Metal Gear

Clearly, the goal with Metal Gear Ac!d was to score once more by launching the new PSP hardware with a proven superstar. However, this time Snake's mission is quite a bit different than his past forays, and the results are mixed.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Game Description: Metal Gear Acid is a whole new take on the blockbuster Metal Gear franchise. A plane full of hostages is going to die, unless they're given a mysterious secret weapon called "Pythagoras". When the U.S. tracks down "Pythagoras" to a remote lab in Africa, they send in Solid Snake to retrieve it. In this card-based adventure, strategy is everything. Use the Weapon card to take out enemies, the Action card to duck & hide from enemies on patrol, or call in support with the Character card.

In the main review, Matt makes the statement that Hideo Kojima is one of the best game designers working today. Without question, I agree completely. In my mind, Kojima is a visionary; possibly even a genius when it comes to making games.

More than anything else, a game designer has the unique ability to inflict pain on people. Whether this pain comes in terms of boredom or frustration or sadness is irrelevant. If a game designer can create dissonance, get the player to reflect on why they are experiencing it, and focus that reflection back into core mechanics of the game, he or she has just accomplished something that only videogames can do.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Language, Violence, Blood, Suggestive Themes

Game Description: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater introduces new depth and thrilling gameplay. It's a new level of gaming, with all the detailed levels, thrilling gameplay and stunning plot twists players crave. Set in the 1960s, you become a legendary soldier sent to uncover the secret behind Metal Gear, a top-secret superweapon with nuclear capability. You are all alone in hostile territory—but you will complete this mission, to secure the continued existence of human life.

Metal Gear Solid 2 was not the "average" sequel. Those who jumped into Solid Snake's next installment were not simply re-introduced: though the game inherited a lot of characteristics from its forerunner in terms of gameplay (stealth action and polished cinematics among other elements), it also introduced a narrative that took the player outside of standard videogame convention.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence

Metal Gear Solid 2, for all of its sweeping ideology and bold provocations, was a game that suffered under the weight of its own ambitions.