Confronting Nostalgia in Metal Gear Solid 4

Memory can be a curious thing.

When I first played Metal Gear Solid back in 1998 on the PSOne, there was only one word that came to mind to describe the game - cinematic. Back then, using the word cinematic to describe a game actually meant something. Unlike today, when the term is used to limit the number of a game's frames per second (cinematic aesthetics), sell a game that's lacking in content (cinematic length), and forego complex play in favor of long cut scenes with a few quick time events (cinematic play), back when Metal Gear Solid was released, a cinematic game was one that featured complex narratives with multilayered characters, compelling visuals with interesting use of camera angles, symphonic musical scores performed by orchestras. Certainly, there were hardware limitations - however, a game was not considered cinematic based on hardware specs or visual resolution as much as for the elements outlined above.

Metal Gear Solid was, back then, a cinematic game. It featured a story about a military guerilla in possession of a nuke and a lone super soldier sent on a suicide mission. It featured characters with interesting back stories and personalities, memorable moments, and compelling play. I enjoyed every moment of it, and when I was finished, I put it on the shelf and never went back to it again.

When Metal Gear Solid 2 was released, I was excited. The opening scene in the boat was exciting, and I was looking forward to the game. Then, Kojima made a bait and switch and stuck me with Raiden, whom I didn't like. I placed my memories of the tanker mission in my "fond memories" section of the brain and stopped playing. By the time Metal Geat Solid 3 came out, I had lost interest in the Metal Geat franchise. 

I bought Metal Gear Solid 4 at around 2010, but I left it on the shelf until a few weeks ago. I found it incredibly enjoyable. The first mission in the desert felt odd in the sense that it felt closer to Call of Duty than Metal Gear, but I pressed on. I noticed the references and clever Kojima jokes here and there, and ultimately my memories of Shadow Moses came back. This is where memory comes into play.

In my mind, the cinematic Metal Gear Solid had incredibly detailed visuals just a step down from Metal Gear Solid 4. Consciously, I knew that my memories were wrong. I knew the PSOne couldn't output visuals anywhere near that of the PS 3, but I ignored my consciousness. Then, at one point in Metal Gear Solid 4, the game forced me to play through the opening moments of the PSOne. It was pretty shocking. I didn't remember that the game looked that pixelated. Shortly afterwards, the game had me go through Shadow Moses in PS 3 graphics for Snake's main storyline, and in my memories, that's how the PSOne graphics looked. 

That's all I wanted to share. In my memories, the old game looked as good as the new one. The progress of technology updated my memories and made it better than it actually was. 

I guess nostalgia can be quite a thing.

Nostalgia: Game Remakes vs Game Re Releases

via RGR

Yesterday, Square Enix failed to celebrate the 20th birthday of what many consider to be the company's crowning achievement in videogame storytelling - Final Fantasy VI. I made a note of this to some friends who are game enthusiasts, and a lengthy discussion regarding the current state of JRPGs followed. Comments such as "Square doesn't care for good games anymore" and "Square has redeemed itself with Bravely Default" were tossed around, just as much in jest as in seriousness (we all know it was thanks to Nintendo that the masterpiece that is Bravely Default made it to US shores), until I finally volunteered that whatever else was in Square's plate, they needed to hire the team behind the now cancelled Chrono Resurrection and plan for a release of the game. It was at this point where my dearest friend wrote sarcastically "Sure... Because -yet another- revamp/rework/re-release is exactly what we need."

via opcoder

My friend is clearly against remakes and re-releases. I assented only to partial agreement with her. I explained that while it was true that the last thing the JRPG fan community needs is another re-release of an SNES game with minor modifications, the whole scene would be revitalized by a full remake of some of the old classics. I explained that Chrono Trigger tells one of the more interesting stories found in videogame form, and that if it were re-released with updated assets it would both pander to a demographic in their late 20s and early 30s - those who grew up with these games on the SNES - and expose a younger generation to these classics. I took it even further by saying that Final Fantasy 6, the title which prompted this discussion, should receive a similar treatment. Should we get yet another digital re-release of these games? I think not. I'm not even sure that re-releasing the games with the same assets in HD would be a positive. In fact, I am openly critical of that horrible Final Fantasy 6 iOS "remake" that looks more like a cheaply made flash version of the game. However, I noted, Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger remade in the Crystal Engine (of Final Fantasy XIII fame) with a re-recorded soundtrack by the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra (who have proven themselves magnificent in recreating Final Fantasy music) and a revamped, or perhaps even completely new, battle system would hardly be the same as "just another re-release."

My friend replied with a good point. She said:

"Sorry not to get on your bandwagon, dear - I hate nostalgia. Rather than looking to the classics, I'd keep working towards other stories and concepts. I'll always welcome an HD remastery of an old game, but not -every- classic needs it. Some are fine as they are. Instead, let's learn from them - from the aspects that made them as timeless as they are - and apply that to new adventures."

A second friend, let's call her Chicken Wing (due to her passion for the food labeled as such) agreed. She wrote that:

"I agree. with the current Reboot/remake trend in movies and games, I'd much rather see new, innovative stuff. It's been quite a while since I've sworn loyalty to a franchise since yonder final fantasy games. It'd be nice to see some new stuff that isn't necessarily indie made but still innovative. I'll cite back to The World Ends With You. It was a whole new property that was good and innovative. We need more of it. That being said, I would like legit ports of the classics. I have chrono trigger for the ds and I for one am happy that it exists. I'd rather have a good port and new franchises over the same remade games any day."

via Carly Matthews-Lynch

I began crafting a masterful reply, but it became too extensive (that is "pedantic" for "my rant became too long"), so rather than engaging them in private conversation, I thought I would bring the debate out into the public.