Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance box artwork.png
North American packaging artwork
Developer(s) Platinum Games[1]
Publisher(s) Konami
Director(s) Kenji Saito[2]
Producer(s) Atsushi Inaba[3]
Writer(s) Etsu Tamari[3]
Composer(s) Jamie Christopherson[4]
Series Metal Gear
Engine Platinum Engine[5]
Platform(s) PlayStation 3
Xbox 360[6]
Microsoft Windows[7]
Release date(s) PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
NA 20130219February 19, 2013
JP February 21, 2013 (PS3)
EU 20130221February 21, 2013
AU 20130226February 26, 2013
Microsoft Windows
TBA
Genre(s) Action, hack and slash
Mode(s) Single-player
Distribution Optical disc

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Japanese: メタルギア ライジング リベンジェンス Hepburn: Metaru Gia Raijingu: Ribenjensu?) is an action hack and slash video game developed by Platinum Games and produced by Kojima Productions, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Although a Japanese release for the Xbox 360 platform was planned, that version was canceled.[8] It is the ninth canonical entry in the Metal Gear series, set four years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, where players control Raiden, a cyborg who confronts the private military company Desperado Enforcement.

The game focuses on fighting enemies using a sword and multiple subweapons to perform combos and counterattacks. Through the use of Blade Mode, Raiden can dismember cyborgs in slow motion and steal parts stored in their bodies. The series' stealth elements are also optional to reduce combat. The game was originally announced in 2009 under the title of Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and was intended to act as an interquel between the events of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. This form of the game was to be produced solely by Kojima Productions. However, the team met with difficulties in developing a game based on swordplay, so executive producer Hideo Kojima canceled it. A solution was found, in late 2011, with Platinum Games taking over development. Under the guidance of the new team, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was revealed, with a significant change in the play mechanics and storyline. Kojima Productions retained responsibility for the game's overall plot and Raiden's design.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was well received by critics with the staff noting a growing popularity despite initial mixed reactions to Platinum Games' involvement. The game was praised for it sophisticated cutting system, its use of Metal Gear elements to complement the story despite the game's focus on action and its intense boss fights. However, reviewers have criticized the game for its camera and story mode's length.

Gameplay[edit source | edit]

Raiden attacking an enemy in Blade Mode. The top-left bars indicate Raiden's health and remaining time in Blade Mode. The mid-right counter tallies the players' number of hits.

Players assume control of Raiden, a katana-wielding cyborg. He is initially playable in his "White" form, which was based on his appearance in Guns of the Patriots, where he is depicted wearing white armor. At the second chapter in the game he switches to the more powerful "Black" cyborg armor variant.[9] Nevertheless the player can alter Raiden's appearance through alternative skins. Unlike previous titles in the Metal Gear series, where players try not to be noticed by enemies, Rising is action oriented, focusing on swordfighting and a sophisticated cutting system to fight and defeat enemies. Although Raiden's main weapon is his high-frequency blade, Raiden can wield weapons such as a dagger or a rocket launcher.[10][11] Other subweapons can only be obtained after defeating the game's bosses.[12]

The game's cutting system allows players to engage in melee combat, as well as to precisely slash enemies and objects at will along a geometrical plane using the "free slicing" Blade Mode. Virtually any object in the game can be cut, including vehicles and enemies, though elements of the environment were intentionally limited to structures such as pillars and walls to better facilitate the game.[13] Entering Blade Mode produces a special targeting reticule in the form of a transparent blue plane which can be rotated and moved, tracing orange lines across the surfaces of objects to indicate exactly where they will be cut; it can also be used to enter a bullet time state, giving players the opportunity to precisely slash targets during moments of action, such as slicing through a falling target from multiple angles before it hits the ground. These features can be employed strategically, for example disabling opponents, finding weak points and gaps in armor, severing support columns to collapse ceilings or walls onto enemies, deflecting enemy fire, or cutting through objects to remove enemy cover.[14][15] However, entering into Blade Mode reduces Raiden's energy to the point that if dropped to a certain level, it cannot be used.[16] Across the story the player obtains the Ripper Mode, a state which enhances Raiden's power for a limited time facilitating the use of Blade Mode.[17]

Raiden has the ability to parry attacks even when his back is turned,[10] allowing him to counterattack enemies and perform multiple combos.[11] The player also has access to a stealth mode called "Ninja Dash" which drastically increases Raiden's speed and allows him to climb certain areas. This allows him to strategically ambush an enemy rather than fighting head to head.[11] Another key feature is called Zandatsu (斬奪?, lit. "cut and take"), and involves "cutting" through enemies and "taking" parts, energy, ammunition, items, and information from the bodies of dismembered cyborgs and robots.[14][15][18] This maneuver can be employed when attacking an enemy during Blade Mode and helps Raiden gain energy.[16] When completing a mission, the player will be rewarded with a specific amount of points depending on his or her performance and will receive a grade, with the highest being "S". These points allow them to buy upgrades for Raiden's equipment.[19]

The player can carry out reconnaissance using a visor. Through this, the player can verify the areas and proceed to the objective avoiding contact with enemies.[20] Hiding in a cardboard box makes sneaking easier for Raiden.[21] Being spotted by an enemy triggers the "Alert Mode", in which Raiden is assaulted by multiple enemies for a determined time.[20] The player also gains assistance from Bladewolf, a dog-like machine that gathers map information for Raiden.[22]

Synopsis[edit source | edit]

Setting and characters[edit source | edit]

Metal Gear series
fictional chronology

The events of Metal Gear Rising are set four years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4. The Patriots, a powerful shadow organization running the world's war economy, have been destroyed and Private Military Companies (PMC) have splintered into numerous factions. With the elimination of the Patriot-controlled nanomachine technology used to regulate soldiers' abilities, PMCs turn to advanced cyborg technology, creating durable superhuman soldiers.[23] The player controls Raiden, a former child soldier turned into a cyborg that now works for the PMC Maverick Securities.[3][23] Raiden is supported by his Maverick colleagues, Russian pointman Boris Popov,[20] military advisor Kevin Washington, computer specialist Courtney Collins,[24] and cybernetics expert Wilhelm "Doktor" Voight.[25] Returning from Metal Gear Solid 4 is Sunny, a member of the company Solis that is a friend of Raiden.[26]

Rival PMC Desperado Enterprises serve as the game's antagonists; Desperado wants to destabilize peaceful nations and preserve conflict, allowing them to reap the financial rewards and technological advancements of the war economy.[27] Desperado operative Samuel Rodrigues, a.k.a. Jetstream Sam, serves as Raiden's rival with a conversation between the two in the beginning influencing Raiden.[28] Jetstream Sam is a member of a team of Desperado cyborg assassins named the "Winds of Destruction", each named for a different kind of wind current: Sundowner, Desperado's defacto leader, who wields "Bloodlust", machetes that combine in a large pincer, and who also has shields connected to his body that explode without harming him;[29] Mistral, the team's only female member, whose frame can support multiple additional arms, allowing her to wield her "L'Etranger" staff that she can use as a whip or halberd;[30] and Monsoon, who uses dual sai called "Dystopia", can manipulate metal objects with magnetism, and can break apart his body into individual components while retaining control over each part through magnetism.[31] LQ-84i, or Bladewolf, is a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) housed within a quadruped robot who serves initially as Raiden's Desperado controlled enemy, but later joins forces with Raiden and Maverick.[22] Additionally, a Colorado senator and potential Presidential candidate, Steven Armstrong, is involved in Desperado's activities.[32] The game is a spin-off that is "not part of the Metal Gear Solid series", although it is considered part of the same universe, and thus "canon".[13][33]

Plot[edit source | edit]

While providing security detail in an unnamed African country for its prime minister, N'Mani, Maverick operative Raiden and his team are attacked by Desperado, a rogue PMC involved in terrorism. While Raiden fends off Desperado forces, their de facto leader "Sundowner" manages to kidnap and execute the premier. Sundowner's comrade, "Jetstream" Sam Rodriguez, fights and defeats Raiden, severely damaging his cyborg body. Raiden barely survives, and Doktor later gives him a new black cyborg armor that grants him much more power.[9][28]

Three weeks later, Raiden infiltrates the breakaway nation of Abkhazia after learning that Desperado is leading a military coup there.[34] He plans to capture Andrey Dolzaev, an extremist leading the Abkhazian forces, to force Desperado into standing down. Desperado anticipates the move and assigns a prototype AI designated LQ-84i to stop him. Raiden defeats LQ-84i in combat, and later has it rebuilt as an ally, naming it Bladewolf. He faces further opposition from Mistral, the commander of Desperado's forces in Abkhazia. After Raiden kills Mistral in combat, Dolzaev commits suicide by blowing up an oil tank he is standing on.[35]

With the close of the Abkhazia mission, Maverick assign Raiden and Bladewolf to investigate a research facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. There, Raiden meets an orphan named George, and learns that George was at the facility to have his brain—along with the brains of several other orphans—surgically removed and shipped to the United States.[36][37] He learns that Sundowner inspected the facility in the company of Senator Steven Armstrong, creating an alliance between Desperado and World Marshal, another PMC. They plan to condition the children's brains to become killers through VR training and place them inside cybernetic bodies to create new soldiers, similar to Raiden.[38] Raiden rescues George and the unharvested orphans, and takes them to Doktor, killing the facility's lead researcher when he takes George as a human shield and attempts to gas the orphans with a concentrated form of chloroform.

Raiden realizes that World Marshal carefully structured itself so that it is free to pursue these immoral practices in such a way that it cannot be targeted officially, and that he cannot bring them to justice if he continues working for Maverick. He promptly resigns and with Bladewolf at his side, launches a one-man assault on World Marshal's headquarters in Denver, Colorado.[39] Though he is no longer employed by them, Maverick unofficially approves of his actions and provides discreet support throughout. As he fights his way through the city's privatized police force and Desperado soldiers, Raiden becomes conflicted over those he has killed. The longer he fights, the more he starts regressing towards his aggressive child soldier persona, "Jack the Ripper", before finally embracing it when he encounters Samuel Rodriguez and another operative named Monsoon. He kills Monsoon and infiltrates World Marshal's headquarters before locating and killing Sundowner in short order. There, he learns that Armstrong brought World Marshal and Desperado together to exploit Raiden's desire to avenge N'Mani's death. Armstrong used Desperado to distract Raiden while he carries out "Operation Tecumseh": a plan to assassinate the President of the United States during peace negotiations with Pakistan to ensure another War on Terror.[40]

While Doktor recovers the children's brains, Raiden seeks help from the Solis company to reach Pakistan in time to stop Armstrong. He encounters Samuel on the way and the pair engage in a final duel from which Raiden emerges victorious; Bladewolf then confiscates the fallen Samuel's HF-Sword. At Solis, Sunny helps Raiden travel to Shabhazabad Air Base in Pakistan, where he is attacked by Metal Gear EXCELSUS, a quadrupedal tank piloted by Senator Armstrong. Armstrong reveals that he does not need to kill the President for his plan to be successful; killing US military personnel at the base is enough to agitate the American people. Armstrong, with his connections to the PMCs, would win any subsequent election in a landslide. This would give him free rein to realize his vision of a society where only the strong survive, fighting and dying only for what they believe in, not for a company, nation, or anyone else.[41] Raiden destroys EXCELSUS, but discovers that Armstrong has augmented himself with nanomachines that give him incredible strength and near-invulnerability. Raiden is nearly beaten to death, but Bladewolf intervenes and gives him Samuel's sword, which Raiden uses to kill Armstrong.[42]

In the epilogue, Maverick receives approval to create a new cyborg staffing firm, allowing them to shelter the orphans' brains and potentially give them a chance at a better life, while George and Bladewolf go live at Solis with Sunny. Although Desperado is defeated and the brain-taking operation defunct, World Marshal remains in business and the US-Pakistan tensions remain. Raiden decides not to return to Maverick, stating that "[he has his] own war to fight".

Development[edit source | edit]

As Metal Gear Solid: Rising[edit source | edit]

A promotional render of Metal Gear Solid: Rising

After Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released, Hideo Kojima started coming up with ideas for another game, Metal Gear Solid 5. The game was meant to feature The Boss and her comrades, the Cobra Unit, as main characters. However, the lack of experience from the younger staff in charge and the lack of involvement from Kojima resulted in this project being scrapped. Afterwards, a member suggested turning it into a sidestory focused on Raiden since said character was featured in Guns of the Patriots and the staff agreed to develop Metal Gear Solid: Rising.[43] It was originally conceived as an interquel that would chronicle the series of events that resulted in the transformation of Raiden into his cyborg ninja persona in Metal Gear Solid 4.[14][18] Rising would have taken place during a point in the series' chronology at which Raiden had already begun his transformation into cyborg form, albeit with a different and somewhat more crude appearance from the one seen in Metal Gear Solid 4.[18][44]

The game was first hinted during Kojima's keynote presentation at the 2009 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco where the presentation's end showed "The Next MGS" with Raiden as a cyborg standing next to the title.[45] Prior to the announcements of the game, Kojima Productions featured a countdown timer on their website until the day that Rising was announced. The series' traditional tagline of "Tactical Espionage Action" was also altered to "Lightning Bolt Action," a play on the fact that Raiden's name is Japanese for "thunder and lightning."[44][46] The game was officially announced at E3 2009 at the Microsoft press conference. A teaser trailer was released by Kojima, although he would be serving only as executive producer for the game, as all of his input was with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.[47] The game was initially only announced for the Xbox 360 but was later confirmed for the PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows platforms.[48] It would use a brand new game engine, rather than the Metal Gear Solid 4 engine.[49]

The game's original cover artwork was leaked on Xbox Live on June 10, four days before E3 2010.[50] During Microsoft's E3 press conference on June 14, Kojima introduced the game's original lead designer, Mineshi Kimura, who unveiled a new trailer which included cutscene and playing footage.[15] The game's creative producer, Shigenobu Matsuyama, and Kimura again presented the trailer on June 16 during Konami's E3 press conference, then took stage, further clarifying the game's mechanic.[46] Concern had risen over the game's realistic depictions of human dismemberment during player-controlled sequences, a hard limit for Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, which may necessitate censorship in the domestic Japanese release of the game. As a result, the version of the E3 2010 trailer available for viewing on the game's official Japanese website has had such scenes removed.[51]

Concept art on display at the Art of Yoji Shinkawa exhibit in 2011

Kimura stated that Rising would carry on the series tradition of encouraging players to progress through the game without killing, noting that there is a moral difference between attacking cyborgs or robots and attacking human beings, and that there is a "certain virtue to simply disabling your enemies instead of killing them."[14] While it was considered important to give the players freedom Matsuyama indicated that players would never be rewarded for killing human opponents, and that the game would be designed so that players would never be forced to do so.[52] Specifically, the game's stealth elements would have emphasized Raiden's considerable speed and agility through what Matsuyama describes as "hunting stealth." Unlike the stealth of previous titles, in which players remained hidden and avoided combat, players in Rising would instead quickly stalk their enemies and use acrobatic maneuvers to stay out of sight while closing in. This ties in with the game's zan-datsu feature, allowing them to prey upon enemies to obtain weapons, items, and energy.[52] Kimura noted that he wanted Raiden to be able to move like he did in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers, and to show "the stealth of the sword, and the strength of not even losing to the gun, and the fear and power you have with this blade."[18]

At TGS 2010, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 version of Metal Gear Solid: Rising would be playable in 3D.[53] In January 2011, several pieces of concept art for Rising were displayed at Yoji Shinkawa's two-week exhibit, The Art of Yoji Shinkawa, hosted by the Konami Style Shop in Tokyo.[54] During late 2011, it was announced over that Matsuyama had moved to a different division within Konami and that Yuji Korekado had taken over as the game's lead producer.[55] Additionally, Kojima said Metal Gear Solid: Rising is "moving forward"; Kojima had stated the game remains significantly different to existing Metal Gear games, although he has retained an element of control over it and will not let it stray too far from the series' roots.[56] He advised fans to try it even though the game would not focus on stealth.[57]

Move to Platinum Games[edit source | edit]

Despite having thought out stories and scenarios for the game, Kojima Productions were finding it difficult to design the game around the cutting concept. The project was quietly cancelled in late 2010, and whilst Kojima had considered moving the project to developers abroad, he felt that a Japanese developer would be more suited to produce a ninja action game.[58] In early 2011, Kojima met Platinum Games' Atsushi Inaba who asked him about the state of Metal Gear Solid: Rising and Kojima later requested them to work in the game.[59] This new version, titled Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, was first revealed via a trailer shown at the Spike Video Game Awards on December 10, 2011.[60][61] Platinum Games requested a change of setting in order to have less restrictions in the creation of the game.[62] Shortly after starting development, Platinum Games discarded the stealth element, with Kojima noting that the original staff did not find it fit with high speed action.[63] However, they were incorporated as Inaba found the original game system too "dull."[64] Artist Yoji Shinkawa worked in the game but only to design Raiden,[65] while freelancer artist Kenichirou Yoshimura is the character designer whose objective is making his work fit with Shinkawa's style.[66]

The first trailer confirmed that Raiden would once again be voiced by Quinton Flynn, who had previously stated that Konami had not contacted him regarding the game.[67] The game's title was changed to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance with "Revengeance" coming from Kojima Productions' desire "to get revenge or vengeance on the original failed Metal Gear Solid: Rising project" while the stating "Rising" represents Raiden's character.[68] Kojima also confirmed Rising would run at 60 frames per second, a requirement he personally requested of Platinum Games.[69][70] The rewrite of the game's script took two months for Kojima Productions to make, in contrast to the original one which took ten months,[10] with the scriptwriter being Etsu Tamari.[3] Tamari often discussed with director Santo when the two studios had different opinions regarding the story.[62] The plot was written with the idea of being accessible to people who have not played previous Metal Gear games. There was also a need to reduce the length of cutscenes so that it would balance the playing time. However, no part of the script was removed in the process.[28] Human soldiers were removed from the game to avoid censorship issues in Japan.[10]

Konami's Martin Scheider assured the game was "in safe hands" owing to the collaboration between Metal Gear veteran Yuji Korekado and Inaba, the former supervising the game.[71] As in the original scrapped version Korekado stated that the staff's objective is to make Raiden's action scenes from Metal Gear Solid 4 playable.[3] Kojima Productions originally planned to release Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in Japan without a Japanese voice localization but in August 2012, it was revealed the game would have Japanese audio confirming new and returning actors.[72] The first Japanese language trailer was released shortly afterwards.[73] Inaba had stated that the PlayStation 3 version would be the lead platform. The decision was made in order to avoid a repeat of the performance issues that Bayonetta had on the console.[74]

The game was playable for the first time in the E3 2012 during early June with Kojima having been involved on its making.[63][75] In promoting the game, during April 2012 Konami sent a replica of Raiden's severed arm to various video game publications. The arm contained a small teaser from the game in the form of a live-action scene.[76][77] In following weeks, the official Metal Gear Rising website started showing a longer version of the scene as well as new ones.[78] Konami noticed people asking multiple questions regarding these teasers to which they responded that answers would be delivered during E3. The teasers are meant to give a few hints regarding the game's plot and none of the footage is to be used in it.[79]

Release[edit source | edit]

The demo version was initially released as a bonus included in the Zone of the Enders: HD Collection, which was released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 30, 2012.[80][81] A public demo of Rising was released in Japan on December 13, 2012, becoming the first region-locked demo on the PlayStation Store.[82][83] The North American demo was later released on the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store on January 22, 2013.[84][85]

The full version was released in North America on February 19, 2013, and in Europe on February 21 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.[8][86] Although it was also planned to be released for both consoles on February 21 in Australia, shipping issues delayed it to February 26.[87] The game was released in Japan on February 21 for the PlayStation 3, but its Xbox 360 port was cancelled for unknown reasons.[8] While a Microsoft Windows version of Metal Gear Solid: Rising was initially planned, release for this platform was put on hold.[88] However, Kojima Productions said they would consider it after the release of the console versions.[89] The PC version was then announced in May 2013.[7]

In Japan, Konami released two collectors editions. The first one, "Premium Package", contains an artbook by Yoji Shinkawa, and a soundtrack package. The second limited edition is the "Premium Package Special Edition" including all the contents from the other one with the addition of an action figure of Raiden.[90] The English collector's edition features a soundtrack, a steel case and a lamp containing a small-scale replica of Raiden's sword.[91]

An exclusive download edition titled the Ultimate Edition was released on the PlayStation Network on May 21, 2013.[92] This edition includes the full game, plus all the downloadable contents.

Downloadable content[edit source | edit]

The downloadable content for Rising consists of five cyborg body types for Raiden, a set of VR Missions, and two story-based campaigns starring a different character each.[93] The DLC armors were available as pre-order incentives through different participating retailers that varied between region. The VR Missions set and bonus campaigns were made available during the months following the game's release.

Body types[edit source | edit]

Body Japan North America Europe Description
Cyborg Ninja Konamistyle[90] GameStop Included with the game Dresses Raiden like Gray Fox from the original Metal Gear Solid. Includes a bonus main weapon called the Fox Blade.
MGS4 Raiden Amazon.co.jp Standard DLC Standard DLC Dresses Raiden with his "original body" from Guns of the Patriots.
White Armor Konamistyle, L-Paca Best Buy Zavvi.com A white version of Raiden's Custom Body which allows him to carry more recovery items.
Inferno Armor Tsutaya Amazon.com[94] Game A crimson version of Raiden's Custom Body which allows him to carry more throwing explosives.
Commando Armor Geo Corporation N/A Amazon.co.uk[95] An olive drab version of Raiden's Custom Body which allows him to carry more rocket launchers.

Campaigns[edit source | edit]

Title Release date Description
VR Missions April 2, 2013.[96] A set of 30 additional VR Missions for Raiden. In Japan, this expansion pack includes a new weapon called the Hebidamashi (蛇魂?), a wooden sword which talks with Solid Snake's voice (as portrayed by Akio Otsuka). The Hebidamashi was not available in the English editions of the game.
Jetstream April 9, 2013.[97] A campaign starring Raiden's rival Samuel Rodrigues, which depicts how he joined Desperado Enforcement. Includes five bonus VR Missions for Sam.
Bladewolf May 9, 2013 A campaign starring the robotic canine LQ-84i, which depicts his involvement with Desperado Enforcement prior to his first encounter with Raiden. The campaign features an original antagonist named Khasim, a fifth member of Desperado Enforcement not seen in the main story. Includes five bonus VR Missions for LQ-84i.

Music[edit source | edit]

The game's score was composed by Jamie Christopherson with the audio directed by Naoto Tanaka. As a result of the game being focused on action rather than stealth like the previous Metal Gear games, the music has a different style from previous games. Director Kenji Saito proposed the idea of heavy and fast music featuring lyrics to Kojima Productions. When the studio accepted Saito's idea, the two developers started working together to make the music.[98] Christopherson also contributed by writing thirteen vocal songs which includes electronic music.[99] The soundtrack features vocals by artists including John Bush, Tyson Yen, Free Dominguez, Jason C. Miller and Jimmy Gnecco with contributions by Logan Mader, former member of Machine Head, Electronic Rock Musicians/Remixers The Maniac Agenda, and Ferry Corsten. A CD featuring themes from the game was featured in the limited edition.[91] Another CD is Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Vocal Tracks that features twenty-nine tracks was released on February 20, 2013.[100]

Reception[edit source | edit]

Pre-release[edit source | edit]

Various sites such as Eurogamer, 1UP.com and VideoGamer.com listed it as one of the most anticipated games of 2012 because it distances itself from previous games in the franchise as well as considering Platinum Games' previous work.[101][102][103] However, a common criticism echoed by IGN's George Richards has been that its style contrasts sharply with the previous Metal Gear games as a result of the change of developers and player character Raiden.[104] David Hougton of Games Radar noted that Raiden's actions during play were not out of character considering his role in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots where he was able to fight soldiers without his arms.[105] During the E3 2012, both GameSpot editors Kevin VanOrd and Peter Brown were surprised with the gameplay provided by the demo, with the former calling it "fluid third-person action featuring slow-motion swordplay" in place of the stealth style featured in the Metal Gear Solid series. Both writers still found Raiden suitable for the game's style and plot owing to his role in previous Metal Gear games.[106] 1UP's Jose Otero provided similar comments, praising the gameplay's style, but still felt the demo was more like a tutorial rather than a stage of game.[107]

Producer Atsushi Inaba took to his Twitter feed to address fans' concerns over the project. He acknowledged the mixed reaction to the unveiling of Rising, but hopes gamers will spot "a glimpse of the future" in the trailer. Inaba promises its "love and respect will shine through." The negative reactions came from fans noticing the genre switching to a "hack and slash" game.[108] Inaba expressed his dismay at the fans' comparison of Metal Gear Rising with Ninja Gaiden 3, having criticized the latter game.[109] During Games Convention 2012, Kojima Productions noted the demos were well received by fans due to the number of attendees that wanted to play it. They added that feedback for the demo was positive.[110] In September 2012, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was one of the winners from Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association's Japan Game Awards.[111]

Post-release[edit source | edit]

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings (X360) 82.56%[112]
(PS3) 80.42%[113]
Metacritic (X360) 82/100[114]
(PS3) 80/100[115]
Review scores
Publication Score
Computer and Video Games 7.5/10[116]
Eurogamer 9/10[117]
Famitsu 39/40[118]
Game Informer 7.75/10[119]
GameSpot 8.5/10[120]
GameTrailers 9.2/10[121]
IGN 8.5/10[122]
The Escapist 4/5[123]

Metal Gear Rising: Revengenace received positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Xbox 360 version 82.56% and 82/100[112][114] and the PlayStation 3 version 80.42% and 80/100.[113][115] Famitsu scored the game a 39 out of 40. Play and Games TM also shared positive impressions, the latter calling Metal Gear Rising "almost certainly the best Metal Gear game released this generation."[118]

Eurogamer writer Rich Stanton was pleased with the creation of this Metal Gear spin-off, expanding the franchise. It was noted that the game was close to receiving a perfect 10 were it not for issues with the camera.[117] Other sites noted similar issues during their reviews due to the fact it could not keep up with the fast action sequences.[120][122] The game's action was praised by several publications, stating it would be appealing for casual players and Metal Gear fans.[120][122] Some focused on the cutting system which not only allowed players slice enemies but the environment,[121] while IGN's Mitch Dyer commented on how the amount of subweapons improved the game's variety despite a lack of flow when changing them.[122] Boss fights have also been referred as one of the game's strongest points due to its use of cutscenes and music.[116][120]

On the other hand, Joe Juba from Game Informer was less favourable, stating that the combat was the only real highlight of the game, reserved about the superficiality of even the combat element itself, commenting "(the) Combat is entertaining, but "style over substance" is the defining theme."[119] He found that the game's shortcomings made it less interesting than previous Metal Gear games and Bayonetta, another Platinum Games creation.[119] Computer and Video Games's Matt Gilman agreed with Juba, adding that the game's cons, while annoying, could have been easily fixed citing the lack of a defense action rather than parrying.[116] The campaign has also been criticized for a short running time although Miguel Concepción from The Escapist cited the multiple challenging difficulties as a way to encourage the players to play through the game more than once in order to increase the amount of hours the player can do.[123]

The plot was found to be on par with other games in the franchise.[122] Raiden's role and development were found to be appealing, with GameSpot's Peter Brown praising his violent attitude that made him an outstanding anti-hero,[120] whereas Game Trailers noted how Raiden contrasted his Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty persona that had been panned back in 2001.[121] Critics praised the design of the game's bosses, while Samuel was noted to have a good rivalry with Raiden that helped develop the latter.[116][120] Despite being a spin-off and lacking the series' protagonist Solid Snake, Concepción found the setting post Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to contain several classic Metal Gear elements that old players would find familiar.[123] However, Game Informer criticized the new characters as "uninteresting and poorly developed".[119]

Producer Atsushi Inaba noted in his Twitter account that several Western gamers believed the game was too short based on a screen's results that pointed 5 hours and a half. He clarified that the screen did not count cutscenes or failed attempts to beat the game, taking in account only the times the player passes the stages. This system has been used by Platinum Games since Bayonetta in order to evaluate players. As a result, Inaba felt disappointed by people's attempts to criticize the game based on a single screen.[124]

Sales[edit source | edit]

Platimum Games' president Tatsuya Minami said he expects good sales from the game due to strong marketing and being part from the Metal Gear series.[125] Shortly after its release Hideo Kojima mentioned having been pleased due to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance selling well around the world but did not share numbers.[126] During its first week, the game topped Japan's Media Create and Enterbrain Japan charts list selling 308,681 units according to the former and 335,791 units according to the latter.[127][128] During its debut in the United Kingdom it was the second best-selling game following Crysis 3.[129]

Sequel[edit source | edit]

Hideo Kojima mentioned in January 2012 that depending on the game's popularity, the staff would make a franchise based on it.[130] He has viewed the relationship between Kojima Productions and Platinum Games as very positive and suggested that a sequel to Metal Gear Rising may be possible in the near future. However, Kojima would only approve of a sequel if Platinum Games were to develop it, stating that "no one else could [do] it".[131][132] Following the game's release Kojima was impressed with Platinum Games' work in the game stating the franchise had a "lot of hugely, insanely critical fans" who would be harsh on reflecting issues. As the original project from the game was telling Raiden's life before Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Kojima would like the game to be developed although he thought that Platinum Games would have problems with it as a result of being an intersequel. As a result, he is unable to confirm such story could be developed in the future.[126]

References[edit source | edit]

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External links[edit source | edit]