest games of all-time, yet its story and ending is riddled with controversy, and is still widely debated even to this day. Often, discussing an ending and interpreting just what it all actually means is part of the experience, and there's also an argument that Sons of Liberty was just the beginning for something on a much larger scale.

  The crux of Snake Eater is survival, and while you're always on your own when playing as Snake, in the jungle, the feeling of isolation is more extreme than ever.

  Still, in an effort to avoid confusion, let me assure you things are little more clear-cut this time around. Set during the turbulent time of nuclear threat, Snake Eater departs somewhat from the series we've grown accustomed with and drops us into a new, vegetated setting in 1964, in a bid to extract a scientist who holds the plans to a weapon powerful enough to threaten the very existence of humanity. Of course, much like the previous games, that little titbit of narrative is the tip of the iceberg, and we're desperate to let you in on what to expect as you venture further in. We won't though. We're not that mean.

  Having switched environments from the comfortable confines of a terrorist installation to the harsh expansiveness of a living, breathing jungle, it's essential to re-learn what you already know about the series. The crux of the game is now survival, and while you're always on your own when playing as Snake, in the jungle, the feeling of isolation is more extreme than ever. Without a functioning radar [this is the 1960s], you're naked. You have to rely on your instincts, more so than you have ever done before. Simply glancing to the upper left-hand corner won't tell you where the enemy is looking, or where they're walking; a rudimentary motion tracker will only confirm their presence. The rest is up to you.

  Hidden and dangerous

  And that's where the camouflage system works itself in, which largely increases the reliance on the stealth aspect of the game by encouraging you to merge with the environment, rather than hiding behind, or indeed under, boxes and crates. A percentage in the top-right corner reveals how well-hidden you are, determined by the uniform you're wearing and how well it matches the surroundings. So, when hiding in the undergrowth, you'll want to switch to a leaf pattern, while swapping to a tree-bark uniform when backed-up against a tree. It's exactly how you should expect to work your way through the game, and more importantly, it works incredibly well.

  Living in the jungle actually plays a massive part in the proceedings as well. Since Snake has to survive there, he needs to search out food to remain healthy. Food can be caught all around the woodland areas, in the form of rabbits, snakes, rats or even crocodiles. Once caught, he'll be able eat the animal and replenish his stamina bar - a new element added to simulate fatigue, which determines how accurate your aim is, or how fast your health bar recharges, amongst other physical effects.

  Pushes every one of your senses until it can push no more.

  Yes, I said "recharges." Now, Snake is able to replenish his health through rest, and his stamina bar adjudicates how fast this will refill. Of course, this means nothing if you're caught in the middle of a fire-fight and don't have a chance to cool off for a while, or catch a bullet in the leg and need it removed. In fact, catching a bullet in the leg, or suffering a deep cut, means you'll have to treat it in the cure menu - or at least face having your health bar temporarily shortened until you do. Enter the cure menu and you'll see the extent of your injuries, with instructions on how to treat them. So, take a nasty bullet in the shoulder and prepare to remove it with a knife, douse it in disinfectant and stop the bleeding with a styptic. This menu is also used for countering neurotoxins, food poisoning or burning leeches off your body with a cigar.

  It's worth pointing out that, despite the number of changes, Snake Eater remains Metal Gear Solid through and through, even if it doesn't feel like it for the first hour or so. Unfortunately, the game suffers for a short while after the opening introductory cut-scene, although there's an argument that all its doing is easing you into the jungle experience. Sure, I got that, but the pacing is poor. There's very little to do in the opening 90 minutes, and most of it will be spent trying to navigate a jungle that will prove to be heavily disorientating for most.

  The best MGS ever?

  But, stick with it until you reach, arguably, the true introductory cut-scenes and once again you'll be enchanted by that old Metal Gear magic. The jungle becomes your playground, and it will soon feel more at home than any terrorist base or oil rig could ever accommodate.

  Ask me if this is the best game in the series and I'll tell you that I honestly couldn't say. It has everything you could ask for from a Metal Gear Solid game: astonishing visuals, paramount presentation, gripping gameplay and a story that continues to develop until its epic and enthralling conclusion. It pushes every one of your senses until it can push no more. It is, quite simply, another glorious entry to the series, and one that proves that Metal Gear Solid can still be taken forward in new, exciting and accomplished ways.

  So, yes, it possibly could be the best. But I don't want to be the one to make that call.

  GAME's Verdict

  

  • Brilliant MGS stealth action with health and cammo management giving you the real one-man jungle warfare feel
  • Great presentation, fantastic story
  • The most brilliant rollercoaster ride in its last few hours of any game in years

  

  • Sloooooooow start and generally poor pacing
  • Still lots of waiting to play while you listen to the codec
  • The jungle setting makes this less straightforward to enjoy than past MGS games.

  Review by: Scot Bennett
  Review Published: 03.03.05

  Published: 03/03/2005

• History of Metal Gear Solid Series

  "Choose your own legacy."
  

  The History of Metal Gear Solid

  
  

  Metal Gear Solid is one of the most revered game series ever. A unique mix of stealth, storytelling and style, Hideo Kojima's Tactical Espionage Action blends engrossing story, inspired direction and philosophical debate with genuine humour, hilarious quirks, brilliant boss battles and ingenious design decisions. If there's another game that features hiding in a cardboard box, we've yet to play it.

  Yet Metal Gear Solid is gaming marmite. Detractors consider it the work of a frustrated film director and more interactive movie than game. Fans, however, adore its intricate plotting, post-modern spin and sophisticated sneaking. So as Snake's final mission sidles into view, we've taken the opportunity to look back at Metal Gear Solid's highs and lows, based upon six key themes.

  Still confused with the story? Check out our MGS Timeline!
  

  
  Gear - Metal Gear Begins (MSX & NES, 1987, 1990)

  Also: Snake's Revenge (non-Canon)(NES, 1990)

  While the first Metal Gear Solid hit UK shores in 1999, the Metal Gear saga, minus the 'Solid', began in 1987. MSX and NES Metal Gear and its 1990 Japan-only MSX sequel, Metal Gear: Solid Snake introduced Solid Snake, his covert government unit FOXHOUND, and his one-man mission to rid the world of the titular nuclear-equipped mobile battle tank.

  Sneaking past patrolling enemy soldiers who attacked only if they spotted you, was the height of sophistication.

  But it was the unusual concept of a hide and seek videogame which was creator Hideo Kojima's inspiration. In an era of side-scrolling platformers and rudimentary artificial intelligence, to be tasked with sneaking past patrolling enemy soldiers who attacked only if they spotted you, and would hunt you down if you hid, was the height of sophistication.

  The plot was special too, laced with subterfuge, double-crosses and genuine shocks. FOXHOUND commander, Big Boss, was unveiled as the first game's terrorist leader, and in the sequel as Snake's own father which didn't stop Snake killing him in an emotive, bittersweet 8bit finale. Epic and gripping even in 2D, Metal Gear 1 and 2 remain landmarks in videogame history. Both can be found as bonuses on MGS3: Subsistence.

  
  Gene - Metal Gear Solid (PSone, 1999)

  Also: MGS: VR Missions (1999), MGS: The Twin Snakes (GC, 2003), MGS: Digital Graphic Novel (PSP, 2006)

  Twelve years on and Metal Gear Solid arrived on Sony's market-leading PlayStation. Snake's mission was to infiltrate Alaska's Shadow Moses Island and stop renegade unit FOXHOUND, made up of Revolver Ocelot, Vulcan Raven, Sniper Wolf, Psycho Mantis, Decoy Octopus and their enigmatic leader Liquid Snake, launching a nuclear strike. But unbeknownst to Snake and the player, he was merely a vessel for FOXIDE, a deadly virus carried by the nanomachines inside his body, designed to target the terrorist's DNA.

  It was a stellar success. The top-down viewpoint, on-screen enemy radar, sneaky gadget-packed 3D gameplay and thrill-ride story surpassed anything in the genre. Metal Gear Solid was a clever game. Taking out enemy soldiers required sweaty-palmed planning and ruthless execution. One false move and you'd be hunted by gun-toting terrorists as a timer ticked tensely down.

  And it was inventive. One boss required you to swap joypad ports to stop him reading your thoughts. Kojima even had gamers scratching their heads looking for a radio frequency. 'It's on the box' you're told. Cue players frantically scouring Snake's inventory and gameworld. As it turned out, it was found in a screenshot on the back of the game's own box.

  Inspired in design and satisfying at its conclusion, this was one of the great games of its era.

  Metal Gear Solid remains one of the few games to make gamers think outside of the confines of its world. It also wasn't afraid to reference its rich back-story, causing players to read up on the events of the old NES games. Few videogame narratives offer such depth.

  The theme of Metal Gear Solid was Gene. Its closing act revealed Snake and Liquid to be clones of Big Boss; products of a project to create the perfect soldier, called Les Enfants Terrible. By sneaking past the Genome Army (themselves combat optimised by Big Boss's DNA), eliminating the renegade FOXHOUND, defeating Metal Gear Rex, killing his genetically superior twin Liquid (thanks to FOXDIE), rescuing Rex designer Hal 'Otacon' Emmerich and saving rookie soldier Meryl Silverburgh, Snake proved that his own choices and character mattered more than the legacy of his genes.

  Metal Gear Solid was itself proof that the PlayStation was a gamer's console. Setting new standards for production, inspired in design and satisfying at its conclusion, this was one of the great games of its era. Criticised for being short (12+ hours coasting through, but under 5 if you rushed), and for relying heavily on the dialogue-driven Codec (Snake's in-ear radio) to tell the story, there was still nothing like it. A PS2 sequel topped everyone's most wanted lists.

  Meme - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2, 2002)

  Also: MGS2: Substance, (PS2, Xbox, 2004)

  Hailed as a 'killer app' and delayed in the UK to stifle the Xbox launch, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty proved a controversial follow-up. Consternation centred on the fact that Metal Gear Solid's rock-hard hero Solid Snake was replaced by girly white-haired Raiden for the majority of the game. No-one saw it coming.

  Moreover, Kojima went to town on the plot, confusing with elaborate Codec dialogue, long cutscenes and a bonkers screenplay, enhancing what made MGS1 so divisive. Ocelot now had Liquid Snake's arm grafted to him, which somehow took him over. FOXHOUND were replaced by another set of superpowered freaks called Dead Cell one of which, Vamp, seemed immortal. And a longwinded climax practically told you that everything had been a cover-up. Plenty were perplexed. A disillusioned few swore off the series for life.

  Which was a shame because, between breaks in play, Sons of Liberty was astonishing. For starters, it oozed production values; with unrivalled graphical detail and a soundtrack courtesy of Hollywood Harry Gregson Williams, fronted by a rousing re-edit of the MGS theme.

  Sons of Liberty is, with hindsight, a contradicted game, but still a bonafide blockbuster action-adventure.

  Gameplay followed suit. This was an extrapolation of everything that defined Metal Gear. Refined A.I., a new hold-up technique and some ingeniously designed rooms gave MGS2 a sandbox feel. Lockers, tables, first-person aiming and hiding bodies made sneaking at once tenser, but more open to interpretation. And the big plot twist the Big Brother style Patriots put the entire saga into a new context.

  MGS2 made everything bigger. It showed Kojima wasn't afraid to sacrifice popular opinion to pursue his vision. Impenetrable at its most pretentious but compelling, playable and stupendously surreal at its peak, Sons of Liberty is, with hindsight, a contradicted game, but still a bonafide blockbuster action-adventure.

  It evolved Kojima's storytelling, too. Though controversial, playing as Raiden gave a newfound respect for Snake. The theme also evolved, becoming Meme. Kojima wanted to express that we should pick the ideas, culture and beliefs for us; passing on these memes to shape the future.

  MGS2's story reflected this, seeing Snake and Liquid's older clone brother, Solidus, turning terrorist to rebel against the secret censorship of the all-controlling Patriots. The Patriots became an ominous, faceless, oppressive uber-foe, who have still to be defeated, which is what makes Metal Gear Solid 4 such a tantalising prospect.

  Scene - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2, 2005)

  Also: MGS3: Subsistence, (PS2, 2006)

  The stage firmly set for a climactic battle between Snake, Liquid and The Patriots, Kojima instead made a prequel. Set in the Cold War era, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater starred Snake and Liquid's Dad, Big Boss, in his Darth Vader style turn to evil which led to the events of NES Metal Gear. This was Kojima's Revenge of the Sith.

  The theme, Scene, was something different. Kojima had explored Gene, and genetic legacy. He'd gone into Meme, and handing down values. But Scene focused on adapting to the here and now. It was expressed in the gameplay, with Snake adapting to his jungle surroundings through camouflage and cannibalising wildlife. And it was explored in the narrative, which discussed how values of people, politics and nations change with the times.

  At the same time, Metal Gear Solid 3 detailed the origins of the Patriots; who ultimately pulled the world's political strings, of Metal Gear technology, and of Big Boss himself, known by another codename; Naked Snake.

  Snake Eater starred Snake and Liquid's Dad, Big Boss, in his Darth Vader style turn to evil. This was Kojima's Revenge of the Sith.

  But there was an awful lot of stop-and-start. Cutscenes and Codec conversations were prevalent in the opening quarter of this longest ever, 20+ hour Metal Gear. Healing and feeding menu screens ate into gameplay too. The jungle, meanwhile, presented fewer hiding places. Getting spotted meant running between areas (with long loading screens) or hiding in foliage for minutes at a time. Snake Eater was slow going.

  But when it gathered momentum, MGS3 was a triumph. The 1960's setting made this a low-tech Metal Gear Solid, lacking on-screen radar or hi-spec gadgets, but the story was far easier to follow. Snake's mission to rescue a Soviet scientist and destroy the nuclear-equipped Shagohod tank (the forebear to Metal Gear robots) encompassed memorable characters including a young Ocelot, megalomaniacal cyborg Colonel Volgin, femme fatale Eva, and Snake's mentor, The Boss, accompanied by her team, the Cobras.

  Slow start aside, MGS3's main criticisms lay in the camera, and the Cobras' lack of depth. MGS1 and 2's bosses had intricate personal histories, but here they were simply The Boss's war comrades. Nonetheless, they made for spectacular battles, and when Subsistence re-released MGS3 the following year with a new free-floating camera and online multiplayer, fans and critics were unanimous that Metal Gear Solid 3 was another sneaky Kojima corker.

  Small - Handheld Metal Gears (GBA, PSP)

  As well as the famous home-system versions, the Metal Gear series has spawned a selection of stylish portable spinoffs to varying degrees of success. Here's the handheld titles any true Metal Gear gamer may wish to track down/p>

  • Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (2000): A GameBoy Color title that played a little like the original NES Metal Gears, renamed simply Metal Gear Solid in the west. Starring Solid Snake, the story was later dubbed an 'alternate sequel to Metal Gear' by Kojima.
  • Metal Gear Ac!d 1 & 2 (2005, 2006): Replaced MGS's action with a turn-based card battle system. Not your typical Metal Gear, Ac!d is the most cult release amongst series fans.
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2007): A proper MGS game in shrunken-down form and a direct story sequel to MGS3, again featuring Naked Snake/Big Boss as the main character, this time in the 1970's as he established the fledgling FOXHOUND.
  • Portable Ops pioneered a squad system, allowing players to recruit soldiers and utilise their unique abilities. It also boasted Wi-Fi compatible online multiplayer that took a lot from Subsistence, and proved a huge success for Sony's smaller system.
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (2008): Portable Ops Plus gave gamers extra multiplayer content in the form of new characters (including Raiden), new missions and tutorials, plus a new singleplayer component that put aside story to focus on randomly generated missions. One for fans of the first game's online offering.

  Sense - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3, 2008)

  Underpinning Gene, Meme and Scene of Metal Gear Solids 1 to 3 has been a central theme of passing on information to future generations. MGS1 was Gene. MGS2 was Meme. MGS3's Scene discussed how the times and places we live in dictate the information we see and share. Metal Gear Solid 4's Sense focuses on how perceptions and feelings influence those choices.

  What we know about Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has us extremely excited. In the five years since Sons of Liberty, Snake's clone body has aged considerably. His last mission is to stop Liquid, in control of Ocelot's body, launching a military coup against the United States, secretly controlled by The Patriots.

  Snake's last mission is to stop Liquid Ocelot launching a military coup against the United States, secretly controlled by The Patriots.

  MGS4 will span five global locations including the Middle East, and a snowy area looking suspiciously like MGS1's Shadow Moses, where Snake will face new bosses with familiar codenames; Crying Wolf, Raging Raven, Screaming Mantis and Laughing Octopus. As the final chapter, all remaining stories of an enormous ensemble cast must be tied up especially Snake, pictured holding a gun to his own mouth on several occasions.

  Sense is apparent in Old Snake's new armoury. The Solid Eye combines binoculars, thermal and night vision goggles to one all-purpose sight sense. The Octo Cammo Suit mimics the look of surfaces it touches to conceal Snake from sight. And the Metal Gear Mk.II can scout ahead to stun enemies, becoming an advanced eyes, ears and attack option.

  Sense is also apparent in the new Stress and Psyche system. The explosive MGS4 warzone causes Snake's stress to soar, increasing accuracy and damage resistance for a short while at the expense of psyche, which will eventually crash, affecting stamina and health.

  For its many, many fans Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be a fitting finale to a trailblazing series.

  It promises a constant balancing act, maintained with cigarettes, adult magazines, and stealthier approaches. Those who wish, however, can go gung-ho, earning Drebin Points to buy new weapons from MGS4's gun launderer. And of course, it will all be framed by epic cinematics, evocative sound and the option to see catch-up flashbacks from past Metal Gears.

  But what of the remaining sense? Will MGS4 conclusion leave behind a bitter taste? The proof will be in the playing, but Kojima has promised a true fan service, with the boldest, most Metal Gear MGS ever. The inclusion of Metal Gear Online makes this an immense package, and production values are unparalleled. It may still be marmite, but for its many, many fans Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be a fitting finale to a trailblazing series, a great goodbye to Tactical Espionage Action, and a Sense-sational send-off for Solid Snake.

  Article by: Mark 'Gene' Scott
  Published: 16.05.08

  The History of Metal Gear Solid - Timeline

  1942

  

  • The Manhattan Project, worked on by Otacon's grandfather.
  • The Boss sets up The Cobra Unit, who go on to help win WWII for Allied forces.

  1944

  • The Boss Gives birth to Ocelot, who is taken by The Philosophers.

  1945

  • Hiroshima is bombed. On the same day, Otacon's father is born.

  1947

  • The Boss disbands The Cobras.

  1950

  • Jack becomes a student of The Boss.

  1959

  • The Boss abandons Jack on a mission.

  1964

  Events of Metal Gear Solid 3 Naked Snake - Metal Gear Solid Timeline

  • Jack, codenamed 'Naked Snake', infiltrates the Soviet jungle, defeats Shagohod, kills The Boss and gets a new codename, 'Big Boss'.
  • EVA, a Chinese spy, steals The Philosophers Legacy.

  1970

  Events of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

  • Big Boss meets Roy Campbell and Frank Jaegar, and defeats the first Metal Gear.
  • Ocelot retrieves The Philosophers Legacy.
  • American Branch of The Philosophers change their name to The Patriots.

  1971

  • Big Boss officially establishes FOXHOUND, with Roy Campbell his second in charge.

  1972

  • Les Enfants Terribles Project. Big Boss is cloned; Snake, Liquid and Solidus are born.

  1975

  • Big Boss breaks Frank Jaegar out of prison camp and officially adopts him.

  1980s

  First Metal Gear on Nintendo Entertainment System - Metal Gear Solid Timeline

  • Frank Jaegar officially adopts Naomi. Big Boss gets them into the US with the surname 'Hunter'.

  1995

  • Solid Snake joins FOXHOUND.
  • Events of Metal Gear. Snake infiltrates Outer Heaven, rescues FOXHOUND operative Frank Jaeger, now codenamed Grey Fox, defeats the turncoat Big Boss and destroys Metal Gear.
  • Following Big Boss's turn, Roy Campbell becomes FOXHOUND commander-in-chief.

  1999
  Events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

  • Snake infiltrates Zanzibar Land, fights and kills both the turncoat Grey Fox, and the returning Big Boss, who reveals before he dies that he is Snake's father.

  2005

  Metal Gear Solid Codec - Metal Gear Solid Timeline Events of Metal Gear Solid.

  • Dr. Naomi Hunter injects Snake with nanomachines carrying FOXDIE; a deadly virus designed to target FOXHOUND member's DNA. Angry over Grey Fox's death, Naomi also programs FOXDIE to kill Snake at a random time.
  • Grey Fox returns as a cyborg ninja, cutting off Ocelot's hand and fighting Solid Snake, before giving his life helping Snake battle Metal Gear Rex.
  • Liquid Snake details the Les Enfants Terribles project to Solid Snake.
  • Commanded by Campbell via Codec, Snake infiltrates Shadow Moses, stops FOXHOUND, kills Liquid (thanks to FOXDIE) and defeats Metal Gear Rex, rescuing Campbell illegitimate daughter Meryl and Rex designer Hal 'Otacon' Emmerich.

  2007

  Events of Metal Gear Solid 2 'Tanker' Chapter.

  • Snake meets and battles Olga Gurlukovich aboard an oil tanker on the Hudson River.
  • Ocelot, now with the 'dead' Liquid Snake's arm grafted to him, steals the new Metal Gear Ray.

  Snake and Raiden - Metal Gear Solid Timeline

  2008

  • Olga Gurlukovich gives birth to Sunny, who is kidnapped by The Patriots.

  2009

  Events of Metal Gear Solid 2 'Big Shell' Chapter.

  • Ocelot's body is overtaken by the consciousness of Liquid Snake.
  • The Patriots are officially revealed as the true power in the United States.
  • Raiden infiltrates Big Shell, meets Snake, fights members of Dead Cell, battles a series of Metal Gear Rays aboard Arsenal Gear, and kills Solidus, who was attempting to liberate Manhattan from Patriot control.

  2009-2014 (Date unknown)

  • Sons of the Patriots (SOP) system implemented, placing nanomachines in every solder for maximum battlefield efficiency.
  • Snake and Otacon rescue Sunny. She's an awful cook.
  • Liquid Ocelot kidnaps Naomi Hunter in order to control the SOP nanomachines.

  2014

  Snake in Guns of the Patriots - Metal Gear Solid Timeline Events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

  • A prematurely aged, FOXDIE-ravaged Solid Snake is hired by the UN to eliminate Liquid Ocelot, who is engineering an SOP override, and building forces for an armed insurrection against The Patriots.
  • War has changed...

• E3 2011: MGS 1 headed to HD consoles?

  According to Eurogamer, Kojima Productions wants to remake the very first Metal Gear Solid game in full HD. That’s what the studio’s creative producer Yoshikazu Matsuhana is saying, anyway.

  In an interview with Eurogamer conducted at E3 last week, Matsuhana said the team couldn’t use the original game in its forthcoming MGS HD Collection as the original’s looking a little too old.

  "Obviously, we wanted to include it and make it a complete collection. However, as you know, Metal Gear Solid 1 was for the PSone. It has a very, very low polygon count," he said. "While at the time the game was something new and refreshing, just bringing it as is into HD probably wouldn't have that much meaning to us. We're doing two and three with a certain work flow where the goal is to take that game, preserve it and introduce it to a new generation. We can't really take that approach with Metal Gear Solid 1 because it's very dated at this point."

  Excitingly, we went on to add that, "if we were going to do Metal Gear Solid 1 we'd want to take more time with it. Not just up-res the textures, not just make things look pretty and polished, but go back and tweak some of the gameplay, tweak the story to update things and do it properly. Not just a re-master but a re-imagining almost. We do want to do that sometime down the road but it will take more time.”

  Sounds good to us. In the meantime, The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, incorporating MGS 2, MGS 3, and Peace Walker, will be hitting the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later this year.
  

• Kojima hates Metal Gear?

  Okay, so that’s kind of a misleading headline, but this is still an interesting story. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima loves his famous stealth action series – but he hates the Metal Gear NES game, which was a lot of fans’ introduction to the world of Solid Snake.

  It all comes down to the fact that Metal Gear was originally released for Microsoft’s MSX computer, way back in 1987. The game only ended up on the NES after it was ported. And Kojima wasn’t happy about it.

  "I had absolutely no participation in the development of the NES version," Kojima told Nintendo Power recently (thanks Eurogamer). "The NES version was a pitiful title developed cheaply and simply by a small team in Tokyo. That was during the bubble economy where anything and everything that was released would sell. I came across the game in a bargain bin and tried play it, but the game design is pretty bad. There is some gameplay that includes infiltrating a base that didn't exist in the original. However, even I, the developer of the original game, was unable to infiltrate the base even once. That title has only soiled my reputation."

  It’s not all bad, though: "Even though it was an abomination, it was during the bubble economy and it sold millions overseas.”

  If you want to check out more recent Metal Gear games, of course, you could do worse than pick up the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 when it comes out this November. It contains HD remasters of MGS2, MGS3, and Peace Walker. Ace!

• Hideo Kojima says he's never been satisfied with any of his games

  Legendary Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima, the mad genius behind the blockbuster Metal Gear Solid series, has admitted to insider website Gamesindustry.biz that he never been completely happy with any of the games he made, including the best-selling Metal Gear Solid 4. Even more shocking, he says that the day he fully satisfied is the day he quits games for good.

  "I've never created something that completely satisfies me," he explained. "I don't think that, even as technology continues to improve, I will ever be able to create something that completely satisfies me."

  "Creating something is about turning impossible things into possible things, things you want to be able to do. If it gets to the point where I'm able to create anything I want, I'll probably stop making video games.

  Kojima, who divides his time between development and his duties as Vice President of Konami, is currently overseeing no less than three entries in the Metal Gear series, including Snake Eater 3D for the 3DS, the Raiden-centric spin-off Metal Gear Solid: Rising and an HD compilation of the original Metal Gear Solid and its sequels.

• Four-player mode confirmed for MGS HD Collection's Peace Walker

  The upcoming Metal Gear Solid HD Collection will feature four-player support in its conversion of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

  Series creator Hideo Kojima, who is overseeing the creation of the new PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 compilation pack, has confirmed that the acclaimed PSP title Peace Walker will make the transition to home consoles with its multiplayer mode intact.

  He revealed via Twitter that the game will be playable online via Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, while players can expect the cooperative experience to run at a smooth 60 frames per second.

  The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is due for release this November and will feature high-definition conversions of three of the most popular titles in the iconic series.

  As well as Peace Walker, the PlayStation 2 classics Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will be included.

  Each game features support for Trophies and Achievements for the first time, in addition to the visual upgrade.

  Published: 06/09/2011

• Metal Gear to continue after Kojima's gone

  Metal Gear to continue after Kojima's gone

  A fan of Metal Gear Solid? Then you're in luck, as it seems like you'll have games to keep you going for some time to come as creator Hideo Kojima says he'd like to see the series continue long after he's left this mortal coil.

  Speaking at The University of Southern California, Kojima said, "First of all, I just want to say that as long as there are fans who want Metal Gear Solid, as a producer, I will always want to still make them and I want the series to continue."

  "So even after I die, I still would love to have the Metal Gear Solid series continue."

  Kojima, who started the series back when all this was just sprites back in 1987 with the original NES game Metal Gear, also revealed how he just can't get away from the series - no matter how hard he tries.

  "I've tried to hand Metal Gear off to other people within the studio and I've tried to raise people up so they have the ability to take over," he said, "And I think since Metal Gear Solid 3, I've tried this and actually did hand it off and have other people come up with the story and come up with the game design.

  "But for some reason it just never really works out. And, you know, I end up having to step in again to take charge and kind of fix things here and there and just get sucked back in."

  Metal Gear Solid's been relatively quiet of late, though that's all set to change soon; Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is coming later this year, paving the way for the release of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D early next year and - fingers crossed - Metal Gear Solid: Rising late in 2012.

• Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes 'targeting a lot of taboos'

  Hideo Kojima, the mercurial genius behind the Metal Gear franchise, has been talking about the upcoming evolution of the series, Ground Zeroes. VideoGamer has reported that the Japanese auteur thinks the game may be too controversial for audiences to handle.

  "Video games as a medium haven't matured very much at all in the last 25 years," Kojima told journalists. "It's always about killing aliens and zombies. Not that I don't like those kinds of games... they are fun, but I think games have a long way to go before they can mature."

  "Over the past 25 year I have tried to work with the Metal Gear series to introduce more mature themes, but really it hasn't gotten there yet. Compared to movies and books it still has a long way to go. That's precisely what I want to try to tackle with Ground Zeroes. Honestly I'm going to be targeting a lot of taboos, a lot of mature themes that really are quite risky. I'm not even sure if I'm going to be able to release the game, and even if I did release the game then maybe it wouldn't sell because it's too much. As a creator I want to take that risk."

  What could he be talking about? Ground Zeroes marks a radical departure for the Metal Gear brand, using Kojima's own Fox Engine to power an open world stealth action experience unlike any previous title. It will follow the recently released - and absolutely fantastic - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, which also shakes things up, focusing on cyborg ninja Raiden and his ability to slice enemies into tiny chunks.

  Published: 25/02/2013

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