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.