Youíll have to pardon my lack of enthusiasm here.
Because itís not at all about the quality of this game.
Iím not telling you this is a bad video gameóalthough I have a slight argument over the application
of the term video game.
This is more like a video.
Stop there, and youíd be more accurate.
I used to really like this game, but I donít anymore.
And I think I should make this abundantly clearójust because I donít like something
doesnít mean I think it sucks.
People get inexplicably defensive about things like this, and the last thing I want to initiate
here is some kind of idiotic flame war.
Bloated, boring, all words Iíd use to describe Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D.
But wait, waitóbecause, my personal views on a game that only lets you grab a backpack
within its first 40 minutes aside, Iíd also call it an amazing 3DS game.
That is, if youíre into this kind of thing.
And call it a hunch, but Iím assuming a vast majority of gamers are.
And thatís fine.
In fact, I wish I still had the patience for this.
Snake Eater is a phenomenal experience as a whole, provided youíre willing to invest
a substantial amount of time into what is largely a passive interactive experience.
I know Iíve been doing more editorializing up to this point than reviewing, and thatís
because I made this major realization about the evolution of my tastes in gaming when
returning to Snake Eater on the 3DS.
That said, if you want a full review of Metal Gear Solid 3...we have that here on CGRundertow.
And it should also please you to hear Snakeís first mission on a Nintendo system in nearly
a decade is a great one.
I just wish I still liked playing it.
If youíve never played the game, the storyóand believe me, thereís a lot of storyóis about
a CIA operative codenamed Naked Snake.
His mission is to take down a major nuclear threat in the Soviet Union, and of course,
he does that...by sneaking through forests and stuff.
This is a very smart and very slow stealth game predicated upon immersion, deliberateness
and ultimately, patience.
But speaking more specifically about this 3DS version, this is a fantastic port.
Snake Eater looks incredible on Nintendoís portable, and its implementation of 3D visuals
is among the best weíve seen.
The problem, of course, is that the 3DS doesnít have a second analog stickóat least, not
standard.
And Snake Eater was designed to be played with one.
So unless youíre playing with an ugly plastic tumor attached to your system, it takes some
time to get used to the controls on the 3DS.
You move the camera with the face buttons and crouch with the d-pad, neither of which
feels quite right.
Fortunately, you can actually walk while crouching in this 3DS version, which is a nice addiction
from prior versions of the game that compensates for some of the awkwardness.
But apart from that, Snake Eater 3D is, in most ways, an improvement.
Itís just that, I donít know...I guess Iím at a point in my life where games with such
an overwhelming emphasis on story just arenít my thing anymore.
But if youíre fortunate enough to still be interested in watching Snakeís story unfold
and occasionally being asked to participate, the legendary Snake Eater is even better in
3D.