There is nothing to be said other than you should definitely see this is you own a PSP. This is something that should make Sony proud. Metal Gear Solid is the important game for Sony’s consoles, but moreover, it has been elevated into an artistic endeavor here in its graphic novel-type format. There is something to be said about the innovative use of the PSP as a media device. This is really the first, public and commercial endorsement of the PSP as a ‘reading’ device as opposed to a gaming or movie one. Sure, PSP geeks have been converting their favorite comics (or, downloading PSP ready comics readily available online) and watching it through the slide-show tool. This isn’t just your normal comic book experience. Metal Gear is a comic book that acts more like a movie. You can pause the 270 or so pages, and zoom in, seeing the detailed artwork. You are able to collect information from the zooms, which you can use later. If you want, you can let it go like a movie, if you choose, and it really will act like one. The characters move, and there are video “cut-scenes” interspersed between the comic book pages, for those important cinematic moments. The graphics are just gorgeous, hands down. The artwork is very gritty and foreboding – a sort of post-modern masterpiece of pulp work that is reminiscent of Frank Miller, and, if it isn’t too much of a stretch, Alan Moore. The scenes are elegant, focusing on the action, but also carrying the storyline toward a decent plot. The computerized areas of the graphics are fantastic too, and are not at all overbearing. The fact is that there are areas of the plot that just require CGI – the hand can’t do some things, but certainly it has done much of Hideo Kojima’s world. The sound, too, is great. The voice acting matches the characters, but the focus has obviously been the wonderful sound effects. All the weaponry have their own sounds, which are appropriate. I personally have read this once, and probably would not again. It really needs to be released on paper for serious comic collectors like myself. In any case, rent this graphic novel – it is something not to be missed.
GRAPHICS: 10/10 (Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.)
SOUND: 7/10 (Sound matches with graphics when needed, especially during cutscene clips. Excellent voices and gun sounds. Background music not so great.)
LOAD TIMES: ALMOST ZERO (Slight lag in-between chapters)
VALUE: LOW (You go through it once and that’s it. It’s something you rent for PSP. That’s not to say it isn’t phenomenal.)
FYI this is my first review so please be graceful >) Challenging title to review. Not really a game. Not a movie. More than just any old graphic novel. I am extremely biased when it comes to anything metal gear. I ... Read Full Review
What is a digital graphic novel you ask? Well its something like a digital comic book that you can watch on your psp. The story in it is nothing other but original Metal Gear Solid story shown as a comic book with amasin... Read Full Review
