Initially launched as a part of Steel Gear Stable 3: Subsistence, an augmented model of Snake Eater that hit PS2 the next yr, Steel Gear On-line was an odd beast. The net tackle MGS’ stealth gameplay would obtain a number of different iterations, with one accompanying Steel Gear Stable 4, one other part of the PSP titles Transportable Ops and Peace Walker, and lastly with Steel Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache. (Let’s not discuss Survive. It doesn’t depend.) For me, MGO was at its finest 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 somewhat goofy and, after all, a fascinating multiplayer stealth sport when it (and the gamers) needed it to be.
MGO arguably ushered in a brand new perspective for Steel Gear because it compelled the sequence to undertake a now-standard moveable 3D digicam that pivots across the character. Previous to its launch, MGS used fastened digicam angles, often in a top-down or isometric perspective. That perspective wasn’t best for a multiplayer sport. On the identical time, MGS is much from a fast-paced shooter. It’s slower, encouraging a extra methodical method even in case you’re responding to threats with deadly pressure. And that’s one facet 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 totally about stealth. Take “Sneaking MIssion,” during which one participant would tackle the position of Snake as he stealthfully tried to knock out and steal canine tags from different gamers. Attempting to remain hidden from precise flesh-and-blood gamers provided a sort of thrill that was fairly distinct from what you’d get within the single-player video games.
Naturally, being a Steel Gear sport, cardboard containers, naughty magazines, exaggerated dying screams, the power to play as characters from the sequence, and extra made the sport really feel like an appropriately absurd celebration of what so many people love about these video games. MGS’ attraction was and is rarely about one singular factor. It’s the sum of all of its wildly eccentric elements. That carried by way of within the varied on-line modes it obtained over time. I imply, simply take a look at this nonsense. The place else would you see one thing like this?
Modders have not too long ago made unbelievable strides of their efforts to resurrect the MGS4 iteration of Steel Gear On-line on PC, so this expertise shouldn’t be completely misplaced to time. And technically you may nonetheless play MGSV’s on-line mode, although each time I’ve tried not too long ago, 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 anticipated to launch within the fall as part of the upcoming remake of MGS3, Steel Gear Stable Delta: Snake Eater. Not an entire 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 parts of the bottom sport–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.
