Metal Gear Solid (GBC)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: May 5, 2000
System: Game Boy Color
ESRB Rating: E

In a nutshell: Tiny Gear Solid? Metal Gear Tiny? Metal Tiny Tiny?

0:00 I distinctly remember this game getting a glowing review in Next Generation magazine, which rarely reviewed Game Boy Color games at all. Eight years later, it's less than five bucks at a GameStop clearance sale. How could I resist?

0:01 A silhouette of a plane flies by with a low-pitched whine. Close-up on Snake in the dark. Man, I really forgot how blocky Game Boy Color graphics were back in the day. Colonel Campbell pays Snake a visit: "It's been a long time, Snake." "Didn't expect to see you again," replies the retired mercenary. They share some scotch, which surprises me given the game's E rating. Snake built the house himself. "Didn't know you were a carpenter," Campbell says. Didn't you know? Snake is Jesus!

0:02 It's been three years since Snake left for Alaska and the world is on the brink of nuclear destruction. Yes, again! Campbell is droning on about some guys who stole some nukes in South America: "It was Metal Gear." Cure the dramatic, yet incredibly tinny, music at the mere mention of these bipedal nuke-launchers. This whole thing seems a bit melodramatic and silly without the quality voice acting that carried the PlayStation original.

0:03 The U.S. government continued Metal Gear development even after Snake destroyed it seven years ago. Man, how many times does he have to destroy this thing? It's now in "Gindra," a small country in central Africa that's in the middle of a civil war. The armed separatists have Metal Gear, an armed, charismatic leader and a virtually impenetrable fortress. That's not a good combination. "So they plan to win their independence by threatening nuclear strikes with Metal Gear." Way to state the obvious, Political Science Snake.

Read the full review at Crispy Gamer