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Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Preview for PlayStation 2 (PS2)
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2003 @ 08:33:06 pm E.S.TGamers, be ready for a serious overhaul on the Metal Gear Solid series. Although Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’s estimated release date is in the vicinity of Winter 2004, Konami has released a slew of information on the new gameplay elements that are being added to the upcoming game.
Snake Eater is set sometime in the 1960’s, which means it is a prequel to the two previous games in the series. One of the biggest changes in the series is this: Snake Eater takes place in a vast jungle unlike in the previous games, which started you off in an enemy's base. The idea in Snake Eater is for the gamer to make his way to the base, since that's the way it would really happen. Don’t worry though, the whole game will not take place in a jungle. Eventually, you'll get to some enemy bases. Once in a while, you'll see some enemy encampments. At those times, gameplay will be much like you remembered in the previous games, except with one drastic change: there will no longer be radar, in the jungle or in an enemy base. There will instead be something akin to the meter that tells you how well you can be seen in Splinter Cell. Those of you who have played the "extreme" difficulty on the previous games in the series understand how challenging and tense the game becomes without radar. Now everyone will feel our pain.
Snake's up to his old tricks.
The biggest new gameplay element is the game's introduction of food as a necessity. Snake will have to eat insects, fishes, and other animals to survive. Some foods may taste bad, but the more you eat it, the more you can tolerate it. If Snake only eats one type of food, then he won’t survive very long. Every time you eat a certain food, the recovery power of it will decrease, so in order to survive, you will have to eat a variety of foods. There are also going to be a consequence for not eating: when trying to shoot, Snake's hands will become unsteady. Camouflage will also be an added gameplay element. With the camouflage index, players choose which suit to wear. This can play a large role if you are out numbered in a firefight. Also, certain animals can only be seen if you are camouflaged. Without camouflage you will not be able to stalk your enemies. Camouflage is a mixed blessing though, as enemies also use it. As you can see, stealth will be a main part of the game, but the opposite is also true. There will plenty of firefights in the game, more than in the two previous games.
Snake is capable of performing many new actions using the whole jungle to his advantage, such as climbing trees and hiding behind logs for cover. Like in Metal Gear Solid 2 (MGS2), you can hang from edges to hide from enemies. Also new is the ability to use different outdoor espionage tactics like stalking, trailing an enemy’s footprints, and covering your own. The AI works much more differently than in MGS2. Since your enemies are alone in a jungle, they cannot call for backup. Instead they will work more as a team in order to try to take you out. They will utilize grenades, smoke bombs, semi-automatic, and fully automatic weapons. They can also trace Snake’s footsteps and they have camouflage, just like you, so expect to have a tough time with them.
Konami has a created a whole new engine just for Snake Eater. Since most of MGS2 took place in indoor environments, its engine could not be used. Expect to be going through mountains and caves, not just the jungle. Also, you will not be given paths that you can follow. Instead you will have to find your own way to where ever you are trying to go. If an area is blocked off, find another way. More than ever before, you will be on your own.
Lookin' good.
Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound will be supported, in both cut scenes and during gameplay, so the game will indefinitely sound great. Those of you who have the PS2 Network Adapter are in luck. You will be able to download new camouflage suits for Snake and possibly other things.
It has actually been rumored that you may not even be playing as Snake. Instead you maybe playing as Big Boss (Snake was cloned from Big Boss). Since the game takes place in the 60’s, Snake would have to be pretty young at the time, but then again, we don’t know how old Snake actually is and when in the 60’s the game takes place.
Although Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is nearly a year away, I see it becoming a best seller on PS2. Konami is completely changing the Metal Gear Solid series back to what it once was in the beginning as the humble Metal Gear Series on the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Back when you had to make your way to the enemy base and infiltrate it. I'm really looking forward to Snake Eater and hopefully it will fulfill my hopes once it is released. With all the new features and moves it should really add alot to series. We will update as more information is released, so check back often.
Preview By: Deepan Paul - 31017 Reads
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