Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
A GameCube remake of Metal Gear Solid with enhanced mechanics.
In 2004, Konami and Silicon Knights released Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for the GameCube, a remake of the 1998 title Metal Gear Solid. It boasts upgraded visuals, new cutscenes directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, and gameplay features from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The game also has a revised script and re-recorded voice acting, with nearly all original English cast members returning. Critics praised its graphics and presentation but noted issues with the framerate and the inclusion of Sons of Liberty mechanics.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Silicon Knights
- Publisher
- Konami
- Director
- Carey Murray
- Producer
- Hideo Kojima
- Yoshikazu Matsuhana
- Denis Dyack
- Designer
- Hideo Kojima
- Writer
- Hideo Kojima, Tomokazu Fukushima
- Programmer
- Doug Tooley
- Richard Barnes
- Gina Grossi
- Composer
- Norihiko Hibino
- Steve Henifin
- Toshiyuki Kakuta
- Shuichi Kobori
- Waichiro Ozaki
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was altered to resemble that of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, while keeping all original areas and enemies. New combat options were introduced, such as the ability to shoot from a first-person view. Enemy AI was improved, allowing soldiers to communicate with each other and detect the player more intelligently with enhanced sight and sound.
Development
The Twin Snakes was first announced in 2003 by Nintendo of America, confirming Silicon Knights would develop under the guidance of Hideo Kojima and Shigeru Miyamoto. Kojima, busy with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, suggested to Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata that Silicon Knights take the helm, as he was a fan of their work. Silicon Knights CEO Denis Dyack, who had recently completed Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, was approached by Miyamoto and Iwata in the Nintendo cafeteria in Japan and agreed to work on the game. Ryuhei Kitamura directed many cinematics, which Silicon Knights initially implemented to look identical to the original Metal Gear Solid, but Kojima asked Kitamura to redo them in his action style. The reworked cinematics received some criticism for Kitamura's excessive use of the bullet time effect, inspired by The Matrix. Music duties were split: Steve Henifin and Silicon Knights' staff handled some in-game music, while Konami's music staff, including Metal Gear Solid 2 co-composer Norihiko Hibino, handled the rest.
Release
The Twin Snakes was released on March 9, 2004, in North America, after being pushed back from an original November 2003 date. The European date was pushed back several weeks. In Japan, it was released on March 11 alongside an exclusive Premium Package containing the game, a platinum-colored GameCube with the FOXHOUND logo, a 44-page book titled Memorandum, and a Special Disc with an emulated version of the Family Computer version of the original Metal Gear.
Reception
The Twin Snakes received generally favorable reviews, with a GameRankings score of 85.58% and a Metacritic score of 85/100. IGN gave it 8.5 out of 10, praising its graphics and presentation. GameSpot rated it 8.2 out of 10, Eurogamer gave it 8 out of 10, and Gaming Age awarded an A−. Game Informer gave it 9.25 out of 10, citing improved gameplay and graphics and a faithful retelling of the story, later placing it at #11 on their list of Top 25 GameCube Games in 2009. Official Nintendo Magazine ranked it 80th on their Top 100 Best Nintendo games. Criticism included a flagging framerate and bouts of slowdown, as noted by GamePro, which also considered the new gameplay elements from Sons of Liberty unnecessary, arguing that the unchanged level design spoiled the challenge and ruined the Revolver Ocelot boss battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes?
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and Silicon Knights.
When was Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes released?
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was released on March 9, 2004 in North America, on March 11, 2004 in Japan and on March 26, 2004 in Europe.
Who directed Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes?
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was directed by Carey Murray.
Who composed the music for Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes?
The music for Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was composed by Norihiko Hibino, Steve Henifin, Toshiyuki Kakuta, Shuichi Kobori and Waichiro Ozaki.
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