Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is a next-gen experience complete with top-of-the-line graphics and surround sound designed for the Sony PlayStation 3. Featuring the most revealing display of Kojima Production's premier title, MSG4 details the world where Snake must under go his final mission. In a world overrun by private military companies (PMCs), wars are no longer fought over nations or ideologies. Instead, the wars of the future are micro-managed by overarching PMCs, right down to the bullet. New gadgets and abilities fuel Snake's journey deep into the enemy domains of the Middle East, South America, and beyond. New gear includes "Metal Gear Mk. II," the ultimate reconnaissance tool, and "Solid Eye," which gives Snake real-time information on enemies and his surroundings. 
Old timer Snake returns for what is slated as the final installment in the Metal Gear series. View larger. |
New and old characters abound in MGS4. View larger. | 
PMCs have run amok and the world is at war. View larger. | 
Octacamo will help Snake blend into surroundings. View larger. |
Joined by a familiar cast of characters, Snake must once again return to the battlefield to confront his lifelong rival, Liquid Ocelot, who is manipulating the world's wars from the one world where soldiers will always have a place. But Liquid Ocelot is not the only one who will be able to manipulate the world's wars--Snake can destabilize opposing forces by working behind the scenes, supporting the local militia as they fight PMCs, creating a smokescreen that allows Snake to move freely within the war-zone. MGS4 is a next-generation adventure set in the aftermath of MGS2: Sons of Liberty. The concept behind the latest Metal Gear Solid project is "no place to hide," and this edition in the series will force Snake into unexpected circumstances with an all-new storyline that breaks away in some ways from the previous MGS franchise entries. We don't want to spoil it for you, but, producer Hideo Kojima did reveal some very juicy tidbits about the game and the storyline when it was first announced at E3 of 2006. "Until now," said Kojima, "we've released two entries of the MSX2 Metal Gear series, and three entries in the Metal Gear Solid series. Add to this Portable Ops, and you get a total of six titles. All mysteries will be cleared up in Metal Gear Solid 4." Kojima was very clear about the finality of MSG4, leaving gamers to wonder, "Will Snake die?!" When asked if the story will come to this sort of an end, Kojima responded without the slightest bit of vagueness, "It will come to an end." The MGS4 E3 trailer showed a number of characters from the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid histories. This final installment is sure to deliver loads of cameos, in fact, it is rumored that nearly all the characters from the series will make an appearance. In addition to a return of classic Metal Gear Solid characters, the gameplay systems from part three are also expected to make a comeback. The camouflage system from part three will make it into MGS4, with the addition of "OctoCamo," Snake's most advanced stealth suit to date. The name appears to be formed from the words "Octopus" and "camoflauge," and players will be awestruck by the chameleon-like camo that changes with the surroundings. OctoCamo allows Snake to blend in with his environment as it digitally manifests nearby textures in real time. Think if it this way, if Snake is standing next to a wall worn out with holes, he too will appear to be riddled with holes. It has also been revealed that MGS4 will have online play, but no specifics have been released. Although very little information is known about the game's visuals, rumor has it that MGS4 is expected to be the finest representation of console graphics on the PS3, and it is expected that they will just get better and better as the game nears its release date.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Accessories
 Grand Theft Auto IV
Playstation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Assassin's Creed
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Playstation 3 40GB
Soul Calibur IV
Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection
Devil May Cry 4
Battlefield: Bad Company
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Reviews
The game really does wrap up a lot of loose ends from the previous games and provides closure for those interested in the story and characters of the series. The game is good. Be warned, though, if you do not improve your third person shooting skills, it will be difficult to be very good in Metal Gear Online. I look forward to seeing this on an HDTV when I finally get one. Actually, MGS4 might have even more than its predecessors, but it is entirely suitable.
Finally, the cut-scenes. Personally, I try to sneak around as much as possible. The cut-scenes are quite long, but suitably so, seeing as how the game is wrapping up the stories around Solid Snake. The gameplay is fun.
By the end of the first Act, you are pretty well adjusted to the controls. The controls are a bit different from older MGS titles, but not so much so that it would alienate an MGS veteran. Sneaking up on folks and using CQC on them is my favorite. CQC (close quarter combat) is developed more from Metal Gear Solid 3, and it generally is a little easier to do the more complicated actions.
It is visually superb, the controls are solid, and the gameplay is fun. If you want to fully enjoy MGS4, you really should play through the first Metal Gear Solid on the PSOne, 2 and 3 on the PS2, Portable Ops on the PSP, and maybe even the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 (available one way or another, look it up). I was not used to it at first, but using L1 to "ready" your weapon and "R1" to fire makes it a lot more natural to use a gun in the game, which makes the game a lot easier for gamers who are used to shooters. And when there are large firefights I keep a distance from the enemy and use my sniper rifle. However, the change of controls from the older MGS controls to MGS4's L1 to "ready" and R1 to "fire" makes MGS4 a lot more shooter-friendly. Visuals, controls, gameplay, plot and story.
Even though I only played the game on standard definition, it looked amazing. Textures, animations, camera anglesbasically, this game looks as good or better than 95% of its contemporaries. Now, to go into a little more depth. There are a lot of dramatic scenes, and many of them are much more enjoyable if you have played through the previous Metal Gear Solids.
Again, the game is visually superb. This allows for some versatility. MGS4 can basically play as a third person shooter, if you're good enough (or the difficulty is set low enough) and you don't even have to try sneaking around. If you've played any of MGS4's predecessors, you would know what to expect.
In short: Metal Gear Solid 4 is a great game. Good times. Conclusion: Everything about the game is of a very high quality. Long cut-scenes, and heaps of dialoguethis is a huge part of the Metal Gear Solid series.
Bottom Line: If you liked previous versions of the game, you will love this one. Granted, even when you play the game without cut scenes, you won't be running through the game on your first play through. The small details in the sound are also great. Graphics: The graphics are top notch.
There are very few games out right now that outperform this game in the graphics department. I josh. Like I said, I am on my 7th play through and I have yet to get bored. I am looking forward to it.
Movie sequences will take up close to 6+ hours of your gaming experience. My first play through, I watched all of them, including the codec conversations. With the negative out of the way, I can focus on where this game really shines. From a desert wasteland to a lush African jungle, they all look great. Or you can immediately sit up and shoot the enemy, while lying on your back.
Sound: I recently bought a surround sound system, but unfortunately have yet to test this game out on it. David Hayter brought his A game to this A game. I would hardly say it takes an hour, however. I actually can't remember ever struggling with the controls for any Metal Gear Solid game, so it is hard for me to comment on how "difficult" these controls are. With all the medals to unlock, you might be playing it for a while. The cut scenes are very, very long.
Game play: What game play. Many game play elements also makes this game a AAA title. The Octocamo is a great addition with the ability to take your surroundings and turn it into camouflage. His 'Old Snake' voice is fantastic and instills you with the belief that he is actually dieing.
When you break it down, there still is quite a bit of content within those 10 or so hours of game play. I have always loved the music in Metal Gear Solid games and this installment is no exception. Very realistic facial animations; sometimes you can't tell weather it is real or not. Its not bad, mind you, just not my type of multiplayer game. Single player is where this game shines.
Correct. Multiplayer: For the few times I have played the multiplayer, it has been an okay experience. Little nuances that show Kojima went the extra mile. A lot of hype surrounded this game prior to launch, as well as a lot of delays.
So with that said, I would put the actual game play right around 10 to 12 hours. The MK.II is an excellent scout tool and can knock enemies unconscious. The different settings are all done very nicely. How to critique such a game is a challenge in itself.
But I have walked away each time just as impressed as I was the first time. I found this to be very, very exciting, but like I said, if you have no idea what is going on in MGS land, you will most likely find this very, very disappointing. For example, when you get knocked down, you can play dead. Quotes because "negative" is not how I would speak of this game, but I know anybody new to the series might find these things turn offs. The Solid-Eye is also a great tool used to find items or find you way in the dark. I'm going to start off by getting the "negative" out of the way.
I never really got into the previous Metal Gear Online. If you like games like Call of Duty and Halo and have never tried a Metal Gear game, give it a rent. For as many times as I've played it, I thought it might be a daunting task. First of all, yes. I have since played through the game 6 more times and when running through the game, it takes about 2.5 hours. Fun: This game is hella fun.
There are over 70 weapons, a multitude of unlockables, and several different ways to approach the game. All the voices are fantastic and believable. But at last, Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 4 arrived to the public. The sound coming out of my TV speakers was great.
Ha. You might be disappointed, you might not. Of course, I was one of those crazy kids that actually enjoyed the controls for the first 3 Resident Evil games. I think it is well worth any money you pay for it. ::Now for the good.::.
I clocked in the game time at about 21 hours when all was said and done. You could go in guns a blazing, or take the silent approach and sneak your way to a no-kill victory. I find it to be intuitive and was fine from the moment the game started. I can only imagine that it would take some time for someone to get used to all the buttons you have to press to get where you want to go.
I personally think that this game is better than COD4[ which is my all-time favorite game] I was so drawn into the story, and this was the first time i played an MGS game. I dont understand why alot of people complain about the cut scenes, its is the last installment so they have to tie up loose endings[ which were alot] MGS4 is and was one of the best games that i have played in my life. If you are a ps3 owner, this is a must have.
For those of us who are already fans of the series, it would be a SIN not to get this game, and FoxDie is being specialized for your genetic code as we speak. These conversations and cutscenes can all be skipped (thankfully), but doing so would obviously prevent you from understanding the story the first time you play through. It all makes for an incredible experience, but those of you who love to pop in a game and play it from start to finish will be disappointed. It does not say 'First Person Shooter' on the cover of the game. The controls take a little time to grow used to if you aren't already familiar with their general layout, and the story, though brilliantly told, can be hard to grasp for those who haven't played the previous games.
The good news is, Kojima has crafted an icredible story for the game, tying up all of the loose ends and pulling together all of the prior games, all the way back to the beginning. On one final note: This is not a FPS. All in all, this is an incredible game. The music is, as always, inspiring, the graphics are incredible, and the controls are easily picked up by those of us who have played the previous installments in the series. However you can use the First Person point of view while aiming if you'd like. =D
There are many cutscenes, some of which are incredibly long, and the Codec conversations can take a lot of time as well, slowing the pace of the game somewhat. It says 'Tactical Espionage Action'. They've taken all the best from the previous games and made the perfect Metal Gear Solid, with plenty of nods to previous games in the series. Finally, the Metal Gear Solid series is known for it's movie-like feel, involving lots of cutscenes and extensive voice acting.
But therein lies the bad news: the game can be hard to grasp for people who are new to the series. All the graphics and cutscenes in the world won't make it easier to understand. I'd imagine it would be like watching the Matrix Revolutions before the original Matrix. Let me start by saying this game is not for everyone.
It isn't a game for everyone, but this can be solved by simply playing the three other Metal Gear Solid games beforehand to prepare for it, all of which were re-released recently as a collection.
I hate to say it, but this was a GOOD game at best for me. I don't usually like giving negative reviews, but with all the hooplah surrounding this game, I thought I had to at least voice my opinion. I went and bought it the weekend it came out and started playing it immediately. After finishing the game a few days later, I realized that I wasn't entirely satisfied. I'm not sure what it is, but it was a combination of a tired, drawn-out story, overly long cinematic sequences, and a lack of exciting gameplay. I was a huge fan of the other MGS games on the PS3, so when I heard about this game and saw the previews for it, I was anticipating and expecting a lot.
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