..Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance..

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The Metal Gear Solid franchise has been synonymous with three things: tactical espionage, robust storylines, and a mullet-sporting protagonist named Solid Snake. Konami looks to turn all three of these things on their heads with Metal Gear Solid Rising.

Taking place after the events of MGS2 and before MGS4, Rising looks to fill the gaps between the two games. Specifically, Rising explains the character of Raiden who gamers controlled for much of MGS2. It follows the transformation of Raiden from a whiney, wispy-haired man-boy to a sword-wielding, cybernetic murder machine.  

- Raiden can feed off the energy of decimated, robotic foes -

MGS Rising marks the first game in the series where Hideo Kojima is not in total control of the title. He’s serving in an executive role with Shigenobu Matsuyama taking the reigns. Matsuyama has promised changes to the MGS construct, which include a greater emphasis on action and fewer cut-scenes.  He said stealth will still play a role, but it will be more “fast-paced and action-oriented” than previous titles. Rising will have roots in the MGS universe, but it’s being billed as a title anyone can play regardless of their Metal Gear knowledge. So, don’t expect a smooth transition out of MGS2 and into MGS4.

The concept behind Metal Gear Solid Rising’s gameplay has been coined "cut at will". Players will be able to wield Raiden’s kitana with super human strength to destroy, dismantle, and dismember anything and everything in their path. The idea is to give the player the ability to cut with pinpoint precision across several planes and from a variety of stances. Demos have shown Raiden deal destruction with both accuracy and speed. Highlights include cutting a van in half (the long way), slicing through support beams on a building entrance sending debris crashing down on foes below, and skewering robotic resistance to scrap metal.  Yet for all this bull-in-a-China-shop carnage, Raiden can still cut a watermelon into bite-size pieces, slice bowling pins in mid air, and dice baddies to bits with amazing perfection.  

It’s truly a thing of horrifying beauty to watch Raiden meticulously dissect opposing forces, reducing them to a bloody mist in eye-popping graphic gore. MGS Rising appears to have some type of slow motion effect, which allows users to inflict multiple cuts for added damage. Raiden is also able to dispatch electronic enemies in a hail of sparks and electric charge. Rumor has it these robotic foes can be used to restore energy, as Raiden can feed off their spine-like battery packs.  

- Ginsu your way to glory -

Rising is shaping up to be the most violent title of the franchise. Matsuyama has said this violence will serve a purpose. There is a reason for Raiden’s ruthlessness, which will be explored further in the story. 

Not surprisingly, Konami is keeping tight-lipped about any story specifics. MGS4 referred to the time period Rising will take place in, as when Raiden rescued little Sunny from the Patriots, but nobody has confirmed that as the plot yet.  

Likely we won’t know the details of Metal Gear Solid Rising until we are cutting our way through it come 2012. Raiden’s got big shoes to fill in Solid Snake, but if trailers are any indication it looks like he’s well on his way to carving his own place in the MGS universe. 

Andrew Mellick

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