Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel review

Relive, rediscover and redefine the Metal Gear universe

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Daunting level of info

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    Exceptional presentation

  • +

    Finding memories

Cons

  • -

    Scanning gets tiresome

  • -

    Some nav troubles

  • -

    More voicework would've rocked

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Even if you're the most die-hard fan of the Metal Gear Solid series, you're bound to think the plot gets pretty damn screwy at times. It says a lot that the first game - with its cybernetic ninja, mind-reading psychic and walking nuclear tank - may have the most concise and understandable tale of them all. And if you just can't get enough of playing the game, the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel recreates every single detail of the plot in an animated comic book bursting with information.

You basically just sit there, PSP in hand, and watch the comic panels go by, with their wispy, ethereal artwork and classic word bubbles. But by pressing the square button, you can dive into that panel, roving target reticule at the ready, and examine the image's many layers in elaborate detail. If the reticule starts spinning, that means there's a memory nearby that you can tag, and as the story goes on, you'll learn more about Metal Gear than you probably ever wanted to.

It's like poring over old photographs and seeing, say, a book on the counter in the background. You remember that book, what it was about and how it came to be in your picture. As you find more memories, you can enter the Memory Building mode and link them all together, unlocking flashbacks and yes, even more secret details that no one knew existed. The matrix-like interface to build this nexus of memories is a little hard to navigate, but the level of info is simply staggering.

More info

GenreOther Games/Compilations
DescriptionAn interactive, comic-book retelling of the first Metal Gear Solid storyline, chock full of detail for uberfans of the series.
Franchise nameMetal Gear
UK franchise nameMetal Gear Solid
Platform"PSP"
US censor rating"Mature"
UK censor rating""
Alternative names"MGS Digital Graphic Novel","Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel","Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.