Raiden carves his own niche into the legacy with Platinum Games' action tour-de-force.
When you think Metal Gear, you usually think of Solid Snake or Big Boss, sneaking around and doing their dirty business without raising that much attention. However, that isn't the case with Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. This game is all about taking Raiden, originally introduced in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and creating all sorts of havoc, whether it's cutting an enemy walker down to size or turning groups of soldiers into sashimi. While that may turn off those of you dedicated to everything Metal Gear Solid, everyone else will want to embrace this action opus with open arms. That is, if they don't get cut off first.
The story doesn’t make much sense in the Metal Gear lexicon, but it works for what it is. Raiden finds himself working for a tactical team as a mercenary, facing off against a rival group of equally-powered soldiers while attempting to rescue a few children. It really just sets the stage for the action, so don't give it too much of a second thought.
Do, however, make the action your focus, because this is the specialty of the game's developer, Platinum Games. This is the same team that polished the likes of Vanquish, Bayonetta and Anarchy Reigns to sheer blood-soaked perfection, and Metal Gear Rising Revengeance manages to stand right alongside them with a red-covered smirk on its face. It's a thrill ride, packed with the kind of ridiculous combo-building and precision cutting that'll make you feel like a bad-ass in a few seconds time.
The gameplay is comprised of heavy swordplay and occasional deflection of enemy attacks, while also incorporating new weaponry that's picked up over the course of the game by defeating bosses. The tactical sai are cool for grabbing enemies or rising to their level to defeat them (similar to the angel and demon abilities in DMC: Devil May Cry), but the pincer blades do some MAJOR damage, as you can cut most baddies down with one or two swoops. The best bet, however, is the pole, which you can chain together into some ridiculous combos with your plasma blade.
