The year is 2011, still fresh faced and optimistic just having graduated from high school only a year ago I took my meager wages to the local electronics retailer to get myself a new game. Usually I kept my interactions in retail environments as short as possible due to my fear and loathing of my fellow humans, but that day was different; I asked for a recommendation based on what I had to spend. The surprisingly kind employee pointed me to a game that would change my preference for fast paced action forever…BAYONETTA.
But wait…isn’t this about Metal Gear Rising Revengeance (candidate for either best, or worst, title in video game history)? Aha, you are correct, but both games were created by the same developer: Platinum Games! Platinum’s glistening logo first attracted me to Revengeance, it was actually the first Metal Gear game I ever played. I tried playing Revengeance a few years ago, got to the first proper boss (blade wolf)and barely made it through. Afterward I took a break that lasted a lot longer than intended.
At the time I wasn’t up for the level of frenetic action and punishing difficulty of Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. Truthfully the parry was throwing me for a loop, I just couldn’t figure out how to get it to work consistently, or when it could be used, and when I started getting repeatedly smashed by some regular enemies it was too much for my patience. I was too used to being able to abuse witch time from Bayonetta, and Raiden certain is no witch. Things are different now.
The me of today has gotten through some tough stuff like Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, and (most) of Sekiro (still haven’t finished…); I live for banging my head against a challenge of skill I know I can overcome if I just persist and continue to apply what I’m learning. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance certainly offers that kind butt clenching experience. And since I had just completed MGS 1 – 4, needing a break from the slower paced stealth, Revengeance was a nice change of pace. After the somewhat painful experience that was MGS4 MGRR was a breath of fresh air.
Boss fights are where Metal Gear Rising Revengeance shines. The in between moments, while fun, are restricted to running down linear hallways and can get a bit repetitive. Each boss is unique and memorable, not only in their visual design but also how they are fought. Most memorable for me are Mistral, who fights with a staff made from [patriot drone from mgs4 that was a ball with 3 arms] arms, and Monsoon, whose android body can be extended and retracted using magnetics force (and felt like the first real skill check of the game, prepare to parry). Most importantly, each boss spouts off a Metal Gear Solid 1 - esque monologue about their values before engaging in battle.
Honestly, the entire game gave me a strange nostalgic feeling for Metal Gear Solid 1. Don’t get me wrong the games are entirely different from one another in their playstyles, but their pacing feels equally snappy, and the dialogue isn’t too bloated. MGRR might have some of the most concise cutscenes and dialogue in the entire series. It manages to make some good points of its own about being true to yourself, and even manages to touch on some of the heady concepts from MGS2 without tripping all over itself. No, it’s not winning any BAFTAs, but I enjoyed the game overall…certainly more than Metal Gear Solid 4.
Maybe I’m just biased. Actually, I am definitely biased, we all are, but I’ve got a particular soft spot for Raiden, and I enjoyed how this game gave me an experience that felt more uniquely his and gave me an ending that I found more satisfying than what was presented before (I’m looking at you again Metal Gear Solid 4). I know this game has been declared non-cannon but I really can’t understand why. Revengeance doesn’t detract from the universe of Metal Gear, it’s certainly more legitimate than Metal Gear Survive! You hear that universe; I like Metal Gear Rising Revengeance and you can’t stop me!