Metal Gear Solid 3 : Snake Eater

[ojlim]

So let me get this straight...in three hours of game time (so says the save) I've moved from the start point and met somebody, then walked back. I've then walked to the meeting point again.

Three hours. It took less than half an hour to do this while playing - three hours. That's two and half hours of cutscenes and I've not really achieved anything yet...!

So far, so meh, to be perfectly honest. At least the cutscenes are quite engaging.

You know, I was thinking *exactly* the same thing as you until

->Open Spoiler<-

the title credits started to roll after the first three hours at which point I fell in love with the game? What, you mean I've been watching cutscenes for almost three hours and the game *hasn't even started* yet? Kojima is a man after my heart, hehehe.

[JU!]

Just got this in Japanese, as i love MGS i have no bad words to say. Quality, but finding it a bit harder than MGS2 + 1 i think it's having no constant radar. Really nice opening sequence and yes no English speaking option which i knew would not be there anyway. Brilliant game so far only bout 30 mins in. Bring on Substance so i can understand most of what's going on. Wishes my Japanese was better N yes the codec sequences ramble on forevaaaaaa as usual.

[Izayoi]

Three hours for the opening mission?

Doesn't take that long lads. The first guard is piss, just run forward and keep to the right. Stick to the big tree and whack Tree Bark and Woodland on. Keep still and have faith in the Camo Index. As soon as he steps past to your side, slam him into the ground, or disarm him with CQC. I'm assuming most of you are playing on Normal, where this tactic works 100% of the time (unlike on Extreme where new tactics and strategies need to be formulated).

Sick of people banging on about the codec/radio stuff, theres actually very little beyond the opening crawl. It sounds like The Boss' speech at the start has made up the majority of people's minds.

JU!: What made you get the Jap version? MGS without 'The Dave' just isn't MGS

[Concept]

I think PeteJ was talking about the opening mission's duration together with the cutscenes. It took me two/two and a half hours to get past the main intro song.

[PeteJ]

I've met Eva in three hours (and killed everyone, about to leave).

[Concept]

Pete, I know it may not be good for your pride, but have you tried the game on a lower difficulty setting? On my second play through, I tried Snake Eater on Easy, and found it far less frustrating.

Remember. The final five hours are just shatteringly brilliant.

[Izayoi]

Cutscene/gameplay ratio is more balanced from that point on. No radio at all really until

->Open Spoiler<-

after The Fear

The closing hours are indeed quality!

[PeteJ]

I am playing it on easy

I've yet to die or have my energy even scratched, but it doesn't really seem like I'm doing much.

Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the game, but only really for the production values and expert touches.

[Concept]

You just wait until you get to the last third. The **** hits the fan in an ever so satisfying way.

[PeteJ]

I've just reached the warehouse (defeated The Pain) and I'm still not finding it that great. It has improved, though.

The section before the warehouse when you meet the flying thingies is incredibly impressive. Some of the best, and most effective, graphics I've ever seen.

[Concept]

You still haven't got up to the parts where the game hits it's stride. When Kojima (for me) finds his form again in terms of pacing, direction, atmosphere, tone, excitement...

I'm probably hyping it up too much, but I'm telling you, I'd be surprised come the end of Snake Eater if you weren't just a little taken aback by everything which happens.

[mezzanine]

You shouldn't be playing it on easy IMO. To be honest, if you're not enjoying it by the time you get to the warehouse then you're never going to like it much - apart from a few stand out boss battles.

[Concept]

I think it improves immeasurably once you get up to Gronzy Grad and beyond. As for Easy... it just helps in terms of the guards spotting you less, which helped ease the frustration factor for me.

[mezzanine]

Yes, but once you're found by the guards you have no trouble in either killing them or just legging it to the next area. Not very satisfying really. Playing on harder difficulties will make you better at the game and force you to play it more stealthily - all for the best I think.

There's plenty of good stuff before Gronzy too

[Concept]

Ah, but that's precisely what happened on normal. Running through the game without settling down in each area... no time to explore.

It was much more laboured and silent-kill styled on Easy. Which I personally preferred.