Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has been one of the biggest titles that many have been anticipating since it was first announced. The biggest shock was from the initial trailer that revealed that MGS4 was to be the ending chapter of the Solid Snake saga and left the gaming world in a state of awe and wonder as the end of the trailer showed Solid Snake putting a gun to his mouth and saying it was his final mission.
The Metal Gear universe has always been a very complex world where military, science, political history and fantasy blend together into what is one of the most richest story development in gaming, one that rivals Hollywood screen writing and fiction novels. Because of its complexity it is easy for new comers to be overwhelmed and confused with many of the story elements, the characters and the story's time line. But luckily for people new to the series, MGS4 is relatively very friendly and the story is explained rather well for new comers to understand, aside from character names and their relations.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is taken place in the near future and puts you back in role of Solid Snake who has succumb to an accelerated aging process because of a FoxDie virus that was injected into him many years ago in the past. Due to the aging process he does not have much longer to live. The main goal in the game is to stop your nemesis Liquid Ocelot in his attempts to control the soldiers of the world via an intricate system run by A.I's that now have full control over soldiers utilizing nanotechnology.
The biggest improvement to the franchise is the new camera system which allows complete control for the user and makes both action and stealth much more enjoyable. The button configuration to do the core mechanics for the gameplay has drastically made the game more enjoyable as well. This includes the universal Action button introduced in MGS Portable Ops to do various tasks and the aim mode in both 3rd or 1st person view. The inclusion of an FPS mode also gives the player more freedom but is best used only for attacking targets and shouldn't be used for moving about the levels.
MGS has always had an array of interesting and challenging bosses to fight and MGS4 stays true to this by introducing a set of bosses known as the Beauty and the Beast corps. A set of war torn humans inside mechanical suits. Their designs very sci-fi and cool looking. Though they look and sound intimidating, they are not as challenging to figure out how to kill, which i was a little disappointed with, but nonetheless enjoyed fighting them and figuring out the tactics to do so.
One big change in MGS4 as opposed to the previous games is the fact that you are now placed in many war zones in which PMC's are fighting militia men and you could join them instead of using stealth to complete the level(s). You are not required to do so but you have a choice on whether you feel like being sneaky and want to go stealth or if you want to have some fun and turn the game into a complete action/shooting game.
The many cutscenes are rather long but i never felt they had gone over board with them. The are simply some of the best cutscenes i've ever seen in a video game. Though this might not appeal to all gamers i believe the fans of the series will truly enjoy every second of them and it stays true to the franchise which it is known to have rather lengthy explanatory dialogue, scenes and story telling. However, those who do not like long cutscenes can always skip them at will and you are not forced to watch them, though, i recommend you do to understand the story and the characters.
The graphics are one of the best graphics i have ever seen in a video game thus far and it really shows that it pushes a lot of the PS3's power. Most of the character models are extremely detailed and so are the environments. There are so many times when you would swear some parts were pre-rendered CGI. I believe a lot of people will dispute whether or not it is in-game or CGI but Hideo Kojima is not known to use pre-rendered material in his past games and so i have no doubt that this entire game was using the in-game engine.
The sound in this game is very impressive and very emotional. Everything from the sound effects, musical score and voice acting. The voice acting is superb and really brings out the story and life to the characters. MGS has always done very well in the voice work department and MGS4 is no exception. The best way to experience this game would be to have any sort of surround sound and have the volume set high.
There are a lot of inside jokes and references within MGS4 which might not make much sense to new comers but the fan service is spectacular to for veterans. Hideo Kojima is right when he said this game was "for the fans" and veterans of the saga will truly love the things added to the game for the nostalgic feeling. Fan service galore!
MGS4 has a huge amount of replay value because of all the unlockables and easter eggs scattered throughout the game. There are also "Titles" that urge you to try to achieve which give you a chance to replay the game with a different direction to finish it. Then there is the inclusion of Metal Gear Online, an online multi-player game set in 3rd person view which has a few maps and many of the common multi-player modes found in other online games.
Given the complexity of the MGS story, MGS4 has done an exceptional job in explaining the story and its mysteries, whether you're a veteran or a new comer. There is also a free downloadable MGS Database you can download off PSN that will explain every character, location, timeline, weapons, encounters and all the military and scientific terms presented in the entire saga. Simply one of the best resources found to explain any question you have about the entire MGS saga.
In conclusion, MGS4: Guns of the Patriots is an astounding achievement in game creation which blurs the line between watching a movie and playing a video game. The bar is set very high for future games for an overall gaming experience. It is indeed a must play by any gamer and a must have for any fan of the franchise. You will not be disappointed.
