The PlayStation had been taking off thanks to games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil, but Metal Gear Solid is easily the crown jewel of the PSX library. Its gripping story, remarkable voice cast and sharp writing, equipped with an inspiring anti-nuke message, was all a lovely supporting cast to the excellent game play. The concept of stealth in video games wasn't entirely new, as it had been marvelously done in games like Castle Wolfenstein and even Kojima's original Metal Gear games on the MSX-2. Indeed, the late 90's saw a surge of new stealth properties, including Thief: The Dark Project and Tenchu, but there was no challenger that could touch Metal Gear Solid. It's simple, yet effective use of stealth was groundbreaking. The player was given just enough information to survive, yet it was never bad design if you were caught, as that was all on your skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ZIM1q1RHk Kojima's love of film was very clear in the game, as it felt like you were in control of a huge summer blockbuster. The intricate plot and huge set pieces were a big part of what made the game so appealing, a concrete indicator of what games were going to be. Metal Gear Solid made it possible for games like Uncharted and Max Payne to exist, as the third-person action genre was truly defined with the first 3D adventure of Snake. It was the first step in showing that games and film were not so unlike, providing us with the continuing onslaught of epic cinematic experiences.
