Metal Gear Solid Briefing
Briefing from Metal Gear Solid put in order based off time code.0:00 Brief Mission Description2:43 How Snake will get to Shadow Moses4:07 Snake questions ...
youtu.be
This was so far ahead of its time that even with all the advances in graphical technology today, developers still have difficulty crafting scenes as well directed, acted, and shot as this. It blew my mind as a kid, it still blows my mind today. So simple, so elegant; really just clever use of still 2-D art. Yet, the way everything is put together completely immerses you in the game and tells you everything you need to understand the story.
- The superb voice acting by everyone, Hayter sounds his best here.
- The excellent audio mixing that adds in ambient sounds of the interior of a submarine and footsteps from off-screen.
- The VHS effect which obscures the fact you just watching still art and instead makes you feel as though you're just watching a playback.
- The ability to control the surveillance camera capturing the scene which further tricks you into believing this is beyond some 2-D images.
- The actual thought that is put into the exposition.
The last point is especially poignant as the game not only catches first-time players (of which most of us were) into the background of the series and its characters, but also adds sufficient detail to really make you feel like this is some actual Tom Clancy type of thriller. All the characters react like real people and ask questions any one of us would have in that situation? Why can't I airdrop? How do these terrorists have access to nukes? What happened to my dogs?! At the time, most games couldn't be arsed to care about these types of questions a player might have, just go stop the terrorists. But, MGS1 takes the time to explain to you how and why this is all happening which also makes the twists more interesting a believable.
But again, it goes beyond just the writing. If you've ever watched the Twin Snakes version, you notice how all these little details are missing that leads to a lesser scene as a whole. The writing is mostly the same, but everything else is off. The sheer fact that Snake is wearing underwear in the TS version alone drastically impacts the atmosphere.
Anyone else still revisit these briefing files just to get immersed in the world all over again? Hell, if you've never played MGS1, the cutscene itself should give you all the reason you need.
Now, how many skipped the briefing files when playing the game the first time? 😁
