Metal Gear Solid (PS1)

In 1998, the gaming world once again saw a huge boost. Nintendo 64 gamers were being blown away by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time while Playstation gamers got the much anticipated follow up to Resident Evil. Later on in the year, however, a game developer named Hideo Kojima released a game that would invent a genre and change the way a story is told in a game. The game was called Metal Gear Solid. Rather than being an all out action shoot 'em up, the point of the game was to avoid the enemy at all cost, kill as few enemies as possible and stop a terrorist threat. The game changed the way we played games, and changed storytelling for the better. Quite simply put, Metal Gear Solid was quite possibly the greatest achievement on the Sony Playstation. Now, ten years later, gamers still play the game regularly and religiously.

Metal Gear Solid has players controlling Snake as he sneaks into the Nuclear Warhead Storage Facility known as Shadow Moses. An island off the coast of Alaska. His mission is to rescue the DARPA Chief Donald Anderson and Armstech President Kenneth Baker. He is also tasked with finding out if the terrorist actually have a nuclear warhead... and stop them if they do. The game's story is told through cinematics with some of the best voice acting the video game community has ever seen. With some incredibly well developed characters as well as some of the greatest plot twists in gaming history, Metal Gear Solid was an iconic game. It's villain: Liquid Snake, has often been labeled as one of the greatest villains in video gaming history.

The gameplay of Metal Gear Solid was groundbreaking at the time. While it doesn't have the same mechanics as later games in the series, it's still quite incredible for the Playstation. In the game, players have a soliton radar which lets them see the enemy guards. If Snake gets into their field of vision, he'll be spotted and trigger an alert phase. If Snake should be spotted he'll have to hide until the alert phase has been lifted. Sneaking around is actually quite fun, though. Staying out of sight is fairly simple. Snake will encounter more than just guards. He'll also encounter surveillance cameras as well as face off against some of the most breathtaking boss fights in gaming history.

Metal Gear Solid is known for its incredible boss fights. While the first boss doesn't seem worthwhile, you'll be surprised when you have to take on a tank, a ninja, a psychic (Psycho Mantis, the most iconic moment in the game), an intense sniper battle and even a Hind D, among other things. All the battles keep you on your feet and are intense. They're also incredibly fun.

Metal Gear Solid is by no means a hard game. Even on some of the higher difficulty levels. Unlike the later games in the series, however, Metal Gear Solid doesn't have too many incredibly long cutscenes. There are quite a few, however, but they can be skipped. If there was any real problem with Metal Gear Solid, it would be that it's an incredibly short game. Despite spanning two discs, most of that is due to the games cutscenes. Even for a Playstation game, Metal Gear Solid is short. The first time through it might take you seven hours or so, but on subsequent plays it can take you less than three.

Visually, Metal Gear Solid is easily one of the best looking Playstation games ever made. It runs smoothly and load times are kept to a minimal. The character models and voice work are also excellent, and there's a wide range of different looking environments you'll traverse. The game also sounds very good. Giving you the feeling that you're in a stealth game at many different spots. Some of the music during the cutscenes is also very good. In the Playstation era, this was truly a cinematic gaming experience with Hollywood like production values.

Metal Gear Solid is easily one of the greatest games ever made. With a fantastic story, great voice work and incredible cinematics... Metal Gear Solid is a masterpiece. It's a great game that anyone looking for something a little different might want to play. Metal Gear Solid isn't a game you just play. It's a game you experience.

Well, at least I thought I was revisiting a classic. Inspired by the events of Guns Of The Patriots (don't worry, no spoilers here), I decided to pop in the old 2-discer for a bit of reminiscence, before catching on after about ten minutes that I knew the intricacies of the game all too well, going as far to predict Snake's hardly-gaming-history first meeting with Mei Ling word for word. See, after finishing this game some 32 times, I'm confident I know it better than I know my mum.

No game, except maybe the sequel, Sons Of Liberty, has ever had me coming back for more as often as Metal Gear Solid. Even the excellent latest offerings don't have the same pull on me. And despite the fact that it is effectively rendered obsolete by later improvements in control, its never been bested for character or style. From FOXHOUND's fantastic freaks to the man himself, Liquid, no game has ever surpassed this for quality villainy. The setting is excellent. The discovery of support from Otacon and Meryl in such a remote oppressive surrounding is a genuinely comforting feeling. The music is excellent. The sound effects are something I never thought about until recently, but honestly, they add so much to the game, from the satisfying 'clak' of picking up an item to the horrifying "!" of being discovered, sound design in this game is flawless. The script is the best of the four, with the least waffle and the easiest plot to comprehend. The performances are spot on first time around, from David Hayter's best outing as Solid Snake to Cam Clarke's inexplicably but deliciously British Liquid. The gameplay is innovative, from the truly baffling Mantis fight to the backtracking Sniper Wolf battle and the final showdown with Rex, where timing is everything. The PACKAGING is even excellent, with that cool as hell cover and the lovingly illustrated and detailed manual, and the sneaky hint on the back of the box. Best of all, is the sense of elation felt upon completion, and the thrill of starting all over again. While Sons Of Liberty may be my favourite of the series and other games take my best-ever spot, nothing, in games, music, film or literature has ever made me feel like Metal Gear Solid, and I doubt if anything will again.

I played this game recently, and had so much fun. It was as great as I'd remembered. Brilliant, interesting storyline with good cutscenes. If you play games on PS3 and XBOX360, you will obviously find the graphics dated, but they are not bad as to ruin your enjoyment. The whole game is very addictive, and I love how you can call other characters on your codec!!