A review by readthesparrow
Metal Gear Solid by Raymond Benson
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A terrible novelization that absolutely mangled Solid Snake’s character, though there were some moments of Snake not knowing how to be a normal person that were extremely funny to visualize. The prose was dry and boring and doesn’t fully succeed in making the novel not feel video game-y and just can’t quite capture the absolute what-the-fuckery quintessential to the Metal Gear series. Benson also didn’t choose the ketchup escape route from the cell which greatly disappointed me. Also I don’t think Snake said “hrngh” even once. Sad.
The only changes I liked were the handling of the Psycho Mantis boss battle and (some elements of) the ending which combine the two possible endings of MGS1.
Of course, I a hated every single part of SnakexMeryl (he is 32 and she is 19, he directly refers to seeing her as a teenager at least twice, so then getting together is *ew*) but I can’t blame Benson entirely for that particular issue. That nonsense is, sadly, canon.
I also wish that Otacon had been just as important of a character as Meryl had, considering that he is more important in the following game than she is (she doesn’t show up again until MGS4). His character would have been important to develop a little more in this novel.
Honestly, I wish this novelization focused less on the action (especially since Benson isn’t very good at writing it) and more on the plot and characters. Those is what people love about the MGS games, after all (as well as the absolute whole-hearted absurdity, which I was pleased to see Benson did indeed preserve). My favorite parts of the game were the CODEC calls, and most of the conversations were few and far between. Honestly, a good novelization of MGS would be difficult to pull off for anybody, though novels set in the MGS universe covering non-game events could be fantastic.
Do I think that this novel is worth reading for any but the most diehard MGS fans? Not really. Will I read the next novelization? Yeah, eventually. Do I have high hopes for it? No. But I am interested to see how the buckwild twists in that game get handled. Plus I want to see the best buddies Otacon and Snake handshake on paper.
The only changes I liked were the handling of the Psycho Mantis boss battle and (some elements of) the ending which combine the two possible endings of MGS1.
Of course, I a hated every single part of SnakexMeryl (he is 32 and she is 19, he directly refers to seeing her as a teenager at least twice, so then getting together is *ew*) but I can’t blame Benson entirely for that particular issue. That nonsense is, sadly, canon.
I also wish that Otacon had been just as important of a character as Meryl had, considering that he is more important in the following game than she is (she doesn’t show up again until MGS4). His character would have been important to develop a little more in this novel.
Honestly, I wish this novelization focused less on the action (especially since Benson isn’t very good at writing it) and more on the plot and characters. Those is what people love about the MGS games, after all (as well as the absolute whole-hearted absurdity, which I was pleased to see Benson did indeed preserve). My favorite parts of the game were the CODEC calls, and most of the conversations were few and far between. Honestly, a good novelization of MGS would be difficult to pull off for anybody, though novels set in the MGS universe covering non-game events could be fantastic.
Do I think that this novel is worth reading for any but the most diehard MGS fans? Not really. Will I read the next novelization? Yeah, eventually. Do I have high hopes for it? No. But I am interested to see how the buckwild twists in that game get handled. Plus I want to see the best buddies Otacon and Snake handshake on paper.