No-Kill Option Available in Metal Gear Solid: Rising

The high-speed stealth in Rising won't force players to kill.

After being questioned by Kotaku at Gamescom 2010, Metal Gear Solid: Rising producer Shigenobu Matsuyama explained that although the new installment will be different from the careful stealth involved in Snake's games, players will still be able to show mercy. There will still be a no-kill challenge while playing as Raiden, the cyborg ninja.

Players will have the option of knocking away human enemy weapons or cutting off their ammo instead of cutting off their legs. These actions would send the humans running. This isn't to say that a player wouldn't be able to be violent while taking this challenge. Killing mechs or cyborgs doesn't count as killing.

Matsuyama says that he includes the no-kill challenge because he wants players to consider the morality of their actions.

"We have to think about the violence and the morals behind it. I would like to add the expression of the pain [enemies feel] as well... not just make a slice 'em up, dice 'em up."

The producer made it clear that the decision to add expressions of pain to the bad guys isn't an attempt to make players feel guilty, merely to make them more aware of the reality of their actions.

"I will put the essence of the beauty of the no-kill. I want to emphasize that I will never reward a player for killing human beings in the game. I won't make it easier to clear the game [that way]. I will probably make it more difficult."

There is still no release date for Rising, but it will be released for both the PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360.