Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Taking a real back-to-basics approach, Snake Eater is set in the '60s and sees you controlling Solid Snake (or at least someone that looks like him--and is at least not Raiden from the MGS2) in a storyline that has yet to be fully revealed.

What we've seen of the game shows a much greater emphasis on stealth than ever before, with Snake being vastly outnumbered and appearing to spend most of his time creeping through the jungle, dropping down on guards from out of the trees and hiding in plain sight using a variety of specialised camouflage suits. The sub-title is less nonsensical than you might think as well since Snake must hunt and eat animals--including, you guessed it, our no-legged friends--to keep his stamina up.

Overall the game seems more realistic than ever before (you don't even get the enemy radar to use all the time) and should assuage those jaded by Metal Gear Solid 2's more self-indulgent moments. Snake is back, and he's never looked better... --David Jenkins

Gameplay:
You will notice right off the bat that the game is filled with cutscenes/movies, which begins to tell an interesting and cynical story based around Solid Snake (the main character), while taking place during the Cold War. For all you new to the MGS series, Metal Gear Solid has always been about unfolding a story that will keep the gamer interested through out the game. So give the game some time, especially during the beginning of the game because you won't be doing much. When you finally get some playing time, for all you MGS fans out there, you will realize that this game is made for MGS fans. The gameplay hasn't much changed, although you will notice that you aren't just going through corridors as in previous installments but rather be situated in the jungle (two thumbs way up!). As a result, you must rely on your scope and keep it handy, because in MGS, its all about stealth. Also, you will be able to change outfits and face paint, so that you can "blend" into the surronding areas as you hunt down your prey. Don't forget the stealth gauge, you will be able to increase your stealth level while you are in the shadows and vice versa, kind of reminds me of Sam Fisher/Splinter Cell: PT. While in battle, you can use Snake's overview camera or first person camera while shooting a weapon and also take notice of the pressure point system. The amount of pressure you press a button with will determine wether you perform such techniques as head locks to take one hostage, or just slitting his throat and leave him for dead. I can not emphasize more that if you are a long time MGS fan, you will probably love the gameplay. The bosses are crazy and twisted, all I can say is "wow" and go check them out for yourself, they are superb, some of the best boss battles in the entire series can be found in MGS3. There have been some throw in MGS3, but nothing drastic. There is a new healing system, which allows you to pull up a menu during the game and gives you options to sew up your wounds and regain life. If you are lacking stamina, go find yourself a fork and a spoon, because eating animals you will find will slowly help increase stamina which has been lossed while you have been playing.

Graphics:
The graphics are clean cut (mostly), and look very polished, especially on the PS2 graphics engine. None the less, you will see some blurry patches here and there, especially in the background setting (trees especially), but hey, thats minor. The cinematic scenes/cutscenes/movies (whatever you want to call them) are beautifully done, I mean, you can't ask or find much better than what MGS3 has to offer, especially on the PS2. If you are thinking MGS3's graphics are the best on the PS2, I might have to disagree a bit (Final Fantasy probably, anyways...), from my view point, you just can't go wrong with MGS3 graphically, especially on a console which has decent graphics, but all in all could vastly improve upon its current engine right now. It is sort of hard to compare graphics on the PS2 compared to the Xbox or the PC, but MGS3 is definatly one of the betterlooking games graphically out there.

Sound:
The sound is superb, especially the game sound (shots being fired, explosions, weapons, etc.) for any action/stealth game I think game sound is pivitol. The voice overs/acting adds a touch to MGS3, and although they are not the greatest, you can find far worse in many other games out there. The voice overs/acting do add to the realism of the story, especially since MGS is all about the story around Solid Snake. MGS's music, in MGS2 and now in MGS3 I think is great. The soundtrack was well organized and done, can't go much wrong with MGS3's music (I believe), the sound of MGS newest installment won't fail to disappoint MGS fans and regualr gamers alike.

Last Thoughts:
MGS 3 was made and developed for the Metal Gear Solid fan, no doubt about that. The newest installment brings with it the trademakr MGS stamp of not just being your average action/adventure/stealth game. If you are new to the series, give it some time, it will grow on you, trust me. If you want a fantastic game which is not on any other console except the PS2, MGS 3 will fit the bill. For all you MSG gamers out there, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will own your soul (my opinion). Its a definant pick up for any gamer looking for a superb game to play and add to his or her growing collection.


Looks Brilliant and lets just hope that it is.   May 14, 2004
40 out of 82 found this review helpful

I have to say that the person who wrote the review with 1 star must be about 6 and has no idea what he/she is talking about. I never had the chance to play metal gear solid because i never owned a playstation. I do own a ps2 and bought the 2nd game, and all i can say is that every part of the game, even the storyline was fantastic. The storyline did look a bit over the top, but who cares. You don't see someone doing those kind of missions in real life like on GTA Vice City (another good game). Its just a fictional story set in a realistic environment. MGS3 is just part of a growing franchise which will dominate the world just like MGS1 and MGS2. I have read a couple of reviews on MGS3, and the idea that the enemy use military style tactics, the fact that you have to eat to stay alive and the idea that camouflage and tree climbing are also in the game, just makes this game like no other. If you read this review, don't take my word on the game, look it up yourself in a magazine or on a website which has tonnes of info on the game. I believe you won't be disappointed. (P.S i gave it 5 stars because from what i have seen and heard, it looks excellent, not because i have played the game)


Great! Brilliant! ...I cried!!   December 28, 2004
34 out of 52 found this review helpful

First off, I'm a metal gear nut. I was a fan of the original and I could understand why people complained about MGS2, with the amount of cutscenes. But let me also tell u, when playing MGS 3 ur gonna be thinking, hmmm...it's weird, no rader, gotta eat to survive, I can't see the enemies half the time, and it's bloody hard to sneak up behind someone. But trust me after some time u get use to it. It starts to get pretty cool after 2 hours of gameplay...when u know what ur doing. At first I was kinda dissapointed cause I was expecting something amazing and thought yeah yeah 7 or 8 out of 10 scale, but man after playing it till the end I felt like I had just finished the most amazing game ever made, the story especially just made me sit down and think for some time. And minutes later I started playing it again. This game is not only the best espionage game but, it's story really makes u question yourself. What is the meaning of patriotism? why do we fight for our country? Man...I'm still thinking about it.


Hurry up New year 2004   June 26, 2003
32 out of 53 found this review helpful

Obviously not a lot can be said about Snake eater so far but having read all the information I can get my hands on, I felt obliged to write my thoughts up. From what is on the trailers, it is looking like Snake will not be the star again.....evidence such as the 1960's era points out that it could well be Big Boss, Snakes father but it is yet to be confirmed.
More to the point, the games graphics look superb, even more perfected than the last. The added abilites, such as hanging one handed off a branch and picking off soldiers in the undergrowth, and the new knife weapon will lead to some brilliant fun. The AI has greatly improved, making the game so much more challenging. Rather than hearing a noise and shrugging their shoulders, confused but suspicious they will now scout out the area and find you, the soldiers will then engage in a fearsome fire fight if they catch you. Bits of the scenery come flying off if struck by a bullet. Fish leap from waters. Spectacular water falls and foiliage, the sheer randomness of the jungle! Also you will have to eat to survive. Catch fish and snakes to snack on, as well as a load of others chucked in for good measure.
This time the game is more realistic in that the hero does not start off right inside the enemy base. He must work his way through the jungle before he gets to his goal. There will also be some buildings, but the majority will be set in the jungle. I, like many more gamers cannot wait for this realease date and will definitely purchase it. Its going to be fantastic!


Survival of the fitest.   April 18, 2005
Dan Stratford
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

Even as the worlds biggest Metal Gear fan, i still found myself approaching the release of Snake Eater with some skpetisism. After all, this was the first MGS game since the 'critaccly acclaimed', (and regularly abused) 'Sons Of Liberty', and again creator Hideo Kojima was introducing more radical ideas; 60's prequel setting, playing again as someone other than snake, and eating, yes eating animals in a jungle environment. People can be forgiving for the doubt that filled their minds.

Before i begin, i will firstly state that i am very fair-minded and honest when reviewing games. I am indeed a huge fan of Kojima and the MGS series but i am by no means a puppet to help their sales. This review is honest. If its bad, i'll say so and vice versa.

What the original had that everyone fell in love with (even if they cant quite put their finger on it) was an unrivalled atmosphere and emotional envolvement. This was as close to 'being there' as could ever be. MGS2 missed the mark slightly. The tanker environment was as engaging as MGS' Shadow Moses Island but as the story progressed, players found themselves distant from the game as they quite simply couldn't understand the too complex story line. Thankfully Snake Eater is a return to that atmosphere. It gives you goosebumps to simply look around in First-person View. From the opening cut scene, you know things are getting better. Superbly directed and Voice acted, the cut-scene haters are hard pushed to find fault here. In regards to the Radio, t'self-obsessed- drawn out codec calls DO return, but they are substantially less often and less lengthy.

The gameplay is staggeringly dtailed if not all the time necessary. The survival element of the game includes a 'Camo Index', 'Food Gathering and eating' and a 'Cure' system. The camo index works superbly making way for a setting where you can remain hidden even if the terrorist soldiers are looking your way. A percenatge lets you know how well your doing and there is no greater satisfaction than watching a guard walk blindly by, as your hidden against a tree with suitable camo and face paint on and slip gently back into the undergroth and proceed. The food gathering is well handled too. The forest is literally teeming with wildlife, flowers fruit etc (snake eater really has raised the bar for jungle settings) A 'stamina' meter now acompanies Snakes Life Bar, and it gradually decreases (faster if exerting yourself, slower if your are slower and well paced) To regenerate this you need to find food, hunt it and eat it. Of course, snake likes and dislikes food, some are poisonous, some can be used as weapons on guards (spiders and snakes) Some make snake sick if they go rotten and some even help you cure injuries....
This is the cure system. When snake is injured; bullet wounds, broken bones, leeches, cuts etc, the Survival Viewer ( a place where all food, camo and cure is done) lets you x-ray snake and cure his afflictions. The problem: Probably too many healing items to begin with means its not quite as daunting to risk getting injured as it probably should be. Also, whilst these are refreshing and sublime bouts of gameplay, it wouldn't be unreasonable for people to be slightly disheartened to have to leave gameplay and enter the 'Survival-Viewer' screen everytime they want to do something. Also, there is no skill to curing yourself. You are told how to heal a wound so you just use the requested items. It can sometimes make the process monotonous. It was a late addition in Snake Eaters development and you feel it needed a bit more work on it. A place it does come into its own though is the Boss fights. Boss fights are Ingenious with one sniper fight in particular capturing the essence of a tense duel to the death perfectly!! Everything you do effects the fight so the 'tactical' in 'Tactical Espionage Action' truly come sto light in Snake Eater.

The depth of gameplay is astounding and an innovative use of the 'PS2 clock' allows for complete strategy. If you save a game and turn of the PS2, snakes body will heal over time, as will his stamina as he's resting. This can help no end with boss fights and tricky situations and in some instances, trigger slightly different outcomes in sub-plots. Dont leave for too long though as food can go rotten!!!!

Its that 4th wall barrier broken again just like in MGS1 with the controll pad moving and searching for frequencies in the games packaging. Things you do outside of the game effect the inside of the game. Every action has a reaction. Blowing up enemy supplies makes them hungry and run out of ammo. Chuck them some rotten food, watch them eat it and run off sick...Excellent!! Theres too much interactivity to go into but a wealth of weapons, and stealth-helping low tech gadgets along with Superbly intellegent A.I make for an undeniably engrossing and engaging ride.

The story is subtle and sublime sitting perfectly next to hollywood music guru Harry Gregson-Williams's score and the best graphics to come from a PS2. Im not going to go into it as im obviously not trying to spoil the experience for anyone but its a major improvement over Sons Of Liberty. Theres still ahost of nutjob characters but the relationships between characters are handled beautifuly, reminiscent of the original. Just dont expect too many of those nagging questions left at the end of Sons of Liberty answered any time soon.

To sum up, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater really is one of the best games ever made and its mainly for that reason. Its a game! Hidden extras, boss fights, fantasy characters and unprecedented involvement. This will eat away at your life and quite rightly so. Its gameplay is honed to near perfection and its story as engrossing as any film your likely to see. Denying yourself this would be to deny yourself the greatest satisfaction you could get from your Playstation 2!

ENJOY YOUR MEAL

Graphics 10/10
Gameplay 10/10
Sound 10/10
Longevity 9/10

OVERALL 10/10