Blend Games writes: "We are currently sitting on the cusp of what – if early reviews from select outlets can be believed – will be the most intense and cinematic video game of the billenium. I'm not sure if there really is a "billenium," but I do know that since Metal Gear Solid dropped into our laps critics have clamored to extol its storytelling virtues. Pointing to Kojima's masterpiece as the proof video games can tell a compelling story to a broader audience. Why? If "awesome" is used too much during game reviews, then I think it's only fair to point out how overused "cinematic" is when talking about Metal Gear. And cinematic is exactly what critics hone in on when it comes to the Tactical Espionage series.
The problem with calling Metal Gear cinematic is that the term has no context. The best I can come up with is that there are credits as you begin playing, and some cut scenes use dramatic camera angles. These are indeed cinematic concepts, but they are not exclusive to Metal Gear. Just about every game released uses a few cinematic principles as part of the presentation."
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I truely thought was truely cinematic was uncharted....the way everything was executed was like an indiana jones movie, and you got to control it....its jus un explainable...you have to play it for yourself!!!!
To me I can understand if the game is very short for example, gears of war, halo 3 and many other great games overhyped. Fact is u cant tell a story better then cut scenes and proof is even in GTA4, there are tons of cut scenes (may not be long cut scenes but there are plenty of cut scenes) also the storyline in MGS games go deeper then both bioshock and gta4 put together, and why is that? Thats right if it wasnt for the cut scenes, the story would of been good but not as great as it is and is a main reason Kojima is considered one of gamings biggest, "ICONS" simply because he changed the way of playing video games and made it cinematic like where it was like a movie and a game put into one. I simply think its an amazing way of making a game because we hardly have any story driven games especially in shooting games and stealth. This is why I praise Kojima so much because people can talk about how halo, gears, or splinter cell is better then any mgs game but, "FACT" is u will never find a more amazing story telling series in any of those huge blockbuster games then any mgs game and this is why the metal gears series is said by many of the gaming industry to be one of the greatest series of all time. It might not sell like GTA or Halo but, "FACT" is even for a game that doesnt sell that much as those franchises and is overlooked by millions, Kojima is still praised more then any of those devs on those games and is why I consider the MGS series bigger and better because just for the fact that once snakes role is finished in MGS4, everyone is going to remember who snake is and the story driven in the mgs series that has made many people such as myself fall in love with the characters in this franchise will be more memmorable then any of these overhyped games such as halo and gears etc. etc. Because in the end those games will be only remembered because of fun games to play where in the mgs series u will never forget the great adventures u had with snake and otacon and even many of the villains, and this is what sets those overhyped games to a masterpiece game in mgs4 which will overcome the hype and go on to be one of the greatest games ever made in history. :)
I dont see why so many people let this very simple concept fly over their heads.
I mean, its the simplest thing ever, really. If you are 14 and under, chances are, You're not really going to appreciate a movie like THE GODFATHER TRILOGY. and if your 50 and up, the chances of you paying $9 to watch a movie such STEP or BRING IT ON, are really slim. again, very simple to understand.
In the article, he makes a comparison between Iron Man, and MGS series, and i quote him: "If while watching Iron Man I had to direct the movie for a few minutes every so often I would be frustrated and upset." now first of all, that's not at all a representation of the MGS SERIES, and secondly, he failed to realise that IRON MAN, was 70% percent concept, and 30% action. If you add up to total amount of minutes IRON SPENT fighting in the movie, and i mean actual fighting, You'd be dissapointed really. but what made it a compelling story, was it's emphasis on strong story telling, and great acting, to pull of a feat such as IRON MAN. the whole fun in the movie, was actually GETTING THERE, not BEING THERE. The twists, the irony, the audacity to run your heart of some device you made while in cave, the careless, hip, swager of its main character. thats what made IRON MAN, successfull as a MOVIE, and since it lack any those in the GAME, in my opinion, caused the game to fail. THE GAME COULD NEVER MATCH THE MOVIE....there's not really a strong connection to the character you're playing the game with.
my second point, and i'll quote him again: "No. I simply think the game, the critics and the creator have embraced the pretentious nature of trying to make video games more like movies. That is a horrible idea. It’d be like early filmmakers placing scrolling text on the screen for the audience to read. I don’t want a movie watching experience when I play any game, I’d actually like to play."
AGAIN, if you've been a gamer for over ,let's say, 6 years, you'll notice a very, very simple logic as to why VIDEOGAMES have expended so well. The more real games look, the more they sell. sounds too simple right? but i think its true. If all we had for 20 years was the same mario graphics, from nitendo, but different levels, videogaming, would have died as we know it. and IRONICALLY, its beginning to tilt towards the opposite for movies, The more unrealistic they get, as long as the plot and acting is strong, the more they sell. look at the best selling movies since 2000, and you'll see. But you know what they all share in common, STRONG EMOTIONAL CONNECTION with their audience. and that's where the MGS series has taken gaming, or will do so. 10 years from now, you'll look back and say, yeap, MGS started all of this, just like as we look back now, you look at most games and say, yep, MARIO started of all this......
i guess what im trying to say is that, GRAPHICS at some point in GAMING is going to level out, at some point, the difference are going to be so MINOR, that you'll literally need 100inch TV's to nitpick your preference, and at that point, ONLY THE STORY, will set GAMES APART, because, as people, we grow, and most of us have been playing games for quite some time now, and JUST SHOOTING SOMEONE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SHOOTING IN A GAME WILL GET BORING PRETTY SOON. IT already happened with movies, just remember how good BLOODSPORT was, and now tell me who in here, will pay money to go watch another tournament based fighting movie? very few of course. MGS HAS ALWAYS GIVEN YOU THE OPTION OF KILLING and ALSO NOT TOO, AND ALWAYS REFLECTS BACK TO THE CHOICES YOU'VE MADE IN THE GAME. Just like BRUCE LEE revolutionized KUNG FU movies, when you no longer fight just to see whose WUSHU is better, but you fight for a purpose. I think MGS SERIES is the BRUCE LEE of gaming. and people like to say , ONLY TIME WILL TELL, well they're right, but unlike them, i don t have to wait very long, that TIME, IS JUNE 12 2008, and OHHHHHH, IT WILL BE TELLING A LOTTTTTT......
EDIT : at the guys below, sorry about the caps, i just like to emphasize on certain parts of comments, because people easilly misread things people say on here to fit their own agendas.
the story of MGS, the connections to the characters, and the whole universe it creates more than rivals that of many/most Hollywood movies. I think that is it's biggest strength and what gives it so many fans that hold it in such a high regard.
But then you get people like this author, and some of the reviewers, who don't like the story, they don't want to stop the gameplay which they love. For that, there is a oh-so-obvious solution that it seems EVERYONE is forgeting. It's a thing called "SKIP"
i don't want game devs making games by one set blueprint. as great as bioshock is; MGS is every bit as good if not better.(and has a much longer pedigree than bioshock) the author seems to lack the ability to enjoy a narrative. he also seems to miss this is the end for a legendary char. of a legendary series. and i don't expect....... I DEMAND that the narrative be as complete as possible. if that makes the cut-scenes longer-so be it. it's too bad the author (and lots of 360 fans) can't see the forest through the trees and enjoy(and appreciate) what metal gear solid is all about.(and also kojimas influence on gaming) i know i do.
and message to the author: if you want to compare MGS to another cinamatic game, it should be uncharted. that is a great game and perfect example of cinamatic gamng. it's brilliant.