Metal Gear Solid Games: Not everyone can review them

Synergized | June 01, 2008 | Blog | Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Misc

Someone on XMBonline believes that not everyone can review a Metal Gear Solid game. He/she believes that the review for Eurogamer did not appreciate the 'core value' of the franchise and believes the negatives(long loading cutscenes) are more of a 'blessing than a curse'. He/she says that only hardcore gamers should be able to review it properly in their perspective, rather than a casual gamer.

Metal Gear Solid (or MGS for short), is one of those rare games that blurs the line between movie and game; thanks to the solid no pun intended dynamic gameplay in which you can play however you wish, be it all guns blazing or stealth. Although the game reminds you that stealth is sometimes the best approach, as MG is actually the father of stealth action games. With that out of the way, the rest of the games feels like AAA Hollywood film with fantastic, mind wrapping script backed up by great in-game cutscenes and terrific voice acting, its a completely unique package if you look at it.

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Comments

0 thumbs!
Mnmfan | June 01, 2008

I agree. MGS is a very hard game to review. The story is so complicated that only the true fans and those that know what they are saying should attempt it. I might give it a try after I beat it but I'm dreading it as MGS games are indeed the hardest game to review.
- -1 thumbs!
  Benedict | June 02, 2008
  
  Aggreed, for the same reasons as you. Now how to put them in own words
0 thumbs!
Seeker X | June 01, 2008

As an MGS fan myself, I actually enjoyed watching the cutscenes, in EVERY MGS as well. So it's not entirely a negative, and that's the problem. Always remember that reviewers are one-sided. So if they mention long cutscenes, THAT is what you should be focused on. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you.
1 thumbs!
Donnelly | June 01, 2008

I'm a massive MGS fan but could you imagine the outrage if Microsoft had acted like this over Halo 3?
-2 thumbs!
The Primagen | June 01, 2008

Yeah but MGS is a holy franchise.
- 2 thumbs!
  VeGiTAX2 | June 01, 2008
  
  There are no holy franchises and if there really are then they should be dismantled because the problem remains that unless they're releasing 1-4 on PS3, then most likely people that just got into gaming with the PS3 will have 0 clue whats going on nor will they want to invest in going back before playing the rest of the game.
  
  You basically have to then go and divide your marketplace and somehow only sell to "hardcore" fans.
  
  Games are meant to be reviewed by anyone, there should be no special criteria to it especially in a case like this. Just because the person plays games but hasn't followed out every avenue of the MGS series they're suddenly dismissed? Yeah. Right.
0 thumbs!
Onvacation | June 01, 2008

It takes a special kind of gamer to apprieciate the long-ass cut scenes every couple of minutes, i daresay a normal gamer would rapidly be pressing Skip though most of them so maybe MGS IS a game you need the right sort of person to review
- -1 thumbs!
  lord of vice city | June 01, 2008
  
  i agree, you need to be in the right "state" to really appreciate the MGS franchise
- 2 thumbs!
  Akira_EX | June 01, 2008
  
  But then, what's the point of the review?
  
  Unless you review for a website dedicated to a certain genre (like, for instance, you're reviewing a RPG for RPGFan or shumps for SHMUPS!), you have to review for the common denominator, meaning all gamers, including the ones who do and don't like long cutscenes. There is no game that you need "the right sort of person to review". That leads to the inherent assumption that "every game is the best one ever, under the right circumstances", which while true, is such a stupid thing to review. You have to take in all factors if you want to review a game on its merits.
  
  It also doesn't help that Konami told some review publications to not talk about cutscene length + installation time, both of which are valid issues.
  
  I can take your comment, switch MGS with Xenosaga, and guarantee that there will be someone else making the comment I'm making now.
0 thumbs!
Zero and X | June 01, 2008

Eurogamer cant review worth a damn. Seriously its like they dont even know what the purpose of playing a game is or something, they complain about the stupidest shit sometimes.
2 thumbs!
iLLmatic | June 02, 2008

Thats like saying only people who smoke weed should have a say in whether or not it is legalized. Of course they are going to vote yes, but they're biased. What good is a biased review? What good is a review anyway, but thats not the point.

I'm a huge MGS fan, and as with any product, it has its audience. Konami knows this and they know that they have to cater to that audience with every new entry into the series. However, us MGS fans aren't and shouldn't be the only gamers allowed to buy the game, so reviewers are there to shed light on the product as a whole, in order to explain certain aspects to people who aren't in the know. I appreciate everything that is Metal Gear Solid, so I honestly never even looked at the cutscenes as even possibly being a bad thing, but everyone can't be me. Gamers outside the loop deserve to know such "negatives," but I strongly emphasize those quotations.
- 1 thumbs!
  StarJet | June 02, 2008
  
  quote
  Gamers outside the loop deserve to know such "negatives," but I strongly emphasize those quotations.
  Well said. Though they aren't much of negatives, people who haven't played early MGS games should know them.
1 thumbs!
Gothic Girl | June 02, 2008

I pretty much agree with what has already been said. Anyone should be allowed to review any game.
When I read reviews, I want the opinions of both fans and non-fans. That gives me a general idea on how good/bad the game is from general gamers' perspectives, not just a fan's perspective.
1 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | June 02, 2008

no. only people who give it anything less than a 11/10 aren't allowed to review it. so says the fags of internet video game reviewers. so shall it stand.

didnt eurogamer give it like.. an 8/10? like thats bad?