Kojima’s Next Game – Not “Tornado Outbreak”

The time has once again run out on Hideo Kojima’s countdown.  The storm that has been depicted through every update of the countdown persists and is ever-more severe, but now amidst the flashes of lightning is the face of an aging Big Boss.  Looks like the Metal Gear franchise isn’t dead just yet.  This time the countdown is set to run out as E3 begins, so presumably we’ll find out the details in about 5 days.

Hideo Kojima’s next game – Tornado Outbreak?

Hideo Kojima’s “Kojima Productions” is best known for cranking out highly-acclaimed titles in the Metal Gear Solid franchise – most recently my game of the year for 2008, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.  So then, when a teaser website went up for Kojima’s next project a whole lot of buzz was generated in the gaming industry.  The most obvious conclusion is that the Metal Gear Solid franchise had not concluded despite the finality of MGS4, but the latest developments might be pointing to an entirely new franchise.

First of all you have to consider the teaser website.  It initially showed a flash video of a field of grass with ominous looking clouds being blown by a stiff wind.  The website was just recently updated though, and now there is the addition of thunder and lightning, as well as a countdown clock.  Another noteworthy addition is the appearance of an “S” or “5″ outline in the video whenever lightning strikes.  Very interesting.

To be honest this website would be pretty vague if not for a possible leak by Gamefly.com.  Gamefly put up a placeholder for a new Playstation 3 game called “Tornado Outbreak” which is being published by Konami, the same publisher who works with Kojima Productions.  The game’s page has no artwork, rating or release date but given the publisher and the title’s link to the themes in the teaser content a lot of folks are assuming that Tornado Outbreak is what we’ll get.

Obviously if this is the case a lot of Metal Gear fans will be pretty disappointed.  Given the overwhelming success derived from Solid Snake’s exploits, why would Kojima stray from his trademark franchise?  Taking into account what we’ve seen, a stormy field animation possibly tied to a game called “Tornado Outbreak,” the concept seems muddled.  Will it be some sort of storm chaser simulation?  What an odd concept.  Still, it could be something entirely different.  The title wouldn’t necessarily depict the content or gameplay, but perhaps the setting.  Some have suggested that it could be a new survival horror IP similar to Silent Hill or Siren, which instead takes place in the midwest during a bout of severe weather.  Add to that the fact that these are all just rumors and here-say, and we find ourselves knee-deep in speculation.

It’s entirely possible that Tornado Outbreak is not Kojima Productions’ next project, and that a new Metal Gear Solid game will be announced.  However, even if that isn’t the case, I trust these guys.  No matter what they decide to do I believe that they’re one of the most forward-thinking Japanese developers who understand and respect Western audiences and development styles, and they never let a game go out the door that hasn’t been polished to a blindingly-bright shine.  Quality is not an issue when Kojima is involved, so no matter what we’ll get a great game out of the deal whether it’s based on a new franchise or not.

You can see the website right here: http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

My 2008 Game of the Year

So this post is coming a little late, but it’s one I think I should touch on because my game varies from a lot of people’s.  Some of the titles that got a lot of attention for GOTY were games like Grand Theft Auto 4, Left 4 Dead, Fallout 3…all amazing games.  Still, there was one HUGE blockbuster that came out a little earlier in the year that I think was unfortunately overlooked.  It’s a game that had been anticipated for years, it was created by arguably the best Japanese developer, and it was most definitely branded as an all-important “system seller.”

I am, of course, talking about Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Playstation 3.  This is a bit of a departure for me because I hadn’t even owned a PS3 until this past year, and my 360 still gets the bulk of my gaming attention.  Still, I can’t hate on a game just because it’s on this platform or that.  MGS4 kept me enthralled all the way through, I loved the story, and it was the only game that came out last year where I took a step back and thought to myself “wow, I’ve never seen anything like this in a game before.”  I play a stupid amount of games, so even at the time to hear myself utter such a phrase was pretty exciting.

It’s really hard to talk about MGS4, a game based on its intricate plot, without spoiling it.  For that reason I’m just going to touch on some of the things that kept me coming back.  First off, the variation between the different acts and the gameplay in each.  In the first act (and even most of the second) you’re pretty much just playing a standard Metal Gear game.  Sneak around the bad guys, take them out stealthily, and progress through the level without being caught.  The ages-old formula is still extremely fun, and it’s nice to start the game with a bit of a callback in order to get your bearings, especially considering the length of time that elapsed between Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and this game.

Each act after that brings a significantly different view on things, while still emphasising the original stealth espionage gameplay.  It’s really hard to discuss it any further but I have to say the payoff for fans in the later acts is very high.  MGS4 let me play through a scenario that I was wishing for ever since I played the original Metal Gear Solid game, and there are even plenty of callbacks that go as far back as Shadow Moses Island from MGS1.  There’s no question that the Metal Gear franchise has a uniquely intricate plot and therefore many gamers questioned Hideo Kojima’s ability to tie up all of the loose ends in what was branded Solid Snake’s last adventure – he succeeded.

So all-in-all MGS4 is an absolutely great game.  There are tons of huge, epic set pieces that made my jaw drop, but the fundamental gameplay is still fun as well.  The graphics are gorgeous, sound design is spot-on, and most importantly the story telling is enthralling.  If you own a Playstation 3 chances are good that you own a copy of MGS4, but just in case you don’t, go out and pick it up.  At the time it seemed as though MGS4 was the reason I owned my PS3, and I can still safely support that argument.  It’s my favorite game on the platform so far, and might end up remaining so throughout the PS3’s life cycle.