Introduction to Metal Gear Survive
Metal Gear Survive is a spin-off title in the Metal Gear franchise, released in February 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. The game diverges from the main storyline, taking place after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
While Metal Gear Survive shares some elements with its predecessors, it focuses on a new type of gameplay experience, placing survival and cooperative play at its core.
The Premise of Metal Gear Survive
Metal Gear Survive’s story unfolds after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, where a group of soldiers from Diamond Dogs are transported to a mysterious alternate dimension. This dimension, known as the “Wormhole,” is teeming with creatures called “Wanderers,” mutated versions of humans affected by the “Nanites” introduced in Metal Gear Solid V. The players must navigate this hostile environment, scavenging for resources, crafting weapons, and battling the Wanderers to survive.
Key Features of Metal Gear Survive
Metal Gear Survive offers a unique blend of survival and action elements.
Survival Mechanics
The game emphasizes resource management, with players needing to collect food, water, and materials to craft tools and weapons. They must also build bases to protect themselves from the hostile environment and the relentless attacks of the Wanderers.
Crafting System
Metal Gear Survive features a robust crafting system that allows players to create various tools, weapons, and items using the resources they gather. This system encourages exploration and resource management, as players need to find the right materials to create the equipment they need to survive.
Cooperative Gameplay
Metal Gear Survive is designed for cooperative play, allowing up to four players to team up and face the challenges of the Wormhole together. This cooperative mode enhances the game’s survival elements, as players can rely on each other for support, resource sharing, and defense.
Konami’s Involvement and Development: Konami Details Metal Gear Survive
Metal Gear Survive, despite its controversial reception, was a project that Konami actively developed and published. The game was developed by a team within Konami, but it wasn’t the same team that had worked on previous Metal Gear titles. The development process also differed significantly from the traditional Metal Gear games, marking a departure from the series’ established formula.
The Development Team and Their Experience
The development team behind Metal Gear Survive was a separate entity from the legendary Kojima Productions, the team responsible for the core Metal Gear games. They were primarily known for their work on mobile games and other projects within Konami. While they had experience in game development, their expertise wasn’t directly tied to the Metal Gear franchise’s core gameplay mechanics and narrative elements.
A Shift in Development Process
Metal Gear Survive’s development diverged from the traditional Metal Gear games in several ways. The shift from a single-player, narrative-driven experience to a cooperative, survival-focused game was a significant departure. The game’s emphasis on crafting, resource management, and online multiplayer gameplay differed from the series’ established focus on stealth, action, and intricate storylines. The development process, therefore, reflected these changes, prioritizing gameplay mechanics and features aligned with the survival genre.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features
Metal Gear Survive takes players on a journey of survival in a post-apocalyptic world infested with mutated creatures. The gameplay revolves around a blend of stealth, action, and resource management, offering a unique experience that blends elements from the Metal Gear series with survival game mechanics.
Combat Mechanics, Konami details metal gear survive
The combat in Metal Gear Survive is a combination of stealth and action. Players can choose to engage in close-quarters combat with melee weapons or utilize firearms for ranged attacks. The game emphasizes strategic use of the environment, encouraging players to use cover and flanking maneuvers to gain an advantage over their enemies.
Stealth Mechanics
Stealth is a crucial aspect of Metal Gear Survive, allowing players to avoid encounters with enemies and conserve resources. Players can utilize various techniques, including crouching, crawling, and hiding in bushes or behind objects, to remain undetected. The game also features a “CQC” system, allowing players to engage in close-quarters takedowns, silently eliminating enemies.
Resource Management
Resource management is essential for survival in Metal Gear Survive. Players need to collect materials like wood, metal, and food to craft weapons, tools, and structures. They also need to manage their hunger and thirst levels, ensuring they have enough food and water to stay alive.
Base Building
Base building plays a significant role in Metal Gear Survive, allowing players to establish safe havens and expand their operations. Players can construct various structures, including walls, watchtowers, and workshops, to defend their base from enemy attacks and create a sustainable environment for survival.
Enemies in Metal Gear Survive
Players encounter a variety of mutated creatures in Metal Gear Survive, each with unique abilities and weaknesses.
Types of Enemies
- Crawlers: These small, agile creatures are common in the game. They are fast and can jump, making them difficult to hit. They are weak to fire and melee attacks.
- Stalkers: These larger, more aggressive creatures are a significant threat. They are slow but possess powerful melee attacks. They are vulnerable to headshots and explosives.
- Wolverines: These mutated animals are known for their aggressive nature and sharp claws. They are quick and can inflict heavy damage. They are weak to fire and explosives.
- Behemoths: These massive creatures are the ultimate challenge in Metal Gear Survive. They are incredibly strong and resistant to most forms of damage. They are vulnerable to headshots and explosives.
Crafting System
The crafting system in Metal Gear Survive allows players to create a wide range of items, including weapons, tools, and structures. Players can collect materials from the environment and use them to craft essential items for survival.
Comparison to Other Survival Games
The crafting system in Metal Gear Survive shares similarities with other survival games, such as “Rust” and “Ark: Survival Evolved.” However, it differs in its focus on resource management and the importance of crafting weapons and tools for combat.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: The crafting system is relatively simple and intuitive, allowing players to quickly learn the basics. The game offers a wide range of items to craft, providing players with options for customizing their playstyle.
- Weaknesses: The crafting system can be repetitive, as players often need to collect the same materials for crafting various items. Some items may require specific materials that are difficult to find, leading to frustration.
Critical Reception and Fan Response
Metal Gear Survive, a spin-off from the renowned Metal Gear franchise, received a mixed reception from critics and fans alike. While some appreciated its attempt to explore a new survival horror genre, others criticized its departure from the established Metal Gear formula and perceived it as a cash grab.
Critical Reception
Critics generally gave Metal Gear Survive mixed reviews, with scores ranging from 50 to 70 out of 100 on review aggregator sites like Metacritic. The game was praised for its survival mechanics, particularly its resource management system, which encouraged players to be cautious and strategic. However, it was criticized for its repetitive gameplay, uninspired story, and its lack of connection to the core Metal Gear universe.
- IGN awarded Metal Gear Survive a 5.5 out of 10, stating that “it’s a dull, derivative survival game that feels like it’s desperately trying to be something it’s not.”
- GameSpot gave the game a 6 out of 10, noting that “Survive feels like a missed opportunity, a game that could have been much more interesting if it had leaned into its survival horror elements.”
- Polygon, in their review, called the game “a disappointing spin-off that fails to capture the spirit of the Metal Gear franchise.”
Fan Response
The fan response to Metal Gear Survive was overwhelmingly negative, with many fans expressing disappointment and frustration with the game’s deviation from the core Metal Gear formula. Many felt that the game’s survival horror elements felt out of place in the Metal Gear universe, and that its story was weak and uninspired. The game’s microtransaction system, which allowed players to purchase in-game currency to speed up progression, was also widely criticized, with many fans viewing it as a predatory practice.
- On social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, many fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the game, using hashtags like #BoycottMetalGearSurvive and #MetalGearSurviveIsTrash.
- Several online petitions were launched calling for Konami to cancel the game or to remove the microtransaction system.
- The game’s low player count and negative reviews led to a significant decline in interest in the Metal Gear franchise, with many fans feeling alienated by Konami’s direction for the series.
Comparison to Other Metal Gear Spin-offs
Metal Gear Survive was not the first spin-off in the Metal Gear franchise. Previous spin-offs, such as Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, were generally well-received by critics and fans. However, these spin-offs were able to maintain the core elements of the Metal Gear franchise, such as its stealth gameplay, political themes, and complex characters. Metal Gear Survive, on the other hand, deviated significantly from the established formula, leading to a more negative reception from fans.
Legacy and Impact
Metal Gear Survive, despite its divisive reception, has left a mark on the gaming landscape, particularly within the survival genre. Its unique blend of Metal Gear elements and survival mechanics has sparked discussions about its legacy and influence, both within the Metal Gear franchise and beyond.
Influence on the Survival Genre
Metal Gear Survive’s contribution to the survival genre lies in its innovative approach to resource management and crafting. The game introduced a novel system where players could scavenge materials from the environment and use them to craft weapons, tools, and even build fortifications. This system, while not entirely original, provided a fresh take on survival mechanics, encouraging players to be resourceful and strategic in their approach to the game’s challenges.
Konami details metal gear survive – Metal Gear Survive, a bold experiment in the Metal Gear franchise, divided fans and critics. While some found its survival horror elements compelling, others lamented its departure from the series’ core gameplay. Despite its controversial reception, Metal Gear Survive offered a unique experience that explored a different side of the Metal Gear universe. It demonstrated Konami’s willingness to push boundaries and explore new genres, even if it meant risking the ire of long-time fans. The game’s legacy remains a topic of debate, but it undoubtedly left a mark on the Metal Gear franchise and the survival genre as a whole.
Konami has finally detailed Metal Gear Survive, a spin-off that’s taking the franchise in a survival horror direction. While the game might be a departure from the series’ roots, it’s certainly got people talking. Meanwhile, Bungie has announced that Destiny: The Collection will include all the content released for the game, which is a great deal for anyone who’s looking to jump into the Destiny universe.
It’s interesting to see how both games are taking different approaches to engaging their audiences, but ultimately, it’s all about providing a compelling experience for gamers.