Killzone 3 Getting A Public Beta

Awesome news today as Guerilla Games announces a Killzone 3 public beta will begin on October 25th. Players will be able to play 3 multiplayer modes, one being new type "Operations". Killzone 3's new "party system", jetpack and exoskelton vehicles will also be testable for beta players. How do you test out this fantastic looking game? You had to figure it wouldn't be free people! PlayStation Plus subscribers will get access to the beta. However 300 promotion codes will be given away. So if your lucky you may get a code if your not a PSPlus subscriber. This game looks crazy good and the beta should be fun as hell.

Comments? Questions? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

-KM

Mario's 25 Birthday Gift To All (In Japan)

To help celebrate Mario's 25 Anniversary, Nintendo plans to release a Red Wii with Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary Edition already loaded onto the console. The new Mario game has everything from the original Super Mario Bros to Super Mario Galaxy 2. This is great news if you live in Japan. No word yet if the bundle will be released in the US. We can only hope Nintendo fans.

Opinions? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

The Infamous Fall and Glorious Return of Duke Nukem

Well folks, did anyone see this coming?! Everyone's favorite babe loving, vulgar-muscle head Duke Nukem is FINALLY making his return early next year in Duke Nukem Forever. No I mean it, the game is actually being developed as we speak!

The Duke Nukem Tragedy

The soap opera of Duke Nukem Forever is one of the most infamous and disappointing stories in the history of video games. It all started way back on April 28th, 1997 when 3D Realms announced it was being developed for the PC as the next chapter in the Duke series. It was originally planned to use the Quake II 3D engine. A few months later some clips of the game were shown at E3 and everyone thought it would be released as planned in mid 1998.

In June 1998 (around the intended release date) 3D Realms announced to the media that they were switching 3D engines to Epic's new Unreal Engine. Even people who are casual gamers know that to completely switch engines when making a game means going back to the drawing board and starting over. However, the designers now planned for Duke to kick-ass in 1999. Well with a similar story to 1998, 1999 came and 3D said they were working with an updated version of the Unreal Engine. Were they actually working on the game this whole time? Or did they simply feed fans and the media what they wanted to hear because of all the pressure on them to put a game out? Either way, the new millennium came and went and the summer of 2001 was now their date for DNF to hit stores. Finally Duke is back right!? Wrong again friends.

It's 2001, we have all survived Y2K and 3D Realms releases a 2 and a half minute trailer of Duke Nukem Forever at E3 giving everyone clear hope and proof that the game does exist. We find out much later though that the entire trailer was all cinematic. At the time Duke fans were psyched to know that 3D Realms had some work to show us. Here comes 2002 and some genius (sarcasm) decides that 3D Realms would make their own engine instead of using the ones they already started on. Ok so lets get this straight, since 1997 3D Realms switched between 4 engines, managed to have one phony trailer and pissed off everyone in the industry. Great job guys, how will the next few years fare?

Well you don't need Mrs. Cleo to predict this one. 03 & 04 passed and 3D Realms still promised released by the end of 04 and even in the beginning of 2005. There was even a rumor that the game made a 5th engine change to Quake III's new processor. Really this shouldn't have been a surprise. 3D was clearly under poor management (Take Two, 3D Realms publishing CEO George Broussard). HOW HE STILL HAD A JOB IS STILL A MYSTERY TO ME. This whole escapade was just teasing us. It's like a drop-dead gorgeous woman lying naked on a bed saying look, don't touch. Come on people give us a freaking' game already! If anything stop pissing on us and calling it rain. Just admit you guys are screwed and aren't working on anything.

In the next few years DNF news was nothing but rumors and tid-bits. Until 2007 came around and we got, wait for it...a teaser trailer! How thoughtful, NOT. Same story here (again) no game was made. After some bogus interviews about why 3D Realms wasn't able to put the game together, 2009 brought the end. In May of that year, 3D Realms was downsized for financial reasons causing the development team to disperse. Adding insult to injury, Take-Two Interactive (which owned the rights to the game) filled a lawsuit against 3D Realms for not finishing the game. The case was settled a year later in May 2010.

First Good News In Years

Could it be? Could we finally get some good news about Duke Nukem Forver?! Yes gamers we do! On September 3rd 2010 after nearly 13 years of lies and waiting, Duke Nukem Forver was officially reported being published by 2k Games and in development by Gearbox Software. WOW, miracles really do come true and we finally can get excited for Duke to make his return.

First Actual Gameplay

A few months ago PAX 2010 had the first Duke Nukem Demo. Duke still looks to be the same, smoking a cigar, smacking on bubble gum, getting oral sex from two girls, and of course cussing like a sailor. DNF is a first person shooter and is what everyone would expect from a Duke Nukem type game. You're fighting aliens, shooting off limbs and watching blood splatter all over the place. Duke has two guns at a time, and can even preform hand-to-hand combat moves. The demo even included a driving level that placed Duke in jeep swerving down a canyon as alien crafts chased him the whole way.

What To Expect

From the demo you can tell DNF has huge potential for laughs and good old fashion alien ass kicking. But don't expect this game to be a joke at all. Gearbox Software (Borderlands) are intent on giving Duke the return he deserves. It should have somewhat of a good plot and like I mentioned tons of laughs from Duke. But it's in-your-face FPS gameplay is what will make Duke an amazing game (also just the title Duke Nukem is a cash-cow itself). Duke in retrospect probably won't be considered "revolutionary" in the gaming world, but it should be filled with so much heart-pounding action that fans and new players will "geek out" more times than once.

Release Date Info

Recently Duke Nukem Forever's official website put up links to pre-order Duke on Amazon and Gamestop. The sites say the game will be out on February. 1, 2011. The date falls on a Tuesday which is the typical date for entertainment media to be released. Sometimes publishers send retailers a "placeholder" date just as a rough estimate of when it will actually come out. What's interesting though is Gears of War 3 was pushed back this past week to the end of 2011. Why? Maybe Epic Games doesn't want to compete with DNF, and they know the game will for sure be out in early 2011 when Gears 3 was set to be released. Either way, it does make you wonder why Gears would all of a sudden be moved just after the placeholder date for Duke was announced.

Public Demo Announced

This past Tuesday Gearbox announced that a Duke Nukem Forever demo certificate will be made available for everyone...The only catch is it comes with the Game of the Year edition of Borderlands. Along with 4 DLC Borderlands content, gamers get the "Duke Nukem Forever First Access Club." The demo won't be up and running imminently but those who spend $60 bucks will get to play it. It's genius marketing for Gearbox to put this combo together. I never planned on buying Borderlands, but now that the GOY edition comes with a Duke demo I will definitely pick up a copy.

So the tragedy turns to triumph for our beloved hero Duke Nukem. Now all that's left to do is for us gamers to impatiently wait for his return once again. Although this time, he's back for sure!

Questions? Comments? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

-KM

Kirby's Epic Yarn Preview-The Pink Puff Is Back

Release Date

October 17th

Well here's one game no one expected at E3 2010. Other than the Virtual Console and Super Smash Brothers Brawl the "pink blob" has been absent from Nintendo titles. But look no further! Kirby is back and looking more uh..see through than ever. Epic Yarn looks honestly, flat out amazing.

The new adventure brings Kirby to "Patch Land". While he is minding his own business looking like the Kirby of old, Yin Yarn, a caped menace made out of (you guessed it!) yarn approaches him and sucks him into Patch Land. Once you arrive, Kirby turns into yarn himself and he runs into Prince Fluff who is being attacked by a yarn monster. Kirby saves him with his new powers and escapes with the prince. You and Fluff will be partners throughout the journey to restore and save Patch Land.

Patch Land is made up of different levels that Kirby must stitch back together. Grass Land, Water Land, Space Land, Snow Land, and Fire Land to name a few. Each boss will be in the middle of the level; so upon defeating your main foe gamers can either move onto another area, or continue the same level to unlock items and side quests. Kirby and Prince Fluff both have a set of powers and morphing abilities that they can use at any time. Some will include a car, parachute, penguin, UFO, train, fire engine and even a giant robot. Different levels will give them each different transforming abilities. For instance, in Water Land Kirby can become a submarine and dolphin. Enemies will include space squids, yarn fish and even Kirby's old foes King Dedede and Meta Knight.

The bright colors, "yarn" like textures and incredibly original design make this 2D side scroller with (3D elements) a can't miss for Wii owners. Expect everything from "cuddly" soft music during level exploration, to epic, loud instruments during boss battles and intense situations. Epic Yarn allows players to hold the Wii Remote sideways to control Kirby as he attacks enemies and swings from platform to platform. Players can grab certain spots and even change the level layout to unlock secret treasure and new challenges.

As seen with most games now days, Co-op has even been added so you and a friend can take on the Patch Land together. Even if you haven't been a fan of Kirby games in the past, try this one out. With so many new creative features, Epic Yarn is a must buy.

Opinions? Questions? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

Star Wars Forced Unleashed II-Back With A Vengeance

Release Date

October 26th

Here is one game that every Star Wars nerd (myself) has been excited for the minute the revel trailer was shown last year. SWFUII continues from the first game further exploring the Star Wars universe taking place seven months after the first game and a year before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

We find our hero Starkiller (who appeared to be dead after the first game) aboard Kamino lost and confused believing he is one of many clones of his original self. His former master Darth Vader explains to him his original self died and he was the only clone left that hadn't gone insane. Vader manipulates his mind and once again trains him in the Jedi arts. The tides turns when Starkiller has a vision of Vader betraying him. He decides he must escape from the Dark Lord and does so by taking his TIE Fighter. Starkiller continues to have memories of his former life. The only problem is, he doesn't remember living them. He now embarks on a journey to find his true identity and his lost love Juno Eclipse (from the first game) who he sees in his visions. Vader realizes Starkiller has left and he hires bounty hunter Boba Fett to find Juno Eclipse (assuming Starkiller is looking for her). Along the way Starkiller will have to battle with his visions, escape the clutches of Fett and the dark side, and figure out who he really is.

The epic journey will take place on foreign and familiar planets, and will even include some big characters in the Star Wars universe. A new fighting style has been designed to let gamers feel a more "realistic" gameplay. The targeting system has also been re-done making it more smooth and precise. Lucas Arts knew the first game was plagued wit bugs and glitches, so that inspired them to make all the new additions and fix the old ones. This go around Starkiller has two lightsabers to dual wield. Players can do more deadly combos and use more force powers such as "mind trick" and "force fury." Starkiller will be a force to be reckoned with during his journey, wiping out every Stormtrooper that comes his way. It'll be interesting to see how the plot pans out; and how the story will tie up the loose ends in the whole Star Wars saga.

If your a Star Wars buff then this is for you. If you like an amazing narrative with intense action then this is also for you and damn if your human THIS IS FOR YOU! There is even a collectors edition for $20 more that includes tons of goodies for you hardcore Star Wars fans (myself). Look for this towards the end of the month.

Check out the newest trailer from SWTFUII, one word. SICK!

Questions? Comments? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

Medal of Honor Preview-Welcome to Tier 1

Release Date

October 12th

No game has had more controversy than EA's Medal of Honor. MOH is a reboot of the series and takes place today during the ongoing War in Afghanistan. Recently EA has decided to take out the Taliban as playable characters in the game after months of criticism and complaints from numerous people and organizations. Gamers will play as Tier 1 Operatives (the bad ass of the bad ass) and fight in the brutal war still going on now. US Army Rangers will also be playable throughout the campaign. MOH will be your typical army-like game with huge explosions, gun fights and vehicle battles. It's multiplayer is being developed by EA DICE the same makers of BattleField Bad Company. EA expects MOH to compete heavily with Modern Warefare 2 and Black Ops as the top army games out now.

I played the beta this summer and it was everything I expected from a "war" type game, fun and non-stop action. If you love the military and are looking for a new FPS pick up MOH.

Opinions? Let me know twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

2010 Fall Games List

Fall is here gamers! Cold weather, pumpkins, leaves turning and lightsabers? Yes this is a good time to be a gamer because the next few months (October-December) are filled with clones, wars, bananas, golden guns and adrenaline packed action. Lets take a look at the line up of games to end 2010.

October

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow- PS3, Xbox 360 (See Our Preview)

Fable III- Xbox 360

Fallout: New Vegas- Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Medal of Honor- PC, PS3, Xbox 360 (See Our Preview)

NBA Jam- Wii, (Xbox 360 & PS3 at a later date) (See Our Preview)

NBA 2k11- PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Wii

Wii Party- Wii

Kirby's Epic Yarn- Wii (See Our Preview)

Star Wars Force Unleashed II- DS, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii (See Our Preview)

Vanquish- PS3, Xbox 360

Super Scribblenauts-DS

Patapon 3- PSP

Tony Hawk Shred- PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

Shaun White Skateboarding- PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

EA Sports MMA- PS3, Xbox 360

Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs- DS

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West- PS3, Xbox 360

Rock Band 3- PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

DJ Hero 2- PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

Def Jam Rapstar- PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2011- PSP, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2- Xbox 360, PS3

Just Dance 2-Wii

The Sims 3- DS, Xbox 360, PS3

Sonic The Hedgehog 4- Wii, Xbox 360, PS3

November

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood- PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Call of Duty: Black Ops- PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS

GoldenEye 007- Wii, DS

Epic Mickey- Wii

Donkey Kong Country Returns- Wii

God of War: Ghost of Sparta- PSP

Gran Turismo 5- PS3

James Bond: Blood Stone- PS3, Xbox 360, DS

FlingSmash- Wii

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit- Xbox 360, PC, PS3, Wii

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn- DS

Mario vs Donkey- Mini-Land Mayhem- DS

Create- PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

Sonic Colors- Wii, DS

Kinectimals (Kinect)- Xbox 360

Dance Central (Kinect)- Xbox 360

Kinect Joy Ride (Kinect)- Xbox 360

Kinect Sports (Kinect)- Xbox 360

EA Sports Active 2.0- Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

uDraw Studio- Wii

December

Tron Evolution- DS, PSP, PC, Xbox 360, PS3

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm- PC, Mac

Overall a solid list of games with some HUGE blockbuster titles to end 2010. I know i'll be picking up a lot, how about you?

Questions? Comments? Let me know on our twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow-New Story, No Problem

Release Date

October 5th

Also hitting the shelves on October 5th is Konami's hyped-up new adventure in the Castlevania series. LOS is a chapter based game that doesn't follow the original cannon of Castlevania but is instead a new story for the saga. It follows Gabriel Belmont a member of an elite group known as the "Brotherhood of Light", who are holy knights that protect and defend the innocent from supernatural creatures. Gabriel's wife Marie was murdered and her soul becomes trapped for eternity, she therefore help's and guides Gabriel to save the world. LOS is a bit of God of War meets Devil May Cry meets Shadow of the Colossus for its over the top action and giant boss battles. If your a fan of intense action with an amazing story and voice acting (like me), then this game is for you.

Questions? Comments? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

NBA Jam Preview-He's On Fire!

Release Date

October 5th

Ah, now this is one sports game everyone can remember and enjoy. Simple yes, goofy, yes but so fun it's addicting. The "old school" NBA Jam came out in 1993 and was a hit on the Super NES. After years of waiting the developers of EA Canada have finally brought back this classic; this time for the Wii (to be released on Xbox and PS3 at a later date). Expect the same over-the-top dunks and animations along with "He's On Fire!" and "Boom-Shaka-Laka" from the commentators. Although this is a re-make there will be all new challenges (over 90) along with new and classic players to choose from. Gamers can choose to play with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, Wii Remote and the Classic Controler. Although if your an online guru like myself you'll be disappointed to know NBA Jam on the Wii has no online multiplayer. Saying that, it'll still be a blast to play with friends or against the CPU.

Opinions? Comments? Let me know on twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

Nintendo 3DS

The big three Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo came out swingin' at E3 2010 showing fans all over the world that the next year of video games will be historic. Nintendo however stole the show with their new 3Ds, here are the up to date details.

Nintendo 3Ds

Quite possibly the biggest announcement of E3 was the revealing of Nintendo's new handheld, the Nintendo 3DS. This new portable game console produces "3D" effects for the players without the need for 3D glasses. It has a similar design to the Nintendo DS, but will have many new features.

-Two camera lenses on the outside of the system for 3D photos

-A "Home" button similar to the Wii remote

-Improved processing power and graphics (than the DS)

-An analog control called the "Slide Pad" (similar to PSP)

-A new stylus (telescoping)

-Similar touch screen bottom but with higher resolution (256x192 to 320x240)

-3.5 inch wide display

-8 oz weight

-A 3D on/off switch

-Ability to play DS games

-Firmware Updates (to help prevent piracy)

-Improved online capabilities

Tag Mode- While your device is turned off, it will still actively search for other 3DS systems near by to wirelessly and quietly exchange date with people playing the same games as you. A light on the 3Ds will indicate to the user when received data has been taken in through Tag Mode. (Sleep Mode Wi-Fi can automatically download free software as well)

Mii Studio- The 3Ds will also have Mii creation similar to the Wii. However this Mii creation is much more advanced than that on the Wii. Users can use the 3Ds camera to take a picture of a persons face and let the software build a Mii that looks similar to the person in the photo (sweet). Mii's can also be saved to an SD card and printed out or put onto the Internet. Also Mii's can be shared through Tag Mode and the Mii Plaza.

Virtual Handheld- My personal favorite announcement of the 3Ds is the Virtual Handheld. Similar to the Wii's Virtual Console, this will have old Game Boy and Game Boy Color games for sale by Nintendo. Some of these games will even be in 3D!

Along with these major new additions the 3Ds will also allow users to view their play time, edit photos and store information up to 2 GB at launch.

Release Date

The Nintendo 3Ds will launch in Japan Feb. 26th, 2011 and will cost 25,000 Yen. (around $300 USD). The US and Europe will have to wait until March 2011 for the system (damn) with no official price given yet.

Games

This is what really matters, the games for the system. The 3DS could be (and probably is) the coolest thing ever but if the games suck then what does it matter. Hopefully that won't be the case, and with such a stellar list of titles coming out from Nintendo and third party developers we are sure to get some incredible games. Here are the confirmed launch titles.

Launch Titles (for Japan)

- Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS

- Nintendogs + Cats

- Pilotwings Resort

- Pro Baseball Spirits

- Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle

- Ridge Racer 3D

- Samurai Warriors Chronicle

- Steel Diver

- Super Monkey Ball

- Super Street Fighter IV: 3D edition

Other Games Announced (all working titles)

(full list)

- Animal Crossing

- Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy

- Batman

- Bomberman

- DJ Hero 3D

- Dragon Ball

- FIFA Soccer

- Final Fantasy

- Frogger

- Kid Icarus: Uprising

- Kingdom Hearts 3D

- Madden NFL

- Mario Cart 3Ds

- Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3DS

- Ninja Gaiden

- Packman & Galaga

- Paper Mario 3Ds

- Resident Evil: Revelations

- Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D

- Saints Row: Drive-By

- The Sims 3

- Sonic the Hedgehog

- Star Fox 64 3D

- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Lead the Ghosts

So as you can see HUGE third party developers are working on games for the 3Ds, and why shouldn't they be. This system has unlimited potential and the ability to reach consumers of all ages, sex and race. It's safe to say that Nintendo is expecting a huge launch of the 3DS across the world. I know I'll be picking one up at midnight. Stay tuned for more info and in the mean time enjoy these 3DS game screen shots. Also here is a link to Nintendo's whole E3 2010 presentation, enjoy!

Questions, Comments? Let me know on my twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33morris@aol.com

DPAD IS BACK!

Yes after a few months off The Dpad is back to fill you in on all your gaming needs. A lot has happened over the last few months in the gaming world (Duke Nukem actually being made, WTF!?). So we're back to fill you in and keep you up to date on everything in the gaming industry. So sit tight, grab those controlers and mic's, keeping gaming and we'll keep you updated.

-KM

Franchise Glance: Metal Gear

In this new segment we'll take a look at some of the game industry's most influential and popular game franchises. Today we focus on the Metal Gear Series.

During the early years of video game development for Konami (then called Konami Industry Co. Ltd) they had great success. Arcade hits such as Frogger, Scramble and Super Cobra were all shipped to the United States in the early 1980's, and all were very popular in the states. It wasn't until a few years later in 1982 that Konami of America, Inc. was founded (currently knows as Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.). A year later Konami began manufacturing and selling MSX games. MSX and eventually MSX2 were home computers developed in Japan and sold all over the world. MSX2 would be the home of the first game in the historic Metal Gear series.

In 1986 one of Konami's newest members by the name of Hideo Kojima joined the publisher as a designer and "planner" in their home computer division. At first Kojima was disappointed with his assignment working with the MSX platform, because he felt the Nintendo Entertainment System was superior. He was a rookie in the video game industry and his ideas were often overlooked. After working on a few small titles he finally got his big break. Kojima was asked to take over the project Metal Gear, and he never looked back. Kojima created the gameplay focusing on prisoner escaping and stealth combat.

Metal Gear was released in 1987 for the MSX2 in Japan and parts of Europe. The game centers around a special forces agent under the code name Solid Snake. In the game Snake is sent to the state of "Outer Heaven" to stop a nuclear walking tank known as "Metal Gear." The gameplay was all about avoiding enemies and sneaking around. A port of the game was later made for the Nintendo Entertainment System. This was just the foundation of the Metal Gear franchise story and gameplay.

Box art for the 1987 game Metal Gear

Because of the success of the first game, Konami choose to create a sequel, however they didn't involve Kojima in the development. Snake's Revenge came out on the NES, but wasn't up to par as the first one. Kojima was asked to created a true sequel and as a result returned to the Metal Gear story and developed and released Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake for the MSX2 in 1990. MG2 further evolved the stealth action from the first one. This time players had more options of gameplay. Snake could crouch, crawl into hidden places, use radar to see enemies and distract guards by knocking on different surfaces. Kojima took a break from the Metal Gear series and created numerous other games in the 1990's. It wasn't until 1998 that he made his triumphant return on Sony's PlayStation system.

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake released in 1990

In 1998 Kojima became an international icon in the video game industry with the release of Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation. MGS was the next installment from the first two games and featured 3D graphics and voice acting. It also had cinematic cut-scenes and a well developed story line of characters. Two years later in 2000 Metal Gear Solid (also known as Ghost Babel) was released for Game Boy Color and was an alternate sequel to the original Metal Gear. The game was set seven years after Snakes missions in Outer Heaven. It has been hailed as one of the best games for Game Boy Color receiving numerous "10 out of 10" ratings.

Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation & Game Boy Color

Shortly after in 2001 Kojima developed and released Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for the PlayStation 2. The game had amazingly detailed graphics and physics. The storyline was extremal complex and involved themes of manipulation, censorship and even the flaws of democracy. The plot centered around a group of terrorists known as "Sons of Liberty" who seize an offshore clean-up facility. They demanded the death of the President of the United States and threatened to cause environmental disaster by destroying the facility they captured. Playing as Snake, gamers had to infiltrate the facility and stop the terrorists. The characters were also very detailed and featured the series newest protagonist Raiden and antagonist Vamp. A year later in 2002 Kojima produced and directed Metal Gear Solid: Substance. Substance was a multi-platform (Xbox & PC) updated version of MGS2:SOL. It featured new game alterations including extra levels and 300 virtual reality training missions. Some missions were even in first-person shooter mode.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty & Substance

A few years later in 2004 Kojima returned to Nintendo and produced Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for Gamecube. It was a remake of the first MGS game on PlayStation. Then in November Kojima released Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for the PlayStation 2. Unlike the other games in the Meal Gear franchise, Snake Eater was set during 1964 in a Russian forrest, focusing on camouflaging and wilderness survival. The game's main protagonist Naked Snake attempts to rescue a weapons designer and destroy a super weapon in the making. Snake Eater was still all about stealth infiltration and featured comic relief humor. A year later in 2005 Metal Gear Solid 3: Substance was also released for PlayStation 2. Following the similar pattern of MGS 2: Substance it was an updated version. This time around Substance 3 featured an online multiplayer with tournament style game modes. Along with these titles, Hideo Kojima also created his own game development company named Kojima Productions to focus solely on creating games.

Twin Snakes, Snake Eater & Substance 3

Along with the platform games released in 2004 and 2005 Kojima produced Metal Gear Acid and Metal Gear Acid 2 for the PSP. These games didn't follow the typical Metal Gear style games, but were a turn based collectible card game. "Acid" stands for Active Command Intelligence Duel. Needless to say fans of the series weren't happy with the games and neither were the critics. They both received mediocre ratings and are the only card games in the Metal Gear franchise (thank goodness). A year later in 2006 the Metal Gear series was re-born on the PSP when Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops was released. Kojima wrote, and was the executive producer of the game. Portable Ops is set in 1970 in South America, six years after Snake Eater. Snakes former team FOX unit goes rogue and tries to kill Snake. The game has tons of action and an even more impressive story. In the end, Snake meets up with some of his former comrads and together they manage to defeat the top members of FOX unit. Like many Metal Gear games before, an online version of the game was released in 2007 called Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus.

Acid 1 & 2, Portable Ops & Plus, along with Kojima Productions Logo

2008 gave us arguable the most impressive Metal Gear game of all time. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (written, produced and directed by Kojima) received numerous perfect scores and "Game of the Year" awards. It has been hailed as Kojimas greatest game, being called technically flawless. Some even claim it is one of the best, if not the best game in our generation. Guns of the Patriots is set in 2014. The worlds economy is dependent on war fought by PMC's (private military companies). These soldiers are equipped with nanomachines to enhance their performance on the battlefield. The network that controls these nanomachines is called the Sons of the Patriots, and the games antagonist Liquid Ocelot is planning to hijack the entire system. It's up to (an aged) Snake to stop him. MGS 4 also has an online multiplayer with games modes such as deathmatch, stealth deathmatch and team deathmatch to name a few.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

The latest two games Kojima has been working on are Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (see our preview) for the PSP, and Metal Gear Solid: Rising for PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows. Peace Walker lets players commands once again, Naked Snake as you and the Soldiers Without Borders investigate a mysterious military force loaded with a bomb called Peace Walker. The game takes place in 1974 in the defenseless nation of Costa Rica. MGS: Rising is the first game in the series where gamers will play as Raiden. He appears in his cyborg-ninja state similar to what he looked like in MGS 4. As of today no details of the plot have been released. Knowing Kojimas previous work, it's safe to say this game will be incredible.

Peace Walker and Raiden in Metal Gear Solid: Rising

In the game industry the Metal Gear franchise is timeless. Kojima has created such an immersive and in-depth story for gamers to enjoy forever. Snake is an icon and he'll always be remembered as the face of Konami and the PlayStation consoles. Everything from the stealth and tactical style approach, to the comic relief. Metal Gear games have evolved over the years, yet still seem to capture our hearts over and over again. Konami should always remember that they are forever in debt to Hideo Kojima for everything he has done for the them. I just can't wait to see what Hideo has planned for us in the future.

Questions? Comments? Let us know on our twitter

or e-mail me at Keith33Morris

-KM