Game Informer Review
The masterwork that spurred a cinematic movement and made high-tech espionage a staple in the world of video games is back to entertain another generation. Whether you found yourself staring wide-eyed in disbelief at a taut, action-packed sequence, or marveling in awe at the cleverness of the stealth-laden gameplay, Metal Gear Solid delivered one memorable moment after another in its original version. Under the guidance of series' creator Hideo Kojima and the development muscle of Silicon Knights, players are invited to rekindle these unforgettable moments in this technologically advanced remake.
If you were to go back and play through the PSone version today, I can pretty much guarantee that the thought, "I can't believe that I used to think that these graphics were amazing" would pass through your mind. The 32-bit era of gaming didn't exactly age well. Pixellated texturing…jagged polygons…it's not a pretty sight. Hence, all of the graphics in the Twin Snakes are completely updated and showcase the best of today's texturing, effects, and character modeling.
In addition to the beautifying of visuals, all of the cinematics in the game have been reworked and oftentimes extended in length. To accompany this change, all of the dialogue has been re-recorded. The result is over an hour of extra footage. Some of the updated sequences do tend to run a little long, but the majority of the content really adds something to the game. The story is much easier to follow, and you really get the feeling that Kojima and company did everything in their power to ensure that each action sequence was more explosive than The Matrix. The lack of remorse for human life that Ninja displays in this version is rather disturbing…but makes for some truly outstanding scenes.
In updating the gameplay package, Silicon Knights turned toward the series' sequel, Sons of Liberty. With the ability to zoom into first-person targeting, the erratic toe-to-toe gunfights in the original game are now a thing of the past. Picking off enemies with a steady hand from across the room really opens things up. Snake can also leap over balconies, hang on ledges, and stuff bodies in lockers. To counter the player's higher level of interaction, Silicon Knights has re-written all of the enemies' AI scripts. Your foes are even smarter than those in Sons of Liberty, and will go out of their way to thoroughly sweep their surroundings. They'll toss grenades under beds, search every upturned box, and radio for help in seconds flat. Unfortunately, you won't run into any extravagant new material like weapons, items, levels, or enemy encounters; but as a whole, the game plays much better and offers up a number of new strategies.
I'm sure that everyone is dying to ask the question, "Did they change anything in the Psycho Mantis fight?" I don't want to ruin anything for you, but I will say that he's the same old head case and has a few new tricks up his sleeves. Just make sure that you have a ton of save files on your memory card before going into the fight!
New Easter eggs and sight gags are dispersed throughout every inch of this epic adventure as well. You'll run across different posters hanging in lockers, GameCube units on desks, and maybe even some Mario paraphernalia lying around.
While not boasting a ton of new content, you can't help but find yourself completely entranced by the updated sequences and newfound graphical realism. Even if you've already played through the original game 100 times, The Twin Snakes is worth revisiting. For the second time running, it's something that you'll cherish for a lifetime.
Concept:
A remake of the PSone game that boasts significant graphical enhancements, updated gameplay, and over an hour of new footage
Graphics:
The cinematics have been overhauled completely, and the level of graphical realism is every bit as impressive as Sons of Liberty
Sound:
Newly recorded dialogue, a heart-racing score, and some of the best effects around
Playability:
Adding first-person targeting alleviates the frustration of gunfights and opens up the gameplay tremendously
Entertainment:
A new look for one of the greatest games of all time
Replay:
Moderately High
Rated: 9.25 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: March 2004
2nd Opinion:
I'm a big fan of game remakes. They are a great way to keep gaming history alive, and I'd love to see the trend continue. Metal Gear Solid is without a doubt a monumental title that should have a place in every gamer's library. It placed an emphasis on plot and cinematics that few other action games had ever attempted, and starred one of the most involving and complex heroes ever. Thanks to all the games that have referenced MGS since it was released, this version doesn't feel quite as monumental as it once did, but it still holds its own as one of the best games I've ever played. The improved graphics and cutscenes are really the primary selling point of this version, but since the original was so good, there was little reason to make further changes. This is a great edition of a great title, and GameCube owners everywhere should proudly add this to their collections.
Rated: 9.5 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss
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Product Description
In Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, superspy Solid Snake infiltrates the GameCube for one of the most games ever! Twin Snakes is a complete remake of the legendary Metal Gear Solid, with updated graphics for better, smoother gaming. Prepare to save the world, in the game that launched a classic series and started the spy gaming genre!
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