Kojimas team have the balls to create something which is more than just hack and slash
With a genre packed with hack slash games like DMC, bayonetta, darksiders and the all famous god of war. Platinuim and kojima, bring something new to the table which is fresh , innovative, filled with great ideas, and memorable characters which arent easy to forget.
The blade most system is something which games like ninja gaiden or even the old onimusha , and dmc should of at least picked up years ago. This system allows us to execute the cutt anyway we need. Chopping off limbs, and cutting through debris actually feels satisfying. Anyone whos ever held a live blade like myself, and cut, like tameshigiri for martial artist , will enjoy this mode quite alot. Its fresh , much needed, and actually makes the weapons feel more lethal, and gives the player the overall feeling of power. This alone is great innovation from kojima/platinuim
which makes MGR stand out.
The games Graphics may not be the crysis or uncharteds we know of , but they are nice enough to offer great looking character models. However the enviornmental design may be off, by looking bland. One scene of a japanese garden does stand out well, and offers more than they typical industrial buildings.
The gameplay is fast, brutal , and blade offers you the chance of disemembering your foes vital points, for health and bonuses. The parry needs practice and the movement and timing offers a learning curve.
However typical to japanese standards, the games numerous enemies are no push overs. Espeically semi bosses, and the unforgiving Gorilla like cyborgs which are hellish to defeat.
The difficualty offers a challenge, and im talking of normal mode.
The games biggest achievments are the bosses. MGS series has never given a bad boss in my opinion they all have unique personalities which stand out, and offer their own philosophy on life during the battle. Making it more poetic, and epic in proportion.
The bosses all have weak points,which need to be analysed carefully.
However the difficaulty varies, from moderate, to down right almost impossible.
For the negatives.
The bosses i do feel needed more characterisation, just a bit more. Their backgrounds would of been better. But this is due to the fact that the game is sooo short. Clocking in at 4-6 hours for some. And depending on learning curves 9 hours or 10.
But its still too short, while i beleive more time could of been given to make the story more deeper, and something extra to the bosses. Like we have in MGS. But it seems this was a quick job by kojima, and what a quick job it was.
Its short but full of quality. Quality that needs to be expanded and given a more deeper emphasis in the next installment.
This series has just began [rising not solid]. And i do hope we get a sequel.
Is this a must play of the year ?
with soo much quality on its way this year... Definetly YES.
MGR needs to be played not once but a few times.