All of this climaxes in what is easily the most thrilling final two hours on the Playstation 2. Gone is the overly convoluted and diluted story from "MGS 2." In its place comes a much more cohesive and deep storyline, arguably more involving than any Tom Clancy novel. Everything is fleshed out during outstanding cinemas, all perfectly directed by the team at Konami. One of the final moments, a clever chase sequence, is the closest we've ever come to a truly interactive movie.

Though the weakest of the three consoles, the Playstation 2 is blasted past its limits graphically in "MGS 3" to catch up with the competition. Each tree is meticulously rendered down to each leaf while the character models actually put on a performance. Reading their faces is no problem. The most visually intensive and impressive scene happens late in the game, during a fight in a field of flowers. From a technical standpoint, this is easily the most graphically amazing sequence this generation has yet to offer.

Though bits and pieces of the classic "Metal Gear" music has been kept, almost the entire soundtrack is brand new. The "Snake Eater" theme mentioned earlier is great, setting the tone and mood the game is going for. It even kicks in during a few cinematics. Voice acting is once again perfect and the use of Dolby Pro-Logic II is the best yet. It can actually help you through the game.

When the final credits roll, "Metal Gear Solid 3" ends up being one of the unforgettable video game experiences of your life. Not only does it break some new ground, it tells a great story while keeping the player completely captivated. Even without the epic qualities that this series usually brings to the table, the surprisingly open-ended gameplay is enough to carry this title to classic status. This is, almost without a doubt, the best game for the Playstation 2 to date.