To play or not to play: MGS Peace Walker

[Himu]

MGS4 is probably my least favorite game of all time. It's not the worst, but damn if it's not on an extremely slippery slope.

I'm actually starting to realize that Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is out in just a few weeks. I'm surprisingly excited, probably because of the gameplay focus and not that "let's tie the whole series together for the sake of convenience, make the plot fan service pap and include hour long cutscenes, totaling approximately two hours of actually good gameplay by the end" crap that made up MGS4. Then I remember that the UMD probably wouldn't be able to hold hour long cutscenes like with MGS4, and I smile. Viva la handheld future! It also helps that it's pretty much Metal Gear Solid 5, but without the 5 in the name.

Then I remember "I have cancer", "I LOVE YOU NAOMI" (when Otacon really never paid attention to Naomi in the original MGS and was in love with Sniper Wolf; not Naomi), "I'M OUT OF TEARS, I'LL NEVER CRY AGAIN" *cries five minutes later*, "Let's shit on all the characters in MGS3 - Zero, ParaMedic, Signit, Ocelot, Eva AND Big Boss", the Meryl and Johnny proposal scene that made me so uncomfortable I wanted to turn my ps3 off, "Meryl told me to tell you that your FoxDie's not contagious" even though Big Boss was in a coma at the time, the ending...and I feel like not buying another Kojima game ever again.

But I shall persevere! Even pretty gals have to take a dump, so I'll have to go into PW forgetting MGS4 ever happened; the only thing I remember from MGS4 from now on are those two delicious hours from Acts 1 and 2 when I was actually playing the game. Expecting another assortment of perfect scores from the gaggle of fantard reviewers so I'm going in 100% pessimistic, though.

[fistfulofmetal]

title should be renamed "wahhh MGS4, wahhhh"

[fistfulofmetal]

in other news, i'm buying it.

[Rman]

Bebpo loved it and wrote some good impressions in the What Are You Playing thread. 

[Don Flamenco]

the controls are just weird on the PSP.  It feels like there's input lag.  I'm gonna grab it anyway, of course.

[Himu]

Is this really gameplay oriented MGS ala MGS1-3?

[Bebpo]

Is this really gameplay oriented MGS ala MGS1-3?

It's all gameplay.  It's meatier than MGS3 in pure gameplay, although if you count the number of locations I don't think Peace Walker has as many as MGS3.
Also don't expect to 100% it and see everything unless you plan to do ad-hoc party coop with friends.  You can beat the game and get the post-game true ending solo no problem and even do most of the missions.  But the last 10 or so of optional bosses, coop is mandatory.  But you'll be at the 40-45 hour mark before you even get there.

don't expect much out of the story.  kojima gave up on storytelling years ago, it's entertaining and lolz but don't take it seriously or you'll be disappointed.

and I wouldn't say MGS2 was gameplay orientated

Like I said in the other thread.  Overall MGS3>>>>>>>>>>>MGS1>>>>>>>Peace Walker>>>>>>>>MGS2>Portable Ops>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MGS4

the controls are just weird on the PSP.  It feels like there's input lag.  I'm gonna grab it anyway, of course.

You get used to the controls quickly.  There isn't any lag if your playing offline.  I'd say it's the best controlling action game on the psp by far.

[Himu]

MGS stories are great when they're nothing but camp and I don't like taking them seriously.

MGS2 is arguably the most gameplay oriented MGS alongside MGS3 due to pure content, especially if we're talking MGS2: Substance: dog tags, multiple modes, vr missions, multiple characters, the works.

[Ichirou]

Cry moar tears about MGS4, Himu.

[Raban]

I'm with Himu on this one, MGS4 is the worst game I've played in my life.

[Ichirou]

But at least you came to your senses and bought a 360.

[Ichirou]

I remember when Himu was talking about how he wanted the gun-metal grey special MGS4 PS3 bundle.



Does it still make you hard, my darling Himu?

[Smooth Groove]

Is this really gameplay oriented MGS ala MGS1-3?

It's all gameplay.  It's meatier than MGS3 in pure gameplay, although if you count the number of locations I don't think Peace Walker has as many as MGS3.
Also don't expect to 100% it and see everything unless you plan to do ad-hoc party coop with friends.  You can beat the game and get the post-game true ending solo no problem and even do most of the missions.  But the last 10 or so of optional bosses, coop is mandatory.  But you'll be at the 40-45 hour mark before you even get there.

don't expect much out of the story.  kojima gave up on storytelling years ago, it's entertaining and lolz but don't take it seriously or you'll be disappointed.

and I wouldn't say MGS2 was gameplay orientated

Like I said in the other thread.  Overall MGS3>>>>>>>>>>>MGS1>>>>>>>Peace Walker>>>>>>>>MGS2>Portable Ops>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MGS4

Is the Jap version of Peace Walker playable for english natives? 

Also, I liked MGS4.

There wasn't much gameplay in MGS4 but what's there was well made and it also had the best cut-scenes of the whole series.  I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

[Diunx]

I'm not even gonna bother reading all that.

mgs4 haters

[Bebpo]

Is the Jap version of Peace Walker playable for english natives? 

Also, I liked MGS4.

There wasn't much gameplay in MGS4 but what's there was well made and it also had the best cut-scenes of the whole series.  I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

Not really, wait for the US version in a few weeks.

MGS4 had great gameplay when it had gameplay, but it didn't have much gameplay and the cutscenes went on waaaaaaaay too long and were usually embarrassing and the retconning/explaination of the key story points to the series was as terrible as could possible have been written.

[Purple Filth]

Is this really gameplay oriented MGS ala MGS1-3?

It's all gameplay.  It's meatier than MGS3 in pure gameplay, although if you count the number of locations I don't think Peace Walker has as many as MGS3.
Also don't expect to 100% it and see everything unless you plan to do ad-hoc party coop with friends.  You can beat the game and get the post-game true ending solo no problem and even do most of the missions.  But the last 10 or so of optional bosses, coop is mandatory.  But you'll be at the 40-45 hour mark before you even get there.

don't expect much out of the story.  kojima gave up on storytelling years ago, it's entertaining and lolz but don't take it seriously or you'll be disappointed.

and I wouldn't say MGS2 was gameplay orientated

Like I said in the other thread.  Overall MGS3>>>>>>>>>>>MGS1>>>>>>>Peace Walker>>>>>>>>MGS2>Portable Ops>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MGS4

Is the Jap version of Peace Walker playable for english natives? 

Also, I liked MGS4.

There wasn't much gameplay in MGS4 but what's there was well made and it also had the best cut-scenes of the whole series.  I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

This.

I didn't get all the outrage (though it was funny as hell  ). If i remember correctly you had on guy on GAF that was convinced Ryan Payton sabotaged the series with his role on MGS4 and he was a MS plant.

[Bloodwake]

I am an unapolegetic fan of ALL the MGS games, so I'm definitely interested in breaking out my PSP 1000 and getting to work.

[Himu]

I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

Is this fun? No. Is it distinguished mentally-challenged? Yes.

[youtube=560,345]zYTymyUvawU[/youtube]

[Smooth Groove]

This thread got me wanting to play some MGS2 on my PC.  It didn't last long though.  I've forgotten how tedious the "codec moments" were.    That alone made MGS2 the worst game in the series. 

Game still looks surprisingly good in 1080P though.  Kojima's team is better than anyone at creating anime graphics. 

[Smooth Groove]

I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

Is this fun? No. Is it distinguished mentally-challenged? Yes.

[youtube=560,345]zYTymyUvawU[/youtube]

It's no more terrible than the heart to heart chats that Snake had with the people that he was going to kill in MGS1. 

[Himu]

I don't get all the complaining about MGS4's story because MGS stories have always been distinguished mentally-challenged.  Fun but distinguished mentally-challenged. 

Is this fun? No. Is it distinguished mentally-challenged? Yes.

[youtube=560,345]zYTymyUvawU[/youtube]

It's no more terrible than the heart to heart chats that Snake had with the people that he was going to kill in MGS1. 

no way

[Smooth Groove]

As dumb as it was, Johnny proposing to Meryl in the midst of battle still makes a lot more sense than Vulcan Raven telling his life story to some stranger who chopped his nuts off.

[Trent Dole]

Does it have MGS in the title? Yes? Then the correct answer in 'not play'.

[Don Flamenco]

the controls are just weird on the PSP.  It feels like there's input lag.  I'm gonna grab it anyway, of course.

You get used to the controls quickly.  There isn't any lag if your playing offline.  I'd say it's the best controlling action game on the psp by far.

played the demo more and it clicked.  Getting a good MGS3 vibe from this.  Can't wait for the game now

[dark1x]

What I still can't understand is why they didn't implement a camera system like MGS2 into this new PSP game.  Yes, a dual analog free camera is great, but not when you don't have a second analog stick.  I hate controlling the camera Dreamcast style.

They should have selected proper camera angles and ran with it.  It could have worked much better on the PSP.

[magus]

Does it have MGS in the title? Yes? Then the correct answer in 'not play'.

but what about metal gear acid

[Himu]

sounds jawesome

[magus]

i'm not one to care for metal gear so i never checked portable ops
was it any good?

[BlueTsunami]

it also has some "rpg lite" elements too - sending captured soldiers back to your mother base and assigning them roles to help with engineering, food prep etc. Actually adds even more purpose to taking people out without killing them as it makes it easier to Fulton Balloon them back to base. From there you can upgrade weaponry, get extra items etc.

All easy to follow, works really well. Only kicker is that all the level 1 weapons feel like peashooters.

Oh man, that sold me on this

[Positive Touch]

well i was ready to write this off too cuz of MGS4 and all the stupid wacky jappy b.s. they showed off (mech creation, disturbing-as-fuck stalker mode, etc.),  but if the gameplay is as awesome as everyone is making it out to be, i guess i got no choice but to pick it up

[Bebpo]

i'm not one to care for metal gear so i never checked portable ops
was it any good?

It's ok, but Peace Walker is 1000x better and retcons it out of existence so don't play it.

[bork]

i'm not one to care for metal gear so i never checked portable ops
was it any good?

It's ok, but Peace Walker is 1000x better and retcons it out of existence so don't play it.

It retcons it?  How so?

[Bebpo]

Peace Walker starts out "10 years after MGS3" and gives a summary of "what previously happened...in MGS3" and everything in the game connects MGS3 -> PW directly with no mention EVER of anything that happened in Portable Ops.  Kojima didn't write Portable Ops or direct it so he is simply pretending it doesn't exist.  lol


The thing is though that from a gameplay perspective, kojima didn't ditch ANYTHING from portable ops.  Portable Ops is the prototype for Peace Walker.  But he took all the ideas in Portable Ops (rpg squad recruiting/management, single area missions, motion comic cutscenes, buildable weapons/inventory, playing as people other than snake for optional missions) and improved them 1000x over and suddenly it reached the quality of a mainline MGS.  It seems like Kojima is proud of Portable Ops as a stepping stone, but refuses to acknowledge it story-wise.  Just kind of odd.

Although it's still canon until proven otherwise (stuff with Null/Grey Fox; how snake started getting a following of soldiers, getting the idea for outer heaven).

[bork]

Yeah, one day I'd like to finish Portable Ops, but the controls just make it so frustrating.  I was stuck (maybe I still am, LOL) on this one mission where you have to go down into a large tunnel, sneak up to an officer, knock him out, and send him back to the truck.  The problem is that EVERY SINGLE TIME I would get close to him and go for a hold/choke, the game would register it as a punch and he'd be alerted.  I gave up after like 10 attempts and can't remember if I ever went back and finally got further.  It also took me forever to beat Python.  Same deal, shitty controls got in the way.

Peace Walker's game play is 100 times better.  Snake's movement alone is so much smoother.

I have yet to play through MGS2 and MGS4 too.  Basically I have liked MGS1 and MGS3 and that's been about it.

[Purple Filth]

Basically I have liked MGS1 and MGS3 and that's been about it.

let it stay that way IMO

[Mr. Gundam]

Yeah, one day I'd like to finish Portable Ops, but the controls just make it so frustrating.  I was stuck (maybe I still am, LOL) on this one mission where you have to go down into a large tunnel, sneak up to an officer, knock him out, and send him back to the truck.  The problem is that EVERY SINGLE TIME I would get close to him and go for a hold/choke, the game would register it as a punch and he'd be alerted.  I gave up after like 10 attempts and can't remember if I ever went back and finally got further.  It also took me forever to beat Python.  Same deal, shitty controls got in the way.

Portable Ops' controls pissed me off so much I also gave up.

[Don Flamenco]

I also gave up on Portable Ops.  I didn't like having to drag enemies all over and the controls were fucked.  I'm pretty much used to the PW controls now, though.  How long are the missions in PW?  The ones in the demo are pretty short, simple, and straightforward.  Just wondering if they get more complicated and long. 

My only complaint about the game, based on the demo, is the horrible PSP dithering and short draw distance making it harder to aim.  Are the graphics improved at all in the main game? 

[Himu]

Basically I have liked MGS1 and MGS3 and that's been about it.

let it stay that way IMO

what's wrong with MG2, Ghost Babel, VR Missions and MGS2 Substance?

[BlueTsunami]

I'm still waiting for some VR Missions expansion for MGS4 (No Deluxe Edition plkthx)

VR Missions = The real Metal Gear Solid

[bork]

Basically I have liked MGS1 and MGS3 and that's been about it.

let it stay that way IMO

what's wrong with MG2, Ghost Babel, VR Missions and MGS2 Substance?

Forgot about Ghost Babel...that was good too! 

[Bebpo]

I also gave up on Portable Ops.  I didn't like having to drag enemies all over and the controls were fucked.  I'm pretty much used to the PW controls now, though.  How long are the missions in PW?  The ones in the demo are pretty short, simple, and straightforward.  Just wondering if they get more complicated and long. 

My only complaint about the game, based on the demo, is the horrible PSP dithering and short draw distance making it harder to aim.  Are the graphics improved at all in the main game? 

Missions range from 60 seconds (grab an item and get out) to 30 mins (sneak through 7-8 areas straight).

Dithering is still there.  Draw distance seemed fine to me.

I'm still waiting for some VR Missions expansion for MGS4 (No Deluxe Edition plkthx)

VR Missions = The real Metal Gear Solid

90% of Peace Walker is basically a VR Missions game except they take place in real locations instead of VR world.

[Bebpo]

I think the best thing I can say about this game is 3 weeks later, story mode done, 40 hour game clock, 125 missions down and I'm still playing it on a daily basis.  It's just really fun to sit down and play 30-60 mins of varied stealth action every day or two.  Although I think I'm almost done clearing all the non-boss optional missions at this point.  Maybe a dozen or so left.  I'm guessing I'll get about 50 hours total before I shelve it, and that's all solo play.  So if you play ad-hoc party expect to get another 10-30 hours in addition out of it.

[Positive Touch]

so the only way to play together is with ad-hoc?  no online at all?  what in the fuck?  who will actually be able to do any of the multiplayer content then??  i hate that shit.

[Bebpo]

people who own any ps3 other than the 20gig no-wifi launch unit

/I have a 20gig no-wifi launch unit  :'(

[Don Flamenco]

so the only way to play together is with ad-hoc?  no online at all?  what in the fuck?  who will actually be able to do any of the multiplayer content then??  i hate that shit.

Japan will get to do it because they all get together at lunch and use all the cool DS and PSP multiplayer features that us dirty americans never use

[Positive Touch]

those features are NOT cool. get with the fucking times, japan, and do a better job of making yr online games