Metal Gear Solid
Price: $9.99
Release Date on PSN:June 18th 2009
Original Release date: October 21st 1998
Story
Metal Gear is applauded for its story, it’s complex, grown up, well written, but the voice acting is top notch, and that’s a real rarity on the PSone. It centers around a covert operative named Snake, who is brought out of retirement to remedy a situation happening on an Island off of the coast of Alaska. There are many twists and turns in the story, betrayals, characters that are really developed well; this is not the same old story telling that was the norm in games at the time.
The story certainly drives the game and it makes it a memorable experience. It will keep you guessing as well if you haven’t had it spoiled for you (hopefully not!).
Gameplay
Metal Gear Solid is different from most games in the way that it’s a stealth game. Now this was a bit confusing to me, because I believed that it would make the game boring, usually the more shooting in a game the better right? Well in this regard I was completely wrong, I felt that there was a great balance between the stealth and shooting gameplay, and I felt excited and satisfied by
both.
The boss encounters in this game really make you think as well, each one is unique in the way you need to approach them; it’s not the same dodge, then spam gunfire you experience in most other action games. These really need to be experienced to be understood, I’d love to write about all my favorite moments, but no spoilers!
Regular sneaking gameplay for the most part works well. Snake is responsive and there are many different ways of tricking the guards (almost too many!). You do get a sense that there are a lot of options in this game. You can sneak your way through the whole thing, or blast everyone in your way. It’s up to you. Not many games let you play like this and it makes it stand out.
Graphics
Like most PSone titles that went for a realistic look, Metal Gear Solid shows its age. But it does have a few redeeming features. They use certain effects like blurring, and double vision to get you more immersed, and it runs very smoothly.
The character models may look a little simplistic, but the animation is great, and overall the graphics don’t hinder the story. The
- Image via Wikipedia
Bosses in the game look excellent though, they show real imagination and they feel archetypal, but not cliché. I’m not sure exactly how they pulled this off, but they did an excellent job with the hardware at the time. Play it on the PSP if you can though, the smaller
screen help the graphics look a little better than having them thrown onto your big TV where all those pixels are as big as oranges.
How does Metal Gear Solid hold up today
Metal Gear Solid has all the makings of a timeless game, and the graphics though showing their age don’t hinder the story. It’s still very playable and very enjoyable. Now although I never played this on the PSone before, I had played the Gamecube version Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. And playing the PSone version didn’t feel like a big downgrade. The story and voice acting still serve it really well, and in my opinion it’s a must play.
Ten bucks, is more than worth it for this memorable and deep experience.
9.5/10
Played through on a PSP 3000, playtime between 11-12 hours.
This was a Journalistic review by PSoneClassics.com of Metal Gear Solid
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May 27th, 2010 on 3:29 am
Oh man 9.5?! I was waiting in anticipation for a 10 ;P
May 27th, 2010 on 11:58 am
This is probably the closest one yet i think to getting a 10! I love this game.
May 31st, 2010 on 2:37 pm
I’m going through this game right now and I’m at the Sniper Wolf boss fight. I’ve never played any MGS games and this is the first one. This game is absolutely awesome. The graphics definetly show their age, but the gameplay is solid and still holds up today. Definitely don’t go in thinking you can run n’ gun because you will die right away. The production value for a game that came out in 1998 is amazing. I give it a 10!
June 1st, 2010 on 3:02 pm
It is a spectacular game, by far my favorite on the PSone, soul reaver is a close second though. Giving out a ten though is something that I’m weary about doing, can any game ever be perfect?
MGS though is certainly close though, especially with the gameplay that is so ahead of it’s time. Just wait till the final chapter it’ll blow your mind.
September 4th, 2011 on 3:31 pm
This game is easily a 10, lets not politicize about it.
December 17th, 2011 on 7:51 pm
This is in my opinion the best game I have EVER played. Found it in a box of copies in 1999, and assumed it was a raving game. Loaded it up and had a look anyway (dissapointed it wasn’t a racer!) and played through the opening scenes – it got my attention straight away – how come I’d never seen or heard of this game, or a game of its type?!!!
It’s 12 years since I stumbled across MGS, and I still have strong memories of how amazing this game was to play through
twists & turns, you see the story unravelling and it never ceases to amaze – the story line was unpredictable and exciting. Addictive, it just makes u want to play on!!!
After playing this, I was hooked to every MGS. Release
this game is the ONLY 10/10 game ever made. It is THAT good! No game has ever made an impression on me, but this game? WOW!!!
It’s something you MUST play before you die!
March 12th, 2012 on 1:42 pm
I remember playing through this in 99. I was home sick from school and beat it in two days.(I faked sick the second day just to finish!)Even though the sequels were “Technically” better, If im pressed on the subject of my favorite game of all time, this is it. Glad to see that someone with no nostalgia factor feels the same. Now I know I’m not looking at it through the lens of time. LOL.