Longtime Metal Gear fans might have been concerned that this spin-off could have been a thin, watery imitation. Within the first ten minutes of gameplay, you battle a modified Metal Gear Ray (!), run down the side of buildings (in an obvious nod to spiritual predecessor Bayonetta), hop over rockets and slice colossal mechs right in half. And that's just the tutorial stage. So don't worry about things being dull. There's no doubt that Raiden makes you feel like a cool, techno-ninja badass right from the start. There's also no arguing that, because of such aforementioned insanity, this has Platinum Games written all over it. While the gameplay mechanics and controls have a great amount of depth, the learning curve and impressive presentation makes you feel like a bona fide gaming wizard before things really hit the fan. It all involves an organisation known as Desperado Enforcement LLC and its association with a cyborg terrorist uprising led by a rather nasty chap called Dolzaev. At the beginning of the game, Desperado's cyborg samurai attack a convoy that Raiden (and the "private security firm" that he is enlisted in, Maverick) is protecting and leaves our hero for dead. So there's bad blood between the two parties, for sure. For anyone who's familiar with Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising's brand of gameplay pacing will not be such an obstacle. But there are many design and control traits that make Raiden's game his very own, and it all comes down to his cybernetic abilities and swordplay. By holding L1 to run, you can automatically hop and slide through intricate areas of a stage, while it also allows you to deflect standard enemy bullets. There are many nods, winks and blatant references to the Metal Gear franchise in Rising. The Codec is still present and correct (and a bit easier to navigate this time too), and VR missions can be discovered throughout the game to tackle at your own pace. There's a fair bit of Metal Gear lore in there too, with references to Legionnaires to name but one spoiler-free example. Even a bizarre sense of humour, worthy of Kojima, is in there - Raiden in a sombrero? You better believe it. Such franchise favourites are fused with Platinum's unique presentation style to create something that's the best of both worlds - a story-led Metal Gear game with the flair and fast-paced action that Platinum is best known for.

Please note this product is Pre-Owned and in good condition and working order.