Revengeance is a spin-off in the Metal Gear series, set four years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. In the game, the player controls returning Metal Gear character Raiden as he confronts a private military company that intends to destabilize peaceful nations for profit. The gameplay focuses on fighting enemies using a sword and other weapons to perform combos and counterattacks. Through the use of "Blade Mode", Raiden can dismember enemies in slow motion and steal health items from their bodies. The series' usual stealth elements are also optional, serving as a means to avoid combat.
The game was originally being developed internally by Kojima Productions, who announced the game in 2009 under the title of Metal Gear Solid: Rising. However, the team met with difficulties in developing a game based on swordplay, so supervising director Hideo Kojima postponed its development until a solution could be found. The project resurfaced in late 2011 under its finalized title, with PlatinumGames as the new developer. The game underwent significant changes in its play mechanics and storyline under PlatinumGames' involvement, although Kojima Productions retained responsibility for the game's overall plot and Raiden's design.
Upon its worldwide release in February 2013, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was well received by critics, being praised for its sophisticated cutting system, its use of Metal Gear elements to complement the story despite the game's focus on action, its soundtrack, and its boss fights; some criticism was directed at its camera mechanics and the short length of the story mode. The game also enjoyed positive sales, with the PS3 and Steam versions selling an estimated total of more than 1.2 million copies. While those involved in the game's production have expressed desire to develop a sequel, such prospects have yet to come to fruition due to the conflicts between Konami and Kojima Productions. Since 2022, the game had resurfaced in internet popularity due to its direction and has become a staple in contemporary meme culture.
Gameplay
Raiden attacking an enemy in Blade Mode. The top-left bars indicate Raiden's health and remaining time in Blade Mode. The counter on the right tallies the player's number of hits.
Players assume control of Raiden, a katana-wielding cyborg. He is initially playable in his "Standard Body" form, which resembles the body used by Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 4, but with a more natural-looking face. The player can alter Raiden's appearance through alternative skins. Unlike previous titles in the Metal Gear series, where players try not to be noticed by enemies, Rising is action-oriented, focusing on sword fighting and a sophisticated cutting system to fight and defeat enemies. Although Raiden's main weapon is his high-frequency blade, he can also use other replacement blades, sub-weapons, and secondary weapons. Raiden's sub- weapons include two kinds of rocket launchers, four kinds of grenades, the iconic cardboard box, an empty oil drum, and a 3D photo frame.[1][2] Other melee weapons can be obtained after defeating the game's bosses.[3]
The game's cutting system allows players to engage in melee combat, as well as to precisely slash enemies and objects at will along a geometrical plane using the "Blade Mode" game mechanic. Virtually any object in the game can be cut, including vehicles and enemies, though elements of the environment were intentionally limited to structures such as pillars and walls to better facilitate the game.[4] Entering Blade Mode produces a special targeting reticle in the form of a transparent blue plane which can be moved and rotated freely, tracing holographic orange lines across the surfaces of targets to indicate exactly where they will be cut; it can also be used to enter a bullet time state, giving players the opportunity to precisely cut targets during moments of action, such as slicing through an airborne target multiple times before it hits the ground. Blade Mode can be employed strategically: for example, disabling opponents, finding weak points and gaps in armour, severing support columns to collapse ceilings or walls onto enemies, deflecting enemy fire, or cutting through objects to remove enemy cover.[5][6] However, entering Blade Mode reduces Raiden's energy, which if reduced to a certain level prevents Blade Mode from being used.[7] Throughout the story, the player obtains "Ripper Mode", a state which greatly enhances Raiden's power for a limited time as it quickly consumes energy.[8]
Raiden has the ability to parry attacks even when his back is turned,[1] allowing him to counterattack enemies and perform multiple combos.[2] The player also has access to a "Ninja Run" mode, which drastically increases Raiden's speed and allows him to deflect bullets and climb certain areas for ambushes.[2] Another key feature is called Zandatsu (斬奪, lit. "cut and take"), wherein parts, energy, ammunition, items, and occasionally data are taken from the bodies of dismembered cyborgs and robots.[5][6][9] This maneuver can be employed when slicing an enemy through a small indicated red box during Blade Mode, and fully restores Raiden's health and energy.[7] When completing a mission, the player will be rewarded with a specific number of points depending on their performance and will receive a grade, with the highest being "S". These points allow players to purchase upgrades for Raiden's equipment.[10]
The player can carry out reconnaissance using Raiden's visor, which can highlight enemies through walls.[11] Hiding in a cardboard box and oil can hides the player's presence from enemies, making sneaking easier.[12] Being spotted by an enemy triggers the "Alert Mode", in which all enemies are alerted to Raiden's presence and will engage him.[13] The player also gains assistance from Blade Wolf, a canine-like robot that scouts and gathers intel for Raiden.[14]
Rival PMC Desperado Enforcement LLC serves as the game's main antagonists; Desperado aims to destabilize peaceful nations and preserve conflict, allowing them to reap the financial rewards and technological advancements of the war economy. Desperado operative Samuel Rodrigues (Philip Anthony-Rodriguez), also known as Jetstream Sam, serves as Raiden's rival, with a conversation between the two in the beginning influencing Raiden.[20] Sam is a member of an elite team of Desperado cyborg assassins named the "Winds of Destruction": Sundowner (Crispin Freeman), Desperado's de facto leader, who wields machetes that combine into a large pair of pincers, and who also has a set of reactive armour shields connected to his body;[21]Mistral (Salli Saffioti), the team's only female member, whose frame can support multiple additional arms, some of which combine into a staff that she can use as a whip;[22] and Monsoon (John Kassir), who wields dual sai and uses magnetism to manipulate large objects and separate his body into individual components, while retaining control over each part.[23]
The IF Prototype LQ-84i, later named Blade Wolf (Michael Beattie), is a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence housed within a quadrupedal combat robot who serves initially as Raiden's Desperado-controlled enemy, but it is later reprogrammed to aid Raiden and Maverick.[14] Additionally, ColoradoSenator and potential presidential candidate Steven Armstrong (Alastair Duncan) is involved in Desperado's activities.[24] An additional member of the Winds of Destruction, Khamsin (Benito Martinez), appears as part of the Blade Wolf DLC chapter.
The game is a spin-off that is "not part of the Metal Gear Solid series", although series creator Hideo Kojima said it is a parallel continuation.[25]
Plot
While providing security detail in an unnamed African country for its prime minister, N'Mani, Raiden and his team are attacked by rogue PMC Desperado. While Raiden fends off their forces, their leader Sundowner kidnaps and executes N'Mani. Raiden is badly wounded in a duel with Sundowner's lackey "Jetstream" Samuel Rodrigues, losing his left eye and arm, but Boris saves him as Sundowner and Sam escape. Doktor later repairs and upgrades Raiden with a more capable cyborg body.[20]
Three weeks later, Raiden infiltrates the breakaway state of Abkhazia after learning that Desperado is leading a military coup there.[26] He plans to capture Andrey Dolzaev, a Chechen extremist leading the forces, to force Desperado into standing down. Desperado anticipates the move and assigns a prototype AI robot designated LQ-84i to stop Raiden. Raiden defeats the LQ-84i in combat and later has Doktor rebuild it as an ally, naming it Blade Wolf. He faces further opposition from Mistral, the commander of Desperado's forces in Abkhazia. After Raiden kills Mistral in combat, Dolzaev commits suicide by blowing up an oil tank he is standing on.[27]
Maverick assigns Raiden and Blade Wolf to investigate a research facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. There, Raiden meets an orphan named George, who was brought to the facility to have his brain—along with the brains of several other orphans—surgically removed and shipped to the United States.[28][29] He learns that Sundowner inspected the facility in the company of Senator Steven Armstrong, creating an alliance between Desperado and World Marshal, a major PMC Armstrong has invested in. World Marshal plans to condition the children to become killers through constant VR training, and place them inside cybernetic bodies to create new soldiers, similar to Raiden.[30][31] Raiden rescues George and the unharvested orphans and takes them to Doktor.
Furious, Raiden resigns from Maverick and, with Blade Wolf by his side, launches a one-man assault on World Marshal's headquarters in Denver, Colorado.[32] Though no longer Raiden's employer, Maverick unofficially provides discreet support throughout. As he fights his way through the city's privatized police force and soldiers, Raiden becomes morally conflicted over the dozens of people he has killed. He begins regressing towards his repressed aggressive child soldier persona, "Jack the Ripper", before finally embracing it when he encounters Sam and another operative named Monsoon. He kills Monsoon and infiltrates World Marshal's headquarters before locating and killing Sundowner. There, he learns that Armstrong brought World Marshal and Desperado together to exploit Raiden's desire to avenge N'Mani's death. Armstrong used Desperado to distract Raiden while readying "Operation Tecumseh", a plan to assassinate the President of the United States during peace negotiations with Pakistan to ensure another war on terror.[33]
While Doktor recovers the children's brains, Raiden seeks help from Sunny Emmerich to reach Pakistan in time to stop Armstrong. He encounters Sam on the way and the pair engage in a final duel, from which Raiden emerges victorious. Sunny helps Raiden travel to Shabhazabad Air Base in Pakistan, where he is attacked by Metal Gear EXCELSUS, a hexapedal mecha piloted by Armstrong. He reveals that Operation Tecumseh was a false flag operation, and that his true plan was to frame Desperado for killing American military personnel at the base to turn the American people against them and in favor of World Marshal. Armstrong, being a primary shareholder of the latter, would win the subsequent Presidential election in a landslide, giving him free rein to realize his vision of a social Darwinist society, where the strong will thrive and the weak will be purged.[34] Raiden destroys EXCELSUS, but discovers that Armstrong has augmented himself with nanomachines that give him incredible strength and near-invulnerability, destroying Raiden's high-frequency blade. Blade Wolf intervenes and gives Raiden Sam's sword, which allows him to defeat and kill Armstrong.[35]
Maverick receives approval to create a new cyborg staffing firm, allowing them to shelter the orphans' brains and potentially give them a chance at a better life, while George and Blade Wolf go live at Solis with Sunny. Although Desperado is defeated and the brain-taking operation defunct, World Marshal remains in business. Raiden decides against rejoining Maverick, resolving to fight his own war.
Development
As Metal Gear Solid: Rising
A promotional render of Metal Gear Solid: Rising
After Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released, Hideo Kojima started coming up with ideas for another Metal Gear game. The game was meant to feature The Boss and her comrades, the Cobra Unit, as main characters. However, the lack of experience from the younger staff in charge and the lack of involvement from Kojima resulted in this project being scrapped. Afterwards, a member suggested turning it into a sidestory focused on Raiden since said character was featured in Guns of the Patriots and the staff agreed to develop Metal Gear Solid: Rising.[36] It was originally conceived to chronicle the series of events that resulted in the transformation of Raiden into his cyborg ninja persona in Metal Gear Solid 4.[5][9]Rising would have taken place during a point in the series' chronology at which Raiden had already begun his transformation into cyborg form, albeit with a different and somewhat more crude appearance from the one seen in Metal Gear Solid 4.[9][37]
The game was first hinted during Kojima's keynote presentation at the 2009 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco where the presentation's end showed "The Next MGS" with Raiden as a cyborg standing next to the title.[38] Prior to the announcements of the game, Kojima Productions featured a countdown timer on their website until the day that Rising was announced. The series' traditional tagline of "Tactical Espionage Action" was also altered to "Lightning Bolt Action," a play on the fact that Raiden's name is Japanese for "thunder and lightning."[37][39] The game was officially announced at E3 2009 at the Microsoft press conference. A teaser trailer was released by Kojima, although he would be serving only as executive producer for the game, as all of his input was with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.[40] The game was initially only announced for the Xbox 360 but was later confirmed for the PS3 and Windows platforms.[41] It would use a brand new game engine, rather than the Metal Gear Solid 4 engine.[42]
The game's original cover artwork was leaked on Xbox Live on June 10, four days before E3 2010.[43] During Microsoft's E3 press conference on June 14, Kojima introduced the game's original lead designer, Mineshi Kimura, who unveiled a new trailer which included cutscene and playing footage.[6] The game's creative producer, Shigenobu Matsuyama, and Kimura again presented the trailer on June 16 during Konami's E3 press conference, then took stage, further clarifying the game's mechanic.[39] Concern had risen over the game's realistic depictions of human dismemberment during player-controlled sequences, a hard limit for Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, which may necessitate censorship in the domestic Japanese release of the game. As a result, the version of the E3 2010 trailer available for viewing on the game's official Japanese website has had such scenes removed.[44]
Concept art on display at the Art of Yoji Shinkawa exhibit in 2011
Kimura stated that Rising would carry on the series tradition of encouraging players to progress through the game without killing, noting that there is a moral difference between attacking cyborgs or robots and attacking human beings, and that there is a "certain virtue to simply disabling your enemies instead of killing them."[5] While it was considered important to give players freedom, Matsuyama indicated that players would never be rewarded for killing human opponents, and that the game would be designed so that players would never be forced to do so.[45] Specifically, the game's stealth elements would have emphasized Raiden's considerable speed and agility through what Matsuyama describes as "hunting stealth." Unlike the stealth of previous titles, in which players remained hidden and avoided combat, players in Rising would instead quickly stalk their enemies and use acrobatic maneuvers to stay out of sight while closing in. This ties in with the game's Zandatsu feature, allowing them to prey upon enemies to obtain weapons, items, and energy.[45] Kimura noted that he wanted Raiden to be able to move like he did in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers, and to show "the stealth of the sword, and the strength of not even losing to the gun, and the fear and power you have with this blade."[9]
At TGS 2010, Sony announced that the PS3 version of Metal Gear Solid: Rising would be playable in 3D.[46] In January 2011, several pieces of concept art for Rising were displayed at Yoji Shinkawa's two-week exhibit, The Art of Yoji Shinkawa, hosted by the Konami Style Shop in Tokyo.[47] During late 2011, it was announced over that Matsuyama had moved to a different division within Konami and that Yuji Korekado had taken over as the game's lead producer.[48] Additionally, Kojima said Metal Gear Solid: Rising is "moving forward"; Kojima had stated the game remains significantly different from existing Metal Gear games, although he has retained an element of control over it and will not let it stray too far from the series' roots.[49] He advised fans to try it even though the game would not focus on stealth.[50]
Despite having thought out stories and scenarios for the game, Kojima Productions were finding it difficult to design the game around the cutting concept. The project was quietly cancelled in late 2010, and whilst Kojima had considered moving the project to developers abroad, he felt that a Japanese developer would be more suited to produce a ninja action game.[51] In early 2011, Kojima met PlatinumGames' Atsushi Inaba, who asked him about the state of Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and Kojima later requested him to work on the game.[52] This new version, titled Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, was first revealed via a trailer shown at the Spike Video Game Awards on December 10, 2011.[53][54] PlatinumGames requested a change of setting in order to have less restrictions on the creation of the game.[55] Shortly after starting development, PlatinumGames discarded the stealth element, with Kojima noting that the original staff did not find it to fit with high-speed action.[56] However, it was later incorporated again as Inaba found the original game system too "dull."[57] Artist Yoji Shinkawa worked on the game but only to design Raiden,[58] while freelancer artist Kenichirou Yoshimura is the character designer whose objective was making his work fit with Shinkawa's style.[59]
Model Serina Mochizuki promoting the game at Tokyo Game Show 2012
The first trailer confirmed that Raiden would once again be voiced by Quinton Flynn, who had previously stated that Konami had not contacted him regarding the game.[60] The game's title was changed to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, with "Revengeance" coming from Kojima Productions' desire "to get revenge or vengeance on the original failed Metal Gear Solid: Rising project" while the stating "Rising" represents Raiden's character.[61] Kojima also confirmed Rising would run at 60 frames per second, a requirement he personally requested of PlatinumGames.[62][63] The rewrite of the game's script took two months for Kojima Productions to make, in contrast to the original one (which took ten months),[1] with the scriptwriter being Etsu Tamari.[16] Tamari often discussed with director Kenji Saito when the two studios had different opinions regarding the story.[55] The plot was written with the idea of being accessible to people who had not played previous Metal Gear games. There was also a need to reduce the length of cutscenes to better balance out with play time. However, no part of the script was removed in the process.[20] Human soldiers were removed from the game to avoid censorship issues in Japan.[1]
Konami's Martin Scheider assured the game was "in safe hands" owing to the collaboration between Metal Gear veteran Yuji Korekado and Inaba, the former supervising the game.[64] As in the original scrapped version, Korekado stated that the staff's objective was to make Raiden's action scenes from Metal Gear Solid 4 playable.[16] Kojima Productions originally planned to release Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in Japan without a Japanese voice localization but in August 2012, it was revealed the game would have Japanese audio confirming new and returning actors.[65] The first Japanese language trailer was released shortly afterwards.[66] Inaba stated that the PlayStation 3 would be the lead platform. This decision was made in order to avoid a repeat of the performance issues that Bayonetta had on the console.[67]
The game was playable for the first time at E3 2012 during early June, with Kojima having been involved in its production.[56][68] In promoting the game, during April 2012, Konami sent a replica of Raiden's severed arm to various video game publications. The arm contained a small teaser from the game in the form of a live-action scene.[69][70] In following weeks, the official Metal Gear Rising website was launched, showing a longer version of the scene as well as new ones.[71] Konami stated that questions regarding these teasers would be addressed during E3. The teasers were meant to give a few hints as to the game's plot, with none of the footage actually being used in the game.[72]
The game's score was composed by Jamie Christopherson,[73] with additional music by Graeme Cornies, Brian Pickett, James Chapple, and David Kelly, and directed by Naoto Tanaka. As a result of the game being focused on action rather than stealth like the previous Metal Gear games, the music has a different style. Director Kenji Saito proposed the idea of heavy and fast music featuring lyrics to Kojima Productions. When the studio accepted Saito's idea, the two developers started composition together.[74] Christopherson also contributed by writing thirteen vocal songs.[75] The soundtrack features vocals by artists including John Bush, Tyson Yen, Free Dominguez, Jason C. Miller, and Jimmy Gnecco, with contributions by Logan Mader, The Maniac Agenda, and Ferry Corsten. An album featuring themes from the game was featured in a limited-edition release.[76] Another album, titled Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Vocal Tracks, featuring 29 tracks, was released on February 20, 2013.[77]
The full version was released in North America on February 19, 2013, and in Europe on February 21 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.[84][85] Although it was also planned to be released for both consoles on February 21 in Australia, shipping issues delayed it to February 26.[86] The game was released in Japan on February 21 for the PlayStation 3, with the Xbox 360 release there cancelled.[84] While a Windows version of Metal Gear Solid: Rising was initially planned, release for this platform was put on hold.[87] However, Kojima Productions said they would consider it after the release of the console versions.[88] The Windows version was then announced in May 2013, and released on January 9, 2014.[89][90] The PlayStation 3 version was added to PlayStation Plus in November 2013.[91]
In Japan, Konami released two collectors' editions. The first one, the "Premium Package", contains an artbook by Yoji Shinkawa and a soundtrack album. The second limited edition is the "Premium Package Special Edition", including all the contents from the first package with the addition of an action figure of Raiden.[92] The English collector's edition features a soundtrack, a steel case, and a lamp containing a small-scale replica of Raiden's sword.[76] An exclusive download edition titled the Ultimate Edition was released on the PlayStation Network on May 21, 2013.[93] This edition includes the full game plus all downloadable content. The same version was released in stores with the label of Special Edition on December 5, 2013 in Japan.[94]
The Windows version was released on January 9, 2014.[95] The version briefly required online connection until a fix was issued on January 10, 2014. It was claimed that the requirement was an accidental bug.[96] The Windows version has been region locked, making the game unavailable in India and Japan.[97] The game was briefly unavailable for purchase in Ireland.[98] The game is also not available for purchase through Steam in Indonesia and Malaysia, but is available in disc format for the PlayStation 3. The game also has region locked serials and cross-region gifting.[97] In March 2015, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was confirmed to be coming to the Nvidia Shield Console.[99][100] In January 2017, the OS X version of Revengeance became unplayable due to an issue with its DRM after Transgaming, who developed the port, went out of business.[101]
Downloadable content
The downloadable content for Rising consists of five cyborg body types for Raiden, a set of "VR Missions", and two story-based campaigns starring a different character each.[102] The DLC armours were available as pre-order incentives through different participating retailers that varied between region. The VR Missions set and bonus campaigns were made available during the months following the game's release. All the downloadable content has since been made available for general users on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live and are included as standard features in the Windows version of the game.
A set of 30 additional VR Missions for Raiden. In Japan, this expansion pack includes a new weapon called the Hebidamashi (蛇魂), a wooden sword which talks with Solid Snake's voice (as portrayed by Akio Otsuka). The Hebidamashi was not available in the English editions of the game.
A campaign starring Raiden's rival Samuel Rodrigues, which depicts how he joined Desperado Enforcement. Includes five bonus VR Missions for Sam.
Bladewolf
May 9, 2013
A campaign starring the robotic canine LQ-84i, which depicts its involvement with Desperado Enforcement prior to its first encounter with Raiden. The campaign features an original antagonist named Khamsin, a fifth member of Desperado Enforcement not seen in the main story. Includes five bonus VR Missions for the LQ-84i.
Reception
Pre-release
Eurogamer, 1UP.com and VideoGamer.com listed it as one of the most anticipated games of 2012, both because it distances itself from previous games in the franchise and because of PlatinumGames' previous work.[108][109][110] However, a common criticism echoed by IGN's Richard George has been that its style contrasts sharply with the previous Metal Gear games as a result of the change of developers and player character Raiden.[111] David Houghton of GamesRadar noted that Raiden's actions during play were not out of character considering his role in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, where he was able to fight without his arms.[112] During the E3 2012, both GameSpot editors Kevin VanOrd and Peter Brown were surprised with the gameplay provided by the demo, with the former calling it "fluid third-person action featuring slow-motion swordplay" in place of the stealth style featured in the Metal Gear Solid series. Both writers still found Raiden suitable for the game's style and plot owing to his role in previous Metal Gear games.[113] 1UP's Jose Otero provided similar comments, praising the gameplay's style, but still felt the demo was more like a tutorial rather than a stage of the game.[114]
Producer Atsushi Inaba took to his Twitter feed to address fans' concerns over the project. He acknowledged the mixed reaction to the unveiling of Rising, but hoped players would spot "a glimpse of the future" in the trailer. Inaba promised its "love and respect will shine through." The negative reactions came from fans noticing the genre switching to a hack and slash game.[115] Inaba expressed his dismay at the fans' comparison of Metal Gear Rising with Ninja Gaiden 3, having criticized the latter game.[116] During Games Convention 2012, Kojima Productions noted the demos were well received by fans due to the number of attendees that wanted to play it. They added that feedback for the demo was positive.[117] In September 2012, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was one of the winners from Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association's Japan Game Awards.[118]
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregatorMetacritic.[119][120][121]Famitsu scored the game a near-perfect 39 out of 40. Play and GamesTM also shared positive impressions, with the latter calling Metal Gear Rising "almost certainly the best Metal Gear game released this generation."[125]
Eurogamer writer Rich Stanton was pleased with the creation of the Metal Gear spin-off expanding the franchise. It was noted that the game was close to receiving a perfect 10 were it not for camera issues.[124] Other sites noted similar issues during their reviews, due to the fact it could not keep up with the fast action sequences.[127][129] The game's action was praised by several publications, stating it would be appealing for casual players and Metal Gear fans.[127][129] Bob Mackey enjoyed the game but felt that the game still had the mark of a "rescued product": "Revengeance isn't Platinum at the top of their game; it's the studio making the best of a bad situation -- even so, a troubled Platinum production still has plenty to offer."[122] Some focused on the cutting system which allowed players to cut through not only enemies but also the environment,[128] while IGN's Mitch Dyer commented on how the number of subweapons improved the game's variety despite a lack of flow when changing them.[129] Boss fights have also been referred as one of the game's strongest points due to their use of cutscenes and music.[123][127]
On the other hand, Joe Juba from Game Informer was less favourable, stating that the combat was the only real highlight of the game, reserved about the superficiality of even the combat element itself, commenting "[the combat] is entertaining, but 'style over substance' is the defining theme."[126] He found that the game's shortcomings made it less interesting than previous Metal Gear games and Bayonetta, also developed by PlatinumGames.[126]Computer and Video Games' Matt Gilman agreed with Juba, adding that the game's cons, while annoying, could have been easily fixed, citing the lack of a defense action rather than parrying.[123]Videogamer.com praised the game's opening level while criticizing the camera system: "scenery has an annoying habit of getting in the way: one encounter in a tiny room saw me fighting with an obstacle obscuring both Raiden and his opponents with no way of manoeuvring the camera into a better position."[131]The campaign has also been criticized for a short running time, though Miguel Concepción from The Escapist cited the multiple challenging difficulties as a way to encourage the players to play through the game more than once.[133]
The plot was found to be on par with other games in the franchise.[129] Raiden's role and development were found to be appealing, with GameSpot's Peter Brown praising his violent attitude that made him an outstanding anti-hero,[127] whereas GameTrailers noted how Raiden contrasted his Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty persona that had been criticized back in 2001.[128]IGN wrote that fans of Metal Gear Solid 4 would enjoy the game more because Raiden can replicate his moves from that game's cutscenes in gameplay.[129]Eurogamer deemed Revengeance a major change in Raiden's characterization, referring to him as "the ultimate cyborg and also the ultimate killer" based on his darker persona that is explored in combat.[124] Critics praised the design of the game's bosses, while Samuel was noted to have a good rivalry with Raiden that helped develop the latter.[123][127] Despite being a spin-off and lacking the series' protagonist Solid Snake, Concepción found the setting post-Guns of the Patriots to contain several classic Metal Gear elements that old players would find familiar.[133] However, Game Informer criticized the new characters as "uninteresting and poorly developed".[126]
Producer Atsushi Inaba noted on his Twitter account that several Western gamers believed the game was too short based on a results screen that showed a clear time of five-and-a-half hours. He clarified that the screen did not count cutscenes or failed attempts to beat the game, only taking in account when players pass the stages. This system had been used by PlatinumGames since Bayonetta in order to evaluate players. As a result, Inaba felt disappointed by people's attempts to criticize the game based on a single screen.[134]
Sales
PlatinumGames' president Tatsuya Minami stated that he expected good sales from the game due to strong marketing and being part of the Metal Gear series.[135] Shortly after its release, Hideo Kojima mentioned having been pleased due to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance selling well around the world, but did not share numbers.[136] During its first week, the game topped Japan's Media Create and Enterbrain Japan charts list, selling 308,681 units according to the former and 335,791 units according to the latter.[137][138] Among the Famitsu 2013 Top 100, a listing of the top 100 Japanese retail software sales for the year of 2013 from data collected by Famitsu's parent company Enterbrain, the PS3 version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ranked 11th with 470,597 physical retail sales within Japan.[139]
The game received a Gold Prize from the 2013 PlayStation Awards, for the PS3 version selling more than 500,000 units in Asia.[140] During its debut in the United Kingdom, it was the second-best-selling game following Crysis 3.[141] As of April 11, 2018[update], Steam Spy estimated that the PC version sold approximately 722,000 units on Steam,[142] for an estimated total of more than 1,222,000 copies sold for the PS3 and Steam platforms.
Legacy
Hideo Kojima mentioned in January 2012 that depending on the game's popularity, the staff would make a franchise based on it.[143] He has viewed the relationship between Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames as very positive and suggested that a sequel to Metal Gear Rising may be possible in the near future. However, Kojima would only approve of a sequel if PlatinumGames were to develop it, stating that "no one else could [do] it".[144][145] Following the game's release, Kojima was impressed with PlatinumGames' work in the game, stating the franchise had a "lot of hugely, insanely critical fans" who would harshly scrutinize issues. As the original project was a prequel to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Kojima would like the concept to be revisited, although he thought that PlatinumGames would have problems with it as a result of being an "interquel." As a result, he was unable to confirm if such a story could be developed in the future.[136]
On February 22, 2013, Hideo Kojima told SPOnG that he would like to make a sequel of Metal Gear Rising, stating that if it does happen, he would like PlatinumGames to develop it. Kojima also stated that he would like the sequel to star Gray Fox and have him battle "nano machine-powered zombies." He also stated that he offered to write the story himself, but PlatinumGames did not seem interested.[146] Etsu Tamari, chief story writer for both Metal Gear Rising and the original Metal Gear Solid: Rising, has expressed interest in reusing the original idea for a potential sequel.[147]
In August 2013, Konami posted a survey for Metal Gear Rising on their official site asking fans if they want a sequel and what they would like to see in it.[148] On January 31, 2015, a trailer for upcoming PS4 games at the 2015 Taipei Game Show teased a brief image of the number 2 in a similar font design to that of Revengeance. However, Kojima Productions later made statements that the "2" was unrelated to the Metal Gear franchise.[149][150][151]
Writer Etsu Tamari expressed joy in the final product and expected that in the future, the team could make another game focused on Raiden.[152]Quinton Flynn stated he was pleased with Raiden's role in Revengeance and stated he would have liked a new sequel with him as the lead. However, the dispute between Konami and Kojima Productions had left him worried as to the sequel's future.[153]
The narrative, characters, and soundtrack were noted to contribute to the game's resurgence in popularity as a result of internet memes, including the handling of politics and characters reacting in comical fashion to set pieces and dialogue, the most prominent example being with main antagonist Senator Armstrong, as well as Jetstream Sam. As a result of this resurgence in popularity, concurrent players for the game are believed to have gone up by 1000% within a month in 2022.[158][159]
In 2023, as a result of a teaser from Quinton Flynn, fans began to believe that for the game's tenth anniversary it would be remastered for higher resolutions and modern platforms such as the PlayStation 5. However, all that occurred was the release of celebratory artwork on the Platinum Games blog.[160][161]
^Kojima Productions. Zone of the Enders HD. Konami. In the weeks after the attack, Raiden learns that Desperado is leading a military coup in the nation of Abkhazia. Equipped with a powerful new cyborg body, Raiden heads to Abkhazia's capital, Sukhumi, on a mission to halt the coup and settle the score with Desperado once and for all.
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (in English and Russian). Konami. Level/area: File R-01: Coup d'État. Dolzaev: [enraged by Mistral's death; to Raiden] You! You killed her! Yob troyu mat! Murderer! / Raiden: That's rich, coming from you. It's over, Dolzaev. Surrender. / Dolzaev: [laughs] Ah ty tupoi sukin syn. / Raiden: Translation? / Dolzaev: Why would I surrender? We are exactly where I want. […] Built with Russia money, to make Russia money. It is no prison for Abkhaz[ia] — it is their prison! […] But now, they will be free! […] / Raiden: Damn… Crazy son of a bitch… / Boris (codec): Raiden?! Raiden, what happened?! / Raiden: Bastard blew himself up…
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-02: Research Facility. Kevin: Your mission's to investigate the Desperado-affiliated research facility somewhere in that area. According to the intel from our client, the lab's been dumping illegal waste into those sewers. FYI, they're also involved with the cartels in human trafficking. Allegedly, anyway. / Raiden: This just keeps getting better and better. / Kevin: Tell me about it. We need you to infiltrate the lab and find out everything you can. Of course, you'll have to find it first. We still don't know the exact location.
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-02: Research Facility. Raiden: ¿Estás bien? / George: Wah yuh say? (What'd you say?) / Raiden: Oh. / George: Mi a (I'm) Guyanese. From Guyana. You speak English? / Raiden: Uh, yeah. I'm from America. Call me Raiden. / George: M[y] name['s] George. Like "Georgetown". … And jus[t] like all [those] America[n] president[s].
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-02: [_]. Boris: Is it over? / Raiden: For now, yeah. But that room… Those were cyborg brain casings. / Boris: Da. We saw. / Raiden: George said they were harvesting organs from kids. / Boris: Yes. This must be why they are trafficking children. Perhaps other organs are being sold elsewhere, but they are definitely taking the brains. / Raiden: Jesus… Are they making these kids into cyborgs? / Kevin: Wait—the cyborgs you've been fighting… Did they seem like they might be kids? You said earlier that child soldiers have a telltale approach to combat… / Raiden: Yeah. But I didn't see it here. Those weren't kids.
^PlatinumGames (February 26, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-04: [_]. Sundowner: Then send us what you do have. We've already commenced VR training. / Researcher: The Sears Program? / Sundowner: Yup, same one ol' Georgy-boy used on the kids in Liberia. Of course it's wired straight to the brain now. Feels as real as anything else.
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-04: [_]. Raiden: Whatever can rival 9-11 cannot be good. [...] The president. He's on his way to Pakistan. If something happens to him there... / Kevin: Oh, shit. / Boris: The War on Terror, part two.
^PlatinumGames (February 19, 2013). Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Konami. Level/area: File R-07: Assassination Attempt. Armstrong: I do need capital. And votes. Wanna know why? I have a dream! That one day every person in this nation will control their own destiny. [...] The weak will be purged, and the strongest will thrive - free to live as they see fit. They'll make America great again!
^"『メタルギア』シリーズのアートディレクターを務める新川洋司氏の原画展が開催" [An exhibition of original drawings by Yoji Shinkawa, art director of the "Metal Gear" series]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Famitsu. January 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 18, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Robinson, Martin (January 6, 2012). "Interesting Sequels of 2012". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
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