+- Tendo City (https://www.tendocity.net)
+-- Forum: Tendo City: Metropolitan District (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Tendo City (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=42)
+--- Thread: Twin Snakes (/showthread.php?tid=1713)
Pages:
1
2
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 20th March 2004
OB1 Wrote:Two walking speeds is most definitely not analog, ABF.Eh, yes it is. If you tilt the stick a little, he crawls. If you tilt it full, he runs. That is analog controlling. Now, it's not GREAT analog controlling, it's not incremental. But it's still there.
Now, I just now finished Twin Snakes. Here is what I think. Keep in mind that I have included spoilers all over this review, and parsing them with tags would make for a very hard-to-read post. So don't even read this if you don't want stuff spoiled for you.
First off, the game is gorgeous. It is considerably better-looking than MGS2 was. This is most apparent in the character modeling. When I saw a tear in Meryl's eye, dirt and smudges on Snake's face, or the bruises and blood on Liquid's face, or how Snake had a visible layer of sweat on his body after the torture scene, I saw an improvement over MGS2. There is very little noticable aliasing, and the polys themselves are more detailed.
Second, the cut-scenes. I liked the additions. I thought many of them added to the original storyline in a good way. I felt that the superior graphics were able to better convey emotion, making the scenes with Meryl more real. Also, I could much more easily see that the Snakes were twins, because the PSX models didn't seem to have the same faces. I also like how the Snake/Meryl relationship was deepened, should you decide to brave the torture. What did irritate me, however, was how almost all of the characters with accents sound straight American now. Mei Ling lost her Korean accent, Naomi's British accent was totally missing (and honestly, since she was quite important it was hard for me to associate her with her new voice), and others like Nastasha and Sniper Wolf retained them, but they were much thinner. I did not like that. Meryl's voice was different too, but it was an improvement. The old Meryl sounded like Peppermint Patty. Those minor gripes aside, the additions and subtle alterations were well worth the price of admission.
Gameplay: This is what really disappointed me the most about this game. For starters, I gotta say that I loved having the first-person aiming mode. I also liked having the far more intelligent enemies, as these helped to somewhat cancel out the decreased challenge from the aiming. However, what really disappointed me was just how similar the game really was to the original. It seemed as though they did not even go so far as to change up the soldier's routes. I had hoped that there would be some gameplay surprises thrown at me. One thing that made MGS2 harder was that the soldiers were often placed well enough to get in your way at the worst times. Also, in TS, evasion was much easier. As soon as you leave an area, your caution meter resets! Now, the tension of surviving a coordinated assault is lessened, as they'll forget all about you the minute you leave the room. Now, I played on Normal mode, so I don't know if this applies to the harder modes, but it was still incredibly disappointing.
It must also be noted that the addition of the M9 made two parts of the game far, far easier than they once were (those being the Nuke Building 1F and the Caves), as now you can easily neutralize enemies that were either very hard to kill because you couldn't use weapons (Nuke Bldg) or invincible to weaponry, period (wolves in the Caves). But, the other weapons were retooled nicer. I liked being able to stand and use the sniper rifle, for instance.
Now, there was gripes about the poor analog control. Well, it really wasn't an issue for me because sneaking was so rarely required. There were so few points in the game that required real sneaking, of course because the game was originally designed without it in mind. But, I do have issues with the controls. For one, this was D-Pad all the way, but I sorely missed the PS2's analog D-Pad, for with it you could sneak without going analog. I missed the extra shoulder buttons. I missed the analog face buttons period. Now, if I aimed the weapon, I had to fire a shot. In MGS2, slowly releasing the fire button lets you conserve the shot. This made for several Alerts that I did not deserve and was very irritating. Second, I finally figured out the Cube's odd button scheme for the game, but I did die a few times for that pleasure. And yes, the first person mode did make some of the bosses easier, but on the same token, I found a few of them to be a bit harder than the orignal. Psycho Mantis in particular was quite difficult at first, as I did not realize switching the controller once wasn't enough: I had to keep doing it. He was also harder to hit and his attacks were better. Also, the fight with the Abrams tank was harder in my opinion, because it seemed like the gunners were better shots, and you had to be much more precise with your aiming of the grenades to score a good hit. If it was only a glancer, it would take a dozen grenades to do the job. Ocelot was a pushover, I nailed him in about ten seconds, and first-person mode was responsible. I found both Sniper Wolf battles to be no different, nor was the second Raven fight. I think they neutered Metal Gear Ray, because while the gameplay was no different, he just seemed less willing to fire shots at me. I beat it with and without the Radome without even getting a scratch.
And finally, I touched on it once but it's important: I was disappointed with how the game itself was so unchanged. Maybe it was to be faithful, maybe not. But the game threw very few surprises at me, and that was a shame. Unfortunately, I could not play through Resident Evil ReMake because I could never tackle the terrible controls, but I did see it be played through and there was a lot changed and added, to confuse and distract the veteran who thought he knew it all. I was hoping there would be some of that in Twin Snakes, and that there was very little was a huge letdown (though I gotta say, I was prone to forgetting that the trap doors stay open after being tripped, I lost three lives that way).
Overall, I'd have to rate it an 9 out of 10, because while there were some disappointments, it is still one of my all-time favorite games with a bucket of next-generation improvements. And I have yet to tackle the real hard modes yet. :)
Okay, spoilers over.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 20th March 2004
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 20th March 2004
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 20th March 2004
Honestly I don't even know what a mullet is, so I have no idea what people are talking about when they complain of it.
Concerning the cinema scenes in MGS2, I dunno, I guess they were silly, but maybe it just didn't jump out at me. Okay, here's one thing they really should have toned down on. They use the rapid camera zoom and swishing sound effect combo like 200 times per scene.
Concerning Meryl and Snake, honestly I guess it just seemed a lot more obvious what was going on in the original. Yeah I don't think I remember a kiss either, but the love interest was certainly almost shouted during the original as well. I suppose seeing it like that in the original it really didn't seem too different to just bring it right out to the open.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 21st March 2004
Dark Jaguar Wrote:Concerning Meryl and Snake, honestly I guess it just seemed a lot more obvious what was going on in the original. Yeah I don't think I remember a kiss either, but the love interest was certainly almost shouted during the original as well. I suppose seeing it like that in the original it really didn't seem too different to just bring it right out to the open.
The difference is, in the original, Meryl definitely seemed interested, but Snake's interest was much less apparent. I got the impression that he knew that what he felt for Meryl was as much a result of surviving certain death as any real love or lust. In both games, Snake says "It's time to start living for someone else", but in Twin Snakes, there is some real affection for Meryl in his voice and manner that was totally absent in the same scene from the original.
In any case, it is implied in the second game that things didn't work out for the lovebirds anyway. :D
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 21st March 2004
Ah, I see what you mean. Hmm, still I thought his feelings were rather apparent in the original...
You are right though, in the next game, something seems to have happened. Played the Confidential Legacy Snake Tale, if you have Substance that is? It's an alternate reality story that plays on their relationship lasting a bit longer. The last Snake Tale actually does an odd job of explaining the rest of the Snake Tale's existance, because it's an alternate reality story that's completely insane (evil Mei Ling and a giant russian soldier with godzilla spikes and laser eyes are a few things you'll find there, also "Raiden Tales" :D, and the fun of Solidus calling in an evil force he says has destroyed countless universes, Jack and Rose, I love when games can poke fun at themselves :D).
Twin Snakes - EdenMaster - 21st March 2004
Quote:Now, if I aimed the weapon, I had to fire a shot. In MGS2, slowly releasing the fire button lets you conserve the shot. This made for several Alerts that I did not deserve and was very irritating.
Not at all. Simply get out of first person mode and de-equip the weapon. Snake will put it away with all bullets in the chamber.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 21st March 2004
EdenMaster Wrote:Not at all. Simply get out of first person mode and de-equip the weapon. Snake will put it away with all bullets in the chamber.
I learned this just recently. But it's very unintuitive.
Twin Snakes - A Black Falcon - 21st March 2004
Quote:Eh, yes it is. If you tilt the stick a little, he crawls. If you tilt it full, he runs. That is analog controlling. Now, it's not GREAT analog controlling, it's not incremental. But it's still there.
Yeah, it's technically proportional (as I said while I do use analog often really it isn't accurate unless the stick/button actually IS analog and isn't digital-proportional... same for buttons... and I don't know which is which most of the time (except PC joysticks from the '90s which often said which they were -- and it was clear -- analog ones often have those trim pots to align the stick...)...
But about as "proportional" as a PC FPS with WASD for Run and Shift-WASD for Walk. :)
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 21st March 2004
I get what you mean, Weltall, but were you playing MGS1 original version like that? I mean, there if you pulled out your weapon you couldn't just put it away without disarming either. Anway, remember that the Y button will lower your weapon when it's pulled out. Oh wait, first person mode. Yeah, you can't unequip with the equip button there since it does something else, but you can just let go of Z. Hmm, I never did try using Y in first person mode while aiming. Probably would work. Anyway, since I thought to do that early on, I got used to it quickly. You are exactly right though that the MGS2 (PS2 version, I have no idea how the XBox version does things, likey the same way as Twin Snakes) method is just plain better.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
Quote:Eh, whatever. It was enough for me and it's no less than what was in MGS2, so I'm satisfied. I SAID I expect more from MGS3, what do you want my opinion to be?
That it should have been a better update?
Quote:Eh, yes it is. If you tilt the stick a little, he crawls. If you tilt it full, he runs. That is analog controlling. Now, it's not GREAT analog controlling, it's not incremental. But it's still there.
It's not true analog. All they did was make it so that slight tilt = walk and full tilt = walk + run button.
Quote:First off, the game is gorgeous. It is considerably better-looking than MGS2 was. This is most apparent in the character modeling. When I saw a tear in Meryl's eye, dirt and smudges on Snake's face, or the bruises and blood on Liquid's face, or how Snake had a visible layer of sweat on his body after the torture scene, I saw an improvement over MGS2. There is very little noticable aliasing, and the polys themselves are more detailed.
The models are a bit better than MGS2's but the environmental texture work is a little more plain than MGS2's, and the framerate isn't as smooth. Considering when MGS2 was developed and for what system, you'd think that they could get a lot more out of the GC engine for TS. The cinemas are indeed better thanks to Ryuhei Kitamura's direction, though.
Quote:What did irritate me, however, was how almost all of the characters with accents sound straight American now. Mei Ling lost her Korean accent, Naomi's British accent was totally missing
Mei Ling is supposed to be Korean? That's a Chinese name, not a Korean one.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 22nd March 2004
OB1 Wrote:It's not true analog. All they did was make it so that slight tilt = walk and full tilt = walk + run button.
And how does that make it untrue analog? It's not as fully-incremental as it should be, but there are many games that have this sort of analog capability. And, it's better than the original MGS, because in that, Snake ran, no matter how you tilted the stick.
Quote: The models are a bit better than MGS2's but the environmental texture work is a little more plain than MGS2's, and the framerate isn't as smooth. Considering when MGS2 was developed and for what system, you'd think that they could get a lot more out of the GC engine for TS. The cinemas are indeed better thanks to Ryuhei Kitamura's direction, though.
I didn't really think the environments were any more plain than MGS2. I thought the textures were at least identical (and in places like the Commander's Room and the Caves, they looked markedly better IMO). As for the framerate, I only noticed lagging at two parts: The very beginning, and in the Communications Tower that you have to fight past all the guards in.
Quote: Mei Ling is supposed to be Korean? That's a Chinese name, not a Korean one.
I know, but if memory serves, the original voice actress for Mei Ling was Korean.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
Quote:And how does that make it untrue analog? It's not as fully-incremental as it should be, but there are many games that have this sort of analog capability. And, it's better than the original MGS, because in that, Snake ran, no matter how you tilted the stick.
Because it's cheating. They just put walk and walk+run button into one stick. Come on, the first game that showed everyone how to use an analog stick was Mario 64. We shouldn't have 3D games with only two movement speeds.
Quote:I didn't really think the environments were any more plain than MGS2. I thought the textures were at least identical (and in places like the Commander's Room and the Caves, they looked markedly better IMO). As for the framerate, I only noticed lagging at two parts: The very beginning, and in the Communications Tower that you have to fight past all the guards in.
TS' environments are still identical to the original games, where everything was very flat. Of course there's better texture work but it still looks like the environments were built out of legos (which they kind of were since the developers made all of the levels with legos first). MGS2 still has some pretty plain-looking environments, but they're more layered and the architecture is more complex. Things are less flat than TS. Still relatively flat, but not quite as much as TS. The framerate doesn't drop very often, but it does every once in a while, especially when you have to shoot more than three guards in first-person mode.
Quote:I know, but if memory serves, the original voice actress for Mei Ling was Korean.
The voice actors are still the same, they just dropped the accents.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
That's true Weltall. They are using the same voice actors. The difference is they aren't faking an accent. Playing the original again just to compare, I'm surprised I didn't have a problem before. Those accents are SO obviously forced listening to them again. More than that, Mei Ling sounded almost southern at times anyway.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
Yeah I'm also glad that they got rid of the accents.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Honestly, it wasn't a problem before, because at the time it was very good voice acting, and still is. It's just that honestly the Mei Ling thing didn't sound all that good, and her without it is better to me. Now to listen to it I much prefer the GCN one. I still have a problem with Grey Fox (The missing our "Grey Fox" :D, name that quote!), and a little with Naomi, but that's not the accent there, it's the lack of the emotion they had in the original.
Anyway, what sucks is how we Americans missed out on that disk that contained, reportedly, the NES version of the original Metal Gear game. I think that the report, which was copied by the rest of the news sites, got it wrong though. The ORIGINAL version of the original Metal Gear was on MSX (actually, the MSX2), not NES, and many consider it to be far superior (I've been reading reviews at various fan sites like this one) to the NES one. Also, the translation apparently sucked. Hideo apparently doesn't even consider the NES version to "count". For that matter, Snake's Revenge, the NES sequel, had a terrible story written by crack heads and had nothing to do with Hideo, who hated that attempt at a sequel so much he decided to make a REAL one exclusively for MSX, called Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. He refuses to acknowledge the NES sequel. With Hideo's own feelings about those two games rather widely known, I would be surprised for him to package the lesser NES version of the original MSX game in that promotional disk. I have a feeling that the MSX version was on there and the reporters, thinking they got a bad translation or something (likely not knowledgable enough about the game series) assumed they MEANT Famicom.
Anyway, I still bet that Konami plans on releasing an updated "substance" style release of Twin Snakes in the future. They have done it for all their major games as of late, on PS2 anyway. I imagine that like Substance it'll pack in about a million VR missions (specially tooled to the updated gameplay) some side stories, and maybe even the first two MSX Metal Gear games (or at least the very first one). Namely though, I'm hoping they either rerecord the speech of Meryl when she is shot (seriously, that's the only MAJOR beef I had with the script, but it's such a big one that in any remake I demand it be fixed), or just take the old one off the original PS version.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
I know, I really wanted that disc. Having that and Metal Gear 2 would have been awesome.
I doubt we'll see a Substance-style update to Twin Snakes though. Silicon Knights doesn't have the time for something like that.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Silicon Knights made the main game yes, but now that all the hard stuff is out of the way, Konami could take over from there. I'm sure Konami was given the source code.
And yes, that WOULD have been awesome so long as my only SOMEWHAT educated blind guesswork is right, and it would have been the MSX originals rather than the NES ports (well, the second one wasn't a port, but rather a sequel Hideo hated once he found out about it).
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
But Konami has very little interest in GC development. The reason why SK made TS is because Konami didn't want to do it.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
But didn't Konami oversee the whole project?
Well, I suppose it'll all depend on how well it sells then, as always. If Twin Snakes sells like mad and takes the number one or two spot for a while, I'm fairly confident Konami will decide to cash in by releasing some update.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
They did, but SK did all of the programming, gameplay design, etc.
I hope TS sells really well, but since it's a remake and the marketing campaign has consisted of a so-so one-page ad and that's it... I don't think it'll do extremely well.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Being a remake wouldn't matter if the people want it and see it as a must have like MGS2. However, you're right. I haven't seen a single advertisement for this thing. I also avoid the mind suck that is magazines so I'd never see that one ad you mention. Where are the ads here? MGS2, even the XBox version, had a whole slew of ads (and MS actually claimed it (meaning Substance edition) was an exclusive in those ads for it's version, which was only technically true as it would be on PS2 a few months later). I imagine Japan has a number of advertisements for it, but NOA is a bunch of idiots sometimes. Why no ads? People aren't going to buy a game they don't even know exists. Knowing something exists is key to being able to buy it. In fact, that is THE primary purpose of the advertisement! (Actually convincing people they SHOULD buy it was added later.)
I was under the impression that Konami was the one that did the gameplay design, the drawing board stuff I mean, the "you should do this" (which is certainly one of the most important parts), and SK just did the grunt work of making it a reality, with no real creative control (except being able to toss in cameos of Eternal Darkness every now and then).
Regardless, I certainly hope SK learned a few things about excellent game design from this project. I have high hopes for whatever the next project of that team is after making this.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
Well whatever the case is, SK did pretty much all of the work on the game.
And there definitely wasn't nearly as much anticipation for TS as there was for the Playstation Metal Gears. Well, not counting Substance.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Hmm, well I certainly was anticipating Twin Snakes... Oh well, at any rate it doesn't help that neither NOA or Konami stateside are bothering to advertise this thing.
*hums enya-ish song which totally rocks*
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
So was I, but the hype wasn't very big for a Metal Gear game.
And is it just me or does pretty much all of Enya's songs sound the exact same? Not that I'm not fond of her music...
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Yeah they do, but this song isn't really by her. Similar style, but a much different... style... That was a complete paradox... Anyway, you know what I mean. Regardless, it's enya ISH and yet it also is completely awesome. I like it a lot better than the ending song of MGS2 anyway.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 22nd March 2004
Oh, you're talking about an actual song? I thought you were just humming a song you made up.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
You DID beat the game didn't you?
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 22nd March 2004
Or even the original? It was there too.
I liked MGS2's end theme better. I play it all the time. It's more my style.
Also, I kinda thought the actors were the same, because Mei Ling's actress was familiar. But why drop the accents? I missed them. Not having them took away from the characters, in my opinion.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Ah, well as I said to each their own. I explained my opinion a little further, but it's all I can say about that so no need to add more. Oh, I will add that actually Naomi's forced sounding accent makes sense, considering who she really is...
Yep OB1, that song was also in the first version. Don't think there was a single difference (maybe it's a little clearer or something but I wouldn't be able to tell on my full rich mono speaker). I do believe the scenes in the background with the wildlife of Alaska were different though. Not just the better compression method and faster reading allowing for the movies to be stored in full quality without the pixlization. I believe the scenes themselves were different. The most recent ending I saw was the original one, my attempt to compare, and forgetting the Twin Snakes one I'm not sure, for example, if the Twin Snakes scenes also had the polar bear dragging it's crotch across the snow.
Oh, let me make it clear I do like the MGS2 ending song. I just like the MGS1 song better. Just tastes I guess.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 22nd March 2004
Here's an idea. I think that Konami should port the MSX games to GBA. I think that would work rather well so long as they did an excellent port job.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 23rd March 2004
A remake of the first two games... oh yeah. Not just a simple port. Let us not only finally experience the original adventures in a non-butchered way, but one step better: With the best possible gameplay.
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 23rd March 2004
Hmm, there's an idea...
Yeah, they could remake them in full 3D with MGS2 style gameplay.
HOWEVER, if they did that I would DEMAND they also include the first two MSX2 games on the disk, to experience the original gameplay as well.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 23rd March 2004
MGS3 is kind of a remake of the first game what with the jungle setting and everything. I'd rather resources be put into new Metal Gear experiences instead of remakes, although if someone other than Konami or SK did it I wouldn't mind. :)
Yes of course I beat the PS1 MGS, but I haven't finished TS. I don't remember that song.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 23rd March 2004
OB1 Wrote:MGS3 is kind of a remake of the first game what with the jungle setting and everything. I'd rather resources be put into new Metal Gear experiences instead of remakes, although if someone other than Konami or SK did it I wouldn't mind. :)
Yes of course I beat the PS1 MGS, but I haven't finished TS. I don't remember that song.
MGS3 has nothing to do with the first Metal Gear, other than the similar setting (which isn't even really that similar, as MG takes place in South Africa and MGS3 in Southeast Asia). MGS3 takes place a good thirty years prior to Outer Heaven, and it is widely speculated that what everyone thinks is 'Snake' is in actually Big Boss (who would look exactly like Snake would at that time, as the Snakes were clones of him).
Also, from what I gather, most of MGS3 takes place outdoors, whereas much of MG takes place inside compounds. And, of course, a truck that have started to move.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 23rd March 2004
No kidding. That's why I said "kinda", because MGS3 is Kojima's way of going back to a setting closer to the original game's without it actually being a remake. A lot of people (myself included) missed the jungle setting of the first game, and it seems that Konami missed it as well. So what I meant was that a 3D remake of the first game would be kind of pointless since it would be a bit too similar to MGS3. Oh and I believe just 60% of MGS3 takes place outdoors. Possible more, I'm not sure. But there will be indoor areas.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 23rd March 2004
I doubt it would be too similar. You're not outdoors as much in MG1.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 23rd March 2004
Both MSX games had jungle areas, and if they were to be remade then it would probably be best to combine them into one game, so there'd be lots of jungle to go around.
Twin Snakes - Weltall - 23rd March 2004
OB1 Wrote:Both MSX games had jungle areas, and if they were to be remade then it would probably be best to combine them into one game, so there'd be lots of jungle to go around.Madness. They are distinctly different games. Just because the settings are similar is no reason to phase them together. It'd be like mashing all of the Zelda games into one because they have the same setting.
Unless you mean combined into one package, with two seperate games. That'd be cool.
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 23rd March 2004
No I mean have it as one big game, with MG 2 taking place after MG 1 (whose end would be the middle point), and maybe taking out some things so that it isn't too big of a project. Naturally liberties would have to be taken with the storyline, but it's possible. It would be like remaking Metroid 1 and 2 into one game, with the "death" of Mother Brain being the middle point and cutting out some stuff so that it's not too big. Remaking both games seperately would be madness.
Twin Snakes - A Black Falcon - 26th March 2004
Quote:But Konami has very little interest in GC development. The reason why SK made TS is because Konami didn't want to do it.
... but I want a game like Goemon's Great Adventure on Cube, that game's great...
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 26th March 2004
Yes, and another game like Mystical Ninja. The PS2 got a Goemon game, but it was never released here.
Twin Snakes - A Black Falcon - 26th March 2004
Was it good?
Getting GGA a few weeks ago reminded me how great that game was... I know Mystical Ninja 64 is different but I'd love to have that one too. I just haven't seen it... of course GGA isn't exactly common too. It's the first time I've seen it there I think... I'm lucky I got it!
Twin Snakes - OB1 - 26th March 2004
Mystical Ninja is excellent. It's like Mario 64 meets OoT, not as good as those two but still very good. GGA is more pure fun though. MN will give you a longer, more immersive adventure. So think of GGA as Mario 3 and MN as OoT or something.
Twin Snakes - A Black Falcon - 26th March 2004
GGA = my favorite of my 3 sidescrollers on N64. I don't know if there are any other sidescrolling platformers on N64, but of those three I definitely like GGA best... excellent game. A bit short, you are right, but that doesn't make it any less fun... and getting all the entry passes will take up some time after you beat the final boss...
Twin Snakes - big guy - 26th March 2004
I love GGA, but i'm stuck on the haunted house level and now i'm all rusty and don't got the mad skillz i once had. plus my friend with the mad skillz...well, we don't talk much these days...
Twin Snakes - Dark Jaguar - 25th August 2015
With Phantom Pain about to come out, thought I'd dig up this old thread, and all the embarrassment it brings.
In hindsight, it's clear that the reason those fake accents bugged me is because, when you really get down to it, they're pretty racist. They just make me wince all the more these days.
I've also come to realize a lot of the background info behind Kojima's work on this particular remake. The guy who did the cinematics actually WANTED them to be subdued and Kojima made him do them again so they could be over the top. In retrospect, I completely misunderstood exactly what Kojima was going for with Metal Gear, as a series, and took it WAY more seriously than he had ever actually intended. As fans, we were all guilty of this. I'm pretty sure he intended the idea of a solo operative to be ridiculous from the very start, and these cinematics were INTENDED to be laughed at as over the top action. Later Metal Gear games have seen him push that particular "joke" harder and harder, to the point where Phantom Pain has abandoned ALL pretense of taking place in a 1980's with anything remotely resembling realistic technology. In retrospect, I now see the whole series is intended to be tongue-in-cheek parody of action tropes (as well as more serious commentary on the nature of war and peace). It was NEVER meant to be taken completely seriously, and all our complaints about how "ridiculous" stuff was missed that point! Yeah, I'm repeating myself now, JUST LIKE KOJIMA!
Heck, even the basic premise pokes fun at itself. In hindsight, EVERY SINGLE Kojima Metal Gear game ends with a stunning revelation that you were being used by the very enemy you were infiltrating. Basically, for all the skill and stealth you thought you were using, the ONLY reason you even had a chance to pull off the mission was because the leader (or, developers) set things up to ALLOW you to infiltrate. In essence, that final reveal is Kojima saying "yeah, actually a solo infiltration mission is absolutely impossible". Heck, even WITH that reveal you blow your cover at least a few times in EACH game by story mandate, really driving home the impossibility of this sort of scenario.
It's only in recent years that I've really gotten to understand what Kojima was really going for with these games, and with that healthy pinch of salt held firmly between my cheek and gum I'll be ready for whatever complete insanity the last one throws at us.