Napalm Riot

Intro
================================================================
Metal Gear Solid 3 was a very good game, and possibly my favorite in the series. In the game you go back in time several decades before the events in one and two, and play as Naked Snake (otherwise known as The Big Boss, other wise known as the source of Liquid and Solid and Solidus Snakes' genes) before you learn to hate him in the original Metal Gear games.

Graphics 9|10
================================================================
This game had marvelous graphics. Released around 5 years after the PlayStation 2 was, the developers had plenty of time to get used to the system and the graphics look superb. From sprawling forests, to swamps, to run down factories, to a lake, the scenes were all gorgeous. This has one of the spookiest scenes I've seen in a non horror game so far. I would play any game this team worked on, Metal Gear Solid 3 looked so good.

Sound 8|10
================================================================
As in the other 2 Metal Gear Solid games, there was nothing to complain about sound wise in this game. All the sounds made sense, were very well placed, and sounded right, but the game lacked a memorable sound track. If the soundtrack had been better, it would have scored probably a perfect 10 on sound. The soundtrack it had was not bad, just not what it should have been for a series of this magnitude.

Controls 9|10
================================================================
The controls were very good in this installment of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. The emphasis on sneakines was doubled with the addition of camouflage and face paint to help conceal yourself, and the ability to actively use cover was a great new addition. The fighting controls were just as good as either 1 or 2, although I did at first lament the fact that the tranq pistol only had iron sights, not a laser, but you get used to it, and it was really fun getting headshots as you got better. There was also a new stat, your stamina, that fell as you fought and ran around the levels, and you had to go hunting for plants and animals in order to replenish it. That was a fun element of the game that really helped to make the game.

Story 10|10
================================================================
This game's story disappointed me as I first started playing it, because I had really wanted a continuation of the previous game's story, but the story was so good that it really helped you to understand the background of the other stories, and to feel slightly sympathetic to The Big Boss in the earlier series, even though he is the "bad guy". The story was incredibly well written, and all the cut scenes were superbly done.

Fun 9|10
================================================================
When choosing the best MGS that I've played, this one is definitely one of the most serious considerations. From choosing camouflage, to hunting animals, to just trying to stay alive, this was a very fun game. I enjoyed all the elements of the game, and it kept me playing through to the end, and even immediately restarting it.

Replay 9|10
================================================================
This was the most replayable game of the series. From having to tranq all the bosses rather than killing them to get all the camouflage, to trying to get through the game with no alerts or kills for a special camouflage, it was just an all around experience that could easily be repeated multiple times in a short time span.