Console: PS3 Reviewer: Reid
Pros
- Amazing score and soundtrack
- Fast and addicting gameplay
- A chance to see Raiden at his full potential
Cons
- Difficulty can spike at times
- Not too short, but it’s short
- VR missions are boring
Well, it’s been since 2008 since we have gotten to play a new game with a “Metal Gear” title. Of course, knowing that Hideo Kojima did not direct this one, and it isn’t based on stealth how could I not be hesitant? The word “Stealth” goes with “Metal Gear” like white on rice in a glass of milk on a paper plate in a snow storm. Major Payne anyone? Anyway, a lot of people really developed a bad taste for Raiden after Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. I personally never had too much of a problem with him, especially after his heroics in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Look at me quoting all these game titles!
Presentation: A+
MGRR gives off an instant slick opening title with Raiden’s pretty baby red cyborg eye glowing gloriously at you as soon as you start playing with the options and looking around in the title menu. It is a great indication of how the game works graphics wise. And let me tell you, the graphics in this game are phenomenal. If you’ve read my Uncharted reviews, I feel that series has the best graphics on the PS3, and MGRR is just as good if not better. There are quite a few amazing scenes that are breath-taking. I don’t want to spoil any of them because they are so cinematic, but if you play the game you will see them.
The animation in the game is remarkable, especially considering the 1000 times I slowed down time and chopped cyborgs that pissed me off into so many parts that I almost started to feel bad for them. Almost. The amount of detail that went into all the different moves and skills you can pull off in the game really shows a push in the graphical and animation capabilities of this current generation of consoles.
The music in this game really sealed the deal for me. You know those games that you play, and they pick the perfect song or theme to play during it, and then you remember those scenes for the rest of your life? Yeah, it’s like that. I can still remember the first time I heard the Zelda overworld theme, all these years later, when I played the Legend of Zelda for NES, and now I’ll always remember the song playing during the boss fight with Jetstream Sam on the side of the road with the sun setting behind us. It is truly brilliant how and where they placed the music. And since the game is Action packed, the music goes with it hand in hand.
Single Player: A
Getting into the game wasn’t hard at all. Realizing that it wasn’t a button masher like Arkham City was what was the hardest part. Even though it feels like you are able to just run through the game and chop anything and everything, there are a lot of moves that you’ll need to get down to even have a CHANCE when it comes to boss fights. I’m mainly talking about the parry, and Zan-Datsu. You should definitely play the VR tutorials to save some frustration.
If you didn’t know already, the game takes place 4 years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4, and thus is not a “Solid” title, but rather technically a ‘spin-off’ playing as Raiden and following him into a world where everyone is getting cybernetic implants. ALL of the enemies you will fight are part cyborg, some more than others.
MGRR tells a really cool story itself, and though story wise it doesn’t have much to do with previous titles, there are still quite a few things in there for long time fans like me who have completed most everything in the Metal Gear universe and drool like I’m eating a Snickers when I hear anyone say the words “Metal”, or “Gear”.
Let me say that on my first play through I was REALLY bad at this game. Now that I know what to do specifically on my second run It is a breeze. What I mean to say is on my first play through I found the game really difficult. Now this could be for a number of reasons, but I don’t really think I should blame the game for any of them. Talking with a few people, including Richard, he said he found quite a few parts to be difficult as well, so I sill still claim this to be a pretty difficult game.
The story itself isn’t very long…about 10 hours or so. But then you do have the VR missions you can complete. Plus, playing through a second time is even more fun than the first, because your still upgrading all of your cool weapons and skills. So there really is plenty of game to play through. Don’t let these other big name game reviews complain to you TOO much about its length. These guys usually play through a game to get through it for a review, then have to move on to the next. Especially because this is not a stealth based game, it’s combat based. A complete turn around from other Metal Gear Games.
I will say that I don’t enjoy the VR missions like I have in the past. Mostly because the other Metal Gear VR missions were mostly stealth based. Most of the VR missions here are getting to the end of a goal, or killing loads of enemies. And make no mistake, they are difficult. Especially if you are trying to place in the top 3. When you do though you get rewarded with a crap ton of points. I found it useful to play through and accumulate points in between missions in the story mode so I could upgrade my skills and weapons.
Multiplayer: -
No multiplayer in this game.
Replay Value: A
As mentioned above, playing through the game again the second time is great fun, and finishing those VR missions will appeal to a lot of people. There are also rumors of DLC, but as of this review have yet to be revealed. The potential for more DLC is huge for this game.
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Like I said, I was hesitant to play this game, it being a departure from the norm, but I like the direction they took. I like how they cram-packed the game with intense music, and even more intense boss fights. I like the dialog and voice acting. In fact, there isn’t too much I didn’t like aside from the VR missions.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a work of art and a must play, even if you aren’t totally familiar with all the past Metal Gear details.
