While it certainly wasn’t the first stealth game, Metal Gear Solid did more than any other title to put the genre on the map. “Tactical Espionage Action” are the words that serve as a descriptive subtitle to the late 90s titan and they do a lot to sum up the content of this classic. From the outset Metal Gear Solid goes about introducing a plethora of new game play mechanics that have gone on to be staples of the stealth genre.
Metal Gear Solid has spawned many new instalments to the franchise including sequels, prequels and spin offs. While its particular brand of bizarre storytelling may seem familiar to fans of the series, newcomers may be taken aback by the unlikely combination of realistic tactical espionage and the eccentric style of storytelling.
Metal Gear Solid features third person stealth combat in a persistent adventure set on Shadow Moses Island in Alaska. Centred on the elite soldier Solid Snake, the game has you infiltrate a massive military base under the control of terrorists. One of the most noteworthy game play elements it a mini-map that shows enemy locations and viewing arcs; this helps to establish a tense atmosphere as the player must weave around the patrol routes of guards.
The AI of these enemies, while fairly simple by modern standards, was a noteworthy innovation during the late 90s. The guards of Metal Gear Solid may follow set patrol routes but once they’ve made contact with Snake they will attack and actively hunt for him using footprints in the snow and the sound of footfalls to help track him. This gives enemies a far more threatening sense of intelligence and it was an important leap forward when the game was released.
Despite the focus on stealth, Metal Gear Solid offers a vast array of weapons ranging from firearms to remote controlled missiles. Combined with the stealth game play and the guards, some of the more explosive weapons (such as C4 and claymores) can be put to use in amusing ways. Making your own fun can be a big part of Metal Gear Solid and the game gives you countless opportunities to find your own way of dealing with the short-sighted guards.
While the game play innovations in Metal Gear Solid are important, the uniqueness and lasting value of the game is in its strange, epic and sometimes moving story. At first the plot seems to be a very traditional Tom Clancy style terrorist threat, however; once the villains begin to show up the narrative begins to warp and grow into a melodrama packed ride with intense personal connections showing up in the most unlikely of places.
The narrative may be larger than life but once you’ve gotten your head around the gas mask clad psychics and the sniper rifle wielding femme fatales you may find yourself deeply involved in the unusual but surprisingly gripping story. There are even a few elements of non-linearity to the narrative, giving some control of the plot to the player.
Aesthetically Metal Gear Solid is dated with a somewhat polygonal look indicative of the first Playstation. That said, it’s easy to look past these aged 3D graphics after an hour or so of play. The ability to ignore the antiquity of the graphics will likely depend on the player but if a shinier version of the game is desired then you could look to the Game Cube remake; Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.
This updated version of Metal Gear Solid features new graphics and it gives Snake abilities that are seen in later instalments in the franchise such as firing weapons from the first person perspective. Unfortunately it does also feature a new soundtrack with far less personality than the original so if you want the true MGS experience with its intense, over the top soundtrack to go with the loopy narrative then I highly recommend checking out the original game.
The audio side of Metal Gear Solid is deeply atmospheric; from the eerie intensity of the snow blowing during the outdoors sequences to the sudden blast of alarm claxons when you’re discovered by enemies. The music, as touched on earlier, is well matched to the eccentricity of the plot with a combination of a memorable theme for action sequences with darker choir pieces for the later, more epic moments. The production of Metal Gear Solid is of the highest quality from the audio to the admittedly dated visuals.
The Metal Gear Solid series is famed for its extensive cut scenes and cinematic style. The original game may be hampered by being in that awkward period of shaky 3D graphics but the style and grandeur of the narrative still shines brightly today. Anyone looking for a good stealth fix (and they aren’t as common as they should be) would do well to turn their eyes towards this pioneer of the genre.
