Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Review

When it was revealed at E3 2003 that a Metal Gear Solid game would grace the GCN, the gaming world was stunned by the revelation. To say the least, Metal Gear Solid has been a cornerstone of the PlayStation brand. However, Twin Snakes isn’t an original game, like Snake Eater for the PlayStation 2. Twin Snakes is instead a remake of the original on the PlayStation. Rushing out PlayStation era remakes isn’t new on the GCN though, ask Resident Evil.

Silicon Knights, the developers behind the game (also behind Eternal Darkness), built Twin Snakes from the ground up. Now, I won’t be one to compare and contrast between this and the original. The only experience I have in the franchise is with Snake Eater, of which I beat.

From what I can tell, based on the two or so hours I played of the PlayStation version, the biggest difference is in the number of cut-scenes. Bullet-time, jacked from the Matrix, is over-used in these scenes. Their point of interest is in furthering the story. They’re a true artistic accomplishment though, so while you may lose interest from the dragging dialogue, the visuals are pleasing.

A few more improvements have been made though. Snake’s moves return, hurling over rails, sliding along walls, avoiding cameras, and stuffing guards into lockers. Aside from hand-to-hand combat, he has a selection of weapons to reckon with; a pistol, rifle, grenades, seeking missiles, etc. New to the game are the tranquilizer and the sniper.

Also new is the first-person perspective. Using the Z button, you can go into first person. With your weapon equipped, you can fire with A. This guarantees stealth with its headshots, precision aiming (especially useful for tranquilizer darts), shooting out cameras, etc. While in boss battles, you will fire from the first person (i.e. Mantis, Sniper Wolf, etc.). This proves to be a useful tool indeed.

Alright, alright, I know you’re begging to know what the story’s about. You play as Solid Snake, a superspy that could dispose of even James Bond himself, probably without breaking a sweat (this coming from a Bond fan). Your mission: stop a terrorist organization from launching a newly developed stealth nuke from an Alaskan nuclear facility. The game will take place partially outdoors, mostly indoors. The game tries to stimulate your brain by providing you with several plot twists. You’ll wind up with a headache instead; at least until it all comes together rather nicely at the end. Of course, the bosses that refuse to die (i.e. Liquid Snake) are overtly aggravating.

In the end, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes stayed loyal to its nearly identical brother. For those that have played the original, possibly too loyal to give this game a try. If you’re like me, and hadn’t beaten the PlayStation version, it’d be a good idea to play this one instead. Improvements abound, it might not be a new experience for those that have already played it, but it’s better than what was provided on the PlayStation.