E3 2010: Why Metal Gear Solid: Rising offers the only fresh experience of E3 so far

Good question, young Padawan. Unfortunately, that’s not a riddle these Jedi Masters can decode yet. Alright, Knights. No? Awww, c’mon, we’re better than Younglings, surely? Anyhoo, rumours suggest it’ll intersect with events from MGS4, which might explain why the location where Raiden makes sushi out of the soldiers looks like Patriots’ opening Middle Eastern section.


Above: This definitely looks like MGS4's opening chapter, right?

As Jack’s past is so clouded in mystery after MGS2, we fully expect Rising to answer the questions surrounding the whole ‘I was a boy band wannabe, now I’m a badass cyborg killer’ thang. We suspect we might see flashbacks detailing his transformation into a Gray Fox-style ninja, while also revealing how he managed to nab Solidus’ remains during the last game.


Above: Reminds us of Gray Fox's epic cut-scene in MGS: Twin Snakes

Pity it was the only thing that really excited us

Going back to the trough of negativity we were feeding off a while back, this latest MGS felt like it was the only game we've seen at the show so far that offers something really new. Great E3 moments of the past have always thrived on revealing things we’d never thought possible before. Until you showed us Sons of Liberty’s unveiling at 2000’s convention, we’d have doubted games could ever be so cinematic. Similarly, who wasn’t bowled over by Half-Life 2’s gravity gun at E3 2003?

Having seen everything from EA, Ubisoft and particularly Microsoft’s conferences so far, there was nothing to touch either of the moments above. Lofty expectations of course, but it’s hard not to feel disappointed when we’re just being offered more of the same.


Above: All this Rising excitement made up for our Halo apathy

Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach and Call of Duty: Black Ops will undoubtedly be accomplished games. But they’re all experiences we’d had multiple times before. If the industry truly wants to wow us at this year’s event, it desperately needs another moment akin to Snake’s debut in that gorgeous PS2 rain a decade ago.

Yes! No mention of Kinec… shhiiiittttt. We were so close to that shiny nickel.

Are you excited about MGS: Rising? Glad the series has ditched stealth in favour of swordplay? Disappointed there haven't been more innovative games debuted at E3 yet? Let your internet opinions run wild in the comments section.

June 15, 2010

David Meikleham
Google AMP Stories Editor

David has worked for Future under many guises, including for GamesRadar+ and the Official Xbox Magazine. He is currently the Google Stories Editor for GamesRadar and PC Gamer, which sees him making daily video Stories content for both websites. David also regularly writes features, guides, and reviews for both brands too.