Metal Gear Solid -- Where to start?

[goatdan]

Okay, so I have a bit of a problem, but it is one which is kind of nice to have.

I have all of the non-PS2 installments to the Metal Gear Solid series. I picked up the Playstation ones (including VR missions) after playing Headhunter for the Dreamcast because I heard Headhunter was essentially Sega's MGS attempt and I loved it.

I got Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for the Xbox when TRU was clearancing them out.

I just picked up Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes for the Cube as a freebie with GameStop's buy-two, get-one free sale as my freebie.

I also have the MGS version Bleem!cast, so I could even play the PSX on my DC.

So I've got basically the entire series, and I keep wanting to play them but I've never actually sat down and done it beyond a bunch of VR missions. I've decided that this is my next gaming thing that I want to tackle. For those of you that have played them all, where do you think I should start from?

[Richter Belmount]

get a msx 2 and get metal gear 1 and 2. good luck on that though = )

[whoisKeel]

VR Missions is my favorite. I loved MGS for psx years ago, but the graphics are a bit dated now. This isn't a problem of course, but since there's twin snakes (which I haven't played) I'd opt for that. I didn't care for MGS 2 for xbox that much, although I couldn't bring myself to finish it. MGS3 is supposed to be really sweet, but if you are really in it for the long haul, why not just start out with the first one? It's fun to play series in order.

[goatdan]

MGS3 is supposed to be really sweet, but if you are really in it for the long haul, why not just start out with the first one? It's fun to play series in order.

Well, that's the thing. I guess I just don't want to play the same versions of the game over and over again. If Twin Snakes is the best of both 1 and 2, I'll probably just play it. Unfortunately, I don't really have enough time to do every version...

[-hellvin-]

Personally I'd go with the PSX original. It's an incredible game and I myself just like to play through the original first. The remake is really sweet and if you're after better graphics than that would be a good choice. You gotta love the voice acting of Liquid Snake, done by good ol "James Flinders" Cam Clarke.

[Nez]

Start with the PSX game first, its a real gem of a game and has held up pretty well. I wouldn't bother with bleam unless you have a PSX controller addapter for the DC.

If you should skip any game make it MGS2 IMO its the worst of the bunch just for the fact the the story makes no sents and

SPOILER!! In case your the one person who has not heard. You dont play as Snake though most of the game. But instead a rather feminine guy.
End SPOILER!!!

[Chooky]

If Twin Snakes is the best of both 1 and 2, I'll probably just play it.

Heh, you're misinterpreting the back of the Twin Snakes box. Twin Snakes is just MGS1 with all the new moves and the better enemy A.I. from MGS2. It doesn't actually include any real content from MGS2. I'd say you should probably start with Twin Snakes (though some people say its ridiculously over-the-top cutscenes are a turnoff), then go from there to MGS2, and then finish it off with the fan-freakin-tastic MGS3.

[Jive3D]

If Twin Snakes is the best of both 1 and 2, I'll probably just play it.

Heh, you're misinterpreting the back of the Twin Snakes box. Twin Snakes is just MGS1 with all the new moves and the better enemy A.I. from MGS2. It doesn't actually include any real content from MGS2. I'd say you should probably start with Twin Snakes (though some people say its ridiculously over-the-top cutscenes are a turnoff), then go from there to MGS2, and then finish it off with the fan-freakin-tastic MGS3.

I was going to reiterate how misleading the back of that Twin Snakes box is. Twin Snakes is simply a remake of Metal Gear Solid 1 with the gameplay style of MGS2 (all the added moves, camera angles and general game physics, like grabbing enemy sentries and tossing them into lockers, or looking down a hall way in first person mode).

If I were you I would just do all three. Start with Twin Snakes, then go to MGS2 (substance optional). Many people don't like MGS2, and they are all hung up on one thing - you'll know it when you play it - once you get past that detail the game is awesome. Then do MGS 3 - I actually just started it last night and it's great.

If you are a real freak then you can play MG on NES and MG2 on MSX. Ignore "Snake's Revenge" b/c it's complete bullshit, a crappy game made by ultra (I beleive Ultra was a U.S. Based division of Konami in the NES days - is this true?) that's more silly than anything else. How can you take a game seriously when they name the villlian "Highrolla Cockameme" (or some slight variation) - games are fun and I'm all for sillyness (Katamari!) but SR just sucks ass.

If you really want to get into it you can check out Metal Gear Solid - The Ghost of Babylon (gameboy color) - I never bothered with it. Trying to play that after one of the console iterations is VERY tiresome.

"I need scissors, 51!"

[Richter Belmount]

if your gonna go get a msx2 its really a fortune to get the game and system (I kinda wish i hadnt went to the whole trouble) but it was worth it a little
I been playing number 2 and its great , your better of emulating it on nlmsx though. my favs in order
1.mgs 3
2. metal gear 2 solid snake
3.metal gear solid
4. metal gear gbc
4.metal gear 1
5.mgs 2

[SoulBlazer]

Here's the order I would play them in:

MGS: Twin Snakes for GC
MG: Ghost Babel (AKA Metal Gear Solid) for GBC
MGS2: Substance for PS2/Xbox
MGS3: Snake Eater for PS2

I LIKED Snakes Revenge but it was'nt made by Kojima or Konami in Japan. The 'real' sequel to Metal Gear, Solid Snake, never came over to the States.

[SoulBlazer]

Here's the order I would play them in:

MGS: Twin Snakes for GC
MG: Ghost Babel (AKA Metal Gear Solid) for GBC
MGS2: Substance for PS2/Xbox
MGS3: Snake Eater for PS2

I LIKED Snakes Revenge but it was'nt made by Kojima or Konami in Japan. The 'real' sequel to Metal Gear, Solid Snake, never came over to the States.

[Berserker]

I've got Twin Snakes... I friggin' suck at this game. I can't even get past the second screen. Hell, I got past the first screen by a stroke of luck! And I'm usually pretty good at the stealthy-type games, like Thief etc...

I'm at the second screen, where the helicopter takes off and hey, guess what, I'm hiding behind a box thing, and I have to "sneak" through a wide open space with like 3 guys walking around, without getting spotted. Which is fun, considering my dark ass contrasts nicely with the white snow. Ugh, I just don't seem to be "getting" this game...

[Dimitri]

Many people don't like MGS2, and they are all hung up on one thing - you'll know it when you play it - once you get past that detail the game is awesome.

This never ceases to amaze me. A friend of mine loved MGS1, and is loving MGS3, yet refuses to play MGS2. And that's his only reason. Really, it's not that bad. >_O


(I beleive Ultra was a U.S. Based division of Konami in the NES days - is this true?)

Indeed. They opened a second branch in the US to get around Nintendo's licensing restrictions so they could publish more games. Nintendo limited third parties to like three per year or something retarded like that.

I'll just reiterate what's already been said: Play Twin Snakes, then Substance, then MGS3. Play the older ones only if you really want to -- I never did and I still got plenty out of the later games. :)

[Richter]

Solid Snake was removed from the timeline by Kojima, another reason not to play it =P

[SoulBlazer]

Really? Solid Snake was removed? I never heard that.....

I only push MGS: GB so much for several reasons -- it plays a lot like MGS, it had plot elements very similar to the first game, and it's a AMAZING handheld game. One of the best ever made. It's just shocking what Kojima was able to get out of the Game Boy Color.

[TheRedEye]

Solid Snake was removed from the timeline by Kojima, another reason not to play it =P

What are you talking about? Metal Gear Solid constantly references Solid Snake. Are you talking about Snake's Revenge?