Metal Gear Rising are you ready to “cut” loose?

Are you ready to turn bad guys into chopped beef? If that’s a yes then Metal Gear Rising is your game. Kicking off a few years after Metal Gear Solid 4, Rising features the ever so angry Raiden cutting down … Continue reading →

Are you ready to turn bad guys into chopped beef? If that’s a yes then Metal Gear Rising is your game. Kicking off a few years after Metal Gear Solid 4, Rising features the ever so angry Raiden cutting down bad guys for reasons you probably will never understand.

No better way to heal!

Rising is an intense game to say the least. It is in no way like any other Metal Gear game you’ve played. This is a good thing. Platinum Games took cues from their recent title Vanquish in bringing Raiden to life on screen. The speed, timing, and intensity of the game is reminiscent of Vanquish.

Don’t let this discourage you if you’re a huge fan of the Metal Gear series. There really is a continuation here with a “Solid” effort at throwing nods to fans while offering something for newcomers. At the same time though, the story is convoluted. In true Metal Gear fashion it’s full of political corruption, satire, and something about it all relates to war and humanity’s need for it…. I think. Needless to say, it’s all a bit nonsensical. That’s not why you’re picking this up. Raiden and how indestructible and ridiculous he was in Metal Gear 4 with that sword, is the reason you want to play Rising.

Grab the Left Arm!!!

Raiden is presented just as you remember-fast, indestructible, angry, and lethal. Breaking into numerous combos, while building your “Blade Mode” gauge, is a blast. Then right before that bad guy explodes you initiate “Blade Mode” where time slows and you cut. Everything. At one point I’m pretty sure I diced a dude into like 100 pieces then ripped out his spinal cord for some health, all while perfectly chopping off his left arm for battle points. Why his left arm, I have no idea, just because that’s what the good ole “docktor” said to do. That reason alone is what makes Rising a blast. How you move through the battlefield isn’t as much about stealth now, but about how you utilize this sickening, beautiful mechanic (Blade Mode) created for everyone looking to chop a bad guy in half in epic slow motion.

Ouch…..

Rising pulls from previous games such as DMC, during boss battles. Requiring you to counter, study, and repeat, in every encounter. Platinum does the Metal Gear series right and continues the long line of memorable boss fights and even throws in their own style of ridiculous, especially in the end. Be warned for reasons beyond me, no dodge mechanic is implemented here. Only Ninja Run which allows you to, well, run around with some lightning under your feet and deflect bullets. Countering is the name of the game, and it’s complicated. Once you get the hang of it though, you’ll be the perfect killing machine.

Who you’re mowing your way through, is the ultimate bad something or another team called Desperado. They are evil, I think, led by someone else evil, and war is for profiting. Nonsense! Seriously I don’t even know where to begin to explain this story, it is such a mess. Again just remember Raiden is the star. Throughout the constant massacring, you obtain battle points to use on upgrades and new weapons that unlock after completing boss fights. These new devices of death never really clicked as well as Raidens sword. Each one offers it’s own tactical advantage, but in the end it always slowed down the action. Just like Kratos’ famous Blades of Chaos, nothing ever really feels as good as Raiden’s sword.

Coming in around 5-6 hours Metal Gear Rising works well enough and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. If you’re a fan of Metal Gear just because of the stealth then stay away. If you ever wanted some hardcore action, jump in and hang on. I don’t know if Solid Snake would want you to buy this game, but I bet he wouldn’t mind if you borrowed it.

Metal Gear Rising is good enough to justify a RENT.