Metal Gear Solid: Integral cover art

Metal Gear Solid: Integral

A pioneering stealth-action game about infiltration and outsmarting scripted guards.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION4 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION6 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    4/10

    stealth timing and precise item use

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    scripted guard patterns, no adaptation

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    2/10

    some randomized guard behavior

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    6/10

    stealth routing and boss pattern learning

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Hitman: Absolution cover art

Hitman: Absolution

Pure Optimization · stealth action

E
R
V
O
Hitman: Absolution
SuperHot cover art

SuperHot

Practiced Mastery · puzzle FPS

E
R
V
O
SuperHot
Star Wars: Republic Commando cover art

Star Wars: Republic Commando

Practiced Mastery · squad tactical shooter

E
R
V
O
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Manhunt cover art

Manhunt

Practiced Mastery · stealth horror

E
R
V
O
Manhunt
The Saboteur cover art

The Saboteur

Practiced Mastery · open-world action

E
R
V
O
The Saboteur
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified cover art

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Pure Optimization · tactical shooter

E
R
V
O
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Game details

Released
1999
Developer
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
Franchise
Metal Gear
Platforms
PS3, PocketStation, PS1, PSP
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
90/100
ShooterTacticalAdventureActionStealth