I fucking do not understand the attraction of Metal Gear Solid. It's all just janky controls and half-assed AI.
In comparison to that time and place the controls weren't so bad. I mean think about Resident Evil.
The control deficiencies stood out more as the franchise went on.
As far as the AI, that never really bothered me relative to when it came out either.
I feel like the game did so much right and revolutionary at the time.
I have a lot less fond memories of the second game by comparison which most people seem to love now but for me felt so dumb storywise, that it was hard to stomach.
I think the third game controls pretty poorly also but the story is on the fun, correct side of dumb this time and that makes a big difference for me.