TGS 09: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Impressions

No, there's no way I'm at the Tokyo Game Show right now. But I can imagine, thanks to IGN posting the download for the show's Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker demo! I'm only a bit in so far, having already completed the tutorial section of the game and watching a cut-scene, but right now I'm stuck, because the language barrier is tremendous.

What can I say right now though? The graphics, are awesome, I've seen worse released on PS2 and Wii if that means anything. Control-wise, Kojima somehow managed to map Metal Gear Solid 4's DualShock 3 control scheme onto the PSP, ditching Portable Ops' controls entirely; it's not full DualShock controls of course, what with the lack of 2nd analog and L2/R2, but it's close enough damnit!

But yeah, the entire demo is in Japanese, from menus to voice acting, so I haven't the slighest clue as to the story or what on Earth I'm supposed to do now. The tutorial, which was reasonably understandable only helped control wise, but in terms of objective I'm lost.

On another note, some cut-scenes are full in-game CGI, while the big stuff is comic style in the vein of what Ashley Wood did for Portable Ops. Oddly enough, the style of these scenes look's like Wood's at first, but then there's a bit of Yoji Shinkawa's style in there, and quite frankly I don't know who's art it really is... it'd be nice to get an answer on that.

When I figure out what to do, I'll update you!

Kojima teaser site shows another face

When the Kojima teaser site last updated, we were treated to an image of Big Boss. This time around we are given another familiar face ... or is it?

Personally I think it's Raiden; I mean ... it's extremely obvious that it is him because the armor and jaw is the same as it was in Metal Gear Solid 4. But there's some nay-sayers on the internet claiming it to be a Grey Fox, future Sunny or another woman. First off, if you played Portable Ops, you'd know Grey Fox looks nothing like that; and as for Sunny or a woman in general ... I know Raiden is a little feminine looking, but seriously, give the man a break.

My guess at this point, is that what we're seeing now is for a Metal Gear Solid 4 DLC expansion(s); which will feature two different stories from the past. One being from the perspective of young Big Boss, the other from Raiden's point of view after MGS2 until the events of MGS4. Why? Because there's still more to say about Big Boss's past, and Raiden cyborg suit there looks to be at a transitional state from how he finally looks in MGS4, and we never actually see how he comes to be that way.

Just a hunch, but E3 can't come any sooner!

Kojima teaser site finally makes things very obvious

I'll be honest, it was pretty hard to keep quite when Kojima Productions' "Next" teaser site went live. But I refrained from speculating flashing letters, mysterious clouds, and lightning storms here on VFH. But now, one of those flashes makes everything painfully obvious:

Yes, that's Big Boss (or Naked Snake) right there. No doubt about it. As for what this means in terms of consoles is a whole other realm of speculation, but there's no doubting at this point that Kojima's next title is part of Metal Gear. As an open Metal Gear fanboy, I'm excited to say the least. E3 can't come any sooner!

Another Mega64 classic?

If thought Mega64's encounter with Shigeru Miyamoto was an amusing piece of internet "cinematography", wait till you see their latest effort:



Yes, that's Mr. Hideo Kojima, who unlike Mr. Miyamoto, gets in on the action. Also, Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski also makes a brief camero... but c'mon Hideo Kojima acting stealthy? That's priceless!

Kojima Signing MGS4 In Times Square

Thats right, Hideo Kojima will be at the Virgin Megastore in times square June 11th. Anyone close should drop by, signed MGS4s are bound to be worth a fortune, although I would keep it because... well it would be awesome to have honestly.

Via Joystiq