Story: Quite simple. A group of terrorists have taken hostage a nuclear weapons disposal facility in Alaska, along with some very important people. They threaten to start a nuclear war (yikes!) if their demands (I'm not telling) are not met within 24 hours. To make matters worse, the terrorists are being led by super-soldiers (genetically enhanced), who were once members of the FOX HOUND squad, a top secret military group. This is where the player steps in, in the shoes of the legendary Solid Snake, a super-spy whom has been responsible for some of the most dangerous cover missions ever, and a former member of FOX HOUND as well.

The Game Itself: If you ever played the original METAL GEAR on the NES (yep, NES!) you'll fell right at home in MGS. The maps are laid out in the same way, from a top 3D-ish perspective. Every screen here is polygon based (I was told, correct me if I'm wrong), which adds to the impact of the game, because it is hardly noticeable at all. It is rather scary to see what's going on through the eyes of Snake; but don't get me wrong, it is very, very well-done. Along the mission, you'll have to arm yourself with whatever weapons you can find, whether it be machine guns, to rocket launchers, you'll have to get any bit of firepower you have because, trust me, you'll need it.

HA! Gotcha! Actually, as the 'tactional espionage action' label implies, you'll have a better time in MGS playing what Snake really is: a spy. As such, you'd better stay in the shadows and remain quiet as well, for the enemies you will be confronting have good hearing and sighting. It is best to plan and carefully execute your targets, as to rush in and try to blast them all to pieces (though it can be done), for if you fail, well, you'll have a full platoon on your @$$.

Music and Sounds: The music in MGS is rather sparse and there aren't lots o tunes in this game to listen to, but when there's need for some music, trust me, it'll be there. And it is very nice music! Of my personal liking are the "boss" music, and the end song, which (lately), is commonplace for Konami to have a vocal end song for their best games. MGS's is aptly named "The Best is Yet to Come", a very beautiful song.

Final Lowdown: There are some minor flaws in MGS, which at first aren't that visible, but you'll end up thinking of them sooner or later. Like, why the hell is Snake unarmed at the beginning of the game??? I tell you, I'd have a knife at least by my side if I were to do something as dangerous as Snake has to do! And... why is it that it has become lately a prerequisite for all main characters in videogames to not be able to jump??? I dunno, beats me. But Snake could have used some jumping in this game. Oh well. Still, MGS is considered by many, the PSX Game of the year. I don't completely agree, but I do confirm the fact that MGS is one of the best games ever made for any system.