Critical Close-up: Metal Gear Solid (part 2)

Part one can be found here: • Critical Close-up: Met...
Part deux, in which I talk about the technicalities. Part une was about the themes.
Metal Gear games are like nostalgia validators. As bad as they are, they're often better than you remember.
That makes them like the opposite of Sonic games.
Check out superbunnyhop.com/ for more content!

[@dharkbizkit]

"it's set in 2005, so it gets away with future gadgets" meanwhile, in 1984, venom uses holographic pdas with gps with his prostetic arm

[@clashmanthethird]

Uhh.....Nanomachines I guess?

[@xs3tsunax]

and theres a giant death robot that shoots laser

[@Veolynn13]

"venom, there's no such thing as stealth camo ur seein phantoms" "stfu kaz go make yourself a hamburger or something"

[@matthewlee4834]

ikr lol

[@manavkumar9182]

Sahelanthropus isn't better than Rex. It has too many moving parts thats why its isn't possible to pilot it properly thats why PM does it. Not to mention how the hell did he had Powers as a Kid.

[@ZanzibarBreeze]

George - To say Big Boss doesn't have any sympathetic motives in MG2 is wrong. Grey Fox and Schneider (Black Ninja) both explain to you how he saved their lives on numerous occasions (Schneider was left to die by his own country after MG1 and Big Boss found him, instead of killing him, he saved his life and recruited him.) The children around Zanzibar tell you than he's a nice man and their one eyed uncle. Even Dr Madnar was won over by him. He tells you himself that he has to fight because war is all he knows, it's his only purpose and that he can't make it the ordinary world. Whilst yes, he was ultimately a villain, he wasn't as one dimensional in MG2 as you make him out to be.

[@kashu7691]

Also sniper wolf was recruited by big boss, though she was obviously not in mg2

[@THEGREATMAX]

He also says that Foxdie was created to kill the terrorists and it's not. It was made to kill President Baker and the Darpa Chief, so he couldn't possibly be more wrong. It was designed to only kill good guys who might leak secrets. NAOMI put Snake's DNA in there bc she wanted to kill him, not because she was ordered to, and the only reason it killed Liquid and Octopus is because they HAPPENED to have the same DNA as the targets

[@devildavin]

Big Boss was a Soldier, he knew how countries and goverment handled solders like playthings, to be discareded once their usefullness was done. if your country turned its back on you he would always have a place for you, a purpose, a job and comradery.

[@L33PL4Y]

@@THEGREATMAX False. FOXDIE was created to wipe out everyone on Shadow Moses who would be a problem for the US government: the bad guys as well as the good guys who were a leak risk. Liquid even specifically says that Solid Snake was sent in to come into contact with all of them so FOXDIE would wipe them out.

[@cavenyan8947]

"Chafe Grenades" I'd hope not.

[@krist1212]

He said Chafe. Alright. He said it again. Hmm He said Raytions!? I'M OUT!

[@PaulReed]

+Chris Morin I've had my fill of rayshuns to last me a lifetime.

[@D1rtyWhite]

+Chris Morin lol

[@Gaff.]

+Chris Morin 'Rations' was pronounced that way everywhere until the 20th century, and still is in some places. You say 'tomayto'. I say 'why'd you say it like that?'

[@d3lvn]

+Chris Morin He also has a tendency to pronounce "nuclear" as "nucular."

[@Encyclopedia_Brown97]

Like me, he's from Georgia. "Mispronunciations" of words comes with the terroritory no matter how smart you are

[@AntonioGazzaneo91]

to be honest, mgs 1 was the game that moved me the most in all my life, especially the cut scenes, like the death of sniper wolf, vulcan rave, or meryl talking, this game is mostly about emotions and marking you as if you made an experience, as if you really were solid snake

[@supersatanic]

+dimetonn Completely agree. Every device in the game, from the variety of tasks and the codec calls to the fourth wall breaks are designed to make you FEEL like Solid Snake. You REALLY feel empowered and amazed and like a badass, supercool soldier sent to save the world.

[@MartKencuda]

+Tony Gazza I'm with you there. I don't know if it was because I was 13 at the time, but that part where you're in the elevator and Otacon calls to tell you that there were 4 missing stealth camos creeped me out almost as much as Silent Hill did.

[@THEGREATMAX]

Vulkan Raver - Best Character

[@Handsomeanthony68]

I feel you. When I was just a young one, my family was extremely poor; I had gotten my copy from my cousin. I'll never forget hearing "a strong man doesn't need to read the future. He makes his own." It was the first time anyone told me that I was in charge of my own destiny and whatever happened to me, it was my own choice. It was life changing for me.

[@mikvance]

"RAY-SHUNS"

[@GuestOfGregoryHouse]

Hah yes the way he pronounced it kind of annoyed me

[@TGNTeaorcoffee]

"Chayf grenades", too.

[@shibbyguy101]

"Nu-kyu-ler"

[@BlackBelt002]

Your side by side comparison between MGS 1 and Metal Gear 2 makes perfect sense. Yes, it is recycled. It is the "same game" because of the transition to 3D. This change was so monumental that many games focused more on the 3D tech and making sure the game franchise was still good rather than crafting new games. Ocarina of Time uses the same technique. OOT is the exact same setup as A Link to The Past. Get 3 crystals, draw the Master Sword, dungeons and bosses, and defeat Ganon. However, the locations and bosses are new and fresh. Sound familiar? MGS 1 is the same way. Different bosses, new environment, new story, and similar setup. It shows the conditions of the era the game was created in.

[@jasondoe2596]

BlackBelt002, great point!

[@analcentipede]

the way you worded this makes me hate your guts so so much

[@mooganify]

I mean honestly every Zelda game is the same besides MM and BOTW

[@nancyboyd6823]

George: "...and that's why the Cold War is still happening in 1999". Metal Gear 2 intro: " The Cold War is over". Me: Uh... what?

[@One3673241]

I think he meant in the political sense, not in terms of the actual event/era. Hell, even today America and Russia are bitter enemies.

[@bunnyhopshow]

Only in the PC version, I think. You can "lock" your view into first-person mode and walk around with it on by double-tapping the button. Shooting works the same way. No head movements or strafing, so it hardly plays like a proper first-person game, but the mode's there. -G

[@mywhychromosome]

The "Metal Gear Solid 2" analysis is the best one I've seen so far (just discovered your videos the other day), but I dug this a lot. I got the impression that, since there are already so many videos about MGS 1, and that since it is already widely regarded as an untouchable classic, you took the approach of "Yes, but it does have flaws...so what are those flaws? Where do they effect it? And do they effect it enough to really ruin the experience?" to try and do something new. Because of that, while I didn't agree with all of your criticisms, I appreciated how you were trying to look at it from a different angle. And, of course, how in the end you still had to admit that it remains an excellent experience

[@PlayMadness]

Man, these grenades are really chafing.

[@RadArgie]

save up your Reitions. made me laugh.

[@chrispychickin]

+Lucas Sarquiz and chafe grenades, don't forget those! :P

[@RadArgie]

i got chafe on my retions!

[@FriedCisco]

+Lucas Sarquiz Paused the video as soon as he finished that sentence.

[@Sam_foster]

Replaying the game isn't fun? I love replaying MGS, it's a lot of fun. I can see why you might get frustrated with certain parts but I never thought for one second that the game wasn't enjoyable or entertaining.

[@Brandon_519]

+Lucas Sarquiz compairishun

[@Deathlygunn]

hold square and x during the stair section to run and gun, you don't need to stop and aim, also the game does offer tutorials through VR Missions

[@boRalto]

Deathlygunn But doesn't explain that in the VR Missions

[@Uliseh]

Deathlygunn he had a bug, i remember when i was playing it on a PSX and firing in stairs worked fine

[@Gaff.]

+Deathlygunn Stun grenades, mate. That's why Kojima's left a box of them for you by the box of rope. But no-one knows why the rope is in a designated, labelled box.

[@MonkeyPowerkey]

I agee with you. From my experience there is nothing in this game that it doesn't explain to you. Like how to know what's up ahed. The game has given you everything you need to be able to avoide pretty much all the problems he mentions in this video. All aside from that Bug wich honestly is VERY new to me. And i've made an honest effort of playing this game ALOT! I know this game inside out. I know every pixle of this game. I could probably paint a map of the top of my head. I can see the map in my head as if it's my own living room right infront of me. I've playd this game so much that if there where any magure bugs in the game i would know about them. And i have never ecountered a bug that effected my experience. HAHA! So non of the problems he mentions in this video are in my opinion problems.

[@Gaff.]

andvas1994 I've read that bug was only on the PC. Not sure, though.

[@CanonGames]

Super Bunny Hop's old reviews are awesome!

[@HelderP1337]

"You can't do this elegantly" - Referring to the infinite stairs level Actually, yes you can, just spam stun grenades. Using anything else than stun grenades will just get you killed. If I'm not mistaken they tell you the same if you call the colonel.

[@RaichuMGS]

I just use the SOCOM or FAMAS. Never used the stun grenades.

[@frogglen6350]

Helder Pinto Spam is not eloquent.

[@RaichuMGS]

Spaced Invader yeah pretty late. Since making the comment I’ve learned to speedrun MGS1 & stuns are how I do ascension 😛

[@justbny9278]

Just hold Square+X and you can run and shoot

[@pepekovallin]

During my last playthrough on the latest week I discovered that I could use the stun grenades, and they helped me to not receive too much damage, but surprisingly, CQC also helps a lot, throwing a guard makes everyone fall as well, giving you plenty of time to continue upstairs. It's funny because you would think using FAMAS would kill the guys faster and give you some time, when in fact, a non-lethal approach proves to be more effective

[@DARE0451]

I didn't fire a single shot on the staircase. I spammed stun grenades.

[@marloges]

This. It's actually possible to do this part without getting hit once. And this shooting glitch never happened to me.

[@MythicM]

Eric Paßmann its the pc version

[@DARE0451]

MythicM Let's hope that the Ground Zeroes PC port is more functional.

[@Czesnek]

TrueFriends HelpMoveBodies He made the Fox engine specifically for this so it should work just fine, but he could fix the mouse accerelation when zooming with snipers or binoculars that is the only problem with the Fox engine.

[@RealMisterDoge]

Man I just threw the fuckers down the stairs the whole way like dominoes

[@CERTAIND00M]

I love this MGS close-up series. Also, you say "chaff" and "rations" funny. By any chance, are you from Mini-soda?

[@itscomplicatedwatches]

16:40... Or you could just use Stinger missiles to take out the gun cams.

[@csm153]

Who the fuck knew that.

[@TequilaToothpick]

@@csm153 13 year old me.

[@L33PL4Y]

I'm pretty sure you can also use Nikita missiles if you fly them up the stairs, then turn them back around to aim into the cameras when they get high enough.

[@JrrrNikolaus]

Bit confused by some of his complaints when the game did offer some solutions like this. I also found the combat fine, better than a lot of other games out on the ps1.

[@DanielLearmouth]

About those stairs in the middle of the game...... Stun grenades are your friend.

[@VoidRAZ]

+Daniel Learmouth Unless you're out of those too. God help you if you abuse any one item too much in this game.

[@DanielLearmouth]

I never found a use for the stun grenades outside of that one area, so I just spam them like mad.

[@Zillionjape]

+Daniel Learmouth yeah, I really don't have that problem at all in the game. I played the game on extreme, and even then I had enough stun grenades for that staircase, and even then I had enough chaff grenades for the turret staircase. I don't know how you can manage to use them all before that.

[@DanielLearmouth]

inoffensive coddler I just slapped her about to knock her out.

[@jasondoe2596]

It's been several years, but I'm sure there were *multiple* ways to deal with those stairs - I believe even non-stop runnin'n'gunning with the FAMAS was viable!

[@sEaNoYeAh]

Yeah, it's important to save rayshuns and chafe grenades, that way you can heal and give your enemies uncomfortable bodily rubbing.

[@iDOODLEPOP]

Did you play this on PC? Because I have never EVER seen what you showed on the stairs portion of the game on the PS1 versions. He has always aimed that the guards with no problem for me and never has shot straight up in the air.

[@SianaGearz]

Doodlepop : Lost In Time No, he has not played the PC version, he played the Xbox360 release for this review. [EDIT: THIS IS WRONG. SORRY!]

[@snakeshepard9761]

Siana Gearz but Metal Gear Solid never came out on Xbox360

[@SianaGearz]

SnakeShepard97 I'm sorry, you're indeed right. This must be the PS3 release then. This is not the Playstation version, because it was obviously 4:3 only and had system inherent vertex jitter. This is also not the PC version, because that one had distorted HUD.

[@snakeshepard9761]

Siana Gearz I think he's playing on a bugged version XD that thing on stairs never happened to me on psx or ps3, and I've finished at least 10 times both versions

[@mistermista2927]

Siana Gearz It is the PC version.

[@LIONREV7]

finally someone mentions the recicle from Metal Gear 2.

[@InTheKM]

I'm really surprised that there were no comparisons between this and Twin Snakes, which is basically a remake of MGS1 but on MGS2's engine.

[@hazardousjazzgasm129]

89Wrathchild I don't think he's played it, a comparison video is a good idea though

[@WEDhicks]

Watching your close-ups again years after I finished (almost) all games. I love the analysis you do and the backstories you give. Thanks for making this series!

[@Garrette63]

Just because something is good doesn't mean it should be immune to criticism. I bought MGS1 brand new right after it came out and had a great time with it. Doesn't make the backtracking any less monotonous, or the combat any less awful. The stealth system in the game is laughable, and plays more like a puzzle than anything else. It doesn't even touch the stealth system in Thief. The hidden gun cameras during the second part of the game are cheap and unfair, the temperature sensitive keycard is one of the most boring parts of the game. They load up on environmental hazards right in the beginning like spotlights, footprints in the snow, and water puddles, and then basically never do anything meaningful with them again. The only thing "ahead" about Metal Gear Solid was the long cutscenes and dialogue boxes. There was nothing gameplay related that was unique, or even done better, than games that came before it. I still play the game every couple of years because it's one of my favorites, but I know a lot of that is due to nostalgia and how silly/crazy the story is. The gameplay itself has aged really poorly, and the limitation forced onto the game because of the hardware of the time make it even worse.

[@Gaff.]

+Garrette I think you had a point at the beginning but you're being far too extreme. The game has a lot of problems. But for one thing, I love the stealth system. It maybe does play more like a puzzle system but that lends it a sense of action, and sometimes I want that. Thief is a totally different sort of game, which is more about suspense and slow pacing. I love it for totally different reasons. MGS goes into full action mode frequently, especially for the huge number of boss fights. Thief does not. Keycard idea was fantastic but maybe slightly boring in its implementation. It doesn't really take long to do it, though, so I've never had a problem with it. Metal Gear Solid is ahead in many ways. It may be the first game to have a colour manual. Its script and acting remain mostly unparallelled, despite obvious convolutions and occasionally poor writing. It was released before Thief, so technically, there was no better stealth system before it. It definitely didn't have Thief to look to for inspiration. The combat system could have been better, certainly, but within the confines of the game it's almost always perfectly sufficient, moreover considering combat is not usually the focus. The emphasis on _not_ killing your enemies was rarely ever done, and never in so large a title. The accounting for almost everything a player can do, and programming so many different interactions is still impressive. Most games, even now, just somehow communicate 'you can't do that' in some way, often by allowing you to waste bullets or something. In this game, you can be pissed on by a dog to avoid damage in the area, you can shoot rats with a sniper rifle and be scolded via codec for it, you can be punished for staring at Meryl or hitting her, you can play most boss fights in several ways, you can use the thermal goggles or the cigarrettes for the lasers (side note, no game in 1998 had used laser sensors like that), you can smoke cigarrettes and be scolded for that, you can talk to someone on your codec about literally about 90% of what's in the game, you can escape from prison in about five different ways that you have to _think_ of unless you brute-force rapid-tap your way through the torture and wait to be rescued, and though there's even more, I think this is sufficient. The game hasn't aged well in every aspect, but it does a lot more than cutscenes well, even by to-day's standards, and especially by 1998's.

[@Blighted_Ashes]

konami and its metaltroid solid gameplay

[@Gaff.]

***** I can't see it that way. Where would you say this starts happening? For me, beside the story I love all the boss fights, and maybe a couple of areas in between later bosses aren't perfectly done, I've never had a problem with them and the boss fights are more than enough to keep me going. In fact, at least when I first played, the stuff between the later bosses was almost like a healthy bit of down-time. I don't need that now that I've played it so many times but I was glad of it back then.

[@lvbandmore]

+Garrette What makes this game special to me is 1. Nostalgia (as you mentioned), 2. the plot and voice-acting is crazy-cool - like Faster Pussycat Kill Kill good. I could never stomach having to actually play it again tho...

[@gilgamesh310]

+Ei’ríġ Proinsias Dammantaċ Ó Gamhna. Tenchu came out before MGS, and done stealth better. Thief had easily the best stealth out of the 3 of them, and came out a few months after MGS, but it doesn't get nearly the same acknowledgment for it. I don't really understand that point about the stealth being puzzles. Stealth in pretty much all games is in some way about solving puzzles. Even if they are very simple. Thief and other games before and since, just done it better. There is a lot of charming feaures about MGS, but it's core gameplay has never really been much good. It's mostly because of its cinematic presentation, that it gets such acclaim.

[@IAMSCIENTISTS]

First things first, Mr Super Bunny Hop - you've done a fantastic job on all of these MGS videos - I've found them informative and stimulating. Just thought it might be of interest to you RE: the PAL card section - they actually did run out of resources to complete the game according the original design, with the PAL card heating/cooling mechanic brought in to pad the length of the game due to budgetary reasons. Of course, a man who's spent so long diligently researching MGS has probably read that before, but you know - share the love and all that!

[@marloges]

I can't agree with the critique of the gameplay. The bosses aren't bullshit if you know how to defeat them. Personally I played this game over 10 times, and I still have a lot of fun with it. Of course, the backtracking is a bit annoying, I can't deny that, but the gameplay itself works great.

[@Clearzova]

+Eric Paßmann (Marloges) Most bosses in most games aren't bullshit if you know how to beat them.

[@nessesaryschoolthing]

Just to confirm: I am an adult who owned a PS1 growing up, but never played this game as a kid. I just played this for the first time, mostly blind save a few Metal Gear Awesome cartoons, and I pretty much had this same experience. The story is goofy and absurd but also totally engaging, while the actual playing is very frustrating. My least favorite part was the Sniper Wolf boss fights. When your sights would go completely off after taking one bullet every time you try to land off a shot... oh it makes me mad. Can't wait to finish MGS2 so I can watch your critique of that.

[@KevinStriker]

I feel you should have been a little clearer that Solid Snake has the most in common with Rambo from First Blood, rather than First Blood Part 2 or Rambo III. In First Blood, Rambo is a troubled veteran and a former member from an elite special forces unit. He also uses a mixture of stealth, light and heavy weaponry, high explosives. (Sound like someone you know?)

[@1123walkman]

i really enjoy these videos. its nice to actually see reviewers that produce a video that actually reflects all of the research and effort they did to create it. i look forward to the next one as im sure it will be just as good if not better than the last. keep up the good work

[@joshuanelson6795]

I have a lot of respect for you, sir. Most people say that Metal Gear Solid is a near-perfect masterpiece with almost no flaws. You, however, actually acknowledge its flaws while still agreeing that it's a very good game overall. I personally love this game but agree with a lot of the flaws you just listed.

[@jp3813]

You just described DSPGaming.

[@joshuanelson6795]

***** How so?

[@jp3813]

Masked Guy He continually pointed out all the flaws of this game yet still acknowledges that it's good at the end of his playthrough.

[@joshuanelson6795]

***** To my knowledge, DSPGaming has a pretty infamous reputation when it comes to Metal Gear.

[@jp3813]

Masked Guy Which is exactly why I mentioned him.

[@Zeithri]

"1999: Cyborg Big Boss-" You just put in Snake's Revenge into the continuity!

[@TehJaytius]

Nah man, Kessler tells you in Metal Gear 2 that Big Boss underwent cybernetic enhancements after Outer Heaven it's part of the canon of the main games.

[@Zeithri]

***** Oh really? I had no idea.

[@lornarthebreton5394]

***** So that's why he has the mechanical arm in MGSV

[@Time2Keeper1]

And you're sure that codec convo wasn't just a tongue in cheek reference to Snake's Revenge? You sure it's canon?

[@LUCKO2022]

***** 7 One that is a reference to Kojima's other game Snatcher. It's not part of the canon. God people know nothing.

[@darthkahn45]

"Raytions"? "chaif grenade"?

[@MoriyaMug]

And "nuculer."

[@LongHairAndGlasses]

MoriyaMug It's funny because they say Rations, Chaff and Nuclear many many times.

[@yunikage]

Long Hair and Glasses It's REALLY funny because George uses words like "ludological" in the exact same review. I'm convinced he is fucking with us. In some videos he says "comparishon".

[@TehUltimateSnake]

Then a few sentences later he pronounces it correctly. Lmaoo

[@ChiefKenn]

Well, you CAN run and shoot at the same time but they never tell you that

[@le_maxarus]

Nice video. I like that you can criticize this masterpiece instead of just say it's wonderful. It is wonderful, but there's nothing flawless in this world, and we can see how Kojima and his team has fixed many of the problems in every new game. By the way, you know the only way to play this game is without radar. That applies for MGS2, too.

[@alessandrocwilliam]

I'd just finished this amazing game 1 day ago and I can confirm that this is the most accurate review I ever watched in my life. You marked every point that I hated in this game (for not being really a a classic stealth game, hard to aim, hard to avoid enemies, level designs that likes to mess with you, really not fun to play objectives when you need to go back for searching cards or weapons to make you able to proceed in the game, that f*cking 30 floors challenge, and much more). Don't get me wrong, I really want to play the full franchise now but the fun fact is that I originally started playing this game by night just for chill and relax (I thought it was a stealth game with many cinematics, I didn't knew the missions/parts between the cinematics were so hard, frustrating and not really stealthy at all) I'd chosen the wrong game xD

[@illitero]

This isn't meant as a boast or anything, but the sections of gameplay you struggled with aren't as difficult as you make them out to be. I was able to get past them at age 11 when the game first came out by taking my time and paying attention to the suggestions and hints in the game gave me. Tower climb with the millions of jerkoffs: run and gun with the use of square and X Tower climb with gun cameras: use the Stinger if necessary Battle with Greyfox: only use the one-two of your punch attack because going for the kick leaves you open Wolf area: either equip Meryl's kerchief or punch a wolf then equip the box for it to pee on Gun cameras when radar is jammed: take three seconds to look where you're going instead of running blindly, it's a fucking stealth game you should have been doing that from the start Key cards: throw your copy of MGS in the microwave to quickly heat it up, then throw it in the freezer to cool it off. Or just equip the appropriate boxes you've collected and hop into trucks because, surprise, they take you places! Follow these steps to fully enjoy your game!

[@NicoNice24]

+illitero I agree, the game gives you so many great tools and possibilities to get past seemingly tough sequences and the player should just take a second to think before they just blindly run in. The amount of detail put into this kinda stuff is stunning considering it came out in the late 90's.

[@illitero]

NapoleonBorn2party I really should have added that I otherwise enjoyed his insight. It makes me reconsider aspects of the game that I otherwise considered cheeky fun to keep from taking itself too seriously. Overall it just makes me want to play the series again, haha.

[@NicoNice24]

illitero Haha, same here

[@illitero]

***** it's definitely difficult to pick up on patterns and hints at times, especially the latter in a game where it's often buried in dialogue or quick flashes of action. I didn't make the connection to use the code on the game case itself to find Meryl's CODEC channel; I was too busy trying to find a secret with the "DISC" in my inventory after Campbell mentioned it being on the back of the cd case lolol. But the things mentioned aren't particularly difficult if you're paying attention. The "run and gun" thing is in the manual for sure, and I almost want to say that it's in the weapon description of the inventory as well. If you play around with the Stinger you'll see it locks onto cameras. When figuring out what buttons do what at the very start of the game, you'll be able to see that while the kick is powerful, you're left open to attack. I admittedly figured out getting the wolves to pee on the box by accident from screwing around, but that was only after seeing how much they loved Meryl and equipping the kerchief because it says something about smelling like her. And finally all the gun cameras when the radar is jammed came from taking my time and scoping out levels because it's a tactical game and it's a smart tactic to watch where you're going :3

[@illitero]

***** hell yeh my man B) The game disc is equipped with a strip of a thermo-sensitive data layer that changes values based on temperature, meaning that when you come to that section of the game where you need to do that, you can remove the disc from the console (still powered on, of course) and toss it in the microwave/freezer. Due to the expansion/contraction from temperature, the data reads differently when the hot/cold disc is placed back into the console; so when the game tries to read the disc and sees the corresponding data in relation to being hot/cold/room temperature, it will change the status of the card in the inventory. ...but actually hell no please don't do that this is all a lie for the lulz :(

[@shanenolan4269]

I love these videos. Watched them once a year

[@peggedleg]

I love it when he says "nucular"

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

I actually enjoyed playing this game a lot, specially when it came out. I played through it around 5 times, and in the 19 years since I've managed to play it completely two more times. Loving these videos though!

[@alexanderstilianov]

Stun grenades make the long stair sections in the towers a breeze.

[@aresdotexe]

Alex Yeah, The Super Gaming Bros show how much of a cakewalk both towers can be in their LP.

[@alexanderstilianov]

aresdotexe I love those guys.

[@Gunslinger1875]

Running up the stairs I just kept throwing stun grenades didn't kill one guard.

[@scratchnsniff7528]

One explanation of the difficulty thing could be that the game starts out as difficult, so you feel challenged - which is engaging. It getting easier, due to the extra health and weapons, makes the players feel "like a boss". While the varying difficulties of the game bosses still make you feel challenged (thus engaged), and like, well, "a boss". I've said boss too many times, but you get the idea. Hard = Engaged. Easier = Complementary. The game cycling between the two makes it feel both engaging and complementary. It's this perfect mix that makes the MG games so satisfying to play. Just my .02

[@pepekovallin]

Your constant use of the word boss is funny because the only way you can receive big boss rank is to play on extreme difficulty, so basically, normal difficulties makes you feel like a boss, while the extreme difficulties test if you deserved being called a boss

[@dadabubz2674]

I became a fan of the series with MGS2. Recently I tried to play MGS1 for the first time and man am I sad I didn't play it back in the day because back then at that age I would have been blown away and would've been a game I looked back on fondly today. Unfortunately I played it in 2014 and holy shit has the gameplay aged badly! I totally know where he's coming from.

[@Mahiro801]

dada bubz Thats why I bought a gamecube, for the MGS The Twin Snakes.

[@dadabubz2674]

I wish they had just added the Twin Snakes on the legacy collection instead of the original.

[@Mahiro801]

Nintendo gots the rights for Twin Snakes.

[@dadabubz2674]

Well here's hoping it comes out someday on the 3ds.

[@LUCKO2022]

dada bubz Here is a better idea. STOP SUCKING AT GAMES. Fuck, it's not that hard. I breezed through it on my first time through. All these problems with the gameplay that he bitches about, I never had a issue with EVER. Like the part in the beginning where it bitches about the stealth aspect and things such as footprints and puddles could get you caught. It's FUCKING OBVIOUS, DUH. When you run through a puddle does it not splash thus making NOISE? When you walk in snow do you not leave footprints behind that someone COULD follow you? DUH. Obviously he is bad at games. That is not a fault of the game but on the player.

[@Tehgamerstation]

I've never had those aiming problems on the stairs.

[@lorenzotosi3377]

Neither did I. Actually, I like these two videos, but...I don't know...I didn't find the gameplay so problematic at the time. It was difficult in some parts, yes, but this is not a problem, it was a joy to play for me...

[@MattNovosad]

***** I just ran up and threw guards, it was easy.

[@mycatisdumb99]

They only exist in the PC Version of the game, the PS1 and GameCube versions don't have the issue, neither does the PS3 version as its a direct port

[@metamofia]

Hey man, just want to drop by and say I really enjoy your critical close-up series of MGS games!

[@DaShonuff]

Hey Super BunnyHop, I think I can answer why you felt the top load difficulty was ridiculous in this game. Im pretty sure the reason for this is: A) They really want you to focus on using the codec, a lot which acts as your mobile tutorial. Every time you encounter a situation, hold a new weapon or item, ect your suppose to pop the Codec and talk to the appropriate specialist about said inquiry. B) Its a stealth sneaking mission, they really wanted you to remember that. Your not suppose to get caught, spotted, or tracked. Your suppose to be invisible. Early in the game and story they hard code this in your head several times on how important it is you don't get caught. They weren't kidding. Legendary Solder or not, if you get caught punishment was sure fire death, if your spotted your not suppose to fight your suppose to escape and hide and fast. So basically you had enough tools and warnings to get you out of every situation despite the difficulty in the beginning. Had they throwing you in there without any help, then I would understand your frustration. I do agree with you on the overall gameplay though.

[@nickdaring]

Great commentary on my favorite series. You totally get what is so interesting about the approach and the flaws of it all. Please continue on with the MGS series. Tons of interesting elements about each one.

[@professionallyunprofession5729]

What are you talking about? Replaying this game is so much fun!!! Especially once you have unlimited ammo and stealth. When you have those just use stun grenades on the first tower and run like hell! Cyborg Ninja, just use chaff and shoot him with the Famas. Easy! This is an amazing game and for me it's the best in the series.

[@InADarkTavern]

i'm 12 years old and this game is more fun to me than any modern game. I usually find games this old to be unplayable because of the bad graphics and controls, but somehow this and goldeneye have been my only exceptions. This is my favourite game now and I got the big boss ranking 2 times, I think this guy is just bad at games.

[@CrizzyEyes]

+aram rajabpour It's heartwarming to my jaded neckbearded self to hear someone who's 12 talk like that. If you like this one you should get your hands on 2 and 3, the gameplay is unique to each of the titles. And yeah, you will come to find that most people who review and report on video games are actually quite terrible, surprisingly. George is actually fairly good relative to most of the people I see reviewing and previewing video games.

[@InADarkTavern]

Crazy Eyes I've beaten every single one of them

[@CrizzyEyes]

aram rajabpour Hey, just makin' sure. You never know. I was half-expecting to see you post that you couldn't due to lack of hardware or something.

[@InADarkTavern]

Crazy Eyes no I got everything from n64 to ps4

[@ianipoo]

The part you overlooked is that it's possible that Snake's story about killing his dad may have been something brainwashed into him to think.

[@MattNovosad]

The toploading in MGS1 makes a hell of a lot of sense. You're a trained soldier, but one who hasn't been doing this shit for 6 years, and retired to be a dog musher. You're getting better, just as much as snake is. As well, it's to get players familiar with all the mechanics of the game, to be sneaky and not just rush into things. My only real issue with the gameplay in MGS1 is aiming, which for me was really only a problem during the Psycho Mantis fight. Other than that, I thought the gameplay held up well.

[@KRoegiest]

Man, this game was my favourite game around when I was about 10 years old ... I must've finished it at least a dozen times. Your critiques made me laugh at nostalgia!

[@thedubwallchannel]

the shooting on the stairs never happened ever on my disc

[@demetergrasseater]

I never knew how much I was pampering myself when I decided to start the series with the Gamecube remaster of this game until I watched this video.

[@itscomplicatedwatches]

Stinger missiles for the gun turrets on the second tower.

[@TobyBaxGale]

Mannn, Last year I wrote a dissertation on Metal Gear Solid, I forget the full title. But I found both these videos brilliantly detailed and brought up some brilliant point's that I'd missed out in my written report. I thought I knew and figured out this game... guess I have now! awesome video man.

[@AzguardMike]

you can destroy the gun cameras with stingers when you run out of chayfe grenades.

[@sveinaredvardsen3521]

11:52 "Embiggens is a perfectly cromulent word"

[@OffTheSpot22]

What would a stealth game be without a moment of forced combat that you're horribly under-equipped for? It's like that idiotic UNATCO vs NSF firefight that Deus Ex tricks you into walking into.

[@Anomaly188]

SpookyKid94 Or you could just hang back, let them kill each other and pick off any stragglers before you loot the bodies for items and ammo. The game certainly doesn't give a shit if the nameless UNATCO grunts die so why should you?

[@AydarBMSTU]

Your example from Deus Ex doesn't work at all here. Besides Deus Ex isn't solely a stealth game, it's up to you whether you want to go stealthy or actiony and both approaches work greatly. I would understand if you mentioned Thief here, but you didn't, since you can't, because Thief doesn't have such a moment

[@AydarBMSTU]

Your example from Deus Ex doesn't work at all here. Besides Deus Ex isn't solely a stealth game, it's up to you whether you want to go stealthy or actiony and both approaches work greatly. I would understand if you mentioned Thief here, but you didn't, since you can't, because Thief doesn't have such a moment

[@ARMTOAST]

Jesus, these videos just get better and better.

[@wiggarigga]

16:00, I don't know what you were doing but when I was playing the other day I could shoot the gaurds up the stairs, snake wouldn't shoot straight up in the air like you were, thats weird, I have never seen that before

[@hedgehogs1066]

I also never had a problem. The section was pretty easy to not take damage on (even without stun 'nades), you just aim and run upstairs shooting whenever Snake locks on to the enemy in front. You can also use explosives to take out the gun cameras.

[@CountAbel]

It happens in the PC version.

[@They_are_Arthur]

I didn't mind all of the rehashes from Metal Gear 2 when I played this right after Metal Gear 2. I thought they were really good, especially the staircase sequence. I believe the staircase sequence is absolutely marvelous because it forces the player to think in a way the player never would've thought playing before, and it also feels like a scene right out of an action movie when the hero needs to find a way to overcome a difficult situation. For my playthrough, I used the body armor I found in B2 of the Nuclear Storage Base while shooting with FAS-MAS, and I got through it just fine. Even including stopping to check on the level 6 door that Otacon claims is frozen shut. It added to the suspense of this ludicrous situation. As I was climbing, I noticed my bullets running out, so as I was looking through the weapon wheel, I saw the stun grenades and glided right up to the top of the stairs. This moment felt so raw and unforgiving, but also made me feel a lot like a bad ass for improvising my way to the top of the tower.

[@CGonzales033]

when you are climbing the floors, use stun grenades.

[@bunnyhopshow]

AWW THANKS!! I really appreciate the compliment :) Come back for more! -G

[@papi3d]

Yes it did happen.... in the Japanese release of metal gear 2, he reveals that Snake is his father... it was removed for the US NES version

[@LukeSparrow221]

The US en MSX versions aren't the same game. Also, Big Boss did not tell Snake he was his father.

[@Anomaly188]

papi3d What US NES version?

[@LUCKO2022]

papi3d No he didn't. It is not ever in ANY version of Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake. And there was NO US release as the MSX2 computer was NEVER RELEASED HERE. For some reason the game was never ported to the US until 2006 with the MGS 3 Subsistence release. That is the first time that game EVER came to North America. The NES sequel to Metal Gear is Snake's Revenge which is non canon to the plot of the series. But it is still a good game in it's own right.

[@junkyardcrow1748]

After watching this video, I completed this game for the first time yesterday, I can confirm that the Gray Fox fight was indeed NOT bullshit, and that the staircase with the security cams did NOT require chaff grenades to pass. However, the staircase chase scene and backtracking were indeed awful, so I'll give you that.

[@casedistorted]

I agree with many things said but i think the towers run and gun portion of the game is more skill based instead of 'badly designed'. There is the ability to shoot while running but it takes a combination of two buttons in quick succession to do so and this allows you to fire your FAMAS diagonally upward while going up the stairs. This made the stairs sequence one of the parts of the game I remember the most fondly because of how fast paced and action packed it was.

[@KRoegiest]

Today I started replaying this ... man, it's way better than I remember. Breezing through it on hard difficulty actually >_> Got to the second Sniper Wolf battle in a couple of hours today. It's been years but all those tips and tricks of this game are still prominent memories apparently ^_^

[@HalEmmerichOtacon]

IM A NO POTATO!

[@Koseiku]

i have to agree that the flaws he mentioned are annoying. luckily, they were corrected with the remake "the twin snakes", BUT they only released it for the gamecube. the start of the series was a bit strange but hey. look what we got in retrospect.

[@Oblico1Morale]

Lol when I had to pass a second tower with turrets, i used to blow them up with stinger. One shot takes out like 3 or 4 if them

[@Sentay0]

I love these critical close-up series. SO MUCH NOSTALGIA!

[@lindthechaoticheretic8708]

The fuck is a Ray-Shin?

[@thewrathofrevan5999]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@AncientArk]

Weird Gameplay, so true, throwing grenades onto Ravens tank was much more awkward than it should have had to be. Excellent video, just as before! Looking forward to the next one.

[@HaloHatch]

raytions... nuculer... chafe grenades...

[@bunnyhopshow]

Both times I played through it, I ran out of either type of grenade before finally making it to the top. Chaff grenades don't stun guards, and stun grenades don't stun turrets. I used a lot of both grenades beforehand because I like doing nonlethal runs of these games, so those towers were a real gauntlet. Even on normal mode. -G

[@shooterb0y23]

I played this game as a four year old and I understood the parts that confused you. Its not that complicated man. Its actually the most comprehensible MGS to date and the most down to earth.

[@MrDeefleparde]

Aside from the story, its the Boss Fights that make this game and its sequels fun.

[@aresdotexe]

Steve Eisler Don't forget the kick-ass music and general atmosphere. 3's more sandbox-ish approach is awesome, too. And 4's superior controls and awesome set pieces are awesome. And PW's just awesome in general. And TPP seems like it has the potential to be like, the single greatest thing ever.

[@cikame]

I see the negatives presented here as positives, or at least things i can excuse due to it being a ps1 game. Early 3D action games used a vast array of mechanics while developers were trying to figure out how shooting worked in a 3D video game, the perspective and shooting in MGS is experimental, some people can't get on with Goldeneye due to it only having 1 analog stick, MGS only had a d-pad. I can't remember what my first experience was like as i've played the game so many times now i have an unfair advantage, but learning the games tricks and its systems, learning what weapons and gadgets work best and where is a fun process no other game at the time was attempting. The towers arn't that bad :P just run and shoot with the famas, but again i don't remember what my first experience was like, i've never seen that vertical aiming bug before.

[@MrAnimefan20]

I love you, George. You know what else is bullshit? The fistfight with Liquid. He has the same blinking invulnerability that most protagonists in games get after they're damaged. Except his triggers at random times. When you go in for 1 round of Snakes punch-punch-kick combo before running away, he'll get that blinking invincibility after the second punch, meaning that you're wide open for one of his ridiculously overpowered punches.

[@Fear605]

chaff grenade has no "e" in chaff. It's ch-ah-f. Ration SHOULD be pronounced ray-tion like you're saying it but English isn't fair and it's pronounced ra·tion.

[@TequilaToothpick]

Hey the battle up the tower is my favourite part. You have so many options from the claymores and C4s to the stun grenades to machine gun. It's so exciting.

[@amanofculture4892]

my ray-SHINS sure do CHAFE

[@bunnyhopshow]

Yup! Keep an eye out in the future. A critical close-up for MGS2 is definitely planned! - G

[@gilgamesh310]

What's wrong with the cyborg ninja boss fight?

[@damon22441]

+gilgamesh310 OP probably never figured out that you could outmaneuver Grey Fox's attacks. I think that's one of the easiest fights in game, only topped by the Sniper Wolf fight if you're a terrible person and use the nikita rockets.

[@lvbandmore]

+damon22441 Holy crap, I never even thought of using the Nikitas! Shit, now I gotta go try that lol!

[@damon22441]

The Daily Beethoven She deserves a better fight. :(

[@samuraiwarrior87]

+damon22441 i found the second fight with wolf easer used the sniper rifle to kill her the first fight was a pain in the ass for me for some reason.

[@gaspar30]

Akira, pedestrian? You were doing so well...

[@TheEvilDead1983]

The problem with Metal Gear Solid is that it was a victim of the technology of the time. Hardly any 3d PS1 games hold up today. The graphics are bad, the camera angles are horrible, and the gameplay usually can't compare to the refined control schemes of modern games. However the thing that Metal Gear Solid did have was a great story. And a great story will always endure.

[@cormano64]

Kristopher Margo That aging bit is the nature of polygon-based art. They will always age badly compared to pixel, traditional drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.

[@bobsnob3073]

Kristopher Margo i feel like silent hill holds up great today too

[@cormano64]

Bob Snob Yeah, great atmosphere and fitting game controls reflecting the nature of the playable character (in contrast with the original Resident Evil games).

[@TequilaToothpick]

Your complaints about the aiming on the stairs was because you are using the PC version.

[@Time2Keeper1]

Lol, it's funny how even hardcore fans have a hard time following what's going on in Metal Gear. The Cold War is over in MG2, it says it in the very clip you use, and while it speaks of nuclear disarmament it makes no mention of utopia, in fact it takes place during a time of a world crippling energy crisis. The "peace" the Armstech president speaks of in MGS also does not equal a utopia, as it is just an extension of the relative peace of the 1990s, which is when this game was released, Kojima just assumed it would stretch out to the 2000s. And the woman who is killed in MG2 is not the same one you meet in the bathroom.

[@timekeeper2538]

"You eventually catch up with a woman soldier and give her a talk in the women's bathroom, then she gets shot down at a checkpoint shortly after", he is definitely implying it's the same character, which is wrong. Are YOU just inept at understanding basic semantics?

[@MythicM]

OMG how is that implying its the same character? How do you infer that? It should be clear to anyone with a fucking brain what he was talking about.

[@MattNovosad]

MythicM dude, how does that not imply the same woman? The pronoun "she" is referring to the "woman soldier" from earlier in the sentence. That's basic grammar.

[@noex100]

TimeKeeper25 It is the same character you dumb fuck.

[@justbny9278]

@@timekeeper2538 meryl does get shot down, but since it's a sniper not a metal gear,meryl survives the attack but gets kidnapped.

[@SammEater]

I still think the gameplay aged well, unlike many 90's games.

[@The_Weasel_]

What's a ray-tion?

[@MartKencuda]

+The_Weasel_2012 It's what you do when you get really mad at your friend Ray.

[@InYourPocket87]

Getting up the staircase with perfectly-timed stun grenades is the definition of elegance.

[@archiethedog4515]

USE THE STUN GRENADES AND BODY ARMOR FOR STAIR SECTION. Sorry for all caps but god damn....

[@Xpert74]

+Jon Doe (Mr White Foxy) Is there even a way to get body armor that early on? I didn't find any until the blast furnace room.

[@archiethedog4515]

Xpert74 I forget where since I haven't played in forever, but yes you can get body armor before this section.

[@Zillionjape]

It is a complicated plot, but still a mastermind plot, because it all makes sense, especially if you play the whole series chronologically.

[@mattlowder]

this is such a great review, and i hate to be "that guy" . . . but . . . "Rations" is not pronounced "ray-shins" it's "rash-shins"

[@mattlowder]

and you're reviews of these Metal Gears are fantastic. . . Sorry to correct you, man.

[@DAVVEZ396]

matthlowder "and you are reviews..."

[@DAVVEZ396]

Haha, i'm sorry, friend. It was just funny in the context. But your response was hilarious. Have a sweet day!

[@mattlowder]

*tip of the hat* you're a good sport, David. Peace.

[@thenanoboost]

The “running out of shit you need” thing happened to me on the turret stairs part and somehow I still managed to get passed it. But I have played through like a million times haha

[@richbroadhead562]

Your playing metal gear solid wrong. The part where you are running up all those stairs for example. You are given a rope and stun granades when the scene starts and the camra sees you.. Just run up throwing the stun grenades after every flash count to 3 and throw again.

[@richbroadhead562]

as long as you can run without hitting walls you will be fine even on extreme

[@ginger-sama4020]

"how it closes up on characters to invoke intimacy" *close up of greyfox banging his head on the floor repeatedly*

[@thechickengod]

That isn't how you get intimate? Oh nooooo...

[@matman000000]

As problematic as the gameplay and pacing is, at least it's not the awkward and repetitive mess that MGS2 was. That game mixed similar gameplay with completely incompatible camera angles and level design, which only caused frustration. And going through the entire base twice, first to get the absolutely necessary radar working (as you said, the radar is incredibly useful and you could probably go through 80% of both games just looking at it), then to freeze all the bombs, was incredibly tiresome. Sorry to go OT, I just get easily pissed about MGS2.

[@GuyOnAChair]

Max Payne I wouldn't mind them so much if it weren't for the swimming. OH GOD THE SWIMMING! MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE!

[@Santiago-Farrell]

Big Boss called himself snakes father in Metal Gear, and snake thought he killed him, only to have him appear again in Zanzibar, where he actually finished Big Boss off. six years later, the events in Metal Gear Solid occur. (play the MSX2 versions for reference)