Initially launched as a part of Steel Gear Strong 3: Subsistence, an augmented model of Snake Eater that hit PS2 the next yr, Steel Gear On-line was a wierd beast. The web tackle MGS’ stealth gameplay would obtain a number of different iterations, with one accompanying Steel Gear Strong 4, one other part of the PSP titles Moveable Ops and Peace Walker, and lastly with Steel Gear Strong V: The Phantom Ache. (Let’s not speak about Survive. It doesn’t rely.) For me, MGO was at its greatest within the model that accompanied MGS4, however in all of the iterations I performed, MGO remained one thing particular, a celebration of MGS’ tendency to be a bit goofy and, after all, an attractive multiplayer stealth recreation when it (and the gamers) wished it to be.
MGO arguably ushered in a brand new perspective for Steel Gear because it pressured the collection to undertake a now-standard moveable 3D digital camera that pivots across the character. Previous to its launch, MGS used fastened digital camera angles, normally in a top-down or isometric perspective. That perspective wasn’t excellent for a multiplayer recreation. On the identical time, MGS is way from a fast-paced shooter. It’s slower, encouraging a extra methodical strategy even when you’re responding to threats with deadly power. And that’s one side that made each conventional, single-player MGS and its on-line offshoots so particular. Some modes of MGO inspired a comparatively hectic play fashion. Others, in the meantime, had been virtually fully about stealth. Take “Sneaking MIssion,” wherein one participant would tackle the position of Snake as he stealthfully tried to knock out and steal canine tags from different gamers. Making an attempt to remain hidden from precise flesh-and-blood gamers supplied a form of thrill that was fairly distinct from what you’d get within the single-player video games.
Naturally, being a Steel Gear recreation, cardboard bins, naughty magazines, exaggerated demise screams, the flexibility to play as characters from the collection, and extra made the sport really feel like an appropriately absurd celebration of what so many people love about these video games. MGS’ allure was and isn’t about one singular factor. It’s the sum of all of its wildly eccentric elements. That carried by means of within the numerous on-line modes it acquired over time. I imply, simply have a look at this nonsense. The place else would you see one thing like this?
Modders have lately made unimaginable strides of their efforts to resurrect the MGS4 iteration of Steel Gear On-line on PC, so this expertise isn’t completely misplaced to time. And technically you’ll be able to nonetheless play MGSV’s on-line mode, although each time I’ve tried lately, I spend extra time ready for a match than I do taking part in. I additionally by no means cared for its class-based character choice.
Steel Gear On-line is because of return later this yr although. “Fox Hunt” is predicted to launch within the fall as part of the upcoming remake of MGS3, Steel Gear Strong Delta: Snake Eater. Not a complete lot about this mode is thought proper now, although the sport’s devoted web page guarantees “hide-and-seek primarily based” gameplay “that makes use of the central components of the bottom recreation–camouflage and survival.”
MGO was all the time a distinct segment expertise, of curiosity to solely essentially the most passionate of us MGS dorks. Hopefully Fox Hunt will present new, quirky experiences that’ll fulfill this discerning crowd of stealth followers.
