Metal Gear Solid 3 has really rich and detailed gameplay that can take you through multiple playthroughs where you still are learning new tricks. The downside to this is that when bosses require a specific part of that gameplay that you've gone through the whole game not even realising was possible. There were multiple bosses that flustered me and had me looking up methods to deal with them (although this may be tainted by the fact that I was trying to do a no kill playthrough on my first attempt). When it does come together though, it's amazing. A highlight for me was the battle with The End; a waiting game of hiding in the brush, sneaking dead slow, and looking for any hint of that enemy sniper. I think on repeat playthroughs I will definitely begin to grow on this game even more than I already have.
I think of the series so far, MGS3 also has the best story. While still having that ridiculous Kojima charm, there's a really heartfelt narrative that leaves you feeling shattered and empathetic with Naked Snake by the end of it. Some really great relationship development here, enhanced all the further having played Metal Gear 1 & 2 and knowing of Big Boss' own turn. The stories have been fun and thoughtful so far, but this has been by far the most effective for me.
MGS3 also feels like a PS3 game stuck on a PS2. This is both a compliment and a detriment. While the control scheme of MGS2 is passable in how that game presents itself, sneaking here with the inability to crouch walk and shooting with a button combo and pressure sensitivity makes this game feel more clunky than I'd like. I found I'd alert guards as often from Snake not doing what I intended on screen as much as my own mistakes, which did sour the experience a bit. With enough time in the game I'm sure this will be negated, but on a first playthrough it made for a rocky start. Once you do come to grips with the complexity of everything you can do in the game though, it makes you wonder why games today don't have the same detail in gameplay rather than graphical fidelity. While being stuck in the PS2 era of graphics, the world of MGS3 feels tangible and interactive which helps immersion more than something like mud or cloth physics ever could.
To end this meandering review, ultimately MGS3 is the strongest showing of what the PS2 was capable of, and is a brilliant game. Spending a few days away from it has me thinking fondly of it and upgrading my initial rating. While there are potential flaws for a first playthrough, I can see the benefit of them in the long term of replayability. I look forward to revisiting this one down the line.
I think of the series so far, MGS3 also has the best story. While still having that ridiculous Kojima charm, there's a really heartfelt narrative that leaves you feeling shattered and empathetic with Naked Snake by the end of it. Some really great relationship development here, enhanced all the further having played Metal Gear 1 & 2 and knowing of Big Boss' own turn. The stories have been fun and thoughtful so far, but this has been by far the most effective for me.
MGS3 also feels like a PS3 game stuck on a PS2. This is both a compliment and a detriment. While the control scheme of MGS2 is passable in how that game presents itself, sneaking here with the inability to crouch walk and shooting with a button combo and pressure sensitivity makes this game feel more clunky than I'd like. I found I'd alert guards as often from Snake not doing what I intended on screen as much as my own mistakes, which did sour the experience a bit. With enough time in the game I'm sure this will be negated, but on a first playthrough it made for a rocky start. Once you do come to grips with the complexity of everything you can do in the game though, it makes you wonder why games today don't have the same detail in gameplay rather than graphical fidelity. While being stuck in the PS2 era of graphics, the world of MGS3 feels tangible and interactive which helps immersion more than something like mud or cloth physics ever could.
To end this meandering review, ultimately MGS3 is the strongest showing of what the PS2 was capable of, and is a brilliant game. Spending a few days away from it has me thinking fondly of it and upgrading my initial rating. While there are potential flaws for a first playthrough, I can see the benefit of them in the long term of replayability. I look forward to revisiting this one down the line.