There's no point denying it: just about every "Best Stealth Game Of All Time" chart ends up with Metal Gear Solid in first place. Call it nostalgic bias if you will, but Hideo Kojima's magnificent sneak'em-up clearly captured gaming audiences in a way few other franchises have managed. Skeptical? Go ahead and pop "best stealth game" into your favorite search engine, pick a few links and skip to number 1 on each chart. Chances are good it's MGS sitting pretty at the top. There's more to Metal Gear Solid than pure stealth. It's a magnificently cinematic experience, a complex narrative packed with unforgettable gameplay moments and tied together with impeccably directed cutscenes. Above all, though, it was the intensity of the sneaky bits which earned MGS the highest praise. Xbox fanboys spat and moaned about this critically acclaimed PlayStation exclusive, but lets face facts: there wasn't anything that could touch it as far as stealth action was concerned. It's become a cross-platform mega-franchise since then, so thankfully there's no more need for this exclusivity-trolling nonsense. Years later Splinter Cell proved a successful MGS-alike, albeit appealing to the mainstream with a more Hollywood feel. But even Sam Fisher, with his gravelly voice and kick-ass night-vision goggles, was no match for Solid Snake. Today these gripping stealth elements are scattered throughout the action adventure genre, and we have Kojima's creation to thank.
Game-obsessed since the moment I could twiddle both thumbs independently. Equally enthralled by all the genres of music that your parents warned you about.
