Working at 1up.com has its privileges. For one, when a new video comes out on GameVideos.com I don’t have to fight the traffic in order to see the video. I don’t often take advantage of this, but since the internet was imploding from the traffic burst, due to all the Kojima fans out there, I finally found a reason to use my ins. I donned by headphones, made sure the lighting was right, and prepared myself to see how stealth action was going to be revolutionized.
The video was a concoction of everything and more I expected from the madness of Kojima. “What the f*ck?,” was a phrase I found particularly useful when trying to explain the emotions that were coming to me. Sure it was kinda stupid that Snake could instantly change into a statue camouflage, but I accepted this the way I had accepted that he could carry way too many items for his own good in previous games. However, I was not prepared to see Snake cup another statue’s junk in order to “blend in” with the environment. While I suppose it gave Snake’s statue some character it really felt like one of those moments where Kojima stepped in to make it weird. He has a habit of doing that, don’t you think?
The game seeks to give the player all the stealth action from previous games while letting the player experience the thrill of a living battlefield. In this regard it remains to see to what extent they will succeed. The action gameplay additions, like the inclusion of a third person-esque shooter element, made me realize that this game could very well play out as a beautiful and exciting shooter. The stealth elements, on the other hand, left a little to be desired. The player has a suit that can adapt itself to new camouflage. This by itself isn’t stupid, we are working on similar things even today. It’s just that the cover really didn’t make Snake that invisible and yet soldiers would walk right on by him. I know, I know, it’s a game. I guess I was just more prone to forgive the idiocy of the guards when I was hiding in a way that was really out of sight, instead of making myself as indistinguishable as possible.
The game will be good. The game looks great, even with the frame-rate issues. And, as long as the game stays exclusive, it will become part of our library. I guess it will just take some time for me to forgive the game for all the less than real parts it will doubtlessly have through out.
Chufmoney