Friday 8 February, 2008

GAMEPLAY

So it would seem that I either need to improve in my sneaking skills or I’m not cut out for a game of tactical espionage like Metal Gear Solid: the Twin Snakes. I spent a good half hour in the same room getting caught repeatedly and killed endlessly. After I finally cleared the room, I felt like I was getting a better feel for the game and began to appreciate the story a little more.

The storyline is very rich through out the game and it seems like every cutscene is too important to miss. What I find very enjoyable about the game is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. In the dialogue between Snake and his superiors, both sides seem to have a sense of humor in that not everything they say is serious. Snake even hits on one of the characters upon seeing how attractive she is. This witty dialogue makes the game much more enjoyable and keeps the player interested.

One thing that I do not like about the gameplay is that it is so slow. Sometimes the player may have to stay in one position or area for a long time until the enemy stops looking for them. In that case the player could just change the channel and watch an episode of family guy because it takes forever for them to stop searching for you. Another problem I have is that I don’t really look at the screen too much. Because of the limited camera angles, player ends up making good use of the radar system which almost makes the game seem 2D.

DESIGN

I think that MGS: TS is great for what it is: a stealth game. Each map feels like a different level in which the player must find a way to get from point A to point B without being seen or killed. There are many obstacles that are designed to get you caught including puddles and your own foot prints. That really makes the game challenging and very enjoyable.

The controls for the game are also sometimes hard to manage. To begin with, there is no set display of what the buttons are. There is no real in game options that tell you what the controls are. After playing the game for a while, however, one can get used to the controls and begin to truly enjoy the game. One thing I didn’t like about the character design was the way Snake moved. Snake can only sneak so fast and doesn’t seem able to sprint or run in any real way. For some reason, Snake can’t beat someone up when they are knocked on the ground. That would make the game so much easier if the enemy could be kicked while on the ground.

One thing that was excellent about the game was its use of cutscenes. While there is a lot of interaction in the game, the cutscenes also take up a good deal of time. What makes this game so great is that it really proves that games can be artistic and cinematic. The cutscenes are really what make this game interesting. It has a strong storyline and keeps the player interested from the start. I really cant wait to keep playing.

Very well done, this is a great game log, if a bit brutal, I mean really kicking a guy while he's down on the ground ;) -Trevor Prater(grader)