'exclusive epic'
 Developer:Kojima Productions
Publisher: Konami
Category: : Stealth
Multiplayer: 1 - 16 (PSN)
Official Site
Platform: PlayStation 3
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Date posted: 30 July 2008
Written By: Ian
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A fitting end for Solid Snake?
"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots" (MGS4) is the first proper MGS sequel in 7 years, considering that MGS3 was a prequel title, set in the 1960s, and designed to give away some of the earlier parts of the epic MGS story arc.
MGS4 is also supposed to be the last game chronologically in the series, so there are a lot of loose ends to tie up, and a lot of fans to satisfy.
The game is also arguably the first big Playstation 3 exclusive since launch, and is also a graphical showcase for the system. It is also the showcase for the new online mode, MGO.
With so many promises to fulfil, has Kojima set himself too great a task? Or is MGS4 a stunning new epic?
Story
The story is, however, too short. The entire game can be completed in 15-20 hours, including all cut-scenes. This gives an actual gameplay period of somewhere in the region of 5-8 hours, which whilst average nowadays, is still pitiful considering early quotes put the game down as being a 40 hour beast.
Without giving away any spoilers, the plot attempts to wrap up the previous plot twists, but essentially, for the purposes of this game, we see Old Snake (you'll learn why he has started to age rapidly in the game) chasing after his brother, 'Liquid Ocelot'. Along the way, you'll be helped (or hindered) by many returning characters, including 'Naomi', 'Otacon' and 'Raiden'. You'll also get to revisit 'Shadow Moses', setting of the first PS1 game, which should send shivers down the spine of any long time fan!
  
Overall, the story does a great job of tying up all the loose ends, whilst providing plenty of action, suspense, twists and turns. Some may take offence and the sheer verbose nature of the game. Often for no apparent reason you could be interrupted by a 10 minute cutscene, whilst you should expect 40-60 minutes without playing between acts.
The final act is the worst offender, playing out more like an interactive movie than a game. But it's here where you stop and reflect on Kojima's masterpiece of storytelling, and forgive the game for all the grandiosity, because like the direction or not, MGS4 is perhaps the first successful combination of the two media.
'Lost Odyssey' (for Xbox 360) was more concise in delivering an excellent narrative, but this is still special stuff.
Gameplay
MGS4 finally sees the control scheme of the game altered, after previous titles basically stuck to pretty much the same controls as first seen in the original title. The new controls work pretty well, the only overcomplicated aspect being the fact that one button draws and aims your weapon, and another one fires, whilst a further button controls any zoom aspects of your drawn weapon. Then again, as you are supposed to be sneaking, this is not a bad thing!
The stealth elements themselves are largely unchanged throughout the series. You do have a few new gadgets to help you out though. The "OctoCamo suit" will change colour to match your surroundings to help you blend in, whilst the "Mk2 robot" can be sent to scout ahead and stun enemies. If you get spotted, then the classic explanation mark and sound will appear above the enemy head, then the same countdowns as ever apply, adding to the tension whilst you hide.
The levels themselves are well designed, and are only semi-linear in nature. There are normally a couple of different paths to take, depending on the way you want to play the level. For the first time, you can pretty much play the game as a 3rd person shooter if you wish, although playing stealth is by far the more rewarding experience. Then you can affect your experience by how you treat the warring factions.
The world is ruled by PMCs, and they won't be very happy to see you, but there are also rebels. You can choose to ignore them entirely, but if you start putting in a bit of firepower and helping them out, then they'll give you assistance in battle. Or, you can kill them too, and have everyone hostile to you on the battlefield.
Graphics and Sound
In general, the standard of graphics in the game is phenomenal. Some parts of the game are a little weird, like the eggs at the start of each chapter, and a couple of bizarre adverts.
Generally, however, every part of the game is designed to impress. Of particular note are faces and facial animations, which are simply stunning. In the third act, when things get a little bit damp, everything looks even more incredible, with fantastic water effects rolling down the faces of the cast.
Environments are also large, full of various post-processing effects, HDR lighting, weather effects, making this clearly the PS3's best looking game.
  
Not everything is perfect, however. The environments have a tendency to look a little lifeless (I'm being picky here), but the worst offender is some of the animations. Snake can often appear jilted, sticky and not particularly realistic in the way he moves about, which is in start contrast to the AI, which is very well animated. It's like Kojima was pandering to the hardcore fans, but the effect just seems lazy.
In terms of sound, you can see why the game is a PS3 exclusive, as the game is presented in stunning lossless audio. Everything from the audio to the dialogue is incredibly sharp and powerful, and the moving orchestral soundtrack is another stunning element to the game. That's not to say everything is perfect, however, as some of the cutscenes do feature some pretty cheesy and clichéd stuff!
However, as an aural presentation, its hard to be bettered, especially on the PS3.
Multiplayer
MGO is actually the second online outing for Snake and chums, after MGS3's director's cut included a 6 player online mode.
This time, we've got 16 players, and after the dodgy Beta, has anything improved? The answer is, unfortunately, no! It's still way too difficult to log in, as on top of your PSN ID, you need a Konami ID and a Game ID.
Then, you only get 2 more maps than the beta. It's been noted that what you get out of the box is merely a 'starter' pack, and judging by the prices of what is available so far, big fans will be fleeced for everything they have!
The gameplay is also not well suited to the engine and the control scheme. Basically, the online aspect is not very stealthy, its more of a tactical squad shooter, a la 'Ghost Recon', and thus it could also play better still.
However, it is free, and mildly diverting once you finally log in, and so its better than no multiplayer!
Conclusion
"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots" is a fitting end to the long running MGS series. It ties together the epic, bombastic and pompous plot together well, whilst also still providing a good introduction for those that might be new to the series. It features probably the best graphics yet seen in a game, especially in cutscenes.
The game also happens to be clearly the best PS3 exclusive so far. Whilst it remains an excellent game, the selfishly indulgent cutscenes, which can last for over 45 minutes at a time, the disappointing online, and a few lazy design elements stop the game from being truly perfect.
MGS4 is a flawed masterpiece, but the fun far outweighs these flaws, and thus, the game is a must-buy for any PS3 owner.
-Ian
Pros:
+ Compelling Story
+ Amazing Graphics
+ Non Linear Gameplay
Cons:
- Some cutsecenes are overblown
- Some tired gameplay/animations
- Online could be better
 
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