We are VR (Metal Gear Solid VR Missions (PS))

Member Name: jaeger138

Product:	Metal Gear Solid VR Missions (PS)
Date:	05/09/09 (2 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Long, in depth and fun

Disadvantages: Won't appeal to non-Metal Gear Fans

Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions is an expansion to the original game, focusing on training Snake in the techniques he needs to complete missions. It follows no story and is, in essence, a large collection of mini games based on the VR Missions available in the original title. In order to play this game, the original 2 disc game is needed, as the game cannot boot without it. That's not a bad thing though, as it not oly encourages you to purchase both games but if you have VR missions, it's likely you're a Metal Gear fan.

Throughout most of the game you play as Solid Snake completing missions set in a virtual environment. These missions range from target ranges using the various available weapons, to sneaking missions where one must sneak through an environment past guards, cameras and traps without being caught, to a mystery mode, where one must solve a murder with the clues given.

Extra missions and mission modes are unlocked by completing a certain percentage of the game, which is displayed on the menu screens. Also unlockable are trailers for Metal Gear Solid shown at various game conventions around the time of development and photo shoot mode, which is exactly what it says it is. Two female characters in the game are availbale to photograph, and the more of the game you complete, the closer you can get to take photographs while the character models pose. This is a rather an odd feature, it has no purpose, no goal, just a time limit, a model and a camera. Photos can be saved on your memory card for later viewing or some minor editing. Trust the Japanese, eh?

The game truly is expansive though, there is so much to do and 100% completion is very difficult. There are many mission types and many levels within each, making it a lengthy experience. In my oppinion, it is of such a length, that after completion all memory is easily deleted and the game can be played over again within a couple of months, as by this time you will have forgotten how to complete some of the many levels. There's a defnite a replay value here, and I can make that point with confidence.

Another brilliant feature is the short but sweet, Ninja missions. In these missions you take control of Gray Fox (or Frank Jaeger, or Cyborg Ninja, or Null or whatever other name you enjoy using). Need I say more? Gray Fox! The mysterious Ninja must run around a small environment destroying targets or finding Snake hiding amongst the various soldiers utilising his famous Katana and stealth capabilities in order to do so. There is one really negative point about this section of the game, there's not enough of it! Personally, Gray Fox has always been my favourite Metal Gear character, and it's great to play as him for once, but it's just a small glimpse of his world and capabilities. I would love to see more of him, but I'll take what I can get as every second is worth it.

Most of the games you play take place in a virtual environment, often dominated by colourful lines outlining the floored areas, walls and targets. It's nothing to shout about, but when you do enter an environment that looks different its a refreshing change. For example, in the last level of the mystery missions, you enter a rather lavish office. Of course, this game is 10 years old, so the graphics are what you would expect from a PSX game, grainy and not terribly clear, but at the time, these were good graphics.

Now, the mystery missions! These are by far my favouite portion of the game. I've always been into puzzles and this aspect of the game really fed into that. You start out next to a body and are asked to discover the murdered with a small clue. For example, in one mission the clue you are given is a small ice lolly stick next to the victim and that it was the murderers ice lolly. From this, you must walk up to the three suspects and stareat their breath. The one who doesn't breathe out condensation is your man as his mouth is a lower temperature than the others. It's this outiside the box thinking that appeals to me, and it's quite fun to try and work out how to solve each crime.

Most of the other missions involve sneaking through environments, destroying targets with a given weapon and taking out live targets. There are some quirky variety missions that don't make a lot of sense but provide humour to lighten the atmosphere.

The soundtrack is mostly ripped from the original game and there's not a lot of voice acting to talk about here excet the occasional word from Sanke, the Colonel or Naomi.

The game is fun, and designed for players of the original game, it's lengthy and doesn't rely on you simply shooting and blowing things up, it also makes you use your head now and then, which is a bonus in these types of game. It lives up to what it should and there's not a hell of a lot of negative points about it except for tha fact that a non-Metal Gear fan will have no interest in it, but if you ARE an MGS fan, this is a must buy.

Summary: Snake's back, and he's training hard as heck in this lengthy set of training missions