Just got this game for Christmas and have played it about a grand total of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Story: The Splinter Cell staple - 3rd world terrorists causing trouble, turns out it is actually 1st world terrorists (damn russians...or chinese, I don't know) behind the whole thing.
Gameplay: I'm a big fan of the controls on this game. It's easy to maneuver and look around. There's a few added moves that I'll mention below which make it even better.
Improvements: First and foremost, this game is not as ALARM HAPPY as the previous installment (Pandora Tomorrow). Alarms go off, but it doesn't cost you the game. You can also kill anyone, anytime. No more getting bitched out by Colonel Lambert or ending your mission because you capped a guy. Also, you are now allowed to save the game at any point. No more checkpoints, which could get frustrating if you got pretty far and then had to go back. All in all, this makes the game a little easier - which I'm not sure I like, but it also makes it more fun.
New moves: I haven't had a chance to bust out many of the new moves yet, but in this game there are three key moves that have been added: 1. When you are hanging above someone on a pipe, you can swing down and snap their neck. 2. When you are above someone, you can drop down and knock them out, and 3. You now carry a knife, so after you sneak up and interrogate a guy, you have two options: A. Be nice and choke him into a deep sleep or B. Slice him open and move on.
XBOX/PS2 Comparison: From what I've read, the PS2 version is not as good as the Xbox version. It seems like it is a totally different experience on Xbox. So results may vary.
Online gameplay: Is supposed to kick ass, but I haven't tried it yet.
Recommendation: To loyal MGS fans (or MSG if you're Dan Bowers), the Splinter Cell series will not supply you with an adequate challenge. While most people like to compare the two, I don't. They are both 'spy warfare' games, but MGS is in its own realm. Them Japanese is crazy! I favor Splinter Cell because 1. They don't have a decent version of MGS on Xbox and 2. I still think the controls for Splinter Cell are much more fluid. (At least when compared to 'Substance' on Xbox). Whenever I played that game, I would end up crawling when I wanted to shoot. Oy.
While I'm the one of the group who doesn't play these games, I'm just happy Splinter Cell gives Michael Ironsides a chance to stay off the street.
ReplyDeleteHe's too much of a talent to lose in this age of mass-panic and individual-calm.
And aside from Clint Eastwood, he's the only actor that can successfully pull off the line: "Shut your face, hippy".
ReplyDeleteUnless the SC colonel is CHRISTOPHER Lambert (and even then), MGS still has the superior colonel. What other actor could supply the voice of Zeus himself (see "God of War")??? I'll probably still be talking to all of you in the "Colonel voice" until I'm old and feeble.
ReplyDeleteThey did change the voice of Colonel Lambert....bastards. It used to be the Allstate Guy/24's President. Now it sounds like a white guy doing a black guy's voice. Reminds me of the stunt double in NR:NS.
ReplyDeleteIronsides still kicks all form of ass though. It's going to suck when they do the movie and it's not him. It will just be the actor of the week trying to do a gruff voice. Probably the Rock. :D
ReplyDeleteWell, if it actually says "Shut your face, Hippie" that is pretty cool. Although he has to intro a monkey mission before he takes the top spot from Colonel Campbell. Then he has to go crazy and say "I need scissors.....61!!!"
ReplyDeleteMGS has a lot more depth, because it has been around since the 8 Bit NES and actually gets stuff involved in the game from back when you were 10. It sounds like they added a CQC style interface to this game. Unfortunately, this is just a continuation of the Xbox vs. PS2. People who favor the PS2 are going to prefer Metal Gear. For example, me.
and for the record I hate the PS and PS2 and will hate the PS3 and love metal gear- thank God it gets upconverted to the sExBOx!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the controls on the original MGS for PS had to have been better than the Xbox's 'Substance'. I remember loving MGS on PS and playing it at the chapter house...until my PS was stolen. That was my last memory of Playstation.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be an Xbox'er if it hadn't been for my chance visit to a Meijer store grand opening where they were selling for $99 - and that was a couple years ago.
Ken has a point, as I've played the Xbox version of MGS2:Substance at his house, and the control scheme is all wrong. Though at the time, I was dressed as Spider-Man and having difficulty seeing out the eyes of the mask. Also, I was very, very drunk.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem was that the orignal controllers for the xBOx hands down absolutely sucked- whoever desinged them should be hung and then fired.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I got my xbox only last year and played MGS2 then. The only quirk I had with the control is that ALL the buttons on the controller are pressure sensitive- so to shoot your weapon you would press the 'x' button in really hard and then release to shoot. If you released too far you'd unequip your gun and if you didn't release enough the gun wouldn't fire. So that blew ass.
Rodo Boy - buying next gen systems 10 years after they come out.
I'm totally happy with the Xbox and am in no way sick of it. I think the graphics are great and there's still a ton of games I haven't played.
ReplyDeleteI have no pity for all the 'tards that MUST HAVE 360 - so much that they pay $800-$1000 for a fine selection of maybe 12 games, when they could wait a few months, get it for regular price and have maybe 50 games to choose from.
Did you guys see Leno last night? (Not that I watch on a regular basis) but they had 'Things sold on Ebay'. Some idiot won an Xbox 360 bid for $830. Unfortunately he didn't read it completely, as the seller was only selling the Xbox 360 BOX, i.e. the cardboard box it came in. Dumbass.
Re: Xbox controllers - I must have the newer gen controller also, since it doesn't seem bad at all. I also have the Logitech wireless, which fits my hand perfectly. Much better than the PS2 dualshock.
It is good to be happy with your purchase. I agree that all dumbasses who stand in line to get a video game machine deserve to be mocked. Thay are wasting time that should be spent playing video games. And those who don't and pay $800 for one even moreso. I mean what if you get it and a game, and while the game has the best graphics ever, ends up sucking ass? You just shelled out $850. Yo could see 85 movies for that price. Or if you are buying food from the concession stand, 10 movies.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever find out that my kid has dropped $850.00 on a video game console, I'm going to go into his room with a bat, smash it to shit, look them straight in the eye and say... "THAT'S HOW I ROLL!!!"
ReplyDeleteDO I MIND?!
ReplyDelete