Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
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Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of those games that is condemned by its own hype. How can a game possibly live up to the lofty heights of the first 3 MGS games, which appear on nearly every best games list in creation? Add on top of that an impossible amount of hype by the community, claiming that the game will be the PS3’s best yet. The game is supposed to be the last game in the series (although we know otherwise after E3 ’09), it is the first entry on this generation of consoles, and Hideo Kojima seems to think it’s his best work yet. Well, let me be clear on one thing. Metal Gear Solid lives up to the legacy of Metal Gear, the expectations of this generation of consoles and, somehow, the hype machine that arose around it in the years leading up to its release.
If you’ve played the past Metal Gear Solid games, you’ll be in for a treat. MGS4 cleans up and expands on the story in ways you expect and ways you never imagined. The beauty of the story presentation is that it will have an emotional impact on even the newest MGS player. The writing is superb and while there are connections you’ll miss having never played the previous entries, the story pulls you in whether you are right there with it at every step or trying to grasp it from the perspective of an MGS noob. The cut scenes are long, the characters are crazy and you sometimes feel like Kojima needs to do another round of editing, but that’s what’s so great about the series. There are so many amazing set-pieces and plot points that the entire game feels like an emotional climax. The ending in particular left me in awe with chills running up my spine.
Just as Kojima’s storytelling has risen to new heights for this entry, the gameplay mechanics have seen a massive overhaul as well. You play as Old Snake, but that doesn’t mean you have less moves. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The game now plays out more like a third person shooter with the right stick controlling your aim and the left your movement. You have a huge arsenal of real guns at your disposal this time ranging from your trusty M4 to the anti-material rifle and RPGs. The guns can be customized with different barrels, grips, sights and other accoutrements. The deep weapon system is great, but it doesn’t sacrifice any of the stealth elements you’ve come to know and love. You’ll still have plenty of opportunity to sneak around like a true spy. Overall, the new combat makes the game much more enjoyable and playable (and this is coming from a huge fan of the original game’s gameplay).
The game’s graphics and presentation are up to the standard we have come to expect from Kojima. That is to say they are amazing. The character models are some the most detailed I’ve seen on the PS3 and there is an extra layer of animation that simply hasn’t been seen before. You can read a character’s emotions via body language and eye movements. Seriously, focus on someone’s eyes during a cut scene and you’ll be amazed. It gives the game an added layer of realism and lends even more emotion to the characters. The locales are beautifully detailed and the level design gives you choices. If you see a guard ahead, rest assured that there are many ways you can take him out or subvert him.
The music hits a new high point. The main theme is haunting and beautiful and makes its way into the more emotional cut scenes. Every piece of music is great and fits the gameplay well. You also have an Ipod in the game and you find music tracks that you can listen to while you sneak around. Some of the tracks are from the old games and they bring back great memories.
The gameplay has now become just as rewarding as the story. Ladies and Gentlemen, Metal Gear Solid has reached relative perfection. There are some minor quibbles, but they are so trivial that they are hard to pinpoint. This is a must have for Metal Gear Solid fans and gamers in general.
If you’ve played the past Metal Gear Solid games, you’ll be in for a treat. MGS4 cleans up and expands on the story in ways you expect and ways you never imagined. The beauty of the story presentation is that it will have an emotional impact on even the newest MGS player. The writing is superb and while there are connections you’ll miss having never played the previous entries, the story pulls you in whether you are right there with it at every step or trying to grasp it from the perspective of an MGS noob. The cut scenes are long, the characters are crazy and you sometimes feel like Kojima needs to do another round of editing, but that’s what’s so great about the series. There are so many amazing set-pieces and plot points that the entire game feels like an emotional climax. The ending in particular left me in awe with chills running up my spine.
Just as Kojima’s storytelling has risen to new heights for this entry, the gameplay mechanics have seen a massive overhaul as well. You play as Old Snake, but that doesn’t mean you have less moves. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The game now plays out more like a third person shooter with the right stick controlling your aim and the left your movement. You have a huge arsenal of real guns at your disposal this time ranging from your trusty M4 to the anti-material rifle and RPGs. The guns can be customized with different barrels, grips, sights and other accoutrements. The deep weapon system is great, but it doesn’t sacrifice any of the stealth elements you’ve come to know and love. You’ll still have plenty of opportunity to sneak around like a true spy. Overall, the new combat makes the game much more enjoyable and playable (and this is coming from a huge fan of the original game’s gameplay).
The game’s graphics and presentation are up to the standard we have come to expect from Kojima. That is to say they are amazing. The character models are some the most detailed I’ve seen on the PS3 and there is an extra layer of animation that simply hasn’t been seen before. You can read a character’s emotions via body language and eye movements. Seriously, focus on someone’s eyes during a cut scene and you’ll be amazed. It gives the game an added layer of realism and lends even more emotion to the characters. The locales are beautifully detailed and the level design gives you choices. If you see a guard ahead, rest assured that there are many ways you can take him out or subvert him.
The music hits a new high point. The main theme is haunting and beautiful and makes its way into the more emotional cut scenes. Every piece of music is great and fits the gameplay well. You also have an Ipod in the game and you find music tracks that you can listen to while you sneak around. Some of the tracks are from the old games and they bring back great memories.
The gameplay has now become just as rewarding as the story. Ladies and Gentlemen, Metal Gear Solid has reached relative perfection. There are some minor quibbles, but they are so trivial that they are hard to pinpoint. This is a must have for Metal Gear Solid fans and gamers in general.
