Snake may show his age in the game, but the Metal Gear series ages like a fine wine! *THIS IS NOT WRITTEN BY A FANBOY!*
When I first popped in this game, I had low expectations. I heard that this game would take 30-45 mins. to install, that there were way to many cutscenes and so on. Well its a good thing that I don't trust ANYONES opinions but my own.
So I start the install and am immediately introduced to Snake smoking a cigarette. The details are astounding. Besides the quirky *warnings* and Snake enjoying a smoke, the best thing here is that the install takes only 8 minutes, which it was actually only about 7.
So the game installs and suddenly I am in this game, and its awesome. The graphics are sweet, with little to no clipping, the audio quality is superb on my surround sound, and the controller setup works surprisingly well. I LOVE the fact that there are so many customization options, such as what color snakes gear is, what the select button does, and many others that really make the game feel more personal.
People were right about the cutscenes, there are plenty, but they work. I like playing a game more than watching it, but the cutscenes in this game are done so well that you want to watch them. There was a bit where there was a cutscene, I jump down an elevator shaft, then there was another cutscene. Why not just one continuous cutscene? I could have lived without that 5 seconds of gameplay.... Anyways, they are very entertaining to a serious gamer that likes a good story, although if you are unaware of the Metal Gear series you might be a bit lost. You can go on the internet and find a quick "cliff notes" of the series and brush up your knowledge and I promise that you will enjoy it more. I know cause I did that....... I mean when there are 3 story robots that are shooting, stomping, and mooing like cows, one can become confused!
The gameplay is great, but sometimes can feel cut-off from a cutscene, but the other 99% of the time it all works out. It did take me a while to get into the "tactical" mood rather than the "run and gun" mood I have been in for so long. The AI is pretty dumb, on both sides of the battlefield. There were a few times that I was hiding behind a wall shooting at baddies, and the friendly AI stands right in front of me, or even comes up to me and tells me to move so that they can have my position! Where's the "I was here first" button?!?
There are tons of weapons and other items that you can use, but the best is the Playboy magazine. Yes pervs, you can look through it, though its all PG.
I have not beat the game, but so far I am enjoying it very much! It IS by far the best game for the PS3. Of course there are a few things that I find hinder the game from being "perfect". For one, the aiming control for weapons can confuse and frustrate. You can hide behind a column and look out and shoot, but you can't hide behind a low wall and shoot over, whats up with that??? Also, there are very few checkpoints throughout the levels, even to where you will play the game for a good length of time (for me it was like 45 mins. to an hour) and then make one costly mistake, and suddenly have to do all that playing all over again. This can discourage players that have short attention spans.
Have not tried it online, so I will leave that to another review.....
Other than that, this game is almost perfect. I feel that its more perfect in its genre than GTA IV is in its. I would actually give this game like a 9.7 if I could, but I guess a 9.5 will have to do.