The best PS3 exclusive.
How can I write this review without spoiling any of the major surprises within ? The truth is, the review would have to be a shoddy, poorly written l33t writing that clearly states this game "iz gud". If I was to do it that way, it would be a mockery of Hideo Kojima and his extremely talented team and everything they've accomplished these past four years. Metal Gear Solid 4 ends a legacy that started ten years ago. It's an incredible legacy, with an impact not felt since, well, I can't remember any other console game that has the influence and impact of MGS. Ten years later, does MGS 4 have the same visceral impact? Yes, it does.
The industry has grown up and matured and tolerances on certain things have now gone. MGS 4 is a reflection of our new phase of next generation gaming. It feels fresh, yet entices old MGS fans with familiarity. It doesn't alienate but rather elevates the game to a wider audience. Though to fully appreciate every aspect of the game, you will need to see the events of the three previous games. It's not an absolute requirement, but you will certainly be a bit confused at certain key points of the story. And in all fairness, every impact that Kojima Productions aimed for will be weaker. The series' story is certainly one that is worth the effort of researching past games.
I really, really do not want to spoil anything about the game. The game mechanics have been revamped to suit the modern gamer's tastes. Gone is the fixed camera perspective, awkward shooting and forced emphasis on stealth. In comes a far greater control of Snake with many opportunities to tackle each situation. The combat feels perfect, thanks to the modern influence of Resident Evil 4, yet it still retains that MGS feel. Gone is the awkward CQC mechanics that almost ruined Snake Eater. Gone is the non controllable camera, in comes Subsistence's 3-D camera.
The gameplay is far more accessible for today's casual gamer, however, I do not wish to give the impression that the game is solely about the story. You can skip the sequences, yes, but to do that would deny half the total content of the magnificence of Metal Gear Solid 4. I must admit, there's flaws here and there. The story can be a bit long winded, the crawling control is still a bit plagued by staying a bit too much into the past, and can be annoying when you want to crawl but you merely roll and must stop to crawl through a air vent opening - instead of flawlessly going from full stance to crawling, for example. And perhaps the biggest turn off is the constant installing of new acts. But even then, I cannot deny the greatness this title exhibits.
The visual presentation of Metal Gear Solid 4 is simply the best I have ever seen in a videogame - period. Yes, I will be bold enough to state that at times it surpasses Crysis. I know many will bemoan that statement and will immediately not recommend this review, but you really have to see it on HD at 720p. I have Crysis, it does look totally amazing but the art direction and overall design lacked any sort of artistic flair (perhaps the alien spaceship level can be excluded from that). But that bracketed sentence is my point, everywhere you look in MGS 4 you can instantly see the familar design of Yoji Shinkawa. It's a perfect balance of an artistic stamp and realism. The mechanical design is also amazing. But the truly great moment is seeing everything come to life. Everything is as believable as it can possibly be. The lighting, animations, the subtle details that you don't notice at first, some of the finest lip synching (except a few moments granted) - everything is outstanding. There's not one truly noticeable flaw with the visual prowess of MGS 4. And the same goes for the audio. The Dolby surround sound really brings this game to life in ways I could never imagine. The sound effects are brilliant, with every twang and bang, and difference in direction as mere examples, to the performances of every actor within the game, to quite frankly the best soundtrack the series has received so far. Everything just gels, feels, looks and sounds perfect.
The longevity depends on your patience of the story. For loyal followers of the series, it would last between 15-20 hours uncovering all the plot points. For people who wish to bypass the entire story, perhaps 7-9 hours. There's depth here, but it depends solely on the player's tastes. You get out of it what you put into it. If you like the story, you'll definitely get value for money and if you like the gaming, you will also get a thrill from it. Even the frustration of getting the multiplayer going is worth it to wring out more of the game. Oh, then there's unlockables such as Ipod music, costumes and the ranks after completion.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is definitely the best reason to invest in a Playstation 3. I cannot see Metal Gear Solid 4 coming to the Xbox 360. There's so much going on I think it would be impossible to get all the content onto the 360 without some sort of severe compromise. There, I said how I felt about its possibility of it coming to the 360. Never say never though. So here's my final conclusion to this poor review. Metal Gear Solid 4 is definitely a must play for MGS fans, it's a stunning game with a satisfying conclusion to the epic tale of Solid Snake. It's far more accessible, far more enjoyable and most of all, it's just an amazing experience for anyone. I haven't covered everything, I don't want to because the game lives on its surprises and twists and turns. This is a definite must buy, a definite must play and one of the finest titles I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Now I can't wait to see what Hideo Kojima and his team do next. Not with MGS, but with a new IP. Now that is worth getting excitied about.