Review: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

[Nick]

With just about every major third-party release you can feel the earth shake with the GameCube owners running to see if they get a version. If you had a GC but no Xbox, you were thrilled when <i>Splinter Cell</i> was released on the Cube. If you had a GC but no PS2, you gratefully bought the <i>Resident Evil</i> remake (or you should have). When a <i>Metal Gear</i> game was announced for Nintendo's wonder box, fingers were crossed all over the map that Cube owners would get an original. Instead, <i>Twin Snakes</i> is an enhanced version of the PlayStation classic. But such is the fate of a GC-only or GC-and-no-PS2 owner: graphically spectacular and obscenely delayed table scraps.

But <i>MGS</i> is a special game and <i>Twin Snakes</i> promised to make it even more impressive.

<a href="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/reviews/gamecube/mgs-twin-snakes/">So impressive, in fact, that it warrants two reviews (but not by genetically enhanced twins).</a> Well, not identical twins anyway.

[Do You Like Erotic?]

Good job to both of you. I really enjoyed both perspectives that these reviews offered.

Bahn, I identified greatly with your minor chagrin about the lack of extras in the game. It seems silly that with the VR missions already in existence, and most of the work already done, they wouldn't have included them. I would go as far as to say that I at least expected the Ninja to be playable.

I am interested to know what you thought about the remixed music, as I don't remember you saying much about that...

MechDeus, I played this game the second time through in one sitting, to watch it in a movie format, and I have to say, even though it all seemed cool and over the top the first time, the second time through, the cinematics came off as somewhat corny and out of place. I just found it funny. It seemed like they were just aiming to entertain the 'lol XTREME generation' of new players.

It frightens me though, because I can easily see them making this game into a movie and casting The Rock or someone as Snake and Vin Diesel as Vulcan Raven or something :||| Jeff Goldblum as Otakon >:\\\\\

Beware everyone. You know it could happen.

[bahn]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

Re: remixed music highlights

Originally, during one of the drafts, I actually touched upon the music. But since this was going to be a joint-editorial coverage and wanted to avoid having points repeated between Mech and I, I removed it.

Basically it's like this. I like the music, but it's no substitute for the OST. I identify with the classic soundtrack a LOT more than the new tracks composed for Twin Snakes. They felt more appropriate, but now with this dynamic atmosphere depicted in Ryuhei's sequences, the original music in my opinion would've seemed out of place. However, that doesn't explain why the game's finale theme "The Best is Yet to Come" was more or less removed entirely. I loved that theme a great deal and was disappointed that they didn't leave retain it.

This is one of those things that only a true fan would care about, much like the voices that I brought up in the review. And I suppose for that, it's still worth holding onto the original PlayStation version just to fall back on whenever you get those nostalgic cravings.

Oh, and I am definitely in support of a Metal Gear feature film. It just needs a really solid writer and the proper funding. Yeah, make it so!

[Nick]

Heck, we can write the film. No problem.

Good job, Bahn and Mech.

[Scourge]

Good reviews guys. A couple of things, tho... Am I the only one who thinks that Metal Gear has ALWAYS been hokey? Sure, it walks a fine line between realistic and over-the-top I guess, moreso in Solid than anywhere, but jeez, we're four games into the series and it's been corny from the beginning.

I mean, I think about the original Solid on PS1, you know, stuff that didn't change for the GC, like, I dunno, a Cyber Ninja, a guy who can read minds and float in the air, stealth camouflage that makes you invisible, the improbable love link between Otacon and Sniper Wolf, the cheesiness of every line Liquid ever let ooze forth from his mouth, the stupid way that guard runs when the diarrhea hits, the fact that you can collect cardboard boxes to hide in and even let a wolf pee on you in one, OMG!!!!11 Master is Liquid!!!?! … those stupid bar pick up lines Snake uses on Mei Ling… This is like, what, a 5 hour game? That’s a lot of cheese for just 5 hours. The new cut scenes don’t detract from an already cornball game. That said, please, powers that be, NEVER, NEVER, EVER make a movie out of Metal Gear! That would be really, really stupid if they did it “right” and kept the heart of this series hokiness in tact for a live action film. It totally works for the game tho, and I love it!

I saw no reason to completely revamp the soundtrack. I totally think the OST for the PS1 game was much, much more memorable. At the very least, they should have left the opening theme and “The Best Is Yet To Come” completely alone. You know, it would have been incredibly cool to be able to pick at the beginning of the game if wanted to use the “Classic” Metal Gear Solid soundtrack or the “New” MGS ST.

And yeah, c’mon guys, let the player customize the control options so I can put actions where they are most comfortable for me. Most games, this doesn’t bother, and frankly it’s not the GameCube controller’s fault (this time) as I think it’s the best controller out there. It’s entirely the fault of whoever chose that control layout. I think they were trying to make it kinetically ‘technical’ to make the player feel they were more part of the game. What they ended up doing was making it just way, way too overly complex.

I like Mei Ling’s accent a lot from the original, but if someone is going to complain that you can’t throw a grenade down the barrel of any tanks made after WWI, then they should at least acknowledge that if you are born and raised in the US, regardless of where your parents are born, you’re probably not going to have much of an accent by the time you are 20.

I would have loved for this edition of MGS to be the definitive version without question. But in my eyes, the only way to do that would be to have all the VR missions from the Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions disc released in 2000. And to open up the original Metal Gear game, if not MG and MG: Solid Snake. And to let you customize the control set-up. And to let you pick which soundtrack you wanted to use. It’s still a kick ass game though, and quite beautiful to look at. If there’s a Twin Snakes Integral or Substance, I think I’d pick that up too.

[burgundy]

I agree with everything this man said. Had I reviewed this game, I would have said almost the exact same thing.

Metal Gear is, by its very nature, over the top. The FOXDIE virus is ridiculous and the whole "Solid and Liquid are identical but have different genes" is genetically wrong.

[Mzo]

At the very least, they should have left the opening theme

Honestly, that little jingle from Policenauts is just about the best thing ever. Why did they change that??

[bahn]

Good reviews guys. A couple of things, tho... Am I the only one who thinks that Metal Gear has ALWAYS been hokey? Sure, it walks a fine line between realistic and over-the-top I guess, moreso in Solid than anywhere, but jeez, we're four games into the series and it's been corny from the beginning.

I agree it's over-the-top, but overall, it's been entertaining for me. Just like your typical action film. The guys at 1up.com basically said the same thing, so you're not alone on this thought!

[bahn]

If there’s a Twin Snakes Integral or Substance, I think I’d pick that up too.

I doubt that, and I seriously hope they don't pull some stunt like that, because then I'll be upset they didn't just do that in the first place. (See: last paragraph in review).

In other news, <a href="http://pgnx.net/reviews.php?page=full&id=4442">seems this editor feels that many of us are missing the point</a>.

Maybe it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a remake in the extras department, but did Twin Snakes need it? No, of course not.

Uh. For fans of the series, yes it definitely had every right to throw some more extras in there. Ninja Gaiden for Xbox didn't have to throw the extra games in there, but they did.

Anyway, what do the rest of you think?

[g0zen]

If you told me like, in late '02 or early '03 that there'd be a MGS game for the Cube I'd have called you a liar. Telling me it was a remake of the original MGS would make it more convincing, but I'd still be skeptical. For what it is, a remake, I think Twin Snakes gives us what it promised; a faithful remake that blends the first MGS's story and setting with SoL's advanced controls and 1st person antics.

Most of the negative thoughts directed toward this game have been heavily tainted by fanboyism (I mean, come on, does it really matter that Mei Ling doesn't sound like some off-the-boat Chinese anymore instead what she is, a naturalized immigrant?), and that's a very good thing. It shows that Silicon Knights made the worthwhile decision to ship the game when it was finished, not after they'd spent another two or three months adding the same VR scenarios you've played twice before (if you played Substance and VR Missions).

If you want a load of repetitive VR missions and nifty extras you need to be playing Substance. Or, if you're really lucky, maybe they'll remake VR Missions? I wouldn't hold my breath though.