Snake, can you hear me? Good, that means our communication system is working. So you're interested in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater? Excellent, we though you'd be. It's tough to find people interested in going on what some might label as a suicide mission, but your country needs you, Snake. Without you, we're looking at a pretty dismal future! Our fate is in your hands.

Intel is sparse, but this is what we do know: we're in deep trouble. During the Cold War we were forced to part with a scientist named Nikolai Sokolov as part of an agreement with Russia to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. At the time, it was all the government could do to prevent a meltdown. What we didn't know, though, was the Russian government had plans to use Sokolov to create a devastating weapon of massive proportions. You'll need to go into Russia via a HALO (High Altitude Lower Orbital) Jump, where your mission will be to extract Sokolov. It will be your toughest assignment yet. Of course, this is just the icing on the proverbial cake. We expect it runs much deeper than this.

To be successful at hiding from the enemy, you'll need to make sure you take in your surroundings and dress accordingly. Reference your CAMOUFLAGE, both FACE and UNIFORM, in the Survival Viewer to swap out your clothes for some new ones. By changing these around, you can become nearly invisible. These outfits range from basic to ridiculous, but the choice on what to wear is yours. Honestly though, you wouldn't really walk around in that banana camo, would you, Snake? Pay attention to your surroundings instead of just waltzing through every area in your Sunday best hoping not to get spotted.

Also, technology has only advanced so far, so while offering the best we can, it still might be deficient for what you need. Visibility is a commodity in the jungle, but unfortunately we don't have some type of advanced radar device that would clue you in to the location of all your enemies. All we can offer is Sonar, which will pick up anything that moves but will alert the guards of your presence if you're close enough, a Motion Detector that sweeps the area, and an Antipersonnel Sensor that will cause your PLAYSTATION 2 CONTROLLER to rumble when enemies are nearby. While you might be scared, don't worry. These devices have been field-tested and do a fine job, as long as you're constantly surveying your surroundings. Again, it's never a good idea to rush into battle, so make use of these tools, as you have no other option.

Some battles, like those with the bosses from the Cobra Unit, are fights you really can't run away from, Snake. These enemies are fierce and have abilities beyond those of average soldiers. The End, a dead sniper, will force you into a test of endurance. Then The Pain will use his control over hornets to test your ability to cope with extreme suffering. These are just a few examples of some of the enemy operatives you will have to face in Operation: Snake Eater.

Of course, there will be other times where you'll need to get yourself out of sticky situations and that's where CQC - close quarters combat - comes into play. By tapping the circle button near an enemy, you'll be able to put them in a compromising position. From here, you'll be able to interrogate them or use their bodies as a bullet shield. You use your best judgment, as different situations will call for different actions. Of course, this is a tad simple in the easier difficulty modes, but once you progress into HARD and EXTREME you'll see that you need to monitor your stamina when dealing with all the guards with CQC.

You didn't need to worry about it in the past, but being a one-man operation, you'll need to fend for yourself this time around. That means you're going to have to eat to keep your stamina up and take care of your wounds. Eating is rather simple, as there is plenty of edible foliage present in the jungle, and don't forget about animals like rabbits and snakes. They might not be what your palette is used to, but without eating you'll be unable to regenerate health. It's not hard to find food in the jungle, and you'll only need it after you exert a lot of stamina, such as after a massive firefight or a battle with one of the Cobras, an elite group of soldiers.

Also, don't forget that you'll need to tend to your wounds. From cuts to stomach aches, you have a variety of items at your disposal to perform the necessary procedures on yourself. Just press the START button to access the Survival Viewer to perform these tasks. It's so simple that anyone could do it just by reading the instructions. It tends to be a bit tedious and interrupt the flow of things, but it's not such a destructive force that the entire narrative is derailed because of it.

However, don't take things too seriously, Snake. You already have enough on your plate and we don't want you to have to worry about your blood pressure as well. Why not occasionally take a second to enjoy the scenery. The beautiful water, those blades of grass obstructing your view, the flowers and the trees. Why not enjoy this world that was created for you?

So there you have it, Snake. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will be something you look back on and think to yourself "I was lucky to be a part of that experience." You'll be able to tell people many stories of your time in Russia. Stories about war, love, loss, sacrifice, friendship, and betrayal. You'll go on and on about how beautiful the landscape was, and of how you had to repair yourself on the field of battle with only some bandages and a piece of yarn. Wait a minute... Snake? Are you there, Snake? Snake? SNAAAKKEEEE!?!