Snake Eater
Gameplay: 8
Sound: 10
Value: 9
Tilt: 10
Overall: 9.6
My initial hype for MGS3 was somewhat low. So low, in fact, that to me, it was just the ending to the MGS series. I consider myself to be a fan of the Metal Gear series, but a few things about Hideo's final offering had me worried. Would this game still be good without radar? Would I get lost in the jungle? Has the AI been overhauled? Would the game's unique features like eating and curing become some kind of chore? Would the story become as convulted and philosophical as MGS2? Would this game even be fun?
The answer is yes; the game is a blast to play. It is a refined action adventure with a strong emphasis on stealth, just like the other games in the series. While the new additions break the pace of the action, it�s not enough to knock this game off its perch as one of the greatest stealth games ever made.
Metal Gear has always been about good stories, and this game is no exception. MGS3 has one of the greatest gaming stories ever told, with an ending so intense and so mindblowing that I'm not even going to discuss it because that would be giving away too much. Savor it for yourself, because an ending like this may never come along again.
What makes Snake Eater's story so great? Well, everything you would expect from the Metal Gear universe. Excellent pacing, great voice acting, superb presentation and a great script. The story is never straightforward, that would be boring. This story twists and turns constantly but is never confusing. The twists are unique and are actually relevant, unlike a few of the ones found in Sons of Liberty. And when you factor in the well-directed cutscenes, the awesome score by Harry Gregson-Williams, and the perfectly acted dialogue, you've got the best presented story of the year.
Snake Eater has some very memorable characters, something you would expect from a MGS game. In fact, The Boss, Snake's mentor, is one of the most memorable characters in gaming. She is by far my favorite character in the game, and every scene she is in features some very tense moments. She is just a badass in every way, and by the end of the story you're almost guarenteed to feel a strong emotional attachment to her. Every character in this game seems to show off the creative genius of the legendary director Hideo Kojima and his talented team. Each and every boss fight is memorable and varied, ranging from sniper battles to close quarters combat. And then there's The Sorrow, a boss fight that is extremely unusual and impossible to describe without spoiling it. Needless to say, it rocks. The bosses themselves are all awesome, although it would have been nice if a little more background information was given about the various bosses. Regardless, they are amazing in their own right and offer a superb gaming experience.
Without the soliton radar system featured in the previous Metal Gear games, Snake Eater becomes quite a challenge. I absolutely love not having it. Now, it really does feel like a stealth game, simply because now you are relying on survival instincts to hunt down or evade your foes. In Snake Eater, you really have to use your environment to your advantage, and you really do have to use your eyes and ears more than ever before. Camoflauge can be equipped and you can collect different uniforms and face paints as you progress through the game. If you use the right camo for the right environment, it makes you nearly invisible. Still, even when you think you're being stealthy, chances are you'll wind up being spotted thanks to superior AI. Traps are also set up in the most unlikely places and if you're not careful, they can easily kill you. As a result, Snake Eater is simply more entertaining than the previous games, because now the entire game really is more rewarding than ever before. You'll feel great the first time you go through an entire stage without ever being spotted, and your "rating" at the end of the game will tell you just how well you played. This series has always been about stealth and not killing people, and because Snake Eater is so difficult, it's rewarding if you can actually master it.
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