Rumors continue to swirl about a potential resurrection of theMetal Gear Solidseries. Konami is apparently now interested in lending its properties to third-party companies, and evidence for this is already present in the form ofGetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon.Konami fans should prepare themselvesfor the surprise resurrection of their favorite properties, because it’s looking more and more likely with each passing week. Because of all this, theMetal Gearrumors have only gotten stronger.
Who will be given the reins toMetal Gear Solidis another matter entirely, as is which games will be chosen to be made or remade. A common theory is that Bluepoint Games, known for its work onShadow of the ColossusandDemon’s Souls, could be remakingMetal Gear Solid 1. A newMetal Gear Risingis also a possibility, as that is the sequel to the largely concludedMetal Gear Solidstory arc, and a new trademark for it was filed recently. However, among all the talk of big remakes and new games, there’s a couple of importantMGStitles that could do wonders with a simple remastering:Metal Gear Solid: The Twin SnakesandMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
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The Cutscenes Need To Be In Modern Fidelity
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakeswas only released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2004, andMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriotswas only released on the PlayStation 3 in 2008. Both games looked great in their respective times, but they could do with the resolution and texture bumps that modern technology provides. The same could be said forMetal Gear Solid 2,3, andPeace Walker, all of which received HD remasters on the PS3 and Xbox 360 during 2011, but there is a case forThe Twin SnakesandMGS4needing it more.
The gameplay looking better and possibly even running at a stable 60 FPS would be huge improvements for these two, and that’s not all.MGS4andThe Twin Snakesare infamous for their cutscenes, each sporting different attributes that they’re remembered for.MGS4has absurdly long, sometimes film-length, cutscenes explaining every single aspect ofMetal Gear’s plot up until that point. Meanwhile,The Twin Snakeshas both clearer audio than its original version and absolutely ridiculous action scenes that are hilarious to witness. The spirit of those scenes carried on toMGS4, and laterMetal Gear Rising, buttheir progenitor is trapped on GameCube hardware. It would be great to watch all of that remastered in a cutscene viewer.
Gameplay Improvements
The Twin SnakesandMGS4are also notable for their unique gameplay qualities, and the improvements they brought to the series.The Twin Snakesis notable in that it bringsMetal Gear Solid 2’s improved controls back toMetal Gear Solid 1. The game’s controls and camera have been improved, and non-lethal runs are now possible thanks to a new tranquilizer gun. Many fans would still say that it’s not worth the effort due to the altered cutscenes and new voice dub, but this spinoff is still the smoothest way to experienceMGS1’s time-honored stealth gameplay.
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MGS4is even more significant in this regard, as it introducesa lot of new mechanics intoMetal Gearthat were present only for it. The completely free camera controls were notable, as was the rebuilt shooting controls to catch up to some contemporary shooters.4also introduced the camouflage mechanic and OctoCamo sneaking suit, features that were very interesting to play around with and were useful for sneaking through daylight. Other features included a limited faction system, a variety of setpieces, and of course the weapon laundering system.MGS4stands as probably the most uniqueMetal Gearexperience, and it would be great if fans had the chance to experience it again.
MGS4 Is Important
For all ofThe Twin Snakes’ good points,MGS4still wins out in terms of which deserves a remaster more by merit of its place in the series at large.The Twin Snakesis a remake, and a controversial one at that. Many old fans still prefer the purer experience that they first fell in love with, not to mention the original game’s more consistently serious tone.MGS4was also a controversial entry, but compared toTwin SnakesandMGS5: The Phantom Pain, it’s generally in better standing with the fanbase. It still has the “feel” of a trueMetal Gear Solid, something its more maligned peers are said to lack.
That’s a good thing, too, becauseMetal Gear Solid 4is probably the most important game in the franchise. It showed what the world looked like under Patriot rule, and gave players their first look at several parts of the globe in theMetal Gearuniverse. It wrapped up the entire living cast’s stories, even cast members who players thought were long-dead. It alsoexplained nearly every aspect of theMGSseriesin utterly exhaustive detail to get there, which is also one of its less desirable traits. Still, even with its rough parts, few who made it past the radiation hallway and into the final climactic duel with Liquid Ocelot can deny thatMGS4makes for a damn good capstone to theMetal Gear Solidera ofMetal Gear’s timeline.
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakeswould be great to see on modern hardware, even if ports to non-Nintendo systems would mean the loss of a couple Easter eggs.Metal Gear Solid 4would also be great on current systems, especially with the added fidelity and sound quality modern technology can offer. Not to mention, a PC version ofMGS4that could be modded would be great, with all sorts of music and OctoCamo patterns being added to the game. If nothing else, having an updated, or at least available, version of the database would be great for new fans looking toread up on the timeline of theMetal Gear Solidfranchise. Really, it would be best if the whole mainMetal Gear Solidseries got modern ports, but these two stand above the rest as the ones that could most benefit from a new coat of camo.
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