Full-Motion Capture the Snake. An impressive story and exciting action combine to provide a necessary game experience.
When Metal Gear Solid arrived on the PlayStation back in the late 1990s it resurrected one of the most ground-breaking games from the 8-bit era. In Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, creator Hideo Kojima, cut-scene director Ryuhei Kitamura, and developer Silicon Knights combine to deliver an updated, and mostly improved version of the classic Solid Snake tale.
The new cutscenes are motion-captured. This adds fluidity to the character models, giving them weight, natural looking movement, and an extra degree of drama to an already intense story. The character models are smooth, and look very impressive compared to the 8-year older models used in the original MGS. In some instances, the faster pacing, and increased stylization of the scenes have borrowed from their anime cousins, requiring more than a modicum of disbelief to be suspended. It is not to say the reimagining is bad, it is simply a different visual storytelling style.
Make no mistake this game is rated M. Very adult topics are at least inferred during dialogue. While blood letting is the default option, you may choose to turn off the blood. This will excise the arterial spray from both gameplay and cinematics. Playing without the blood in some instances is a welcomed respite, in other instances it just doesn’t make sense, specifically the first encounter between Sniper Wolf and Meryl. The game is violent. Even if you are using the newly added tranquilizer weapons, you can still shoot enemies in the head at close range, or cap them with a live round for a shower of blood.
The gameplay has significant improvements. Many of the improvements from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty are seamlessly incorporated into this classic tale. The first-person view, the higher-detail character models, improved AI, and the addition of tranquilizer weapons are welcome modifications to make the first MGS play as well as the second. The game is still challenging. If Normal is not hard enough, Hard is available out of the box. An especially demanding Extreme may be unlocked after beating the game on any other difficulty. At higher difficulty levels enemies are not only smarter but more plentiful.
The bosses are back, and look excellent. From the elegant and mysterious ninja to the brutish, plodding steps of Vulcan Raven, the character models take one giant leap beyond their original PlayStation forms to dominate each of the scenes they are in. Knowing the bosses’ patterns will help you survive. Familiar tactics are still effective, but the battles have a spectacular feel. Most of the bosses also have vitality bars (in addition to health) where you may tranquilize them into submission. This tactic is not only effective, but also transitions seamlessly into the cutscenes.
Multiple endings and difficulties are available, making for some compelling replay value. If this is your first time through Metal Gear Solid, multiple viewings are definitely necessary to find all of the subtleties of the story. Each time the game is completed, saved, and continued again on another difficulty you carry additional items. You can go through the game with a bandana, which grants you unlimited ammunition. The stealth device Otacon becomes available, and you can play in style as you brave the nail-biting adventure clad in a tuxedo.
In addition to the single-player game, briefing videos are available to watch. These short segments show the briefing Snake received prior to infiltrating the secret weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island. They are motion captured, and full of the rich voice work that runs throughout the game.
The game’s voice work, sound effects, and soundtrack all combine to deliver a powerful cinematic experience worthy of the Dolby Digital sound. The voice acting is superb. David Hayter returns as Solid Snake. He is joined by an arsenal of experienced and convincing performers. The distinct sounds of walking on metal plates, crunching snow, and through a blast furnace help decorate the different areas in which you will do battle.
While the graphics are one step beyond, the setting is as drab as you would expect of a military installation. The variety is pleasant and intriguing, but nothing flashy.
Ultimately this game is a story. The gameplay is impressive but the plot twists, character development, and over-the top cinematics are what make this game so much fun. That is not to say the interspersed gameplay elements are not fun. Au contraire, the gameplay is compelling enough to keep any action fan coming back again and again. If you have never played a Metal Gear Solid game before, you owe it to yourself to check out The Twin Snakes. If you are hesitant to buy it, you should definitely rent it. The game is engrossing enough to be played in one long sitting. And really that is the best way to experience the story.
If you still aren’t convinced, I ask what Otacon asks, “What are you fighting for?”