Review - Metal Gear Solid 3 (PS2)

[Nightcrawler]

Overall MSG3 was probably more enjoyable for me than MGS2, due to a better story and more enjoyable overall gameplay. Most of the things MGS2 got right, MGS3 continued or even improved on in some cases. Unfortunately, many of the completely new game-play changes I didn't like, and the frustrating boss battles were back. My thoughts are below. Unfortunately, I don't own a PS3, so no MGS4 for me right now!


What I liked:
**********************************

Story:
This one had a better story than the last game. It probably had the best story of all and that's what kept me playing through some of the more annoying aspects of the game. It felt like a good interactive action movie, had plenty of plot twists, action sequences, and a satisfying ending. The pace was good too. Few games do all that this well. It was also a fairly complicated plot. I found myself having to stop and think about it for awhile or look up supplemental material online to really understand it. The plot also dropped the far fetched  sci-fi type from the MGS2 and instead was a much more grounded and enjoyable super soldier tale. Big Boss sure turned out to be a likable fellow!

Voice Acting and Presentation:
Once again, the game excelled at voice acting and presentation. Some people complain about overly long cut-scenes, but I didn't mind and found most of the game's cut scenes entertaining to watch and rarely found myself waiting for it to end. No complaints there other than it would have been nice to be able to pause them.

Characters:
It was great to have a strong female villain (The Boss) in the game. I don't think I've ever played a game that has done that and done it well. As always the 'villain' is well developed and falls in that gray area where understanding of perspective makes her not necessarily really a villain at all. I like the thinking man's plot and multidimensional characters, and this game does that well.

EVA was also a great supportive character. She gave the game that sexy, but tough punch. Also, when all the plot twists were said and done, EVA was also a multidimensional and interesting character. I was surprised at what ended up happening with her. 

Unfortunately Major Tom is no Roy Campbell. He was largely forgettable and rarely said anything worthwhile. The same for Sigint. Para-medic however was done much better. Sometimes the movie chatter was overused, but the real conversation had between her and Snake helped build her character into one worth caring about. There was definitely some witty dialog there.

Areas:
The areas seemed much improved in this game and better designed. I think the outdoor jungle feel in general allowed for better areas with multiple ways through and more lookout/snipe points. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed the general areas of this game the most in the series.



What I didn't like:
****************************

Removal of Soliton Radar and gun laser pointer
I really missed this. I got in alert mode so often from guards I couldn't even see. I had no idea how I even got caught. I suck at aiming in this game and really could have used the laser aim that was in the first two games too. On top of that, once you are in alert mode, MGS3 is much LESS forgiving. It was rare that I could fight my way out, or even escape back to hiding. Most times I had to restart the area. It would have been more enjoyable to have my radar and laser aim back.

CQC Controls:
This seemed like a nice expansion to gameplay, but I was absolutely terrible at it. I rarely used it and instead sniped off soldiers with my tranq. Unfortunately, it made the last boss battle very hard and annoying for me since it focuses on needing CQC to win within the time limit. It could have been an epic and fun boss battle without the damn time limit. Instead, it was an infuriating CQC annoyance for me.

Bosses:
Nearly all of the boss battles were not fun AT ALL. It was like I have having fun going through the game and then had to be interrupted with terrible and stupid torturous boss fights if I wanted to continue. I would have doubly enjoyed the game without these fights.

First, there was the timed battles. Too many were timed. I was never great at the complex and fast switching of controls this game needs. However, I could do it when given ample time. Unfortunately, the game decided NOT to give ample time and instead of having fun at my own pace, I was frustrated at wasting time when the time limits expired.

Secondly, the gimmicks were annoying. It took me 2.5 hours to beat The End. Three areas was ridiculous. there should have been only one. I did not have adequate tools to find the guy and when I did, if I messed up that meant no damage and 15 more wasted minutes to find him again. Yay... The Pain was ridiculous due to way too much invincibility. Can't shoot through bees? Lame.

Camouflage:
This feature in the game was an annoyance more than anything. You had quite a number of suits, but really only a handful were useful. There was hardly a need for anything beyond the splitter or leaf suits with exception of a few one off areas that needed some others and the special powers granted by some of the boss's camo.

Food/Stamina:
The only good thing added from this system was life regeneration. That made things much more fun for me. I didn't have to worry about entering a new area or saving my game with low health because it could be restored without using rare rations. With that said, having to hunt, maintain a food inventory and keep stamina up was annoying rather than fun. This is especially true late in the game when you get EVA with you.

Injuries
I understand they were going for a little more realism here, but it was another annoying mechanism to deal with. What's wrong with a single, simple life bar?  It was especially stupid when they try to maintain such realism there, but then other aspects are so far fetched such as not even being able to shoot through bees to hurt a boss! Either go real, or don't. Don't go annoying real in one spot and then don't even try in another.

[Next_Gen_Cowboy]

I'll point out one small thing about the last battle, you can throw on the snow camo, and facepaint if you have it, and turn it from a CQC boss into a long range mission. It's a bit less epic, but it's better suited to some play styles.

The End, I thought was an epic fight, but it's infuriating how long it can take on a first playthrough, especially if you don't know all the tricks, and how the whole system works. I personally liked the boss battles, but I'm more happy that you enjoyed the story. As I said, I think it's the best in the series.

4 wraps everything up, with cameos or appearances by just about everyone still alive in the series, from MG-MGS3, even trying to fix the mindscrew of an ending from MGS2. It's a pretty good game, and if you're as into the series as someone like me, it's downright awesome to see stories wrapped up, and characters brought back or mentioned. I still prefer 3 though.

[Nightcrawler]

I'll point out one small thing about the last battle, you can throw on the snow camo, and facepaint if you have it, and turn it from a CQC boss into a long range mission. It's a bit less epic, but it's better suited to some play styles.

I tried that. I was unable to beat her within the time limit that way. I'd get her about 3/4 down and time would run out. Tried stamina attacks, life attacks, RPGs, sniper rifles, you name it. All thwarted by the stupid time limit. The only way I could do it in 10 minutes was with CQC and only after learning that you push O right when Snake Grunts. Even then, I could only pull it off a little bit. It becomes much more difficult to counter when her life goes down and by then I could only CQC here on the offense and could no longer counter her at all. Had I not had some life items stashed away, I don't think there was any way I could have won all thanks to the time limit. Even 5 more minutes would have made all the difference.

The End, I thought was an epic fight, but it's infuriating how long it can take on a first playthrough, especially if you don't know all the tricks, and how the whole system works. I personally liked the boss battles, but I'm more happy that you enjoyed the story. As I said, I think it's the best in the series.

Simply limiting this to one area would have been much better. I was angry because I don't have 2.5 hours to play these days. You can't save at all during the battle (except for the week long save trick, which I was just about to use had I lost that last time). I just don't understand why the game has to go and cripple everything with stupid things like this. What good is an epic long multi-hour battle that doesn't let you save in the middle or truncated by time limits? It shoots itself in it's own mouth.

4 wraps everything up, with cameos or appearances by just about everyone still alive in the series, from MG-MGS3, even trying to fix the mindscrew of an ending from MGS2. It's a pretty good game, and if you're as into the series as someone like me, it's downright awesome to see stories wrapped up, and characters brought back or mentioned. I still prefer 3 though.

So I've heard. I'd like to play this one, but it's doubtful I will have a PS3 anytime soon. I hope I haven't forgotten everything by the time I can eventually play it! A few things were already accidentally spoiled in some of the supplemental material online I was reading. That's what happens when you come several years too late to the table!

[Gideon Zhi]

No mention of the ladder?

[Next_Gen_Cowboy]

No mention of the ladder?

Best Boss EVAR!!!!

I'll say fair points to you about The Boss, I play far too much MGS, but I understand completely that most people have things to do, and social lives, and go out into sunlight occasionally...

Scaling back the frustration of some of the bosses would have been helpful for many gamers. In my case they're what I really like about the series, but even I'll concede that The End takes way too long until you learn all the tricks, which comes from repeat playings, and can't reasonably be figured out your first time through, which is poor game design.

[Nightcrawler]

No mention of the ladder?

I actually didn't mind this. I'm not sure what the big deal is with this. This only took me a few minutes and I happen to like the Snake Eater song.