GameRoks Review: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots. Espionage Brutal!
I would like to preface this review by noting the slew of stellar titles as of late. Games like Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, GTA 4, Mario Galaxy and Mass Effect, to name a few, have impressed critics and gamers alike. If you combine all the aspects that made those games great you will have what Metal Gear Solid 4 is. It’s a game that needs to be played, whether you’re a long time fan or a newcomer. It’s a milestone in gaming that, sadly, to will not be beaten or even reached for years to come. It may be a bold statement, but Metal Gear 4 is a true compilation of the best of the best games out there, all in a single adventure of espionage. GTA IV may have gotten a 10 in many outlets, so it’s only fair that MSG 4 get a score beyond the same scale, it’s perfect, yet because of numerical restrictions, a mere 10 won’t do it justice.
REVIEW – by Joe D’Ercole
STORY
Hideo Kojima (writer/director of the Metal Gear Series) and company always seem to weave these intricate stories that keep the player not only interested but immersed in the game. The story element has always been where Metal Gear rose above the rest. And MGS4 is no different. You are thrown into a bleak future where war is common place and fighting breaks out all over the world. A hostile environment where Rebels and PMC’s (Private Military Company’s) are battling for control. Technolgy has advanced to the point that every soldier on the battlefield is infused with nano-machines that control and regulate everything from heart rate to battle awareness, and even help with regret and shell shock. Basically, an army of super soldiers roam both sides of the front lines. Without giving up to much of the plot I will assure you that the story and characters are, not only well developed, but full of that essence that makes for great “movie night” entertainment. As in other Metal Gear games, the dialogue and story resonate with events going on today, leaving you with a message like most movies dealing with current events.
You take control of one of the best characters in video game history. The legendary Solid Snake, or should I say Old Snake, who has an unexplainable case of rapid aging. You are sent for one last mission, to take out your brother Liquid Snake. But things won’t be easy, the story will unfold through drastic turns and shocking twists, making you cling to your emotional threads. There is not much I can say about the story without giving away some important information. Pardon me for the redundancy, but I can’t reiterate enough that this is one of the best and engaging story lines ever laid down on a game disc. Dwarfing some of the top Hollywood films, it’s a true heroic end to an epic saga.
The cutscenes are the heart of MGS4, not only do they push the story forward but even get new fans up to speed with Metal Gear’s history. The creators of the game give Old Snake a depth that has never been seen in a video game. One of which is up to 90 minutes in length! Like a great dramatic featurette, none of the many, many cut-scenes seem trying or annoying. They are so wonderfully crafted that they serve as a building block to a epic scaled structure. But, if your trigger finger is itchy, the scenes can be paused at anytime and even skipped. If you are inclined to skip the cinematics, you would be missing the point of what this game is about, perhaps even retarding your full enjoyment of one of the few games that blur the line between story and gameplay. For those who always like to argue for or against the importance of game-play over graphics, need not worry, the cut scenes are engrossing and full of HD detail.
GRAPHICS
Graphically it’s the best looking video game ever made. Console or PC. It’s a technical masterpiece. Every texture feels real, every character and facial expression is oozing with espionage detail. And the cutscenes and actual gameplay are almost identical and blend together seamlessly without pauses, involving your brain even more into what’s in front of you. From the first 5 minutes of the game you will notice that everything meshes in perfectly. There are so many subtle things that convince you to being the character on the hopefully High Def. set in front of you. Big explosions will scatter dirt on your screen, the effect so real I found myself wanting to get up and wipe it off. Yes the graphics are that good. Character models are smooth and as realistic as “computerly” possible, while the environments have that gritty lifelike feel Metal Gear games are known for. Pictures and screenshots will not due this game justice, you need to seem them in motion. These are graphics that beat out even the infamous Crysis, and you won’t need a state of the art PC to run it. They really showcase the true power of the PS3, and it’s about time.
GAMEPLAY
Yes, I will use the cliché but this old dog does have plenty of new ticks. This is the most accessible of the Metal Gear games. It can be customized to the player’s style of playing. This is still a stealth game at heart and sneaking around has always been what Metal Gear was about. But in this game, a first person shooter aspect has been added. If you choose to use this mode you’ll have a FPS that can stand up to Gears of War. So if crawling through the grass and choking out enemies isn’t your thing, you can blast your way through with a variety of weapons, up to 70 in fact, plus some hidden ones. In the beginning of the game you meet a gun “launderer” named Drebin who supplies Snake with weapons, at a price of course. In order to purchase weapons you will need to use what are called “Drebin Points,” which you get from picking up fallen enemies’ weapons. It doesn’t stop with simply buying guns. MGS4 has a unique customization mode where everything from laser sights and grips, to grenade launchers or under-barrel shotguns can be added. All on one gun if your so inclined. The customization aspect is brilliant and gives even more depth to the gameplay. It makes the player have to choose whether to stay hidden, or run out and grab fallen weapons on the battlefield for points. Every gun looks and sounds as real as possible. The camo system has also been given an overhaul. In this game Snake is given what is called an Octo-Camo suit. In short, this suit will mimic Snake’s surroundings. It’s a fun new twist on an old idea, sorry cardboard box fans, you’ll have to settle for getting in a can.
The controls in past Metal Gear games had some fans complaining, groans of annoying camera controls and winers pouted at the amount of pausing to navigate through menus. Like spoiled children crying at a toy store, the developers of Metal Gear have quieted all critics by addressing all the complains, they have given everyone what they wanted. The revamped new controls are amazing, I don’t think anyone will be complaining since nothing in the control scheme is a chore. Rest assured everything is simple and with a short time will become second nature. You can switch in and out of first person shooter mode with ease. Jumping between stealth and all out firefights is a breeze and extremely fun.
The enemies in the game are another huge point towards perfection. As always, there are epic boss battles and epic is an understatement. Each one is drastically different and that’s a big factor in keeping them fresh. Every boss is a fully fleshed out character, which gives every fight emotional weight. Some better than others, but all amazing in there own way. Remember the incredible ending levels to your favorite titles, and how exciting they were, how on the edge of your seat they had you? Well there are literally dozens of amazing scenes in this game that have the same feel. Amazing motorcycle chase scenes and equally impressive boss fights are directed to perfection. Every camera angle is truly magnificent, not to mention that the voice acting is top notch, I would go as far as to nominate the actor for an Oscar.
The AI in the game is amazing as well. In other stealth games enemies follow a specific routine. They walk a specific route and a predictable one. This gives the player the chance to figure out what they are going to do, and respond accordingly. But the enemies in MGS4 are drastically different. Their actions never seem routine or predictable. Enemies will even just stop and talk to each other to pass the time. This is where the game really shines, the unpredictability of the game will literally have you tensely wondering what’s happening next. When you chose the option of stealth and succeed in taking out an enemy or sneaking past him, you feel a great deal of accomplishment that you won’t get in similar games. That’s solely based on how realistic and smart the computer controlled enemies are. It’s little things like that, that make this game remarkable. If you want to shoot your way through enemies they will respond accordingly, and fiercely I might add. Enemies will flank and use cover to take you out, so don’t try to just run and gun, you will need tactical skills to shoot your way through.
SUMMARY
The first Metal Gear was released over 20 years ago on the NES, the series has become a landmark in gaming history. The story and characters rival Hollywood movies in a way that has never been achieved by any of previously published games, including box office sensation, Resident Evil. MGS4 is frankly the best of what the Metal Gear franchise has to offer, you can also qualify it as one of the best games in video game history. Weather or not you are a fan of the original titles is of no importance. From the opening scene to the final credits, it’s beyond a masterpiece. In short, buy this game. It’s the first real reason to own a PS3. It’s a new benchmark in gaming that blurs the line between cinema and video games. The story, gameplay, and graphics raise the bar for every game to follow. It’s a game that pictures, videos, or reviews won’t do justice, except for this one of course. It needs to be played and experienced. Unlike other games of great hype, it more than lives up to it, shattering expectations while forging a new manual to what a video game should be.
GameRoks Score: 10/10
