Our Creative Writer Tom Pearce takes a look at the Metal Gear Solid Franchise : The Metal Gear series has been popular since the early years of the NES and the transition to the next generation of consoles is imminent. Most video game franchises that have adopted a new approach or moved to new consoles have been subjected to negativity such as the Sonic the hedgehog franchise. Yet despite the change Metal Gear Solid demonstrates how the developers have made positive steps in making the transition by adding new features. The story revolves around a tactical spy who must go behind enemy lines to defeat a terrorist group who are holding weapons of mass destruction. Although the story might seem somewhat predictable for an action game Metal Gear Solid takes a different approach by adding more narrative and focus on the action.

Rather than just using a direct approach the player can choose multiple actions that give the game play more of a variety such as using stealth. It is always a great adrenaline rush when players can creep up on a soldier and wait whilst their back is turned or even hiding in a cardboard box ready to pounce on an unsuspecting guard. Players can even choose not to kill and just creep to the next objective. This level of freedom allows the game play to be different each time and does not feel repetitive.

What is both a blessing and a curse is the AI. Every enemy soldier has a cone view that is shown on the radar at the bottom right corner of the screen. Although this may appear to give the player an easy killing advantage more often than not it becomes more of a challenge to take the enemy out as each soldier has a different motion pattern. For example, one soldier who appears to use a predictable route suddenly changes to another, making these moments all the more intense as players are trying to creep past without making any noise. This sort of approach becomes quite a challenging ordeal as the chances of surviving are difficult if found, as players are very vulnerable to enemy alerts and will die quickly. Although this approach may deter some people due to the level of difficulty, it gives players a real sense of accomplishment when they survive an attack or in taking the enemy out without being detected.

However, what makes Metal Gear Solid stand out from other games of its time is the use of storytelling and characterisation. The plot is very in depth as each character is fleshed out as the game progresses. The use of the radio function allows players to call up different characters that are both helpful but also makes the player feel part of the narrative and the level of performance helps immerse the players even more. Even the bosses are portrayed as people with feelings and emotions. One such fight highlights this very intensity and immersed interaction when one of the bosses can even look into the memory and see how you, the player, have progressed - such as the number of times the player has saved. This level of depth makes the story more immersive and takes storytelling in video games to a whole new level.

The game does have its flaws which more often than not dampens the flow of the game play. One such flaw is the layout of the controls, as the flow of the game play is at times halted by the complexity of using the same buttons for different actions. This is also difficult with the HUD system as trying to find and then pick an item can move quickly but then once you found it there’s another option to equip it. The camera angle is also an issue, for most of the time the camera has a top down view of the layout but will then suddenly be fixed to a side of a corridor. This results in a number of frustrating scenarios where the player is spotted and shot at by enemies who are off screen and it is hard for their character to fire back. The settings are also quite repetitive; they are either indoors with numerous corridors or outside in bleak snowy areas.

Overall Metal Gear Solid provides new levels and ways of video gaming that sets it out from the rest of action games by adding better characters and more in depth narratives. Despite some of the issues that the game has, players will be immersed in a new exciting experience not yet seen.

Written by Tom Pearce