Now Playing: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Topic: Playstation 2
The Cold War, an era steeped in espionage and the threat of nuclear annihilation. The head butting of ideals between the US and the Soviet Union has been depicted throughout many different media sources, and it makes for a perfect setting in Hideo Kojima's next epic installment of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. After nearly three years of fallout from the Raiden controversy that loomed over MGS2: Sons of Liberty, Hideo Kojima made a promise bring Snake back into action. This time, in a jungle instead of an enclosed building environment, as a test of true survival skills. He also made mention to the fact of Snake...eating...which made most of the gaming community scratch their head. But then it happened, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was finally released, and all was right with the world.
As I mentioned earlier, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is set during the Cold War era, more specifically after the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of JFK. Now those who have been following the MGS franchise closely, this will raise a bit of a red flag as to the time frame doesn't add up. You might think to yourself, Solid Snake wasn't even born when these events took place, and you'd be 100% correct. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is not a direct sequel to the events that took place in MGS2. Snake Eater features a different Snake, Naked Snake to be more specific, and gives a different perspective of the Metal Gear franchise's deadliest foe...BIG BOSS before he was actually Big Boss. In a sense, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is actually a bit of a prequel to the MSX/NES game Metal Gear, although there is still a large gap between the events that take place in MGS3 and Metal Gear.
Snake Eater is a dramatic revamp of Metal Gear Solid's game mechanics. Stealth takes on a whole new form in MGS3. Being set in an outdoor, jungle environment the tactics previously used to remain hidden go out the window. For Naked Snake to succeeded in his mission behind enemy lines, he'll have to rely on the use of camouflage. There are no walls to hide behind this time, players will literally have to disappear into their environment to avoid enemy detection. To do this, players will have too keep a close eye on the camouflage meter that gauges how well you're blended in to your surroundings. The higher the number, the better you are hidden. Another large, but simple change in MGS3 is stalking your enemies by using the good old D pad. Walking and running are a very noisy activity in the jungle, by using the D pad, Naked Snake will move nice and slow minimizing sound. This is particularly useful when trying to pull off all the new CQC, or close quarters combat, maneuvers that have been introduced. Players can now do more than just choke out patrolling enemies. Being that Naked Snake is a highly trained soldier, he can use a large variety of moves like knocking out enemies with a single hard throw, push them forward or backwards onto the ground and shake them down for goods similar to MGS2, interrogate for useful information, or simply dispose of a guard with a knife to the throat. It's a given that the enemy AI has been upgraded from Metal Gear Solid 2's roaming elites, and on the harder settings really can be formidable opponents. They are much more sensitive to sights and sounds, on occasions if your smoking a cigar, even smell. Players will have to be clever, and pay attention to patrol patterns to remain hidden and advance. For those who aren't as fortunate, and get discovered, Naked Snake may take a few injuries like bullet wounds, broken bones, shrapnel burns, and will need away to keep himself healthy if he wants to retain optimal fighting performance. That's where the new CURE feature comes into play. As Snake takes damage, the player will use the CURE screen for some in game health care. It is here you will mend those broken bones, stitch up some nasty cuts, among many other things. Throughout the course of the game, players will also gather food items either by hunting the many prey items found in the jungle, or taking rations off of guards. These food items do not effect Snake's health when used, but work to replenish the Stamina gauge. When Snake's stamina gets low, he will become less effective in combat, and even fall asleep until enough stamina has been recovered. Hey, no one said being alone in the jungle was going to be easy. To mix things up, players can enjoy a silly but entertaining side game called Snake Vs Monkey, where Snake has to catch monkeys throughout different maps in the game. Completing the mini game will earn some extra goodies, and is just one more element that makes Snake Eater unique.
It goes without saying that MGS3: Snake Eater's story is nothing short of epic, it is after all another Hideo Kojima game. I will not go into too much detail of what the story involves, but for the first time we really get to experience the human side of Big Boss before he turned into a villain in Outer Heaven. The game begins with Naked Snake going behind enemy lines to find a scientist who has created a nuclear equipped tank called the Shagohod, and the plot only thickens from there. With the threat of a full scale nuclear war looming, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is full of plot twists, betrayal, and love. All of the hardships Naked Snake will face sculpt the character into what he will ultimately become. All of the flaws that were in MGS2's story presentation have been completely erased, and the game has true cinematic quality. Returning as the voice of Snake is David Hayter, and he gives yet another top notch performance. All of the voice acting in MGS3 is excellent quality, as Kojima continues to find the best in the business. It doesn't matter if you are a long time fan of the franchise, or new to the Metal Gear universe, Snake Eater is nothing short than riveting.
Since Metal Gear Solid was released for the original Sony Playstation, Snake Eater was the biggest step forward in the franchise. It offered something new to the genre, and is the definitive Metal Gear Solid experience on the Sony Playstation 2. Everything about Snake Eater is fined tuned, and it is a classic installment players will be returning to years to come.
Written by RB
As of 2006, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Subsistence edition was released. Although the core story and game elements were unchanged, players now had access to full 3D camera angles and a second disk filled with game extras including the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake MSX games. With the upgraded camera angles, the scope of the game was enhanced raising the game's rating to 4.9 out of a possible 5.
Over and Out
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Updated: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 11:24 PM EST
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