Downplaying Metal Gear 1.

[A.G.]

The further they go with the prequals, the more I feel they downplay Metal Gear 1.

In Snake Eater they show early plans for Metal Gear. And it's REX, which makes no sense at all. TX-55 was the first Metal Gear and the plans should've shown it. Otacon created REX. How can his ideas (visually) be identical to Granin's? Otacon was inpired by Anime, as the result you had REX. That is the first of the inacuracies of these prequals.

Moving on to Portable Ops. There are a couple of things. First, and again, it's Metal Gear. All fans expect to fight a Metal Gear at the end of the game, so how can that happen in Ops. TX-55 is the first Metal Gear, and it was a 1995 prototype that wasn't even functional yet. So now we'll see a Metal Gear tank in 1970? That makes no sense. Other option is what, another Shagohod? C'mon... Also, look at the FoxHound logo. It is not the logo used in MG and MG2. The took the "modern" MGS logo. Not to mention that Metal Gear 1 stated that FoxHound was created in the early 90's, not 70's. Both Snake Eater and Ops contradict this.

The whole prequal idea is very risky. And I still fail to see the point of Snake Eater. What does it set up in the 15+ hrs of gaming? That Big Boss turned on US due to the situation with the Boss? The Philasophers/Patriots? All of that was explained in the last hour or so of the game.

I just think that Metal Gear 1 has been seriously dented. Things that it introduced have been replaced and/or disregarded.

Granin's plans should've been of TX-55. The FoxHound creation should've been in the early 90's. Portable Ops used the wrong FoxHound logo.

Any thoughts?

[TheBrotherOfLight]

I though Ocelot got hold of Granin's design, right? And Ocelot worked for The Patriots, the same organization that had REX created. So I think naturally, REX should look like Granin's sketches. Otacon was an engineer, wasn't he. How much was he involved in the actual design? And even if he modified Granin's version of REX, I think it's logical it still stayed the same. And didn't Otacon say he got inspired to start working with robotics because of his love for anime? Did he say he was inspired by anime to make REX itself?

And you know I hate anything that has to do with Portable Ops. And I totally agree with you on the Metal Gear in PO. I never really thought about the FOX-HOUND logo, but you're right, it's weird why they did that.

I love Snake Eater, so I don't really understand what you mean about it being pointless. But I think I know what you mean.

What I don't like about the prequels is that they are done today, on consoles far more advanced than MSX2 and NES. That means they can put more complex stories in the new games. Now, to be honest, even if I do like Metal Gear 1, it's story isn't that much of a deal in todays standards (MG2 still holds its own though). Metal Gear will suddenly grow lots of plot holes when the prequels leading up to the events in that game are so rich of details (compared to MG1).

[A.G.]

I guess I see the reasoning on REX.

My phrasing wasn't right on Snake Eater. It's not pointless, I just don't see it as necessary as they made it sound. It was supposed to be the game that sets up all the event of the series, and I don't think it does that great of a job of that. All the major points that effect the series can me summed up in the last hour of the game, as such I don't see the need for a 15+ hour epic.

As for Portable Ops... Hey, expanded universe is never a good thing. Think of Indiana Jones. You got the main trilogy, but then you got all those adventures of Young Indy. That's what Portable Ops is to me.

[TheBrotherOfLight]

I know, we should buy all copies of PO and burn them!

A tad off topic, but I was surprised to hear David Hayter as Big Boss in PO. Never thought they would use actors for those games, and absolutely not the original cast. Para-Medic returned and Ocelot (Josh Keaton). They're really serious about this series being cannon.

[A.G.]

In that respect I am happy to see them do that. At least they are taking it seriously. Third time's the charm, and they are determined to make it work.

Ghost Babel offered nothing new to the series and being non-cannon to boot it tanked in terms of sales.

The Acids offered something completely different to the series. However, it was not really what Metal Gear is supposed to be. Add the non-cannon factor and both games were a flop.

So now they are balancing the whole thing out with PO. The game is cannon. It has voice acting of the original cast. And while it stays directly true to the cannon gameplay, it does offer a new feature that could be integrated into the MG formula if done properly. The cutscene idea, though not my favorite, is fresh and original. They are raising it's rank by offering a Premium Package release as well.

I am starting to believe that this may very well be the first portable Metal Gear title that's actually going to be worth while. It's not a cheap knock off like Ghost Babel, nor is it an outrageos off-side blunder like the Acids. And while I still feel we don't need it, I do think it may work better than the portable predecessors.

[TheBrotherOfLight]

As far as Ghost Babel goes, I must admit I enjoyed it. Though the gameplay was too much puzzle oriented for my tastes, Tomokazu Fukushima's script was actually good. What I don't like about the story is that it has given birth to many crazy theories, and people seem to have a hard time accepting it as a side story.

I feel the same way you do about Ac!d, (though I haven't played it), but I've heard from lots of people that the card system is deep and very strategic. So this leads me to believe Nojiri isn't such a bad director.

I cast most of my concerns regarding Portable Ops at the story. Who is behind it? Did Kojima himself come up with the basic story, and, most importantly, who wrote the script? And will they keep the same writer for the following games?