Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360, PS3*
Dev: Platinum Games
Pub: Konami
Release: February 19, 2013
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood and Gore, Intense Violence,Strong Language

The controls help as well. Not since games like God of War and Devil May Cry have things been chaotic and disorienting to the point of pure glee. Revengeance doesn’t hold the punches on the absurd over-the-top action. Hell, most of the sequenced fights scenes end with an action pose by Raiden.

These types of moments are only amplified by the soundtrack. Throughout most of the game, there is a typical score that combines action and machismo, but during grander battles there are songs that might remind you of Devil May Cry. Each boss battle is accompanied by a different theme, which adds a sort of ambient texture to the battles. For example, LQ-84i's boss theme, "I Am My Own Master Now," refers to his forced servitude to Desperado and his desire to be free to harness his full capabilities.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Screenshot

Unfortunately, there is one major problem, and it’s big enough to kill the game for most people. This game is short. Like, Kane & Lynch short. Revengeance lasted roughly seven hours for me, with me watching the cutscenes. Sure, you can replay and earn more battle points to upgrade Raiden, but it really doesn’t feel like there’s much need past the first playthrough, with the exception of the aforementioned stealth elements. There are VR missions to be done if you collect them throughout the story, but I don’t see these increasing the longevity of Revengeance.

Revengeance can be summed up in one word: “fun.” Well, maybe two words are better: “stupid fun.” As was shown with DmC, there are still a lot of fans out there who want to have button-mashing fun and be rewarded with carnage in its most primal form. Revengeance delivers this in abundance. With insane combat, easy-to-understand fighting mechanics, beautiful graphics, and a deeply complex conspiracy theory storyline, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a fantastic first entry to what’s hopefully a new sub-franchise.

By
Matt Walker
Editor-In-Chief
Date: February 19, 2013

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
Solid in comparison to MGS 4.

4.0

Control
The chaotic nature of the game’s flow spills over into the controls.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Picking some classic sounds from the Metal Gear universe helps the insanely fitting soundtrack.

4.0

Play Value
It’s short, but this may be a blessing in disguise.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Rising's stealth elements will emphasize Raiden's considerable speed and agility through what Matsuyama describes as "hunting stealth."

Gameplay will focus on two key elements: sword fighting, and a style of stealth that is more fast-paced and action-oriented.

"Cutting" entails sophisticated swordplay that lets players engage in third-person melee combat, as well as precisely slash enemies and objects "at will" along a geometrical plane using a "free slicing" mode.