So I never played a Metal Gear game *shame* but now I get this for free with PSPlus, do I need to play any other games to fully enjoy this or is it ok to play this blank? I know nothing about the story.

Not really, for me the draw of this game isnt the story.

If you want some back ground story on raiden you should play MGS 2 & 4 but you can play MGR with out any knowledge of MGS

Its not required as the story told is pretty much self contained but you'll be absolutely lost when some specific events and people from past games show up. That being said the main arc you can totally follow along with and the game is damn fun.

There are some specific references but you'll be fine. I did laugh quite hard at the beginning of this game though when his arm gets cut off and he just exclaims "Not again!"

Well, I've played the other Metal Gear Solid games and I didn't enjoy Revengeance. Which is weird since I really liked Bayonetta, but somehow this didn't click with me.

These kinds of questions always amaze me. Of course it'd be a benefit to you if you've played the previous entries in the canon. Of course some references, plot details, revelations and so on will go right over your head otherwise.

If you're asking if this game is a good way to jump into the Metal Gear clusterfuck, I'd say no. As a standard action game it's a lot of fun, however. It's worth the $20 you can pick it up for.

Not really, but you'd benefit from some knowledge about the second turtles movie and Vanilla Ice.

@gunstarred said:

This man speaks the truth.

You're totally in the clear! The story in Revengeance isn't stressed, and deals almost entirely with new characters / locations.

No but you should anyway.

Shame indeed.

Outside of knowing who The Patriots are, who get name-dropped a lot in MGR, there's only one character from previous games other than Raiden who show up, as well as a modified version of one of the famous Metal Gear mechs.

Go for it, you'll be fine.

NO!!!!!!!!11

But the game is dang fun, bro.

The part at the end (particularly that ''NANOMACHINES SON'' line) won't be as hilarious if you've not played MGS4 but I'm sure you'll be fine just bathing in the nonsense.

Of course not. Though, having played the other games makes the fight with the Metal Gear (not a spoiler, it happens in the prologue level) that much more satisfying. You spend most of MGS2 in fear of Metal Gear Ray but in Rising, Raiden obliterates the thing in the first level.

No. Of course it'd be recommended, but it's far from being required to enjoy the game or the story.