Platinum makes the best action titles in the industry, but their narratives occasionally leave something to be desired. Meanwhile, Kojima Productions found themselves unable to complete a hack ‘n’ slash Metal Gear spin-off, despite the talents of gaming’s bravest storyteller. But this isn’t a tale of one company saving the other’s failed project. This is a serendipitous fusion of two complementary halves that fit together so well that it’s hard to imagine this wasn’t the plan all along.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance isn’t just good–it’s inspired.

Set after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Revengeance sees the cyborg ninja Raiden in the employ of Maverick Security Consulting, a private military contractor meant to maintain stability and balance through deterrence. All of this changes with the emergence of Desperado Enforcement, a PMC that forces our anti-hero into a quest for both revenge and vengeance (apparently). The plot makes numerous references to Metal Gear lore, but it doesn’t demand prior knowledge. The economical pacing and engaging expository dialogue are perhaps the smoothest yet seen in a Hideo Kojima joint–the gameplay to cutscene ratio has been miraculously restored to a sane level from the bloated excess of the Raiden’s last outing.

As usual, Kojima-san takes the opportunity to tackle heady subjects far beyond the normal boundaries of his chosen genre. Revengeance touches on transhumanism, cultural memetics, American foreign policy, child soldiers, personal freedom, the economics of war, and much more. Of particular note is the way the game handles violence. On one hand, it revels in the blood and gore caused by the player character, also known Jack the Ripper. On the other hand, the software seems keenly aware of its apparent hypocrisy and takes time to address the issue. The experience doesn’t lose its sense of fun as a result, but it does throw a thought-provoking spanner in the works of your expectations.

Saving the world, one limb at a time.

What makes the social commentary of Metal Gear work is that it doesn’t feel preachy. The characters launch into philosophical monologues on a regular basis, but they are often met with scorn and derision. The ideas are throw onto the screen for the player’s consideration, before being roundly ridiculed by an opposing viewpoint or a clever observation. Unlike more heavy-handed approaches in recent action titles, Revengeance lets players in on its jokes and treats them with a respect for their intelligence.

It also doesn’t hurt that the game is outright hilarious. With a name like “Revengeance,” you have to come into the adventure with certain expectations of ridiculous camp value, and that bar is cleared with flying colors. I won’t spoil any of the glorious highlights for you, but let it be said that I haven’t yelled at my television in elated disbelief this much since I kicked God into the sun in Bayonetta (coincidentally, also a Platinum Games product). The game also continues the Metal Gear Solid legacy of clever sight gags and wordplay, whether it be the ubiquitous cardboard box making a triumphant return or the naming scheme for the villains.

A special shout-out to blade wolf, my new favorite video game dog. (Sorry, Ammy.)

We’ve come to expect this level of excellence from our Metal Gear, but what about the other half of the equation? Revengeance plays much more like a Hideki Kamiya title than anything starring Solid Snake, so don’t waltz into Raiden’s story expecting “tactical espionage action.” Stealth is an option for many encounters, but it’s far from the meat of the experience. You can scout ahead with infrared augmented reality (a.k.a. Predator Vision) and stab foes in the back for an instant incapacitation, but there are far more mandatory combat sequences. With that said, you haven’t lived until you silently stealth-kill three Gekko mechs.

When sword fights do break out, that old Platinum Games brilliance shines through. Raiden is fast and maneuverable, but also an absolutely deadly force of nature. Light and heavy attacks soften up infantry in only a matter of seconds, so that you can dice them up into cubes and extract the electrolytes from their bodies. Yes, the “free slicing” mechanic and Zandatsu technique are the signature gimmicks of the title, as they allow unparallelled freedom in hacking your enemies to bits. The system works exactly as intended, providing a visceral and satisfying climax to nearly every fight. The game rarely requires the player to perform precision cuts, although it does reward you with health, energy, and BP for executing specific dismemberment.

Which button starts a security drone orgy?

BP is the currency of the game, and can be exchanged for new techniques, sub-weapons, and augmentations to health and damage output. This provides an incentive for efficient swordplay, while allowing for some freedom in play-style. This is made exponentially more gratifying by the addition of secondary weapons which are actually useful, unlike the majority of “stylish action” titles, wherein your default, signature death dealer is more than enough to get you to the credits.

However, it is essential to note that Revengeance is neither an exercise in combo memorization nor a tech demo for the impressive “free slicing” system. In fact, you will quickly learn that Platinum has crafted the entire fighting system to revolve around timing, reflexes, and observation. The key to almost every battle is the parry maneuver. By anticipating your enemy’s next blow, you must deflect and counter-attack to inflict any real damage. If you fail to master this technique you will be murdered quickly, brutally, and often.