Metal Gear Solid 4:
Guns of the Patriots
Kojima Productions/Konami
Lauren: Metal Gear Solid 4 - AKA the main reason I purchased a PS3. I've been a fan of the series since the beginning, so I was extremely excited about this one. I completely avoided spoilers before playing it, and I'd highly recommend that everyone else do the same. What I wouldn't recommend is even touching this game if you haven't played any of the previous three. That's not to say that it's a bad game otherwise - in fact, it's one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had - but it simply can't be appreciated to nearly the same extent without the proper background.
The graphics, as you'd probably imagine, are simply jaw-dropping. The backgrounds have meticulous detail (even where most people wouldn't look), clothing textures look incredibly realistic, and the character designs and expressions made me feel like I was watching a movie. It was great to see PS1-era characters come to life with these wonderful graphics. Even something as simple as a leather glove amazed me to no end. These are some of the best visuals I've ever seen in a game, period. On top of that, MGS once again showcases incredible graphics in the form of both cutscenes -and- gameplay, with beautifully seamless transitions in between.
What surprised me about MGS4 was the range of environments in which the story takes place. The game begins in a dusty desert city, then proceeds through a South American jungle, a film-noir style of dark European city streets, and a throwback area that's too cool of a surprise to mention here. I enjoyed the variations as a change from being stuck indoors or out in the wild for most of the game. It keeps the action well-paced, and almost makes the game seem too short, but only because it's so varied and enjoyable. The boss battles are also very unique, from hide-and-seek chases to an epic Metal Gear vs. Metal Gear battle to two tired old men punching each other in slow motion.
And the time flies by. The average gamer will probably clock in about 20 hours in his or her first playthrough, which is pretty normal for an action/stealth game. I found myself craving more time with the game as I reached its conclusion, but that's certainly not a bad thing. As always, there are plenty of reasons to play through the game again, though the usual rewards are a bit more difficult to obtain this time around, and the Big Boss Emblem challenge is exceptionally difficult. I actually replayed it just to see the story scenes again.
One of the best parts about MGS4 is the amount of old characters and references that the creators brought back. Although making a list of them is tempting, I don't want to spoil those who haven't experienced this yet. Trust me - you'll run into a lot of surprises. The whole thing was very surreal, combining characters I've known in separate games over the past 12 years into one fantastic story. MGS4 was clearly made with the fans in mind, so newcomers unfortunately won't be half as impressed. The rest of the players, however, will be cheering at their screens as the plot proceeds (and as they spot the many obscure details/references within).
The MGS veteran in me is obligated to point out the fact that some characters' accents were watered down. This was likely done in order to maintain consistency between the more recent Twin Snakes and the rest of the series. It still felt a bit wrong to not have Naomi speaking with a British accent and Mei Ling with an Asian one, though. With that minor complaint aside, the voice acting is as amazing as it always has been in this series. Kudos to the voice actors for staying on board this long - they really make the characters seem human.
Speaking of human, something I love about the character development here is how "real" they make Snake seem. I don't need an invincible hero who can do backflips over lasers. I like someone I can relate to and believe in, and Snake is the perfect example. He's a tough military man with great skills, but he still stumbles. He falls flat on his face if you try to somersault down a set of stairs. He gets tired. He struggles. And in MGS4, it's especially apparent that his age is catching up to him. I thought this might end up being lame, but they pulled it off in a very believable manner. One scene in particular did an amazingly good job of representing his struggle - you'll know it when you get there. I could even sense Snake's frustration during the final battle (which was also wonderfully done) as though he were a real person. Another kudos to the team for managing to tie in the seemingly disjointed storylines of the previous three games into one. I certainly did not expect them to do this, but it was a pleasant and satisfying surprise.
If I were to describe the controls of MGS4 in one word, I'd choose "smooth." I don't know how Konami did it, but they took the basic idea of the controls from all the previous titles, then made them work in a way that feels completely natural to play. ...After a few hours, anyway. I struggled at first and still found myself sometimes hitting Square to shoot, Circle for CQC, or R1 for first-person view (to the glee of enemy soldiers), but it was great after a few hours of conditioning. Despite seeming complex at first, the controls simply make sense, and the developers even fixed the crawling controls to be more convenient. You can now "edge" from side to side while crawling, which is wonderful for sniping. The aiming was drastically improved too, allowing surprisingly good accuracy for regular shooting as well. Even the basic tranquilizer gun gets a nice little reticule to simplify the process.
As smooth as the controls can be, they don't make MGS4 an easy game. It lacks both the Soliton radar of MGS1 and 2, and the silent, open jungles of MGS3. You'll find yourself thrown into a surprisingly chaotic environment with only limited radar functions, which certainly takes some conditioning as well. I spent the first few hours feeling genuinely intimidated by the game, what with all the explosions and gunfire (even if mostly for show) going on in the first couple of chapters.
While the radar's functions are not as clear-cut as they were in the first two games, they are still quite helpful. The "Solid Eye" provides a sound radar, as well as clear marking of items and other soldiers. The radar itself runs on a battery, which is slightly inconvenient, but it lasts a long time and isn't always necessary anyway. As with all the other new features, it's great once you get used to it.
Camouflage makes a return from MGS3, but in a much more convenient way. Snake is equipped with the "OctoCamo" - a suit that can change its pattern depending on its surroundings, like a chameleon. Very handy. And for the most part, it keeps Snake very well hidden. You'll also be able to don a few full disguises throughout the game.
MGS took an interesting turn this time with a shopping system. A certain mysterious individual will assist Snake by activating locked guns for him (for a price), and selling additional weapons, ammo, and items. Any extra guns that Snake picks up are automatically sold to this shop for additional points. Additionally, you can customize your weapons by adding accessories such a silencers and scopes. It's a great system, and a lot of very interesting items become available as the game progresses, as well as on subsequent playthroughs.
As I mentioned earlier, MGS4 combines several gameplay elements from its predecessors into one neat package. The psyche gauge from MGS3 remains, but Snake no longer needs to hunt for food. Rations can save him from death once again, and he doesn't have to worry about fixing injuries anymore. CQC still exists and is very useful, though enemies are much smarter with responding to it now. It's an excellent combination of everything great from the previous games, with a lot of smart new innovations.
There is one main problem I can see with MGS4 - its exclusivity. The inside jokes. The weird references. But of course, that's been the case with every entry into the Metal Gear Solid series thus far. Do not jump into this game without playing at least one of the others first. Doing so would be a disservice to both yourself and the quirky genius Kojima, while spoiling a spectacular gaming experience. MGS4 is, in essence, a grand homage to everything fans loved in MGS1, 2, and 3, from gameplay elements to characters to random oddities.
This is what gaming should be all about. It's the whole package of gorgeous graphics, smooth gameplay, and a strong connection to the fans. On top of that, the story, cinematography, and "acting" is fantastic. Few games have brought tears to my eyes, but MGS4's ending absolutely did. If this is truly the end of Solid Snake's story, I honestly cannot imagine a better conclusion.
Anthony: I’ll try to not be a broken record here. But to the point, MGS4 is absolutely one of the best games I’ve played, and arguably has the most engaging storyline I’ve come across.
Lauren touched on the graphics, and I’ll simply reiterate the point by saying that MGS4 also manages to have better cinematography and more evocative use of its scenes than most movie-makers could hope for. Although it’s far too long and too in-depth to make a movie storyline, Kojima and his crew have arguably outdone some of the best movie-makers in producing some of the exciting, emotional, and dramatic scenes in this game.
Although there are plenty of great aspects of the whole gameplay experience, I have to really put in my praise for the controls. Though it took a brief period of getting used to after playing the early MGS games (the X button is confirm now? Madness!), once it all came together, the word that came to mind was “glorious”. Crawling is finally fixed, making it easy to transition in and out of it, while making adjustments on the ground is finally free from the “turn, move, turn” dynamic. Hiding, aiming, running, and doing all three simultaneously always worked smoothly. Whether I went for crafty stealth or “guns a’blazin” glory, I never once felt like I had to fight the controls to do so.
Other gameplay improvements and enhancements were quite welcome. They kept some of Snake’s CQC from MGS3 and Hold-up tactics, but managed to trim some of the less functional aspects and made them easier to do. Simultaneously, they also increased enemy AI, where it’s a lot harder to just run up and grab alerted soldiers for easy knockouts than it was in MGS3. The OctoCamo was useful for making the camouflage system less cumbersome, the Drebin point system was an excellent way to customize your gameplay style, and the Solid Eye functionality allowed you to use several beneficial types of items from previous games all rolled into one. Everything is streamlined, while items and the AI react in such a way that it doesn’t make the game any easier. For instance, the Solid Eye’s “Night Vision” mode is arguably even better than the Thermal Goggles of previous games, but these temporarily blind you when turning them on so you can’t do the same “flick on and off” trick in previous games.
There are a couple very minor issues to address. As Lauren said, unfamiliarity with the series would no doubt take down one’s appreciation of both the story and gameplay. It’s still a great game, but seeing elements of all the previous entries come together in both story and gameplay is part of what makes this special. The significant change in controls and the very noisy early areas of the game are likely to put a MGS player out of his/her element early on, as it feels much more chaotic than stealthy. I also take slight issue with the fact that enemies can be alerted to you by hearing a single gunshot among what’s a hale of gunfire and explosions all around you. Though it’s an ever-present PS3 issue, the font is also extremely small for some portions of the game for us non-HDTV owners. All of these are very minor gripes overall.
One thing that bears note is the replay value in a game like this. Not even touching the bonus content, this strongly carries the tradition of its predecessors of being a great argument for at least a second playthrough. The game length is moderate, but playing it again really gives you a chance to go through sections of the game using different tactics, different weapons, and exploring different areas. The game has plenty of sections off the beaten path that can be missed, and the wealth of weapons and techniques to use on enemies adds plenty of depth. The game rewards you with cool bonus items and has a nice system for earning emblems for actions during the gameplay. None of those even touch on the amount of hidden easter eggs and codec conversations throughout the game. Although the storyline is linear, the gameplay to get through it could be different every time you play.
In contrast to many games I’ve played lately that feel like they missed the mark, MGS4 is one I think surpassed its expectations. I can’t think of a better way to have wrapped up Snake’s storyline, for one. And as far as gameplay goes, they’ve managed to do a great feat in combining aspects of all the previous entries in a way that’s more functional and diverse than ever before. They managed to do so while still keeping the challenge high and having plenty of variety in the gameplay. Simply put, it’s one of the best games and best series I’ve played.
Guns of the Patriots
Kojima Productions/Konami
Lauren: Metal Gear Solid 4 - AKA the main reason I purchased a PS3. I've been a fan of the series since the beginning, so I was extremely excited about this one. I completely avoided spoilers before playing it, and I'd highly recommend that everyone else do the same. What I wouldn't recommend is even touching this game if you haven't played any of the previous three. That's not to say that it's a bad game otherwise - in fact, it's one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had - but it simply can't be appreciated to nearly the same extent without the proper background.
The graphics, as you'd probably imagine, are simply jaw-dropping. The backgrounds have meticulous detail (even where most people wouldn't look), clothing textures look incredibly realistic, and the character designs and expressions made me feel like I was watching a movie. It was great to see PS1-era characters come to life with these wonderful graphics. Even something as simple as a leather glove amazed me to no end. These are some of the best visuals I've ever seen in a game, period. On top of that, MGS once again showcases incredible graphics in the form of both cutscenes -and- gameplay, with beautifully seamless transitions in between.
What surprised me about MGS4 was the range of environments in which the story takes place. The game begins in a dusty desert city, then proceeds through a South American jungle, a film-noir style of dark European city streets, and a throwback area that's too cool of a surprise to mention here. I enjoyed the variations as a change from being stuck indoors or out in the wild for most of the game. It keeps the action well-paced, and almost makes the game seem too short, but only because it's so varied and enjoyable. The boss battles are also very unique, from hide-and-seek chases to an epic Metal Gear vs. Metal Gear battle to two tired old men punching each other in slow motion.
And the time flies by. The average gamer will probably clock in about 20 hours in his or her first playthrough, which is pretty normal for an action/stealth game. I found myself craving more time with the game as I reached its conclusion, but that's certainly not a bad thing. As always, there are plenty of reasons to play through the game again, though the usual rewards are a bit more difficult to obtain this time around, and the Big Boss Emblem challenge is exceptionally difficult. I actually replayed it just to see the story scenes again.
One of the best parts about MGS4 is the amount of old characters and references that the creators brought back. Although making a list of them is tempting, I don't want to spoil those who haven't experienced this yet. Trust me - you'll run into a lot of surprises. The whole thing was very surreal, combining characters I've known in separate games over the past 12 years into one fantastic story. MGS4 was clearly made with the fans in mind, so newcomers unfortunately won't be half as impressed. The rest of the players, however, will be cheering at their screens as the plot proceeds (and as they spot the many obscure details/references within).
The MGS veteran in me is obligated to point out the fact that some characters' accents were watered down. This was likely done in order to maintain consistency between the more recent Twin Snakes and the rest of the series. It still felt a bit wrong to not have Naomi speaking with a British accent and Mei Ling with an Asian one, though. With that minor complaint aside, the voice acting is as amazing as it always has been in this series. Kudos to the voice actors for staying on board this long - they really make the characters seem human.
Speaking of human, something I love about the character development here is how "real" they make Snake seem. I don't need an invincible hero who can do backflips over lasers. I like someone I can relate to and believe in, and Snake is the perfect example. He's a tough military man with great skills, but he still stumbles. He falls flat on his face if you try to somersault down a set of stairs. He gets tired. He struggles. And in MGS4, it's especially apparent that his age is catching up to him. I thought this might end up being lame, but they pulled it off in a very believable manner. One scene in particular did an amazingly good job of representing his struggle - you'll know it when you get there. I could even sense Snake's frustration during the final battle (which was also wonderfully done) as though he were a real person. Another kudos to the team for managing to tie in the seemingly disjointed storylines of the previous three games into one. I certainly did not expect them to do this, but it was a pleasant and satisfying surprise.
If I were to describe the controls of MGS4 in one word, I'd choose "smooth." I don't know how Konami did it, but they took the basic idea of the controls from all the previous titles, then made them work in a way that feels completely natural to play. ...After a few hours, anyway. I struggled at first and still found myself sometimes hitting Square to shoot, Circle for CQC, or R1 for first-person view (to the glee of enemy soldiers), but it was great after a few hours of conditioning. Despite seeming complex at first, the controls simply make sense, and the developers even fixed the crawling controls to be more convenient. You can now "edge" from side to side while crawling, which is wonderful for sniping. The aiming was drastically improved too, allowing surprisingly good accuracy for regular shooting as well. Even the basic tranquilizer gun gets a nice little reticule to simplify the process.
As smooth as the controls can be, they don't make MGS4 an easy game. It lacks both the Soliton radar of MGS1 and 2, and the silent, open jungles of MGS3. You'll find yourself thrown into a surprisingly chaotic environment with only limited radar functions, which certainly takes some conditioning as well. I spent the first few hours feeling genuinely intimidated by the game, what with all the explosions and gunfire (even if mostly for show) going on in the first couple of chapters.
While the radar's functions are not as clear-cut as they were in the first two games, they are still quite helpful. The "Solid Eye" provides a sound radar, as well as clear marking of items and other soldiers. The radar itself runs on a battery, which is slightly inconvenient, but it lasts a long time and isn't always necessary anyway. As with all the other new features, it's great once you get used to it.
Camouflage makes a return from MGS3, but in a much more convenient way. Snake is equipped with the "OctoCamo" - a suit that can change its pattern depending on its surroundings, like a chameleon. Very handy. And for the most part, it keeps Snake very well hidden. You'll also be able to don a few full disguises throughout the game.
MGS took an interesting turn this time with a shopping system. A certain mysterious individual will assist Snake by activating locked guns for him (for a price), and selling additional weapons, ammo, and items. Any extra guns that Snake picks up are automatically sold to this shop for additional points. Additionally, you can customize your weapons by adding accessories such a silencers and scopes. It's a great system, and a lot of very interesting items become available as the game progresses, as well as on subsequent playthroughs.
As I mentioned earlier, MGS4 combines several gameplay elements from its predecessors into one neat package. The psyche gauge from MGS3 remains, but Snake no longer needs to hunt for food. Rations can save him from death once again, and he doesn't have to worry about fixing injuries anymore. CQC still exists and is very useful, though enemies are much smarter with responding to it now. It's an excellent combination of everything great from the previous games, with a lot of smart new innovations.
There is one main problem I can see with MGS4 - its exclusivity. The inside jokes. The weird references. But of course, that's been the case with every entry into the Metal Gear Solid series thus far. Do not jump into this game without playing at least one of the others first. Doing so would be a disservice to both yourself and the quirky genius Kojima, while spoiling a spectacular gaming experience. MGS4 is, in essence, a grand homage to everything fans loved in MGS1, 2, and 3, from gameplay elements to characters to random oddities.
This is what gaming should be all about. It's the whole package of gorgeous graphics, smooth gameplay, and a strong connection to the fans. On top of that, the story, cinematography, and "acting" is fantastic. Few games have brought tears to my eyes, but MGS4's ending absolutely did. If this is truly the end of Solid Snake's story, I honestly cannot imagine a better conclusion.
Anthony: I’ll try to not be a broken record here. But to the point, MGS4 is absolutely one of the best games I’ve played, and arguably has the most engaging storyline I’ve come across.
Lauren touched on the graphics, and I’ll simply reiterate the point by saying that MGS4 also manages to have better cinematography and more evocative use of its scenes than most movie-makers could hope for. Although it’s far too long and too in-depth to make a movie storyline, Kojima and his crew have arguably outdone some of the best movie-makers in producing some of the exciting, emotional, and dramatic scenes in this game.
Although there are plenty of great aspects of the whole gameplay experience, I have to really put in my praise for the controls. Though it took a brief period of getting used to after playing the early MGS games (the X button is confirm now? Madness!), once it all came together, the word that came to mind was “glorious”. Crawling is finally fixed, making it easy to transition in and out of it, while making adjustments on the ground is finally free from the “turn, move, turn” dynamic. Hiding, aiming, running, and doing all three simultaneously always worked smoothly. Whether I went for crafty stealth or “guns a’blazin” glory, I never once felt like I had to fight the controls to do so.
Other gameplay improvements and enhancements were quite welcome. They kept some of Snake’s CQC from MGS3 and Hold-up tactics, but managed to trim some of the less functional aspects and made them easier to do. Simultaneously, they also increased enemy AI, where it’s a lot harder to just run up and grab alerted soldiers for easy knockouts than it was in MGS3. The OctoCamo was useful for making the camouflage system less cumbersome, the Drebin point system was an excellent way to customize your gameplay style, and the Solid Eye functionality allowed you to use several beneficial types of items from previous games all rolled into one. Everything is streamlined, while items and the AI react in such a way that it doesn’t make the game any easier. For instance, the Solid Eye’s “Night Vision” mode is arguably even better than the Thermal Goggles of previous games, but these temporarily blind you when turning them on so you can’t do the same “flick on and off” trick in previous games.
There are a couple very minor issues to address. As Lauren said, unfamiliarity with the series would no doubt take down one’s appreciation of both the story and gameplay. It’s still a great game, but seeing elements of all the previous entries come together in both story and gameplay is part of what makes this special. The significant change in controls and the very noisy early areas of the game are likely to put a MGS player out of his/her element early on, as it feels much more chaotic than stealthy. I also take slight issue with the fact that enemies can be alerted to you by hearing a single gunshot among what’s a hale of gunfire and explosions all around you. Though it’s an ever-present PS3 issue, the font is also extremely small for some portions of the game for us non-HDTV owners. All of these are very minor gripes overall.
One thing that bears note is the replay value in a game like this. Not even touching the bonus content, this strongly carries the tradition of its predecessors of being a great argument for at least a second playthrough. The game length is moderate, but playing it again really gives you a chance to go through sections of the game using different tactics, different weapons, and exploring different areas. The game has plenty of sections off the beaten path that can be missed, and the wealth of weapons and techniques to use on enemies adds plenty of depth. The game rewards you with cool bonus items and has a nice system for earning emblems for actions during the gameplay. None of those even touch on the amount of hidden easter eggs and codec conversations throughout the game. Although the storyline is linear, the gameplay to get through it could be different every time you play.
In contrast to many games I’ve played lately that feel like they missed the mark, MGS4 is one I think surpassed its expectations. I can’t think of a better way to have wrapped up Snake’s storyline, for one. And as far as gameplay goes, they’ve managed to do a great feat in combining aspects of all the previous entries in a way that’s more functional and diverse than ever before. They managed to do so while still keeping the challenge high and having plenty of variety in the gameplay. Simply put, it’s one of the best games and best series I’ve played.
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