Eurogamer Expo: Hands on with Metal Gear Rising Revengeance
Words by: Ben Rayner | Posted: 7 months ago | Filed under: Eurogamer 2012, Previews.
By far the biggest queue at Eurogamer was Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. Without a doubt it had a clear reason to be, not only did the game look stunning, I was staring at a lot of people’s run-through’s while eagerly queuing, it looked like a real challenge, such a challenge in fact anyone who could finish the demo in under 20 minutes got a prize (I did manage it once myself, but this was 3 attempts later, not such an epic win).
The story plays out many years after Guns of the Patriots, with Raiden working for PMCs performing multiple tasks such as the training of armies and protecting government officials and VIPs. Raiden initially appears with his white cyborg armor from Metal Gear Solid 4. However, Raiden soon encounters an army of cyborg monstrosities from Desperado Enterprises, a self-proclaimed group of terrorist Cyborgs. Members of Desperado kill Raiden’s current client and practically destroy him in the process, barely managing to survive Raiden is discovered by a German scientist and given a new black cyborg armor that is much more powerful but it requires a constant recharge.
When I first got my hands on Rising a tough tutorial mode was initiated, giving me a chance to acquaint myself with slice mode. I had obviously seen this accurate slicing of melons and table tops on earlier screenings but could it really be that realistic?
Yes, yes and yes! Slice mode plays out exactly how you’d imagine, with the right analogue stick tasking you with not only aiming your sword but actually swiftly making the cut yourself. This at first seemed so time-consuming that it could only be used on stationary targets, but pretty quickly you pick up the controls and everything feels fluid just like it should, meaning when your surrounded by 3 mercenaries firing at you and a Metal Gear on top, you can still find the time to set off a combo and then accurately slice someone’s head off… It’s truly satisfying, trust me.
During combat, your mastery of slicing becomes a big crux to survival as your health is constantly dwindling, and the only way you can replenish? Juicy juicy spines. Once you’ve successfully decapitated someone, if you move fast, your given the option to pull out their spines and drain them of the electrical fluid contained (I cannot wait for Kojima to explain the reason behind this). As you can expect, the rest of the controls feel fast and fluid, and with the team behind greats such as Bayonetta helming this reincarnation of the Metal Gear series, I’m glad that they could merge such a radically different play style into the universe.
While Rising is a reboot or spin-off from the main series, it still maintains huge cinematic cut-scenes (I’m expecting a good few hours, true to the series’ previous titles) and with such a great story and truly addictive gameplay this has to be one of the most anticipated games of next year. Even if you simply loved MGS for its stealth action, I assure everyone out there you will quickly fall in love with Rising and forget that old guy with the beard… Snake was it?
About Ben Rayner
If he's not saving the world from zombie hordes (yes he works in retail) Ben can found playing almost any game he can get his hands on! Hitman and Max Payne are his games of choice but don't let that fool you, he can hold his own in a game of C.O.D! He also likes Tea, Whiskey and short walks home...to his Xbox! Say Hi! I love to talk!
