Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

MGS3 is a prequel to the rest of the series. It's the swinging 60s and you take control of the 'Greatest Soldier of the 20th Century TM' - Big Boss (Known at this point as Naked Snake) as he goes deep into enemy territory to rescue a brilliant scientist who wishes to return to America. If you know your Metal Gear then you know that's about as close to the full story as 'Someone's taken over an oil tanker' is to MGS2's plot.

What is fantastic about MGS3 is that it fills out the backstory of the entire Metal Gear series, the origins of Metal Gear, the birth of the Patriots, and the 'turning to the dark side' of Big Boss. If George Lucas had handled Anakin's descent into darkness as well as Hideo Kojima has Big Boss' then he would have sold a whole lot more Lego and Lunchboxes I promise you.

Metal Gear Solid 3 further blurs the line between videogame and film, not by having longer cutscenes or radio conversations but by creating multifaceted characters who's relationships with each other will change what you expect from video games. There are big budget action films who's romantic side plots seem vastly inferior to the one between Snake and EVA, Ocelot's warped love for Snake is endearing and even a little freaky, and the relationship between Snake and The Boss makes playing the final portion of the game as emotionally confusing as a video game can be. So You'll be watching more cutscenes than you would in Mario Sunshine but this is Metal Gear, you want pure gameplay? Timesplitters is fantastic, go get that.

Oh yeah gameplay, if you turn down MGS3 for having a story you're also missing out on a bit of a 'tour de force' as far as gaming goes. Since there's no Radar, the top down camera really comes into it's own, this is far more useful than a 3Dcamera in your current situation believe me. Camoflague also becomes your best friend, there is no greater feeling than watching a gormless russian walk right past your big green face as you lay in the grass with the Camo meter at 100%. The new CQC will have you itching to take down every person you see thanks to it being needlessly cool. Thow, Interrogate, slit throats block moves or hold up guards - you have the skills to pay the bills my mulleted friend. Throw in a few new tricks like using the iron sights on rifles (there's no laser sights in the 60's apparently) and using the D-Pad to stalk and you have the perfect stealth experience.

While the path of the game is fairly linear, save for a few massive areas at some points in the game, Snake Eater invites you to tackle it in any way you want. Wanna fly through and gun anyone down that's in your way? Go ahead. Don't want to get spotted? Get on your belly boy and keep that Camo up. Areas are big enough to give you a choice of how to get to the next point and the inclusion of CQC means that if things all go pear shaped then you have the poewr to brutally slam the soldier's face in the mud. The improvements in AI mean that the enemies can see and hear for miles so it's a good idea to keep an eye out for enemy patrol routes and positions, the best thing you can do is think hard which way you're going to go about this making Metal Gear Solid 3 a really tense experience.

The real neat touches are what sets MGS3 apart though. The Food and Cure systems are pretty well implemented and don't hurt the gameplay since you won't need them too often unless you suck. They also really add to the survival theme of the game. What will blow your mind is that it's not just Snake who gets hungry, destroy that food supply and enemy soldiers will groan with hunger and gobble p anything you throw at them (experiment with the poisonous foods). That Ammo store? Blow it up kid, watch in glee as the enemy's clip runs out and they discard thier weapons to take you on hand to hand (good Luck with that Ivan).

Then there's the real clincher, Boss Fights. The only thing that even comes close to the fights in this game is Resident Evil 4 and even that can't quite match the thrilling duels with MGS3's bad ass special Ops wierdos 'The Cobra Unit'. The pick of the Bunch are a good old fashioned gunfight with Ocelot, a near hour long Sniper duel with the End - a 100 year old man covered in Moss, a Predator style booby trap ridden scrap with Creepiest of them all The Fear and the final fight, a tear jerking, eye kissing send off to an old friend of Snakes.

This all dosn't take into account 'The Chase' which is one of the best setpieces ever created in a game (aim for the guys who are driving)

Music and Voice acting are as good as you'd expect from the series so you'll find yourself humming along to the tunes

Although there's no radar (meaning that you have to pay attention to your surroundings more) it gives a different angle on the game.

Instead of being in a linear, confined space it gives you an opportunaty to do things your way. Although its no GTA in terms of non-linear, it gives you a chance to choose what route you want to take, and how aggressivly you want to talkle the game. Do you opt for the grass, sneaking around, waiting for the guard to move and go for his walk; or do you down some pentazimin, pull out your sniper rifle and shoot out the enemies radios' before taking out the guards themselve; or do you just run through the scene, shooting everything in sight with your 12 gauge shotgun.

Whatever your style MGS3 is a game not to be missed. The grass moves when you brush past. Accidently step on a twig and the guards will hear. And you may see a snake slither past which, if you want pull out your hunting knife and kill it, using it to build up your stamina later. Change your camoflage to blend in with your surroundings. And with Hideo Kojima taking pops at Raiden (from MGS2) it can be quite humourous.

As with any Metal Gear game (Metal Gear[MSX/NES] Metal Gear 2:Solid Snake[MSX2] Metal Gear Solid[PS1/Gamecube{renamed Twin Snakes on Gamecube}] and Metal Gear Solid 2:Sons Of Liberty[PS2]) it has an amazing plot with some surprising twists

To sum up I would say that this is a game that should be on everyones Christmas list, Birthday list or any other present.

Whoops, time to get back to the jungle

Summery

Graphics-Amazing. Every detail to anything is there 10/10
Sound-Composed by Harry Gregson Williams (Enemy Of The State, The Rock) 10/10
Gameplay-Some veterans may find it different, otherwise easy to pick up and play 9/10
Lifespan-Multiple ways, extra corridors, secrets. Endless 10/10
Overall: It has the looks, the sound, the stle and replay value. go by a copy now.