The Metal Gear franchise is one of the best and most respected in all of video game-dom. It revolutionized the stealth genre and is also considered, in my opinion and amongst others, one of the finest examples of how video games are comprable to major motion picture films. The series is known for its unforgettable characters, its signature stealthy gameplay, it's complex yet ever-compelling story, and for being the killer app in video game cinematography. So when Konami released the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for both PS3 and Xbox 360 in the latter part of 2011, I was thrilled.

     MGS HD contains three, technically five, Metal Gear games. It has Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The first two were for the Playstation 2, and the latter for the Sony PSP handheld. For an added bonus, contained on MGS 3 is the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake for the MSX - a Japanese console. All of that great gameplay for just 50 dollars, and now, it can be found for only 39.99 at most stores! What a steal! Most games today are 60, so you are getting a tremendous value here.

     I don't need to review these games one by one, as they are historically, all considered to be great. I would say that the best of the bunch from this collection is MGS 3, and it also looks the best graphically. Speaking of which, the HD upgrade to the visuals made a significant difference from their PS2 and PSP counterparts. The graphics pop on these new games and they feel as if they are brand new releases. I also thought the original control schemes held up amazingly well considering how old the PS2 games are. As for Peace Walker, the game controls a heck of a lot better on the PS3 than the sometimes stiffly inplemented controls of the PSP. The range of comfort is drastically improved when using the PS3 controller.

     My only gripe is that the original Metal Gear Solid from the Playstation 1 was not included. So at times, it feels as if this collection is a tad incomplete. I would have loved to seen Solid with PS3 like visuals - it would have been a total knockout! To be honest, I've always preferred the original Solid to the games included on this collection, but that is not an insult to this bevy of games - I guess I'm sentimental about the original. In any case, while the HD Collection does not feature the first game, it is still very much worth having, because you are obviously being treated to some of the best games made in this generation, bar none.

     MGS HD Collection is part fan-service - for us die-hard Metal Gear fans, and partly for those who may have never experienced these games in their original glory. Honestly, it's a no brainer, this is a game that must be owned. !

     P.S.: I would suggest getting this game for the PS3 if you have that system. The Metal Gear games have always played better on the Sony platforms. Take my word on it.

-Kurt L.

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     Considered one of the Playstations 3's great triumphs, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is indeed just that. I did not get the chance of playing this game when it first came out, but it was certainly a pleasure to do so recently. This game always intrigued me, but at the same time, I often shied away from it. It reminded me a lot of Tomb Raider, and I have never really been a big fan of those games. It's not the type of game I dislike, I just always thought those really old Tomb Raider games on the Sega Saturn or the original Playstation were just so broken. However, the concept of archeology and adventure for hidden treasure is a thrilling one.

     Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is not simply a Tomb Raider game with a male protagonist. It is a Hollywood blockbuster thrill ride on the video game medium. It packs a lot of action, loveable heroes, a compelling story, and some witty and sometimes hilarious dialogue amongst the starring characters. Nathan Drake (descendent of the historically important Francis Drake) is the star here and he is a terrific lead for a game. He has just the right swagger, yet down to Earth nature about him that makes him so likeable. I also really liked the female love interest in Elena, a spunky reporter who is thrilled by the adventure and plays as a perfect partner to Nate. And of course, there is the grizzled, cigar chomping Sully - Nate's confidant and good friend.

     These loveable characters embark on a grand adventure to find the lost treasure of Sir Francis Drake, and the journey to find the fortune is a breath taking one. From the incredible graphics that detail the island setting, to the impressive Hollywood musical score, to the extremely tight controls and top notch gameplay, Uncharted has it all. It features some dizzying heights as Nathan Drake fearlessly leaps from rock to rock, building to building. It's a very complete game that essentially breaks down to three simple components: 1. A cover and shoot system. 2. The leaping mechanic. 3. Puzzle solving. And while all three sound incredibly simple, and obviously have been seen before, they are so well implemented here, you never get bored or find it repetitive. I thought I would, but I never felt the need to stop playing.

     The pacing of the game is what keeps the flow going so well. It's a relatively short game, I probably beat it in I suppose 8 hours or so, spread over the course of a week, and I was thrilled from beginning to end. There was a lot to like about this one - for instance, even from the outset, I was intrigued by the games  concept as it draws in from a historical perspective, weaving in the mystique and allure of the adventures in which popularized Sir Francis Drake. There has been a lot rumor in history as to what sort of adventurous exploits he was up to, and this game feeds into that even more so - quite brilliant!

     I highly recommend this game as it is a fast paced good time from beginning to end. It stands out to me as one of the PS3's biggest surprises. Obviously nowadays, the Uncharted series is a big PS3 exclusive franchise, and I can see why as the first game is just so good on so many levels.

-Kurt L.

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     Naturally, like any other game out there, Fallout 3 does indeed have a story that progresses you through the game, but ultimately how you reach that destination is up to you. The premise is simple and quite endearing - you are a young man in search of his father (brilliantly voiced by Liam Neeson by the way). Amazingly, you start off as a little baby, and I've never seen a FPS game starting you off as a toddler! As brief as that is, it is still quite a welcome surprise. I digress.

     The true brilliance in Fallout 3 lies in the unknown - and what I mean is how things exactly will play out. From the early goings, you realize that essentially every action you take, or any word you say, will reflect how people react to you as a person. There is a "Karma" rating. If you rob or kill someone, you get "Bad Karma." If you save someone, or do generous or gracious acts, you get "Good Karma." Based on how your overall Karma rating is, the world around you perceives you to be as good as your actions are. It is a fascinating system. I generally prefer to have as much Good Karma as I possibly can, but that if I need to do something a little dangerous, or something outrageous, I will not hesitate, as I am simply following my own path.

     One of my favorite moments early on as I was just understanding the game was when I first emerged from the Vault in which my character was born and I first travelled into the depths of the Wasteland. I came across this small, ramshackle house and went inside. I spoke to the innocent homeowner about the Wasteland to gather more information, and when she went into the other room, and I wandered into her kitchen in search of food or a weapon for survival. I remember seeing a knife on the table and wondered if I should take it. If I did, that would be stealing, but I needed a weapon to survive out there - at least to start. I ultimately stole the knife because my primary goal at this point was to survive as best I could. I got a little Bad Karma from that action, but over the course of the game it obviously blew over. But the very idea that I pondered so much about robbing a knife is something I've never done before. What other game could make you think so much?

     Another brilliant time was when I was negotiating with a group of vampires who were terrorizing this town I wandered into, and being a good samaritan, I wanted to help this town out. I thought to go in guns blazing against these blood thirsty vampires, but decided not to, but rather use my own intelligence and speech to influence them not to attack the town any longer. I remember it being a sketchy and uneasy conversation, but eventually we came to an understanding and the vampires left the town alone. Wow. Since when can that happen in a video game?!

     There are countless times in Fallout 3 where I have taken the diplomatic approach. Sometimes I did not, like at this slave camp. I remember not caring for the way the brusque guard was talking to me, so I blew his head off with my shotgun and rescued the slaves. It was awesome.

     There really is a lot to say about Fallout 3, and I know I haven't discussed every facet of the game, and without going on and on for pages on end about it, let me just say that this is a truly incredible game. Graphically, it is a powerhouse. The action is pretty tight with a wide variety of weaponary. While this game may have the occaisional bug or hiccup when playing (once or twice it froze on me), 99.9% of the time, this game plays flawlessly and it just blows you away every step of the way.

     Believe me when I tell you this game is incredible. If you've never played it, you simply must! It isn't overly complicated with its leveling up systems and all that stuff in some more conventional RPG's, Fallout 3 is relatively easy to understand, and it becomes a supremely fun game to master.

     Fallout 3 is on my list of Top 10 Favorite Video Games of All Time. It was my pick for the 2008 Game of the Year, and it still leaves a tremendous impact on me to this day as much as a game can impact you. This game sort of reminds me of that quote from the Terminator films..."No fate but what we make." Brilliant.

-Kurt L.

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     One of the original launch titles for the Playstation 3 back in 2006, Resistance: Fall of Man is considered to be one of the premiere games on the PS3 platform. Boasting impressive graphics and immersive first-person play, it surely lives up to the hype. In my own experience, I didn't have a particularly strong interest at first to get into this game as I assumed it would be another typical FPS. I'm happy to say that I was very much wrong in my assumption (and we all know what happens when we assume!). Resistance is a terrific game, one that exemplifies the very best of what the first-person shooter genre can offer.

     While Resistance doesn't break the mold like that of Halo, or Goldeneye 007 (N64), it does stand as a fantastic FPS. There are tons of FPS games out there and so many of them forgettable or overrated - such as the Wii's overhyped The Conduit. Resistance is just such a competent title that does everything right. You'll be drawn into its alternate telling of post-WWII history, where the Chimera virus has infected most of Europe leaving Great Britain with one of the last strongholds. You'll love the blend of advanced alien weaponary along with the vintage British firearms. The graphics are another big plus for this game, as well as the sound. Couple all that with a interestingly told narrative that unfolds carefully as you progress through each level, adding a sense of urgency to each situation.

     Along with that nicely woven narrative is a heightened sense of atmosphere really drives this game forward. Through the few quieter moments of the game, take a moment to look at your surroundings and you'll see some fascinating and eerie sights. Danger is clearly everywhere when you look out above you or before you at the horizon and see a distubing looking alien drone patrolling the vicinity. You'll see little nuances like these everywhere and it truly adds extra awareness and tension to an already compelling game.

     Not only are there harbingers of death lurking all about, but the levels themselves enhance the atmosphere around you. From the war-torn British streets, to the night-time at the docks, to a snowy neighborhood town, to underground Chimera tunnels, this game has it all (and many more I failed to mention). It spans so many different places, it's remarkable, but it all feels cohesive.

     For the most part, Resistance retains a compelling experience throughout but from time to time, especially in the latter half of the game, it may hit a bit of a lull. In retrospect, it's actually a fairly lengthy game, but even with the occassional lull, it's a streamlined great experience. This game will surely be enjoyed.

     As a launch title for the PS3, it certainly made a strong case that Sony's newest gaming machine was a true dynamo - it could surely handle the First-Person Shooter. Resistance: Fall of Man is a game you'll certainly fall for. One of PS3's more memorable titles.

-Kurt L.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGgfvvJDKps

-Kurt L.

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     Many changes were made for the new version of the highly competitive MGO. For starters, graphics and game mechanics have been upgraded to fully utilize what the power house of a system, the Sony Playstation 3, can do. It goes without saying that level designs are much larger, and have much more detail than their Ps2 counter parts. At the start of each match, players will also be able to pick their own musical themes that are unlocked from progressing through the main story of MGS4: Guns of the Patriots. There are a wide variety of themes to choose from, varying from musical scores from the early NES Metal Gear games right through to boss themes featured in the main story of MGS4. Although there is something for everyone to like, there is also the option of keeping the music turned off which is allows the player to keep their hearing honed into their surroundings. Having the music turned off is especially effective when trying to make sure an enemy isn't sneaking up behind you, or listening for near by fire fights while trying to find a better vantage point. There are also more match types including, death match, team death match, Stealth missions, base bombings, and capture missions just to name a few. During certain match types, certain players will be randomly selected to play as one of the legendary characters from the franchise. Those without buying the expansions will be able to play a Solid Snake only, but with the expansions the character lists include Raiden, Meryl, Johnny, Vamp, Mai Ling, and Liquid. These characters have their own unique set of abilities, and are better than your typical PMC.

     Perhaps the biggest change to MGO is the ability to create your own PMC character. Upon completing the lengthy application process to create your game account, each player is given one character slot for free in which they will create their new in game personality. If you want more than one character, you'll have to pay almost 7 bucks for another character slot. Players will be able to select their face from a pretty mediocre list of predetermined looks. Non-expansion players are limited to only male characters, so if you are a female Metal Gear fan you'll have to plop down some extra cash to make a female avatar. Character voices are also customizable, but after they've been selected voices and faces are permanent and can't be changed. The coolest part of having your own character is easily the gear selection. Upon creating a new character, gear selection is basic and the player is limited to only a few selections. However by playing and earning reward points, players can buy new gear which is all completely customizable. With a little work, each character can obtain their own unique look to match their gamer's personality.

     Being that the main hero of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Solid Snake is a legendary solider who has devoted years of his life training his skills, don't expect your PMC to be able to do everything that Old Snake can do. Each player will be able to select a maximum of four skills to begin with, and there are a large variety of skills to choose from. They vary from assault rifles, handguns, shotguns, blades, CQC, and numerous passive SOP (Sons of the Patriots) skills. There are many more, and each player will be able to develop and hone their own play style. These skills are advanced by utilizing your selected talents in combat, but as they advance they will take up more of your maximum four slots. A maxed out assault rifle mastery will take up three of those four slots. Although you can swap out your skills at anytime before entering a match, it is important to find out what works best for you, and remember you'll have to sacrifice skills that don't fit into your play style.

     Despite all of its advancements, the new MGO isn't without its flaws. Although a highly addictive multiplayer mode, the game is designed with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots options to remain intact. This means some players will have Auto-Aim activated. Although this is highly frowned upon in the MGO community, there is no stopping some from using it and gaining an unfair advantage. Joining into matches can also be a slow, and agonizing process as the game's Auto-matchmaking mode only allows you to play with other competitors close to your same level and skill caps. Although the auto-matchmaking works incredibly well at putting you with people around your own capabilities, it is flawed in the fact that if there is no one around your level playing at that time you are stuck in prolonged wait times. One unforeseen problem with the auto-matchmaking is one that comes into play with any online game, and it is unfortunately the human element. Being that one is forced to play with the same levels, people will frequently re-encounter many of the same players as they progress around the same rate. This can be a great thing, allowing people to make friend in the gaming community, but if you are continually grouped with other players you dislike can be a major turn off to an other wise outstanding gaming experience. Although the human element is something that shouldn't be held against the game itself, it is something anyone looking to branch out into the online realm should be aware of. Metal Gear Online can be a cheater's paradise, and there are plenty of hidden glitches that people can take advantage of. 

     Overall, Metal Gear Online is one of the most rewarding online gaming experiences on the Sony Playstation 3. The fact that it comes packaged for free with easily the best game on the system makes it all the better. Although MGO isn't perfect, I think anyone who has played it will agree that it is highly addictive. Its has earned a devote following for a reason, and should be played at least once to anyone who owns Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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     Its been two decades since Metal Gear debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Ever since we've enjoyed sneaking though jungles, military outposts, nuclear warhead disposal facilities, and taking out nuclear equipped walking battle tanks. But now, the time has finally come. The end of an epic journey has arrived, as the legendary solider Solid Snake takes on his final mission in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

     Its been the Metal Gear Solid franchise's legacy to continue to reshape, and change the way a player looks at the stealth based action genre. Ever since Metal Gear Solid was released, its tag line has been "Tactical, Espionage, Action" and the series has always lived up to that very statement. Being the final chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga, Hideo Kojima and Konami games along with the technical prowess of the Sony Ps3 platform have created a masterpiece that will be remembered for years to come.

     Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is set in the near future, in the year 2014...and war has changed. The world has descended into full out proxy wars. War itself has become the global economy, and not even civilians are safe from the growing war machines. As you guessed, it's up to one man and one man alone to set the world straight. The legendary solider Solid Snake is up for this mission and finally put a stop to Liquid Ocelot's reign of terror, but there's a catch. Thanks to some accelerated aging, Solid Snake isn't exactly a young guy anymore. Aged well beyond his years, Solid Snake is now Old Snake. With Snake's current physical condition, his final mission isn't going to be a cake walk. If he is going to succeed Old Snake is going to need a few more tricks up his sleeve, and not to mention a little bit of help from some familiar faces.

     That brings us right into Metal Gear Solid 4's game mechanics, which have been completely redone but yet are familiar to veterans of the franchise. The name of the game is still stealth, even though Old Snake can still hold his own in a fight. Anyone who has played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (previously reviewed here on Ethos), will surely remember the camouflage meter as Big Boss literally disappeared into his jungle environment. The premise of the camouflage meter has returned to in MGS4, but with a futuristic twist. Being dropped into active war zones, Old Snake doesn't have time to be constantly pausing the game to change camouflage outfits, oh no. Thanks to Otacon new design, Old Snake's new Octocamo is universal and changes instantly to match its surroundings. The Octocamo is an essential key to survival in Metal Gear Solid 4. Just by lying on the ground, or pressing up against a wall Old Snake will vanish and the roaming guards will never know you are there. With a quick shake of the Ps3 controller, the player can reset the Octocamo to its original color scheme (even during the cut scenes), which is useful when trying to blend into your surroundings quickly as it saves a few seconds on the transition time. This will come particularly useful when trying to get away from the incredibly tough unmanned war machine called the Gekko. Anyone who has seen a screen shot of MGS4 will also notice Old Snake's high tech eye patch called the Solid Eye. The Solid Eye is an upgrade from Solid Snake's old school binoculars, night vision goggles, and radar system as now they are all combined into one. Although the Solid Eye can't be used limitlessly as it runs on battery power that recharges when the Solid Eye isn't in use, it is a helpful tool when trying to remain hidden. It will help you spot guards from a distance, tell if an enemy is friendly or not and even highlight item locations for you. This same battery power that runs the Solid Eye also effect the use of Old Snake's Ipod which allows the player to use customizable themes throughout the game as their found, and more importantly the Metal Gear Mk. II. The Metal Gear Mk. II is just as its name states, a small Metal Gear designed by Otacon to aide Snake in his mission. This smaller Metal Gear follows around Snake in invisibility mode called stealth camouflage, and can be controlled to stun guards or retrieve items where Old Snake can't get to.

     With all of Old Snake's technological upgrades out of the way, all that remains is CQC and armed combat. Like the camo meter, CQC has survived the Snake Eater mission and returned for Guns of the Patriots. However that too has been completely revamped with an entirely new control scheme for MGS4. Unlike its predecessors Metal Gear Solid 4 does not use the O or square buttons for combat. O simply reloads your weapon, while square has no use at all except for switching your Solid Eye into night vision. Instead, in Metal Gear Solid 4, the L1 and R1 buttons do all the work by utilizing different combination, and pressure sensitive controls between the two. To aim a weapon and fire it, the player must aim with L1 and shoot with R1. To add in first person, the player must hit L1, triangle, then shoot with R1. And all CQC is now controlled with R1 alone. Sounds a bit complicated, but works smoothly. With more CQC moves available, players will have no problem taking out the roaming patrols with lethal or non-lethal maneuvers. Weapons are also highly customizable this time around. Players will be able to outfit Old Snake with a large arsenal of weapons, and attach accessories that fits their needs. For example the Old Snake's starting pistol, a .45 Operator 1911 can be outfitted with a suppressor and weapon light. All of which are optional, but gives the player another measure of control for that "Tactic-cool' experience. Although sneaking in the Metal Gear franchise, Metal Gear Solid 4 also functions as a typical shooter. Players can easily take out any enemy they see in Run and Gun fashion, with excellent combat controls, and advance through the game as they please. With large level designs, there are numerous ways for Old Snake to complete his objectives.

     Story wise, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is more cinematic in nature than many action movies released over the passed few years. With beautiful graphics, and gripping cut scenes, MGS4's plot is possibly the best of the franchise. As I mentioned before, the world has descended into full out war. Thanks to the Patriots controlling the aspects of human thoughts, and ID control through the SOP system, Liquid Ocelot finds a way to take over the system. It's up to Solid Snake to stop him, and put an end to this mindless war. What makes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots so ambitious is how the story is told. Players will progress through 5 unique acts that will bring Old Snake around the world, and to some old battle grounds. It is an emotional journey as Old Snake is reunited with many of the characters from the previous titles, and all unanswered questions are finally answered. More importantly, we can see the evolution of all the characters featured in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, such as Snake's one time love interest Meryl, or the ever controversial Raiden who has finally come into his own as a warrior (although is still bit of a cry baby.) This evolution of character couldn't be more true than with Snake himself. Ever since his debut on the NES, we've seen the rookie Solid Snake become a legendary soldier. With his never say die attitude, the character is able to over come impossible odds. That same attitude remains in Metal Gear Solid 4, but we now get to see a different perspective. Not only are we playing as the legendary soldier, but an old man whose time is running out. This causing for a gripping, and emotional journey as the story progresses. Although some cut scenes are indeed a half hour long, they flow fluently and are highly entertaining as they tie in seamlessly back into the game play. Players won't mind sitting back, and watching each beautifully crafted cut scene. The cinematic quality of Metal Gear Solid 4 is unmatched by any video game released to date.

     With excellent graphics, story telling, and game play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has reached the pinnacle of perfection. It is an epic conclusion to a franchise many of us have grown up playing. Not only does it continue the Metal Gear Solid legacy of quality gaming, it sets the bar of what a video game in general can achieve. I could think of no better send off for such an influential character in the video gaming community, so this one is for you Solid Snake. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is an instant classic, and will be played fondly for years to come.

Written by RB.

Over and Out

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