Do you think it's necessary to play MGS 2 & 3 before playing MGS4?

[hotwell]

i got MGS4 a long time ago when it was first launched but never got around to it. I'm wondering if I need to play MGS2 and 3 before starting 4. share with me your experience and give me suggestions plz. thanks guys

[camoor]

My opinion - the plot is nonsensical anyway, so don't worry about it and enjoy the goofiness.

[h3llbring3r]

My opinion - the plot is nonsensical anyway, so don't worry about it and enjoy the goofiness.
Agrees. Enjoy the gameplay, the plot might a well have been written by ADHD monkey scientologists on cocaine.

[zenprime]

Yeah you really don't need to play them.

[metaly]

It's not necessary, but it does make the game a lot more enjoyable since the gameplay in 4 builds upon the previous games, plus you'll catch a lot more of the references. Whatever order you decide to play them in, make sure you do play MGS3 at some point, because it's fantastic.

[johnnypark]

I got into a similar discussion on CAG a few months ago, and the thing that stood out to me was that the controls are greatly improved in MGS4, and it may be hard to go back and play the older games if your 1st exposure to it is #4. I'm trying to play them in order, though I've put off #2 about 1/3 of the way through.

[Dasflikko]

You're doing yourself a dis-service if you don't poke your head around MGS2 and MGS3 before you play 4.

Yeah the plot is ridiculous and nonsensical, but you'll only be enhancing your experience with MGS4 if you play 2 and 3 beforehand.

Besides, both of them are great games in their own right, so it's really a win win proposition to play them all.

[hotwell]

alright, i'm gonna go back to gamestop and return 2 and 3 that i bought last friday. before i got the game, i wanted to play them before playing 4, after i got them, the feeling changed. felt like waste of time. anyone have links to watch the story lines for 2 and 3 so I can maybe still keep up with the game?

[Thongsy]

I think you actually might enjoy 4 more if you don't play the other ones, since half the game is CS that tell you stuff you will already know and adding in plot details. That being said, I enjoyed the previous MGS games much more than Guns of the Patriots, if you're going to go back and play the originals, I recommend you start out with those first since the controls do change and progress as the series goes by.

[gr8asianman]

Seems to be a mixed bag based on the comment, but I played MGS4 without playing 2 or 3 and I thought it was fine. Some knowledge of additional back story would have been nice in a couple sections, but that can be remedied vis the MGS Database.

[thespamofpower]

Its not really that necessary to play 2 and 3, but it is nice to get where they story connects. You could just watch the retrospectives on gametrailers.com and get the gist of the story and you'd be fine.

[stewie75]

I played MGS4 without ever playing 1 second of any of the other MGS' and while I wish I had, it didn't make the game any worse. I loved MGS4.

But like the others are saying, trying to play thru MGS1 was really difficult since I was so used to the buttons on 4, so keep that in mind.

[Methadon]

A lot of people have mixed feelings about 2 & 3. Personally, I thought 2 kinda sucked not to have Snake doing everything, but it was still pretty fun. Part 3 going back in time was kinda meh, but still a fantastic game.

If you're not trying to play them, you'll be fine, but they're fun.

[MSUHitman]

I would say it's pretty necessary to have played 1 and 2 before 4, but you can skip 3. I have still never played 3 and I got through everything with 4 fine. You will want to download the MGS encyclopedia from the PSN (it's only 30 MB) as it gives you all the information from Metal Gear 1, 2, and MGS 1-3. It blacks out any info on MGS 4 until you beat it.

This will give you all the timelines, definitions, and character info you need to fully enjoy the game.

[hotwell]

wow, some very mixed reviews here. i'll definitely get the MGS encyclopedia like MSUhitman mentioned since I returned 2 and 3 today. I literally put in the disc for 2 and 3 but didn't feel like playing two long games before starting on 4. thanks guys for your great suggestions

[coolsteel]

2 could be 100 percent skipped, but a lot of what happened in 3 is referenced in 4 bigtime. Part 4 tries tries hard to fill you in but the emotional impact would just be gone without playing 3 for some stuff.

[Solori]

I agree with everyone who said that MGS4 can stand alone on the strength of its gameplay. Having played the past games will give you bonus enjoyment, but it is not essential. (Actually, it has been so long since I played 1 and 2 that I missed some of the references that I should have got because I don't have a perfect memory of those games).

Also, IMO MGS3 would be the most essential game to play to understand the plot of MGS4. As a bonus, MGS3 is equal in greatness to MGS4 gameplay wise and MGS3 does a better job story wise, so you will definitely not be wasting you time if you go back and play it.

A note about the encyclopedia-- it is lots of text. Its not a very fun way to learn about the past games. Too bad you returned 2 already, you should have popped it in and read the summary of 1 that it contains -- its pretty thorough, and even though it is just text it isn't as dry of a read as the encyclopedia.

[ctrek3]

mgs 3 ended up being my personal favorite so i am biased, but i think you should play them just to get the most out of 4. best to worst imho 3,1,4,2. not that i thought 4 or 2 were bad, just not as good as 3 or 1.

[Nobi-Wan]

MGS3 is my personal favorite, too. Playing as Big Boss is just awesome and is by far my favorite MGS character in the series. The backstory (and beginning of the Big Boss legend) is essential to the series. You also see the history and beginning of the main protagonist and antagonists for the game. The only viable characters that make a return from MGS2 are Vamp and Raiden. I would play a bit of MGS1 and all of MGS3 for what you need.

I loved MGS4 but the impact of some of the scenes were SO much better after playing MGS3.

Of course this is all my opinion, though.

[kennistond]

It is not.

I played only about 3 hours of MGS2 and none of MGS3 but I loved every second of MGS4.

While I didn't understand somethings, I watched all the cut scenes so I could learn.

Amazing game.

[DrFoo]

I'd say definitely play the previous ones first. If you play 4 first, it will ruin the plot of the first 3 games and there will be tons of shit you don't understand. The plot might be ridiculous, but it still makes a lot of sense and I enjoyed all the twists in each of the games. And of course they are all great games.

[Nobi-Wan]

All I can say is that the scene after the credits is going to have a LOT more meaning if you at least play MGS3.

[Ahadi]

I think you should. In my opinion it creates more ties to the characters and you feel much more connected with them.

[zewone]

Of course.

[Snake2715]

If 1 is unplayable grab Twin Snakes on the Gamecube/wii and check that out.

[Methadon]

If 1 is unplayable grab Twin Snakes on the Gamecube/wii and check that out.

There's something about the Twin Snakes game, but I can't remember. I think it's supposed to be the same as MGS1, more polished in some ways and more sloppy in others. Is that about right? I've still got my cube; wondering if I should seek that one out.

[Nobi-Wan]

There's something about the Twin Snakes game, but I can't remember. I think it's supposed to be the same as MGS1, more polished in some ways and more sloppy in others. Is that about right? I've still got my cube; wondering if I should seek that one out.
It's definitely worth playing. It's a lot of fun and I feel like the updated graphics make it fit more with the newer games.
The main issue that I believe people have with it is that the cutscenes are a little too "Matrix-ey" when certain characters kick-flip off a missile and dodge bullets a bit like Neo. Personally, I think it's fun and still feels like it's in the spirit of MGS. I mean, MGS4 has guys that heal super quick after getting shot in the head or impaled by a katana and then jump 30 feet straight up in the air so I don't see what the big deal is.

[Sinistar]

I never played MGS2 or 3. on MSG1 I played all the way through to the part where you get kidnapped and had to button mash to escape, which I was never able to, so I gave up on the game.

Having said that, I'm enjoying #4 and I try to follow the cutscenes as best as i Can (I just started Act 3).
Oh and I did load the MGS database, but I really didn't understand how it works, lol. what parts to I read to get me up to speed on the storyline?

Also, is Metal Gear Online still popular? I don't plan on playing MP until I beat SP.

[Furashu]

if u enjoy the storyline, then yes play mgs1,2n 3!

[m_d_amore]

do you have to play all versions of 2 and 3?