Name: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Release Date: June 2008
Rating: Mature
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Playstation 3

Summary: Metal Gear Solid 4 is the final installment for the legendary hero, Solid Snake. Two years since the preview trailer at E3 2006, the long waited game in the franchise is finally here. This post is my review of the biggest game of the year. While many popular gaming websites have their own reviews already, of course, possibly chock full of spoilers, I’ll try to keep my review with minimum spoilers.

Story -

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Metal Gear Solid 4 takes place 5 years after the end of MGS2: Sons of Liberty, and 50 years after the end of MGS3: Snake Eater (for those who are hardcore fans of Metal Gear). The main character, Solid Snake, is going through changes with his appearance; he’s suffering from an accelerated aging syndrome. The cause of his aging is unknown. Despite his new appearance, he is called to back into action on orders from his old friend, Roy Campbell, and with the help of Hal, aka “Otacon”, and the Metal Gear Mk. II. The threat involves an old nemesis: Liquid Snake, who is a part of another nemesis of Old Solid Snake, Revolver Ocelot–now known as Liquid Ocelot.

The MGS4 storyline isn’t for the weak; those who are new to the series should buy the Essential Collection, which features the very first Metal Gear Solid (for the PSX/PSOne), Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2), and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistance (PS2). Players who are new to the Tactical Espionage genre may have a hard time getting used to the characters, and especially figuring out what the heck is going on. If you’re too cheap to buy the collection (it’s only $30, anyway), there’s the flashback feature, similar to the first person view in MGS3 during the scenes–which also returns in MGS4.

There’s also the cutscenes. We can’t forget about that… The MGS series is known for having lengthy cutscenes that can last for 20-40 minutes. This is the best part of games, but they can get annoying after a while, especially if you’re playing the game through the second time. Don’t worry. You can skip (and finally, pause) most of the scenes.

Gameplay -

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If you’re a veteran Metal Gear Solid player, even if you decided to replay the first 3 MGS games before picking this up, the controls will take a while to get used to. Don’t worry; you’ll get used to it very quickly, but if you’re new to the series, good luck. You’ll need it. MGS4 uses the SIXAXIS controller for special actions, such as peeking from inside a garbage can, and other actions later on in the story.

Another quirk with the controls I noticed is that the buttons for X and O have finally been fixed! In the original MGS games, pressing the O button will confirm an action, and the X button cancels the command. This would get me confused when I play a different game. Now you can confirm (X) and cancel (O) just like every other game (just about). Unlike the first few MGS game, first person view has changed. Instead of pressing just one button, looking from Snake’s point of view can be accessed by entering Aiming Mode (L1) and pressing the Triangle button.

Snake has a few new moves in MGS4. He can play dead, either on his stomach or his back. He can also crawl on his stomach slowly like a snake (he finally lives up to his name). He can also hide in the above mentioned garbage bin from guards and peek from inside by tilting the controller. New gadgets have been introduced, such as the Solid Eye, the Mk. II, and a iPod. Yup, an in-game replica of the beloved MP3 media player. The iPod can be used to listen to the original music from the Metal Gear/Solid games that you find along the way or downloaded from the Extra menu at the title screen, including special integral podcasts from MGS creator, Hideo Kojima.

Once you get used to the environment, you will learn the extra features on your own. You can use the Codec to call Otacon, or other allies for help on where to go, and hints on defeating a boss. There’s also a new feature in MGS4 called “Drebin’s Shop”, where you can purchase new weapons and items by exchanging Drebin Points (DP). You can even have him remove ID tags from additional weapons you find along the way for a small fee. The feature list may be overwhelming, but it’s worth it once you get used to it.

Graphics -

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The graphics? Absolutely amazing! It’s flawless. If you show the cutscenes to someone who isn’t familiar with next-gen video games, it would look like actual living people in a blockbuster Hollywood movie. The character graphics have been toned down since the E3 trailer in 2006. Snake looks older, Otacon looks younger, etc. I was a bit wary of these changes, but seeing the final product in person turned out to be better than it originally looked like in 2006. The details of the objects in the game are perfect (you can even knock around the objects). Again, watching the cutscenes (on a HDTV) looks like you were watching an expensive Hollywood movie!

Audio -

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There are two things like like about the sound. The music, which is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (Armageddon, Shrek), and the voice of Solid Snake, preformed by David Hayter. The music is a perfect addition to the amazing graphics. The voices (English dub, of course) fits the characters perfectly–especially Solid Snake. At the time of writing, I am tempted to buy the Original Soundtrack. The audio is a perfect 10! I have nothing more to say.

Replay Value -

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Playing a Metal Gear Solid game through once is good enough. But it is a good idea to play it through again for anything you’ve missed. You are rewarded special items for finishing the game, and you can use them during the second try. Honestly, playing a MGS game twice in a row is impossible for me as I lose interest quickly after going through cutscenes that can last a while. The more you play it, the quicker you finish it.

Final Review -

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Metal Gear Solid 4 is a masterpiece. It’s well worth the $60 ($500~ if you can find the PS3 bundle). We’ve waited 2 years for the next Metal Gear Solid game, and the patience paid off. If you can afford a PS3, get it! If you have a PS3, get it! If you’re unsure, rent it. What are you waiting for?

[Screenshot Source: The Magic Box]