Usually, I conclude by telling you what the final verdict of the game is.  This review will be written with the conclusion first, so that readers get the most important information first.  This is easily the best PlayStation game of the year.  If you mix a Tom Clancy novel with a James Bond movie you come close to the quality of this game.  Designers worked feverishly to bring a unique game experience to PlayStation owners, and their feverish effort really shows in every aspect of the game.  Your typical action game has you testing your reflexes with the "fire" button, but in this game you do the exact opposite.   Even though you have a tremendous variety of weapons at your disposal, you try whenever possible to sneak around... avoiding enemy detection using stealth.  To compliment that original idea, Metal Gear Solid designers thought of some ingenious ways for you to navigate.

Gameplay:  Perfect.  There are several training missions that you can practice with so that you can maximize your chances of survival, and get the most out of the game.  Avoiding detection is a sort of a real-time puzzle solving trick that often has several solutions.  You will usually be able to take multiple paths and use different tactics to get missions done.  You even have the ability to lure an enemy to you by knocking the wall with your fist or pistol.  If there is an enemy nearby, he will be alerted to your sound and will try and seek out the source.   You can often use this as an opportunity to sneak by using another path, or, grab the enemy from behind to put into a choke hold.  Enemy soldiers are not the only thing you will have to avoid.  Security cameras are mounted almost everywhere, but you have the ability to fool them by pressing yourself up against the wall and running by when the camera moves and looks the other way.  Even though many of the movement skills are totally original, and seem complicated, they are very easy to pick up and can be mastered quickly.

Plot: The blend of story and action is absolutely perfect and seamless.   Konami has discovered new programming techniques that allow the 3D rendering of the PlayStation to act as the story teller.  All cinematics are fully 3D rendered scenes, and have never before seen effects like motion blur and different variances of focus, as if the a camera was used to film the scene, and chose to focus on a specific object.   There are countless hours of speech through out the game to add to the ambiance of the game.  The game plays like a movie, slowly unveiling the story, and drawing the player further into the game.  I guarantee you that this is not your ordinary game with your average "save the earth" theme.  With so much attention to detail, and such a rich plot, you will want to play this game ASAP.   You play the character "Solid Snake", a formally retired government secret agent that has been recruited to be sent on a solo mission to the icy waters near a secret military installation in Alaska.  You quickly learn that your former military unit of "FOX-HOUND" has a nuclear weapon that they are threatening to use unless the white house complies with all their demands.  There is much more to tell, but do yourself a favor and experience the game for yourself.

Detail:  What didn't Konami include?  Metal Gear Solid supports the "Duel Shock" controller.  When you go up and down elevators, you feel the subtle vibration in the controller.  It is not overdone, but used perfectly to enhance the overall experience of the game.  Tons of different weapons and items (like remote control missiles, night vision equipment, sniper guns, and more!) can be a part of your arsenal to dissect the enemy.The music and sound effects are all top notch, again, adding to the mood of the game.  All of these little details add up to be a flawless game.   Metal Gear Solid was first unveiled at E3 in 1997.  Time and designing patience resulted in a fantastic game.