METAL GEAR & METAL GEAR 2: Solid Snake

The second installment saves this review from getting a thumbs down, play if you want to complete your MGS adventure, but be prepared for some very rough edges especially in the first game. Still, there's a lot to love about these games and how they shaped the MGS universe. Metal Gear 1 is a very unrefined game, it is a trial and error process with some unlogical and often frustrating design choices where your time is not respected. I can imagine this was an extreme game for its time given there's so many vague mission directives that would take many hours to figure out without internet. This I would give a thumbs down, only play this when you persist on playing all titles at least once and don't be ashamed to occasionally look in a walkthrough. This game does bring so many gimmicks that return in later installments. Its nice to see those future titles giving the wink to the lesser known previous games. Then theres Metal Gear 2. An upgrade on almost all fronts, keeping the spirit alive but with some much needed improvements. Metal Gear 2 starts to introduce even more elements that now start to shape the MGS essence. Still frustrating at times, and easy to get stuck if you forget what was said but the writing is finally getting a good spotlight in this game. There is emotion, and multiple parts where the game feels like it builds up towards surprises and fireworks.