Metal Gear
Reviewed by Gabriel Iverson
I was unfortunate enough to have been way behind the times. I didn't play
this game until five or six years after it's release. Even then, I loved
every minute that I was playing the game. It was a solid game with great
graphics, the music was just awesome, and gameplay was the best I've seen.
Graphics: 8 out of 10
It is very hard for me to judge the graphics, because I haven't played
very many NES games. Of the ones I did play, Metal Gear was one of the
best. Granted, I did think the Zs were cigarette smoke, but nonetheless,
graphics were very good for the NES. The cracks in the walls almost had
me believing it was real cement. Okay, maybe not that great, but
they were good.
Music and Sound: 10 out of 10
I've heard mixed reviews about Metal Gear's music, but I think it rocked,
especially when the guards were alerted. You haven't heard great NES
music till you've heard this. Inside the buildings are no different. As
one reviewer mentioned, I could listen to it for hours and not get bored.
As for the sound effects, the dogs barking could use a little work, as
well as some gunshots, but for the NES I believe it's top rate.
Game Challenge: 9 out of 10
Once you can get through the initial screens, the game becomes slightly
more easy. I never seemed to be able to run out of ammunition, and the
guards weren't all that intelligent. The bosses weren't exceedingly
difficult, and once you know what to do with Big Boss, he's a snap as
well. I'm also very glad that you were actually able to fight Metal Gear
in Metal Gear Solid. I'm sorry, but placing a bunch of explosives on a
computer screen? And you can't get hurt by your own explosives, so
that part was, well, let's just say if I was a guard, I'd be falling asleep too.
Game Play-Fun: 10 out of 10
As I said a minute ago, once your beyond the fist-fighting, and actually
have a weapon in your hands, the game is a lot of fun. I think that it
brought a lot of new ideas to the gaming world, and good ideas, too.
Mainly, the stealth element. Metal Gear was the first game to bring
stealth into gameplay, and it's still making advances in this field.
Syphon Filter was a challenge to the Metal Gear series, but a lot of
it was copying Metal Gear Solid. I mean, the fight with the chopper
on the roof? Didn't Solid Snake do something very similar? Hmmm.
There was also a radio dish involved, wasn't there?
Frustration
There are a few annoyances in the gameplay though. First of all,
attempting to find the correct card key with a Ninja bearing down
on your #$%* is one of the things that wake you up in the middle of
the night with a cold sweat. The fun really begins when you have all
but one card, and the door your standing in front of needs the one card
you don't have. So there sits poor Snake, whipping out card after card
with no avail. Many games have been quickly aborted when you get to
the end of your cards, and the stupid door still won't open. I can just
picture Snake ankle deep in card keys, a dent in the door in front of
him, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he pulls out his gun and
ends his tiresome career. Second is the fact that the guards return
when you leave a room. Nothing is worse than clearing out a room,
leaving, then realizing you forgot to check out the door. Reluctantly,
you must return to the room, kill everyone all over again, then look
behind the door.
Replayability: 8 out of 10
Once you get through the game for the first time, you always want
to go back and see if you missed anything, maybe try a different
tactic on a particular boss, or maybe radio everyone at every
situation to see what happens. Just a hint; radio Big Boss every
time you pick up a weapon or an item. Some responses are very
informative, while others are completely useless. Some, and I won't
tell you which ones, are a little humorous, and not because of bad
translating. There's also the fact that the game is so short, that it
is impossible to get your fill in one try. you may not play it again
immediately, but eventually, it might be years, weeks, or even days,
but something will nag in your mind, and soon you will be planted in
front of your TV screen once again, flicking the buttons, putting Solid
Snake through his paces.
Game Value: 10 out of 10
This game is very much worth the price now, and I'm sure it was back
then. Now the game only costs around five dollars or less. How can you
go wrong with five bucks? You can't, and you certainly won't with Metal Gear.
Overall: 9.5 out of 10
Other than a few annoyances, this is a great title, one which I will never
get rid of, and you shouldn't either. I can guarantee you'll want to play
the game more than once.