Metal Gear Solid by Raymond Benson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Metal Gear Solid
Book Review: One of the best book-to-game adaptations ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought that it was one of the best game-to-book adaptations I've ever read. Usually books that are based off of games are awful, but this book was great. I am truly excited for your release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.Book Review: Poor but passable.
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been a fan of the MGS series for a while now, not hard-core, but enough that the games have entertained me, as have many other games.
And like many other games I was delighted to see that Metal Gear Solid had finally, after so many years, received a novelization. I have a habit of picking up novels and short stories written based on the games I've played just to see how they've stacked up to the actual game.
While this is not the worst, it is a far cry from the best.
I don't know a lot about the author save for his claim to fame that he has written several 007 novels that, to the best of my knowledge, are supposedly canon. I've never read them, but if they read anything like MGS, I wouldn't be surprised if they've flopped.
Mr. Benson seemed to think that a direct translation from the game was the best bet, with a little bit of extra thrown in for flavor. The prologue is entirely new material, and ultimately while not needed added some spice. Alas, the rest of the book read more like a rough draft or script of the game, and I felt as though the author just didn't have his heart in the work.
I'm writing this only moments after having finished the book. As much as I want to sing it's praises, I cannot in truth do so. To me, it felt as if the author were only writing this to make an extra buck, rather than even try to deliver an experience on par with playing the game. I realize this is comparing apples and oranges, but by the same token, things could have been handled much better.
Now, I did like that the author tried to add a little more personality to Snake, giving him the occasional action-hero-style one liner, and trying to show a bit more of what occurred on the other end of Snake's communications. Unfortunately the good news ends there, at least for me.
Descriptions of anything in this seemed to amount to throwing in an adjective here and there to make a sentence more complete, or to pad out a portion of the book that runs dry with dialogue. I guess the version of the game that Mr. Benson is familiar with is the original PS1 version that, while fun, was much drier in it's delivery than it's Game Cube reimagining. And yes, the dialogue does run dry, especially toward the end of the novel, in which it seemed almost rushed. It seems word-for-word accurate, but still somehow seems to come across as drab as a computer instruction manual. It's written simply enough that a competent twelve year old could finish this book in half a day which is, I think, a downfall because the story is directed at older readers. Not many twelve year old will be familiar with terms like Spetznaz, or GRU, or be able to truly grasp the political intrigues that twist the plot. Perhaps this wasn't the fault of the author, but the editor. But regardless whomever is to blame, I can't treat this as a true novelization, but rather a piece of marketing material released to increase interest in the latest installment of the MGS series, now that it's available on the PS3.
I think that people not familiar with the story and seeking to familiarize themselves with it, would be better off purchasing a Game Cube or PS1 and playing through the game rather than reading this particular novel, as they will quickly find themselves bored and uninterested. You'll spend more money yes, but you'll get much more satisfaction from it.
Die hard fans of the series may be satisfied with it, but I cannot honestly say that I was. When you write a novelization of a movie or game, I think it should be done in a manner that seeks to exceed the expectations of the reader, not just meet them.
In the end, I give this two stars, and that's because I'm feeling generous. The book wasn't terrible, Mr. Benson, but I suspect it could have been much, much better.
Book Review: Pretty cheesy, but alright
Summary: 4 Stars
This novel is pretty cheesy, but it's alright if you're a serious Metal Gear fan.Book Review: Pretty good book
Summary: 4 Stars
I think this is a pretty good book. I enjoy the action sequences and the story telling. The only thing I hated was how the author turned Snake which is a hardened , quiet , war veteran into a happy go lucky war machine. I would like to see more detail in the environment and characters. Fans of the series would be aware of what things should look like, but some of could use a refreshment. ANYWAYS I enjoyed the book very much. Definitely worth reading more than once. Has a slower start but so does the game and this book follows the game pretty darn close.Book Review: SATISFYING READ
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this book to be very entertaining. As a long time fan and player fo the games, I feel that Benson captured the nature and milieu of the game quite well. He fleshed the characters out well and his descriptive language is top notch.