War has changed. It's no longer about Nations, ideologies, or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles fought by mercenaries and machines. War - and its consumption of life - has become a well oiled machine. War has changed. - Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
On June 12, 2008 Hideo Kojima released the final chapter of the Metal Gear Solid universe. He wanted to wrap up loose ends, and go out with a bang. This is my review.
When I first set out to play this game I already knew that I would be getting into what would be a great game. There has yet to be a bad Metal Gear Solid game, and this is no exception. What I didn't expect was a game that from every facet, was perfect. I know that's a bold claim for anything, especially a video game where perfection is few and far between, but Kojima did just that. He took a great foundation, tinkered with a few things, and built on an already amazing series.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Review
Let me just say that FINALLY he has invented a flawless control scheme, where before it was the weak point of the game series. It's reinvented and it works so well. The over-the-shoulder view for combat is done well, and if that isn't to your liking you can do it in first person view as well. The Codec conversations, once dreadful and drawn out, are nearly out of the picture. Everything is captured in the beautifully done cut scenes and mission briefings.
The graphics are the best I have ever seen. Computer or console. Honestly, I never thought that a console could put out this type of quality. Simple shadows that would be normally omitted are there. For example, if a piece of paper is falling from the sky you will see the shadow rendered perfectly all the way to the ground. So much time and effort was put into every little detail and it shows, from Otacon's bad complexion, to Snakes wrinkles, it's all done so very well.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Review
One thing that MGS has always had was depth, not only to the story but also gameplay. The one thing that you will find about MGS4 is that you won't be let down by the possibilities to a situation. There is so many ways you can go about your business its incredible and unlike any game I have ever played. Even on the harder modes you are given just the right amount options to choose from whether you want to shoot up the place, sneak around, or let the freedom fighters that you have rescued fight for you while you sit back and enjoy the show, it's all left in your hands. This makes MGS4 the farthest from linear I have ever seen in an action game. Where other games claim to have this, MGS4 actually delivers.
So whats wrong with this game you might ask? Nothing, zero, nada. I'm sure you could pick some things out that might bother you like, the extremely long cut scenes (you do have a 90 minute one at the end), but I almost found myself hurrying the game play to get to these, and I enjoyed every second of them. You also might make the case that you couldn't play another character to possibly broaden the depth of the game more, but this is all about Snake in this one and there is no need. Honestly, I almost feel bad TRYING to find something wrong with this game, that's how strongly I feel about it.
As far as story goes? Well I won't go much into that, but let me just say I was so satisfied, I want to play the 25 hours worth of gameplay over and over again just to watch the story unfold again. This is a game you HAVE to play in order to truly enjoy this work of art. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a true masterpiece.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Review
