Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Online mode so good it could actually unseat SOCOM as the PS2's killer app.
Published: February 2, 2006
It's not going to happen, but Metal Gear Online that aptly-named online multiplayer component of Metal Gear Solid 3 that will ship with MGS3: Subsistence is good enough to unseat SOCOM as the go-to game for online PS2 gamers. It's more accessible, offers a better framerate, and mixes simulation and arcade gameplay types more easily. It'll probably take just as long for players to start calling each other "faggot" every two seconds, though.
Our hands-on time with one of four networked MGO kiosks at Konami's Gamers' Day 2006 was mercifully free of homophobic slurs, and left us with a warm, cozy sensation as we saw Metal Gear going online -- really going online, in a way that doesn't feel ham-fisted or rushed. This is online for a franchise that has always boasted a strong offline experience, and it's done right, especially the simple approach to the gameplay modes, which we detailed a while back.
Essentially, the game is just MGS online with other people. The level we got to tool around in was filled with the stuff that makes MGS, well, MGS; duct work to climb through and ambush from, tall grass to hide in and that same yellowish-green tint from MGS3 that washed the industrial plant we were scooting around in with a healthy, distinct feeling. Stuff like analog firing is something that still doesn't quite connect with the brain when playing an online game, and we really didn't have enough time to really delve into things, but luckily it's coming in march and just describing the online as "offline but playing against real people instead of soldiers" actually works better than trying to break it down. That we will do soon, trust us.
Offline, though, there's still a ton of stuff to digest. The game will ship in two different flavors, the limited edition version will come with a whopping three discs. The first is the same Snake Eater game that came out last year, albeit updated with a new 3rd-person camera and added Duel and Demo Theatre Modes that let you fight any boss from the game or watch any movie, respectively, plus the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 that online appeared on the MSX in Japan. The second disc is the aforeskimmed MGO, and the third is every single cutscene from the game presented as one epic three and a half hour movie. The third disc will only be included with the special edition, and offers yet another bonus should you pre-order that one, since there is the whole Metal Gear Saga DVD included for early purchasers.
Oh, and in a continuing partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment's Ape Escape teams, a "Snake vs. Monkey" mode has been included. Konami collaborated with Sony on the "Mesal Gear Solid" mode in Ape Escape 3, and the result was a game good enough to probably sell for $20 -- if only for fans of both games. We're hoping the Konami-developed add-on will be just as good, but even if not, we still have stuff like this. Awesome.
Our hands-on time with one of four networked MGO kiosks at Konami's Gamers' Day 2006 was mercifully free of homophobic slurs, and left us with a warm, cozy sensation as we saw Metal Gear going online -- really going online, in a way that doesn't feel ham-fisted or rushed. This is online for a franchise that has always boasted a strong offline experience, and it's done right, especially the simple approach to the gameplay modes, which we detailed a while back.
Essentially, the game is just MGS online with other people. The level we got to tool around in was filled with the stuff that makes MGS, well, MGS; duct work to climb through and ambush from, tall grass to hide in and that same yellowish-green tint from MGS3 that washed the industrial plant we were scooting around in with a healthy, distinct feeling. Stuff like analog firing is something that still doesn't quite connect with the brain when playing an online game, and we really didn't have enough time to really delve into things, but luckily it's coming in march and just describing the online as "offline but playing against real people instead of soldiers" actually works better than trying to break it down. That we will do soon, trust us.
Offline, though, there's still a ton of stuff to digest. The game will ship in two different flavors, the limited edition version will come with a whopping three discs. The first is the same Snake Eater game that came out last year, albeit updated with a new 3rd-person camera and added Duel and Demo Theatre Modes that let you fight any boss from the game or watch any movie, respectively, plus the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 that online appeared on the MSX in Japan. The second disc is the aforeskimmed MGO, and the third is every single cutscene from the game presented as one epic three and a half hour movie. The third disc will only be included with the special edition, and offers yet another bonus should you pre-order that one, since there is the whole Metal Gear Saga DVD included for early purchasers.
Oh, and in a continuing partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment's Ape Escape teams, a "Snake vs. Monkey" mode has been included. Konami collaborated with Sony on the "Mesal Gear Solid" mode in Ape Escape 3, and the result was a game good enough to probably sell for $20 -- if only for fans of both games. We're hoping the Konami-developed add-on will be just as good, but even if not, we still have stuff like this. Awesome.
