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A.P.I Review:	METAL GEAR SOLID
Developer:	Konami	OPTIONS:	SCREENSHOTS: No.1   No.2   No.3
Distributor:	Konami	1 Player
Game Type:	Action/Adventure	Memory Card
Review Date:	February 1999	Dual Shock

Setting the Scene

It was six months ago when the Japanese first enjoyed the new 
experience of stealth gaming on Playstation and almost four 
months since the NTSC release.  Finally Metal Gear Solid hit's 
Europe and all other PAL territories.  

Set in the 21st century, the player takes the part of Solid Snake 
whose mission is to infiltrate a terrorist base and eliminate the 
threat of a nuclear strike. The base has been taken over by a crack 
force of troops known as Foxhounds and as an ex-member of the group 
you are selected as the governments only chance of avoiding a nuclear 
holocaust.

Genre

Metal Gear Solid redefines the action/adventure genre on the PlayStation.  
MGS is a spy action thriller that involves covert activities and tons 
of weapons and communication gear. The movie-like plot puts you right 
in the middle of friendship, betrayal and even romance as you attempt 
to accomplish your military mission.

Rather than using the usual shoot-em-up format of charging into the 
base with guns-a-blazing, Metal Solid Gear involves an element of 
stealth.  Sneaking past the enemy guards, setting a string of 
explosives and 'get the hell out of there before the shit hits the 
fan' is the more strategic approach that is required. 

Graphics

As I sat patiently, waiting for the lightening to strike, the opening 
movie unfolded before my very eyes...  Bolt of lightening???  More 
like the fizz from a damp firework!!!  It appears that Konami have 
opted to use the in-game engine to create the intro for MGS, and boy 
does this suck!  It's misty, it's grainy, it's very bluey-grey-ish... 
thank goodness it's fairly brief.

The background design of the option screen looked as though the game 
had crashed so I quickly moved onto the VR Training mode.  Although 
the characters remain true to their appearance in the actual game, 
these ten levels are purely for practicing your stealth and have 
been stripped of all detail.  Each level has been designed using 
black boxes to create a mini-maze that sits on top of a multi-storey 
building.  In fact if you have ever played Intelligence Cube (or 
Kurishi on PAL format) the memories will come flooding back.  The 
background is also very dark but by opting for this style of graphics 
allows essential locations to be easily spotted, therefore you can 
concentrate solely on the matters in hand.

After another brief video sequence your character rises from the water 
and then you are into the game proper.  Solid Snake slips off his wet 
suit and you are almost ready to take control... but not before the 
first of many encounters with the radio screen.  Here Snake receives 
all of his communications from the outside world.  A small black and 
white photograph of the callers appears on each side of the screen 
with their mouths moving 'twelve to the dozen' as essential utterings 
are spoken.  It's all a bit cardboard cut-out-ish, but serves a purpose.  


The game is viewed from several angles, but predominately the third 
person perspective.  In fact the camera angle changes to suit your game 
motions.  Should you wander around open areas (not recommended), then 
your character is viewed in a similar way to Resident Evil.  Crawl into 
confined spaces or underneath vehicles and the view switches into the 
first person mode (ala Doom).  Move up tight against a wall and the 
camera zooms up close - face on.  By practicing with the joypad viewing 
buttons you can switch between first person and third person at will, 
while with careful manipulation of the shoulder buttons Snake can be 
motioned into peeking around corners.

First impressions are good.  As Snake rises from the canal the water surface 
ripples as the calm is disturbed.  Glancing around condensation gathers 
on the overhead stanchions forming droplets that fall into the water 
creating ever-increasing circles.  As he investigates the surrounding 
area puddles of water also ripple when walked through, while shadows 
are reflected across the pools in real time.  The set is fairly dark 
and always retains that bluey-grey appearance that was so evident in 
those so, so screenshots.  It all looks very atmospheric and very 
reminiscent of Resident Evil 2 and the recent adventure game, Overblood.
    
Snake himself almost seems alive, as his breath is clearly visible 
in the cold air of the Antarctic.  His motions are very realistic but 
non-more so than when he drops to the floor and crawls along the ground.  
His movement is incredible!  He sports a bandana, combat suit and 
smokes a cigarette if you action him to do so.  The only details that 
are sub standard are the characters faces and features.  They are all 
very smudged and lack any real clarity.
      
Once Snake moves outside into the more open areas the true brilliance 
of the graphics come to life.  Of course it all takes place in the 
dark... but then which spy would try to infiltrate the enemies base 
during broad daylight? (James Bond - because he spent all of his 
nights shagging!)  Realistic snowflakes fall from the heavens to 
eventually cover the tracks left by his footprints in the snow.  
Searchlights scan over wide-open areas, setting alarm bells ringing 
if accidentally passed through.  Tanks and trucks may be boarded and 
plundered of goods...  the list is endless.  

During the action scenes the explosions are a little blocky, but 
acceptable, while each bullet fired from the gun provides a small 
burst of flame from the barrel and an indentation in the wall when 
an enemy is missed.  In summary of the visuals - imagine Resident 
Evil 2 and you'll get the picture.

Sounds and Effects

The combination of music and effects are remarkable.  Each footstep 
responds with an accurate representation of the surface being 
passed over.  Explosions and other weapon effects are loud and crisp 
while the guards, when alerted to your presence, call out to the 
other troops with a sense of urgency in their voices.  

However, it's those little extra touches that made a good game 
brilliant, and MGS has those in abundance.  The gasping of breath 
and the shuffling of feet as you slowly strangle the life out of 
a guard is one instance.  Another is when you are hiding in the 
shadows, just waiting for the guard to pass by on his regular 
patrol route.  He drags his feet, stretches out his arms and yawns 
aloud with boredom.  It is at this point where the realism of the 
whole event hits you straight between the eye's.    

The music is superb and adds further to the overall experience.  
In true movie style it flows with the action.  When things heat up, 
the tempo rises.  When calm is restored, the music soothes your 
wounds.  It's all very John Carpenter-ish, played in a electronic 
style that reminded me of several of his movies: Escape From New 
York, Assault on Precinct 13 and They Live!  It fits perfectly!

Playability

Enough of the chat... it's time to play.

I would heartily recommend that before diving straight into a new 
game you best take the time to experience the VR Training mode.  
Actually, I think it would have been a much better idea had the 
player been forced to work through these ten short missions.  
They are to Metal Gear Solid what the driving licenses were to 
Gran Turismo.  

You begin with ten simple tests of your stealth ability during 
Training Mode.  Here you must learn to sneak past a few guards 
without being seen and make it to a designated finish point.  
Sometimes you may need to patiently lie still until the patrolling 
guard walks past before carefully sneaking behind him unnoticed.  
Other times you must time a run perfectly just as the guard turns 
his back to either scan another direction, or simply light up a 
cigarette.  Should you make it to the finish undetected then you 
will advance onto the next stage.  Raise the alarm and its back 
to the start.

On completion of Training Mode you will open up Time Attack Mode.  
This time you must cover the same ten missions against the clock.  
This seems fairly simple at first and seems to be a waste of time.  
However you quickly realize that extra guards have been posted and 
alternative routes are being patrolled.

Gun Shooting Mode is the next step in your training.  Armed with 
a standard pistol you will again retrace the same ten missions, but 
now you must assassinate all of the guards in the level to open up 
the finish point.  What makes matters a little trickier is that you 
only have a certain number of bullets to fire... so no wild shots!  
These missions are also against the clock.

Finally you will unveil the Survival Missions.  With a total of 
only seven minutes on the clock Snake must complete all ten missions 
consecutively.  This time he must kill all of the guards using the 
pistol, but ammo is scarce and must be stolen from the bodies of the 
deceased guards.

The VR Training Mode is an excellent idea and, similar to Gran 
Turismo's License Tests, feels like you have two games for the 
price of one.

Before entering into the 'real' game I will run through a few points 
concerning the control pad.  First of all the Analog pad works a treat 
while the Dual Shock takes vibrating to a new level.  Just wait until 
you experience the opening of the second scene.  A helicopter takes 
off from the launch pad and the joypad starts gently vibrating in your 
right hand.  As the 'copter passes overhead the vibrating effect 
follows suit while increasing in force as it reaches center point.  
Amazing!

The control system may be configured to suite your personal taste but 
goes something like this: One of the face buttons is used to shoot a 
weapon or throw a grenade.  When Snake is not armed the same button 
allows him to grab an enemy from behind and hold him as a human shield.  
By tapping the same button rhythmically Snake will begin to strangle 
the life out of the guard.  Powerful button, that one!  There is a face 
button that switches the view to first person perspective.  Another 
button sets Snake into combat mode where he can throw punches and kick 
out at enemies.  The final face button drops him to ground level so that 
he can crawl around and squeeze under obstacles.  The shoulder buttons 
act as his left and right hands in which he can select and use various 
weapons and handy gadgets.

Weapons include stun and hand grenades, rocket launchers, C4 explosives 
and a chaff bomb that jams the radar frequencies for several seconds.  
Gadgets include gas masks, rations for replenishing health, mine 
detectors, key cards, infra red goggles and the best of the lot... 
a cardboard box!  Yes, you read that correctly.  When all other means 
are exasperated Snake pulls out a large cardboard box and climbs inside.  
He can shuffle around the level while remaining inside the box and then 
play dead when a guard approaches.  Comical... but ingenious!
It is also useful for a quick free ride.  Climb into the back of a
parked vehicle, jump into the cardboard box, and then a guard will
climb on board and drive you all the way back to the base.

The gameplay follows a routine you will be fairly familiar with.  
Numerous key cards are collected which allow access to locked areas.  
This means there is an element or running back and forth across 
previously visited areas but there are so many locations that the game 
never gets boring.  There are also several Boss characters that must 
be overcome before advancing onto the next stage of the game.  The 
big plus is that they are all completely different and require a great 
deal of thought to defeat.  However, common sense prevails and quite 
often the obvious - such as throwing a grenade into the turret of the 
Tank Boss - is the line of thought required. 

To aid your progress a small map is constantly on view in the upper 
right of the screen.  This constantly highlights the position and 
view of the guards and security cameras.  It's then a matter of 
timing to make your move without being detected.  Should your 
whereabouts be revealed then an alarm is raised.  There are two 
types of alarm.  First, the screen flashes red and all hell breaks 
loose as guards rush towards you from their posts.  You must run 
away and take cover until the alert drops down to the second phase, 
yellow.  Should you remain hidden for ten seconds the guards will 
be called back to their posts and you continue with the game.  

The AI of the guards is remarkable.  When wandering around open ground 
they can spot Snakes footprints in the snow and begin tracking him.  
The only way to shake them off is to grab hold of them by the throat 
and squeeze the life from them.  You can also shoot them... but this 
may raise the alarm.  On one occasion I had alerted the guards of my 
presence and quickly climbed into the back of an open truck.  
Unfortunately I had been spotted clambering in and a group of three 
guards began lobbing hand grenades into the back of the truck...  
Game Over!  Should you die at any time, you are allowed unlimited 
continues which restart the game from a sensible point.

This review could go on forever because there is so many fresh ideas 
contained within the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid.  There's the 'self' 
guided missiles, the art of strangulation, the decision of when best 
to attack and when to lie low, the cardboard box...

Okay, I've gone on for long enough about the good points... 
what about the bad.

There seems to be a slight problem with the control system. Both 
analog and directional pad work well but when your character is 
pressed tight against the wall (which is essential when squeezing 
past security cameras) everything seems to work in reverse. The 
split second you move away from the wall the controls change back 
to normal. Now this looks mighty impressive as Snake carefully 
sidesteps under the scanning camera, but is a nightmare to get to 
grips with.  This is also evident when trying to run away from 
alerted guards - you are often left trapped in a corner because the 
controls keep reversing.  This may seem a small gripe, but worth 
mentioning because many will find this a niggling annoyance.

Value for Money

So you've seen the standard of graphics before in Resident Evil 2.  
What you won't have experienced before is the style of gameplay.  
It's new!  It's refreshing!  It's stealth... and I love it!  
Book this title now, you won't be disappointed.