I have been playing Metal Gear, since the days of just Metal Gear on NES. I've played through all the existing games, even VR Missions and the PSP turn-based games. Over the years, I have found all of them enjoyable to some degree. I thoroughly enjoyed Raiden's character in MGS4 and when I found out that Metal Gear Rising was starring Raiden in the time after MGS4, I had to give it a look. My fear, was that the departure from MGS-style gameplay might take away from the game, I was incorrect in this assessment. The departure from MGS-Style gameplay is precisely what the franchise needs in terms of development. Raiden's character has developed past his initial appearance in MGS2 and the end result is a very fun, very playable, fast paced, and exciting adventure.
My take is the gameplay is very reminiscent of another favorite Kojima project of mine, Zone of the Enders. If you enjoyed ZOE, back in the day, you'll love MGR. If you didn't, you're going to hate this game. If you're expected elements of stealth, or heck even a convoluted storyline that leaves you guessing ala MGS, wrong game, you'll hate it. But fast pace, intense focus, and perfect timing are required in this game. Patience is the real winner in MGS, aggression is the winner in MGR. Right so a bit more about gameplay, levels are exceptionally linear with minimal places to investigate and go, backtracking is virtually non-existent. The environments aren't particularly varied, nor are the levels particularly long. You do get plenty of baddies to chop up, which you're going to want to enjoy Raiden's badass ninja moves. Control is fluid, intuitive, and very well executed, which is a hallmark of the MG-Franchise.
The game progresses quickly and even on Hard Difficulty, I am able to beat it in under 3 hours. Which leads me to probably my biggest complaint of the game, lack of depth. It's not difficult after just a few playthroughs to have in essence unlocked all of the weapons, skills, costumes, etc. While replay value is high, because you'll enjoy destroying things and cyborgs, the overall end result of Story Mode is disappointing. The story here is one-dimensional and the critics of Raiden's character have plenty of ammunition to use against him. In addition, components of the plot do not make any sense, until you play the two DLCs through (both of which can be completed quickly). After that things get a bit more clear, but even still, you're left underwhelmed by the character development and story-integration throughout the game. The game relies heavily on Codec-style dialog to convey the story. It gets annoying, quickly, to be consistently interrupted by the damn floating screens. This isn't solely an MGR fault, it is an over-reliance by Kojima on dialogue to convey the plot and move things along in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, at times it feels like you spend more time in endless dialogue messages, than you do enjoying that stellar gameplay. Fortunately, you can fast forward through the dialogue conveyed via Codec and skip cutscenes, but it doesn't stop the pop-ups from occurring regularly and interrupting your flow. Finally, I'll say that the mechanics and control of the game are fluid, but there is a real lack of depth in terms of combinations and weapons. The fact that you spend the entire game staring at a dagger on Raiden's back, that he never once uses, is the point that reinforces the meat that Kojima and Platinum Games left on the bone. Did they forget the stunningly beautiful cut scenes of Raiden in MGS4 that quickly? I wanted nothing more than to integrate some of the very moves Raiden uses against Vamp, but NO - they don't exist in the game. That's a real shame, a huge shame. In addition to the lack of fighting combinations and depth, Raiden's super strength and speed, are not adequately displayed or conveyed. The consistent slowdown to use blade-mode in Zandatsu kills, interrupts the flow of the game. With work you can start to use the environment in your fights, but Raiden's jumping/running/moving abilities feel so "ground" limited. It's a shame they weren't more fully developed and utilized.
Final Verdict - I love this game, but I admit to being a proud Raiden fan. I would rate it about 7.5 on a standard scale of 10. Imminently playable and fun, you probably won't regret buying it, as long as you recognize that it isn't Metal Gear Solid. The gameplay is solid, with very few annoying issues, the story and characters are all pretty flat, except perhaps Raiden. The story is typical Kojima, excessively complex and convoluted, with an over-reliance on Deus Ex Machina and standard literary tropes to convey the plot. The real shame though, is not the storyline, it's the lack of depth in terms of fighting and movement in a fluid and otherwise beautifully programmed physics engine that gives you pretty much all that you want. Combine this with the rather boring, generic, and bland environments, and you see the real tragedy of MGR isn't that it isn't MGS, which it never pretends to be, it's that it isn't as good as it could be.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
4.8 | 1,774 ratings
Price: 16.86
Last update: 09-10-2024
About this item
Rising's stealth elements will emphasize Raiden's considerable speed and agility through what Matsuyama describes as "hunting stealth."
Gameplay will focus on two key elements: swordfighting, and a style of stealth that is more fast-paced and action-oriented.
"Cutting" entails sophisticated swordplay that lets players engage in third person melee combat, as well as precisely slash enemies and objects "at will" along a geometrical plane using a "free slicing" mode.
Gameplay will focus on two key elements: swordfighting, and a style of stealth that is more fast-paced and action-oriented.
"Cutting" entails sophisticated swordplay that lets players engage in third person melee combat, as well as precisely slash enemies and objects "at will" along a geometrical plane using a "free slicing" mode.
Product information
| Publication Date | February 19, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Computer Platform | PlayStation 3 |
| ASIN | B002I0J8FI |
| Release date | February 19, 2013 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
1,730 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,624 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #5 in PlayStation 3 Games |
| Product Dimensions | 5.3 x 0.57 x 6.74 inches; 0.01 ounces |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Rated | Mature |
| Item model number | 083717202066 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 0.01 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Konami |
| Date First Available | July 15, 2009 |
Top reviews from the United States
Anonymous
I thoroughly enjoyed Raiden's character in MGS4 and when I found out ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2015Drifting
One of the best 7th gen game (not including cross gen games)
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024Alex
An Awesome Hack and Slash Game from Platinum Games
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2019Lucas Black
RULES OF NATURE!
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2014Mason
Came sealed and great condition
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024