Have you ever beaten a game years ago only to find yourself unable to beat it today? This phenomenon has only happened to me a few times in my life. I’m currently playing Metal Gear Solid (PSN version) on my PS3. This is a game that I’ve beaten many times before (well, the version I’ve beaten is Twin Snakes, to be honest) and for some reason, on this play through, I am completely stuck on Metal Gear REX. I can beat the first phase of him just fine, but on the 2nd phase when Liquid opens REX’s mouth, I just immediately get my ass handed to me. I have Grey Fox’s unskippable dialogue memorized (you know, the part where he’s begging you to shoot but Snake just refuses to do so, despite your button presses).
I’ve heard that the Twin Snakes version of MGS is easier than the original. Since this is actually my first play through of the original, I had assumed there would be differences and parts that I was unfamiliar with, but it’s kind of ridiculous how many times I have tried and failed to beat REX.
The only other times this has happened before were when I had beaten Starfox 64 and Ocarina of Time when they first came out and then when I replayed them again later (about 6 years after they were released). The battle with Gannon in Ocarina of Time gave me such a massive headache that I swore I’d never play it again. This swear went untrue because I have since played and beaten it two more times. Starfox still gives me trouble though.
Is this weird? Have any of you ever been completely unable to beat a game you had beaten previously in your life (and then subsequently found yourself able to beat it on much later play throughs)?
Also, any tips you have on beating the 2nd phase of REX would be helpful. Here’s what I’m doing: chaff grenades, stun grenades (running while throwing) running at his missiles in hopes that they’ll go over my head, shooting one or two stingers at the cock pit when I can, and lots and lots of rations. I have the body armor equipped almost constantly. I’m playing on Normal difficulty. Is there anything that I’m missing? Am I wasting time with the chaff grenades in the 2nd phase? I have read several walkthroughs because of how aggravating this is, but to no avail.
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I don't recall ever having trouble with him though. What difficulty are you playing on?
AS for games I couldn't beat then came back to, one of the Ratchet and Clank's, I know, shocking, but there was a ridiculously hard boss that was pissing me off. I came back a month later and did it 2nd time round.
I've learnt something through this though. If you start to get progressively worse fighting something or trying something in a game, if you leave it for a long time and come back after a break of a few days, a week or months, you'll be able to do it really easily.
Yeah, I think that might have something to do with it. The older control style is really frustrating to me, not to mention the fact that you can't use the analog sticks. It makes you use the directional pad to aim the stinger missile, which is annoying.
The controls on MGS4 are just perfect, especially when you equip a master key and you can basically fire two different weapons with one gun. Freakin' awesome.
When I was 9, I could destroy Mega Man 2. Had it down to a science. A couple of years ago when Mega Man Anniversary Collection came out, I thought, "Oh, this'll be no problem."
After spending a solid hour trying to get past the disappearing block thing in Heat Man's stage (and unable to remember how to get the Item that would let me bypass the sequence) I quit in shame.
Sometimes you were just a better gamer when you could devote all summer to honing your skills.
It's not anything like input lag or whatever, but I had four game overs in Earthbound by the Franky battle and I've never done that poorly! What the hell. It's happened in other games too, and I'm scared to death that I'm going to lose my ability to play older titles as time goes on. Even RPGs!
*scared to boot up SMRPG*
@ DEATHOFTHEDEAD - For Heat Man, I always just beat him last cause I know I'd always have Item 2 by the time I got to his level. The shifting blocks can be fun, but his level can be a bitch.
@ DOOMSDAY FORTE - I think for me, being better at a ROM or the real thing depends on the game. Some games like the Megaman NES series, I do better with the physical controller in my hand. Other games like Ghosts N Goblins, I do better on a ROM cause there are save states. To each his own, eh?
Hope that helps. He's not that hard once you learn how to avoid his attacks.
And if anything, hide behind the boxes in the area.