Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence [PS2]

Take one of the greatest single-player titles of all time, and add on a deep, creative multiplayer element. Then push it out the door for the price of a decent steak dinner. This marvel's moniker is Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence -- likely named because your gaming habits could subsist on it exclusively for months.

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is one of the greatest games of this console generation, bar none. If it had one failing, it's that it was overshadowed at release by a few other heavy hitters -- Halo 2 and GTA: San Andreas, for example. Fortunately, Subsistence rewards those poor souls who may have missed it the first time around, while giving die-hard Kojima-philes more than enough reason to drop $30 for another romp with Snake.

The core game from Snake Eater is included in MGS 3: Subsistence, and definitely holds up over a year later. It innovated more on its own than basically all the other titles released in 2004 put together -- and keep in mind that was arguably the industry's best year. With clever camouflage, capture/consumption of flora and fauna, engrossing cutscenes, and some of the greatest boss battles put to disc, it's something every gamer must experience.

Like every Metal Gear before it, MGS 3 does take a while to get into. You need to re-train yourself to stray from the typical guns-blazing, Rambo school of thought. It still can work here -- and the new close-quarter combat system facilitates it -- but the stealthy, sneaky approach is much preferred. You'll hide amid jungle vegetation, sneak under buildings, and sneak up behind your prey.

The main addition in Subsistence is a manual, third-person camera that really helps you watch Snake's back, front, and sides with ease. It sounds minor on paper, but it opens up the series in a whole new way that's sure to draw in new fans and reinvigorate old ones -- along the lines of what Resident Evil 4's over-the-shoulder camera did for that series. Other new hotness includes many more outfit and face options for camouflage; these are superfluous at times, but still enhance play.

The graphics haven't changed, but are still among the best on the PS2. It is a shame that a progressive scan option isn't present, but everything still looks great. The audio is as sharp as ever as well. Basically, the production value's standing hasn't suffered a bit since Snake Eater came out.