Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Written by Tony Kennetz on June 06, 2003

First Impressions: So, uhЕHideo decided to give it another go? Sweet.

To start this article out, I would like to publicly announce one thing: I am drooling all over my keyboard. It lies as a lake of my own saliva, quite disgusting really, but I cannot help it. I have lost control of my mouth as I have now watched the trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3 a good 15 times. I have studied it in order to bring some early hypothesis's and interpretations of the trailer as well as Hideo Kojima's interviews with the press after the unveiling at E3.

Please be aware that at this point most (if not all) press reports are speculation, so take this article as you may. That said, based on what has been shown and talked about thus far leads to many interesting theories and I wish to divulge my own ideas with all of you today, so put on your stealth suits - we're going in.

The plan is that I will break down any little bit of information in that video, piece by piece, in order to provide you with the best impressions I can provide. We'll start off with the basics; all those quotes that Konami used to set up the movie clips.

УEat or Be EatenФ and УEat or Die:Ф This one becomes very easy to sense once the trailer has been viewed. Snake is seen eating a fish and a (you guessed it) snake at different times. This lends to the obvious assumption that players will have to look for food if they wish to remain alive. Kojima confirmed this in interviews with the press.

УNew Setting, New Era, New Gameplay:Ф There's a way to give me Goosebumps, tell me that one of the greatest franchises in the history of gaming is getting all sorts of upgrades and you have my attention. The new setting that is mentioned is the jungle as most of you new. New gameplay features include hunting and fishing for food, but otherwise little else is known. This Уnew eraФ is likely the most puzzling of all the tasty tidbits here, because it is never mentioned what the new era is. Later in the trailer all the years from the decade of the 1960's are flashed by which could be some type of a clue. We'll just have to see.

УBack to the Origin!:Ф Could this be where Metal Gear Solid's original plans were first drawn up? It's hard to say, but this could very possibly be a prequel to the original and Sons of Liberty. If so, I have no complaints.

УStealth+Survival:Ф This one was really a no-brainer but the stealth aspects are all coming back into this new lush jungle setting. So not only can you stalk all those pesky enemy soldiers, you can harass your next meal too!

УHunt or Be Hunted:Ф I have two words for you, Wild Bears. Well, there might not be bears out in the jungle but I think you get the idea. My money says the hunter and the hunted ideal is going to weight heavily on this game's gameplay engine. So just make sure you shoot that rattler ahead of you before it strikes, yeah? УBattle of ideologies, Battle of instincts, Battle of reptiles:Ф Those lines would have been cool if they didn't tack on that lame Уbattle of reptilesФ bit, but none this less these lines all likely represent something in the story. The ideologies probably the use of Metal Gear units once again. After all, how can a game with the words Metal Gear in its title not have Metal Gear? Instincts are those of survival, nothing to shocking there. The reptiles' part could be hinting at the return of Liquid Snake. Wouldn't that be something cool.

The Good Stuff, the moving clips from the future of MGS: If nothing else, this game will be much different than its processors thanks to the environment. When you no longer have to worry solely about killing the bad guys, things should become considerably more challenging. If you played Sons of Liberty, you know it doesn't take a brain surgeon to beat it, maybe this time it will be a slight be more difficult.

The stealthy action was looking in tact and healthy, with many new features looking primed for the battlefield. You can climb trees, hang from branches, and use just about anything for cover. This is good because despite the fact you can do a lot more hiding, there also appears to be a lot more gunning

One of the biggest scenes of the trailer is Snake taking on a whole crew of enemies with machine guns and the like. Of course, Snake comes out of it alive but it is odd because in previous installments you've always been better off avoiding fights like this as much as possible. High-octane action, could it be a larger part of the world you'll inhabit? I quite honestly don't know, but it would be nice.

Then there was that lame excuse for cut-scene style patronizing. If you have yet to check out this out (shame on you) I won't spoil it for you, because they are quite funny. Let's just say they involve references to Grand Theft Auto and a certain Уvice city.Ф I'm still trying to figure out the meaning behind that part, but the fact that I'm here talking about it is probably what Konami was aiming for.