Metal Gear Solid

Review

So like most of the books in this series, I've never played Metal Gear Solid. Oh, I saw some of it at friend's houses, and I've been exposed to it via cultural osmosis, but I've never played it. And I don't think the book suffered for it. I think this is the best written of the BFB I've read. That may be a little unfair to the other authors because this is just the funniest book in the series, the Burches are funny and the book has them trading off writing sections and footnotes which works well. The footnotes in the PDF/digital version are unfortunately end notes which makes them much harder to follow. These are not detailed footnotes on history and citations but running gags and jokes that rely on timing. Anyway, the book. I liked it! Going in I knew Metal Gear Solid was a weird game but I think they did a very good job of illustrating the game's contradictions and shortcomings, more than just say "how weird!" And the game is full of contradictions and shortcomings. What makes this book flow is the two points of view, not those of the two authors, but those of time. The child-Burches played MGS and loved it. It was a revelatory experience full of exciting cut scenes, dramatic dialog, and stoic masculinity. The adult-Burches view the game very differently. The mechanics have a lot of flaws. The cut scenes are over-long. The stoic masculinity is not as cool as it seemed at 12. Some reviews here have I think focused unfairly on this book being about MGS being sexist. I don't think that does the discussion justice. Yes, female characters in MGS are kind of shit and the narrative treats them that way. But I think the book, and I have to assume the game, focuses much more on what MGS thinks about masculinity. And that is a weird ball of stoic silence and melodramatic dialog. The book calls out an (in)famous line, "do you believe that love can bloom, even on a battlefield? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9LylmwNdM0)" And I feel like that sums up the game and the book pretty well.

Consumption history1

1. Feb 17, 2016

   Completed★ 5 / 5

   physical