Today's game on display from our physical collection is Metal Gear Rising for the PlayStation 3!
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was a very unique entry in the overall Metal Gear series. Originally announced as Metal Gear Solid: Rising, it was rebranded as its own subseries after development shifted over to PlatinumGames—a studio well known for its high-octane action titles. Focusing on Metal Gear Solid 2's Raiden following his transformation into a cyborg in Metal Gear Solid 4, the game featured over-the-top gameplay alongside a unique free-cutting mechanic that allowed players to precision-aim his sword to "cut anything." Although it was a major departure from the stealth-oriented gameplay of the main series, the title was simply a wild ride from beginning to end while providing answers to questions left behind by 4's ending.
Launch Day and Country Roads
While the title is a personal favorite of mine, my best memory surrounding it comes from launch day. My friend Ryan and I had preordered Rising back during its initial reveal as Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and after such a long wait, we met up at GameStop to pick up our copies together. As we left the store excited to rush home and play, Ryan reached for his car keys and realized something—he had locked them inside his vehicle.
So, rather than spending the morning playing like we had both hoped, I found myself driving out of town down narrow country roads, dodging fallen trees in the woods, and trying to avoid bottoming out my car just to grab his spare set of keys from his house. He hadn't lived there long at that point, and it was actually my first time ever driving out to his place! Thankfully, the trip back was a bit easier, but I'll never forget how nervous I was behind the wheel. Looking back now, though, it's a great memory.
A Lasting Favorite and a Special Gift
I still love Metal Gear Rising to this day and hold out hope that we will receive a remaster of some sort. At Ryan's wedding, he actually gave me the Raiden Plasma Lamp as a groomsmen gift. We had missed out on the Collector's Edition that originally included it back in the day, but now it sits on my dresser as a constant reminder of one of our favorite games and the years we've spent as best friends.
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