Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Mar 14, 2006
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 860 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 700 out of 860
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 860
  3. Negative: 139 out of 860
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  1. AdamW.
    Jan 20, 2008
    7
    The controls are horrible. However the plot did strike a chord with me. The voice actors are also unwisely picked, not matching the characters too well. There weren't any cross hairs for aiming your guns. There's not too much replay value either except for secrets or harder difficulties. In the end it's definitely worth a rent at the very least.
  2. AmadeusE
    Feb 14, 2020
    5
    Having never played Metal Gear Solid properly(only tried MGS1 as a kid), I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. And since this is chronologically the 1st game in the story, I started with this.

    Sadly, too much focus on stealth, it seems. Not sure if I can knock the game for that, since it's supposed to be a stealth game? Although not being able to pick up enemy weapons doesn't make    Having never played Metal Gear Solid properly(only tried MGS1 as a kid), I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. And since this is chronologically the 1st game in the story, I started with this.

    Sadly, too much focus on stealth, it seems. Not sure if I can knock the game for that, since it's supposed to be a stealth game? Although not being able to pick up enemy weapons doesn't make sense. And the trial and error gets kinda dull, when you get spotted and a small army of enemies comes down on you, and you have nothing to defend yourself with, forcing you to just start over, because it gets pretty stupid and silly at that point. You start the game with only a knife and tranquilizer gun for attacking, and have to spend a pretty a long time like that, it seems. Having so much health, even on HARD difficulty, is also pretty weird. I think you have to repeatedly get hit for well over a minute to die. If this is HARD, I wonder what the lower difficulties are like...

    Snake's voice acting is also a bit overdone. Can't tell if his sarcastic or something every time he talks.    … Expand
  3. JohnnyS.
    Apr 18, 2006
    5
    I was very disappointed with the online play. It doesn
  4. Chris
    Aug 5, 2006
    5
    Man these game would be great if only for one thing --- the controls, which are absolutely horrible. The 3rd person perspective may be ok for 1st player but it is absolutely frustrating for online play (which is the reason I got the game). You can't see in front of you unless you press the r1 button, but even then you have to press the square button(lightly) to see what your gun, Man these game would be great if only for one thing --- the controls, which are absolutely horrible. The 3rd person perspective may be ok for 1st player but it is absolutely frustrating for online play (which is the reason I got the game). You can't see in front of you unless you press the r1 button, but even then you have to press the square button(lightly) to see what your gun, then you have to press the r1 button to cradle to your shoulder so you actually see what your aiming at, then you have to manevur your aim with the left analog stick..its rather difficult and annoying, plus if you press the fire button(square) too hard it will fire and give away your position before you get your aim your target. Another thing is you have to adjust the camera angle everytime you climb something, go around a corner, ect. Omg and did i forget...theres no crosshairs, these is especially fucked pup when you want to throw a grenade but don't know where your throwing it, or when you see someone while in 3rd person view and want to shoot them but you can't tell if your aiming at him so you have to go into 1st person and hope he dosen't turn away or just run away while your concentrating on holding down the l1 and r1 button and pressing the square button lightly and adjust it with the analog stick....omg god give me good controls. It would have helped tremendously if you could just have crosshairs and be able to choose between 3rd, 1st, or 2nd person view mode.… Expand
  5. JesusC.
    Oct 9, 2007
    6
    I couldn't stand the setting, the characters, the FPS lag, or the storyline--which didn't have quite the flair of MGS2. It's better off as a rent. You'll beat it once and never go back again (I didn't).
  6. DanW.
    Mar 14, 2006
    7
    Not a big enough change to warrant buying if you already have MGS3 - and the graphics are decidedly not near "next-gen."

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PS2 Game of 2006
4
#4 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
21
#21 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
  1. PSM Magazine
    100
    Improving on one of the best games ever couldn't have been an easy job, but Kojima Productions was able to do it. They packed this director's cut of "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater", a thrilling and cinematic military stealth action game, so full of tweaks and extras, we wish our review scale went to 11. [Apr 2006, p.73]
  2. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    98
    Subsistence's awe-inspiring single-player adventure outclasses every other stealth game in existence, including the previous MGS titles. It's the perfect blend of gripping narrative, nuanced gameplay, astonishing (nearly next-gen) graphics, and creative boss battles. [Apr. 2006, p.98]
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  3. IGN
    98
    Subsistence goes a long way towards remedying the few problems of ["Snake Eater"] with a brand new camera system that literally rejuvenates the gameplay. The online mode adds a ton of replay value as well, and has dozens of options to keep you returning to blow away friends late into the night.
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