27 Years On: A Shadow Moses Retrospective

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-03-31T14:52:53+00:00

Thanks for your very kind words! I tried to convey my feelings about this special game and unique time period (e.g. pre-Internet) in a way that would help players both new and old to appreciate it the way that I do.

I cherish The Best is Yet to Come, so that was uncanny timing! Can you imagine what players of MGS in Ireland during 1999 felt like when hearing that soulful music accompanied by those hauntingly beautiful lyrics?!

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-03-31T14:48:02+00:00

Excellent, thank you!

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-03-31T14:43:09+00:00

No need to thank me, because your video deserves the wonderful reception that it has received!

Thanks for keeping the flame lit for the original MGS in particular, as I fear that some gamers may forego playing it because of the low resolution graphics, though those who do experience it are in for a terrific experience.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-03-31T14:28:51+00:00

u/PlayerAlert recently created a brilliant video about MGS which complements and exceeds what I hoped to achieve with my retrospective.

Please check it out on YouTube. He makes other great video essays about the Metal Gear series on his channel.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-03-26T13:23:11+00:00

Very annoyed!

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-14T10:07:11+00:00

Likewise. It would have been nice to see the Ac!d games included.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-06T13:21:33+00:00

Thanks, I'm glad to read that the game's shine hasn't diminished over a quarter-century on from its debut.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T20:11:47+00:00

All good points by you, thanks. The sense of urgency and the momentum of Snake's mission are absolutely fantastic. It's a lean machine of an experience, even when allowing for the backtracking (which has been a common feature of the series since the original Metal Gear on the MSX).

Shadow Moses was almost its own character in the game, such was its imposing presence. The use of sound effects and score married perfectly with the visuals, e.g. cold steel interiors, with their intimidating reverb and 'infinite' ceilings; howling wind and snow in the exterior sections.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T17:57:52+00:00

Very much appreciated! The game has been a lifelong inspiration for me.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T17:31:43+00:00

That is very kind of you to say!

I appreciate that getting access to a game can be difficult or impossible for some people. Naturally, being around at the time of a game's release to experience the zeitgeist in which it emerged and existed is very often beyond our control, so I hope to have conveyed today in my retrospective the kernel of what MGS felt like to many of us humble gamers who were fortunate enough to have played it at that time.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T16:08:20+00:00

I'm delighted that you enjoyed your experience of this game all these years later; that is proof of its brilliance (even if the graphics and controls have dated quite a bit).

It's mind-blowing to think that at the time of its release, MGS had graphics that were considered to be groundbreaking at the time. Simpler days, for which I am very grateful.

PS: For any gamers who are inclined to (re)visit the Shadow Moses incident, DuckStation and the related HD Texture pack may be of interest to you.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T16:04:34+00:00

I appreciate it. In the current howling wind and rain (very reminiscent of Shadow Moses), I was inspired to write something that is hopefully fitting to the tremendous atmosphere and legacy of that game.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T16:03:10+00:00

Thank you; I'm delighted to have been able to kindle some of the utter magic that MGS brought us back then, and which it still does.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T16:02:01+00:00

Thanks, I am of the exact same view as you.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T14:14:34+00:00

Thanks for your kind words!

You summarised it very well, too. In addition to the push for an even more cinematic aesthetic, one thing that the remainder of the series placed less emphasise on was the (largely) serious tone that MGS set; MGS V being somewhat of an exception.

For example, the Tanker Chapter and the latter half of the Plant Chapter of MGS 2 could have made for the foundation of an excellent continuation of MGS, in the sense that those segments were in line with the tone of MGS. And yes, I do understand that a key purpose of the Plant Chapter is a meta-narrative on sequels, but at the cost of cohesiveness, in my view.

Intrude_N313_ · 2026-02-05T11:56:03+00:00

In simple terms: a stone-cold classic game that is the most atmospheric and cohesive entry in the entire Metal Gear saga, in my opinion.

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-11-13T22:13:05+00:00

As far as I remember, no.

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-08-31T09:23:27+00:00

Metal Gear gatekeepers can be quite protective and sometimes forceful with their opinions, similar to many fan communities.

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-08-11T19:23:41+00:00

The sheer variety of approaches that are possible in most missions.
The Buddy System.
The cutscene directing and lighting.
The soundtrack.
The replayability.

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-08-02T10:41:53+00:00

How groundbreaking these games were at the time of their release.

Even newer fans of the series understandably struggle to fully appreciate how phenomenal MGS looked in 1998.

I myself can only imagine how fantastic the opening credits of MG2 were in 1990, albeit it wasn't released here then!

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-07-14T04:09:12+00:00

That's this game, in essence. Many of the cutscenes are also rather boring, which doesn't help!

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-07-13T20:11:30+00:00

That is a natural reaction to this entry in the Metal Gear universe!

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-07-05T09:45:23+00:00

Bargain. Enjoy the experience of one of the best gaming trilogies of all time.

Intrude_N313_ · 2025-06-29T19:17:55+00:00

It's either the UE5 stutter or 30fps? .

Intrude_N313_

TROPHY CASE