Metal Gear Solid: Delta: Snake Eateris looking increasingly promising, bringing the unforgettable action-espionage classic into the modern age with updated graphics, performance, and contemporary gameplay staples. SinceMetal Gearis one of the most iconic franchisesin gaming history, it’s safe to assume that ifDeltadoes well, then more remakes will follow suit.
Metal Gear Solid: Deltais an emotionally complex release as, while it looks good, it’s a reminder of the lack of newMetal Gearreleases, and of Kojima’s departure from Konami.
Perhaps the next best choice for a modern facelift isMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance, a Platinum Games spin-off title that is technically the final chapter in theMetal Gearstory, at least for now.Metal Gear Rising: Revengeancewas balked at a bit when it first released in 2013, as its character-action gameplay seemed like something straight out ofDevil May CryorBayonetta(which is appropriate, given Platinum’s pedigree) rather than the stealth-orientedMetal Gear Solid. This, coupled with the fact that the game was missing the iconic Snake in favor of Raiden, the sometimes maligned protagonist ofMetal Gear Solid 2, made it a bit of a head-scratcher at launch, butRevengeancehas 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 theMetal Gearfranchise, butMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance’s gameplayis 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, makingRevengeance one of the leaner entries in theMetal Gearseries. 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 potentialRevengeanceremake 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
AlthoughMetal Gear Solid Deltaseems to be making cool changesto 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 toRevengeancethrough 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-basedMetal Geargames will always be shackled to Kojima’s legacy. They might never feel the same without his influence.
ButMetal Gear Rising: Revengeancepresents a differentvision of theMetal Gearworld, 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 theMetal Gearstory, but the franchise has always been focused on broad conflicts, so putting a spotlight on the greater fictional universe simply makes sense. A remake ofMetal Gear Rising: Revengeancecould do just that, perhaps even paving the way for moreMetal Geargames with abject action elements and more diverse storytelling.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
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.
