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[AwShucks]

I just played through the all the main series games (minus Ghost Babel), including MG1 and MG2, last year. It was an amazing few months.

I wish I had camera control sometimes, but MGS1 on PSX is still great.

 

[-COOLIO-]

Welcome brother. It's been too long.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Welcome brother. It's been too long.

You're pretty good!

 

[Mr. Fix]

Turning over a new leaf, excellent, OP!

 

[Cartman86]

Play them in release order. MGS1 (PSone), MGS2:HD (PS3), MGS3:HD (PS3), MGS4 (PS3), MGS: PW (PS3 or 360). If you have time and really really want to you can go back and play Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Having played MGS1 though they recap what you need to know from those games. Portable Ops I think is terrible and the cannon question of it is weird.

Impossible to know which you will like. History and timing has a lot to do with it. You will probably like MGS2 more than people did at the time. MGS3 is probably the best, and MGS4 seems to be very controversial. I loved it. Still haven't played enough Peace Walker. Konami's screw up with the saves across the handheld and console version scared me.

 

[Taruranto]

Doesn't matter, since you can skip cut-scenes on subsequent playthroughs, and the replay value is where MGS2 really shines - VR missions, dog tag collecting, extreme / ee replays etc. The reason why I call it MGS refined is it pretty much has the top-down puzzle-stealth MG formula perfected in terms of execution of mechanics before the series shifts directions with MGS3&4, and it pretty much has loads of challenging content to put it into practice.

I do agree that the game could have used a few more bosses and maybe 1 or 2 hours of extra gameplay (

Spoiler

exploring the other struts would have been cool

)

You can skip all of those, you know.

That's a shitty argument and you know it.

Skipping cs on different playthroughs is fine, but doing it the first time? And why would i replay a game i didn't like? I may as well play a different game. Not that i did know the CS were going to be so freaking long and awful the first time i played the game.

well you do have an anime avatar

What's this even supposed to mean

 

[Risette]

That's a shitty argument and you know it.

Skipping cs on different playthroughs is fine, but doing it the first time? I may as well play a different game. Not that i did know the CS were going to be so freaking long and awful the first time i played the game.

I don't see how it's a bad argument. You can skip them for a reason. I don't have any issue skipping cutscenes on a first playthrough myself. I skip all of the cutscenes that don't amuse me in a timely manner in Peace Walker, for example. Yet I still think it's a great game.

If they developer didn't want you to skip them, they wouldn't let you skip them without a clear save first, I'd imagine. You're only wasting your own time.

 

[Taruranto]

It is in my policy to not skip CS i haven' seen. Also, whatever you skip them or not, it still has to me an awful story about... whatever Kojima was trying to say, i don't even remember/care at this point.

MGS1 didn't and this alone is enough to place it above the sequel, especially because i liked the setting/boss fights/main character more. Even skipping the CS MGS2 is still plagued with constant interruptions and a boring setting. Not exactly the kind of game i'd play for the gameplay.

 

[Risette]

It is in my policy to not skip CS i haven' seen. Also, whatever you skip them or not, it still has to me an awful story about... whatever Kojima was trying to say, i don't even remember/care at this point.

MGS1 didn't and this alone is enough to place it above the sequel, especially because i liked the setting/boss fights/main character more. Even skipping the CS MGS2 is still plagued with constant interruptions and a boring setting. Not exactly the kind of game i'd play for the gameplay.

You can't blame the developer for the story if you have some bizarre self-imposed rule to not skip cutscenes despite the game letting you do so. It doesn't work as a criticism against the game when you can skip all of it.

I do agree that the Big Shell is a very bland, uninspiring setting and is the biggest problem with the game. Despite that, MGS2 is the most mechanically refined (as well as replayable) game in the series. Why wouldn't you play it for the "gameplay"? It's great!

 

[Jazzem]

I'm going to give MGS1 a go at some point. I went through Final Fantasy VII for the first time recently to see what the fuss was about, so now I'm keen to do the same with Metal Gear. I liked FF7 despite its flaws (that plot gave me a headache, not in a good way @_@), so am keen to see how I get on with MGS.

If the game's going to make me sit through a ton of cut scenes though, they'd better be well written >:| I don't have a problem with games spending time on storytelling, I just want them to be good at it.

 

[Red Blaster]

What's this even supposed to mean

It means exactly what it's supposed to mean

 

[Catalix]

Okay, why the fuck did nobody tell me how AWESOME Metal Gear Solid is?!?!

Initial Impressions of MGS (Pre-Actually playing the game)

My first impression of Solid Snake was from Super Smash Bros, where I was upset at the fact that he found his way into the game when I though that there were dozens of other characters that would be better fits. I thought he was just a run-or-the-mill lame "badass" similar to Duke Nukem. (Yeah, I don't like the Duke, sue me)

But after this, I'm going to start playing as him in Smash, because not only was my initial impression of him as a character wrong, but also my assessment of the games he stars in as a whole.

lol, awesome. Always interesting to hear a person's preconceived notions about the franchise, and how it all changes (for better or worse) after actually playing it.

 

[brumx]

MGS2 story will make you insane

 

[Taruranto]

You can't blame the developer for the story if you have some bizarre self-imposed rule to not skip cutscenes despite the game letting you do so. It doesn't work as a criticism against the game when you can skip all of it.

The game has a story, it clearly wants me to follow it. Back then when i played the game the first time i wanted to get into the story because i liked MGS1 story and the game ended up disappointing me. Are you say i can't feel disappointed by the story or feel like the story doesn't detract anything from the game overall quality despite the fact it ended up disappointing me?

I do agree that the Big Shell is a very bland, uninspiring setting and is the biggest problem with the game. Despite that, MGS2 is the most mechanically refined (as well as replayable) game in the series. Why wouldn't you play it for the "gameplay"? It's great!

Meh, it may be more mechanically refined, but i didn't enjoy playing it as much as i did with MGS1. I already made my point, i liked the boss fights better (i can barely remember MGS2 bosses while Snipper Wolf Boss Fights in MGS1 still make me shiver), the setting didn't bore me to death and the extras were much funnier. (the Stealth was easy to get and made the game super-fun).

It means exactly what it's supposed to mean

Then hurr hurr.

 

[KenOD]

Don't play just the Solid Games. Play Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 as well. They are on the HD collection.

 

[Risette]

The game has a story, it clearly wants me to follow it. Back then when i played the game the first time i wanted to get into the story because i liked MGS1 story and the game ended up disappointing me. Are you say i can't feel disappointed by the story or feel like the story doesn't detract anything from the game overall quality despite the fact it ended up disappointing me?

It also gives you the option to skip it on first playthroughs. The story is optional. It only wants you to follow it as much as you want to follow it.

Meh, it may be more mechanically refined, but i didn't enjoy playing it as much as i did with MGS1. I already made my point, i liked the boss fights better (i can barely remember MGS2 bosses while Snipper Wolf Boss Fights in MGS1 still make me shiver), the setting didn't bore me to death and the extras were much funnier. (the Stealth was easy to get and made the game super-fun).

I see

 

[Raonak]

It also gives you the option to skip it on first playthroughs. The story is optional. It only wants you to follow it as much as you want to follow it.



I see

Wha.... Skipping cutscenes in MGS is like skipping the soul of the game. It's about the whole experience.

 

[Risette]

Wha.... Skipping cutscenes in MGS is like skipping the soul of the game. It's about the whole experience.

Skipping cutscenes I don't want to watch is part of my experience. It's a valid experience, otherwise there wouldn't be an option to skip them on first playthroughs.

 

[Taruranto]

It also gives you the option to skip it on first playthroughs. The story is optional. It only wants you to follow it as much as you want to follow it.

Ok, let's put it in another way:

I liked MGS1
I started MGS2, hoping it was going to be good as 1
I watched the initial CS, you know the drill
Got caught up in the story, i naturally wanted to see how the story would unfold. It's not a game like, dunno, Dark Souls, where the story is almost entirely optional and you can miss it without too much of a loss. The game presented to me various mysteries, plot points and characters.
More i proceeded in the game, more i found the story invasive, over-the-top, exaggerated and kind of a trainwreck. (dat freacking ending)
Could i have skipped it? Indeed, but at that point i wanted to know where this shit was heading, and definitely the hours i spent watching the previous cs weren't going away. If this was a game with a 2 minutes presentation and little story i'd agree with you, but like this...no.

 

[Anustart]

Love the series. The story is a guilty pleasure of mine. Just picked up mgs 3d and I'm loving it despite its problems. Of all the games ive played on the 3ds, this one is one of my favorites to experience in 3d. The jungle is sexy with that extra d.

 

[bobs...onGaf]

MGS3 is going to absolutely blow you away. MGS2 is slightly meh, but its worth playing through.

 

[Crimmy]

People here will tell you otherwise, but also check out Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes for the Gamecube/Wii which is MGS 1 but a remake. The "purists" are upset with some of the cutscenes and voice actors but I gurantee you will enjoy it.

 

[Maddocks]

People here will tell you otherwise, but also check out Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes for the Gamecube/Wii which is MGS 1 but a remake. The "purists" are upset with some of the cutscenes and voice actors but I gurantee you will enjoy it.

I love that version of the game, because its like crack. It's cranked up to 15 on things.

 

[Byronic Hero]

Alright, so the general consensus is that I should play them in order of release, but some have said that playing PW before 4 would be better.

If I played in that order would I learn some things from PW that I should know from 4? Or would it be sort of a Kingdom Hearts II & Birth by Sleep situation, where playing BBS first would shed some light on some aspects of KH2 but not give away anything important.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Alright, so the general consensus is that I should play them in order of release, but some have said that playing PW before 4 would be better.

If I played in that order would I learn some things from PW that I should know from 4? Or would it be sort of a Kingdom Hearts II & Birth by Sleep situation, where playing BBS first would shed some light on some aspects of KH2 but not give away anything important.

Personally I don't feel PW really adds anything to the overall scope of MGS4.
They really dont intertwine at all. But the biggest reason to play 4 before PW would just be another case of the changing of controls.

 

[Raonak]

Skipping cutscenes I don't want to watch is part of my experience. It's a valid experience, otherwise there wouldn't be an option to skip them on first playthroughs.

You're skipping cutscnes on your first playthrough. You're missing vital chunks of the storyline. Sure you're getting a valid experience, but a watered down one.


The fact you can skip cutscenes is for convinence. It's a general feature that should be in every game. doesn't have any bearing on how important the story is to the game. would be annoying as fuck if my save file was deleted and it meant the game was thinking it was my first time through.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Finished MGS3 last night.

While I didn't like the controls as much as MGS1, 2 and 4, and was kinda eh towards the story, that ending made it all worth it. So good ;_;

 

[Byronic Hero]

AWWW MAN! I just finished MGS1 and HOLY SHIT!!

I love games with twist endings, and this game goes right up there with 999 as one that I did NOT see coming.

Back when I didn't like this franchise I remember reading things about this game (both spoilers and not) but I didn't understand them at the time because I was reading them out of context, so the ending of this game really genuinely surprised me.

My initial impressions of the game held up until the end, though I didn't really enjoy the final chase scene, the gun was hard to aim and I couldn't ever get a good lock on my target. But that final dialogue exchange between

Spoiler

Revolver & the FREAKING PRESIDENT

made me actually yell "OHHHH SSHHHHHHIIIITTTT!"

My final rundown of the game goes as follows:

Graphics - 6
Sound/Music - 8
Voice Acting - 9
Gameplay - 8
Story - 9

Overall - 9/10

I really enjoyed this game, and it the sequels are even half as good as this one, I'm about to get into my future favorite franchise.