`METAL GEAR' FITS BETTER FOR FANS.

Byline: Redmond Carolipio Staff Writer

Some people say ``thank you'' to their fans. Hideo Kojima makes a game for them.

The creator of the ``Metal Gear'' universe has unleashed ``Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence,'' a title that not only gives his fans new material to chew on, but also adds some historical perspective to his legend.

``Subsistence'' is actually a complimentary piece to ``Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater,'' which is generally regarded as one of the best games for the PlayStation 2. How much you get out of this new offering depends on the size of your fandom, as there are plenty of features here that enrich but don't reinvent the experience of the last game.

You'll find all of the staples of the Kojima series: marathon dialogue sessions, oddball characters and a complex story loaded with a message. The changes are in the game play.

This time, ``Subsistence'' gives players complete control over the camera with the right thumbstick. This offers players a different way to visually digest the beautiful, wide-open jungle settings, as opposed to relying on whatever the fixed camera angles offered.

This also makes it easier to get your visual bearings, especially in the battle against assassins like ``The Fear,'' who bounces all over the jungle and shoots arrows at you from all directions. But fanboys, fear not - the signature top-down camera view is still available.

Another new wrinkle is the game's online capability. Since the cornerstone of the game's action deals with sneaking around and evading enemies, giving players the chance to engage in a free-for-all death match seems out of character.

There's an emphasis on teamwork, which is essential in today's online games. It's hard to judge, since the kind of people who dig online action aren't always addicts of stealth. But perhaps the most intriguing part of this package is the inclusion of the ``Metal Gear'' and ``Metal Gear 2'' - the games that started it all.

Kojima created the 8-bit titles for the MSX computer system in Japan. We've seen a version of the first title on the Nintendo Entertainment System, but Kojima's ``Metal Gear 2'' never made it to U.S. shores until now. For many fans, that makes ``Subsistence'' a must-have.

It's surreal to see the building blocks Kojima had in place. The dearth of heavy weapons at the beginning, the use of the radio system as a storytelling device, the premium placed on avoiding the enemy - it was all there about 20 years ago. Kojima may not have cooked up the concept of stealth gaming, but he certainly had the best recipe at the time.

Despite these new additions, revisiting the series also sheds more light on its annoying facets. The dialogue sessions are too long, and then there 's the random instances of weirdness - such as the echoing ``cat growl'' one villain uses to summon his squad of troops. Why can't he just snap his fingers or whistle?

``Subsistence'' is the perfect title to have if you're a big fan of the series and have an interest in gaming history. Otherwise, you might just want to play the original again. It's still that good.

METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SUBSISTENCE - Three stars

Rating: M for mature.

Platform: PS2.

In a nutshell: Improves on a winner.

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no caption (``METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SUBSISTENCE'')