5/5 ★ – bryansbane's review of Metal Gear Solid.

As someone who was born in 1992 and started playing video games in 1996, Metal Gear Solid has always been in my peripheral view. Whether it be on magazine covers or in a cracked jewel case under a friends entertainment center, it has been present, even if my desire to engage with it wasn’t. 27 years after release I’ve finally played it and I can say with confidence that none of its impact is lost on me. Putting aside the obvious drawbacks of being built for a now thirty year console, MGS feels as if it hasn’t aged at all. Controls are smooth, the gameplay holds up, and the voice acting and cinematic direction are professionally handled. It’s staggering to play this now and be able to trace a line from this games release all the way to what modern Sony first party exclusives look like today. Cinematic, character rich and deeply narrative driven. Solid Snake, Otacon, Mei Ling and the rest of the gang all have unique personalities and perspectives. The villains end up being more than one note and closer to the quality of Batman’s rogue gallery, each offering something special for Snake to tackle. I’m surprised just how well paced and intriguing the plot is from beginning all the way up to its final moments. The sound design in both the music and in the now iconic series jingles fit well and are burned into my brain. There’s little I can say that hasn’t been said for decades by this point, but it does feel like Metal Gear Solid was way ahead of its time. It’s the complete package. Love, humor, action…a modernization of the stealth genre moving forward, its legacy ripples throughout the industry. Only time will tell, but it’s likely that I’ve just finished a new favorite game. SNAAAAAAKEE!!!