Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - PlayStation 3

Clouds Gather Over Raiden's Day In The Sun

2013-02-19T08:01:00Z

Raiden has come a long way from the inexperienced wuss who disappointed fans everywhere. His transformation into an unstoppable cyborg ninja was revealed in Metal Gear Solid 4, where he dispatched enemies with improbable cinematic flair. After that, fans forgave him for replacing Solid Snake in MGS 2, and the unthinkable happened: Raiden became cool. Players wanted to control him. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance finally puts his stylish and brutal repertoire at your fingertips, but this cyborg ninja continues to linger in the shadow of his betters.

Revengeance capitalizes on over-the-top combat in the vein of Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. Raiden faces off against hordes of robots and cyborg soldiers, chops them into bits with a high-frequency blade, and generally looks awesome while doing so. He fights weird bosses, gains new weapons, and purchases new moves and upgrades. I know all of that sounds perfect, but the pieces don’t fit together properly. Revengeance seems engineered to look like a great action game from a distance, only to fall apart upon closer inspection.

Combat is entertaining, but “style over substance” is the defining theme. The graphics are fantastic, the moves look cool, and the framerate is smooth, but battles aren’t demanding. Raiden has a decent selection of special attacks, but the lack of variety in enemies and encounters means that you aren’t required to master them. Basic button mashing is usually fine, since few foes need to be approached with specific tactics. The formula for success gets old quickly: slash away until you see an enemy telegraph an attack, block, and resume slashing.

Blocking is easier said than done, since it isn’t assigned to a single button. You need to tilt the stick toward your enemy and press attack simultaneously, which causes Raiden to throw up his defense. If your timing is off, he swipes his sword at thin air, which is the worst possible alternative to blocking. You can’t just hold a direction while performing regular attacks and expect to block; each one requires the stick to be moved from a neutral position. With practice, you can master this clunky mechanic and make it work reliably, but that doesn’t make it good – especially since it’s your main way of avoiding damage (despite a cumbersome dodge-attack move).

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Above: Watch our episode of Test Chamber on Metal Gear Rising.

Since you have limited control over your own defense, staying on the offense is important. You earn multiple special weapons, but you have to pause the action to bring up an item selection screen (which does not open if you are jumping, attacking, or being attacked) in order to use them. Since you can’t swap out weapons on the fly mid-combo, they don’t ever get to work together. For instance, Raiden gets a weapon capable of a long-range grapple (like Dante’s angel pull in the latest DMC), which grants increased mobility. However, you can’t simultaneously equip that weapon with anything but Raiden’s basic sword. The same thing goes for the high-damage pincer sword or the area-clearing polearm. This keeps Raiden’s arsenal segregated, preventing players from experimenting with combinations and harnessing his full power.

The big gimmick, Blade Mode, allows Raiden to chop off pieces of his foes. It’s a rewarding slow-mo flourish that punctuates your kills, and seeing your enemies fall apart exactly where you cut them doesn’t get old. However, the mechanic doesn’t evolve; you attack enemies normally until they get covered in blue static, and then you slice them up. If you can hit a specific area, Raiden gets all of his health back. The limb-severing technology is impressive, but I wanted to see it used in more interesting ways than what amounts to a brief minigame.

Narrative in this genre rarely rates better than absurd, and Revengeance is no exception. However, this game bears the Metal Gear name, which carries certain expectations. If you have any hopes for this story building on Metal Gear lore or giving you a chance to reconnect with characters you care about, you will be disappointed. The new characters are uninteresting and poorly developed, and the old characters are practically non-existent. The plot doesn’t even address the most basic questions a Metal Gear fan would have, like why did Raiden leave his family to become a cyborg again? What is Otacon up to? Is Snake really dead? We get no satisfying answers. On the other hand, the weak story means that your time with Revengeance isn’t consumed by lengthy cutscenes or codec conversations. The combat, though imperfect, is always in the spotlight.

I’m a longtime Metal Gear fan, and Bayonetta is one of my favorite games of this generation, so I was elated when Konami and Platinum Games announced their partnership for Revengeance. However, this title isn’t Bayonetta wearing a Metal Gear skin; whether you are hoping for a meaningful expansion of the Metal Gear universe or a gratifying action experience, Revengeance falls short. Brutalizing cyborgs and hacking giant mechs to pieces is fun, but the restrictive design and lack of precision keep Raiden from capturing the best of both worlds.

This review has been updated to add a statement regarding Raiden's dodge-attack move.

Meet Revengeance's Bosses And Their Fancy Weapons

2013-02-06T14:30:00Z

Konami's still on a trailer binge, but fortunately the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance clips have been worth watching. The publisher has released a pair of new trailers from Platinum Games' take on the franchise, and it's looking like this Raiden guy has potential.

The first video serves as an introduction to some of the game's robotic enemies. They include the hulking, chest-beating Mastiffs; nimble, bipedal Raptors; and the Grads, which is essentially a walking turret with a mean swipe kick.

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The second trailer highlights a few of the more conventional enemies. This being Metal Gear, "conventional" includes the multiarmed woman pictured above. Raiden can take the weapons from his defeated opponents and level them up. Even their default states look deadly, however. The pole arm and sai look like they'll be handy against long-range and close-up enemies, while the scissor blade looks just plain mean.

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Look for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 19.

Konami Releases Three New Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Trailers

2013-01-24T02:50:28Z

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is getting close, and Konami is rolling out all kinds of trailers to get everyone ready. The first trailer shows off a few of the game's locations and the second shows off the Zandatsu technique, where Raiden basically steals and destroys enemy spines. The third video details many of the enhancements of Raiden's impressive suit.

You can check out all three of the new trailers below.

Locations
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Zandatsu
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Suit Overview
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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's Latest Trailer Highlights Four Bosses

2013-01-18T18:28:11Z

The latest trailer for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance showcases four of the game's bosses, and they all impress.

Mistral has a dozen or so arms, Sundowner is a gigantic brute, Samuel looks like he shares many of the same strengths as Raiden, but Monsoon has to be my favorite. He's made of segments, which means Raiden is going to have a heck of a time trying to chop him up.

Check out the trailer below, and get ready for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on February 19 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Revengeance Concept Art Sheds Light On New Characters

2013-01-11T20:30:00Z

Platinum Games, the developer behind the upcoming Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, has released a large collection of concept art focusing on a pair of the upcoming game's villains.

We don't know much about Samuel or Mistral yet, but you can learn about how their looks came together by clicking the links, or just checking out the gallery below.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is releasing for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on February 19.

[via Destructoid]

New Metal Gear Rising Video Highlights Sewer Combat, Ponchos

2012-12-11T04:21:00Z

Raiden shows us his graceful sewer glide and ability to slice up a Mastiff unit in Konami's newest Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance video. This three-minute clip also gives us a look at the outfits players can by with in-game currency. According to the shop's item description, Raiden purchased a mariachi outfit from a "souvenir shop south of the border in a misguided attempt to blend with the locals." Oh, Raiden.

I don't think I need to say this, but...this game looks weird as hell. I can't wait to play it. Rising's producer, Yuji Korekado, didn't talk about ponchos in an interview earlier today.

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A special thanks go out to Game Informer reader linkchief13 for the news tip. Linkchief13 probably loves Zelda and Halo.

It's Fun To Get Caught In Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

2012-09-21T04:48:00Z

Platinum Games' take on Metal Gear retains an action focus, but it hasn't totally abandoned stealth. Still, you might.

You may have already seen the new trailer for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, but you probably don't know how the game plays. Let me assure you that it feels great. If you're a fan of games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, then you'll feel right at home here.

The new TGS demo starts with Raiden dropping out of a jet and landing on what looks like a small Eastern European island. This particular demo focused on some of the game’s basic stealth mechanics. Raiden can sneak up behind guys and eviscerate them with the tap of the button, but it's easy to get caught by various enemies patrolling the area. Unlike other Metal Gear games, however, it’s actually fun to get caught in Revengeance. It’s often easier to stay and fight a group of alerted enemies rather than to run off and hide until the caution counter ticks down to zero.

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Raiden easily slices through enemies with a mix of tornado attacks and a flurry of sword slices. Raiden’s sword buzzes with electricity and turns every tree that gets in his way into firewood. I crushed a few enemies with a series of stylish finishing moves. After taking out a group of enemy soldiers and Gekkos, I moved on to a brutal fight with the area boss: a mechanical dog with a chainsaw for a tail. My fight with him did not go easy, but after dodging his liquid hot throwing knives and taking down a few waves of minions, I lopped off his chainsaw and sliced his body into bits.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance doesn’t release until February 19, but you can get a taste of the action when the demo releases on October 30. In preparation, check out the trailer of the game’s basics.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Trailer Highlights Boss Fights

2012-09-20T18:53:00Z

A new 5 minute trailer for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance from the Tokyo Game Show gives you a look at new boss characters and stealth elements. Three of the new characters shown have names: Sundowner (bald dude), Mistral (girl with a bunch of arms), and Monsoon (the guy who separates himself into pieces).

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is out February 19.

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Opening Tutorial Shows Off Slicing Basics

2012-07-20T21:00:00Z

If you're curious as to what happens when you press start from the main menu in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, check out this new video.

In this latest clip you'll see Raiden cut through watermelons, cyborgs, and even an old car. I'm excited to try out more of this free slicing mechanic. I just hope it doesn't slow down combat too much and that it's still fun after you'll killed hundreds of enemies.

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Cuts A Brutal Swath

2012-06-07T22:18:00Z

If you thought that Raiden and his cyborg suit were awesome in Metal Gear Solid 4, prepare to elevate your esteem for this ninja once again. We played the multi-stage E3 demo and came away impressed with the game's swordplay and devastating action.

Despite Revengeance's up-and-down development history, if this playable demo is any indication, I think that gamers are going to be pleased with how it all comes out. Raiden's acumen with his ninja sword feels very satisfying as you slice up enemies, and there are a few ways to do this.

You can attack enemies in the third-person using the X and Y buttons to attack, but if you hold down the left trigger, you can enter a zoomed-in, over-the-shoulder camera view called Blade mode. Here you can cut up enemies at will with the right analog. Your slices can be quick flurries in multiple directions, and you can rotate your slicing plane to create specific horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strikes. This may be important, because in the initial VR training of the demo, I practice against cardboard cutout enemies who use civilians as a human shield. The only way to avoid killing an innocent in this case is with a carefully place vertical slice.

Using Blade mode drains your fuel meter, which is replenished by killing dudes. A faster way to refill this fuel is to perform Zondatsu kills. These kills – where you rip out an enemies' spine – are done with button prompts while in Blade mode. There will also be other contextual kills you can do while in this mode.

After I finished my training stealth killing a few unsuspecting cyborgs in a ruined environment, I come face to face with one of MGS 4's coolest creatures – a Gekko. Hearing its mournful cry once again brings a chill up my spine, and I know it's going to be a tough battle.

The Gekko comes at me with a variety of attacks. It's electowhip ensares me and only by mashing on the Y button do I break free. The Gekko's feet stomp and sweep area attacks, and it also mows me down with its bull rush charges. I'm not defenseless, however. I'm able to parry any of the Gekko's attacks with the correct timing, and once I get into the flow of the battle, it's a cool dance of parries and counterattacks.

After defeating the Gekko, the demo goes into a short sequence to demonstrate the running controls, which I use to cross a bridge being demolished by a helicopter firing missiles.

Once across the bridge and on firm ground, I get a chance to even the score. Homing missiles are scattered through this temple-like area, and I dispatch them at the helicopter by zooming with the left trigger and releasing the missiles by pulling on the right trigger. It's a pretty standard sequence, but it might signal that Revengeance will hold onto to some of Metal Gear's traditional staged boss battles.

After hitting the helicopter with enough missiles, I experience the benefits of Raiden's ninja dash. It can be used to get around stages and close in on enemies, and when you use it while facing straight on with a foe, it'll deflect their oncoming bullets.

I use this to my advantage even against the helicopter. In a last-ditch effort, it sends a salvo of missiles at me. Running towards them with the ninja dash, I jump up on the incoming missiles and pounce on the cockpit. Getting in close allows me to do what Raiden does best – use his katana to slice up the helicopter into bits. This is the Raiden in all his glory.

As you' would imagine, Revengeance's combat is face-paced. While switching between the third-person button controls and Blade mode is easy (which one you use is your choice), I sometimes become disorientated going between the two while trying to deal with enemies from multiple directions. I'm not sure if there was an enemy lock-on command or a way to re-orientate the camera automatically, which would help.

The demo seemed like it was intentionally put together to give show-goers a look at some of the game's mechanics, so it's unknown if the demo's sequence of events will be in the final game.

Regardless, the demo ended with one tantalizing tease which better be in the final game. After the credits rolled, a mask-less Raiden stood in a city in flames. Brandishing his katana and preparing for battle, the camera swung around to face his latest foe – a giant Metal Gear.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance comes out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 early next year.

For more on the game, check out this E3 trailer, as well as this collection of screens.

Raiden Wreaks Havoc In These New Screens

2012-06-07T00:02:57Z

We've already seen ninja-Raiden in action thanks to the latest trailer, but these still shots give you a chance to stare and study the games mechanics and gorgeous visuals.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is playable on the E3 show floor, so the mystery surrounding the game (and how well it has survived the development transition from Kojima Productions to Platinum Games) should be clear before the week is out.

Konami Reveals More Info On Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

2011-12-11T19:21:08Z

Metal Gear fans got a double dose of surprise at last night's VGA awards. First, Konami revealed that Kojima Productions wasn't handling development duties for the previously announced Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and that Platinum Games was taking control of the title. Then there's the issue of the title itself. It's been tweaked a little, and Raiden's spinoff game is now called Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami has explained some of the reasoning behind the moves and more, along with releasing the first official screens from the trailer.

Konami says that Metal Gear Solid: Rising was originally planned to show what happened to Raiden before the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Once Platinum Games joined the project, the official story is that the timeline was shifted to take place years after MGS 4 to give the Bayonetta dev more room to carve out their own story. Kojima Productions is still overseeing the storyline and world, so it should be at least somewhat consistent with previous installments. If you're familiar with Platinum's past games, the action-heavy focus shown in the newest trailer shouldn't be too surprising.

Konami is teasing that more details on the game will be made available Tuesday on its official site, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the screens in the gallery below.