"Big Boss here. Solid Snake! Fall back! The mission is a failure! Return immediately. This is a direct order. Turn the power off on your MSX console at once!" Metal Gear Solid 4 represents everything a good video game should be. Edgy, funny, clever, smart, and brilliant. It would be possible to grant this game an 11 if need be. It's just that good.
Let's clarify this right now. THIS GAME IS NOT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PLAYED A METAL GEAR GAME BEFORE. IT IS ALSO NOT FOR ANYONE WHO CAN'T SIT STILL FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WATCH A CUTSCENE! I can not stress that enough. People are willing to give the game a 0 just because they can't be quiet and listen to a great story being shown to them and appreciate it. For Metal Gear fans who have not played the previous titles, it is highly recommended that you do so. You can get a used copy of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence with the very first two Metal Gears on the second disk.
But now, let's get on with the review.
After playing Metal Gear Solid and the latter sequel and prequel, the story seemed to be relatively the same to their previous encounters. The overhead camera, the strange crouch-then-crawl mechanic, and the hostage rescues of EVERY Metal Gear. I was surprised to see in metal Gear Solid 4 that there was not a single objective that had to deal with hostages, or even Metal Gear. Mr. Hideo Kojima has crafted a Metal Gear for a new age. The game plays like you always knew a Metal Gear game could play. Also stripped away are the somewhat awkward gun controls, and the "talking-head" moments of the Codec. The Codec is the greatest part. Metal Gear's story is told entirely throughout beautifully rendered cut scenes instead of the monochromatic green heads of the Codec.
Snake's Mission? Find Liquid. No Metal Gear, rather the Patriots. You don't even have to play the entire game using stealth. The user friendly interface of the game creates a wide range of possible choices in how the player reaches their overall goal; and that's the mark of an expert video game. Go ahead, try it in different ways. It opens up a whole string of replay value. Play through without being seen, or without killing anyone.
Overall story is absolutely amazing. For anyone who has played a Metal Gear, it does a tremendous job of answering the big questions. People like Raiden (MGS2), EVA (MGS3), and Naomi Hunter (MGS1) are all given their fair treatment, as well as an innumerable amount of others.- The Patriots most of all. After playing the second game, I, like many of you, were left with more questions than answers, but Kojima does a fabulous job of answering all of them. You'll even find out what La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo means.
Voicework is top notch. After ten years of Snake, Mr. David Hayter can still bring surprises to the table. Hayter brings the right mix of emotion to the table during the latter half of the game. Voice work of the secondary characters is also incredibly well done, even better than some current Hollywood offerings.
Metal Gear does suffer some issues. The constant loading during some intense parts of the story can detract from the overall experience. Loading is not a problem after every act though (For people who don't understand that, the game erases the last act and installs the new one, and so forth, so the game doesn't take up a lot of space). Some may criticize Metal Gear Online, but it is really more of a complement to the game. Metal Gear Solids 1 and 2 did not have them, and they were still great games.
Overall, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a heart lifting odyssey of discovery. All the questions are answered, in the most sentimental and gorgeous of ways. This is on of the rare forms of video game art. It is not comparable to any other game I've experienced in my lifetime. I ask you to turn yourself over to the experience.
We salute you, Solid Snake. You've finally earned your rest.
Let's clarify this right now. THIS GAME IS NOT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PLAYED A METAL GEAR GAME BEFORE. IT IS ALSO NOT FOR ANYONE WHO CAN'T SIT STILL FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WATCH A CUTSCENE! I can not stress that enough. People are willing to give the game a 0 just because they can't be quiet and listen to a great story being shown to them and appreciate it. For Metal Gear fans who have not played the previous titles, it is highly recommended that you do so. You can get a used copy of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence with the very first two Metal Gears on the second disk.
But now, let's get on with the review.
After playing Metal Gear Solid and the latter sequel and prequel, the story seemed to be relatively the same to their previous encounters. The overhead camera, the strange crouch-then-crawl mechanic, and the hostage rescues of EVERY Metal Gear. I was surprised to see in metal Gear Solid 4 that there was not a single objective that had to deal with hostages, or even Metal Gear. Mr. Hideo Kojima has crafted a Metal Gear for a new age. The game plays like you always knew a Metal Gear game could play. Also stripped away are the somewhat awkward gun controls, and the "talking-head" moments of the Codec. The Codec is the greatest part. Metal Gear's story is told entirely throughout beautifully rendered cut scenes instead of the monochromatic green heads of the Codec.
Snake's Mission? Find Liquid. No Metal Gear, rather the Patriots. You don't even have to play the entire game using stealth. The user friendly interface of the game creates a wide range of possible choices in how the player reaches their overall goal; and that's the mark of an expert video game. Go ahead, try it in different ways. It opens up a whole string of replay value. Play through without being seen, or without killing anyone.
Overall story is absolutely amazing. For anyone who has played a Metal Gear, it does a tremendous job of answering the big questions. People like Raiden (MGS2), EVA (MGS3), and Naomi Hunter (MGS1) are all given their fair treatment, as well as an innumerable amount of others.- The Patriots most of all. After playing the second game, I, like many of you, were left with more questions than answers, but Kojima does a fabulous job of answering all of them. You'll even find out what La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo means.
Voicework is top notch. After ten years of Snake, Mr. David Hayter can still bring surprises to the table. Hayter brings the right mix of emotion to the table during the latter half of the game. Voice work of the secondary characters is also incredibly well done, even better than some current Hollywood offerings.
Metal Gear does suffer some issues. The constant loading during some intense parts of the story can detract from the overall experience. Loading is not a problem after every act though (For people who don't understand that, the game erases the last act and installs the new one, and so forth, so the game doesn't take up a lot of space). Some may criticize Metal Gear Online, but it is really more of a complement to the game. Metal Gear Solids 1 and 2 did not have them, and they were still great games.
Overall, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a heart lifting odyssey of discovery. All the questions are answered, in the most sentimental and gorgeous of ways. This is on of the rare forms of video game art. It is not comparable to any other game I've experienced in my lifetime. I ask you to turn yourself over to the experience.
We salute you, Solid Snake. You've finally earned your rest.