Metal Gear Solid - Help a n00b out!

[Ziggy]

First off, I don't know what this is...

IMG_5295.JPG (86.55 KiB) Viewed 5685 times

I don't think you can make it out in the pic, but above Metal Gear Solid 2 it says Tactical Espionage Action but I know it says that on the MGS2 Sons of Liberty disc too. I couldn't find this online. I thought it might be a demo or something, but when I boot it up the title screen says MGS2 Substance and it doesn't say anything about being a demo. As far as I can tell, this is what the Substance disc looks like. So is this a greatest hits version or something?

Other than that, I'm a total noob when it comes to the MGS series and I'm wondering where I should start. I have MGS1 for PS1, but I don't think I wanna deal with the dated graphics. Is the remake on Gamecube any good? Should I play it before playing MGS2? Should I play 2 before playing 3?

[AmishSamurai]

First off, I don't know what this is...

I don't think you can make it out in the pic, but above Metal Gear Solid 2 it says Tactical Espionage Action but I know it says that on the MGS2 Sons of Liberty disc too. I couldn't find this online. I thought it might be a demo or something, but when I boot it up the title screen says MGS2 Substance and it doesn't say anything about being a demo. As far as I can tell, this is what the Substance disc looks like. So is this a greatest hits version or something?

Other than that, I'm a total noob when it comes to the MGS series and I'm wondering where I should start. I have MGS1 for PS1, but I don't think I wanna deal with the dated graphics. Is the remake on Gamecube any good? Should I play it before playing MGS2? Should I play 2 before playing 3?

The GC remake is fine, but since you can switch to first-person for combat it's a bit easier. They added a few extra cutscenes, and replaced the various Sony references with Nintendo ones (there's a gamecube in Otacon's office instead of a PS1, Psycho Mantis reads off Nintendo games instead of Konami ones), and used the dog-tag mechanic from later games.

Chronologically the games go MGS3 -> All the PSP ones -> Metal Gear -> Metal Gear 2 -> Metal Gear Solid -> MGS 2 -> MGS4. If you play MGS2, realize you won't be Snake for most of the game- which was probably the biggest complaint about it alongside "what the fuck is happening?"

[Ziggy]

Yeah, I was reading that 3 is a prequel to the series. But should I start with 3? I'm just worried that if I start with 3 than 1 and 2 might not seem as good. If 3 made advancements to gameplay, you know what I mean?

[Niode]

Yeah, I was reading that 3 is a prequel to the series. But should I start with 3? I'm just worried that if I start with 3 than 1 and 2 might not seem as good. If 3 made advancements to gameplay, you know what I mean?

Play them in release order. Don't bother playing them in order canonically. So start with Metal Gear Solid (I'm intentionally ignoring Metal Gear and it's sequel) then do the second, third and then fourth. Personally, I hate Twin Snakes and would rather play the original any time. I think you should make sure you play the PS1 original, then try Twin Snakes at a later date. That's just my opinion though.

[Ziggy]

Any particular reason you like the original over the remake, Niode? I thought the remake added to the gameplay, as well as enhance the graphics, voice acting, etc. Maybe you're just partial to the original because it's the original?

Also, what's the deal with the Substance and Subsistence releases for 2 and 3? Does it matter which version I play of each game?

[noiseredux]

Chronologically the games go MGS3 -> All the PSP ones -> Metal Gear -> Metal Gear 2 -> Metal Gear Solid -> MGS 2 -> MGS4.

what? That's fucked up.

[AppleQueso]

That disc is from the MGS box set thing. The "Tactical Espionage Action" subtitle is on all the games.

MGS 2 Substance and MGS 3 Subsistance are both the 'enhanced' versions of the games. It's preferable to play those versions since they have nifty extras, but not necessary.

@noise, it's because MGS3 is a prequel, and the PSP ones are direct sequels to 3.

I'd still not recommended playing them in chronological order. It actually makes LESS sense that way.

[Ziggy]

So that disc IS in fact MGS2 Substance? Weird that it doesn't say "Substance" any where on the disc.

[noiseredux]

I'd still not recommended playing them in chronological order. It actually makes LESS sense that way.

ah fair enough. The only one I've spent major time with is the GBC release. But I do plan to tackle the PS1/PS2 releases at some point -- including the MSX2 ports.

[AppleQueso]

So that disc IS in fact MGS2 Substance? Weird that it doesn't say "Substance" any where on the disc.

Like I said, the box set thing. It's weird I know. It contains only the first disc of MGS3 subsistence too, the logic being that the second disc contained mainly an online game that has sense had its servers shut down. The first disc still says "Disc 1" on the title screen though