Helping a newbie play MG/MGS

[DoctorObviously]

The only game in the series I have ever played was MGS4 and, while I hear many people dislike it, I actually really like it. As in, I LOVED MGS4 when it came out, and I still do. So now I thought was the time to delve into the saga to truly experience what many people claim is the best video game franchise of all time.

What game should I begin with?
In what order should I play the games?
How should I play them (stealth, action-y)?
Is there a list on the internet with a short summary / timeline of the plot of all MG/MGS games?
On a side note: is it the "Metal Gear" or the "Metal Gear Solid" franchise? There are two NES games called Metal Gear, right? Or are they spin-offs?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Play MGS3 first as it's the best one, and is the earliest game in the timeline, then play ground zero/MGS5, and if you're not tired of by MGS by then play 1 and 2.

Basically this is the timeline and I'd recommend sticking to it:

Feel free to skip Portable Ops and Peace Walker. You can get a synopsis of Peace Walker in MGS Ground Zeros.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'd say play them in order of release, it makes the transition from game to game much more pleasant. So, start with MGS1, then 2, and finally 3. If you get the HD collection it'll have both the very first two Metal Gear games as well, if you actually feel like playing those.

How should I play them (stealth, action-y)?

If you try to play them actiony, you're in for a rough-ass time. They're stealth games, because the action gameplay typically sucks. MGS5 finally changed all that, but then that game started sucking in nearly every other area.

 

[Zontar]

Having been going through the prosses of playing them all in order of release, my suggestion is that unless you want to play the old 16 bit versions it's best to start with Metal Gear Solid then go to MGS2, then MGS3. The plot is much easier to follow that way and it also allows the games to become progressively better mechanically. Peace Walker after MGS3 is debatable since some love it, and some hate it. You can pretty much ignore Metal Gear 1 and 2 to be frank, they're pretty light on plot.

Something of note if you can buy ALL metal gear games on the PS3. There's the Metal Gear Legacy [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTZELMY?keywords=metal%20gear%20legacy&qid=1445831102&ref_=sr_1_1&s=videogames&sr=1-1] collection which comes with Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, 3, 4, Peace Walker and VR Missions, as well as the videos Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel and some versions come with the Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy booklet as well. Only games it's missing from the franchise is Portable Ops, Metal Gear Rising and the two MGS5's. I highly recommend it.

 

[Rabish Bini]

Release order from when it became 'Solid'. So, MGS > MGS2 > MGS3 > MGS4 > Peace Walker > Ground Zeroes/Phantom Pain

If you play the original Metal Gear games, make sure to play the MSX2 versions (included with HD collection/Legacy collection), not the NES ones as they are not canon and are inferior.

Also, I would advise against skipping Peace Walker, Portable Ops go right ahead though. Rising also not necessary and is very different, but still a fun playthrough.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Feel free to skip Portable Ops and Peace Walker. You can get a synopsis of Peace Walker in MGS Ground Zeros.

Portable Ops really isn't important, but I really dispute skipping Peace Walker. From what I heard, it's more important to the rest of the series than The Phantom Pain.

It is important to the series but it's one of the games with the worst gameplay (most of the levels are really small because it was a PSP game that was later released on the PS3) which is why I said to skip it and get a synopsis from Ground Zeros. Ground Zeros has a pretty detailed multi-page synopsis for the game since it's pretty critical to knowing a bunch of the characters in Phantom Pain but most people did not play Peace Walker.

 

[DoctorObviously]

Great responses from everybody! Thanks!

Post.

Another thing I wanted to ask, I forgot to mention that I played Metal Gear Rising. And, I heard it's place in the timeline is after MGS4, but I'm not really sure if it's canon or not. Is Metal Gear Solid 5 really as bad as people say?

 

[Zontar]

Another thing I wanted to ask, I forgot to mention that I played Metal Gear Rising. And, I heard it's place in the timeline is after MGS4, but I'm not really sure if it's canon or not. Is Metal Gear Solid 5 really as bad as people say?

Metal Gear Rising is canon, but it was made by a different developer and only had Kojima be an adviser instead of heading the project, and it does take place after MGS4.

As for Metal Gear Solid 5, it's a game that is great from a mechanical point of view, but incredibly repetitive even by Metal Gear standards and has by far the weakest and worst story of any of the "Solid" titles. It's a solid 7 our of 10 in a franchise of 9s and 10s.

 

[Briantb]

Great responses from everybody! Thanks!

Post.

Another thing I wanted to ask, I forgot to mention that I played Metal Gear Rising. And, I heard it's place in the timeline is after MGS4, but I'm not really sure if it's canon or not. Is Metal Gear Solid 5 really as bad as people say?

There some real story issues but the gameplay is pretty good and the Online FOB is pretty much bs half the time but beyond that I spent a little over 100hrs playing and still have another 10-20hrs of gameplay if I only focus on clearing everything.

 

[Benpasko]

Feel free to skip Portable Ops and Peace Walker. You can get a synopsis of Peace Walker in MGS Ground Zeros.

Portable Ops really isn't important, but I really dispute skipping Peace Walker. From what I heard, it's more important to the rest of the series than The Phantom Pain.

It is important to the series but it's one of the games with the worst gameplay (most of the levels are really small because it was a PSP game that was later released on the PS3) which is why I said to skip it and get a synopsis from Ground Zeros. Ground Zeros has a pretty detailed multi-page synopsis for the game since it's pretty critical to knowing a bunch of the characters in Phantom Pain but most people did not play Peace Walker.

To add onto this, Peace Walker is basically a Monster Hunter game. If you like that game structure, it won't be a problem. I know I certainly don't, and the jank-ass PSP controls didn't help.

 

[Lightspeaker]

I'd say play them in order of release, it makes the transition from game to game much more pleasant. So, start with MGS1, then 2, and finally 3. If you get the HD collection it'll have both the very first two Metal Gear games as well, if you actually feel like playing those.

How should I play them (stealth, action-y)?

If you try to play them actiony, you're in for a rough-ass time. They're stealth games, because the action gameplay typically sucks. MGS5 finally changed all that, but then that game started sucking in nearly every other area.

I agree with the order of release as opposed to chronologically. Mainly because although chronologically would SEEM to be the obvious way to work through the story in truth I feel it actually builds up a lot more cleanly if you do it in order of release, adding layers and layers to the story.

Feel free to skip Portable Ops and Peace Walker. You can get a synopsis of Peace Walker in MGS Ground Zeros.

Portable Ops really isn't important, but I really dispute skipping Peace Walker. From what I heard, it's more important to the rest of the series than The Phantom Pain.

I own Peace Walker but found it damn near unplayable for some reason.

You can pretty easily get away with just watching the entire thing in movie form on youtube. There's a channel with every single Metal Gear game edited into a movie form. Here's Peace Walker:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cy7E76mBL0

 

[elvor0]

Feel free to skip Portable Ops and Peace Walker. You can get a synopsis of Peace Walker in MGS Ground Zeros.

I liked Peace Walker Level based gameplay sure, but still felt very Metal Gear within those levels. Cutscenes are gorgeous and I feel the story was very enjoyable, and for Big Boss, pivotal. I very much do NOT feel the synopsis in Ground Zeroes/PP does PW any justice. It's not just the events, but the character moments that will count, and you will miss through the very fact based synopsis.

 

[Rabish Bini]

Great responses from everybody! Thanks!

Post.

Another thing I wanted to ask, I forgot to mention that I played Metal Gear Rising. And, I heard it's place in the timeline is after MGS4, but I'm not really sure if it's canon or not. Is Metal Gear Solid 5 really as bad as people say?

Keep in mind Rising is a hack 'n' slash done by a different company, not even close to similar to any of the others.

Always play stealth, never action.

As for MGSV, mechanically, it's near flawless, and the best in the series. Everything works so well. However, it's probably the weakest in the series for me, and despite plowing so many hours into it, it feels so disappointing. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I recommend it over the others? No, except for maybe 4.
And don't listen to others, Peace Walker is excellent.