G4TV

In the years since it was announced, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has been called many things. The reason to buy a PlayStation 3. The final chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga. The next step in game storytelling. It may or may not be all those things, but one thing is certain: Kojima and his team have delivered one hell of a game.

First, to get it out of the way, yes, the game has cut scenes that stretch past the hour mark a couple of times. Yes, it installs to the PS3 hard drive between each act. No, neither of these things are a problem. The cut scene marathons are generally a series of scenes rather than one big sprawling event. No single sequence takes more than 20 minutes or so, which is certainly in the same length range as previous MGS games. The installation times are at least short, and it beats sitting around waiting 30 seconds for each area to load.

Showing instead of telling…finally

One other reason the long scenes are easier to take is how they’re presented. The biggest leap MGS4 makes in terms of presentation is not the gorgeous visuals that occupy every single shot of the game, but the elimination of the Codec as a narrative device. You still get brief mission updates and info through it during gameplay, but the story is told entirely through beautiful real-time cinematic sequences that are far easier to watch than ten minutes of green-tinted talking heads babbling on about nukes and the La Li Lu Le Lo.

That nickname gets explained, by the way. We're not going to talk about the story, because there are some awesome moments in it and spoilers would be wrong. Suffice to say if you have a question about the Metal Gear storyline, it's almost certainly answered in Metal Gear Solid 4. It's surprisingly satisfying, and Kojima has progressed a lot as a cinematic storyteller even in the time since Metal Gear Solid 3. This game is essentially twenty hours of payoff for fans who have followed the series' twisting plotline for the last 21 years. If you're not a fan, a lot of the storyline and little references throughout it are going to go right over your head, but really it's to Kojima's credit that he was willing to make a game that respects its fanbase's willingness to do the required research.

On the battlefield...

The revamped gameplay finally brings Metal Gear Solid into the modern gaming age, featuring over the shoulder and first-person aiming that can be freely switched between and even locked in place. It's possible to play the entire game in first-person mode, although it would be extremely difficult due to the lack of peripheral vision. Snake spends a lot of time sneaking through firefights, and all the activity around him makes the world of Metal Gear Solid 4 feel far more alive and real than any of the previous games. Snake's still better at hiding and sneak-attacking than he is in a stand-up gun battle, but the controls feel much more intuitive than ever before.

Snake has a few new tricks up his sleeve for this outing, including his actual sleeves. He wears a suit that uses a technology called OctoCamo, which absorbs the visual pattern from any surface Snake contacts for more than a second or two. This assists in camouflage immensely, and knowing when to blend and when to run is key to success. The nature of the OctoCamo makes it perfectly plausible to hide in plain sight, which allows for some very satisfying escapes and ambushes.

Also new to the game is the Metal Gear Mk II, a tiny little remote-controlled robot Otacon uses to accompany you on your missions in a virtual manner. You can take over the Mk II and use it to scout enemy positions, stun enemy soldiers so Snake won't have to deal with them, and even collect weapons to sell for Drebin points. Drebin points are another new twist. They're currency used to purchase weapon unlocks and upgrades from a weapon ID launderer. Snake can customize many of his weapons with laser sights, scopes, suppressors, and many other gadgets that he finds or buys. All of this helps you play Metal Gear Solid 4 the way you prefer to play, be it sneaky, guns blazing, or silent assassin style.

The variety in the mission design is also worth noting. Each of the five acts in the game boasts fresh twists to the gameplay and unique environments. Don't expect the same old Metal Gear action throughout. Snake ends up in some completely new situations, and surprises abound. Act 3 in particular throws some curveballs that are legitimately refreshing.

The included Metal Gear Online brings the newly improved gameplay into the multiplayer arena to test your skills against other wannabe Snakes. A wide variety of game modes makes it pretty easy to find something suited to your play style. Most notable is probably Sneaking Mission, which casts one player in the game as Snake himself, lurking about the Team Deathmatch going on and trying to hold up or tranquilize other players to collect dog tags. It's not going to supplant Call of Duty 4 as your online addiction of choice, but it's an excellent addition that provides even more value to an already packed game.

King of Snake

While debate will no doubt rage over the story and its outcomes, there really isn't a single wrong move in the gameplay sections. Each area is intense and fun to sneak or fight your way through. The boss battles are some of the best ever seen in any videogame, with a couple that will definitely be talked about for years to come. Bonus items and challenging difficulty modes encourage multiple playthroughs. Kojima Productions has ended up delivering something fantastic.  While it may or may not be a reason to purchase a PlayStation 3 all by itself, it should help make that decision easier for a lot of people.

Review by: Matt Keil