Get Ready to Experience Metal Gear Solid in a Brand New Way (Review)

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Starting as a franchise in 1987, Metal Gear gained significant prominence with the release of Metal Gear Solid in the same year. This game has remained one of the all-time greats for over 27 years since then. Since then, the franchise has ventured into various directions, but the original experience continues to captivate many fans. CMON and Asmodee have brought this same energy and legacy to the tabletop world with Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game. Recreating that magic was no small feat, but they’ve somehow managed it despite a few hiccups along the way.

Team Effort

The board game titled “Metal Gear Solid” offers a completely cooperative play style, enabling up to four players to assume command of the game’s renowned characters and navigate through the storyline of the original video game. To describe it as thematic might be an understatement, given that the game mechanics, miniatures, and narrative seem directly inspired by the source material. This extends to the quick start rulebook, which is written in a dialogue style reminiscent of Codec conversations during missions.

The distinctive traits of the Metal Gear series are also reflected in the day-to-day gameplay, ensuring a distinct and genuine experience tailored to your chosen character. You can pick from characters such as Snake, Meryl, Otacon, or Gray Fox, each with their unique playstyle, skill set, and Focus Token options that offer various strategies for completing missions.

A snake exhibits all the qualities you’d associate with a versatile soldier, boasting strong defense and health, as well as two skills that favor solitary and stealthy strategies. It also has the unique ability to disguise itself in a cardboard box when needed, complete with a miniature version. The snake must gather any equipment or items en route, while other characters begin with some additional resources.

Meryl equips a Light Assault Rifle for added power, but her most notable feature is her knack for disguise. By employing an action token, she can assume a guard’s identity (provided they are either deceased or stunned and she hasn’t been noticed). This cloaking ability lets her traverse areas undetected by guards, enabling her to reach objectives more swiftly. Moreover, one of Meryl’s Focus Tokens enables her to perform an extra action during a turn.

In a more relaxed rephrasing: Gray Fox outshines others when it comes to initial gear, sporting Stealth Camouflage, a High-Frequency Blade, and an Arm Cannon right from the start. To add to his speed and agility, he carries a unique Focus Token that lets him dash twice as far in a single move, effectively covering 4 spaces at once. In combat, Gray Fox truly shows his might, standing out among even formidable opponents like Snake.

In addition to the other three team members, Otacon stands out distinctively due to his unique abilities. Unlike his peers who excel in combat, Otacon relies more on his technical skills, particularly hacking. He’s the one who can access and manipulate terminals, and he has a special talent that allows him to re-roll other characters’ disadvantageous dice rolls. However, unlike the rest of the team, Otacon is unable to wield weapons. This trade-off makes him intriguing, but it also adds an element of excitement as his ability to hack into systems proves useful not only practically but also from a gaming perspective.

Stealth is the Priority

With Metal Gear Solid, as one might expect, having Gray Fox along doesn’t change the game’s emphasis on stealth and avoidance to progress through levels. Although players have the option to subdue or eliminate guards during gameplay, keep in mind that the enemy phase can reawaken them, summon reinforcements, or both depending on the circumstances. This implies that while you could opt for a shootout, it’s usually more hassle than it’s worth.

Instead of moving straight ahead without pause, you’ll often have to choose when to advance stealthily while making some noise, all the while considering if shooting an un-silenced pistol at a guard is the best option. You’ll be moving through dynamic guard patrol routes and adjusting to changing camera positions as you approach your goals. If you’re seen or make enough noise, there are two levels of alertness you’ll have to manage: one where guards investigate the source of the disturbance (represented by the Attention Token being on its Investigate side), and another where they focus entirely on you if they spot you directly or hear a loud action (causing you to flip the Attention Token to its Alert side). There’s no actual alert sound in the game, but it’s such a common aspect that you likely don’t need it.

In essence, this game is designed for teamwork, which means there are other crucial decisions to be made while progressing through each situation. Should you split up to tackle all goals or stay united and focus on the primary objective to advance in the storyline? Extra objectives can be found in many stages, and they usually provide extra weapons and items that will ease your missions later on, but you are free to ignore them if desired. The game offers an option to take on VR Missions just like in the original version, and successfully completing these can unlock weapons and items beneficial for the main campaign.

Boss Fights to Remember

As someone who’s played Metal Gear Solid, you know that the game’s legendary showdowns with its signature bosses leave a lasting impression. Fortunately, these encounters are included too, adding a thrilling twist to the gameplay and providing a refreshing break from the usual stealth-centric missions. For example, Revolver Ocelot can deflect shots off surfaces and doesn’t need a direct line of sight, and there are also explosives to handle during our battle.

In one early skirmish, Raven engages in a tank standoff outside, and you must throw grenades to crack it open. The game introduces an element of randomness and unpredictability by using dice rolls to determine where the grenade lands on the tank or if it misses entirely. Sniper Wolf, Psycho Mantis, Liquid Snake, and Metal Gear REX are all involved in this confrontation.

Final Thoughts

As a dedicated gamer diving into Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game, it’s like stepping back into my favorite video game world. This board game masterfully translates the gripping narrative of the original game between scenarios and via the Codecs. The miniatures are stunningly crafted, with artwork that perfectly mirrors the games’ distinctive style. Each character is distinct and playing them feels incredibly rewarding. The boss battles do an impressive job of re-creating some of the most iconic moments from the game. To truly immerse yourself in this authentic experience, you can play the original cutscenes alongside your journey through the story, a tip I picked up from watching PaulRollsDice, and trust me, it makes a significant difference!

My overall encounter was generally favorable, but occasionally encountered some snags. Much like exploring the realm of comic books, every board game can be a beginner’s adventure, especially with an IP that is widely recognized. Those diving in for the first time without anyone else at hand who has played it before might find it challenging to understand the distinct phases of Attention and the overall concept of line of sight.

The game presents numerous challenges by introducing reinforcements, terminals, cameras, and traps. Initially, you may need to learn quickly how to adapt when drawing unwanted attention to yourself, but this can also prove useful. However, the first few games could be perplexing as you navigate the rules. Although the rulebook is rich in theme, it requires careful consideration, and at times, it might not provide enough clarity on certain details and how they fit together.

Even with its imperfections, Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game manages to capture the essence and excitement of one of gaming’s greatest titles, and the passion for the franchise is palpable. If you’re a fan of the series, it’s definitely worth your time to give it a spin.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Manufacturer: CMON, Asmodee
Designer: Emerson Matsuuchi
Artwork by: Jose David Lanza Cebrian, Marco Checchetto, Fabio de Castro, Max Duarte, Julia Ferrari, Mathieu Harlaut, Saeed Jalabi, Sebastian Koziner, Kenneth Loh, Henning Ludvigsen, Aragorn Marks, and Francesco Orrù (Artists)

This product is distributed by CMON, Asmodee
The design of the game was crafted by Emerson Matsuuchi
The artwork for this game was created by a team consisting of Jose David Lanza Cebrian, Marco Checchetto, Fabio de Castro, Max Duarte, Julia Ferrari, Mathieu Harlaut, Saeed Jalabi, Sebastian Koziner, Kenneth Loh, Henning Ludvigsen, Aragorn Marks, and Francesco Orrù

Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game is available at game stores and online platforms.

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2025-06-06 02:40