Atsushi Inaba. To many Western gamers, the name might not be familiar, but his body of work is another matter entirely. While at Capcom, Inaba contributed to the original Devil May Cry, the Phoenix Wright and Viewtiful Joe games, and the brilliant Okami. As Executive Director/Producer at Platinum Games, Inaba oversaw production on Bayonetta, Vanquish, and MadWorld, with Anarchy Reigns on the horizon.
Now Inaba and Platinum Games face their greatest challenge yet: development of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The game's new trailer debuted on last weekend's Spike Video Game Awards to decidedly mixed reactions, and Inaba took to Twitter to address fan concerns.
The Metal Gear series has as long and convoluted a timeline as any games ever have, practically to the point of impenetrability for outsiders. With that long history comes an outspoken, opinionated fan community, and in the wake of the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance trailer, that community's collective opinion can be summed up as, "Whatever that was, it wasn't Metal Gear." Indeed it is not. Metal Gear is about stealth, while Revengeance is all about action.
Fully aware of the perception, Inaba spoke directly to the Metal Gear community via Twitter.
Let me begin.
It seems there are some who wish to imply PlatinumGames was able to achieve what Kojima Productions could not – interviewers among them.
This notion is spurious. Clearly, we have not yet produced any results in the world of Metal Gear.
The artists at Kojima Productions gave their blood, sweat and tears to bring the Metal Gear Saga to life.
The gap is immense. Mr. Kojima tossed his chips on our table, believing we could handle the task. In other words, he took a gamble.
Many seem to think the change from MGSR to MGR altered everything about the game, but this is simply not true.
MGSR’s concept excited us. We have love and respect for it, as we do the character of Raiden and the idea of freely cutting anything apart.
I know reaction to the new trailer is mixed. Yet I also believe our love and respect shines through.
It is my hope that you catch a glimpse of the future in the footage.
In order to achieve that evolution, that future, we at PlatinumGames will continue to fight, shedding our own blood, sweat and tears.
That is all.
The Revengeance trailer -- with its unrelenting, exaggerated action and vast quantities of viscera -- is instantly recognizable as the work of Platinum Games, as it should be. After all, Kojima cancelled Metal Gear Solid: Rising, and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has a new story and a new timeline. Despite the fan outrage, the expansive Metal Gear universe can surely support at least one game that isn't based on stealth. And come on, it's not like Platinum is making a Metal Gear Kart Racer.
In any case, Platinum's game is still months away, and who knows what is left to reveal? Any theories, Ranters?
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is currently in development for PS3 and Xbox 360, scheduled for a Q1 2012 release.
-
Follow me on Twitter @HakenGaken