Why have I not actually played a Metal Gear game?

I've read and seen so much stuff from video games that they come back to my mind when I start hearing other stuff that some how relates to it.

This week at school, my biology class has been studying genetics, and in one of my other classes, a student gave an oral presentation on her opinion of cloning. What game had come to my mind as a result? Metal Gear Solid.

I have already read the plot summary online, watched the cutscene and codec conversations on Youtube, and remember the theme of the first MGS being "gene." Though really, I only know the intricate details from the first game. All the others I just get the basic setup. So after hearing all this stuff about genes and cloning and what not, I decided I'd take another look at the game. 
 
So WHY, unlike just about everyone else, have I not gone to invest time in a Metal Gear game? Well, I'm undecided on something. 
 
Metal Gear is cutscene heavy. I pretty much watched all those cinematics as a movie, and I did like them. That's cool and all, but, I'm not sure if the gameplay is just serving as filler for the next cutscene. 
 
Now I'm already aware of cool interactive sequences in the first game. The Psycho Mantis battle and the Torture sequence mainly when I think about it. But outside of those moments, does the rest of the gameplay and up being, I dunno, boring? Or tedious. If the draw is the cutscenes, then why have it as a video game. The stuff is practically movie material. 
 
I'm not trying to criticise a highly regarded game series. I really want to know if the gameplay stays interesting and mixes things up enough to actually enjoy playing it. 
 
I hear tons of praise for the series, yet I heard the same thing for Halo, and I am not fond of that game. I heard such GREAT things about Halo, yet when I finally got the chance to play it, I didn't feel interested enough to keep going, rather underwhelmed. So, I guess I'm just being a bit cautious, since I don't want to waste my time on something that I won't enjoy as others. 
 
Could anyone maybe answer my question? Help sell me on the gameplay. The story and presentation I'm fine with, I just want to know if the gameplay stays interesting and isn't just there as filler until the next cutscene.
 
Much appreciated, Giant Bomb. 
 
EDIT: Okay, I've already come to my decision. I've got a PS1 emulator and I just finished downloading the MGS file (it'll be faster than waiting for Gamefly right now). I've decided to give it a try, so I'll post whether or not I like it or not in the next day or so. Thanks for the comments...most of you.    

I've read and seen so much stuff from video games that they come back to my mind when I start hearing other stuff that some how relates to it.

This week at school, my biology class has been studying genetics, and in one of my other classes, a student gave an oral presentation on her opinion of cloning. What game had come to my mind as a result? Metal Gear Solid.

I have already read the plot summary online, watched the cutscene and codec conversations on Youtube, and remember the theme of the first MGS being "gene." Though really, I only know the intricate details from the first game. All the others I just get the basic setup. So after hearing all this stuff about genes and cloning and what not, I decided I'd take another look at the game. 
 
So WHY, unlike just about everyone else, have I not gone to invest time in a Metal Gear game? Well, I'm undecided on something. 
 
Metal Gear is cutscene heavy. I pretty much watched all those cinematics as a movie, and I did like them. That's cool and all, but, I'm not sure if the gameplay is just serving as filler for the next cutscene. 
 
Now I'm already aware of cool interactive sequences in the first game. The Psycho Mantis battle and the Torture sequence mainly when I think about it. But outside of those moments, does the rest of the gameplay and up being, I dunno, boring? Or tedious. If the draw is the cutscenes, then why have it as a video game. The stuff is practically movie material. 
 
I'm not trying to criticise a highly regarded game series. I really want to know if the gameplay stays interesting and mixes things up enough to actually enjoy playing it. 
 
I hear tons of praise for the series, yet I heard the same thing for Halo, and I am not fond of that game. I heard such GREAT things about Halo, yet when I finally got the chance to play it, I didn't feel interested enough to keep going, rather underwhelmed. So, I guess I'm just being a bit cautious, since I don't want to waste my time on something that I won't enjoy as others. 
 
Could anyone maybe answer my question? Help sell me on the gameplay. The story and presentation I'm fine with, I just want to know if the gameplay stays interesting and isn't just there as filler until the next cutscene.
 
Much appreciated, Giant Bomb. 
 
EDIT: Okay, I've already come to my decision. I've got a PS1 emulator and I just finished downloading the MGS file (it'll be faster than waiting for Gamefly right now). I've decided to give it a try, so I'll post whether or not I like it or not in the next day or so. Thanks for the comments...most of you.    

You can play Metal Gear.

Can't wait to see some responses I am pretty much in the same boat.

"You can play Metal Gear. "

" @ThePhantomnaut said:

"You can play Metal Gear. "

I don't have an MSX. "

Play MGS2 and that's it. Don't waste your time with 4.

I've only played two-thirds the way through MGS2, so I'm with you. It was pretty fun, but I just never had an urge to go back to it or any other of the games.

to be honest...when i first played metal gear it was the remake version of the first one on the game cube. All i gotta say is that game was awesome.... To answer your question...yes the game play is good. the only thing that bothered me was the overhead camera which took a little time getting used to especially if you played splinter cell before playing mgs. if your going to play any metal gear i would suggest you start with the game cube version...

If you decide to get a Metal Gear game, don't expect too much. I picked up Metal Gear Solid 2, hailed by many as one of the best games of all time, and found it unplayable. The story seemed decent but the camera, the controls, just the overall feel of the gameplay... ugh. Such a terrible, terrible game.
 
I'm not saying you're going to hate the series -- a lot of people love it, so it must have some kind of weird appeal I just can't understand -- all I'm saying is don't get you hopes up. That way you can't get disappointed. You'll either hate it and go "Eh, wasn't expecting much anyway", or love it and go "Dude, this is a lot better than I expected. Awesome."

I have never had an interest in MGS but knew many raved about it, plus it got good reviews.  So I picked up Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on the Xbox.  Lucky for me it was really cheap, as I played about 40 minutes or so and just got bored.  The stealth mechanic just didn't interest me.  I really can't see the attraction, but that is just me I guess as I don't doubt it is a very good game.  I went quickly back to a JRPG and brought my happiness levels back up  ^-^

I can't help you... I've actually been meaning to play the Metal Gear games for a very long time. I actually own all of them except the Portable Ops and 4 (because I haven't bought a PS3). I'll get to it one day, but I need to find an SDTV to hook my PS2 up to... I can't force myself to play a PS1 game on an HDTV, it just looks so god damn aweful.
 

" Play MGS2 and that's it. Don't waste your time with 4. "

ok, you're gonna hate me for this.  
 
I've beaten 1, my copy of MGS2 is defective (fucking Konami, it seems to be a problem with the essentials pack) and have not bought a new copy in months (DIEING TO PLAY IT), MGS3 is there waiting for me and I only installed MGS4, but haven't touched it yet. 

The gameplay isn't so bad you should skip the games and story because of it, but if it really annoys you,. spend a week reading everything aboout the story then play 4

@addictedtopinescent said:

"The gameplay isn't so bad you should skip the games and story because of it, but if it really annoys you,. spend a week reading everything aboout the story then play 4 "

Guess I can't go wrong with that. Summary would be alot quicker than watching all the cutscenes, and 4's gameplay has me more interested than the one in earlier games. 
I'll think about it. I have Gamefly so I can get the games at anytime. 
 
Thanks for the replies.

Download a finished save file of Metal Gear Solid 4 and copy it into your PS3 (you'll need a SD memory card and an SD memory card reader on your PS3, as well), then download the Metal Gear Solid Database on the PlayStation Network, then read all what the database offers.  Saves you time and money.

Go play Metal Gear Solid on the PS or PC and then play Ghost Babel from the GameBoy Color.

I always enjoyed the gameplay in Metal Gear games. When it comes to sneaking and methodically hunting down the bad guys or running for you life, it can become a trial and error game, but I like those games too. The bosses aren't that hard, once you learn their pattern, but they do get progressively harder, so again, it becomes trial and error. I haven't played MGS4, but I did play all the others except the 2D versions. If you don't mind slow games and lots of sneaking around, I say go for it. The gameplay works well for what it does and it does take some skill or memorizing.

" ok, you're gonna hate me for this.   I've beaten 1, my copy of MGS2 is defective (fucking Konami, it seems to be a problem with the essentials pack) and have not bought a new copy in months (DIEING TO PLAY IT), MGS3 is there waiting for me and I only installed MGS4, but haven't touched it yet.  "

I played a little bit of MGS2 & 3. I feel that is adequate. 

" @Sil3n7: MGS4 sucks. "

Do you enjoy clunky and unforgiving stealth and combat mechanics enough to want to experience the story? Let me rephrase that: Do you hate yourself enough to play Metal Gear Solid? Because even though I have only played Twin Snakes and 3, I understand that all the games except for 4 are like that.

1 and 3 are the best and don't have to many cut scenes

4 is the easiest and most fun in terms of strict gameplay

You guys made me post this:
 

 @Alaska_Gamer:
 
 
You may be getting the chance to:
 

• Famicom Tantei Series Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shojo (Nintendo, Famicom, 500 WiiPoints)
• Final Fight Tough (aka Final Fight 3, Capcom, Super Famicom, 800)
• The King of Fighters '95 (D4, Neo Geo, 900)
• Metal Gear (MSX, Konami, 800)
• Yie Ar Koutei no Gyakushuu (MSX, Konami, 800)
• Ordyne (Arcade, Namco Bandai, 800)
• Rompers (Arcade, Namco Bandai, 800)
• Zaxxon (Arcade, Sega, 500)        

I've played 2 and 3. Solid, that is, never just Gear.
They were....unique, I guess. Still didn't like them very much.

You either hate MGS or you love it. I love all of them. As for the gameplay, different =/= bad.  
 
You said you have gamefly, just try it, it'll "waste" a week at most.

" @Sil3n7: MGS4 sucks. "

how bout just play metal gear solid?

" Can't wait to see some responses I am pretty much in the same boat. "

my first Metal Gear experience was on the Gamecube when i played the remake of the first game. feel in love with the series. i think it can be down to preference but i just found the story and cut-scenes to compelling that i couldn't stop. the stealth gameplay i also think is great since i don't think you get anything else really like it. i love the series but the fact you have researched it and know the outline of the story you probably could miss out and not feel so bad

i love the mgs gameplay. im craving some mgs3 right now. i cant wait for Peace Walker. the co-op in that game looks EXCELLENT

I really liked MGS - MGS3.  I haven't played MGS4, as I don't have a PS3.  But the games are largely stealth, a little action, and awesome boss fights.  The stealth is pretty well done, the shooting was okay (it got better in 2 and 3).  You need to remember, though, that, at the end of the day, the subtitle is "tactial espionage action".

" If you decide to get a Metal Gear game, don't expect too much. I picked up Metal Gear Solid 2, hailed by many as one of the best games of all time, and found it unplayable. The story seemed decent but the camera, the controls, just the overall feel of the gameplay... ugh. Such a terrible, terrible game.

I would totally say yes.  The great thing about MGS games is that they always leave me wanting more.  By the time I really feel like I'm getting into the stealth mechanics of an MGS game, I'm approaching the ending (which, for any MGS game basically amounts to boss fight, cutscene, codec, cutscene, boss fight, cutscene, not that that's a bad thing). 
 
That's just me, though.  I found the first Splinter Cell game completely dull, so I have no idea if I really like stealth games, or if there's just something about the stealth in MGS that interests me. 

Discussion like this makes me sad.  Just so many people missing out on great game series.  Hearing the Giant Bomb crew say they hadn't played Chrono Trigger...  :(
 
Next you'll hear people saying they've never played Mario or Doom or Mega Man...

I'm sorry, can you hear me grinding my teeth when i read this?.... NO NO NO my friend! You can't judge a game from the videos on YouTube, and yet there are many cutscenes in Metal Gear games, the action balances it, and it is truly epic and fun.
 
What can i say though. Some people think some games are just over-hyped. Metal Gear games could be one for some. You either like them or don't. Just like Halo, which i hate to be honest.
 
At least play the first one before you make a decision!

" Play MGS 1, 2 and (most of all) 3 and if possible 4 - they're all sweet games that definitely deserve a look. "

I hate cutscenes in 2 and 4 but the gameplay is awesome, its just unfortunate the gameplay segments are overcrowded with crap. This is what really dragged down four for me since for every time I was playing and having a blast there were huges tracts of time where I sat through and hour or so of horrible writing and cringe worthy plot. MGS1 and 3 are the definite high points in the series with 3 being one of my favourite games since it managed to be crammed with the awesome gameplay, even the cutscenes and story were good in a jokey kind of way. Granted I haven't played MGS 1 since I was young but I'm sure it still holds up.
 
My advice is play the gamecube remake of the MGS and then 3, read synopses of 2 and 4.

I think its too late for people to get the full epic expereince of Metal Gear, those who have been following Snakes epic tale from PS1 or before that will know,
ive been playing since MGS1, when i played MGS4 and entered the microwave scene i actually thought wow, Snake been through alot of crap to get here hasnt he?
 
 and when the Epic climactic battle came at the end i was thinking wow, its 20 years in the making, these 2 old bozos have been at war for this long, when the health bars poped up for both Snake and Liquid i saw myself playing one of the most epic game in history.
 
those up their ^^ saying MGS4 sucks, or its a boring movie obviously have been playing too much Halo or CoD, and do not appreciate Hideo Kojimas masterpeice. MGS4 for me is Game of the Year, if not, game of the GEN! 
 
and the online component is SUPER fun! the community is small but is still very fun to play with :)

" Play MGS2 and that's it. Don't waste your time with 4. "