Metal Gear Rising Revengeance is the latest effort in the Metal Gear franchise, and Konami has ensured that the title deftly blends the mythos of previous titles while establishing a completely different feel to Metal Gear. The swordplay style that fuels Revengeance is reminiscent of Devil May Cry or Dynasty Warriors; this effort exceeds previous games in this genre in that there is a certain beauty to the fluidity of fighting. The controls are extremely intuitive but will take a number of hours to properly master. The Ninja Dash option, which allows Raiden the ability to move at super-human speeds and even allows players to climb walls, showcases how different that Raiden is from the average human. For those that wish to have a more secretive, sneaky title (as was a common theme in the original MGS titles). An alert mode will test the mettle of players, as they will be beset with a number of baddies in a short time.
Revengeance fits into the Metal Gear storyline as it occurs a few years after the events of Guns of the Patriots. Raiden is an anti-hero that is put up against the machinations of the Desperado Enterprises leaders.
While the title has went through a number of changes since it was originally was announced, I feel that it is a solid addition to the Metal Gear franchise. The title is immersive and fast-paced, but there is a unique blend of styles and game play elements that will draw in a wide swath of players. The storyline has enough legs to bear repeated plays, while Konami and Platinum Games have done a great job in immersing plays. Make sure to pick this up for personal use or as a gift for anyone that likes playing Metal Gear titles.
Rating: 8.6/10
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance (Xbox 360) / 2013 Konami / http://www.konami.com