It has some sky high production values, is hugely emmersive and has some very clever programming and design touches.
Unfortunately it also has some very dated gameplay devices and at least one huge design error.
There have been some big changes made in MGS3 this time round.
Firstly the majority of the game is set in 'out-doors' environments. This works superbly.
The second one of mention is the omminous lack of the on-screen 'radar' from the previous games.
(very bad idea).
I know this game is set in the 1960's but radar was being used in the second world war (20 yrs before this game is set) so historically they could have got away with it i think.
The new 'camo' index' looks cool and works but slows the gameplay down as you have to keep swapping through menus to change the camo' over. This gets very annoying.
(The Zombie facepaint option is ace though).
Snake now has a 'stamina bar' - thats replenished by finding and eating 'natural' flora and fauna (works well but even more menus to navigate)
A new 'cure' system which also works but is the most time consuming in use of all these new options - especially during the Boss battles.
CQC is an updated 'close quarters combat' system that expands on the previous options Snake had in this area. Some of these are cool but tricky to pull off.
Graphically this game can often look jaw-droppingly good. Hideo and his gang really know how to make the PS2 shine.
The level design is both realistic and well thought out. Just get Snake to take a look around (use the excellent Bino's). You can really see the quality of the environments and the detial of the characters.
Especially the enemy soldier animations.
In fact the general attention to detail is just immense.
Colours do look a bit 'washed out' but i think thats the look Konami are going for.
MGS3 is never going to look like Splinter Cell on XBox (Chaos Theory is utterly amazing).
But thats down to the PS2 Hardware - not Konami.
The main problem with MGS3 - and its a really big one - is that the in-game camera system is hugely flawed. The 'eye in the sky' style default camera often leaves the player almost totally in the dark as to what lies ahead (and often behind).
Although you can switch to 'first person' camera mode and have a look around the level you cant 'move' in this mode. This makes for some very slow and frustrating gameplay.
I just cant believe that Hideo and his team thought that this 'old style' camera system was going to work when the (almost essential) on-screen 'radar' system of old has been dropped.
It also makes MGS3 look quite dated too.
Not only does the 'default' camera give a very limited view of your surroundings but it mostly doesnt even look ahead or sit behind Snake. It tends to look at the 'side' of the character - and the game engine doesn't let you 'move' the camera anywhere near enough to make this view useful.
In some places it even swings round to look directly back at Snake. What use is that to anyone ??
If you have played (the superb) Splinter Cell and are used to being able to freely 'see' all-round the level (and your environment) without switching to another view then MGS3 will make you want to pull your hair out in frustration.
It also means that in practise you are constantly switching between ' first person' mode and the default camera view to see where Snake is going and what lies ahead. Walking into trouble - like multiple guards on Patrol - becomes far too easy if you dont.
I know there is a 'mechanical' Radar you can choose to 'equip' - but it drains your in game 'batteries' in use and is noisy - meaning its actual use is very limited.
During any major combat all these camera problems become very annoying and makes it almost impossible to keep track of where your enemies are as you desperately try to swap between camera and weapon modes.
This is especially true in the frequent Boss battles. I'm no fan of Boss battles. i think they are a dated device that needs dropping in this type of game. The ones here are well designed but very frustrating - mainly because of the restricted camera views.
My advice is avoid all confrontations In MGS3 if you can (well durr). This is time-consuming - as you have to slowely 'crawl' round the level to 'scope' it out with the Bino's but it is the least frustrating (and most rewarding) way to play this game.
This major design flaw is such a shame as there are many areas of this game that deserve great praise.
MGS3's 'emmersion' is amazing.
The game really draws you in 'hook line and sinker'. Atmosphere in the game is also superb - as is the tension created whilst creeping around the superb forest environments.
The programmers have a meticulous eye for (graphical) detail in particular. The forest in MGS3 is a living breathing entity - with snakes and frogs and birds (and more) doing there own thing - making this all seem very real.
The swamp level is particularly gorgeous - just watch out for those croc's !!
It does have some nice humour running through it too (something Splinter Cell usually fails in) and the narrative fills in the back-story on Snake and some of his well known adversaries - for those who care about such things.
Voice-overs are good on the whole. David Hayter (the voice of Snake) does his best with what he's given.
The lip-syncing of the characters (in the FMV's) is terrible though. Maybe they are better in Japanese
Music by (the regular) Harry Gregson Williams is superb. Sound quality is up there with the best on PS2. The forest sounds very real. FX and weapons sounds are realistic and accurate.
The James Bond style theme tune in particular is very well produced - though i think its deliberately tongue-in-cheek.
The FMV's can be long winded and over-done - but you knew that already right !!
I mean this is a MGS game !!
They do look great though.
Apart from the lip-sync.
Para-medic is particularly worthy of mention too. She is your medical support team member who you can 'call' for help. She is a total film buff and tells Snake about her favorite movies when he calls her.
(Hideo's top 10 films??)
No - she is not as annoying as 'Rose' from MGS2 !!
Its a nice touch actually - and quite funny in places Snake really needs to get out more though - as he hasn't seen any of the films !! ;O)
In the end MGS3 is yet another flawed gem. Its gameplay, graphics and execution are sublime (in places). You will keep playing MGS3 - even with the annoying camera problems - its that good.
There are other problems too - like some twitchy control issues, no proper game pause (why??) and you can't save anywhere and then reload from that same point.
When you can save it takes an age to complete too.
But i could live with all these other minor niggles if the default camera was (totally) re-worked.
And by that i mean completely re-designed !!
As a fan of the first MGS (2 had its moments aswell) i'm suprised by Hideo and his (undeniably talented) programming team this time. I really thought they would have spotted this camera problem and sorted it out.
Maybe next time.
MGS4 on PS3 anyone ??
Whilst many Metal Gear fans are going to be (very) happy with the graphical beauty. details, humour and MGS style of gameplay (that has survived) those of us who are more 'objective' about game design will see its major problem(s).
There is definately genius at work here - though like most genius's they come with at least one huge flaw.
Create an Account
Member Login
