Back In The Hole

With the small article I did on Rainy Woods, I thought I would talk about the infamous game, Spy Fiction. This was the first game I played by Sammy Studios, with only two games I know about from them, Spy Fiction and Seven Samurai 20XX. Spy Fiction really stood out from the two for me. Like an under budget stealth game, it is still good with a lot of heart.

The game is based around a small group of agents called S.E.A. who are sent out to stop a bunch mad men from releasing a deadly virus called Lahder. The group is made up of Billy Bishop and Sheila Crawford the two main protagonists, and Billy's best friend and lone wolf of the group, Nicklaus Nightwood.

Unlike a lot of stealth games, where the main point is to hide and be stealthy about it, this game allows you to mix into the crowed and even allowed to stand out. As long as you're in disguise, which can be obtained by using a special camera. With this camera and the closes locker, bathroom stall, or garbage bin, you can transform into the person you took a picture of. The only problem with this camera is, you have to make sure you get the face and the body. At times this can be difficult, especially when you don't want to be noticed by the "model".

Sheila is the only one who can be disguised as males or females, while Billy must stick to the male gender. At times though, it is mandatory that Sheila is disguised as certain women to obtain information.

There is other objects that are quite fancy, such as "suction cups" that allow you to stick the walls, and Billy and Sheila's suits that allow them to be camouflaged in a wall as long as they don't move. Think of it as an prototype model of the Octocamo in MGS4. A long with some other spy gadgets like a razor that is actually a high voltage tasser, or a poker card that is used as a shuriken.

A lot of this game is ripped offs of Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, James Bond, and Mission Impossiable. But it's still pretty fun if you can look past it and play it just for fun. At the beginning I suggest playing as Sheila then go with Billy for ending purposes. I did Billy first and the ending just looked wrong from it. The game can be pretty lazy with the linear storylines that both Sheila and Billy do with no real changes between them. But none the less it's a pretty fun game I picked up for about ten dollars.

Shouldn't Be Hated

All last night I've been playing Vampire Rain, a game that has been getting no love from gamers in North America. When I first purchased this game, I thought it was going to be a shoot those bad guys. But instead there is hardly any shooting involved at the moment, the game is primarily stealth.

It is pretty much a "Game Over" if you are spotted by a vampire, known in this game as Nightwalkers. With only one or two hits a Nightwalker can take down any person in it's path, namely you. The whole point of the game, is to not get caught and if you need to take down one. Make sure to get enough distance between the protagonist and the Nightwalker, before you start shooting it in the head. It will take a whole cartage of ammo to take it down (if you're lucky.)

The story is about a team who is sent out to deal with the over populated Nightwalkers, the teams goal is to kill the main honcho of a large clan, doing so would to stop the Nightwalkers of that area. Further in the story they find their advanced unit dead in very horrid ways. Leaving everything up to them to stop the Nightwalkers.

I do admit there is some lacked emotions in this game, a lot of the time the conversations sounds too well rehearsed with no feelings or emotions. I also have beef with some of the controls, such as A is to crawl and Y is to jump. I am so use to the bottom button to always be the button to jump, and any other button to crawl. Because of this a lot of times in a panic situation, I press A hoping for a large forward jump in the air, only to get a face to the ground.

The way the game is set I wouldn't be surprised if there will be another game, mostly because they said that it will take around roughly 3 years for the Vampire population to dominate the human population. I still haven't gotten that far in the game, but the main point is as much as I've played, it's not a game that I can say I hate or felt I got screwed over on.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Easter Eggs

Just like all the other Metal Gear Solid games, Metal Gear Solid 4 has quite a few Easter Eggs. A couple of them I found on my own and some I saw on the internet. Such as the J-Pop singing Laughing Octopus or the man peeing off a bridge.

Ones I found like the very first one was the statue that was presented in a few trailers for MGS4. I went on top and did the action button where Snake holds onto the mans Little Soldier. If you keep pressing the action button it looks like Snake is groping him until it eventually falls off, this was in my first play through and I couldn't help but laugh saying "That's Kojima for you."

The next one I found is when you are suppose to go upstairs to meet Rat Patrol but being dumb I ran over a landmine which sent Snake flying in the air. But he comfortably lands on the couch right beside where the land mind set off. Snake lays on the couch in a hang over passed out position with a leg and an arm hanging off the couch and his other hand on his head covering his eyes. This was a one time thing I managed to do. A few times I tried it over at a friends house with no luck in pulling it off again. I believe it's because I wasn't at a right enough angle when I do it.

When I was at my friends house we were talking about how big Johnny and Meryl have gotten in this game and how there will probably be new Metal Gear games coming out. During the fight with Rat Patrol against the Frogs. I became angry at the idea of how many fans want Johnny to be the next hero of the series. In doing so I shot him in the head with an RPG as I stood over him on a counter. In doing so leaves flash backs not only of MGS4 but of MGS1, but these are no Snake flash backs they are all of Johnny. We were shocked at the results so we killed Meryl next. Doing so left Flash backs of Meryl including clips of Meryls ending in MGS1.

If you tranquilize Johnny he falls asleep the same way you first see him in MGS1 with his ass in the air and his arms beside him.

In a second play through I was fighting Ocelot in a final battle, I died. I decided to call it a night so I clicked on the "Exit" button only to hear "Snake it's not over yet." Coming from Ocelot with that the selection was automatically moved back to the option "Continue."

There is a couple of small ones that my friend and I discovered on the plane during Mission Briefing such as the video that switches to pictures of a bikini woman, the radio that plays different music when you go upstairs. Finally a picture of someone on top of the stove right next to the picture of Olga. It's only during a certain briefing you see it and it's not in any of the cut scenes. As far as we can see it, it's a man. There was no zoom function so we couldn't make any other details besides that.

Here's some codec calls I like.
They even manage to do the same thing from MGS3.

So Angry And Yet So Tired... Damn You Assassin's Creed Ending!

It's almost 5 am and I just defeated Assassin's Creed and if there is one thing you should know about this game. It's that the ending leaves in a cliff hanger. So if you are into it as much as I was then you will be very pissed off that you have to wait for the second one to come out. And no I am not talking about Assassin's Creed for DS.

I really can't say that I hated the game, the only thing that pissed me off was trying to find information in a very large city. It takes me forever to do and it's so annoying.

The game storyline itself leaves more questions then answers, not only that I looked for a while for some sort of information about the second one but found little to nothing. I guess the April Fools joke they did would make me pissed off if I cared about it back then.

I have to admit when I first saw this game I had really no interest in it, but once again a game surpassed my expectations and I really enjoyed it. It felt like a Historical Hitman game. But a lot of people say it's a lot like a Prince of Persia game. I never played Prince of Persia before so I will have to take their word for it.

Well off to bed I got work.

Look At Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns Of The Patriots

Spoilers

I went over to my gaming friend Brandon's house today I wanted to talk to him about Metal Gear Solid 4 before I made my review about the game. We both love Metal Gear Solid series and we both had opinions about the game.

We both thought that Metal Gear Solid 4 was a really good game with some likes and dislikes about the game. But despite all of it we still both find Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater is still the best of the Metal Gear Solid series.

Things we liked:

- We both liked some of the guns that are unlocked in the game such as Solar gun that is from Lunar Knights, or the gun that causes a typhoon.

-As well as how challenging the Gekko are

-The Beauty And The Beast unit back stories were something that we found really disturbing, showing that human minds are very fragile and war trauma is something that effects everyone.

- Fighting the FROGS with Rat Patrol was one of the best fights despite it being hard

-The Microwave hallway scenario was a very traumatic scene that left both of us in shock cheering for Snake

-All of Shadow Moses was the most awesome stage, it both made us want to play Metal Gear Solid again (As the saying goes what started here, ends here.)

- Using Metal Gear Rex to fight Metal Gear Ray using robotic CQC

-Raiden sacrificing himself to stop the boat so Snake wouldn't get crushed

-The Motorcycle scene with Big Mama

-The final boss fight against Liquid showing all four Metal Gear Solid games with their own music and life bar as well as Liquids name changing to fit the game. It's like a time compression so you know that this is truly the end of the whole series.

-The cameo appearance of Phsyco Mantis trying to do his mystic old school tricks that end up failing

-Liked how you can kill Meryl, Johnathan, Ed, or Johnny battling the frogs and it's their life that flashes before their eyes. Kill Johnny or Meryl to preview Metal Gear Solid clips too including Meryls ending and Johnny naked.

Things we didn't like:

-Despite me agreeing as well as disagreeing Brandon feels that Snake should have shot himself at the end, giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect everyone lives, a very selfless act. As much as I agree with it there is the part of me that feels that end where Snake gives up smoking. As if he no longer has a death wish and has a appreciation for his life.

-There should have been more Codec contacts instead of only two, including one for saves

-There also should have been more funnier codec conversations

-We felt that the Octocamo was too big of an advantage in the field

-We think that Raiden should have died at the boat. It would a lot more dramatic that way.

-They should have made it so you can explore all of Shadow Moses instead of just a couple of areas

-We think that Big Boss should have remained dead

-If Big Boss had to come back he shouldn't take so long to die

-There was a couple of loop holes in the game that are from Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty that they didn't explain.

-They made Johnny too cool that there is a big fanbase of him now

-The boss battles were too easy if you hide under a bed or tank

-There shouldn't be a physic gauge, should been stamina

-Some of the movie sequences were too long

Things we think they should have added:

-During the briefings when you can go around as the MKII we would have liked it when you taser of the people talking it would disrupt their conversation for a brief second. Instead of only the chickens.

-A zoom function for the MKII

-A new Metal Gear, it's tradition (No Gekko don't count)

-An explanation for that green liquid that the Gekko release

When I first saw movies and pictures of the game, I thought that throughout the whole game you can run into Gekko. As well as Beauty and the Beast unit but the main point was to avoid them. You could fight if you want to but you either would die or if you had enough ammo and guns you can actually kill them and don't have to go into battle later on just like they did with The End in Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater.

There would probably be a new Metal Gear series comes out, it's just the end of Metal Gear Solid and it probably will be called something else. The only difference is that Hideo Kojima will not be participating in the creating of the game. He did this last one not only because of the death threats but we wanted to help his co workers feel more assured that they are capable of caring on the series without him. But this is just what the DVD of Metal Gear Solid told.

This is a game that you should play for so many reasons, it probably wont be as fulfilling if you haven't played a Metal Gear Solid game before but none the less it's something you will enjoy.

From Hero To Zero

Spoilers



There is a lot of things I never seen coming in Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots. One of the first ones was Johnny Sasaki playing an actual role with Meryl's group. Another surprise was that his role was a lot larger then I imagine, I thought he would just be an idiot lackey that follows everyone around being an idiot. Which is true for most of the game, but then his role started to become a lot more bigger once Ed and Johnathan get injured in battle and it's up to Meryl and Johnny to aid Snake.



Johnny has always been a faceless character, a mask always covering his face, as well as being the comic relief who always somehow survives through countless worst case scenarios of Metal Gear Solid. He is known for his stupidity and having bad bowel movements. He has appeared in all the Metal Gear Solids his first apperance was in Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation.

Meryl is focused most of her attention towards Snake, falling inlove with him but finding out in Metal Gear Solid 4 about Meryl's broken heart that Snake left on her.



In the first Metal Gear Solid Meryl first met Johnny while being held captive she broke out of her jail cell and knocked him out stealing everything including his boxers.



Johnny knocked out on the ground, Meryl in his uniform. Playstation.



Johnny knocked out on the ground, Meryl in his uniform. Gamecube.



Meryl or anyone else for that matter didn't pay much attention to Johnny until a hidden easter egg in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty you can hear two conversations of Johnny. One of them is when he is having a bowel movement on the toilet. The other is when he runs into Emma which is quite funny and he declares who his name is.



In Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Naked Snake meets Johnny's Grandfather who is patrol of Snakes cell. He feeds and talks to Snake if given the right peace offerings. I also seem him a little smarter then younger Johnny he is smart enough to check under the bed for Snake.



In Metal Gear Acid you can obtain a card called Johnny Sasaki when played allows Diarrhea to activate. No you don't shit yourself, you discard all cards in your hand and receive six new ones. It comes in handy when your hand is low or you have all bad cards.

These are small parts for him and it's kind of how I saw it coming too with Metal Gear Solid 4, but Hideo went a different direction and made him an important character. One of them was that he wasn't affected by S.O.P. when they are being controlled through Liquid. While Snake, Meryl and everyone else are suffering in pain from it Johnny manages to rescue them and take everyone out of harms way.



Throughout though Johnny has been proven to be a pain, from accidentally being spotted by the Frogs out the window, being out of sync in battle and even crapping himself while fighting the Frogs, And well as calling over and waving at Snake while he was in disguise talking to Meryl almost giving away his cover by the PMCs. All Snake could do was stay calm and mutter "What is his problem?"

When Meryl and her team try to stop Liquid from taking the body of Big Boss, Liquid proves to everyone the power he has over S.O.P. Proving it through death and carnage amongst Meryl's unit and the army that was there. As Meryl's unit Rat Patrol get their boat tipped over and they fall into the river. Johnny helps the very still Meryl out of the water. Freaked out that she could be dead, he quickly removes his mask reveling for the first time his face. I never expected him to actually look cool. I thought he would be a nerdy looking guy not some a guy who can be a main character in an game! Giving Meryl CPR she manages to breath again and kisses Johnny as thanks. Just to see his real face and get all googly eyed.

When Meryl finally confronts him about why he isn't affected he confesses that he bailed out when Meryl's unit was getting the shot for the S.O.P.s. She then replied to it thinking that he might have foresaw some kind of event that was happening now for him not to get them. I thought for a second and replied to myself "He was probably too scared of the shot." Knowing Johnny's character type too well, sure enough he bailed because he's scared of needles.



Meryl confused asked why he even bothered joining her unit, with that instant Johnny confesses that he wanted to be closer to her. Ever since he first met her in Shadow Moses (and stole his clothes) he was inlove with her and wanted to be close to her. With that he burst out in a cry asking for Meryl's hand in marriage. Meryl says no. But shortly after a few questions from Johnny if Meryl wanted to move in with him, she then ask him if he wanted to marry her. Little intimidated from the her and the gun she was holding he said yes.



Here's a music video I really love.



Once a dramatic game ends sure enough a very unlikely couple get married having a happily ever after. Hoping that Johnny doesn't crap himself in bed.



Website

Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns Of The Patriots Defeat

Continues 34

Alert Phases 90

Kills 263

Recovery Items Used 63

Weapon Types Procured 36

Flash Backs Watched 177

Special Items Used None

Title HAWK

I just defeated Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots, I bought it on Friday the 13, and just finished it. I have to admit this game took on a much more darker atmosphere then the other Metal Gear Solid games. Mostly because you slowly start to see the abuse that Solid Snake is taking on his body throughout the mission.

There is a lot of parts I really enjoyed in the game, I found it fun how they kept making the same reference to Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty opening scene where Snake lands on the ship in that unique way. But my favorite part is fighting against the Frogs with Rat Patrol which is Meryls group of three men Ed, Johnathon, and Johnny (Akiba). You fight your way through a building trying to escape just to have the inconvenience of Johnny crapping his pants and yes you can see the stains.

I found an artistic form of flashbacks of all the games excluding Metal Gear Acid and Metal Gear Snakes Revenge. It was really moving when Snake goes to Shadow Moses for the last time, everything still in place as he last saw it. A small theme is played as memories from Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation is played through conversation echoes. Just like the saying goes "It started here it ends here." So having memories stirred up again makes you remember certain parts and conversations. Remembering when we pick up that game and play it for the first time, completing every scene doing every battle. How after ten years you are back to those old roots just for one last go.

At times it can take a dark sad path which made me even sad at times, at others it was filled with action and comedy. All in all I'm glad this series is finally over, but at the same time I wish it didn't have to end this is my favorite series and I hate to see it go. Hideo made sure that Snake would never be able to come back for another game but that's okay.

Last Trailer For Metal Gear Solid 4

Hideo Kojima's April Fools

Even I said WTF?!

Johnny Sasaki

Found this video a while back ago, it's pretty good and funny at some parts. The only things I didn't like was that the character of Johnny mumbled a lot so it was hard to understand him. Also a lot of the areas were really dark so you couldn't see much. This is a small clip in the eye's of Johnny Sasaki from the Metal Gear Solid series. He is well known for his bad stomachs and worse luck as a soldier.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns Of The Patriots, Johnny Sasaki plays a large part in the game (Instead of being the guardsmen when Snake gets captured). As he now resides with Meryl Silverburghs team. Though he doesn't seem like he knows much by the way he acts and his lack of knowledge in the battlefield from the trailers I seen so far.

There is one trailer which is fairly old where Johnny seems to be the only one who isn't affected by Foxdie. Or so it seems to be. As the rest of his group and the others around him begin to act crazy, rolling around, laughing, fighting with each other, while Johnny is trying to get Meryl to snap out of it.

The funny part is one of the newer trailers where they finally declared the soldier in Meryls group as Johnny. In it they do the same old routine as they did in Metal Gear Solid. He holds up Snake, Snake tells him how much of a rookie he is. Johnny says that hes a ten year vet. I guess it's a small hidden joke seeing how Johnny has been around for ten years since Metal Gear Solid was released.

I doubt though that this IS the same Johnny as in the first Metal Gear Solid. It's more or less because he seems a lot younger so I am guess he's in his late 20's. So the same one from Metal Gear Solid is probably Metal Gear Solid 4s Johnny's dad. Seeing how all the first born sons are named Johnny as they detailed in a hidden video in Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater.

Despite all reason and doubt they do however carry on the same tradition that Johnny will have moments of weakness where he has to find a place to relieve himself. I really don't know if this will be in the game or if it's just a little teaser for the fans. Either way I am really looking forward to this game, and seeing if this IS the final installment in the Metal Gear Solid series. Or is there a series after this one with a different title such as Metal Gear Johnny.