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Metal Gear Solid 4 Review
mikesd81 brings us a detailed IGN review of the recently released Metal Gear Solid 4, which notes:
"Fans familiar with previous Metal Gear Solid games are aware that each title has introduced new gameplay mechanics for Snake to take advantage of. The incredible part about Metal Gear Solid 4 is there are tons of additional features added to this title, and even when you run into a system or mechanic that you wouldn't think would fit in the Metal Gear Universe, Kojima and his team have figured out a way to make it blend seamlessly with the gameplay, which easily allays any fears or concerns you have.""
On Perspective
If you are like... to lazy to click the link on the slashdot front page.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
Oh believe me, this game can get very, very camp.
Moreover, what doesn't come out in the reviews is that this game has a serious poo fixation. Within the first couple of hours of gameplay, there are two distinct major poo incidents. The first one shows you rather more than you might want to see of an enemy trooper... the second one, in particular, is just plain... freaky.
The reason why there are so many cut-scenes is because the game is trying to explain complex issues. What the game tries to address is a direct parallel to what is happening in the real world today.
From the US economy relying on a flawed monetary system, to the war economy being the reason for the invasion on Iraq, the Metal Gear series arguably contains the best story in video game history. You would appreciate the story, and ultimately the game, a lot more if you begin to compare the Metal Gear story with the situation that the US is in today.
Patriots = The People Who Secretly Runs The Country
I feel like this game is designed very much for the people who've been following the series since the beginning. It's strange, considering that with MGS3 it seemed like they were trying to tailor it in such a way that new players could get into without knowing the history of the series.
Where MGS3 succeeded in making the plot work for new players, it failed at doing so for the controls. Even some veteran players had problems with the controller layout, most of which were due to multiple actions using a single button, but at different pressure levels. The top down camera as well was difficult to use for most players with the loss of the radar.
MGS4, on the other, made strides in the playability of the game (although they don't bother to explain all of the different CQC moves in-game, I think most new players can get by without them), but I feel that a new player would be completely lost as far as the story is concerned. It was obviously a difficult job considering how many loose ends the game needed to tie up. It's apparent that they at the very least tried to help newer players out a little by reducing the amount of codec calls you receive, the length of each one and making some of the calls happen in real-time while you're still in full control of the character. However, when it comes to the cutscenes they clearly felt it was better to give the fans of the series what they were used too rather than trying to make them appeal to a broader set.
Having finished the game last night I thought it was great. They tie up just about every loose end in the entire series and the large majority of them in a satisfying way. The final scene (after the initial credits) I thought was a great concept, but it went on much longer than it needed to, I felt. There wasn't as much humor in this game as the others and what was there wasn't as good as past games, but given the somber tone of Snake's dilemma I can understand why. There are a few parts where the weight of the situation can bear down on you; one scene in the last level is sure to go down as one of the most emotional moments in gameplay history.
As far as the gameplay is concerned I mostly knew what to expect since I played in the Metal Gear Online beta. I was surprised that there was one level where you were forced to be stealthy. In the levels before it you were given the option of how you wanted to play (though generally rewarded more for being stealthy), but in this one going guns akimbo didn't work. I could see how that could turn some people off.
I didn't feel the bosses were up to par with MGS3, but I don't see any game living up to the enemies in that one, especially 'The End.' With a few exceptions all of the bosses in MGS4 were new characters and you didn't find out their stories until AFTER you defeated them. To make things worse their background is revealed through (relatively) lengthy and boring codec conversations. This is one place where I felt MGS4 dropped the ball, but it seems to be a side effect of not wanting to introduce any new major characters.
Graphically and cinematically this game is ridiculously great. The character models are easily the best I've ever seen in a game(note: I'm mainly a console gamer). Most of the background textures are good, though a few are pretty low-res, but it seems to be a trade off for having such detailed character models. The cutscenes are enthralling and rival the work of some of the best directors in film (though some of the dialog is really, truly awful). What's great is that, for the most part, they blend seamlessly back into the gameplay.
Overall, I'd say the game is fantastic if you're familiar with the story, and an interesting, though flawed, ride for those who aren't but are patient enough to sit through the long cinematics.
I was once a horse.
Yea, there is a (much needed, much appreciated) pause feature for the cutscenes, though that and skip are your only options.
Here's to love and solidarity, and a kiss behind the barricades