Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
Score: 88% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Media: CD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Adventure
Graphics & Sound: Remember the VR missions in the original Metal Gear Solid? The wireframe constructs? Well, that's all there is in MGS: VR Missions. Really. This is probably one of the game's weakest points. Sure, I understand that it's supposed to be a VR CD, but you really have to worry when you actually get excited because this new level is fluorescent orange instead of fluorescent blue. Ugh. The character models themselves are still great, however. The sound effects are just as spot on as they were in the original, with the guards' voice acting ('What was that?') and the footsteps and such. Good stuff.
Gameplay: MGS: VR is basically 300 VR missions that test your various abilities with various weapons, with sneaking, and with running like hell. You get to practice being silent, being fast, and being deadly, in lots of different arenas and against lots of different opponents. In addition, as you clear out the various VR Training missions, you open up new play modes, such as the rather intriguing Mystery mode and the pleasantly interesting Puzzle mode, where you've got to figure out how to beat a level with odd items and funny setups. We all know that Metal Gear Solid's gameplay was great, and since MGS: VR is basically Metal Gear Solid, you really can't go wrong. There's a problem, though -- MGS: VR just has something missing. Perhaps it's the price you pay, which is almost a full game price for what should be an add-on. Perhaps it's the constant virtual reality levels, unrelenting techno-text nonsense swirling in the background. I'm not really sure, to be honest, but MGS: VR just doesn't have the soul that the original Metal Gear Solid did. Thankfully, the game itself is fun enough to make up for it.
Difficulty: Some of the levels are a joke. Some of them took me an hour, if not more, to get through. This is a game that isn't relying on plot -- instead, it's on what the game designers could come up with to throw in your face. You'll throw your controller in a fit, but you'll come back for more. Trust me on this one. And the hidden bonuses you get every so often make it all that much more fun.
Game Mechanics: You couldn't get better than Metal Gear Solid's mechanics, and MGS: VR is the same. Excellent controls that become intuitive once you know what you're doing. Great graphics, although the VR levels get really annoying after a while. This isn't a perfect game, but with 300-odd levels, there's plenty for you to do, and it'll keep you very occupied. I'm not sure I'd buy it at full price, but when prices drop, by all means, pick up MGS: VR Missions. You won't be disappointed with the hours that you'll spend on it.
-Sunfall to-Ennien, GameVortex Communications AKA Phil Bordelon
RPG Maker MediEvil II