Metal Gear Solid
I was going to turn 11 the same Chrismas season that featured the fall that had Metal Gear Solid coming out. My parents always had this craptastic rule of I could not buy any gift for myself from the time September hit until Christmas. My birthday and Christmas fall in the same week, and they always complain about it, I just remind them they were the ones who screwed at the wrong time. But, my brother and I had to have Metal Gear Solid, and no way in hell were we waiting until Christmas. We begged, pleaded, bribed, did our chores on time. We sucked up more than we ever had before, and it paid off at the beginning of October that fall when we got our hands on one of the greatest games ever made.
It has been 9 years since I first played the game, and it is still
sitting on the top shelf of my entertainment center. I still remember
being completely amazed and in shock at the opening sequence of the
game, it felt like a movie. Now, I was 10 at the time, not the longest
attention span on the planet, but I could not take my eyes off of the
screen. It glued me and my brother both in and we played it nonstop
until we beat it, which was about 4 days later.
The gameplay is absolutely fantastic. It was back then and I still love it
now. I typically replay the game about once a year just for the hell of
it. Sticking a piece of C4 on someone’s back as they take a piss is a
top 5 gaming moment of all time for me and it never gets old. It goes beyond the cruel and unusual things I thought of at such a young age though. In what other game can you rappel down a building, spy on a girl in her panties working out, watch a guy get sick in the bathroom, have a fist fight with a ninja, battle a giant walking robot, square off with a floating psychic, and did I mention putting C4 on people’s back while they use the bathroom already?
In addition to the amazing gameplay that is incredibly addicting, the story line is as effective as crack cocaine. I still have not gotten tired of the story to this day. It grabs you by the balls and throws you for a wild ride. Filled with plot twists and amazing characters, I felt attached to the story, not to mention quite a few memorable quotes I still know and use to this day. It became even better because with all of the cutscenes I felt like I was watching a movie. I mean, how great is that. I have one of the best video games ever, and a pretty damn good movie, on the same disc. The cutscenes do come in numbers though and can be quite lengthy, so if they are not your flavor of tea you may have some problems with that.
With gameplay and a story like this, you wish it could last forever. That MGS was some sort of never ending game. Unfortunately, MGS is the exact opposite. It is incredibly short. I mean, I was 10 at the time and finished the game in 4 days. Granted, it has obviously replay value if I still replay the game nearly a decade later. But games are measured by their initial run through. It is that simple, and despite everything that is so amazing with the game, you feel like you want more when it is all said and done with.
The music, soundtrack, sound effects are also completely fantastic like the rest of the game. The score is pure brilliance and I must admit, I am guilty of finding some of the songs on Limewire and downloading them to sit back, relax, and listen too. MGS is also the first game I can remember that emphasized the little things. You walk through a puddle, it makes a sound. Different walkways produce different noises, some sounds attract guards attention while others do not. Can you say revolutionary? After all, things like that are seen in almost every game today.
Overall, the game goes on my top 5 games of all time list. Right up there with Zelda Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid 3, and some other personal favorites. It features great gameplay, magnificent story, beautiful sounds, and is a wonderful movie. With all of that, I can forgive them for the shortness of the game. Did I mention C4 on people's back while they use the restroom?
Summary
+ Everything....
- ......Besides Length
+ Revolutionary
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