The Metal Gear franchise is an icon of the stealth genre that always seem to garner success. Even the titles that are criticized at launch, such as the over-the-top Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, have gone on to be considered underrated classics. A newcomer to Hideo Kojima's stealth-action franchise might be tempted to check out what all of the hype is about, but to say the series is complicated to get into would be a bit of an understatement.
While many Metal Gear games already have complex plotlines on their own, the franchise takes things to another level by showcasing events out of order. This makes things tough for a new fan trying to follow the fairly self-referential plots of some of the games, especially once Kojima's unique storytelling methods kick in. Those looking to ease their way into Kojima's absolutely wild stealth-action series should start out with the game that sets the groundwork for the franchise, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
The Story of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Taking heavy inspiration from James Bond films, Snake Eater sees players take on the role of Cold War-era CIA agent Naked Snake, who's sent into the jungles of Soviet Russia on a rescue mission. The game is heavily focused on stealth, with players often finding themselves outnumbered in hostile territory. Players can use a wide range of tools to help them take out enemies and remain undetected, though the most notable of these is Naked Snake's camouflage.
Throughout Snake Eater, players can find new camouflage options for Snake's sneaking suit. These aren't just cosmetic, as many provide Snake with different levels of concealment depending on the situation and his environment. This is more than a passive buff that players get by simply matching their camo to their general surroundings, as many camouflage options work best when Snake is actively taking measures to blend into the environment. For example, wearing tree branch camo will provide a much higher concealment rate if Snake's standing against a tree.
Snake Eater takes advantage of its environment in a lot of other ways as well, most notably with its survival aspects. Fans of hardcore survival games like Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead or RimWorld will likely appreciate things like the injury system that tracks individual wounds on Snake's body, with each type requiring a specific treatment. Snake Eater, as the title might hint at, also has a hunger system that requires players to hunt the local jungle wildlife.
Compared to many other Metal Gear titles, the story of Snake Eater is fairly easy to understand. While there are some references to characters from previous Metal Gear games, players don't need to be familiar with them to follow the plot. In fact, MGS3 ends up being a wonderful starting point for those interested in Metal Gear's story, since the events of this game end up getting referenced in pretty much every title that follows.
Why Players Should Start With Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Snake Eater has a lot of what makes the Metal Gear franchise so beloved while also staying away from the overly complicated elements that detract players. It serves as the best introduction to the world of Metal Gear, especially since the wilder elements that the series is known for aren't introduced until the game's second half. The core elements that define the Metal Gear franchise's gameplay are refined from the previous entries as well.
The jungle setting of the game gives players a great environment to learn the stealth system, although there are still plenty of the urban environments that feature heavily in the rest of the series. The sense of space that comes from the jungle also serves as a fairly forgiving stealth playground. As games like MGS2 and MGS4 involve a lot of tight corridors and crowded military bases, Snake Eater's openness lends itself well to first-time players.
It's hard to talk about Snake Eater without bringing up the game's sense of humor. Like many Metal Gear games, there are a number of fourth-wall-breaking jokes, over-the-top moments and bizarrely funny segments that are some of the best in gaming. The seemingly endless ladder that plays the game's vocal theme as players climb it is a classic. Most of Revolver Ocelot's scenes can also get pretty campy, though he's also the source for a lot of the game's more dynamic segments.
While Snake Eater can be a pretty wild game at times, it's hard to ignore the emotional moments that help balance the game's tone. The final confrontation between Naked Snake and his mentor is considered to be one of the best boss fights in Metal Gear history, though saying any more would spoil the game's climax. Snake Eater tells a solid story that doesn't rely on past games, all while having some really unique mechanics that help it stand out as a great game for new Metal Gear fans.