Jon Porter is back with some advice for people who want to dip their toes into the Metal Gear series, but aren’t sure where to start…
With seven individual games and three spin offs you might be put off from joining such an established series, especially one with such a deep and involving story. For the absolute beginner Metal Gear was the series that invented stealth gameplay back in the late 80’s. Back then it may have stemmed from the underpowered hardware it had to run on, but since then it’s evolved into one of the series major trademarks. The ability to avoid enemies, and thus the ensuing combat, is one any Metal Gear fan should be versed in, but crucially doesn’t have to be. A major advantage the series has over its competition is its combat. For all those times when you tire of timing runs to avoid the gaze of guards, an assault rifle can become as close a friend as in any other shooter. It may not be the ideal way to play the game – a lower clearing ranking will meet you at the end – but it still gets you there, insane cutscenes and all.
Metal Gear’s story often poses the biggest threat to newcomers. With each new iteration Hideo Kojima (the man behind the series) seeks to completely retell the franchise, which makes entering in at the wrong point much like waking up in a briefcase on a roof-garden in Korea, it simply doesn’t make any sense. In fact, it only partially makes sense even if you do follow the story from the get-go, but hopefully it’ll start to towards the end…if you’re lucky.
So we’ve established coming in at the right point is important, and like any game series this can be hard to get right. Not surprisingly Metal Gear games have evolved over time, adding new gameplay innovations as well as graphically improving beyond all recognition. It therefore stands to reason that you’re going to have to be a very determined gamer to try and get through a ten or twenty year-old game with the Internet’s recommendation as your sole reason. The aforementioned narrative peril makes going with too recent a game a likewise poor decision, so finding the perfect balance here is important if the game is to be in the least bit accessible.
My answer? Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. Here we have a game with the best level design, story and voice acting, which can be found at cheap prices, and still be understood by a newcomer to the series. The events of Metal Gear Solid 3 are set before those of the other games in the series, and as such you won’t get characters referencing events you have no idea about. MGS3 is also the most varied game to date, with locations that span not only the warehouse and factory-type locations found in other games but also lush jungles and caves. Playing it you’re experiencing everything the series has to offer, and one of its best story lines to boot.
But it’s really the beginning of the game that should sell it for newcomers. After a lengthy introductory cutscene (a staple to get used to) you’re left on a beautiful clifftop, admiring the jungle hundreds of feet below. You’re completely alone for this and the next couple of areas, completely free to experiment with the controls until they feel just right under your thumbs. When new gameplay concepts are shown to you you’re not expected to grasp them instantly, but videos play out, and you’re left with complete understanding. When you finally do come into contact with the enemy it starts off manageable with just one at a time, giving you a moment to pick your route… or your target. If you’re left with any niggling doubts as to what to do you can get in contact with your support team via your radio, and they’ll point you in the right direction soon enough.
Anyone not familiar with the series may question what the significant of the “Subsistence” subtitle is. Essentially, each main game in the series so far has received a ‘Director’s Cut’ of sorts, released a year or two after the original with content added. Subsistence’s content was more substantial than its predecessor’s, adding a new camera angle, which addressed a chief complaint with the original game. Not only that but this version also includes ports of the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake to play through in all their retro glory, a real treat for die-hard fans everywhere sure, but some useful background story for the less knowledgeable.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence is the perfect place to start for anyone looking to get into one of the biggest gaming franchises around today. It still looks amazing, has a great story, and some characters that are impossible not to warm to. Really, if you haven’t checked this one out, then you’ve missed something very special.
Great idea!
I played and loved MGS 10 years ago, but I only borrowed a PS back then, and never bothered enough to buy a PS2.
If I could play MGS2 and MGS3 on my 1 month old 80GB PS3 I’d be happy.
Can I?
Comment by slickhenry — Dec 16, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
That is a quite strange article to put on a PS3 site when most pages have people moaning about the lack of backwards compatibility!
I want to play this, and have a BC possible 60gb PS3 but even so I have heard that even that will not play MGS3 correctly and that the cutscenes will not play properly leaving the game unfinishable. Not sure if that is the case 100% of the time but I’m not going to risk buying a game that will not work on my PS3.
Here’s hoping that this along with other PS2 games will be available to download in the next year, and PS2 emulation via software will be released via a future update.
Comment by Robothamster — Dec 16, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
unfortunately not.
As someone who disliked the PS2 (and, incidentally, the Xbox/X360) on principle, but has warmed to the PS3 because of its hugely diverse and accomplished abilities (that, the Wii barely has any decent games and I still dont like the X360), I now wish that I could play the 3 or 4 PS2 games that appeal to me. Namely the MGS series, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus.
But unless Sony are secretly working on completely software emulation of the PS2 for back compatibility, it doesnt look like well ever see them.
Perhaps Sony could take a leaf from Nintendo’s book and select a few notable titles from the previous generation, quickly port them over (wouldnt need to be optimised too much, so this could be quite cheap and nasty) and perhaps release them in bundles. So God of War 1+2, Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter trilogy, GTA 3 trilogy. Do it in order to hype up the release of the next game in the series’ release by a month or two and youve got a winner. Specially in terms of the amount of game time you would have in each bundle.
Comment by stefan — Dec 16, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
3 is brill its actually my favourite metal gear game (yes even more than 4), but Subsistance will not run on a 60gb PS3…
Originally only certain batches would run, my mate actually contacted Konami to get hold of a PAL copy that would run on his PS3. But a firmware update killed it…
It is worth picking up a Ps2 just to play tho (MGS3 was one of the reasons I kept mine), and yes the extras are worth it over the standard Snake Eater version…
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 16, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Also I dig the Oldboy reference in the article
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 16, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Not sure about other models but I played through Subsistance on my 60GB PS3, watching all the cutscenes, and it worked perfectly.
Sorry, I’m not sure about other PS3 types. I suggest at least renting it to find out though.
Comment by Jon Porter — Dec 16, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
hmmm….
I’m not quite as “convinced” that MGS3 is the best title in the series to begin on…..even with “subsistence” in mind.
When you think about absolutely everything that happens in the series and how each of the solid title act and play in terms of plot and mechanics - most “noobs” to the storyline would probably miss half of the references in the title to the over-arching plot.
They’d not give a toss about the legacy and its use in the formation of the Patriots - which they probably wouldn’t even “know” to pick up on or take note of…little would they know to take notice in drunk russian dudes office over his plans for Metal Gear and being passed over in favour of poopy rocket booster platforms.
THey’d probably get confused to hell and back with “raiden” appearing in both games, not realising the choices made in the options at the beginning of the game were an allusion to the fact many complained about the character in Sons of Liberty.
Saying this though i’m not against anyone playing MGS3, but I personally would’nt recommend it to anyone starting out with the series.
If you want to recommend to a friend to get into Metal Gear Solid then i’de say point them in the direction of a Gamecub or Wii (most folk should have one or can pick up for £20) and play Twin Snakes alternatively if they don’t mind some nifty decade old 33mhz action they can go for the PSone original.
Both containing documents of backstory to snakes previous missions!
Playing it in the order released would let them understand the games alot better as they’d experience both the advances in plot and game mechanics as the series progressed - with being able to understand the many references and side-comments regarding characters and events in the story.
Least then they’d have roughly the same foundation in the series as the rest of us and have played a damned fine game to boot!
Comment by JohnSketch — Dec 16, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
@Jon Porter
The only PAL PS3 iteration that supported PS2 playback was the original 60GB release, all subsequent versions of the console have been without B/C.
Comment by JohnSketch — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Yeah agree with John, the best starting point is Mgs 1 or the Twin Snakes remake onwards, thats the best way to “get” the whole plot & self reference that the series is famed for…
I actually played Twin Snakes, Substance and then Subsistance back to back the month before Guns of P was out…
It made 4 that extra bit special as all the little chunks of fan service made me smile that bit more, as the memories of the other games were still fresh in my head…
In the summer when no new games tend to come out, I am planning to play the Nes Mg 1 & 2 (Subsistance extras) back to back then all the others again and this time including Portable Ops before 4…
And “that” is the best way to play the series…
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
@RobotHamster; I have a 60Gb PS3(now 320Gb) and it plays all the MetalGear Games perfectly, I had no trouble with any flickering or jumping/sticking cutscenes whatsoever from any of them. MetalGear Solid series is the lick and if your PS3 Cant play them I suggest you go getyaself a cheap old ‘phat’ ps2 and get some MGS action asap! - it’ll be worth it.
Comment by linton — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Hmmm, as much as people would think it’s “dated”, I think MGS for PSone is the best place to start and play them through by when they were released.
MGS3 is terrific, but its hardly the best place to start the game, the player will actually miss out on more of the story. Also, try finding a PAL copy of Subsistence, it’s near impossible. I hold onto both my copes (NTSC and PAL) like they are my life blood.
Comment by SinsToJudge — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
@Jon Porter
Yeah only the launch PAL 60 gb supported BC heres what SKUs Sony have done…
The PAL launch 60gb supports BC via software,
After that there was the 40gb with no BC at all then there was the 80gb and now 160gb? all with no BC at all
The NTSC launch had 60gb & 20gb both did BC via HARDWARE, meaning that they played pretty well much any Ps2 game no problem….
Then there was the NTSC 80Gb that supported BC via software (same as the PAL launch 60gb) that supports some ps2 games, not all…
then there was the NTSC 40Gb the new 80Gb and 160gb all with no BC at all…
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
All of the MGS work well on the 80GB PS3.
Comment by MaceWisdom — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
@MaceWisdom
yeah but not on the PAL one since it has no freaking BC!! This is a PAL based blog you know?
There was a list with all the PAL games that worked on the PAL 60gb but I can’t seem to find it…
But all I know is that my friend has a launch PAL 60gb and has tried 3 different versions of Metal Gear Subsistance (checking the different codes written on the spine) and only one worked, and after a firmware update, borked…
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 16, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
@ linton,
Thanks, I’ll hunt out a copy then and give it a go. Ebay here I come…
Comment by Robothamster — Dec 16, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Smooth Oldboy reference there…
Comment by Tom Robinson — Dec 16, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
i haven’t even got around to playing Sons of Liberty yet..
*lets the whole side down*
*goes to sit in dark corner alone*
i promise i’ll play it one day.
one day…
Comment by mobiletone — Dec 16, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
MGS3 is awesome! The boss fight with “The End” if my favourite boss fight of all time!!
Comment by CartBlanche — Dec 16, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
A great summary for the uninitiated, Jon. Thank you.
No doubt choice examples from the Sony-based back catalogue of titles will be coming to a local territory PlayStation Store in the near future.
I know I’ve mentioned the fact I don’t understand the attraction to the “Metal Gear” universe before (even after giving in & going along with the consensus of opinion here at Three Speech by finally buying “…Guns of the Patriots”), then subsequently wishing I hadn’t wasted my money, but I’m looking forward to the next instalment in the id Software (Raven Software & Pi Studios) “Wolfenstein” franchise out for the PS3 (Xbox, Linux, and PC/Windows) next year.
I think this is in some way related due to the stealth game-play in “Castle Wolfenstein” on the Apple II computer (from 1981) than was then ported to DOS, Atari (8-bit) 400/800, & Commodore 64 platforms.
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — Dec 16, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Having re-read the article and comments, realised a few things…
My writing style and even thought processes are devolving. It is like I am regressing back to being a teenager. I blame being unemployed and too much lurking on internet forums and reading comments.
(Not so much 3speech more Kotaku & so bad its entertaining, GameFaqs)
My post about the Ps3 skus was unnecessary, as was my sniping at MaceWisdom. So I apologise. In my conviction that Subsistance didn’t work then, It did not dawn on me until now that it may have been fixed “since” then. Which it most likely has.
Also while playing through all the games back to back would be the ideal way to experience them. If I had to recommend just ONE Metal Gear game to someone who had no intention/time of playing any of the others then Subsistance “would” actually be that one.
Could go on about why, at great length but the closing sentence sums it all up.
“Really, if you haven’t checked this one out, then you’ve missed something very special.”
Comment by Mr.Monkey — Dec 17, 2008 @ 1:45 am
Do TS not realise how much MGS3 : Subsistance is going for on ebay?
Comment by katamari-ball — Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
A “Metal Gear” title for the iPhone coming soon?
[ http://talkplaystation.com/kojimas-big-reveal-in-a-few-weeks ]
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — Dec 17, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
As an owner of an imported US 60gb PS3 (now 320gb) I’m certainly glad of it, as I have 100% back compat with PS2 games. I played through MGS3 after MGS4, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a fantastic game which hasn’t dated too badly, and if anything the story and setting are actually better and are more cohesive than MGS4.
I know Sony are haemorrhaging money, but it’s such a shame that the PS3 you can buy know is a mere shadow of what was available a few years ago.
Comment by Ataru — Dec 17, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
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