Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Video Game)
Amanda Dyar
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Developed by Platinum Games
Publisher by Konami
Available for Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3 and PC
Fans were either skeptical or excited when Konami and Platinum Games announced that they would be bringing an all new action-adventure to the Metal Gear series. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is the ninth title in the series with beautifully-designed graphics and environments. One thing that you can’t deny from the start of the game is that it is a true hack and slasher. On the other hand, you will also notice that this is all you are doing. You find some enemies, hack-and-slash, then move on repeatedly.
As a die-hard fan of the Metal Gear series, I have been actively following the development of the game and watching all of the gameplay videos released. I was completely entranced by the polished visualizations and intrinsic physics. The actual game with its stunning cinema scenes, however, would make a better movie than it does a game. The plot of the game is unintelligible and far-fetched with players jumping to all corners of the world. The parry mechanic makes up most of the combat system―toss in the constant quick-time-events―and gameplay gets tiresome quickly or adds a rewarding element (depending on the player). Players will have to watch for cue signals, such as an enemy turning red, and then using your parry attack. If you get it right, the enemy attack is deflected, and you take no damage. Those who master the parry from the start of the game will have it a little easier than those who don’t.
We knew the game would take a different path with Platinum Games without Snake heading the series or its incredibly prolonged narratives. Metal Gear Rising: Reveangeance starts out in Africa with our silver-haired hero, Raiden. Before you know it, you are within a black limo with the country’s prime minister and his aide. Raiden and his company, Maverick Security, have made sure peace reigns supreme throughout the country. Within seconds, the business meeting is over, and players will be ripping off the suit to battle evil cyborgs of the Desperado Enterprises who plan to kidnap the country’s leader to disrupt the peace. In short, Rayden sets out to track down the cyborg’s leader Sundowner and ends up getting his butt handed to him by the leader’s buddy instead.
Now this once child solider sets on a quest to track down all of the evil cyborg leaders that make up the Desperado. You would think that this would be easy for a man who is half machine with awesome ninja skills, but the enemies can get extremely difficult, while others are easier than they should be. The title goes above and beyond to be stylish with its slick visuals and fancy dialogue. I mean there is nothing like throwing around a little philosophy during a heated battle!
The game’s combat seems to work well in large areas, but when tossed into small interior environments, the camera just falls apart. It appears that combat was just not designed for these tight-knit spaces with the camera not being able to pass through the walls or just plain keep up with the enormous hordes of enemies that attack you. However, when you lose visual, then at least you still have the intense and amazing sound effects to keep you company.
The enemies can be fun to a point but some are rather annoying. Certain enemies have the stun move which require extensive stick-wiggling which breaks the flow of combat and goes on way too long. Raiden will reel across the screen in a dizzy frantic and players will have to try and keep up with him―while not getting stunned again by hordes of attackers―with a slow, unresponsive camera. Don’t distress though, since some of the levels are not as bad, and offer fans some great scripted-sequences. You may not be able to enjoy some of the good parts as much due to its sketchy plot since it desperately tries to fit that mood we all know from the series but somehow comes off more like clumsy fan-fiction instead.
Players can expect to finish the game in about six to eight hours but can increase replay value with all of the unlockable content. The combat system and camera issues could be a little off-putting to some to play it again and again. The game is a toss-up between being just as fun as it can be infuriating. It may not be the best in the Metal Gear series but it has elements which make it still worth checking out―even if only as a rental.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance can now be purchased from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence & Strong Language. To learn more about the game, visit the official Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance website.
Game Features:
3 out of 5
Categorized:Reviews
