Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a satisfying action game, but lacks the control that could've made it truly special.
I can't help but compare MGR to Ninja Gaiden. As I was playing it, it felt oddly familiar, albeit with a pretty cool twist: I was able to literally slice my enemies into shreds. The combat of MGR is what makes the game so much fun, but strangely at the same time hinders it because of some awkward control layouts. The "parrying" system in MGR is the most difficult concept to grasp within combat. Instead of utilizing a simple guard button the developers decided to make guard an awkward command input on the control pad: Pressing the analog stick in the direction of an oncoming attack, coupled with pressing the attack button at the same time will allow Raiden to guard an attack. Wait until the very last instance, just before an attack hits Raiden, and this "guarding" mechanic with turn into a counterattack. However, more often than not Raiden will simply attack in the direction that his attacker is coming from (and most enemies have hyper armor on their attacks) resulting in Raiden taking a clean hit. This can be quite frustrating. Especially for players like myself who like to play games on the hardest difficulty available from the get go. I found myself at the "restart" screen more often than I felt I deserved because in my mind and in my hands, I knew I was inputting the correct command, but the mechanics for it were just not solid. In my own opinion, a guard button coupled with well-timed attack command inputs would've have worked beautifully here, just as it did with Ninja Gaiden. I can't decide on why such an annoying control scheme was picked for such an over the top action game.
One other issue I encounter quite often, contrary to Game Spot's own review, were camera problems. Again, I saw several "restart" screens because the camera would get stuck in such an awkward angle that at some points I was literally looking up at the sky, while surrounded by enemies, not able to get around them because I couldn't get my barrings on what direction I was facing. This too added some frustration. The camera, more so than the parrying system, needs much, much improvement.
One thing I was impressed with were the graphics, as a whole. The environments aren't the most impressive but Raiden and enemies character models looked amazing. What's better is that the game runs at a consistent 60 frames per second regardless of the chaos happening on screen, and regardless of how many pieces you've cut your target into. It's just a shame that there wasn't more of the game to see. MGR is pretty short if you're looking to only play through the story once. Mind, there's plenty of things to do outside of the story: There are VR missions to unlock and complete, there are an assortment of unlockables to earn and equip Raiden with, as well as DLC (and more that's to be available later). Personally, I don't care about the VR missions; for me, I'm becoming much less accustomed to games based on a level to level structure; I believe it's time for most games to be based in open-world type environments because those types of games leave players to make their own fun and really increase the amount of time spent with a game.
I'm not meaning to harp about MGR, because overall I really enjoyed it. When it was good it was really, really good! It's a memorable game that deserves any action-gamer's attention. I just wished Platinum could've developed a much more coherent way of parrying attacks and a much, much, MUCH better camera.
Gameplay - 7.0
--- Like I said in my review, the combat (which is where the gameplay is at in this game) is what makes this game so entertaining yet also hinders it because of awkward control schemes and, to be frank, a terrible camera. It's hard to put a score here and honestly I feel like I'm being a little generous, but just a little. UPDATE: It's also completely possible to abuse the parrying mechanic and play through the game without taking damage (or not much, anyway), which destroys the challenge this game would normally have.
Graphics - 8.5
--- I'll admit, I'm a framerate nut. I love dem 60fpses. Generic environments but great character design and models. This game deserves a pretty decent mark for graphics.
Audio - 8.0
--- The voice work is okay. It's obvious that most of the voice actors did work for animes and whatnot, which just means they're somewhat good and bad at the same time. Raiden's voice actor was superb and really made Raiden seem uber pissed at multiple points in the story. But, what I thought was best about the audio work for this game was the soundtrack! Freaking awesome metal music jams in the background of boss fights and other portions of the game. It made me happy! And it also makes you feel like you're doing something awesome; and for the most part, you kind of will be in this game.
Presentation - 8.0
---The opening of the game sets the bar for just how over the top the action will get for the rest of the game... And let me tell you some crazy $#!* be happenin. Seriously, I couldn't tell if I should've laughed through the game or felt like a badass.
Overall - 7.0
--- What kept me from giving this game a better score were the control issues and camera problems I experienced quite often during the game. At one point I'd feel like I had gotten past the issues but then they'd come back in full force and with a "revengeance." Also, the final boss fight is one of the most frustrating and cheap fights I've ever experienced in a game. Just saying. Watch out! Be prepared.
Side notes: Screw the final boss fight. Also, I played through this game on hard mode from the get go. It's possible the lower difficulties are much easier; though, I've seen people get utterly pwned on normal difficulty. So, watch out! Be prepared. That final boss is a douche. Also also, I played the Xbox 360 version. Also also also, being able to play as Grey Fox, the Cyborg Ninja of MGS1 is FREAKING LEGIT! Best unlock/free DLC ever.