Metal Gear Solid: Delta: Snake Eater is looking increasingly promising, bringing the unforgettable action-espionage classic into the modern age with updated graphics, performance, and contemporary gameplay staples. Since Metal Gear is one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history, it's safe to assume that if Delta does well, then more remakes will follow suit.
Metal Gear Solid: Delta is an emotionally complex release as, while it looks good, it's a reminder of the lack of new Metal Gear releases, and of Kojima's departure from Konami.
Perhaps the next best choice for a modern facelift is Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, a Platinum Games spin-off title that is technically the final chapter in the Metal Gear story, at least for now. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was balked at a bit when it first released in 2013, as its character-action gameplay seemed like something straight out of Devil May Cry or Bayonetta (which is appropriate, given Platinum's pedigree) rather than the stealth-oriented Metal Gear Solid. This, coupled with the fact that the game was missing the iconic Snake in favor of Raiden, the sometimes maligned protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2, made it a bit of a head-scratcher at launch, but Revengeance has managed to gain a massive cult following over the years, and is now widely considered one of the best hack-and-slash action games of the 2010s.
Why Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Could Benefit From a Remake
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Deserves More Attention
It certainly isn't the first game that comes to mind when thinking of the Metal Gear franchise, but Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's gameplay is almost unparalleled in the world of high-octane action titles, rivaling and even exceeding some of the genre's most recognizable IP. It's mechanically tight and engaging, with a lot of room for experimentation and expression, especially on higher difficulties, and although the visuals of the game aren't terrible, they are defined by the bland color palette of the seventh console generation, and a makeover certainly wouldn't hurt.
Another weak point of the game is its length: the main campaign can be completed in less than eight hours, making Revengeance one of the leaner entries in the Metal Gear series. A remake could add extra enemy encounters or even boss battles, giving the original's stellar combat design more room to breathe. But perhaps the greatest possible aspect of a potential Revengeance remake would be what it could mean for the IP moving forward.
A Remake of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Could Be the Shot in the Arm Metal Gear Needs
Although Metal Gear Solid Delta seems to be making cool changes to the original formula, and it could very well be a blast to play, the only sustainable path forward for the franchise is investment in new releases; it can't survive on remakes alone. Bringing more attention to Revengeance through a remake, though, could provide an alternate route for the series, as more action-oriented entries could exist alongside the traditional stealth-oriented ones. This may be particularly effective, as the Snake-led, stealth-based Metal Gear games will always be shackled to Kojima's legacy. They might never feel the same without his influence.
But Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance presents a different vision of the Metal Gear world, one painted by the hand of Platinum Games and depicted through the lens of a decidedly less covert operative. Snake and his clones may be key players in the Metal Gear story, but the franchise has always been focused on broad conflicts, so putting a spotlight on the greater fictional universe simply makes sense. A remake of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance could do just that, perhaps even paving the way for more Metal Gear games with abject action elements and more diverse storytelling.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- February 19, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Engine
- Havok
- Franchise
- Metal Gear
WHERE TO PLAY
Developed by Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames, METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE takes the renowned METAL GEAR franchise into exciting new territory with an all-new action experience. The game seamlessly melds pure action and epic story-telling that surrounds Raiden – a child soldier transformed into a half-human, half-cyborg ninja who uses his High Frequency katana blade to cut through any thing that stands in his vengeful path!
A huge success on both Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3, METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE comes to PC with all the famed moves and action running within a beautifully-realised HD environment.
