Random Game O' the Day: Metal Gear Solid (PSX)

[digitalpress]

The DP Random Request Taking Generator O' Games (tm) has chosen quite coincidentally Metal Gear Solid, Konami's PlayStation masterpiece.

We think it's a masterpiece, anyway. It's been done since but the style and production of this game was without equal in 1998. What are your recollections of the game? What were your favorite scenes and moments? Share your opnions here.

DP Guide sez:

Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation, by Konami) $6/R1 +
Designed by Hideo Kojima. Developed by Konami. A 2-disc set. Also available in the "Greatest Hits" packaging. This is one of three PlayStation games that can be played on the Sega Dreamcast using the commercially available "bleemcast". EASTER EGGS: There are at least two occasions we've found where you can see Meryl in her panties. That's right, we're a strange lot. One is in the ladies room where you catch up with her just before the Psycho Mantis stage. Follow right behind herand run to the topmost stall in under five seconds, and you won't have given her time to change, resulting in a conversation with Meryl in her panties. The other occasion is in the holding cells. You'll see Meryl exercising while you're crawling around in the ducts. Climb down the ladder and then quickly back up to the duct. She'll change her workout routine, and after 3 or 4 times you'll catch her in her panties again. SANTULLI SLANT: A brilliant drama, loaded with action, intrigue, and high production values, Metal Gear Solid literally took the PlayStation's expectations to a new level after its release. A huge game with various sub-plots and mini-games, it's really hard not to like. The only downside might be that the storyline is a bit difficult to get through a second time as you cannot bypass the cut scenes. Snake has never looked or played better. [Gr: 10, So: 10, Ga: 9, Ov: 10] Released 10/21/98. #SLUS-00594.

[Nature Boy]

I didn't actually get my PSX until Feb of 1999, but this was one of the first games I played on it.

I actually got stuck on Sniper Wolf and put it down for a bit. But how rewarding it was when I finally beat that mutherf...er.

I don't know if I like where they've gone since then though. MGS2 was a disappointment. And why MGS on GC now? 3rd party stuff on GC doesn't sell well apparantly - why do they think *old* games are going to magically change this?

Here's hoping MGS3 is more about *playing* and less about watching...

[Drexel923]

I actually got stuck on Sniper Wolf and put it down for a bit. But how rewarding it was when I finally beat that mutherf...er.

I don't know if I like where they've gone since then though. MGS2 was a disappointment.

Here's hoping MGS3 is more about *playing* and less about watching...

The same thing happened to me with Sniper Wolf. I put the game away for a long time, then finally picked it up again and plowed through the rest with a vengence. What a great game. I was also dissapointed with MGS2, way too much cinematics. I'm actually not that impressed with what I've seen on MGS3...I'll have to wait and see on that one.

[hezeuschrist]

I wasn't at all disappointed with MGS2. Dunno what the expectations were, but I thought it was a great game.

[Drexel923]

I wasn't at all disappointed with MGS2. Dunno what the expectations were, but I thought it was a great game.

For me there was three things I didn't like about MGS2...

1. Way too many movies...they were well done and all, but I felt like a was watching more than playing.

2. Too many plot twists...I couple twists in any story make that story good, but after a while it gets ridiculous.

3. Raiden was annoying...nuf said.

I thought the game was decent and certainly warrented my playing through it, but I thought it was dissapointing compared to the first one.

[hezeuschrist]

Yeah, but 99.9% of sequels pale in comparison to the original, in any medium. The original is just that, it's original, it's fresh and new. The sequel is exactly what it says it is, more of the same. I definitely think MGS was way better than 2, but I dunno, maybe I didn't play the game for long enough intervals to be annoyed by the movies. If I had played for longer periods of time and had to sit through more of them at once I guess I would have been annoyed, but I always thought the FMV's are a great way of conveying the storyline, in any game.

[Kid Fenris]

Metal Gear Solid wound up on my favorites list during the DP Top 100 (More people need to vote, dammit!), and it was one of the few choices that I didn’t need to think about. I consider MGS an amazing title, and a perfect example of how to bring a classic into a new era of gaming. For one, the story plays out like an old-fashioned NES action setup, with bosses and evil organizations and whatnot, yet it’s enriched with exceptionally developed characters, plot twists galore, and loads of detail. The gameplay’s also quite captivating, giving you that time-honored addiction of trying a stage over and over until you’ve got it down perfectly.

For my favorite moments, I’d name Snake’s initial encounter with Meryl in the brig, the battle with the Ninja, and the scene before you take on Metal Gear Rex. Of course, you can’t discuss Metal Gear Solid without mentioning that heart-wrenching conversation between Snake and Otacon just before Snake boards the elevator. You know what I’m talking about.

There are few modern games that I’ve had time to finish more than once, but I’ve made four trips through Metal Gear Solid. And I’ll probably go through it again in the coming months. Suffice to say, I’m looking forward to Twin Snakes on the GameCube.

[Kid Ice]

IMO, MGS is the most hugely overrated game ever made.

ICE

[FrankLee]

I heard/read all the hype about metal gear solid but didnt even think about buying it i dont know i just wasnt interested at all then my cousins bought it and he let me borrow it (I only borrowed it becuase he didnt have any other new games) I played it and i was like wow i loved...And by the way i wasnt disapointed at all with MGS2 I thought the plot twisted made it all the better, there were a lot of movies and raiden wasnt the cooler then snake but it was still a good game in my eyes.

[YoshiM]

The PS was a "filler" system that was purchased with trade-ins with my group (as we sometimes chipped in to get games and systems) while we waited for new N64 games. One of the games we got was Metal Gear Solid. At first it was the "funny spy game" with my sister in law yelling "Run around the box! Run around the box!" to avoid capture. Basically it got played for 10 minutes, then socked away and eventually traded. Since I had very little say as I didn't buy the game, I never really played it. When I inherited the PS after my bro in law got the PS2, I picked MGS up for a measily $15 and went at it since I wouldn't have a jaded and disinterested audience.

Some of the best 10 hours of my gaming life.

Good amount of stealth, camera worked great, graphics were good and the story compelling. I suffered through the horrible Dual Shock controllers to finish this game. It had its share of cinemas, but they were usually fairly quick. Not sure if it'd be worth another go through, but initially it was a great time.

Favorite parts? The Psycho Mantis part was very cool. I freaked when he asked if I liked Castlevania. Another part was the torture chamber. Yeah, I know, it's a simple test of endurance and button mashing but this section being playable just added to the whole experience.

[deadtech]

I have tried all of the US-released MG games, and I "strongly dislike" MGS (1 and 2). I don't really like any of them to be honest, but the bset of the series (of those released n US) is the GBC one, IMO. I really can't stand the PS versions. And I find it hard to believe anyone can even take MGS2's storyline even a little bit seriously, it is so ridiculous.

-deadtech

[Oobgarm]

The Psycho Mantis encounter is one of the most ingenious moments in gaming history.

First the guy reads your memory card, makes the Dual Shock vibrate, and then reads your every move. That is simply genious. The way to defeat him was also clever.

I remember anxiously awaiting the release of MGS. I've only been excited for a few games, but this (and its sequel, which I also enjoyed) top the list.

MGS is a masterpiece that will go down as one of the greatest games of all time.

[hydr0x]

IMO, MGS is the most hugely overrated game ever made.

ICE

EXACTLY, and btw, it wasn't as innovative as many people think most things were stolen from other games, mostly pc

[brandver3]

I really think I was a true masterpeice of a game. I only got to play through a few hours at a friends house when it first came out, and I have to say I was really floored by it. Sadley though, I have never beaten it. Everyone told me the story and the endind, so I had no desire.

And MGS2 is one of the most unapreciated games ever. It was an awesome game. So you don't get to be Snake, at least Snake was there, he was a active part of the game from start to finish. I really like why Kojima did it. You always see Snake from the first person. So he wanted people to see Snake from the third person. And I really think that was cool.

I was also glad to see some of the game play improvment that made the first one semi-unplayble for me. I.E. Being able to shoot in first person. MGS2 is one of the very few action game I played more then once. (to put it bluntly, I have every Dogtag except the one for the hardest difficulty (no Gamesharking either).

I am so looking forward to Twin Snakes.

[Nature Boy]

EXACTLY, and btw, it wasn't as innovative as many people think most things were stolen from other games, mostly pc

Why don't you illuminate us with what was stolen and from where? I *hate* it when someone says something like this and doesn't bother backing it up with anything.

[NE146]

You guys are probably going to laugh, but I bought PSX Metal Gear Solid the week it came out. Want to know when I FIRST started playing it? Oh.. a couple of weeks ago :embarrassed:

My brother played it and finished it though in it's day :P And he was making fun of me because I was 100% STUCK at the point where the game kept referring to a frequency that's written on back of a CD.. I had no idea where the CD was! I was stuck for a week and told my brother about it.. and wouldn't you know it. The frigging thing was on back of the ACTUAL CD CASE. DOH!!!! x_x >:(

[kainemaxwell]

Love MGS myself, my step-father like dit alot also but really stopped playing when the storyline took a turn for the WTF. So I started playing and enjoyed it, last time I played I was up to when you gotta guide the missiles across the electric floor to take out the generator.

Deepthroat.