Remembering PlatinumGame’s Masterpiece, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

I’m glad for hack-and-slash thrillers like Devil May Cry 5 and the latest Bayonetta exist to curb my hunger for this genre, because it’s too bad that the game I’m lovestruck with is getting no modern-day attention from its publisher—Konami. You guessed it. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance came out more than a decade ago on February 19, 2023, launching to great fanfare across the board. 

The thing about Revengeance is: No other title from the same era even begins to come close to what PlatinumGames achieved with the game, which is sheer, unfiltered entertainment, made spectacular with an awesome cast of characters on both the hero and the villain side, with terrific sound design sprinkled on top.

It’s also highly divorced from the rest of the iterations in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, which is something that created a divide in the Metal Gear fan base. I personally think that PlatinumGames did a remarkable job on Revengeance, so despite the fact that it’s not like a regular Metal Gear Solid game, it serves its purpose well and then some as a spin-off.

Here’s how it pulls that off exactly.

Incredible Gameplay That’s Second To None

Metal Gear Rising takes pride in its cutthroat, over-the-top, and, of course, fast-paced combat with Raiden dishing out a thousand different cuts every minute. I will even go ahead and claim that Revengeance has the best combat out of any other game made by Platinum, and for those who are a fan of the developer, you know that’s saying quite a lot.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is one of the most refreshing games I’ve played.
byu/slipperyribs1 inpatientgamers

The gameplay, therefore, is rich on multiple levels and comprises just the right amount of different mechanics to keep every sequence flat-out engaging, though it’s the sheer chaos on different occasions that make Revengeance such a stupid fun game to dip your toes into, even 11 years after its initial release. That’s a promise. 

Gameplay is where this game differs from other MGS games. This game is a beat-’em-up hack-and-slash fest and it is incredible. It’s punchy, satisfying, the controls are tight, and it all feels fantastic. The game makes you heal by slicing your opponents and taking their insides and crushing them for your health. And does it perfectly. The upgrades make you hit harder, get more life, more fuel to slice enemies, new weapons, customization, etc. It’s incredible,” says one u/slipperyribs1 on Reddit.

Another part of the title that I would like to shed light on is the boss fights. These are, in my opinion, the best aspects of what constitutes to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance being a high-quality game. Talk about a no-nonsense, no-frills approach to fighting some of the more powerful foes in the title, and when I say that, I also proudly put my finger on that amazing Jetstream Sam boss fight. 

Everything from the background of the bout and the antagonist itself all the way to the music and Metal Gear Rising’s already-established top-tier combat makes this one of the best boss fights in gaming history. 

But wait, I’m not done talking about the bosses yet. We’ve yet to go over the game’s main villain, and oh buddy, if you haven’t played Revengeance yet, you’re in for a treat just for that boss alone.  

Senator Armstrong Is In A League Of His Own

What looks like a boss in real life sure packs a heavy punch as far as the best villains in video game history go. Senator Armstrong is wildly intimidating, yet goofy in his own ways, and a headstrong type of guy who will stop at nothing to become America’s most powerful political force. He’s spawned a ton of memes, being a worthy source, and is just super full of personality right from the get-go as he’s introduced. 

What Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance taught me about making interesting, engaging villains
byu/AstreiaTales inDMAcademy

Compelling Sound Design

Oh, and don’t get me started about this game’s dynamic sound design. From the very first boss sequence that has you hopping from rocket to rocket while intense music plays in the background right down to Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance’s stellar soundtrack, you’ve got yourself one hell of a package here. Rules of Nature, in specific, is a fan-favorite, coming second to none in terms of sheer thrill and quality. 

Dead Memes Aside, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is One of Platinum’s Best Games
byu/theonewhoblox inpatientgamers

Back in January last year, Raiden’s voice actor, Quinton Flynn, let out a slight tease, making people expect that a new Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance announcement is inbound after all these years. Tragically, that come to nothing, but I genuinely hope Konami looks forward to a remake, or perhaps a re-release of the game on current-gen platforms sometimes down the road. 

It would mean more than the world to millions of fans across the globe, myself included, for what is otherwise extremely deserving of such treatment.