Symphony of the Night. Wow. As long as I've been posting on internet forums, and as long as I've been crafting lists such as these, Symphony of the Night has never falle off of my top five. It's a wonderful title.
Earlier in my series of blogs, I took a little heat about my placement of Super Metroid. You have to realized, I didn't own a SNES. If you're one of those people who loves Super Metroid, consider that it's similar to Symphony of the Night. The latter just came in to my life earlier. Oh, and it's better, too.
SotN was one of the first games I owned for the Playstaion. I got it for Christmas the same year it came out, and I was secen years old. At the time, I was your average kid who liked games. I played Mario, I played Crash. I wasn't really big in to the scene. Then I played SotN. The game changed my life. For the first time, games were more than just games. For the first time, I had a game that was my favorite. I'd get reprimanded on a daily basis for playing to much Castlevania. The game wasn't like anything I had played before. It was all one big level, and I got to map it out, I was exploring this castle, hunting dracula. I was fighting cool monsters. It wasn't like other games that had chunks of gameplay, this was a seamless experience, and I fell in love with it. I drew up a map and took it to school, I read books about dracula, but the one thing that had the biggest impact on me: I fell in love with video games. SotN also opened my mind in the world of games, showing me that any game, 2D or 3D, could be amazing. I am indebted to SotN for this, it's the game that made me who I am today, it showed me how I could be sucked into a game's world, only coming out to eat and sleep.
Now, I don't think the concept of the game is too foreign to anyone. It's a pioneer of the Metroidvania genre, right along with Super Metroid. As a game, it took the Castlevania in an entirely new direction with these exploration elements,and became key in the development of the genre. SotN puts you in the shoes of Dracula's son Alucard, awakened to destroy the threat his father poses when Richter Belmont vanishes. As Alucard, you'll explore Dracula's massive castle. Along the way you'll fight all sorts of demons, explore some quite unusual sectors of the caslte, and build up your strength to fight your father. One of the most important aspects of SotN are the RPG elements. As you explore and defeat enemies, you'll gain experience, level up, and find new equipment. For its time, this was very unique for any game that wasn't an RPG. It added depth to the game, and increased the feeling of progress.
The world of SotN is magical. From the gothic cathedral in the caslte, the creepy catacombs, the decrepit hallways of Olrox's quarters, and the traditional Clock Tower full of medus heads, each area is a new experience. The design of the worlds stands tall among games. The artowork for the enemies, characters, and areas is the pinnacle of the series, and will likely remain that way as the newer games go for a more anime inspired look. It would be foolish for me to forget the soundtrack in SotN's case, as it is among the best gaming has to offer. Even at seven years old, I was able to appreciate the musical score in SotN.
Truly, this game is legendary. I'm not the first person to honor it, and nor will I be the last. Symphony of the Night showed us all that the just because we had moved to the third dimension, it didn't mean that two dimensional games couldn't be phenomenal. Everyone needs to play this game.
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
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Before you read what I say, you must do something in order to get the full experience for the #4 game. Open this link in a new tab, and give it a minute to load. Put your volume so it's not too loud, just enough so you can read as you listen. Press play, then come back over here, and begin reading. If it ends, start the song over again. This is absolutely necessary.
We're once again travelling to BoG's youth. I've always frequented gaming forums, and this period of my life is no exception. I was an avid reader of EGM, and ended up at gamers.com. At gamers.com, I joined a community of gamers called the "Nintendo Resource and Debate," and I logged in to post on that forum every day. Some time into that experience, I logged on just as any other day. We were approaching E3. I saw a topic title: "Metal Gear Solid 3." I froze. Was I dreaming? I couldn't be. I've always been a huge MGS fan, so a third game was enough to get my young self extremely excited. I downloaded the leaked trailer, and witenessed something awesome. Snake with an alligator hat, shooting people? YES. I had to be in a dream, Snake Eater....
Fast forward to when the game actually came out. I gave it to my dad as a christmas present, as he is also a fan of the series. We took turns playing, but eventually I took over. I couldn't put it down. This was like MGS2, only more fun, and it actually made SENSE. Staples of the series returned, great stealth gameplay, zany and awesome boss fights, and brilliant story telling. I loved every moment. I'll be honest, it's embarassing, but I think I spent that whole year doing that nerdy Ocelot hand thing, because I thought it was so wicked cool. Snake Eater, you're so supreme...
Well, anyways, MGS 3 took the series gameplay I loved, added elements of survival, and through it into the outdoors. The jungle added a whole new level of depth to the already great stealth series. Now, staying hidden was a whole different ballgame. Changing Snake's camo was great fun. The blend of both indoor and outdoor sneaking was a great way to keep things fresh the entire way through, and only made it that much more fun. The survival elements did their fare share of fun-adding too. You had to tend to snake bites, broken bones, and gunshots. Now, how Snake can break the same bone twice in a matter of minutes and heal it up fine is a mystery to me, but still totally cool. You have to eat, to keep Snake's stamina up. Some day, you'll feed on a tree frog...
In a series known for its memorable moments, MGS 3 has some of the most memorable. It told one of the most fantastic stories I've ever experienced. If you liked the motorcycle ride with Eva in 4, well you should try your hand at it in 3 while the the maniacal Volgin chases you down in a massive nuclear tank. Volgin in general is an unforgettable character himself, and once he feels your crotch, he won't forget you, either. All of the bosses were memorable in the game, from The Pain and his bees, to the Fury and his obsession with arson. 3 is also home to the best of the epic sniper battles of the series when you bring and ancient old man to his end (CWUTIDIDTHER?). Finally, and most importantly, Metal Gear Solid not only has the greatest final boss battle in the series, but one of the best final boss battles in video game history. She literally is THE Boss. I'll never forget that last showdown in that field of white flowers... and the shocking revelations about that fascinating character that followed. In my time, there'll be no one else...
I don't really know how to sum this up. Metal Gear Solid 3 is just so awesome. You know what? The more I think about it, the more awful the 4th game becomes. It simply can't hold a candle to what may be Kojima's finest hour. What a thrill...
3. Shadow of the Colossus
Oh gosh. Oh my gosh. My love for Shadow of the Colossus is ineffable. It's one of the most brilliant games I've ever played. Years back, already a fan of ICO, I didn't hesitate to reserve SotC. I awaited the game eagerly, as the concept was just so awesome: no dungeons, no petty enemies, just collosi. The idea fascinated me. I wated impatiently, and when the day finally came, I once again didn't hesitate to get my copy. I set aside a lot of time just so I could play this game.
I started my quest took down the first colossi, and moved to the second. Surprisingly, I was disappointed. I don't know what I wanted, but I just wasn't feeling the game at the second colossi. I actually told my self at this point the game wasn't any good. If I wasn't being entertained by now, I never would. I beat the colossus, and decided I'd press on anyways.Â
I don't know where all that pessimism came from, but it vanished quickly. From the third colossus on, I was just sucked into this game. The masterfully composed score perfectly compliments each and every epic battle with you colossal foes. The sense of scale as you view your enemy, the shaking of the camera as one takes a step, all rendered in the graphics I still can't believe the PS2 can handle. It's just so great. Every colossi I fought I declared the greatest thing ever, and I was confident that the next one would fail to it justice. Each one, though, was better than the last.Â
When the time came to face the final foe, I just KNEW it would be underwhelming. Those of you who have played the game know that it is absolutely amazing. The game sets it up perfectly, first sending you into building that is colossal in itself. As you ascend the stairs, it only becomes more foreboading. Then, Agro falls. All hope is lost. You go up, step into the rain, and see the most monstrous thing you've ever witnessed. Half the battle is just approaching this beast. If you ever get to him, you're but an insect on his hairy appendages. Of course, the game only gets better in its closing moments.
I can't stress enough how memorable each battle is. First of all, each one is unique in how you must take on the boss. One thing I love about the game is how you're given tools that oyu have through the enitre game, no Zelda style new wepaons, no upgrades. You must figure out how to use what you have. Anyways, each boss is taken down a different way. One must be flipped over by leading him over powerful geysers. Another you must hide from so you can coax him to look down so you can grab on to his beard. One of the greatest feels like an old west train robbery, where you have to ride Agro alongside the beast's relaxed wings as it flies by, and jump off of the moving horse just in time to grab on. Once again, the brilliant musical score only amplifies the experience.
I could talk about Shadow of the Colossus for hours. I really could. I haven't scratched the surface here. There is so much to love about this game that I haven't even mentioned. I've even missed some of the essentials, like the brilliant minimalist story. All I can say is that you need to play, no, you need to experience Shadow of the Colossus for yourself. This one will go down in gaming legend.
2. Metroid Prime
My entire life, I've been a Metroid fan. The first console my family owned was a NES, and my dad's favorite game on the system was Metroid. I used to watch him play, then play my self. When I got a gameboy, I had Metroid 2 for the system. I had even less of an idea what I was doing in this game, but I still loved it. I've mentioned it before, but I missed Super Metroid because of my lack of a SNES. I always wanted to play it, though, as EGM had named it the greatest game of all time. I went on playing the only two Metroid games I knew, however.Â
When I saw that a Metroid game was coming for the Gamecube, I was very excited. I loved my cube, I loved Metroid, it really couldn't get any better. All the complaints about a first person perspective, all the doubts, all of it seemed to go one ear and out the other. Nothing could spoil this for me, it had been so long since a new Metroid came into my life. I anticipated it, and when release approached, it was on the top of my christmas list. Honestly, though, I was admittedly more excited for Metroid Fusion. Perhaps the whining did have an effect on me, because I thought Fusion would be better. I got both for christmas, and there was a clear winner when Fusion got comfortable in an unpowered Game Boy.
Metroid Prime is brilliant. Some unknown, unproven company from Texas did the unthinkable and made an absolutely fantastic game with Metroid Prime. They went against the established norm in the realm of controls, crafting an unorthodox FPS control scheme that after a little getting used to was a dream to use. They successfully recreated the weapons and gadgets of the old game, making them fun to use in combat in Metroid Prime. Speaking of the combat, it's awesome. You've got your variety of weapons to take into all kinds of combat situations. The native lifeforms of Tallon IV will come at you in many different way. Of course, nothing beats taking on fleets of space pirates, the game's only true intelligent opponents. Oh, and there are the awesome fights against the chozo ghosts. Those still give me the chills. To top it all off, Metroid Prime is full of some of gaming's greatest boss fights, finishing off with and epic battle against the Metroid Prime. Another success is how well the exploration gameplay was translated into three dimensions. Without a doubt, the elements that made its predecessors unique and fun are preserved in Metroid Prime. There are a variety of beautiful worlds to explore, secrets to uncover, and enhancements to gain so you can explore even further.
All of it came together for me to do something no game had ever done to me before. I wasn't just playing a game, I really was exploring Tallon IV. I was a space bounty hunter looking to end space pirate presence on te planet, I was studying its plant and animal life, I was uncovering the secrets of the chozo, and I was experiencing this world. No game has sucked me in like Metroid Prime. I got lost exploring the maze, I got lost as I encountered a new area with some new things to scan, I was lost as I delved deeper into the space pirate facilities. Each of the games many environments created within me an awe that hasn't been lost over time. The eeriness of the crashed frigate, the lush plantlife of the overworld, and the grand tundra that is Phendrana. I can't think of one moment that pushed me out of the world. I was helplessly sucked in. I just can't express to you enough how this game was more than just a game for me, I was truly on an epic journey.
Metroid Prime is a masterpiece. I've said it about other games on the list, and I'll say it again. No game succeeds so well at making you feel like you're really exploring a world and discovering the areas of this uncharted planet. Each aspect of the game only aids in deepening the experience. Today, Metroid Prime still stands out with it's gameplay, its visuals, in every aspect. Metroid Prime is without a doubt prime.
1. Final Fantasy VII
Gallery
YES.
THIS IS IT.
OMG sephiroth is so cool and Tifa has boobz and I love cloud BUSTA SWORDZ and "one winged angel" and barret is like mega man wit a chaingun lol. o ya red 13 is a liek a wolf cat lol. FINAL FANTASY VII IS THE BEST GAME EVAR.
Ok, just kidding.
For realz now:
1. Metal Gear Solid
No, this isn't another joke, and yes, there are two MGS games in my top 5. I love Metal Gear Solid.
I hear a lot these days how great Metal Gear Solid  4 is. I've seen a lot of people list it on their own top __ lists, and I know a lot of people who think it is "so awesome." Now, I guess I'm supposed to say they're entitled to their opinion, but as a massive fan of all the games in the series... I think they go it wrong. The gameplay is overly complex in 4, and it broke my heart that my dad has been unable to grasp the controls, as he is a big fan of the series. There's too much action, and too little stealth. The story is like if you took all the drugs Kojima was taking while writing the second games and quadrupling them. And, at the end of the day, it just can't hold a candle to the rest of the series. In 4, Snake and Otacon travel to Shadow Moses Island. At oen point, you find yourself in Snake's dream, running around on Shadow Moses in the original game. This was the best part of the entire game.
Metal Gear Solid. I just can't think of an intro that will do this game justice. I could talk about history, but it's the same story as ICO, my dad buying me a game I didn't want. Â When I received it, I just fell in love. A year after I had fallen in love with Castlevania:Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid entered my life. Ask anyone who has played it, you won't soon forget the rollercoaster ride that is MGS.Â
I guess I'll begin with the story. In the series, the story may not be as creative or well written as that of the thrid game, but it's no slump, either. The twisting tale of Solid Snake and his team on the other side of the codec is marvellous. The characters are memorable, the pacing is spot on, and the themes and overall premise are original.
The gameplay is considered by many to be outdated, but I still love it. I replayed the game not long ago, and I didn't ever have a problem with it. In fact, I think the game plays better than the remake, Twin Snakes. Sneaking around is a blast, and Snake has a plethore of options for hiding due to the awesome level design. The menu system was very new for the time, and has stuck around in the series, and remains intuitive. The variety of weapons and items make combat a whole lot of fun, and you don't need the FPV.Â
The musical score is one of my favorites. The encounter theme is one that I will never forget. The composition of the Metal Gear theme song is brilliant. The basic "sneaking" ambience is awesome. Psycho Mantis' theme haunting and memorable.
Speaking of Mantis, it's a sin to not mention the game's boss fights. Psycho Mantis is legendary among boss fights. He reads your mind. When he told me I liked Castlevania, I was shocked. HE MADE MY CONTROLLER MOVE. Even the last time I played the game, he surprised me. I'd only saved maybe twice, AND HE KNEW IT. He told me I was wreckless! One of my personal favorites is the second battle with Vulcan Raven. The dude walks around with this huge chain gun in a desolate freezer. When I went for my rationss, only to see they were frozen... holy crap. Battling the Cyborg Ninja is another memorable one, using only the basis of all combat, hand to hand. The second best sniper battle in the game takes place against Sniper Wolf, in that same snow field you fight Crying Wolf. I appreciate Sniper Wolf even more after MGS4, because that Crying Wolf battle wasn't really a sniper battle at all. Finally, a fist fight with Liquid atop the wreckage of Metal Gear Rex is a fight I'll never forget.
Kojima did so much unexpected in this game, from Mantis' mind reading, to using the box to progress the game, and making you do all of Liquid's Dirty work. This game really got my imagination going as a child. It was a difficult task to pull the young me away from Symphony of the Night, but Metal Gear did it. If SotN made me a gamer, MGS sealed the deal. MGS paved the way to me playing the later games in the series, which I've throughly enjoyed. MGS made me appreciate the finer things in games, the characters, the story, and the symbolism. Going back, yes, the writing hasn't aged particularly well, but for its time is was a feat. Today, the charm it once had still remains, regardless of how cheesy Vulcan Raven sounds.
Snake's first adventure was his greatest. I loved every moment of MGS, and any tiem I go back to pound a Hind D with some rockets or break the Ninja's jaw, I feel like a child again. Metal Gear Solid is my favorite game of all time.
Honorable Mention: Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Ghouls n Ghosts is ridiculously challenging, but oh so addicting. It's loaded with personality, and provides intense satisfaction whenever you advance to a new area of a level. An arcade classic.
So, there you have it. My top 30, and my favorite game of all time. I have to say, these five games are very special to me. I love all the games in my top 10, but once you hit #5, you enter a new realm. These games are burned into my mind. I love them all so very much.
Good fakeout. Good Top 30 list (MGS 1 is somewhere on a top whatever list I have).
Really though, I find FF7 to be just as good or "classic" (Yeah. Hmm.) as any other regular FF game. Why the hate? Because it was the one that became really popular?? Riiiight....
"Good fakeout. Good Top 30 list (MGS 1 is somewhere on a top whatever list I have).
Really though, I find FF7 to be just as good or "classic" (Yeah. Hmm.) as any other regular FF game. Why the hate? Because it was the one that became really popular?? Riiiight...."
I already discussed this. I don't hate the game, I think it's a good title. Neither as good nor as bad as everyone says. I just used it as a fakeout to 1. separate space between the real number and #2; and 2. I chose FFVII because it would upset wy more than an Ocarina of Time fakeout.
"Good fakeout. Good Top 30 list (MGS 1 is somewhere on a top whatever list I have).
Really though, I find FF7 to be just as good or "classic" (Yeah. Hmm.) as any other regular FF game. Why the hate? Because it was the one that became really popular?? Riiiight...."
I already discussed this. I don't hate the game, I think it's a good title. Neither as good nor as bad as everyone says. I just used it as a fakeout to 1. separate space between the real number and #2; and 2. I chose FFVII because it would upset wy more than an Ocarina of Time fakeout."
Yeah. I know. I'm just putting it out there. It seems to me like far too many people are simply hating on it so they look cool and different. Pretty silly.
I'm very sorry Bug, I have loved all your Top 30 posts until your top 5! I was dissappointed to see so much love for MGS. I have played half of 1 and all of 4 and just got bored throughout them. I didn't ever get that rush feeling that people got. I completely agree with Metroid and SotN though. I'm just not a huge MGS fan.
"I'm very sorry Bug, I have loved all your Top 30 posts until your top 5! I was dissappointed to see so much love for MGS. I have played half of 1 and all of 4 and just got bored throughout them. I didn't ever get that rush feeling that people got. I completely agree with Metroid and SotN though. I'm just not a huge MGS fan."
All I have is love for MGS. It's me. And of course you're disappointed, you never finished the original, and the only one you've finished is 4. That's like judging Star Wars based on Attack of the Clones alone.
I know you can't really criticize a favorite list but hey, I'll do it anyway.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best game in the series. Why? Because it evolved. It became more Western and in turn, just a more accessible and fun game to play. The shooting, which is usually TERRIBLE in Metal Gear games, was extremely tight, while the stealth mechanics were also very improved and gratifying. For me, MGS 4 is the brilliant example of how to mesh together a compelling story line and great gameplay. Plus, it looks pretty nice too, eh?
This may have something to do with me not loving Metal Gear Solid or MGS 3. Don't get me wrong. The games are great and I definitely enjoy them immensely. The original was groundbreaking for sure, but it had its flaws. As for MGS 3, once again, great game but the gameplay and story don't mesh together nearly as well as MGS 4. But MGS 2...Now, if there is any game that deserves to share the a number five spot with another MGS game, it's that. I can't really explain why I like MGS 2 so much more than the original and MGS 3 but it just feels so much tighter. I feel it's along side MGS 4 as a game that combines these hugely technically impressive cut scenes and great gameplay to find the perfect middle ground.
And I assure you again, I'm not trying to bash MGS and MGS 3 and I know this is your list and none of what I just typed really matters to you. Just my two cents.
"I know you can't really criticize a favorite list but hey, I'll do it anyway.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best game in the series. Why? Because it evolved. It became more Western and in turn, just a more accessible and fun game to play. The shooting, which is usually TERRIBLE in Metal Gear games, was extremely tight, while the stealth mechanics were also very improved and gratifying. For me, MGS 4 is the brilliant example of how to mesh together a compelling story line and great gameplay. Plus, it looks pretty nice too, eh?
This may have something to do with me not loving Metal Gear Solid or MGS 3. Don't get me wrong. The games are great and I definitely enjoy them immensely. The original was groundbreaking for sure, but it had its flaws. As for MGS 3, once again, great game but the gameplay and story don't mesh together nearly as well as MGS 4. But MGS 2...Now, if there is any game that deserves to share the a number five spot with another MGS game, it's that. I can't really explain why I like MGS 2 so much more than the original and MGS 3 but it just feels so much tighter. I feel it's along side MGS 4 as a game that combines these hugely technically impressive cut scenes and great gameplay to find the perfect middle ground.
And I assure you again, I'm not trying to bash MGS and MGS 3 and I know this is your list and none of what I just typed really matters to you. Just my two cents.
"
Really, I would have been just as happy had they not made the shooting better in MGS4(i haven't played it yet) since the game isn't really meant to be a shooter. Its meant to be a stealth game. Like RE5, it doesn't need to control like Gears of War(not saying that MGS4 does) to be a fun game, just because it sometimes uses weapons. I understand what you are saying though.
"I know you can't really criticize a favorite list but hey, I'll do it anyway.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best game in the series. Why? Because it evolved. It became more Western and in turn, just a more accessible and fun game to play. The shooting, which is usually TERRIBLE in Metal Gear games, was extremely tight, while the stealth mechanics were also very improved and gratifying. For me, MGS 4 is the brilliant example of how to mesh together a compelling story line and great gameplay. Plus, it looks pretty nice too, eh?
This may have something to do with me not loving Metal Gear Solid or MGS 3. Don't get me wrong. The games are great and I definitely enjoy them immensely. The original was groundbreaking for sure, but it had its flaws. As for MGS 3, once again, great game but the gameplay and story don't mesh together nearly as well as MGS 4. But MGS 2...Now, if there is any game that deserves to share the a number five spot with another MGS game, it's that. I can't really explain why I like MGS 2 so much more than the original and MGS 3 but it just feels so much tighter. I feel it's along side MGS 4 as a game that combines these hugely technically impressive cut scenes and great gameplay to find the perfect middle ground.
And I assure you again, I'm not trying to bash MGS and MGS 3 and I know this is your list and none of what I just typed really matters to you. Just my two cents.
"
So, we define evolution these days by how westernized it becomes? What an ethnocentric approacj. Accessibility? I had a really hard time with the fact that my dad couldn't get a hold of MGS4. He's a fan of the series just like I am, but he couldn't figure out all the complex commands required to accomplish anything in the game. Accessible games don't have a learning curve that steep. The stealth mechanics may be improved, but it doesn't really matter, because there was just too little stealth in the game. I'd also love to know how exactly the gameplay and story mesh together so well? That "meshing" occurs the same in each of the games.Â
As for how compelling the story is, are you SURE you played 3? I mean, that story was cohesive, it had some great themes and great characters. Metal Gear Solid 4 was a fanservice that defaulted to nanomachines to explain absolutely everything. I honestly can't understand how you don't think 3 had the absolute best story and cutscene choreography of the series. Four had that crawling scene that was quite impressive, but other than that it drew too much from the other games. 4 had a bigger budget, but 3 was just a whole lot better.Â
What you typed does matter to me. I've played these games religiously, and I think it's blasphemous to say that the fourth game is as good as its predecessors in any regard aside from technology (both graphically and gameplay wise). I reiterate, it was a fanservice, and one I just couldn't love as much as the games that came before it.
"I know you can't really criticize a favorite list but hey, I'll do it anyway.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best game in the series. Why? Because it evolved. It became more Western and in turn, just a more accessible and fun game to play. The shooting, which is usually TERRIBLE in Metal Gear games, was extremely tight, while the stealth mechanics were also very improved and gratifying. For me, MGS 4 is the brilliant example of how to mesh together a compelling story line and great gameplay. Plus, it looks pretty nice too, eh?
This may have something to do with me not loving Metal Gear Solid or MGS 3. Don't get me wrong. The games are great and I definitely enjoy them immensely. The original was groundbreaking for sure, but it had its flaws. As for MGS 3, once again, great game but the gameplay and story don't mesh together nearly as well as MGS 4. But MGS 2...Now, if there is any game that deserves to share the a number five spot with another MGS game, it's that. I can't really explain why I like MGS 2 so much more than the original and MGS 3 but it just feels so much tighter. I feel it's along side MGS 4 as a game that combines these hugely technically impressive cut scenes and great gameplay to find the perfect middle ground.
And I assure you again, I'm not trying to bash MGS and MGS 3 and I know this is your list and none of what I just typed really matters to you. Just my two cents.
"
So, we define evolution these days by how westernized it becomes? What an ethnocentric approacj. Accessibility? I had a really hard time with the fact that my dad couldn't get a hold of MGS4. He's a fan of the series just like I am, but he couldn't figure out all the complex commands required to accomplish anything in the game. Accessible games don't have a learning curve that steep. The stealth mechanics may be improved, but it doesn't really matter, because there was just too little stealth in the game. I'd also love to know how exactly the gameplay and story mesh together so well? That "meshing" occurs the same in each of the games.Â
As for how compelling the story is, are you SURE you played 3? I mean, that story was cohesive, it had some great themes and great characters. Metal Gear Solid 4 was a fanservice that defaulted to nanomachines to explain absolutely everything. I honestly can't understand how you don't think 3 had the absolute best story and cutscene choreography of the series. Four had that crawling scene that was quite impressive, but other than that it drew too much from the other games. 4 had a bigger budget, but 3 was just a whole lot better.Â
What you typed does matter to me. I've played these games religiously, and I think it's blasphemous to say that the fourth game is as good as its predecessors in any regard aside from technology (both graphically and gameplay wise). I reiterate, it was a fanservice, and one I just couldn't love as much as the games that came before it.
"
As an answer to your first question, uh..yeah, evolution these days is kind of about westernizing these Japanese franchises. Japanese game development has pretty much stayed stationary for the past 5 years and I thought Metal Gear Solid 4 was a pretty refreshing reminder that they can strike this balance of making the game more playable for everyone while still staying true to their fans. Obviously, you feel like MGS 4 was a downgrade but you're honestly the first Metal Gear Solid fan I've ever say that, so I'm thinking you're in the minority.
We obviously have total different views of the MGS franchise. You sound like you don't really want the franchise to change all that much, which is understandable as a fan. Fans usually don't want their beloved things to change drastically from what they know and love and I get that. But as someone who is a fan of Metal Gear Solid but I thought it had alot of flaws and I feel that those flaws were finally ironed out completly in MGS 4. As for their not being enough stealth in MGS 4, I don't really see where your coming from. I think it's definitely possible to sneak your way through 90% of MGS 4. It might be easier to just shoot some dudes at some points but I don't feel there is anything wrong with that, which once again is just differnt views on the franchise.
Also, I didn't aim to make it seem like MGS 3 had a bad story or that it wasn't compelling. Metal Gear Solid always has a great story and it's not that I think that MGS 4 has a better story but it's told in a much better way. I found myself watching a cutscene and then looking at the clock and seeing a half hour had passed by even though it felt more like 10 minutes. To me, that's the mark of just brillant storytelling where I watch an hour long cutscene and not feel like it interrupted the flow of gameplay at all. As for your fan service point, yeah, I give you that. Much of the end of the game is complete fan service. The only scene I felt went on WAAYY too long was the final Big Boss - Snake scene, which just felt so forced and downright stupid. That, along with the wedding scene and Raiden's family moment were a little much.
I was anxiously anticipating your final five. Sorry it's taken me so long to write a reply to it. I really need to start playing the Castlevania series, by the way. It's definitely one of the highest regarded video game series around, and I've only played one of them on the SNES for about 5 minutes and wasn't enjoying it much. Still, maybe I should give Castlevania another go.
Snake Eater, eh? You know, I never even finished it. I couldn't really even tell you why. I played through it, got pretty far, maybe like half way through it... then for some reason, stopped playing it for months. Some other big games must have come out that held my attention away from it. Many months later, I wanted to get back to it, and couldn't really remember much from the story and decided to start it over. I only got up to around Ocelot's first fight before quitting again. To be honest, I can't say I enjoyed it that much. I had a lot of problems with it. First of all, the preset camera just wasn't working out so hot, especially since the radar was removed. Sure, you had other forms of radar, but considering they picked up animals and things and had a battery life, I found them to be mostly useless. By the time MGS3 came out, I think the controls had become incredibly outdated. Movement in the game never felt comfortable or fluid to me. Most of the time, the awkward controls would be completely responsible whenever I made a mistake or accidentally alerted guards. I actually think the controls got worse with MGS3. I recall something in the controls where to like hold a hostage and use him as a shield and shoot enemies, I had to hold down Circle, Triangle, and still press Square to shoot. 3 face buttons at once? Man, that's ugly. Especially with the Square button using button sensitivity... Also, the brief load time to pause and change your camoflauge kind of sucked. Considering how frequently the environment changed, this got annoying. As a result, I tried to change my outfit as rarely as possible. There was a lot of good to be found in the game, for sure. Tossing grenades into alligator mouths? That's great fun. I thought it was cool how there were so many types of camo available to you, and then you had the whole aspect of hunting for food, which was interesting but ultimately not anything too great, as far as I'm concerned. Another issue I had with the game is that I never really felt like I was trying to survive in the jungle. I thought that was something the game was aiming for. Hunting food was incredibly easy and there was always an abundance around. Snake never sleeps? I thought it'd be cool if I had to find a place to sleep every once in a while, and could set traps just in case any enemies would happen to walk by as I rested. None of that happened. Healing wounds was neat the first time, but considering there really wasn't anything to it other than using certain medkit items in a certain order, it got old really quick. You could also carry a ridiculous amount of stuff, which certainly didn't help with the whole survival mood. I found that to be stealthy in the game, you really had to play the game at a significantly slower pace. That's how I tried to play through it for the most part, but it's kind of discouraging when it's so much easier to just run pull out an AK and shoot guards. I don't know, I just never really felt like I was rewarded for playing in a stealthy manner, and felt like I was wasting my time when I could more easily just run and around and shoot everybody and hardly get damaged by their bullets. Okay, just another thing or two. I thought the ridiculousness of the cutscenes went way too far. I remembered thinking they were cool in MGS2, but MGS3 takes them to such an extreme level that they're incredibly cheesy, embarrassing, and for the most part kind of stupid. Like that part where Eva does like a backflip on a motorcycle on flat ground and perfectly hits a guard in the head with the back wheel? Too far, man. Too far. Also, I was disappointed with how lame they made Ocelot. I think him and Snake have like one of the greatest rivalries in all of gaming, yet here Ocelot is betrayed as being some young, dorky, mating-call-obsessed soldier. Also, I found the conversations to be a lot less interesting. Well, I think I've said enough about MGS3. I'd like to beat it one day, it has some great boss fights and a cool ending that would probably be good for me to experience first-hand, but considering all my issues with it's gameplay and how much fun I didn't have at times, it just might never happen. Well, sorry to gripe about one of your favorites. Onto the next one!
Shadow of the Colossus is a cool, original game. Definitely nowhere near being among my all-time favorites, but I can show some love. I agree that it's a great concept. I love the idea of having just a bunch of boss fights. Luckily for you, I don't have quite as much to say about this one. I enjoyed the aspect of having to track down all of the different Colossi, which in itself could be quite challenging at times. My favorite battle is the one in the second picture you chose. I really loved that one. Most of them were really good, though. I would have liked to have scaled that main building. I didn't know until after beating it that eating lizard tails would increase your grip strength. The story didn't have all that much of an effect on me, I found most of it to be pretty forgettable. The way it's presented and all takes place around that building and the girl is pretty cool. I did feel bad killing a lot of the Colossi. Many of them seemed like kind, harmless giants, while others were a lot more aggressive. The art style is fantastic, and yeah, it really looks fantastic for a PS2 game. It's a game I should probably be playing right now that my 360 has been sent off to repairs, but it's probably not gonna happen since I'm about to start Donkey Kong Country 3 for the first time.
Here we go. Metroid Prime. This is a choice I can fully get behind. Metroid Prime might be the best video game to come out of last gen. It's among the top five without question, I don't care who you are. It's a masterpiece. It's phenomenal in pretty much every right. It was actually the first or second Metroid game I ever played. I don't remember if I played Metroid Fusion first or not. Heh, your story about your dad is kind of interesting to me. It was the same way with my best friend. He had an SNES, and his dad loved Super Metroid and also had Metroid 2 on Game Boy. Growing up, my only experience with the series was pretty much just watching his dad play it. Anyway, I think it's amazing how well Metroid transitioned to 3D. I remember being sucked in right away in that first level. Then afterwards, you lose all your weapons and powerups and have to find them throughout this new world. That actually was discouraging to me. I felt like I was kind of robbed, but perhaps more than anything that first part of the game serves as a teaser of the awesomeness that is to come. Eventually I grew to love exploring Tallon IV. The world Retro Studios created was absolutely amazing. The environment was so impressive, so varied, so believable. The gameplay and powerups were all put to good use. The game also maintains it's awesomeness throughout, and it's a pretty long game that never really falters. I have only one complaint about Metroid Prime. The artifact collecting that is required before one of the final boss fights is rough. You're given just a small hint, which also points you in the area where you'll find what you're looking for, but in my experience, I think a guide is pretty much required for this part. Maybe more helpful hints would have been nice. I don't know, maybe you'll disagree about that, but I wasn't having much luck finding them on my own. Wow, the game sure had some great boss fights too. This is certainly one of the most impressive games I've ever played in my life. Some genius puzzles thrown in there as well. Good pick.
Final Fantasy VII. I agree. This is totally the best game ever and my all-time favorite! Okay, okay, I'm totally lying. I hate Final Fantasy. FF7 is one of the only games I played from the series, and I wasn't enjoying it at all.
Metal Gear Solid is a game I overlooked back on the Playstation. I rented it shortly after it came out, and dude, I just didn't get it. Cigarettes? Cardboard boxes? Ketchup? What the heck is this game?! It also had weird controls, and was pretty different from probably any game I had ever played at that point. I didn't play it for all that long before deciding I was done. Well... that may have been a huge mistake on my part. Anyway, I did get to relive the magic with Twin Snakes on Gamecube, so at least I had that opportunity. One of my biggest problems with MGS on Playstation was not being able to really see where you were shooting. I didn't like that at all. Twin Snakes fixed that and added some other upgrades from MGS2. I thought the story and characters in this game were definitely more interesting than those in MGS3. The game definitely has some great moments. I loved some of the violence of it too. Like with uhh.. what was his name, Frank? Against Metal Gear Rex. Awesomeness. I can't say I remember most of that boss fights all that well, but I suppose I still have a general idea of what happened in each of them. Psycho Mantis, of course, but that one has been so publicized since the release that I'm sure people who haven't played MGS can tell you all about it. I tried buying Twin Snakes a few years ago... I had always been reluctant to buy it because of the awful box art the game had. I know that's stupid, but I like good box art, and Twin Snakes' box art is ugly and low quality, and I have no idea why they did that. Maybe they were trying to make it look closer to the original PS1's graphics, but either way, I think it looks awful. Okay, okay, so I ended up trying to buy it, only to find out that it's become this super rare game. Buying it new? Forget about it. You're gonna be spending like $100 or more. Looks like I'll never own it. Ah well, it was a great rental. Good list, man. I've enjoyed reading them and commenting on them. Maybe I'll write a list of my all time favorite games as well, but don't count on it.
BoG, I completely agree with what you had to say about MGS4, there is too much action and not enough sneaking around like the previous games. The gameplay aspect of the MGS series is all about getting you heart pumping as you try to sneak past, tranquilize dudes and hide in lockers, and there really isn't much of that in MGS4.
The first and second Metal Gear Solid's are two of my all time favourites, though I would probably place MGS2 just above the first. As for MGS3, never played it. The location and lack of radar scares me. I did, however, watch the movie (/allthecutscenesplayedoneafteranother) version, so I managed to pick up the most important part of it, the story.
Wow, I'm loving the big comments. I've really already said too much about all these games, but I'll respond to a few.
Milkman, it's not that I don't want the series to advance. I just want it to happen properly. It's not an advance to write a story that completely depends on the previous games, and as I've said, totally takes a dump on the canon. Overcomplication is not progress, either. I also completely agree about the Big Boss scene. That's the part that just... oh gosh. It was abominable. Just about every revelation made me want to puke. It almost ruined MGS2's story, and... oh gosh. Anyways...
I'm sad that you didn't like the controls in the MGS games, Guero, but you aren't the first person to say that. I thought they were great, but I've heard many people who just said "no." As for MGS3, I don't necessarily think it's the control problems. If you have issues with it, from my experience, it's that the camera angles in the original are a little difficult for the more open areas. It's fine indoors, but it becomes more difficult in the Jungle.
As for MP, I thought the artifact hunt was fine. It opened new areas, and encouraged exploration. The hints were vague, yet they opened the world to me further. I also loved your positive comments, they reminded me of how much I loved it again.
Ravey, glad to hear you also loved MGS. Someone has to like the controls.
Well, thanks for responding. I really need to tone down the length of my replies, I do this all the time! However, it seems to work best when I do it in a blog since I can at least count on the original poster reading it instead of nobody. Yeah, the camera was certainly a big issue for me. I'm sure it was in the other MGS games too, but the radar kind of minimized the problem. I mean, really... is it that important to see everything when the only thing you have to be cautious of is enemies, who are clearly shown with even their field of vision on your radar? Once that was taken away, I felt kind of handicapped. Looking back on my comments, I was kind of harsh on MGS3. Sorry for ripping on your game, dude. Anyway, great list. I'm curious, have you played Metroid Prime 3? I still strongly promote it as being the best game on the Wii. Sure, not quite up to the level of Prime, but heck, what game is? I mean, really, c'mon. It's almost not fair to even judge it by Prime. In it's own right, I think Metroid Prime 3 is superb and keeps things fresh.
props for SOTC and MGS1. Â I must of played through both of them 10+ times, lost count really. Â FFVII will always be a favorite for me but I just give up talking about it considering how much people love to hate it, Ive grown tired of trying to explain my side of it.
"Well, thanks for responding. I really need to tone down the length of my replies, I do this all the time! However, it seems to work best when I do it in a blog since I can at least count on the original poster reading it instead of nobody. Yeah, the camera was certainly a big issue for me. I'm sure it was in the other MGS games too, but the radar kind of minimized the problem. I mean, really... is it that important to see everything when the only thing you have to be cautious of is enemies, who are clearly shown with even their field of vision on your radar? Once that was taken away, I felt kind of handicapped. Looking back on my comments, I was kind of harsh on MGS3. Sorry for ripping on your game, dude. Anyway, great list. I'm curious, have you played Metroid Prime 3? I still strongly promote it as being the best game on the Wii. Sure, not quite up to the level of Prime, but heck, what game is? I mean, really, c'mon. It's almost not fair to even judge it by Prime. In it's own right, I think Metroid Prime 3 is superb and keeps things fresh. "
No, I have yet to play MP3. It came out before I bought my Wii, and I still need to get it.
"I agree with everything there exept Shadow of the collosus. It was a boring game."
Boring? I could see someone thinking Ico was boring, but Shadow of the Colossus? Oh well. Not everyone enjoys the same games, no matter how great they are. ;)
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