Players assume control of Raiden, a katana-wielding cyborg. He is initially playable in his “Standard Body” form, which resembles the body used by Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 4, but with a more natural-looking face. The player can alter Raiden’s appearance through alternative skins. Unlike previous titles in the Metal Gear series, where players try not to be noticed by enemies, Rising is action-oriented, focusing on sword fighting and a sophisticated cutting system to fight and defeat enemies. Although Raiden’s main weapon is his high-frequency blade, he can also use other replacement blades, sub-weapons, and secondary weapons. Raiden’s sub- weapons include two kinds of rocket launchers, four kinds of grenades, the iconic cardboard box, an empty oil drum, and a 3D photo frame. Other melee weapons can be obtained after defeating the game’s bosses.
The game’s cutting system allows players to engage in melee combat, as well as to precisely slash enemies and objects at will along a geometrical plane using the “Blade Mode” game mechanic. Virtually any object in the game can be cut, including vehicles and enemies, though elements of the environment were intentionally limited to structures such as pillars and walls to better facilitate the game. Entering Blade Mode produces a special targeting reticle in the form of a transparent blue plane which can be moved and rotated freely, tracing holographic orange lines across the surfaces of targets to indicate exactly where they will be cut; it can also be used to enter a bullet time state, giving players the opportunity to precisely cut targets during moments of action, such as slicing through an airborne target multiple times before it hits the ground. Blade Mode can be employed strategically: for example, disabling opponents, finding weak points and gaps in armour, severing support columns to collapse ceilings or walls onto enemies, deflecting enemy fire, or cutting through objects to remove enemy cover. However, entering Blade Mode reduces Raiden’s energy, which if reduced to a certain level prevents Blade Mode from being used. Throughout the story, the player obtains “Ripper Mode”, a state which greatly enhances Raiden’s power for a limited time as it quickly consumes energy
