4/5 ★ – the_goatlover's review of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Very mixed on this game right now. Overall it was really enjoyable in terms of progressing the Metal gear series. The environment change is really welcome and I think the jungle and mountain atmospheres were really fresh and fantastically used. I cannot however get past the camera in this game. I found it nearly unplayable thanks to it. The top down really does not work with this environment and especially without and radar map to see enemy visions. It was soooo frustrating to constantly get seen before I could even think about seeing enemies. I hear there is a better camera in Subsistence and I am really wanting to try it because this could have been my favourite metal gear if it were. But given the fact that I just finished this and immediately want to replay with an improved camera says something about the game The gameplay to cutscene/codec call ratio was well balanced and I felt like I was able to have long long stretches of uninterrupted gameplay. And as well the codec calls were awesome this time out. Every save getting a random movie fact or lesson was soooo enjoyable. Especially since I love a lot of those movies. Soo fun. The bond conversation had me crying laughing. Just hilarious. However the lack of being able to move quickly with the d-pad made it similarly annoying to control snake with the analogue stick. Awkwardly trying to hug a wall often resulted in me blowing my cover because I tilted the joystick a little too much in one direction. and trying to use it to get into cover was always clunky. Sadly compared to MGS 2 the bosses were lacking. Some were good, but some were really bad. I had a horrible horrible time with The End, yet after reading more about it, I would honestly love to replay it with a better camera. That's why I want to play with a better camera, this whole game felt like it was held back by it. I am really surprised it was even implemented like this in the first place. Even thought those frustrations were near constant, the game still shone through so well by itself. Story, dialogue, and minute to minute gameplay are at their best. A fitting legacy for Big Boss