Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Reviews

• Game of the year! no doubt!!

  
  By A3P84WNEICSXMH on 2008-06-12
  well picked this up earlier today, and have not being able to put it down!! i am a huge MGS fan so i know alot about these games and you can trust me when i say this one is by FAR! the best!!
  everything from the game play, wicked baddies, the sound effects and graphics (amazing at 720p - not 1080p)! breath taking, heart pumping cut scenes that REALLY make you think that you are inside a movie! MGS has always been very theatrical , but with how advanced this game is visually you almost can believe you are directing your own action movie! Hideo and his bois at Konami have out done themselves again!
  Same voice cast holds up fantastic again, MGS has always had a great english voice cast (i dont care what anyone says)! David Hayter adds a few years to his voice which suits Old Snake very well!! Didnt have to wait very long for Snake to say my fav MGS line thats in all games, "Metal Gear..?"
  All the new gadets in this game are fantastic, Drebin's shop is a handy welcome to the series, taking a leaf outta Resi4 with collecting weapons and other pieces of gear to buy new imp weapons and ammo!! Great touch!
  will not spoil plot details or anything coz if your like me and you play this for the story side too you will no doubt be on the edge of your seat with a great story! action packed cut scenes to get the blood pumpin as you get thrust into the heat of some very big Skirmishes!
  i dont see or can beilieve this game can have any haters!! it is a must for both old time fans to one of the greatest games ever made! and for new fans lookin to get into the series!!
  No doubt, 'Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots' is, the Game of the Year!!! so do yourself a favour and buy MGS4 NOW!!! ( back to the game for me XD )
  
  

• "War Has Changed..."

  
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2008-06-13
  Pros:
  
  +Very satisfying story
  +Incredible voice work
  +Incredible cinematics
  +Eagle eye attention to detail
  +A lot of gameplay elements
  +Memorable Music Soundtrack
  
  Cons:
  
  -Long cutscenes. To the point where you feel more like you're watching than playing. This goes a long way as you'll play for five seconds to be treated to cutscenes several minutes long
  -Some load times are really annoying
  -The Camera can sometimes be a pain
  
  After three and a half long years of waiting, Metal Gear Solid 4 finally drops down on the Playstation 3. With a lot of questions to answer and some mighty big shoes to fill, Metal Gear Solid 4 is easily one of the most anticipated video games ever made. For the Metal Gear fan, the game is absolutely fantastic. Continuing an already mesmerizing story, Metal Gear Solid 4 proves to be one of this generations greatest games.
  
  Metal Gear Solid 4 is the conclusion to Snake's story. The game is told through some gorgeous cutscenes. There's a lot of detail to the characters faces, their actions and it has some fantastic voice acting to boot. You'll want to grab some popcorn, though, because there are definitely a lot of cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid 4, and some of them are really long. This is easily the biggest problem with Metal Gear Solid 4 and it's one that has often plagued the series. While the cutscenes are very dramatic and well written, and while they even shed some humor, some of them are just too long, some of them seeming almost useless. If a cutscene is getting a little long, though, it would be a grave mistake to skip it as you might miss some important parts of the story. And if there's any Metal Gear Solid game one should be playing for its story, it's this one. The other big problem with the cutscenes is how they come at you, even early on. There are moments where you'll play for a matter of seconds only to be sit through a cutscene that's several minutes long. At the very least, you can pause the game during the cutscenes. However, it's hard to get over the fact that some of them really drag on. When you get to play the game, though, Metal Gear Solid 4 is amazing.
  
  Metal Gear Solid has always been about stealth. The same is true of Guns of the Patriots. The difference being that you're also in the middle of a war and there are two sides fighting against one another, the PMCs and Militia. You're able to help the militia and doing so can have its rewards, such as characters being willing to give you items or being able to go through certain areas more easily. Although, you can also turn the Militia against you.
  
  There have been some improvements to sneaking around, though. The camouflage system has returned but it's much better. Rather than having to go into the menu constantly, Snake's camo will change automatically to blend in with the environment and help him evade enemies. You can also hold up enemies just like before, only this time you can perform body searches while holding them up rather than having to shake them down. You can also restrain them to the ground to knock them out. If you really need to get by an enemy and you're running out of options, you can always play dead. This also works when you get spotted and knocked down by an enemy.
  
  There's also the implementation of the Solid Eye. This is more vital to sneaking around than anything. It works very similar to the radar in Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, showing you how much noise you or your enemy is making. Also new to here is the threat ring. The threat ring surrounds Snake at all times and will begin to act up depending on how close an enemy is to him. All of these seem like they'll take forever to get used to, but you'll quickly adapt. Just like previous games in the series, if you're spotted, you'll have to escape from the enemy and hide.
  
  There are also moments where you can take control of a Metal Gear Mk II, a very small version of Metal Gear that is controlled by Snake. This little guy allows Snake to scout out the area ahead. You can also use the Metal Gear Mk II to stun certain enemies.
  
  Lastly, Snake has a psyche gauge. This is very similar to the stamina gauge in Metal Gear Solid 3. The gauge depletes depending on how stressed or exhausted Snake is. You can refill this by eating certain snacks like Rations or Noodles, but you can also refill it by resting for a while. But there are plenty of factors that affect Psyche. For example, if Snake has been in the sun too long, you'll have to move him into the shade. If he's been in cold water, you'll have to get him out of it. As his psyche gauge gets lower it becomes harder for him to perform certain actions, such as being able to aim properly. In other words, from time to time Snake will need to rest. Though there are also certain points in the game where his psyche gauge is restocked automatically.
  
  You won't always be in stealth mode forever, though. There will be times when you have to fight, and the shooting mechanic works much better in Metal Gear Solid 4. When you're thrust into combat, the game plays very similar to a third person shooter. Allowing for more precise aiming and no longer forcing you to go into first person view to land a well placed shot. There's also a weapon shop where you can purchase, upgrade or customize weapons to your liking, another element that works to your liking and gives Metal Gear a lot of customization.
  
  All this variation in gameplay means that Metal Gear Solid 4 has several different ways to approach it. Combine it's various gameplay elements with a selection of difficulty levels to up the challenge, and Metal Gear Solid 4, like the three before it, becomes a game you'll want to replay again and again. Sometimes it's just fun to mess around with your enemies or just to see how else you can go about a certain area.
  
  Visually, Metal Gear Solid 4 is incredible to look at. There's a ton of detail in the environment, and the atmosphere is also a good one. You're very much immersed in the world of Metal Gear Solid 4. There are a couple of load times that can be annoying, especially the installation. The camera, while it's great, can sometimes be a pain. It's easy to control, but sometimes you'll find yourself fighting with it.
  
  Music wise, there's a memorable score to Metal Gear Solid 4. There's a lot of voice work as well. Much of it is great, although at times you will get the feeling that some of the voice actors and over-acting. On the whole, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a beautiful looking, (and sounding) game.
  
  Metal Gear Solid 4 is an amazing experience. If you can handle lengthy cutscenes you'll be satisfied with the final results. If you can handle a couple of annoying load times, you'll be satisfied. The amount of gameplay here is incredible, and the fact that there are so many ways to go about each area is also a lot of fun. For Metal Gear fans, Metal Gear Solid 4 is easily the reason to own a Playstation 3.
  
  

• Pure brilliance

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-06-16
  It's finally here. After what has seemed like an eternity of waiting, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is here, and not only is it a stunning achievement in terms of technical aspects (this game utilizes what the PS3 is capable of like nothing you have ever seen before), but it also conveys one of the deepest and most engrossing storylines that you will ever come across in a video game. Yes, as you have no doubt heard by now, the game features some quite lengthy cut-scenes that seemingly pop up out of nowhere in the middle of gameplay. While this can get annoying, nearly everything else about Metal Gear Solid 4 is simply flawless. The storyline, what little can be mentioned without giving away a barrage of spoilers, finds an aging Snake in the middle of Liquid Ocelot's new, destructive plans. Familiar faces are abound as well, which will lead to many surprises and shocks, even for the most hardcore of Metal Gear Solid fans. As said before, Metal Gear Solid 4 boasts the best audio and visual presentation you will ever see in a video game. Quite frankly, this game is a gorgeous sight to behold. Gameplay wise, the game offers up some equally impressive shooting and stealth mechanics, while the boss fights are nothing short of epic. Online multiplayer modes seem to be the only aspect of MGS4 that don't conjure up the awe-inspiring moments that the rest of the game does, but they are fun on their own regardless. Words alone can't do this game justice though. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is by far and large the best game to come out on the PS3 thus far, and without a doubt is one of the finest video games to ever see the light of day. Yes, it really is that good, and if you have been waiting for that PS3 "killer app", your wait is over.
  
  

• Prepare for Really Long Cutscenes

  
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2008-06-16
  The final installment of Hideo Kojima's "Metal Gear" series has a lot to live up to. Besides its innovations in gameplay, Metal Gear Solid 4 has to worry about wrapping up and connecting the stories of 5 different Metal Gear games. As such, this long-awaited finale has its work cut out for it, but does it pull it off?
  
  The story in this game is all but impenetrable if you haven't played every other game in the series, including the PSP-only Portable Ops. The game relies heavily on references and flashbacks from old games to tell its story, drawing from every other game to wrap up the series as a finished product. As a result, people who haven't played any of the games in the series before would do well to avoid the game and perhaps get the MGS Essential Collection for the PS2 first.
  
  The new theme in this Metal Gear Solid game is "the battlefield". Working against mercenaries employed by various Private Military Companies, you attempt to sneak (or fight) through warzones as the PMCs engage rebel and militia forces. Instead of the simpler and quieter job of sneaking through areas where your enemies are not engaged, you must instead brave gunfire from either side and avoid being detected. In many areas it's possible to aid the rebels by attacking PMCs; since the PMCs are always your enemies, it's useful to have people on your side who are fighting them. Doing so will make the rebels friendly to you and make your job easier. If you choose to attack the rebels, or not fight the PMCs, you'll have a tough time moving through rebel-controlled areas as well as PMC-controlled areas because both sides will be hostile towards you. Your participation in the battle is not required, though depending on your style of play, the game may get easier or harder depending on how you "use" the rebels. There are many pitched battles in the game, often involving armored vehicles and heavy weapons being used by both sides, with artillery raining down from above. Atmospherically, these sections definitely have the feel of a dangerous warzone, where any cover can be destroyed and an ambush can come from any side.
  
  Your main tool to avoid enemies is OctoCamo. A development of the camouflage system in MGS3, OctoCamo blends in automatically with any background you press against, granting you near-invisibility in almost any setting. Defeating the game's first boss grants you a mask addition that allows you to either camouflage your face (increasing your invisibility even further) or put on masks of human faces to use as disguises (it's purely a cosmetic change, though). Furthermore, there are certain uniforms that allows you to blend in with the crowds of militiamen and rebels and reduces the likelihood that Snake will personally be spotted. It also makes an ally out of any rebels that you happen to meet, since they assume you're on their side.
  
  Another item introduced in the game is the Solid Eye, a multipurpose "eyepatch" that allows you an extra heads-up display over your regular one. This HUD highlights items for you to collect, adds informative statistics to NPCs within range (specifically things like their mental status, health, and how they feel about you). Furthermore, it also includes a binocular and night-vision/thermal vision mode, both of which are useful at spotting enemies at long range.
  
  There are two "health" bars in the game - the first represents physical health, while the second represents your state of mind. Being in stressful situations, such as being pursued, being shot at, or having killed a lot of enemies, will raise your stress a great deal and lower your state of mind. The lower your "psyche" bar is, the less accurately you will shoot, and furthermore Snake will breathe heavily and move sluggishly. The health bar is restored by items like rations, while the psyche bar is recovered either through certain food items or by staying out of combat for a certain amount of time to gather your wits. The Psyche bar may be a relatively annoying development, based on how you play; if you are a gung-ho soldier who intends to run around and shoot everything, then the psyche bar will hinder you fairly often. If you avoid combat, move slowly, and don't get caught in major fights, it isn't much of a problem.
  
  Weapons in this game are handled differently than previous games. In the past, weapons had to be found "clean" - you couldn't take weapons from enemies, but instead had to find them in certain areas at different parts of the game. In MGS4, a new character called Drebin is introduced. Drebin is a gun launderer - in exchange for "Drebin Points" accumulated by selling him weapons found on the battlefield, Drebin will remove the personal ID of any gun you find, which will allow you to use the formerly locked weapon. He will also sell you guns and ammo directly, though this tends to be more expensive. The sheer number of weapons is far greater than any other Metal Gear game: pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles are all included in the game's arsenal. The weapons in this game are in many cases customizable with a variety of items, including scopes, silencers, grips, laser sights, flashlights, and a wide variety of ammunition, both lethal and non-lethal. The effect of both the shop and the number of available weapons is to remind you that you are in a warzone, not a clean sneaking environment. As such, combat is often much more frantic and intense, and justifies the use of an RPG or a guided anti-tank missile.
  
  The new gameplay and controls in the game have mostly been improved. Instead of previous MGS games' overhead camera, MGS4 allows either an auto-aim or a third person over-the-shoulder shooting scheme. The option for first person also exists, using scopes or iron sights. The over-the-shoulder camera should be familiar to anyone who's played Resident Evil 4, and is one of the most helpful additions, gameplay-wise, to the game. Snake can aim either from the right or from the left, which helps when peeking out around corners. The controls are different, but primarily intuitive. The option exists to press against certain walls, either to hide out of someone's line of sight or to blend in with OctoCamo. This also allows for the ability to lean out into doorways to shoot at enemies, a refined version of the ability used in MGS2 and MGS3.
  
  In less gun-related combat, CQC has been brought over from MGS3, and for the most part it is the same. For some reason, it feels less smooth in operation, however. The option to hold enemies at gunpoint if they are caught unaware has been upgraded; instead of the somewhat nonsensical "point your gun at enemies and they will shake items out of their bodies" that previous games had, MGS4 goes with a more realistic "body check" as Snake pats down his enemies for weapons and ammunition. CQC and holding enemies up both can cause enemies to drop their weapons, unlike in previous games where enemies would hold on to their rifles and riddle you with bullets as soon as you dropped your guard. The items all feel much more realistic, and there are no more "floating item boxes". Some items are still contained in large boxes, but at the very least they no longer float and rotate anymore.
  
  The main problem with the game, in terms of gameplay, is that there isn't enough of it. The game is divided into five acts. The first two are as I described above: fighting through a warzone populated by PMCs with the help of rebels. However, from the third act onwards, these features disappear. Only the first two acts of the game are really identifiable as "MGS4", while the rest is like a different game that uses MGS4's gameplay and engine. Act 3 has you tailing an informant through a PMC-controlled city, Act 4 consists almost entirely of fighting robots and unmanned vehicles, and Act 5 consists of only two areas.
  
  For the most part, the game feels like wrestling with the cutscenes and story for control of the game. So many things happen in cutscenes that should have been done as actual gameplay sections. In fact, there are two cutscenes that occur while you are doing a gameplay segment, forcing you to rapidly move your eyes back and forth to the sides of the screen if you want to see what's going on in the cutscene. One character, returned from a previous game as a buffed-up cyborg ninja, has fight scenes that only occur in cinematics, and he never fights alongside you in actual gameplay. The sheer number and length of the cutscenes is overwhelming, as well. Early on I was willing to forgive it because MGS4 did have a lot of loose ends to tie up, but by the end it seems like unnecessary things were added or put in just so it would seem more like a Hollywood-style movie. I beat the game in 20 hours, and I estimate a third or a fourth of that was spent watching cutscenes. To be fair, they are well-directed and good overall, but they're just overwhelmingly long and poorly paced. The ending, for example, takes a good hour to complete, at least. Especially when you consider how many cutscenes would translate fine to regular gameplay, it seems way too excessive.
  
  The bosses of the game - the "Beauty and the Beast" unit - are also somewhat disappointing. All four are meant to be shadows of earlier bosses - combining the animal names of FOXHOUND from MGS1 with the emotions of the Cobra Unit of MGS3 to create "Laughing Octopus", "Raging Raven", "Crying Wolf", and "Screaming Mantis". Out of all of these bosses, only Laughing Octopus is really enjoyable to fight, as she uses a lot of stealth and surprise tactics. The others are just gimmicky fights that tend to be more annoying than fun. The worst part is that these bosses have nothing to do with the storyline other than "they're an elite unit under the bad guy's control".
  
  The graphics in the game are smooth and effective. The animation, in particular, seems very natural and realistic, with a lot more focus on how people actually move. There's no fault that can be found with the graphics; the characters and environments seem exactly as good and detailed as they need to be, and definitely help keep you immersed. The voice acting is great, with a lot of nostalgic returns from the original Metal Gear Solid's voice crew for characters that are returning in this new game. The music is usually understated, allowing the environmental noises - gunfire, yells, wind, and so on - to take center stage except in situations when Snake has been spotted, when tense and exciting music plays. The quality of the music is excellent, being thematic and evocative for each different area of the game. One of the items is an iPod that allows Snake to play songs that he has collected in the game. Some of these songs actually affect gameplay; certain battle themes will increase Snake's accuracy or health regeneration, while other songs will cause emotions in enemies that Snake has caught in a chokehold (presumably, that's where they have to be so that they are close enough to hear the music).
  
  Overall, MGS4 is an incredible game, but there's not enough "game" to rate it that highly as a total package. The overwhelming presence of cutscenes was incredibly stifling, and the sections of the game that were working with the established rules of the game were remarkably short. It feels like the game got too caught up in the story and forgot it was supposed to be a game, deciding instead to spend almost all of its time expounding on philosophy and history from previous Metal Gear games. There were a lot of really good sections, but these were far too short and seemed more like exceptions to the norm. If it was being rated as a movie, it would deserve full marks, but to rate it as a game, it only deserves an 7 or 8 out of 10 at most.
  
  UPDATE: The full walkthrough for both the regular and online components of this game are now done. We give the online component a 9/10 rating.
  
  

• PS3's killer app is here

  
  By A25AF2BI2P5B14 on 2008-06-13
  Hideo Kojima has done it again. MGS4 is the most detailed, convincing, and well-researched game I have ever played. It offers a compelling and imaginative glimpse into the future of high-tech warfare, a nuanced, intelligent storyline, vastly improved gameplay, and incredible graphics.
  
  The metal gear franchise has always pushed the boundaries of what a game could be, and challenged the preconceptions of the audience. MGS4 starts out with, of all things, a short live action film about marine fauna. The in-game store discounts weapons (in real time) on wednesdays and sundays. These are just a few examples, but there are many more. The story has both the philosophical and political musings as well as the bizarre humor and one of a kind characters that fans expect.
  
  The gameplay is more open and the action is more intense than in prior games. The environments seem much bigger and are bustling with npcs engaged in building to building warfare. Snake can join either side in the conflict or ignore them and sneak by. He has a ton of new weapons and gadgets as well.
  The graphics are among the most impressive I have seen in a game. The characters are solid physical presences with subtle, lifelike facial expressions. The mechs move with an animal grace and hunt with a keen intelligence that belies their artificial construction.
  
  Overall, the game is an experience that should not be missed by anyone with a PS3. If you don't already own a PS3, this game alone would justify its purchase. It is by far the most creative, original, and technically polished game to appear on the system to date.
  
  
• Too many cut scenes, counterintuitive controls.
  By A3W4NLU1LAA153 on 2008-07-17
  I had high hopes for MGS4. Next-gen platform - the writers probably learned from the previous games - lots of hype and lovely hi-def gameplay footage. It bode well until I put the disc in and it took 8 minutes to install the game instead of just running it off the disc. During the install, the screen is filled with preachy health-and-safety warnings like "don't play when you're tired" and "don't sit too close" and stuff like that. Oh oh. That's a really bad omen right up front.
  
  Too many reviews are gushing over the graphics and sound and I think they've fallen somewhat for the hype, because if you analyse the game for what it is, it's just not that good. So rather than gush and fawn, I'm going to try to tell you what I found, and what I think it's faults are. If you've read any of my other reviews you'll know that I detest dark games, poor control systems and game programmers who think they're being clever. MGS4 exhibits two of these so if you don't like to read honest reviews, you should probably skip the rest of this.
  
  So the faults in MGS4? Well - where to start?
  
  I guess the most obvious place is the control system. It's truly the worst control system since - well - MGS2, MGS3 and Hitman. It's awful. Other reviews claim a one hour learning curve. One hour? In what gaming universe is that acceptable? First impressions last. If it takes an hour to figure out the controls (and in MGS4 it certainly does) then a lot of people, like me, are just going to switch off. How are Konami going to hook new players to the genre if the game is so difficult to get into?
  
  MGS4 is largely a sneak-and-shoot game but once again, Konami chose to make it third-person. ie. you spend the entire time looking over the top of your own character. This makes it just impossible to move around properly because you're constantly fighting the camera and movement controls. It's like the original Tomb Raider in terms of the camera getting stuck on scenery and obliterating your view of the action at some critical moment. I've never understood third-person camera. It's a waste of time in racing games because it makes the cars uncontrollable, and it's a crime to employ it in what should be a first-person perspective game. How am I supposed to sneak, examine, explore and shoot when the camera is above and behind me?
  
  The answer in MGS4 is supposed to be the threat ring. It's an Anime-style halo that surrounds Snake and has bumps in it where the enemy are. It is described briefly in the game manual but it's never really introduced or explained in-game, so it's just sort of there. It seems like a lot of trouble to go to for something that could have been solved by simply using first-person mode. Then you wouldn't need a threat ring - you'd be able to peek around corners, or use the audio to hear people around you.
  
  Speaking of the camera controls; there isn't one invert-look option, but three. So if you're used to playing up-is-down on your vertical control, you have to change it in three places in MGS4. Why? Why not have a single "invert look" option?
  
  I think one of the biggest crimes in MGS4 is the sheer amount of gameplay interruption. It's like watching TIVO and having someone else with the remote constantly pausing live TV or skipping fowards.
  
  For example : weapon pickups happen when you run over something, but it pauses the game to give you a very nice but totally irrelevant info screen on what you just ran over. So the programmers spent the time to interfere with the flow of the game, but didn't spend the time auto-equipping the weapon. No - once you've picked something up, you have to pause, go to the inventory screen, equip or swap weapons, then back out and back into the gameplay. It ruins the flow of play.
  
  It's. Like. Trying. To. Read. A. Game. Review. One. Word. At. A. Time.
  
  Whilst talking weapons, it's worth talking about the targetting / aiming system. Third person mode is once again totally useless. You might as well have a nerf gun for all the good it does. So you have to go into first-person mode to aim, but this requires two controls to be activated - R1 to "activate" the weapon, then triangle to go into first person mode. Why? Why not just go into first-person mode when you activate the weapon?
  
  Once in first-person mode it's impossible to move around, and your turn speed is like having your feet nailed to the ground. I timed it - it takes a good 35 seconds to do a 360. So there's no quickly turning around to pick off the bad guy behind you - you'll be dead long before you can even see him. Plus, if you waiver even slightly on the R1 button, it flicks back out into third-person view where the turn speed is much quicker. So you end up popping out of first person into third person mode, the turn accelerates and then you've overshot where you wanted to aim. (Sigh). Why? What purpose does this meddlesome control system serve? This is another place the camera control just fails miserably. Someone is behind you so you need to turn around to shoot at them. Snake spins around, the camera tries to follow, but gets stuck on scenery and is now facing Snake from the front. Now you're facing the enemy but you can't see him because the camera is stuck.
  
  Then there's the rest of the interference problems.
  
  I'd hoped with MGS4 that they would have gone away from the 75% story/cut-scene, 25% gameplay split, but sadly not. In the opening 30 minutes of "gameplay", I must have spent 25 minutes watching cut scenes, and having control taken away from me for a Bruckheimer-esque slow-motion shot of something completely irrelevant. Once again - stuff designed to destroy the flow of playing the game. You're just getting into the swing of things when *pow* - control taken away, arty shot of tank approaching - *pow* control given back. I could see the darned tank without the cut scene - it was right in front of me! Or worse, you'll be running towards an objective and *pow* - you drop out of game mode for a cut scene of someone making you eggs for breakfast. Jeez. It made me throw the controller at one point and just stand up and shout "Oh come on!". Hideo Kojima - the game's inventor and chief designer - has understood that videogames are a great medium, but he does concentrate too much on the 'video' and not enough on the 'game'. For example : put MGS4 in, start a new game and a stopwatch and time it; you won't be able to actually engage an enemy for over 20 minutes.
  
  Speaking of "what the....?" moments, when you start the game, you'll sit through a weird TV game show clip where a woman chooses the wrong answer, followed by an advert (I think for women's perfume) advertised by gun-laden women squirming underwater with an octopus with a skull for a head. In pink water. I kid you not. I have absolutely no clue what that was all about. I seriously thought I might have had the wrong game disc in at that point - I ejected it and checked.
  
  Oh and speaking of loading - if the game is installed on the hard drive, shouldn't there be zero load screens? After all, Drake's Fortune, Paradise City and GTA4 manage to let you free-roam massive environments with no load screens. Not in MGS4 though. Every time you get into a tight crawlspace or have to open a door, you drop out of the game into a loading screen. Worse, you then need to hit 'start' to get back into the game. It's bad enough they have load screens on a next-gen game but to make you have to hit a button to get back in-game is just criminal. Again - interrupting the flow of the game.
  
  Then there's your assistant Otacon. He just will not shut up. He yaps and complains and - my god - the boy has verbal diarrhea. You can probably ignore 99% of what he says - it has no relevance to your gameplay. Problem is that a lot of the time - you guessed it - you'll drop out of gameplay to hear him blather on about something. It's like the programmers didn't know the PS3 supports bluetooth headsets. You know what - if Otacon is talking into your earpiece in the game (which he clearly does because Snake always stops, squats and jams a finger in one ear), why not have him talk into *your* headset whilst you're playing? That would have been a good idea, and so much more intuitive.
  
  Other things that are problematic? Well - the you're-not-quite-dead problem. When you get hit sufficiently hard (which you will because the control system will fight you all the way to the ground), you lie there with the breeze wafting your cape around - or your hair - or something else. For all intents and purposes, the game would have you believe you're dead. Only you're not - you're still alive but there's no prompt to tell you this. The programmers filled the game with meddlesome icons, popups, info screens and pauses for everything from picking up an iPod to changing weapons, but they didn't have the courtesy to tell you that you aren't actually dead. Of course by the time you figure this out, you actually will be dead because someone will have found you and shot you.
  
  So what about the graphics? Well, on my 120-inch screen through a full HD projector, it looks nice and polished. It runs in 1080p full HD as best I can gather. (correction from earlier assertion that it ran at 720p)
  
  The graphics are good enough, but they're not really next-gen. More like warmed-over PS2 graphics with some neat touches. There's a fair amount of aliasing ("jaggies") especially when the game engine tries to render lines - power lines, ropes, that sort of thing. This sort of stuff just shouldn't be present. Draw distance is good, but not brilliant. There's a fair amount of popup and fade-in for smaller items. For example when you get the inevitable cut scene of a tank rolling up, watch the flare launchers on it's flanks. They wink in at a ridiculously short range.
  There are other problems too - it's all in the details. The enemy soldier's feet are about 8 sizes too small for the rest of their body. The specular highlights change badly on some of the vehicles when they transition from low to high detail models. The dust and smoke effects, whilst clever, seem to use only three texture maps so the repeat in them is very noticable. One neat feature that is done well though is the Octocamo - where you can lie on the floor or press up against a wall and your suit behaves like a chameleon suit and takes on the texture of whatever you're next to. It's quite entertaining to see Snake running around the battlefield wearing a chintzy wall covering.
  
  The motion capture isn't up to much though, with jerks and pops between the various character's predefined routines. Stand up. Pop. Aim. Judder. Fire. Pop. Squat down. It's really very irritating. The enemy troops 'patrolling' motion capture makes it look like they're walking on tiptoes, and there's another obvious pop in the motion capture loop after each left-right step. Tiptoe left. Tiptoe right. Pop. Tiptoe left etc etc. It's one of those things you won't notice at first, but once you've seen it, your eye will be drawn to it all the time.
  In fact - it looks like they didn't do any new motion capture for a lot of MGS4 but re-used the stuff from MGS3. I put MGS3 in to check it out, and sure enough, the enemy troop movements are identical to the point where you can't tell them apart. So - four and half years to wait for the new game and they re-used the old motion capture? Classy.
  
  As I said above, the dust and dirt effects are nice, and the modelling of the environments has been really well done, but you'll come away from it feeling somehow empty. Occasionally you'll walk around a corner to see the culling routines pop a whole street in. Why? Why are these problems in this game? Did they just not do any QA on it?
  
  It's not that it isn't impressive to look at - it is - but it just doesn't have that X-factor. So I would consider the graphics somewhat below par for a next gen platform.
  
  Let's go with the audio then. Weeellll let's not. There's a lovely Dolby Digital logo at the beginning of the game but the audio separation isn't up to much. The soundstage is mostly middle speaker with the occasional left-to-right effect. Barely anything comes out of the side or rear speakers. I'm so used to playing games where I can locate enemies by sound alone, that MGS4 was once again a total let-down in the audio department. Again - the threat ring seems to be compensation for something that wasn't done right the first time around. The weapons sound effects are pretty weak - hardly any bass content. So firing the M4 is like firing a child's pop gun. Mortar rounds landing close to you shake the camera, but not your room - they should be full-bass, well-stereo-separated sound effects, but they're not. The best audio in the game is all the speech, but there's just too much of it.
  
  So - MGS4. You can tell I'm not impressed. It's basically MGS2 and MGS3 in terms of playability and longevity sprinkled with sort-of-next-gen graphics and 1990's audio. I suppose if you're a MGS fan, then this game will leave you shaking with joy but for everyone who's not in that club, this seems to be addressing a very niche market.
  
  Personally I just couldn't handle the sheer amount of irrelevant story and gameplay interruption. It's so unintuitive and meddlesome compared to Resistance:Fall Of Man or Call Of Duty 4 that you will just end up screaming at your PS3.
  
  Add to this the curious lack of of save points. You'll spend a lot of time carefully working your way towards an objective only to have the controls and camera ambush you at some inopportune moment, resulting in your death. (Incidentally, Otacon still has his lisp when you die - "Thnake? Thnake? Noooooo!") At this point you'll be transported back a good 45 minutes of gameplay and cut scenes for a do-over. Really really bad design.
  
  I really wanted to like this game. I thought with as much hype as it's had, and the glowing reviews in everything from Playstation Magazine to EDGE that it would be a game of the year contender. After the first bunch of failures (it took me 6 attempts to get out of the intro scene because of the movement and camera controls), I walked away to cool my anger. I came back after a couple of hours to give it a second go but then things were even worse. I managed to progress beyond the opening scene (at last) into what appeared to be a bombed-out middle eastern town. At that point, the sheer volume of cut scenes, control and Otacon interruption just made my blood boil. Then I was presented with a cut scene of a soldier defacating into a barrel (oddly with some of the finest sound effects in the game) followed by a cut-scene of his naked buttocks running away. That pushed me over the edge. Game over for me. What relevance is that to the game?
  That brings up an interesting point. Didn't we do away with the "infinite pockets" syndrome in the 90's? You know - where you can carry a seemingly endless number of guns and ammo? Apparently Snake can carry this barrel with him everywhere, along with all his guns, but you never see any of them. They just appear in his hands by magic. Shouldn't you only be able to carry a couple of weapons? Drake's Fortune, for example - two guns - a pistol in a holster and a larger gun on your back. That's an example of a problem with the previous games that I would have expected to have been addressed by now.
  
  After barely an hour of wrestling with it I just had to give up. As a gamer I just don't have the time of day for things designed this poorly. I've returned the game for store credit.
  
  I wish I could tell you I was an Xbox360 fanboy who was bashing this game just for the sake of it, but I'm not. I hate the Xbox360 - I'm a total PS3 devotee so it's difficult for me when I come across quality problems like those I find in MGS4. I so hoped the games for the PS3 would be better than this.
  
  I don't understand how people can proclaim this game a 'masterpiece' or 'awesome' or any of the other accolades bestowed upon it. Look at it in the cold harsh light of day and you'll find a so-so game riddled with problems.
  
  I've been gaming since Elite came out on the BBC Micro computer in 1984 so I'm no stranger to any type of game, but it's not often that one comes out that just leaves me thinking "what the hell?".
  
  My advice - don't fall for the advertising hype. If you're not into the previous MGS titles then you're just not welcome at this party (as the comments at the end of this review will attest where fervent MGS fans will no doubt proclaim me to be the Antichrist for not liking their game.)
  
  Pick up Call Of Duty 4 instead - you'll actually enjoy playing that instead of wanting to throw your PS3 through a window. If you must play MGS4, then rent it first to see if it's your cup of tea. Because if it's not, you'll feel totally robbed.
  
  One last thing : for all those who think that this wraps up the MGS storyline, think again. MGS5 is being talked about now, possibly as a prequel. If they don't fix these problems in that game, I'm sure I'll be reviewing it just the same in 5 years time.
  
  
  
• A must buy if you own a PS3!
  By AQREYF07N4G26 on 2008-06-12
  This game made me cry. No I didn't finish it yet, and there are no spoilers in this small review.It made me cry because of the fantastic visuals, gameplay, story (atleast the 7 hours I've been playing it since I got it on midnight release). This game is just too epic. I am not even a true Metal Gear fan, and this game blows me away.
  
  A definite must buy if you own a PS3, regardless of the fact that you are a Metal Gear fan or not. Even if you haven't played any of the previous Metal Gear games, you will still end up loving it, and you will truly enjoy this game.
  
  If you don't own a PS3, I would definitely recommend picking one up just for this game, if you have the money, or at least wait until future price drop.
  
  Final words:
  Stunning! Epic! Legendary! Majestic!
  
  
  
  
• The most egocentric game of all time?
  By A3E0L5LCIIJV1C on 2008-06-12
  Wow. No I am speechless. How did Sony take one the most promising consoles and franchises and both in turn into the most reveiled piece of entertainment products in gaming history? The answer is not a simple one but the over-arching theme seems to be a common one these days. No Fun.
  It is a tell tale sign that most ps 3 owners are spending time playing gta 4 as opposed to this nonsense. Visually it is a masterpiece. Gameplay-wise it is without parallel. Only problem is you end up paying to watch a movie as opposed to playing a game.
  Again, I feel the inclined to exlaim silently. Only a tech groups could squeeze all the fun out of a potentially good idea. Takes some talent for that and Sonyy/Konami succeed in flying colors.
  Do yourself a favor and pick up gta 4 instead of wasting your time on this overhyped merchandise. Don't mean to sound harsh but movies are for theaters. See Kojima? Buttons. Buttons. For continous interaction genius. Not for watching ednless hours of ego-masturbation.
  
  A surpisingly boring game. Not really recommended for those new to the series
  
  
• Game of the Year
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2008-06-19
  What a great time for this game to come out, because I was just getting bored of Grand Theft Auto IV. Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best exclusive PS3 game bar none. I only played the other Metal Gear games a couple of times years ago, but it didn't take me any time at all to get into this one. Sure you watch the game as much as you play it, but it's so nice to look at I didn't mind one bit. By the way, the graphics are probably the best I have ever seen. Ignore all the XBOX 360 reviewers on here who are just mad they can't play the game of the year.
  
  
• Full circle... a seamless panorama of gameplay and film elements
  By A2Q6SZYBMG5RVH on 2008-08-03
  I will start with the obvious, the game looks beautiful. The graphical
  quality does not change between cutscenes and gameplay. Kojima and his team pulled out all the stops on the beauty of this game, as they have always striven to do.
  
  SPOILER ALERT
  Then there is the story. A lot of people harp on the Metal Gear Series because the story is full of twists. One person even said that the plot was twists and only twists. That person missed the point completely. Especially by the end of this game, it becomes apparent what Kojima had been pushing for. The message about humanity is clear... the MGS series has always been anti-war, anti-genetic determinism, anti-environmental determinism, every mistake that humanity has ever made with regards to war and control of the populous has been addressed in some way. Consider the history through which Kojima derives his inspiration. His home country of Japan experienced an apocalypse during WWII while causing an apocalypse in mainland Asia at the same time.
  
  In all situations of war no matter who begins the fight or where it starts or ends, the young will repeat the mistakes of the old, and the old will let the knowledge gained from their mistakes slip away with death. Even the most heinous actions, deception, murder, are a means to an end, and the end is all that really matters.
  SPOILERS OVER
  
  Gameplay was spectacular. The MGS franchise is one of very few that has made significant gameplay improvements with every subsequent release. Control of Snake feels much more fluid, yet at the same time you can feel his age in the way he performs. Though he is more agile and powerful than the average human could ever be, he isn't quite the same old Snake. He is THE Old Snake.
  
  Old Snake gets a lot of neat toys in this game, too. Most notably is his chameleon suit. If he lays flat, his suit will automatically adopt the pattern of the materials that are on the floor. By pressing the "triangle" button while up against a wall, he will adopt those coverings as well.
  
  The second great toy is Drebin's shop. Drebin is a weapons launderer who gives Old Snake full access to replacement ammo and other supplies. ID Locked weapons can be converted to old-world weapons that do not require nanomachine permissions. There are A LOT of weapons in this game. First time through you probably won't get to experience all of them, and that is okay. Just check them out on your next run. The game is only about 10-15 hours long depending on how you choose to play. Also, through Drebin's shop Old Snake can modify his weapon. The first weapon, the M4 Custom is a good all-purpose weapon. It packs a decent punch and holds 30 rounds. It can be modded with a shotgun attachment, grenade launcher, or foregrip for stability. Laser sights and scopes can also be added to the M4 and other select weapons. So play around and have fun.
  
  Next up, the enemies. In this game, it is impossible to hate the enemies you fight (except for Vamp) because they are amazing, flat-out. Whether they are GECKOS (bipedal beast machines), FROGS (all-female supersoldiers), or Private Military Company militia-men (remnants of their humanity will keep you grounded), or the Beauty and the Beast Corps (best enemies in of all time in videogames?), enemies are not just targets. Kojima and his crew made the enemies in this game characters to be admired. They neither have names nor faces, but they will f*** your day up very quickly if you do not respect their power. From the top down, they are all capable killers.
  
  The humanity of this game lies within Snake's allies. Meryl, Eva, Hal, the Colonel, Mae Ling, Raiden, Rosemary, Naomi, and especially Sunny represent the other side of life. Old Snake is a manufactured product of war, the only life he has ever known. No machine can imitate or destroy the compassion that these individuals shared. This is passion. I won't go on, can't explain much else without major spoilers.
  
  Gameplay, people, visuals, this game is stunning. Metal Gear Sold 4 exemplifies why videogames deserve to be celebrated as art. It has the story worthy of novel publishing, breath-taking visuals, engrossing music, and an all-around realism that we celebrate in paintings such as the Mona Lisa. If only more videogame producers put this much time and effort into a game. Production for perfection... long hours, perspiration, and inspiration to produce the culmination of one's efforts... that is art... this is art.
  
  If you are a casual gamer, this is not for you. If you have never played the other MGS games, this is probably not for you. Play through MGS1-3 in order to get the story and gameplay straight, and then play MGS4.
  
  For everyone who has been trying to compare this game to COD and HALO...come on. MGS4 is not a pure shooter. They put it nice and bold on the cover, "Tactical Espionage Action". That means be sneaky and use force only as needed. Play a "shooter" and judge other shooters with it. MGS4 is NOT, I repeat, is NOT a shooter.
  
  Could this go down as one of the best games of all time? Absolutely. Game of the Year? For sure. It is in a league of its own. Nothing else plays like it. Few other games are as engrossed in the mystique of political/sci-fi conspiracy. Too few have such dedicated stories. In most games, the producer's passion is not as apparent. MGS4 had a 105 degree fever with Kojima's ardor for gaming perfection. The game feels like he and his team cared.
  
  Gameplay 5
  Video 5 - Cutscenes are long but not at all boring
  Audio 5
  Story 5
  
  
  
• A new standard for next gen gaming
  By A35OZBE1LPKDAP on 2008-06-13
  Very impressed with this game so far. The controls are MUCH better than I ever could have hoped for, and they finally caved and switched the X and O buttons so that they match every other game in existence as being confirm and cancel respectively.
  
  I can't speak to the storyline yet as I'm only a few hours in, but it seems solid so far although I'm sure there will be a few bumps in the road later on as with all MGS games after the first.
  
  Graphics are outstanding, controls are intuitive for the most part (Stance changing can still be a pain, but improved from MGS3), gameplay is intense and interesting, cutscenes are exciting, I really have very little to complain about.
  
  As far as complaints, the graphics can tend to break down a little bit in some of the larger environments, and you can see a little bit of texture artifacts in the distant walls and buildings. Nothing huge, but I noticed it.
  Also, the enemy AI can be a little sad at times, at least with generic PMC levels on the battlefield zones. I've found that just sniping at guys from a few streets away causes them to panic and take cover or call for backup, but not necessarily attempt to return fire or flank you.
  
  
• THIS IS THE MOST OVER-RATED BORING WASTE OF 60.00!
  By ABX3HRE1K5YF1 on 2008-06-19
  THIS GAME IS ALL SHOW! Graphics, more graphics, all cut scenes. I sold my copy after 4 days. I could not get into this boring crap. It's so slow and dull. After playing fun games, that are actually GAMES! Not a RENDERED FREAKING MOVIES! You will be bored with this game if you like action. I can't believe people like this game so much? It's like playing a boring RPG . WHAT A WASTE! THIS GAME IS WORTH 30.00 AT MOST. IT'S MOSTLY JUST CUT SCENES OF BORING COMPLEX STORY. WHAT A BORE!
  
  
• Over the top realism, cheesy scenario, questionable gameplay
  By A3QNBZMDZJI74B on 2008-07-01
  MGS4 treads the line between a video game and a (bad) movie. Graphics are positively stunning, no other game comes even close to the level of detail that MGS4 provides; every bit in the game is very carefully simulated (save the magical backpack used by Snake to stow away all the crap he carries) from all motions to the breasts of the few female characters. Gun afficionados will probably enjoy the realism with which each weapon is reproduced. Sound effects are awesome too so it makes for a really immersive experience but...
  
  There is a but, in the form of a truly underwhelming scenario served by the longest cut-scenes ever. If you're a fan, you'll revel in the umpteenth reference to the earlier installments of the series. But then again, you've probably stopped reading this after laying your eyes on the title. If you're not a fan, you'll most likely find these boring. Acting is tedious, and your usual suspension of disbelief won't even suffice.
  
  You've been warned. Maybe worth buying second-hand.
  
  
• Review from someone who hasn't played MGS in a while
  By AO5B7TLBAHMK6 on 2008-06-13
  I'll start off by saying that I have not played all of the previous titles (MG, MG2, etc.). I have played the original MGS and I enjoyed watching my friend play MGS2. It was hilarious since he's a button-masher and easily frustrated.
  
  Having established that I'll give my objective review.
  
  __Single Player__
  The loading screen was clever, and wasn't as long as people complained about.
  First starting off the game -- before the title screen even came up -- is interesting and a bit confusing at first. But when I hit the "X" button the "channel" changed; it's then that I realized what it was supposed to be. So I surfed these channels for a bit until the main title came up. They were hilarious and just amazing to watch in their brillant colors/graphics and clarity. I happened across a parody of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" where the lady had to identify one of the PMCs. Heh, there was even a cooking show that was cooking up snakes in a bunker.
  
  The game then began, credits rolling over the occaisional cutscene still. Interesting to watch, but I was glad that I got caught up on my MGS before starting. I could see where someone picking up this title with no previous knowledge would become confused real quick. (Thank goodness there's a recently released MG Database!)
  
  Gameplay is fun, especially adapting to your surroundings with Octocamo. It does take some getting used to, but it's basically 3rd person with the ability to shoot over-the-shoulder or in first person down the sights (ironsights, rail, red-dot, scope). Customization is huge. And very fluid after you bump into "Drebin" and begin utilizing the Drebin points system. I like how this was utilized. Sell off weapons that you can't use because of their ID tags (future tech disables other users) and then use the credits toward purchases of mods. Take your M4 and utilize the rails for a laser sight or Master Key. The environments in general look great and looking down the weapon sight has that realistic feel to it.
  
  I like how they incorporated the iPod into your inventory, definitely some potential there.
  
  __Multiplayer: Metal Gear Online__
  This was utilized quite nicely. The only gripe I have is that you have to register for a Konami name, then a Game ID. Which can't match. Seems redundant, until you realize you can have multiple Game IDs to each Konami name. The first character you create is free. Customize your PMC soldier however you wish.
  The Drebin Points are utilized differently, instead of picking up weapons, it's based off of kills, captures, achievements (Knock an enemy out and gain some points, # of headshots, etc.). Then upon your respawn, customize your inventory up to the amount of points you snagged, or retain them until the next time for even better weapons.
  
  The controls are the same (Items/Weapons, 3rd person, over-the-shoulder, and first person) and there's a nice tutorial that you can go through to get you up to speed.
  
  You can also customize your abilities. And the best part is that they're not "locked." You can change them inbetween matches so that you're increasing the stats on each one. You have your choice of 4 abilities, choose from all sorts of categories; from CQC, Knife Mastery, Sniper, Assault, "Trickery" and even some of the SOP specials. The SOP allows for teamwork on the network, utilized through the nanomachines, allowing for you to know where everyone is, and if they're under fire or perhaps just knocked out. The more you use an ability, the closer you'll get to advancing it to the next tier/level of mastery.
  
  Definitely a lot of fun; looking forward to advancing the skill sets.
  And definitely recommend MGO for gamers looking to play online, advance in skill, and utilize teamwork.
  
  __Overall__
  Definitely fun, and looks great. A great stealth title, plus a fun online experience for you and some friends.
  
  Would recommend playing or reading/watching the previous titles to get up to speed on the background story.
  
  
  
• Enough with the cut scenes!
  By A3I6CD0QD080N9 on 2008-06-27
  The game is nice to look at but it is not extraordinary. It's on par with most next generation games. The problem with it is that there are far too many cut scenes and they are far too long. I found myself annoyed, waiting for them to end, and wondering if gameplay would suffer by skipping them. And when you do get to play, the gameplay and the controls are tedious. It is not very natural or intuitive. "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" is a better choice if you like to actually play a great combat game. I even preferred "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" as an example of an intuitive 3rd person shooter.
  
  
• Engrossing story but lacking in the fun
  By A1GXY0CDN8QV37 on 2008-06-18
  If replayability is important to you when buying games, I highly recommend that this game be a rental. I'm not being partisan here, please read on.
  
  Visually, the game is high quality. I enjoyed the story, as I did with previous MGS games though, for me, I still feel that the story isn't as interesting as say HalfLife but MGS4 was entertaining.
  
  What I think prospective players should know is that the gameplay is secondary, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Long cut scenes is only part of it. Yes, you'll spend more time watching the cutscenes than playing the game once you get the controls down (this is completely honest) but the linearity of the gameplay makes the replay value very, very low.
  
  So I'd almost rank this game as more of an interactive movie experience. It's no wonder that the developers are so high on the Bluray format because it has so much film on it Bluray was necessary.
  
  Just like regular films, if you love the movie, it's worth seeing/playing over again right? If not, and for most of us I don't think I could rewatch this game to get $60 worth. I recommend this be a rental.
  
  Unfortunately, the bigtime fans are so avid about squelching criticism because I'm sure this comment will be heavily buried. I hope it was useful to the rest of you.
  
  
  
• No fun, no gameplay.
  By A33BZH95PKR1B6 on 2008-06-19
  MGS4 offered about 30 minutes of actual playtime in the three hours I "played" it before returning it. The rest of the time I watched boring cinematics that had too much unnecessary information. The gameplay of this title was fairly boring, with several of the levels being less than 1 minute long before another extremely long cutscene.
  Cutscenes aside, this game really had nothing to offer me by way of gameplay. Sneaking is really not necessary in this game as blasting your way through the few enemies you find is far easier than trying to run around them.
  Ultimately, this game is geared toward extremely hard-core Metal Gear fans. If you aren't one of those, then I would suggest disregarding the hype and picking up another title.
  
  
• First Next-Gen Game
  By A1NU96SXMRE9VQ on 2008-06-13
  This is the first truly next-gen game to grace either console (PS3/360, the Wii is different). The sheer detail and feature sets are amazing. It's a singleplayer game with the benefit of multiplayer, unlike many games which are the reverse. This is crucial, as many modern games trend toward the opposite. The graphics are, to put it less than eloquently, "HAWT." Controls are fluid and very deep (the sheer volume of actions/interactions is staggering). This is a STORY-DRIVEN game, someting that this generation of games is often lacking imo. I haven't seen this much emphasis on this all-too crucial aspect since Lost Odyssey. The soundtrack is at times haunting and always appropriate, really accentuating the experience. The campaign is lengthy and rich. Warning, if you're not a fan of excessive cutscenes, you may be put off by MGS4 (although you CAN skip them). I for one love the game for this reason. There are so many little details that cater to the player's enjoyment, such as the ability to play music in-game on your virtual ipod, the songs and extras scattered here and there, and the inside humor. Even if you're unfamiliar with the series (I have experience only with the first Metal Gear Solid game) it's definitely worth a purchase. This is a system-seller plain and simple. Every gamer who calls themself as such should own it. The first truly next-gen does not disappoint. Snakes last dance must be experienced.
  
  
• Worth 300$
  By A1ONVKB9L0AV0F on 2008-06-12
  This game worth spending 300$ or more .. If you dont have a PS3 then get your self one right now ... This is the Highest rated Exclusive video game ever made ..and for me this is The best game in my entire life .. actually I got the limited edition from gamestop .... Stop reading and get your self a copy befor befor it is too late
  
  
• Fun game.....BUT......
  By A1RNL38FZSTVWK on 2008-07-10
  The good:
  Fun game, nice graphics, decent gameplay.....Decent amount of fun factor!
  
  The Bad:
  VERY, VERY LONG movie sequences, (VERY BORING, too). Seems to be more movie sequences then actual gameplay. Outlandish storyline (borderline "cheesy"), akward controls.....ESPECIALLY when trying to use a sniper scope!!!!
  
  Conclusion:
  Not a horrible game, BUT, the game could have......SHOULD HAVE......been 10 times better! A lot more thought should have went into this game before releasing this game.
  
  
• Solid Gold Gaming
  By A3ROE64EVHDTTV on 2008-08-06
  The Good Things
  *Excellent gameplay. The controls are not too hard to master. The level designs are great. There are lots of weapons and items to use. Enemy AI seems pretty good and somewhat challenging. You can interact with the game in many ways; you can even do stuff during cutscenes.
  *It's not all about shooting or killing. Much of the game involves sneaking and problem solving.
  *Graphic and sound quality are awesome; probably the highest quality I know of. Lots of details, textures, reflections, lighting effects, etc, all in glorious HD quality!
  *Storyline and characters are immersive, interesting, and told in a very cinematic way. Some scenes are visually striking.
  *Some good inside jokes.
  
  The Bad Things
  *The story may be confusing for those who are unfamiliar with the whole franchise (like me; I don't understand much of it). But it still makes some sense for the uninitiated, and is still worthwhile seeing. Fans of the series may pick up better on the history, characters, and homages throughout.
  *Not for kids; contains bloody violence and swearing.
  *You seem to spend a lot of time watching cutscenes (but in most cases, you are able to interact a little bit with them. Besides, some of them are totally awesome).
  
  This is the first game I've played on the PS3, and I can't seem to stop playing it. The gameplay is fantastic, the storyline is addictive, and the graphics are beautiful. Highly reccomended to any gamer.
  
  
• Metal Gear Solid IV:Guns Of The Patriots
  By on 2006-05-27
  I have been a fan of Metal Gear ever since i bought MGS2 last summer to see what was so great about it,and boy I loved it,I managed to complete it 100%,which means i complted the game on every difficulty(starting with Medium),i discovered every secret and easter eggs and overall finished the game 22 times.I bought MGS3:Snake Eater with some of my birthday money in November 2005 and i loved that game even more,so to complete my understanding of the story i bought The Twin Snakes for my GameCube,finshed that although it dissapointed me a little as teh cutscenes was overdone and the game was so short,but i manged to complete it 100% like the otehr two games.The conclusion was that MGS3 was teh best in the series yet,for me.
  Now roll on Metal Gear Solid 4:Guns Of The Patriots(MGS4:GOTP) a PS3 game which is going to be the conclusion of teh series(or so they say).It is said that its release date is 7/7/07 seeing as thats Metal Gear`s 20th Annerversery.
  MGS4 will be set 6 years after the events of MGS2 and Solid Snake is yet again finding himself in combat against terrorist teams and METAL GEAR robots or more primarily the Patriots have set up a plan.
  Solid Snake will be old in this game,but the game only takes place 6 years after MGS2,it is because Snake is a clone made out of 1970`s technology and is also infected with the FOXDIE virus which will give him pains and increased fear rate.He only has 6 months to live as told by Naomi Hunter.
  I am not buying a PS3 just for this game,i want plenty of others-But when i do get my PS3 this will be a game i will definately get.
  I have seen all MGS4 screenshots,seen all trailers and teasers and also have seen the Famitsu poster which features Snake,big Boss,Meryl,Vamp and Naomi Hunter,not to mention have read all teh info about it off interviews and Kojima`s Blogs.So i`ll keep up to date about the game.
  So anyone who is buying a PS3 and likes stealth combat,all i can say is buy MGS4 when it comes out! Surely it will get good reviews such as 8`s and 9`s seeing as the rest of the series did.
  Not to mention MGS4 is one of PS3`s highly anticipated games,you can`t go wrong with a successful series unless you are not a fan of the genre.
  MGS4 WILL ROCK!
  
  
• Metal Gear Solid 4 - A game/video perfection
  By A2WZCZD99VMVYN on 2008-06-12
  Metal Gear Solid 4 is the first game i've bought as a pre-order, and i admit, i fell into buyers remorse as soon as i got it. Bare in mind though that this is before i placed the game into my ps3. Having opened the box and actually placing the game into the system you are welcomed by a installation screen, it was a bit of a wait (suggest you snack as the messages in this part tend to just repeat themselves, so you wont miss much) I was unhappy for the wait at first, but as soon as the game started, all was forgiven.
  
  The visuals in this game are the best I've seen to date. Konami really brings out the power of the ps3 here. There's intricate detail, from facial features like Snakes chapped and old lips, to his old wrinkly skin. Besides Snake the enviroments are done exceptionally well too. Decaying residential areas scarred from battle, you can see walls cracking, falling, etc. Bottles on the floor. Even the enemies and other characters get the ps3 visual treatment. You wont be disappointed at all.
  Plus it runs at 1080i/p for those of you who have old school hdtvs like i do which is just awesome, and completely appreciated these days due to the lack of 720p compatibility, we're usaully stuck at 480p. Thanks Konami!
  
  The Sound is just as every bit of amazing as the visuals, you get immense detail here too. From the cicada sounds of a nearby Gekko. To the communicating enemies near the hall you're at. To the chicken, birds and other animals that are going about life near you. The music is killer too, but it's just as expected from the Metal Gear Solid series.
  
  The gameplay controls are great, you've got fps aiming L1 and Triangle (the game control screen says just hold Circle for FPS, but it's not working for me) and auto aiming just holding L1. The trigger is R1 and underneath those two are L2 and R2 which are there for your equipment and gun setup. You've got your movement/aiming and camera control on the two analog sticks, simple right? Triangle to stand or lean at an object and x to crotch (light button push) or lay on the floor (hard button push). The Start button brings up you're equipment menus, codec, and save options. Everything flows in terms of controls.
  
  Now for the plot, well that I won't ruin, but it won't fail you in that department. Many people complain about the too many cutscenes in this game, this is a clear sign it's their first experience with the Metal Gear Series, it's always been like this since day 1. I've always digged them, granted though some are a little too long to watch, but people have their own opinion, regardless if you just want a game to play, use the online option instead, it's pretty good in it's own right. (just don't expect to go in running and gunning or you'll be on the floor dead like i was the first one hundred times :) ) The beta had a few lag issues, but I'm pretty sure they've probably ironed most of the bugs out.
  
  If you have a ps3 Metal Gear Solid 4 is a must own !....or atleast a rent (if you're that cheap...) you shouldnt skip it out even if you're one of those people who avoid games due to hype, you will only be missing out on what will be the game of the year for sure and probably hurting yourself from a masterfully done experience.
  
  **A funny tidbit: This is probably the first Metal Gear to utilize skin pores lol, don't believe me? Just check it out play Metal Gear Solid 3,2,1 and compare it to 4.
  
  
• So Far So Good
  By A2NMNKTDMW7EK5 on 2008-06-12
  Came home with the game hours ago and I'm currently in the second Act. I know it's considered early to post a review this early into the game, but wow is it great. The camo integration is so seamless, and it adds a new gameplay mechanic into the strategy.
  
  I've been a big MGS fan since MGS2: Sons of Liberty, so I may be biased in favor of it, but I can certainly say I love this game.
  
  
  
  
• More cutscenes than gameplay
  By A1OBBK9X4X505H on 2008-06-13
  I've played for a few hours so far and I have to say there are way too many cutscenes. It's almost like watching a movie instead of playing a game. After each 2 or 3 minutes of gameplay you get a 4 or 5 minute cutscene.
  
  I WANT TO PLAY A GAME NOT WATCH A MOVIE!
  
  So far the best games for the PS3 are Resistance FOM and COD4. If you loved those games you will find MGS4 about half as good as either of them in gameplay, but far superior in graphics. Great graphics does not make for great gameplay.
  
  I'm waiting impatiently for the REAL PS3 killer app, Resident Evil 5. If it's half as good as RE4 it will blow away MGS4 and any other PS3 game.
  
  
• BUY THIS GAME!!!!
  By A35G1B3GVJQ253 on 2008-06-13
  I have never had an easier review to write. BUY THIS GAME!!!!
  Everyting about the game, the controls, graphics, surround sound, vignettes are all outstanding and set the bar for PS3 experience.
  
  Those familiar with the MGS franchise will notice extreme advances in game play. For those unfamiliar, MGS4 plays very much like Tom Clancey's Splinter Cell.
  
  This game is awesome. Buy it!!!
  
  
• way overrated
  By A1QY19G8IOB7LY on 2008-07-27
  I think this may be the most overrated video game of all time. The action is dull. You basically just walk around and shoot people then try to hide when the alarm goes off and get to the next check point. The cutscenes are cool but way too long. I got through most of the game and got near the end that I was so disgusted with this game that I couldn't even finish it. Grand Theft Auto 4 is a much better game than this for the ps3!!
  
  
• Wow! Just Amazing!
  By A27NDFXLINFNZU on 2008-08-02
  Before I start... I do my fair share of gaming, but I'am by no means a very obsessive gamer. So I never really knew about Metal Gear Solid until I bought this game. I'm a huge fan of first person shooter games like COD, Resistance, etc. So I saw the ads and thought it was another military type shooting game so I went out and spent the $59.99 and got the game. I put the game into the PS3 and after about an 8 minute wait (becasue the game is so amazing that it needs time to load some stuff on to the PS, but you still need the disk to play the game!) the game started and I was completely blown away. I have played some really good games in my time and on many systems, but this has, by far, been THE best game that I have palyed on ANY system before. The quick down low on this game... the graphics... I give a 10/10. The detailing of the all the characters, the details on the machinery and the surroundings, it was awesome. The thing that made is so spectacular was the fact that the developers did put so much attention to the details that they did a very good job of simulating real life as best as possible. Another big pet peeve of mine is the acting of the characters in the game. I feel like it plays a big part in the gaming experience and people don't give it much credit. So for the acting another 10/10: the character voices fit the characters, and the voice acting was done superbly. The animation was also done extremely well, my only fuss about the animation is that you can't really read how the character is feeling by looking at thier face: the pretty much always put on the same face... but no game has ever done that really well either so I looked over that fact. Finally for game play I give 9/10. I give it such a "low" rating because quite frankly this game is a bit tough to get accustomed to (all though once you do... you're pretty much ready to kick some MAJOR BUTT). I guess a more crazy gamer would have managed to get all the controls down quickly... but for me it took me a while to figure out how to use all the controls. At first the menu that shows all your items, weapons, and an array of other things was very difficult to figure out. Once you got past that you had to actaully figure out how to use the items, weapons, etc. It took me the longest time to figure out how to use Med-packs... but that could also be due to my inabilities :-p. So basically thats why the gameplay is 9/10... overall its just a confusing interface to get used to, but once you do it gets very fun. Also the interactions in the game is awesome. Like the bad guys can figure out when you are there just by bascially seeing you (obviously), hearing you (also obvious), and smelling you (Yea... thats a new one on me too). So its really fun trying to sneak around all the levels w/o getting spotted... but fear not my first person shooter fans... there are thrills here for you too... if the baddies spot you, you're gonna' be pulling out some very nifty guns to shoot them: my fav. is the p90. Just before I end here, if you don't know about the Metal Gear Series (like myself) you won't really know what's going on in the game. In that sense it really sucks because you're just shooting and sneaking around w/o really knowing what's happening. The developers just assumed that you played previous versions so they just build on the stories of the last one's so you miss out a lot of the stories and things like that. But, I went on Wiki and basically read the story like a book so I was all set! And lastly (I promise this time) the game does feel like its more of a movie with some player interaction becasue the cut scenes are ridiculously long... so if you are'nt a cut scene type of person... you might not like this game. As for me.... I loved it!!!So basically this game is wicked fun and if you haven't bought it yet... you HAVE TO!!!!!
  
  
• MGS4 GAME OF THE YEAR!!! BUY A PS3 NOW!
  By AU6U2JLE65WSC on 2008-06-12
  The story, graphics, weapons, online, customization, controls, and gameplay are aces. The cutscenes are HD and its like a movie. The graphics are better than Uncharted! It took me over 25 hours to finish the game, but that was including hours (yes many hours) of cutscenes.) But they're so breathtaking that you won't want to skip them from telling the great story.
  
  SPOILER WARNING!!!
  
  The storyline in this game was awesome including locations in South America, Middle East of course, Europe, and Alaska at Shadow Moses. The only thing I didn't like about this game is Otacon (he is really annoying when he falls in love with Naomi) and the MGS1 part didn't seem like it fit in for me (maybe for the previous fans). Graphics are the BEST on any console game thus far this generation until Killzone 2 releases, and the framerate is always stable except for the part when you're in Rex and you're escaping from the underground part of Shadow Moses. I have to say that the boss battles were not legendary like some other games make them to be, but I actually enjoyed them more because they seemed more realistic. Gameplay is solid, sound is incredibly well done. Buy this game now!
  
  
• It's a Movie not a Game
  By A35BR3QOHZ8UM1 on 2008-06-15
  Great game, great graphics but if you are going to play it make sure you have a lot of time to spare. There are tons of cinema sequences and some are very long. This game is like if your playing a movie instead of a game.
  I want to play the game not watch 15 mins or more cinema sequences, if I wanted that I would've watch a flick.
  Don't get me wrong, the game is awesome but again get used to the idea you'll be doing a lot of watching while you do some playing.
  
  

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots -- Limited Edition Collector's Guide: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play

• PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
• Grand Theft Auto IV
• Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
• PlayStation 3 40GB
• Assassin's Creed