Well here we are, another generation of console, another Metal Gear Solid.

The critically acclaimed series from Hideo Kojima has spanned 21 years and many a number of itterations, and it is still making great games to this day, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots is no different.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots starts you off in a war ridden Country stuck in the middle of a battle on which the sides are unknown, it starts in typical Hideo Kojima fashion with a 4 minute cutscene to start you off, then about 10 seconds gameplay, then into another minute of cutscene, then to 30 seconds of gameplay, followed up by about 2 minutes of cutscene, 1 minute gameplay and then into the final cutscene before the end of the Act which goes for another few minutes, however this start is possibly the best start you could get for a new fan to the series, someone wanting to find out this game, or just simply your regular MGS fan.

The start of the game of course reveils to us for the first time 'Old Snake', yes the aging virus has taken effect and it is making Snake look older and older by the minute(although he still has a fantastic figure, check out the arse on him!!!), Snake has still got all his old tricks though, and some new and improved ones, the Metal Gear Mk.II is some good fun, the Solid Eye replaces the systems used for binoculars and various vision goggles from previous games, but 'OctoCamo' is quite possibly the best of the lot(Although FaceCamo proves a worthy advocate later on).

OK, now after some of that banter we can move onto some proper reviewing.

GRAPHICS - The graphics in this game are phenomenal, from the use of the motion sensor capabilities for the characters to the way the clothes blow in the breeze, everything in this game has been done to perfection, the game is done so cinematically too that it really feels like your watching a movie, not playing a game, the interactiveness of the cutscenes helps when you get a little to into the scene just to bring you out and say, "Hey, this is actually a game"

The guns are very nice, the deformation of buildings in battles, the explosions and the detail put in to every peice of wall, ground, vehicle, character has been amazing and must have required a top notch team.

GAMEPLAY - The gameplay in this game is a brilliant mix of stealth and action, for some traditional MGS fans the more action dominated gameplay might deter them away, but the action sequences are so well done that it would be stupid not to like them, there is alot of changeups to with the action, it isn't all the same type of running and gunning, alot of it can be strategical, some of it is fast paced, it's just a very well mixed brand of slow and fast.

Gameplay of course consists of many elements, and the guns in this are one of them, there's hundreds to choose from, not to mention the amount of customisation you can do as well, the guns are just one feature that will make you want to replay the story mode, the power and velocity of the guns, plus the ability to change Snipers from one shot, to 3 shots or automatic is a great feature too.

To be mentioned in the same light as the gameplay is all of the easter eggs in this game, Hideo Kojima has really done his job well this time around cramming as much fun stuff and junk as possible, there is heaps to find if you look hard enough, and plenty to keep you coming back time after time after time.

SOUND - The sound in this game is just as good as the graphics and gameplay, with a fantastic natural score throughout the game, and the addition of playing songs through an in-game iPod the sounds and music never gets boring.

The voice work is nothing short of brilliant, David Hayter does a great job of reprising his lead role as Old Snake, even though Snake is a bit of a crank and does grunt alot, he plays the role with a humour that would be hard to replicate, and for a guy who is only 39, he manages to age his voice very, very well, all of the reprising characters are emaculate as well, the addition of several new characters which keep up the already A-Grade voice acting.

METAL GEAR ONLINE - Well MGO is the the add on to MGS 4, basically this part was debated over whether it would be released as an extra disc, as a seperate game or included as is in the overall Metal Gear Solid experience, overall MGO as a whole works pretty well, there isn't much lag, the weapons and game types are varied and the maps are big and have many cool little MGS throwbacks in it as well, however the Konami ID system which you have to sign up for and use is a pain in the arse, first if the system is working you need to go to another site to sign up for the Konami ID, then you need a Game ID, the most annoying thing is that you need to enter an ID that is first off unique and then it has to have at least 9 letters or numbers, NOW not only do you have a PSN ID, which you can easily use for every other online game, you need an extra 2 more ID's, it is just a pain and completly uneeded.

OVERALL - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots is an emaculate game, it should win and well and truly deserve Game Of The Year 2008, ahead of GTA IV, the cinematic gameplay, cutscenes and overall experience makes this game a must play, the game is brilliantly written, brilliantly acted and brilliantly made, well done to Hideo Kojima, you have made an absolute CLASSIC!