An amazing remake of a contemporary classic! Gamers who missed it the first time around owe it to themselves to play.

As a representative for diehard Nintendo gamers, I’ll be the first to admit that there are some great titles we miss out on, and Metal Gear Solid on PSX was definitely one of them. Maybe it was for the best though, as GameCube has become the home for amazing remakes of timeless games including Resident Evil, and most recently, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.

Although a remake of a five year old game, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is every bit as exciting today. The concept behind the game is that players control Solid Snake, a special agent sent to investigate and stop a terrorist threat of nuclear attack.

As a tactical adventure, drastically less emphasis is based on shooting during the majority of the game, and players are required to take stealthier approaches. This is creates a much different experience than typical adventure games available, and is a refreshing change of pace.

This difference can cause players a little trouble at first though. It feels very natural to rush into rooms, with guns blazing, but this will get you nowhere in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. In most cases, you’ll want to avoid all contact with enemies, and the interactive environments help greatly.

Players will hide in lockers, crawl under objects, and hang over ledges to avoid being spotted. Of course, this just doesn’t cut it in every situation, and sometimes you’ll have to get your hands a little dirty and snap a few necks. What’s important to realize is that this isn’t your average adventure, so you’ll have to think outside the box, (or hide inside it) to accomplish your goals.

Those who overcome the slight learning curve that comes with getting used to the covert gameplay will be greatly rewarded. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes not only features a thrilling, immersive play experience, but is elegantly intertwined with a feature film caliber storyline that would be a crime to spoil in this review.

What I can tell you, is that the stunning cinematics and absorbing plot will hold onto you and not let you go until the heart pounding conclusion.

The graphics certainly help engross the players into the game. Character models for the most part are very detailed in body, clothing, and facial features. A minor problem that still bothers me is the lack of real lip-synching in the movie sequences. Seeing such beautifully animated characters randomly moving their mouths is a bit distracting.

Occasionally some textures also look a bit pixilated, but are for the most part very appealing, especially when viewed at a moderate distance, as the game is played in 90% of the time. As a whole, the graphics are great, and are simply breathtaking during the many hours of dramatic movie sequences.

The sound in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is just as effective and engaging as the visuals. The voice acting is particularly effective, and surprisingly well done. It’s hard to expect much from voice actors in videogames given the typically poor examples that have been seen in the past.

However, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes shows what will hopefully be a shifting trend in the industry. Characters speak in a credible manner in both intense moments and the casual. Had such excellent acting not been present, it would have surely ruined some of the great moments in the game’s story. In comparison to the acting, the music for the most part isn’t very striking.

That’s not to say that it’s bad, far from it. Some of the scores are very well done, and can add emphasis to the mood of the game. That’s essentially all it is though, mood music. This is all that is needed though, and anything more would be distracting, and probably unsuited for the nature of this game.

The control serves it’s purpose, but isn’t outstanding since it was originally designed for a Playstation controller. The greatest problem is that the first person view is initiated with the Z trigger, which is far too uncomfortable to be applied to such an important function.

This really isn’t a fault of the developers; it’s an idiosyncrasy of the GameCube controller. Of course, one gets used to it over time, but it’s one small advantage that Playstation owners can boast over the GameCube rendition.

Finally, as with all other adventure games, the replay value is limited. The experience is essentially the same each time it’s played, which can keep some from wanting to go back. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is also a disappointingly short game. As far as plot goes, it’s the perfect length, and adding to it would simply drag it out and add superfluous details.

However, as a gaming experience, I can’t help but wish it was longer. There is some incentive to go back and play again, since there are two endings, and some secrets that can be unlocked. Sadly none of these add too drastically to the gameplay. The fact of the matter is, the first time through, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is a thrilling masterpiece, but especially since so many have played the original, its appeal may be limited.

If you haven’t experienced it yet, or are a huge fan of the series, I can’t recommend Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes enough. It has one of the most exciting and touching stories I’ve ever experienced in a game, which is reason enough to give it a shot. The gameplay is creative, challenging, and requires serious thought.

My only real complaint is the length. I simply didn’t want it to end. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is a great ride while it lasts, and everyone should try it. The decision between purchase and rental really only depends on whether or not you’ve played the original.


Review by Chris Schmidt.