Attention EB Branch of the SDF: Which MGS game should I replay first?

[TVC15]

I looked at some of the recent MGS4 shit (I have been in blackout mode) and my peepee got really really hard.  I need some MGS NOW so I have decided to replay the series.  But what should I play first?

MGS - The original.  This would be the place to start if I were playing the series chronologically by release date.  Unfortunately, PS1 graphics are kinda ugh and I've played this game like 60 times.

MGS2: Sons of Liberty - The high water mark of the series up until this point, overall.  The game has it's bad moments (bomb disarming, Jack + Rose nonsense), but everything else is just cake. 

MGS3: Cockeater. - This would be the first one to play if I were going chronologically by time period.  This is not as good as Sons of Liberty by a lil, but it's still leagues better than the original.  I have a feeling it might look like ass upscaled on my TV, though.

Also, Prole has never beaten an MGS game aside from the third.  Mock him. 

[duckman2000]

Is the GC version of MGS1 at all playable?

I'm not an MGS fan, but I gave MGS3 a shot the other day, and I thought it looked real good* upscaled. But my TV is only a 32".

* Considering its PS2 nature

[MCD]

MGS2 is worth it for the Tanker level alone, I'd start with Twin Snakes if you have it though. (good graphics with some minor fanboy bullshit but whatever)

and play them on a SDTV or pc lcd monitor, seriously.

[TVC15]

The GC version is very playable.  It's just poorly done.  They gave Snake all the moves from 2, but the levels weren't redesigned around them, so the new moves are either useless or game-breaking (first person shooting makes the entire game a breeze).  In addition, the visuals aren't so hot.

[MCD]

the controls ain't good too, still better graphics is better.

[TakingBackSunday]

Prole only beat Snake Eater?  Wow, I would think that would be the most paralyzing in terms of gameplay from the MGS series.  The original is so much easier to get into, and, well, it's easy.

Honestly, you might as well just start from where the series started–the original MGS.  And yeah, suck it up and play the PSOne version–unless you want to play a much better-looking yet horribly unbalanced and fucking distinguished mentally-challenged Gamecube remake?  Heh, actually, I'm doing the same thnig you are, and I'm playing Twin Snakes...it's so damn easy. 

My favorite is still Snake Eater, but that's just because I got into the setting way more than Sons of Liberty's setting.  They both play almost exactly the same with Snake Eater's story being less ridiculous yet still pretty distinguished mentally-challenged.  I don't know, I'll know how I feel about them both in about two weeks.

[TVC15]

Snake Eater's hunting mechanics reminded me of the eating and working out you had to do in SA:  yeah, it was arguably neat, but it was more tedious than anything.  Also, it took too long to bring up your inventory screen.

[TakingBackSunday]

Well, I sort of ignored all those mechanics anyway.  I remember using the camo but I honestly don't remember how much it actually factored into how I played the game–I ended up getting caught a lot of the times anyway.  And the hunting?  Pssshaw, worthless.

I don't know, maybe I have to be playing at a harder difficulty to really appreciate these features.

[Rman]

I would play Sons of Liberty since MGS4 is chronologically right after that.  TVC, MGS3 upscales nicely on the PS3 actually.  It has a soft focus so jaggies kinda blend in.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I might be the only one around that thought Twin Snakes was pretty decent, of course I'm also one of those people that don't really care for MGS.

IMO, if you're going to play the first game again go with Twin Snakes.....if possible.

[TakingBackSunday]

Oh I like Twin Snakes, it's still MGS.  It's just that the gameplay is retardedly easy, and that's Silicon Knights' fault more than anything.  But I still prefer the original, but I don't own it.  And I can see myself buying the MGS Collection for the original when I technically own them all anyway.

[Van Cruncheon]

Prole only beat Snake Eater?  Wow, I would think that would be the most paralyzing in terms of gameplay from the MGS series.  The original is so much easier to get into, and, well, it's easy.

i can't do stealth. i cqc'd through all of subsistence. i never used camo and rarely hunted. man i loved the awesome boss fights, though!

[MCD]

I shotgun'd my way in MGS3.

[Rman]

Does anyone actually use ''stealth'' to beat these game?  I have no patience for that.

[TVC15]

Does anyone actually use ''stealth'' to beat these game?  I have no patience for that.

They're barely even stealth games.

[Mr. Gundam]

I replayed MGS1 back in November, I should probably redo MGS2 and MGS3 before MGS4 comes out in June...

Shit, I haven't played MGS Portable Ops yet, I really should play that before MGS4!

[pilonv1]

Does anyone actually use ''stealth'' to beat these game?  I have no patience for that.

They're barely even stealth games.

I think that's why I cant get into them, I expect to play it like Thief/Splinter Cell and it never works. You're better off just memorising the guard routes and running through

[crimsondynamics]

Chaos Theory

[Don Flamenco]

Does anyone actually use ''stealth'' to beat these game?  I have no patience for that.

yeah, I did for the most part.  On my third play through of Subsistence I gunned everyone down with the Patriot gun (most powerful gun + infinite ammo ftw.)  managed to finish in 3.5 hours.   

[bork]

I replayed MGS1 back in November, I should probably redo MGS2 and MGS3 before MGS4 comes out in June...

Shit, I haven't played MGS Portable Ops yet, I really should play that before MGS4!

I played the original MGS multiple times and that was pretty much it.  Couldn't get into MGS2, started MGS3 but didn't finish it, and have been "stuck" on a boss in Portable Ops for like a year.  Really need to get moving and get through these games before MGS4...

[MCD]

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3414587/Metal_Gear_Solid_Movies_(MGS_Twin_Snakes__Sons_Of_Liberty__Snake

[BlueTsunami]

I would do it Chronologically, seems like it would be way more interesting than starting from the first and on up.

[Van Cruncheon]

i can't even do guard patterns. i hate waiting, so i rush in and start shooting, and immediately fumble with the controls and get pwned.

[TVC15]

i can't even do guard patterns. i hate waiting, so i rush in and start shooting, and immediately fumble with the controls and get pwned.

You'd be all over the game if it had this:

[Mupepe]

first MGS

[TVC15]

MGS3 doesn't happen to be in widescreen, does it?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I should really replay 2, and Subsistence, if I can swing it

[TVC15]

I think I'm going to do 3.  That's the only one I've only played once.  The version in that 3 pack is the subsistence version, right?

[Eel O'Brian]

yes

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I love MGS3 so much I cosplayed as The Sorrow...before the game came out

[TVC15]

I love MGS3 so much I cosplayed as The Sorrow...before the game came out

Too much of a vagine to go as the best character in MGS?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I tried that, but I kept rollerblading into the drink trays at parties

[TVC15]

Why didn't you go as the guy that shoots bees out of his mouth?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

The bees kept asphyxiating

[TVC15]

My first choice would have been the cosmonaut that wanted to set things on fire.  Boy, that game is chock full of Simpsons references.  Chock full as in "there are two that I can think of."

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I think his name is "The Fire"

[TVC15]

THE FURY

[Eel O'Brian]

hahaha, this series is so fucking distinguished mentally-challenged

you can't help but love it, it's like a puppy that got hit by a car and is brain damaged but still cute

[demi]

NONE, MGS is shit

[TVC15]

hahaha, this series is so fucking distinguished mentally-challenged

you can't help but love it, it's like a puppy that got hit by a car and is brain damaged but still cute

It's weird.  The first MGS had pretty cool, good villains.  The only weak point would be the Sniper Wolf titty fan service.  MGS2 upped the ridiculous ante with Fat Dude on Roller Skates and Bisexual Vampire Man.  Then MGS3 just went stratospheric with its ridiculousness, with such classics as Insanely Old Man, Cosmonaut That Likes to Set Things on Fire,  Guy That Shoots Bees Out of His Mouth, Dislocated Joints Man, Ghost Emo Man, and Lightning Homo Sadomasochist.  MGS4, so far, seems tame in comparison.

[BlueTsunami]

I dont' know TVC, those Octopuss robot bitches seem like things could get loopy. Though, thats the major appeal to the series for me, where the fuck Kojima is going with all of this.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Though, thats the major appeal to the series for me, where the fuck Kojima is going with all of this.

[pilonv1]

MGS4, so far, seems tame in comparison.

The newest Edge mag with the feature on MGS4 says there's a bunch of crazy shit they can't talk about yet. Like they can't talk about the opening titles at all or the "fashionable consumer gadget" you get to play with.

[Van Cruncheon]

that's "insanely old man with chlorophyll in his cells that lets him sit in a sniper position for weeks" to you

[BlueTsunami]

Though, thats the major appeal to the series for me, where the fuck Kojima is going with all of this.

(Image removed from quote.)

Kojima

[TVC15]

I really have to give it to Kojima in regards to keeping people guessing, and being able to keep his shit secret.  At this point, he doesn't even HAVE to fuck with his fans to fuck with them.  He's a master of mindfuckery.  Also, how is it that he gets such free reign over his games?  I mean, most big franchises wouldn't be given the multiple, big delays that basically every MGS game has gotten. 

[Eel O'Brian]

it's pretty easy for him to mindfuck me since i don't understand a fucking thing about these games to begin with

it's like playing a bad dream you have after eating at a shitty chinese buffet

[Don Flamenco]

i like how you have to dig really deep into codecs and stuff to find out why the bosses explode in 3...like you should just accept that dudes exploding for no reason is cool enough on its own to not warrant explanation.

also, talking hands are cool too. 

4 better be insane.  and not "ending of MGS2" insane. I want fat guys on rollerskates, bee tommy-gun, talking hand, random heart attack, and mooing walking tanks insane.

[TVC15]

i like how you have to dig really deep into codecs and stuff to find out why the bosses explode in 3...like you should just accept that dudes exploding for no reason is cool enough on its own to not warrant explanation.

also, talking hands are cool too. 

4 better be insane.  and not "ending of MGS2" insane. I want fat guys on rollerskates, bee tommy-gun, talking hand, random heart attack, and mooing walking tanks insane.

Whats the explanation for the explosions?  I don't think I've ever heard that.

[duckman2000]

I foresee a lot of bitching from people attracted by the pretty moving images and who thought they could just jump into the "saga" in its last chapter. I know I probably won't be buying it, for that reason. Whenever a new MGS comes out, I end up buying it. Excitedly, even. Oh man, Metal Gear Solid, holy awesome cool. Then I play it, make several faces, and then I remember that I just plain don't get MGS. I wish I did though, it seems like a rich "universe".

[Darunia]

I really have to give it to Kojima in regards to keeping people guessing, and being able to keep his shit secret.  At this point, he doesn't even HAVE to fuck with his fans to fuck with them.  He's a master of mindfuckery.  Also, how is it that he gets such free reign over his games?  I mean, most big franchises wouldn't be given the multiple, big delays that basically every MGS game has gotten. 

These mindfucks were why I loved 2. The game was absolutely batshit insane and I loved it because of that. When I finished 2 I was impressed by Kojima as he showed with that game that he clearly didn't give a fuck about what the fanbase expected and just did what he felt like.

That's why I was all the more disappointed with 3 (when it comes to story and ideas mostly), because that game took little to no risks. The Sorrow river was genius though. I still love it, but the ending kinda destroyed that game for me. SHE WAS A REAL HERO SNAKE. I might be in the minority here but I think the Boss is a pretty terrible character

If I were to put them in order now I'd go 2>1>3

[tiesto]

I absolutely love the batshit insanity this series is known for... and yeah, I am normally not a fan of stealth, but MGS gives you so many different ways to play, like I'll try to act all smooth and stealthy, then I'll fuck up, have all the guards come after me, and then take them all out with CQC or the machine gun. MGS4 is gonna sell me on a PS3.

TVC, I'd actually suggest you start with the MSX games, I haven't played them myself but I hear they still hold up really well. Barring that, play through 2 and then try to explain the story to us

[TVC15]

That's why I was all the more disappointed with 3 (when it comes to story and ideas mostly), because that game took little to no risks. The Sorrow river was genius though. I still love it, but the ending kinda destroyed that game for me. SHE WAS A REAL HERO SNAKE. I might be in the minority here but I think the Boss is a pretty terrible character

I agree with you.  The Boss is terrible.  She talks in circles like some Gundam/war anime character about war and heroes and loyalty, and although it sounds like big talk, it doesn't actually mean anything.  I find it kind of shallow.  Same goes for the swelling strings sentimentality of the very overwrought ending.  Of course, the ending to the first MGS was also overwrought and embarrassing, but 3 took it to another level.

I wouldn't be able to play the original 2 games.  I've played through the NES version of 1 before, though.

[disgruntled_jojo]

Snake Eater's hunting mechanics reminded me of the eating and working out you had to do in SA:  yeah, it was arguably neat, but it was more tedious than anything.  Also, it took too long to bring up your inventory screen.

I really love 3, but I played the 'perfected' edition, which you have to make yourself.  Get any of the hard drive loader software for the PS2 and a HDD for it, put the game on that.  It significantly improves MGS3 by bringing the load time for the inventory screen down to ~2 seconds.  Without it, the inventory screen quickly gets annoying, especially with the new camo mechanic.  With it, it's probably the best action/adventure game of it's generation.

My two cents.

[abrader]

Yeah stop the press....

Whats this bit about clues in the codec convo's telling why the bosses blow up?

I am just about done with a speed game run of MGS PSOne (I usually play thru 5 times in a row fast skipping scenes to try to get the best time/ranking). Next im gonna get into some MGS 2 because I havnt played it for real since the early 2000's.

[Bloodwake]

Recommendation: All the games aren't RPGs. Just play through them all.

I already got through MGS1 and half of MGS2 before I decided to take a hiatus for GTAIV. Then, back to MGS for me.

I'm glad there's some MGS love in this thread. Seriously. My MGS love isn't a Sony thing, it's an appreciate for a franchise that started breaking ground in the eighties and still manages to do so with every installment. Even the dialogue and voice acting gets a bad rap when it shouldn't. Compared to other games in every period they've been released, MGS as a series has surpassed anything at the time that could be compared to it.

Proof of the last comment:

MGS came out during a time when dialogue centered around "Jill Sandwich" and similar lines in games. I mean, listen to the voice acting in another big Konami release for the PS1 in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Sorry, don't tell me that MGS the original had horrible voice acting and storytelling whenever we had THAT in games at the time.
FFX didn't really hold anything in terms of voice acting to MGS2, even with whiny Raiden (The Tidus laugh is fucking horrible)
MGS3 was less complicated than its predecessors in terms of story complication, and I found the story more compelling and satisfying than the other games out at the time (San Andreas, Halo 2) although GTA:SA probably had better voice work overall.

I don't share the hatred of the Boss, but I can agree that the Boss was probably one the weakest antagonist overall in the series.

[TVC15]

Whats this bit about clues in the codec convo's telling why the bosses blow up?

Yeah, I wanna know this.

[bud]

me, too. first time i've heard about that.

[Mr. Gundam]

How's Portable Ops?

[Kestastrophe]

I thought Twin Snakes was a blast and I enjoyed it more than Snake Eater.