Takes a comic based on the PS1 classic and adapts it into a visual novel format with some minor animation and sound effects. No voice acting though, which would have gone a long way. Can serve as a nice, quick refresher before jumping into Sons of Liberty or something if you need one. Not sure I’d recommend making it your first introduction to the narrative though, unless you just for some reason aren’t interested in/don’t like the gameplay of the original or its remake The Twin Snakes.
I’ve seen people on here complaining about slight changes to dialogue or tweaks to some moments that were included to make them better fit the shift in mediums. Personally, I think their outrage is more than a little ridiculous. Even the added character interactions don’t do anything to significantly alter the events, and are we really going to get up upset over the differences making this a “non-canon” retelling in a franchise where greater than half of the games aren’t canon anyways?
Honestly, the biggest problem with this version of the plot is Ashley Wood’s artwork. It’s a style I’ve seen used in a lot of crime, political/governmental, or espionage thrillers that always seems to receive acclaim from whoever it is that professionally reviews comic books for a living. It’s never failed to come off as ugly to me however, looking more like rough concept sketches and scribbles than something that should have made it to print. Oh well, at least he drew Meryl in a thong for her famous underwear scene.
Kojima Productions tried to make the experience a bit more than just simply reading text by giving us the ability to scan panels at varying magnifications to uncover hidden data and objects that can be pieced together in the “Memory Building Simulation Mode” to unlock supplementary information. It’s a novel (lol) idea, but the process isn’t terribly enjoyable and the lack of any substantial reward for doing so meant I didn’t stick with it for long.
Overall, it’s a decent, solidly executed concept that’s only missing something special to really draw you in. I don’t want to be too harsh with my rating because it’s not, like, horrible or anything, but even the most devout Metal Gear fan would have a hard time calling this worthwhile. Maybe if you’re some kind of hardcore completist or whatever then give it a shot. Otherwise it’s inoffensive, but totally skippable.
6/10 - “Okay”
I’ve seen people on here complaining about slight changes to dialogue or tweaks to some moments that were included to make them better fit the shift in mediums. Personally, I think their outrage is more than a little ridiculous. Even the added character interactions don’t do anything to significantly alter the events, and are we really going to get up upset over the differences making this a “non-canon” retelling in a franchise where greater than half of the games aren’t canon anyways?
Honestly, the biggest problem with this version of the plot is Ashley Wood’s artwork. It’s a style I’ve seen used in a lot of crime, political/governmental, or espionage thrillers that always seems to receive acclaim from whoever it is that professionally reviews comic books for a living. It’s never failed to come off as ugly to me however, looking more like rough concept sketches and scribbles than something that should have made it to print. Oh well, at least he drew Meryl in a thong for her famous underwear scene.
Kojima Productions tried to make the experience a bit more than just simply reading text by giving us the ability to scan panels at varying magnifications to uncover hidden data and objects that can be pieced together in the “Memory Building Simulation Mode” to unlock supplementary information. It’s a novel (lol) idea, but the process isn’t terribly enjoyable and the lack of any substantial reward for doing so meant I didn’t stick with it for long.
Overall, it’s a decent, solidly executed concept that’s only missing something special to really draw you in. I don’t want to be too harsh with my rating because it’s not, like, horrible or anything, but even the most devout Metal Gear fan would have a hard time calling this worthwhile. Maybe if you’re some kind of hardcore completist or whatever then give it a shot. Otherwise it’s inoffensive, but totally skippable.
6/10 - “Okay”