Kind of embarrassing that you posted that, really.
(MGS SERIES SPOILERS)
Story: 2 > 1 > 3 > 4
Theme/Moral: 1 > 2 > 4 > 3
Gameplay: 2 > 4 > 1 = 3
Boss Fights: 1 > 4 > 3 > 2
Characters: 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
Ending: 3 > 2 > 1 = 4
The only thing MGS3 has a lead on the rest of the series its ending. A perftectly designed ending. Im also tempted to put 4 ahead of 3 in characters. I decided not to because MGS4's characters were mostly just thrown in there for fan service. Aside from naomi, not much character development existed in MGS4. So i decided 3 > 4 there.
Overall gameplay, 2 and 4 take the cake. The only thing MGS2 does bad is boss fights. The only memorable one is raiden vs a bunch of metal gears.
Story, 1 and 2 kill 3 and 4. The way MGS2 begins with its tanker mission is the best 2ish hours in the whole series. MGS1's story also has a great start, and shadow moses is the best location in the series.
MGS1 and 2 also have a much better theme. MGS3's "the era you grow up in defines who you are" isn't examined as much as one might think in stories, so it gets creativity points there. But MGS3 didn't expand on its theme nearly as much as MGS1's "nature/nurture" debate and MGS2's "memetic engineering" debate.
MGS4's theme of "perception and sense" is prominent throughout the game, from Snake's attempt to understand Naomi's intentions to the misguided attempt of Zero to follow The Boss's will. You also see it in the character of liquid ocelot. Yes, it turns out it was ocelot all along. But if the whole world perceived him to be liquid snake, what is stopping us from saying it was liquid snake? Another great theme examined.
I have never seen a really good argument for why MGS3 is the best one in the series. I guess it is the most easy to follow, so it gets some points for being the most straight forward of the 4. Which can be a good thing (it can be bad also). I just feel that people should play MGS for a complex, questioning storyline. Its why i dont understand the people who still say "OMG, is MGS a game or a movie??". One shouldve known what MGS is about by the 2nd one at the latest.
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Pride. Passion. Excellence. Metal_DK
Currently playing: Sengoku Rance, Starcraft II