by Greg Reedy

Created on: July 08, 2009   Last Updated: July 15, 2009

Metal Gear Solid was a revolutionary game in the history of gaming. Made in 1998, the game really made the original Sony PlayStation even more popular and kept it growing in sales.

It was the first game of the series and was something unique in the video game landscape. It was one of the first games to have full voice overs. Today, having a game without full voice over would be unheard of. But back then, the technology had not really gotten to that point and Konami and producer/director Hideo Kojima was willing to take a chance on it.

The gameplay is still very unique. The object of the game is to not be spotted by enemies but rather sneak around them, a far cry from the first-person shooters that were around during that era. It was a refreshing take on action gaming and something which was really well received by fans and gamers around the world. It really sparked a new genre of gaming and gave fans a chance to experience a different take on spy games and it introduced gamers to another set of memorable characters.

Graphically, the game for its time is quite good. It is smooth and has a pretty good frame rate. But, the best part of the game has to be its story and cinematic presentation. If you watch even the first 20 minutes of the game, you will be hooked and ready to play through to the rest of the game. It is one of those game which helped launch the series and it is even referred to later on in the series. In fact, the environment is so beloved by fans that it was recreated for the PS3 in MGS4. The story has many twists and turns and does a nice job of providing fans with a clear ending and yet enough surprises to keep the players guessing. The boss battles can be challenging but are easily beatable with some practice or help.

The characters are engaging and are seen throughout the four games of the series. They all deal with moments of weakness, regret and overall thought as they make their journey throughout the game. Their emotions are things that players can really relate to. Musically, the game is great and has a number of memorable tracks throughout. The boss battle music is especially good and gives the player a sense of drama and engagement into what they are facing in the game.

The game still has replay value even over 10 years after its release. It is an absolute classic and a game which will never be forgotten for its importance to launching the Metal Gear Solid series.

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