Metal Gear Solid 4 Mega-Hype Thread | NEW: Screenshots and Previews! (56k)

Metal Gear Solid 4 Mega-Hype Thread

This thread is intended to be a comprehensive info/hype thread for MGS4, as well as a news hub for any developing events regarding the game. Feel free to discuss anything and everything related to MGS4. I will regularly update this post as needed.

Latest Updates:

Apr. 2, 2008: New screenshots released! See the "MGS4 Screenshots" section.

Apr. 2, 2008: New "Previews" section will collect all the best previews of the game up until launch. Let me know if you find any good ones that I've missed. You can find it right after "Latest News."

Mar. 31, 2008: It's here, the feature that many people requested...."The Story of the Metal Gear Series"! Special thanks to uRan_Ehr and HAZE-Unit for their contributions. If you've wanted to learn more about the Metal Gear series, this is the place. Find the new feature right after the music section.

Click the spoiler tag to see the updates archive

Mar. 31, 2008: Out with the old, and in with the new. I've moved the old thread to a new home, because while working on a requested feature, I realized that I've drastically overreached the space capacity of the old topic, even though I had initially reserved five post slots for it. You can find the old thread here.

So I apologize with the fifteen reserved posts here, but I want to ensure that there's no way in Outer Heaven I'll run out of space in future updates, especially as I plan to incorporate incoming news, previews, and reviews up til and through the launch of the game.

So please bear with me: things are a bit disorganized at the moment, but within the next two days I will post a major new update that will hopefully make the wait worthwhile :)

And thanks to all the people who've supported this thread in the past--your excitement for this game is what keeps me motivated to keep creating new content for the topic.

Mar. 28, 2008: A new section is up--the "History of the Metal Gear Series." Scroll to the end to uncover the beginning of this epic saga.

Mar. 14, 2008: Added gekkou and haven troopers to "The Adversaries of MGS4" section.

Mar. 8, 2008: New update, this one's for the gun fetishists..."The Weapons of Metal Gear Solid 4." It's right after the screenshots section.

Mar. 6, 2008: Screenshots section is now up....feast on the eye candy (just don't drool too much) :wink:

Mar. 6, 2008: Big update today--"The Music of Metal Gear Solid" section is now up. Enjoy!

Mar. 5, 2008: Added link to countdown timer and profile of mystery character

Mar. 1, 2008: Added info for Metal Gear Online

Latest News

April 1, 2008: Kojima's April Fools joke: video link

Mar. 29, 2008: Metal Gear Saga 2.0 hits Youtube. See it here:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Mar. 24, 2008: Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition announced. source.

• Collectible metal case
• Bonus Blu-ray disc with two "making of" documentaries
• Four chapters of the digital graphic novel
• Metal Gear Solid 4 soundtrack
• EB Games exclusive art book
• Retails for $85

Mar. 21, 2008: Konami announces Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Playstation 3 for Japan. source

Mar. 18, 2008: Metal Gear Solid Essential Collection is out. This box set contains Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3. source

Mar. 13, 2008: Kojima Production in "monster-crunch mode"; no time to eat, sleep, or record podcasts. source

Mar. 3, 2008: MGS4 too big for Blu-ray? source

Feb. 29, 2008: Metal Gear Solid 4 confirmed worldwide release for June 12. source

Feb. 27, 2008: Japan gets 3 Metal Gear Packs, 80 GB bundle. source

Feb. 26, 2008: MGS4 arriving late Q2, bundled with 80 GB Playstation 3 and Dualshock 3. source

Previews

All the latest and greatest MGS4 previews, gathered in one spot.

Full Playthrough Previews

• 1up: War has changed...can you?
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 is a "surreal, unprecedented experience..."
• IGN: Metal Gear Solid 4 Hands-on
  • "This is the system seller that we've all known Metal Gear Solid 4 was going to be."
• Gamepro: New hands-on with Metal Gear Solid 4
  • "You thought Gears of War looked amazing? Think again. Metal Gear Solid 4 will blow you away...painting some of the most gorgeous graphics this side of Crysis."

Check it out:

• the-very-best's Grand Theft Auto IV Kickass Hype Thread!
• MGS4 Mega-Hype Thread, Version 1

Countdown to Launch:

Table of Contents:

I. MGS4 Intelligence Briefing

II. The Characters and Adversaries of Metal Gear Solid 4

III. Trailers, Gameplay Video, and Resources

IV. Metal Gear Online Intelligence Briefing

V. Screenshots

VI. The Weapons of Metal Gear Solid 4

VII. The Music of Metal Gear Solid

VIII. The Story of the Metal Gear Series (NEW!)

Intelligence Briefing

What is it?

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a game currently in development at Konami's Kojima Productions studio. It is the latest installment in a series spanning 20 years following the story of Solid Snake, a lone soldier with a mission to rid the world of the nuclear-armed Metal Gear weapons that threaten the security of the international community. Guns of the Patriots is co-directed by Shuyo Murata and series creator Hideo Kojima, and is reportedly the last Metal Gear Solid game Kojima will direct. Art direction is being handled by series veteran Yoji Shinkawa, and the score is being composed by Harry Gregson Williams. The theme of the game is "No Place to Hide," which refers to the insecurity of attempting to hide within the types of destructible warzone environments that Solid Snake must infiltrate.

When will it be released?

Guns of the Patriots will be available worldwide on June 12, 2008.

The 80 GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Playstation 3 bundle

What is the setting of the game?

Metal Gear Solid 4 takes place a few years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons of Liberty, in a future dystopia where war has become the pillar of the global economy and genetic, informational, and emotional control has placed the world within a stranglehold. Private military companies have dominated society and created a never-ending cycle of war for profit. Within this chaotic setting, Solid Snake embarks on a mission to the Middle East to bring down longtime series villain Liquid Ocelot, who has taken advantage of the chaotic situation to organize an armed insurrection with the aid of the largest PMC in the world--Outer Haven. Players will traverse across five different global regions in pursuit of Liquid, including the Middle East, South America, and Europe. This is Snake's final mission.

What's the gameplay like?

In keeping with series tradition, Metal Gear Solid 4 will feature robust stealth gameplay, along with intense action sequences. This time around, players will be doing more shooting than sneaking. According to Assistant Producer Ryan Payton, Kojima wanted to change the dynamic in the past games where the player is given a bunch of awesome weapons, but doesn't have an opportunity to try them out without failing the game by getting caught or killed. As such, MGS4's gameplay is designed in "waves" to allow segments of warzone firefights to break up the sneaking sections. Players can also expect to encounter the series' trademark epic boss battles, including the new Beauty and the Beast Unit, comprised of four female members--Crying Wolf, Raging Raven, Screaming Mantis, and Laughing Octopus--who have transformed into war machines as a result of intense post-traumatic stress.

Key gameplay features of MGS4 include:

• Weapon Customization. Over 70 weapons are customizable, including handguns, machine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers, and missile launchers.
• 
• Octocamo. Specially designed by Snake's longtime sidekick Otacon, the Octocamo is a body suit that allows Snake to blend in with his environment by changing color, pattern, and texture to whatever surface he touches.
• Solid Eye. With the Solid Eye device positioned over his left eye, Snake can scan his environment for vital information and collect data regarding his enemy's whereabouts, his allies' maneuvers, and various items on the battlefield.
• Metal Gear Mk. II. The MGMII is a little mechanical robot designed by Otacon that serves as Snake's battlefield companion. It is controlled with a Playstation 3 Dualshock controller, and powered by a cell processor. MGMII can embark on reconnaissance missions for Snake and zap unsuspecting guards with its electrical arm.
• Threat Ring. The threat ring allows the player to visualize threats in Snake's surroundings. The device works more or less like a seismometer, detecting the proximity and size of approaching enemies or hostile vehicles so Snake can remain alert to changes in his environment.
• Psyche Meter. A newly added metric keeps track of changes in Snake's psychological condition, which will be susceptible to damage from the intense Saudi Arabian heat or other factors. A damaged psychological status will negatively affect Snake's performance on the battlefield.
• Stress Meter. The stress meter is the "yin" to the psyche meter's "yang." It allows Snake to obtain a "combat high" for increased accuracy and decreased damage. In effect, the stress meter is a representation of Snake's adrenaline level.
• Close Quarters Combat. The CQC system from Metal Gear Solid 3 will be incorporated into MGS4, though the controls will be much more refined. Players will be able to interrogate captured enemies and force them to surrender supplies.

The Characters of Metal Gear Solid 4

Given that Metal Gear Solid 4 is the last piece of the Solid Snake saga, there are a lot of missing ends that will be tied up. As such, MGS4 will feature a wide array of cast members, many of whom appeared in previous games.

Solid Snake

A special operations soldier who started out as a member of the black ops team FOXHOUND, Snake is a lone warrior whose life mission is to prevent the ignition of nuclear hostilities by disarming nuclear-armed Metal Gears. A quiet man who dislikes being referred to as a "hero," Snake is driven by a strong internal set of principles rooted in duty to his country and service to the stability of the international system. Solid Snake specializes in espionage, but is unafraid to confront whatever blocks his path. Snake's identity as a clone of another famous soldier has resulted in the rapid deterioration and aging of his body. His final goal in life is to eliminate Liquid before time runs out.

Click the spoiler tag for more characters

Naomi Hunter

Snake's medical consultant in Metal Gear Solid, Naomi ended up betraying Snake by injecting him with the FoxDie virus. She returns in Metal Gear Solid 4 to aid Snake's mission, but players have reason to be suspicious of her intentions.

Otacon

Hal Emmerich, a.k.a. Otacon, is a Ph.D. whiz who fancies Japanies anime and building the latest tactical espionage equipment. More importantly, he is Snake's closest and most loyal mission support companion. His designs are inscribed with the "Ota Damashi" symbol, which means "Otacon soul" in Japanese.

Meryl Silverburgh

A feisty girl who became Snake's love interest in Metal Gear Solid, Meryl now heads up the newly reformed FOXHOUND unit.

Sunny

Sunny is the daughter of Russian soldier Olga Gurlukovich, whom Snake encountered and fought in Metal Gear Solid 2. Her daughter's role in MGS4 remain unclear as of now.

Eva

The love interest of Snake's "biological" father Big Boss, Eva greets Solid Snake with a direct request: "Call me mama. Big mama."

Colonel Campbell

Colonel Roy Campbell is Solid Snake's longstanding commanding officer. He returns in Metal Gear Solid 4 to inform Snake of Liquid's intentions and hire him to terminate the renegade PMC leader.

Drebin

A mysterious character who keeps a monkey as a pet, Drebin joins the cast of MGS4 as a new addition. He specializes in black market arms deals and modifies enemy weapons for Snake to use. Drebin's outfit is a mix between combat fatigues and business wear, symbolizing the fusion of warfare with business and profit. (credit: Mordred19)

Raiden

The surprise main character of Metal Gear Solid 2, Raiden was a controversial character who fit the "pretty boy" image that Kojima attempted to create. Raiden returns with a vengeance in MGS4, having replaced his pretty boy look with a cyborg ninja suit. Neither fully human nor fully machine, he aims to use his newfound abilities to help Snake's mission as Snake helped him in MGS2. "It's my turn to protect you, Snake."

???

This mysterious character emerged during the last scene of the TGS 2006 trailer. His identity is as of yet unverified, but his facial features bear a striking resemblance to young Solid Snake...

[/spoiler]

The Adversaries of Metal Gear Solid 4

A hallmark of the MGS series has always been its epic boss encounters. From Psycho Mantis in MGS to the Boss in MGS3, the series' diverse set of quirky, cool, over-the-top, and tragic adversaries have provided memorable exchanges and intense battles. While it is uncertain whether the player will fight all of these characters in MGS4, they will certainly come across them in one way or another:

Liquid Ocelot

The main nemesis of Metal Gear Solid 4, he poses a grave danger to the security of the world and is Snake's number one target.

Click the spoiler tag for more adversaries

Vamp

The sexually ambiguous, seemingly immortal vampire that players first met in Metal Gear Solid 2 returns for a showdown with Cyborg Raiden.

Screaming Mantis

A member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit--and seemingly the unit's leader--Screaming Mantis resembles the Psycho Mantis character players first fought in Metal Gear Solid. Like Psycho Mantis, Screaming Mantis specializes in psychological manipulation, and has the ability to turn her enemies against themselves.

Laughing Octopus

The second member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit, Laughing Octopus emits a chilling cackle upon wrenching the life out of her victims.

Crying Wolf

The third member of the B & B family, Crying Wolf symbolizes the anguish of warfare, and continuously cries out in agony like a suffocating soul underneath her hardened exterior.

Raging Raven

The fourth member of the unit, Raging Raven sustains a state of constant, uncontrollable anger that originates from the flames that fuel war and human strife.

Gekkou

The Gekkou are bipedal, half organic/half machine mobile military units deployed in Liquid Ocelot's PMC. Armed with a machine gun turret and advanced visual sensing systems, the Gekkou are sentient, intelligent creatures that are capable of hopping multiple buildings in one jump. As Kojima explains, "We've tried to place a meaning behind the Gekkou, much like we have with the Metal Gear. The head is for sensing, with a powerful eye and central A.I., but the legs are animalistic, muscular. So it actually reveals what we're thinking behind this--it's machine controlling flesh, and symbolically, machines controlling man." source

Haven Troopers

Haven troopers are genetically enhanced female super-soldiers that serve in Liquid Ocelot's private army. Fast and dexterious, these units are known as "the frogs" due to their extra-human hopping ability. Haven troopers move in groups and attack quickly and without warning.

[/spoiler]

Videos

Trailers

• TGS 2007 Trailer
• GC 2007 Trailer
• E3 2007 Trailer
• TGS 2006 Trailer
• GC 2006 Trailer
• E3 2006 Trailer
• TGS 2005 Debut Trailer
• E3 2005 Teaser Trailer

Gameplay Videos

• Debut Gameplay Demo
• E4 All Demo Part 1
• E4 All Demo Part 2
• E4 All Demo Part 3
• E4 All Demo Part 4

Resources

• Kojima Productions Weekly Podcast
• MGS4 Teaser Site
• Kojima Productions Portal Site
• Kojima Productions' Events Site

METAL GEAR ONLINE

Intelligence Briefing

What is it?

Metal Gear Online is a multiplayer experience that combines the rich Metal Gear Solid universe with online combat. MGO carries over the backdrop and control system of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to original online maps and game modes, with future downloadable expansion packs adding additional maps, characters, and other features. Among the new components this time around are battles featuring up to 16 players, and the Sons of the Patriots (SOP) System, allowing for enhanced squad communication.

When will it be released?

A beta version of MGO will be available in April for players who have pre-ordered MGS4. MGO's official launch coincides with that of Metal Gear Solid 4 on June 12, 2008.

How can I play MGO?

MGO is made up of a starter pack and expansion packs.Included with MGS4, the starter pack offers players a first bite of what awaits in the new MGO, while various expansion packs will be added later on. The MGO starter pack contains 5 maps in addition to the match rules and communication features fundamental to MGO.

Key Features

• Maps. A variety of locales from the original MGO and MGS games, as well as all new environments.
• Match Rules. New game rules join online staples like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture mission.
• Communication. A multitude of communications features including the SOP system, voice and keyboard chat, and preset messages are supported.
• SOP System. The Sons of the Patriots System allows you to visually share information among your squad by linking your internal nanomachines. Information like your teammates' positions, status, and even who they're engaging with will all be provided in real-time.
• Friend Registration. MGO's new, easy-to-use Friend Registration system allows you to send friend invites to people you've fought alongside with.
• Customizable Characters. Design your own unique character from dozens of possible combinations, and keep an eye out for additional gear updates.
• Metal Gear Characters. Intel indicates the presence of Old Snake and Metal Gear Mk. II somewhere on the battlefield...What other Metal Gear characters might be lurking in the shadows?

Starter Pack Maps

Ambush Alley. A corner of a war-shattered town littered with obstacles, its central intersection branching off into side streets.

Click the spoiler tag for more maps

Groznyj Grad. The now abandoned weapons factory that housed the Shagohod in Metal Gear Solid 3. Contains open areas offering unobstructed views as well as indoor and rooftop locations.

Midtown Maelstrom. This Middle Eastern battleground features avenues crisscrossed with alleyways.

Urban Ultimatum. Negotiate buildings of varying height in this city under siege.

Blood Bath. A kill house consisting of both surface and underground areas.

*credit Konami Computer Entertainment for Q&A content

Screenshots

METAL GEAR SOLID 4

(Click thumbnails for full size)

METAL GEAR ONLINE

(Click thumbnails for full size)

The Weapons of Metal Gear Solid 4

Metal Gear Solid is nominally about sneaking around, but this "stealth game" has no shortage of noisy toys. Since the very first iteration, Metal Gear games have provided players with a wealth of weapons with which to experiment, encouraging creativity during all-out firefights and boss battles. This tradition continues in MGS4, with the inclusion of over 70 weapons, most of which are customizable with scopes, flashlights, silencers, secondary guns, and other mounted attachments.

In addition, MGS4 introduces several new elements in terms of gunplay mechanics compared to previous installments. Players can now adjust aiming sensitivity, choose between first-person or third-person view, and switch "aiming" shoulders in third-person view. In addition, CQC moves can be performed while Snake is equipped with virtually any weapon, with different moves corresponding to different weapon types. With the right button combinations, players can capture enemies, throw them, or swipe their weapons.

The following is a list of all the confirmed weapons in Metal Gear Solid 4 thus far, compiled from a detailed observation of gameplay and trailer videos. It includes images of the weapons, descriptions of their key stats, as well as live footage of some of the weapons in action (skip to the desert eagle and javelin videos to see the good stuff). In short, the Patriots should have no shortage of Guns to play with come June 12th.

Click the spoiler tag for the full list

List of MGS4 Weapons

Click the thumbnails for full-size images

Close-Quarters Weapons

Combat Knife

• Great for peeling potatoes and slitting enemies' throats

Stun Knife (not pictured)

• Built-in electrical shock capabilities stun enemies on the spot

Pistols

Magnum Desert Eagle

• Wielded by Meryl in E3 2007 trailer
• Will drop an elephant to its knees in one shot
• Cartridge: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .440 Cor-born, or .50 Action Express
• 7-9 round capacity
• "My Wife vs. the Desert Eagle"

Glock 18C

• Light sidearm, 8.3" long
• Cartridge: 9x19mm parabellum, 10mm Auto, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, .380 ACP, .357 SIG, .45 GAP
• 17-19 round capacity

Ruger Mark II

• 4.75"-6.875" long
• Cartridge: .22 Long Rifle rounds

Sig GSR

• 5" barrel
• Cartridge: .45 ACP round
• 7 magazine capacity

Submachine Guns

Skorpion VZ.83

• Cartridge: 7.65x17mm Browning SR (.32 ACP)
• 10-20 round magazine
• Rate of fire: 850-900 rounds/min
• Effective range: 75 and 150 m

FN P90

• 19.7" long
• Cartridge: 5.7x28mm
• Rate of fire: 900 rounds/min
• Effective range: 150 m

MP5SD5

• 31.1" long fixed stock
• Cartridge: 9x19mm Parabellum
• Rate of fire: 800 rounds/min
• Effective range: 25-100 m

Assault Rifles

M4A1 Carbine

• 29.8"-33" long
• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Rate of fire: 700-950 round/min
• Effective range: 150-460 m
• Skillful M4 shooting

XM8 Carbine

• Standard rifle for new FOXHOUND unit
• 20" barrel
• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Rate of fire: 750 rounds/min

Colt M203A1

• 15" grenade launcher barrel
• Cartridge: 40x46mm grenade
• Rate of fire: 5-7 round/min
• Effective range: 150m

AK-102

• 415mm barrel
• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO
• Effective range: 500m
• 30 round magazine

FN SCAR MK 17

• Standard rifle of PMC soldiers
• 13-19.7" barrel
• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO
• Rate of fire: 550-600 rounds/min

Machine Guns

M60E4

• Heavy machine gun, 42" long
• Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
• Effective range: 1,100m
• The easier way to catch fish

Shotguns

M870 Shotgun

• 48.5" pump-action shotgun
• Cartridge: 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or .410 bore
• 4-round magazine

Sniper Rifles

DSR-1 Sniper Rifle

• 25.59" barrel bolt-action sniper rifle
• Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO, .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum
• Detachable iron sights

Mosin Nagant Sniper Rifle

• Russian sniper rifle used by the End in Metal Gear Solid 3
• 39.9" long
• Cartridge: 7.62x54mmR
• Sliding ramp rear sights and fixed-post front sights

Projectile Weapons

M67 Fragmentation Grenade

• Standard U.S. military hand grenade
• Detonation mechanism: pyrotechnic delay fuse (4 seconds)

WP G. Incendiary Grenade (not pictured)

• White phosphorous fire bombs designed for anti-personnel purposes

Demolition Weapons

FGM-148 Javelin Missile Launcher

• 47.2" portable anti-tank missile launcher
• Effective range: 75-2500m
• Detonation mechanism: impact force
• And the award for best weapon in MGS4 goes to...
• What you don't want to happen to you in MGS4

RPG-7

• Portable, 37" anti-tank rocket propelled grenade weapon
• Caliber: 40mm
• Maximum range: 920m
• RPG Demonstration doesn't go as planned...

M224 Mortar

• 40" Lightweight mortar
• Maximum effective range: 3490m

*weapon stats courtesy of Wikipedia

The Music of Metal Gear Solid

Throughout its 20 year history, the Metal Gear series has featured some of the most memorable music in its medium. One of the trademarks of the series is the stunning variety of different sounds drawn into its fold--techno, rock, synthetics, jazz, a capella, piano solo--it's all here. Below are the entire soundtracks for all three main Metal Gear Solid games, complete with back stories for the score behind each one and recommendations for newcomers to the series. So sit back, turn up the speakers, grab some popcorn, and enjoy....the music of Metal Gear Solid.

METAL GEAR SOLID

As with so many other aspects of the series, the music of Metal Gear achieved its breakthrough with the debut of Metal Gear Solid on the Playstation.Composed by Kazuki Muraoka and his colleagues at Konami, the score of MGS featured a mix of high-energy, synthetic riffs, melancholy piano pieces, and haunting a capellas. These compositions set the tone for the future of the series and touched on a wide array of emotions conveyed through a story that dealt with everything from the highest of human triumph to death and the loss of love on the battlefield.

Soundtrack:

1. Main Theme
2. Introduction
3. Discovery
4. Cavern
5. Intruder 1
6. Encounter
7. Intruder 2
8. Warhead Storage
9. Intruder 3
10. Mantis' Hymn
11. Hind D
12. Duel
13. Enclosure
14. Blast Furnace
15. Colosseo
16. Rex's Lair
17. Escape
18. The Best Is Yet To Come
19. VR Training
20. Main Theme (1997 E3 Edit)
21. Metal Gear Solid Control Mix

Recommendations: Main Theme, Introduction, The Best Is Yet To Come, Enclosure.

Community Recommendations: Cute_Red_Panda suggests Mantis' theme.

METAL GEAR SOLID 2: THE SONS OF LIBERTY

MGS2's score has its own story. After the success of Metal Gear Solid, Kojima looked outside of Konami for musical inspiration for his next game. He was smitten by the work of a young western composer named Harry Gregson Williams, who specialized in film scores but had never composed for a game in his career. Kojima tried a clever trick. He sent a CD to Williams containing some of his work that Kojima liked best. As Williams recalls, "I received a mysterious package from Japan containing a lot of my music from films like The Rock, Replacement Killers and Armageddon and a request: they wanted me to do something like this for their game." source

The rest is history. Williams' monumentous work on the Metal Gear Solid 2 score garnered widespread critical acclaim and solidified him as a powerhouse music producer in the game industry. With only guiding words from Kojima and no visual direction, Williams composed what is still considered to be the theme that defines the Metal Gear Solid series. His opening salvo features a mix of synthetic tones, tingling sound effects, and sweeping orchestral crescendos that perfectly reflect the fusion of the blue-cold environment of MGS2 with the fearless heroism of Solid Snake. Click on to hear the fruits of his labor...

• Live orchestra performance of MGS2 theme with introduction by Hideo Kojima

Soundtrack:

1. Main Theme
2. Opening Infiltration
3. Russian Soldiers From Kasatka
4. Olga Gurlukovich
5. Metal Gear
6. Revolver Ocelot
7. Ray Escape
8. Can't Say Goodbye To Yesterday
9. Big Shell
10. Fortune
11. Kill Me Now!
12. Vamp
13. The World Only Needs One
14. It's The Harrier
15. Arsenal Is Going To Take Off
16. Who Am I Really?
17. Can't Say Goodbye To Yesterday (full version)

Recommendations: Main Theme, Can't Say Goodbye To Yesterday (full version)

METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER

For Metal Gear Solid 3, Harry Gregson Williams again took the reins to guide musical direction. Compared with Metal Gear Solid 2's main theme, MGS3's opening tune was faster and more gritty, reflecting the raw, "survival of the fittest" mentality that Snake needed in order to emerge from his mission alive. The 1960's setting of the game also strongly influenced its sound, as evidenced in the game's "Bond-like" opening movie. Overall, the score of the game had an untamed, primal sound that fused with an unmistakably vintage vibe which drew the player back into the height of the Cold War era.

Soundtrack:

1. Snake Eater
2. Main Theme
3. CQC
4. Virtuous Mission
5. On The Ground
6. KGB vs. GRU
7. Shagohod
8. Operation Snake Eater
9. Mission Briefing
10. Across The Border
11. Eva's Unveiling
12. Ocelot Youth - Confrontation
13. Cobras In The Jungle
14. The Pain
15. The Fear
16. Fortress Sneaking
17. Underground Tunnel
18. The Fury
19. Battle In The Base
20. Volgin The Torturer
21. The Sorrow
22. Clash With Evil
23. Escape From Fortress
24. On The Rail Bridge
25. Takin' On The Shagohod
26. Escape Through The Woods
27. Troops In Gathering
28. Life's End
29. Last Showdown
30. Don't Be Afraid
31. Eva's Reminiscence

Recommendations: Snake Eater, Main Theme, Life's End, and pretty much every song on the list.

TWIN SNAKES & PORTABLE OPS

For the sake of space conservation, I'm not going to post the soundtracks for MGS: The Twin Snakes and MGS: Portable Ops, but you can find them here.

However, I will post one song from Portable Ops, because it deserves to be highlighted (and I'll bet anyone who's heard it would agree):

1. Calling To The Night

*special thanks to alvaroduck at Youtube for uploading sound tracks

The Story of the Metal Gear Series

The Metal Gear series is famous for an epic story spanning over 5 decades. It is deep in political intrigue, filled with complex and eccentric characters, and packed with countless unexpected plot twists. This feature summarizes the entire series in chronological order, beginning with Metal Gear Solid 3. By the end, I hope you will agree that the Metal Gear series features one of the richest, most interesting, and most captivating tales in the history of videogames.

Please note that there are ample spoilers ahead.

Chapter 1: "There's only room for one Boss, and one Snake."

By uRan_Ehr and fuzzysquash

1964.

Naked Snake, a former green beret now working for the CIA-sponsored FOX Unit, embarks on a mission to rescue Nikolai Sokolov, the Russian architect of a nuclear-equipped military vehicle called the "Shagohod." Snake proceeds with the help of his mission supervisor Major Zero, field medical consultant Para-Medic, and his former mentor, the Boss. Shortly into his mission, the Boss reveals to Snake that she has betrayed the United States and pledged her allegiance to the Russian GRU (Soviet military intelligence) commander, Colonel Volgin. The Boss presents Volgin with two Davy Crockett nuclear missiles as a token of her fealty.

In an epic confrontation on a cliff-side bridge, Snake confronts the Boss, but fails in his attempt to stop her. The Boss breaks his arm and throws him over the precipice, letting him fall hundreds of feet into the twisting river. Volgin and the Boss lift off in a helicopter, and during the flight, Volgin fires one of his new nuclear missiles at Sokolov's former laboratory, turning it instantly into a mushroom cloud.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

Snake is extracted from the mission zone and treated for his injuries. But merely one week later, he finds himself back in Soviet territory, with a new mission: to infiltrate the Russian jungle, kill Colonel Volgin, and destroy the Shagohod. In addition, Snake is tasked with eliminating the traitor that he formerly knew as his mentor: the Boss. Operation Snake Eater commences with the lone soldier's reinsertion into the mission zone. Along the way, Snake gains the assistance of Eva, a sultry and mysterious ex-NSA agent who defected to the Soviet Union several years ago, and trades bullets with a peculiar and unpredictable young Spetnaz major with an affinity for revolvers named Ocelot.

Ocelot

After battling and defeating each member of the Boss's elite group of comrades--the Cobra Unit--Snake locates Volgin's stronghold at Groznyj Grad, but is discovered and captured by the Colonel. During his capture, Snake is tortured and loses his right eye in the process. Nevertheless, he successfully escapes with the aid of Eva, and returns to Groznyj Grad with C3 explosives in hand to destroy the Shagohod once and for all.

Back at Groznyj Grad, Snake learns about the existence of the Philosophers, an Illuminati-like group that controls the world behind the scenes. But after the end of World War II, internal fighting broke out and the group split up. The $1 trillion fund they kept to invest in future wars--the "Philosophers' Legacy"--was divided and hidden in several banks around the world. Colonel Volgin had inherited this money, and Snake learns that the United States wants to obtain it.

Proceeding on his mission, Snake effectively plants the charges and speeds off in a motorcycle with Eva, just as the explosion rips through the facility. But in a swift turn of events, Volgin tears through the hangar ceiling on the Shagohod and sets his pursuit on the fleeing pair. Eventually, with nowhere left to run, Snake faces Volgin and the two engage in a protracted battle, until a bolt of lightning shoots down from the stormy heavens and strikes the Colonel, instantly killing him.

The Shagohod

As the battered pair makes their way to the getaway aircraft, Snake senses something and tells Eva to proceed ahead without him. From the hazy meadows of a flowery field, the Boss appears and comes face to face with the one whom she once trained as her apprentice. The two battle it out in a fierce struggle to the death, and Snake emerges from the battle standing, though barely. As the Boss lies in the midst of the swaying flower bed, the sky turns red and the entire field transforms into a crimson hue. The snake-like scar running down the Boss's chest slithers off of her body and into the grass. With her last breath, the Boss bids Snake goodbye and asks him to end her life. After a long, lingering moment, Snake pulls the trigger.

Snake returns home to the United States with Eva. On a quiet night, the pair sip glasses of wine by the fireside and reminisce about their journey. One thing leads to another, and the two share a passionate night of lovemaking. Upon waking, Snake finds that Eva has left his side. In her stead is a tape, which Snake places in the player. In a pre-recorded message, Eva reveals to Snake that she didn't work for the Soviet Union or the U.S.--she was an agent of the People's Republic of China. She had seduced him to retrieve the Legacy for her own superiors, and she was actually supposed to kill him.

But she didn't--not because she was in love with Snake, but because someone had asked her to spare his life. Eva discloses that the Boss had seen through her façade, and knew that Eva was going to kill Snake. The Boss had asked Eva to stay her hand in order to deliver a message to her apprentice. The Boss never defected from the United States. Her original mission was to infiltrate Volgin's group and identify the whereabouts of the Legacy. But along the way, something unexpected happened: Volgin sporadically decided to fire a nuclear missile at Sokolov's laboratory, and the explosion alerted the Soviets.

Naked Snake and the Boss

Nikita Khrushchev and Lyndon Johnson had held an emergency meeting, during which Khrushchev had insisted that the United States prove its innocence in the incident by sending one of their own to eliminate the Boss. Fate decided then that the Boss would die at the hands of her own beloved disciple, knowing full well that her name would go down in infamy. Through the history books, Soviet children would learn that she had unleashed a nuclear weapon against the motherland, and American children would despise her for her treason. The only place where she would retain her honor--the only respite for the legacy of her patriotic, self-sacrificial act--would reside in Snake's heart. That's why the Boss told Eva her story: because she wanted Snake to know the truth after she had died at his hands. And that's why the Boss asked Eva not to kill Snake: because she wanted to live on, in him.

At the debriefing ceremony, Snake shakes hands with President Johnson and receives the title of "Big Boss." But the praise and applause are nothing but empty noises as Snake walks out of the oval office, the words of Eva still echoing in his head. He visits the grave of the unnamed patriot and places the Boss's gun and a wreath of flowers at the feet of the marker. Straightening his back, Snake delivers one last salute.

In the postscript of the game, Ocelot reveals in a phone conversation with an unknown individual that the Legacy which Eva stole from Snake was actually a fake--Ocelot was actually triple-crossing the CIA and the GRU as a member of the Philosophers. He had obtained half of the Legacy for the purpose of resurrecting the American arm of the Philosophers.

Chapter 2: The Sons of Big Boss

By uRan_Ehr and fuzzysquash

Six years after his mission in the Soviet woodlands, Naked Snake's (a.k.a Big Boss) former unit FOX breaks from the CIA and sets up independent operations at the San Hieronymo Peninsula in Colombia. Snake is captured by his own former comrades and taken to a cell within their base. His captor is Lieutenant Cunningham, a FOX member bent on locating the remaining half of the Philosopher's Legacy.

Snake discovers that a Green Beret member named Roy Campbell is imprisoned near his cell, and rescues him. The pair make their way to an enemy communications tower, where Snake contacts his former mission aides Para-Medic and Sigint, and learns that Major Zero has been apprehended by U.S. authorities under charges of treason. The American government has pinned responsibility for the FOX unit's rebellion on Snake and Major Zero, and the only way Snake can redeem his innocence is by finding and eliminating the true ringleader of the revolt: an eccentric and charismatic personality named Gene.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

Snake and Campbell hatch a plan to recruit enemy soldiers to their ranks in order to beef up their manpower, with the argument that Gene's intention of launching a nuclear strike against the motherland is antithetical to the soldiers' cause. With his new allies, Snake successfully infiltrates Gene's base and defeats FOX members Null and Python. Along the way, he meets a young researcher named Elisa, whose sister Ursula is a member of FOX and works closely with Gene to further his cause. Ursula and Elisa possess extrasensory perception abilities, though Ursula is the more powerful of the two. Elisa decides to betray Gene and help Snake because she wants to prevent Gene from using nuclear weapons.

Big Boss (a.k.a. Naked Snake)

Elisa guides Snake to the location of Gene's new Metal Gear RAXA model, and just as Snake is about to set explosives on it, helicopters appear carrying Gene and a platoon of his soldiers. Gene's men hold Elisa and Snake at gunpoint. But suddenly RAXA awakens, firing on and wiping out Gene's entire platoon. At its helm is Skowronski, a Red Army colonel whom Python had imprisoned but Snake had freed during his mission.

At this point, Gene decides to pull out his true trump card. He turns to Elisa and calls out, "Wake up, Ursula!" Elisa begins to convulse violently, and begs Snake to shoot her before it's too late. Gene explains that Ursula and Elisa are actually two split personalities within the same individual. Snake refuses to shoot Elisa, and she transforms into her ulterior persona. With her telekinetic powers, Ursula throws Skowronski out of RAXA's cockpit and descends into it herself, then turns the sights on Snake. With no other recourse, Snake destroys RAXA, and the Metal Gear model explodes with Ursula inside of it.

After the dust settles, Gene reveals that RAXA was merely a test model, and retreats. Snake sets out in pursuit of the real Metal Gear, and in the process runs into Cunningham. Cunningham tells Snake that he is actually working for the Department of Defense, and wants to trigger a Gene-initiated nuclear strike against the Soviet Union in order to preserve the supremacy of the Pentagon in its internal struggle against the Central Intelligence Agency. After disclosing his loyalties, Cunningham attempts to kill Snake, but is defeated in battle.

Cunningham and Big Boss

Snake pursues Gene and finds him in the launch control room for Metal Gear. Gene tells Snake that he doesn't aim to strike mother Russia-he intends to strike the United States in order to destroy the remaining Philosophers and institute his nation of soldiers, which he calls "Army's Heaven." Gene's vision is a world in which soldiers instead of politicians control the dynamics of international politics.

As Gene prepares to initiate the launch procedure, Elisa suddenly appears and fries the control panel with her telekinetic ability. Enraged, Gene stabs her in the chest, and leaves the room. Snake holds Elisa in his arms, and as the last lights of her life flicker dimly, she leaves him with an ominous omen: "Your children...Les Enfants Terribles...Snake...your son will bring the world to ruin...your son...will save...the world."

Snake leaves behind Elisa's still body and chases Gene to the backup control room. The two men engage in a heated battle, and Snake emerges the victor. As Gene takes in his last breaths, he bequeaths Snake a microfilm that contains all the information about the equipment, personnel, and funds that he had amassed to build Army's Heaven. He explains, forebodingly, that "someday, you'll be glad you have it...the one who fights and survives must carry on the legacy..."

Big Boss and Gene

Snake then rushes to stop Metal Gear before it is launched into orbit, damaging its exterior integrity by hitting it with rocket propelled grenades. As it breaks through the atmosphere, Metal Gear's structure falls apart and its nuclear launch tubes shut down. Snake successfully averts Gene's nuclear a strike against the United States. Upon his return, Snake forms a new Special Forces unit in FOX's stead, which he names "FOXHOUND."

Meanwhile, in the hallways beneath the CIA facility, Ocelot murders the Director of Central Intelligence and steals his briefcase, which contains a list of Philosopher members and locations of portions of the Legacy stashed around the world. Ocelot then phones an unidentified person and expresses his desire to invite Big Boss to join "them" in their effort to replace the Philosophers and become the new generation of Illuminati leaders-the Patriots.

Chapter 3: The New Snake

By fuzzysquash

In a remote region in South Africa, renegade forces have established an independent nation-state named "Outer Heaven." The United States sends Special Forces FOXHOUND member Gray Fox to infiltrate the rogue establishment and gather intelligence about the nature of their motives. Fox successfully enters the renegade base, but headquarters loses contact with him shortly after, receiving only one last transmission that reads "Metal Gear..."

FOXHOUND commander Big Boss sends a rookie member of his unit, codenamed Solid Snake, to penetrate Outer Heaven and rescue Gray Fox. Snake descends into Africa and intrudes through several enemy bases until he discovers Fox. Fox reveals that Metal Gear is a highly mobile, bipedal, nuclear-equipped walking tank that can launch nuclear missiles from any terrain (in essence, the spiritual successor to the Shagohod). Snake proceeds to find and rescue the lead engineer of Metal Gear, Dr. Pettrovich, and obtains intel regarding how to destroy the military vessel.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

As he ventures further into enemy territory, Snake stumbles across traps set for him that appear too well-designed to be mere coincidences. Eventually, Snake finds and rescues a final hostage who reveals that the leader of the rogue unit at Outer Heaven is none other than Snake's own commanding officer-Big Boss. Big Boss had been exploiting his status as the commander of FOXHOUND to accrue wealth and information to fund Outer Heaven. He had hoped to create a powerful, militarized nation with the capacity to rival and subdue any superpower. He had sent Snake in with the hope that the rookie would be captured and fed misinformation in order to misguide the United States.

But Snake is no pawn. As Big Boss activates the self-destruct sequence of Outer Heaven, Snake faces him in a final showdown, and emerges victorious. He escapes just before the facility is engulfed in flames.

Chapter 4: Green Gold

By fuzzsyquash

At the turn of the millenium, the world faces an unprecedented energy crisis. Fossil fuel reserves are increasingly rare, and oil scarcity threatens to destabilize the global economy. In the context of this tense environment, Dr. Kio Marv, a Czech energy scientist, engineers a low-cost and highly efficient way to produce a new fuel source made from algae, known as OILIX.

While on his way to present his breakthrough discovery to the World Energy Conference in Prague, Dr. Marv is kidnapped by rogue mercenaries and taken to their base of operations in central Asia, nicknamed "Zanzibar Land." Zanzibar land is a small, heavily-fortified military state founded in 1997 by an international group of mercenaries. This group of mercenaries had been trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction since their inception. Capturing Dr. Marv and his Oilix design documents was part of their plan to blackmail the rest of world with military and economic leverage.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

Colonel Roy Campbell, now commander of the FOXHOUND unit, sends Solid Snake to rescue Dr. Marv and retrieve the OILIX intelligence. Snake breaks through enemy lines and discovers that Dr. Pettrovich, the designer of the original Metal Gear, had also been captured by Zanzibar Land's mercenaries. Dr. Pettrovich divulges that the leader of Zanzibar Land is none other than Big Boss, the legendary soldier that Snake assumed had perished in the flames of Outer Heaven.

Venturing further, Snake finds Dr. Marv's prison facility but discovers that the doctor has been tortured to death. He also finds out that Dr. Pettrovich had lied to him about being captured by the mercenaries-he had in fact willingly offered his services to Big Boss in order to recreate Metal Gear. His cover blown, Dr. Pettrovich tried to kill Snake, but is quickly neutralized. Snake gathers the design documents for OILIX and tries to make his escape.

But escape does not come easily. Gray Fox, who has offered his allegiance to Big Boss, drives Metal Gear to cut off Snake's path. The two battle it out in a drawn-out confrontation, and Snake destroys the new Metal Gear. Fox does not succumb, however, and fights Snake fist-to-fist in the middle of a mine field. Snake wins the bout, and faces his former commander Big Boss once again. With creative tactics, Snake defeats Big Boss for a second time and permanently incapacitates him. Returning to the United States, Snake delivers the Oilix intelligence to Colonel Campbell and retreats to the Alaskan wilderness.

Chapter 5: Solid versus Liquid

By HAZE-Unit and fuzzysquash

2005.

Six years after the Oilix incident, the Special Forces unit FOXHOUND turns against the United States and initiates an armed insurrection at a remote location in Alaska's Fox Archipelago, called Shadow Moses. The renegade group has acquired a later iteration of Metal Gear (codenamed REX) and kidnapped two VIP's, Donald Anderson (the head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and Kenneth Baker, the president of ArmsTech (a major weapons manufacturer). The ringleaders issue an ultimatum to the American government: deliver the remains of Big Boss or suffer a nuclear strike in the heart of the United States.

Despite his unit's treason, FOXHOUND's former commander Roy Campbell remains loyal to the United States, and calls upon the only soldier that he knows is capable of neutralizing the rogue threat-former FOXHOUND operative Solid Snake. Snake's mission is to locate and rescue the two high-value detainees and prevent the terrorists from launching a nuclear strike against the U.S. His support team is comprised of commanding officer Colonel Campbell, survival instructor Master Miller, data analyst Mei Ling, weapons expert Nastasha Romanenko, and medical adviser Dr. Naomi Hunter.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

Snake infiltrates the terrorist base and finds Donald Anderson, who tells him about Metal Gear REX's deactivation process, but dies soon after of what appears to be a heart attack. Proceeding further, Snake runs across a rookie soldier named Meryl Silverburgh, who helps him escape from the prison cell where the DARPA chief died. Snake then locates Kenneth Baker, but discovers that Baker was being used as bait to lure him to Revolver Ocelot, a white-haired, gun-slinging outlaw with enigmatic motives.

Just as the two were in the thick of a gunfight, a mysterious cyborg ninja appears and cuts off Ocelot's hand. Ocelot and the ninja both retreat. Snake goes to check on Baker, but before Baker can finish his thoughts, he seizes up and dies in a similar fashion as Anderson had. After exiting the building, Snake comes across Vulcan Raven, a FOXHOUND member who tries to stop the lone soldier with an M1 Abrams tank. Snake defeats Raven by lobbing grenades into his vehicle, and continues to the main facility to locate Metal Gear REX's creator.

Solid Snake

Inside, Snake finds Dr. Hal Emmerich (a.k.a. Otacon), the mastermind behind REX, hiding in his lab. Suddenly, the cyborg ninja who had intervened in Snake's duel with Ocelot reappears. The ninja reveals his true identity-he was in fact Gray Fox, the comrade whom Snake had rescued from Outer Heaven and had fought in the mine field at Zanzibar Land. The two reprise a brutal hand-to-hand duel, but Fox disappears before the outcome is settled. Otacon comes out of hiding and agrees to help Snake by abandoning the Metal Gear project and providing technical support from his codec.

Snake reunites with Meryl and the two head for Metal Gear REX's storage facility. Along the way, Snake fights and kills Psycho Mantis, a telepathic and telekinetic FOXHOUND member who attempts to turn Snake's own mind against him. After eliminating Mantis, Snake and Meryl become caught in the crosshairs of Sniper Wolf, a FOXHOUND member who specializes in long-distance combat. Wolf badly wounds Meryl and captures Snake. During his detainment, Snake comes face to face with the renegade FOXHOUND's leader, Liquid Snake, who reveals that he is Solid Snake's twin brother. After being tortured by Ocelot, Snake escapes and single-handedly takes down Liquid's Hind-D attack helicopter.

As Snake pushes forward across a snowy field, Sniper Wolf blocks his path again. This time, Snake wins the sniping match, and Wolf bleeds to death on the snow at the heartbreak of Otacon, who had fallen in love with her. In the lower levels of the Shadow Moses building, Snake fights Vulcan Raven again and prevails. Raven tells Snake that Donald Anderson (the DARPA chief) was actually FOXHOUND member Decoy Octopus in disguise.

Gray Fox

As Snake pushes forward, he receives a startling codec call. Master Miller reveals that Naomi Hunter, Snake's medical adviser, had been communicating with the enemy. Moreover, she had injected Snake with the FoxDie virus, a genetically engineered pathogen that triggered the deaths of Kenneth Baker and Decoy Octopus. Naomi is arrested, but calls Snake and confesses her true motives. She is actually the adoptive sister of Gray Fox, and had originally joined the mission to disrupt it and exact revenge on Snake, who had nearly killed Fox in the mine fields of Zanzibar Land. But she also admits that having come to know Snake and his past, she no longer desires to kill him, and had reprogrammed the FoxDie virus running in his veins.

Snake pushes onward under the guidance of Master Miller to find Metal Gear REX. Inside its holding facility, Snake inadvertently actives REX, learning only later that Miller had in fact been Liquid in disguise all along (the real Master Miller was already dead). Liquid tells Snake that they are twin products of the Les Enfant Terribles project, a U.S. government-sponsored plan to clone the greatest soldier of all time, Big Boss. But Liquid had received Big Boss's recessive genes, and Solid Snake the dominant ones.

Jumping into REX, Liquid faces Snake to finish him off. But out of the blue, Gray Fox appears and attempts to save Snake from REX. Fox tells Snake that it was he who had killed Naomi's parents and orphaned her as a child. But compassion prevented him from taking her life, and he took Naomi in as his own adoptive sister and raised her. After this revelation, Fox tries to destroy REX, but is crushed by the snout of the mechanical beast. Enraged by Fox's death, Snake takes down Metal Gear and confronts Liquid face to face, bare-handed. The two engage in a showdown on top of the defunct REX, and Snake emerges the victor.

Metal Gear REX

Snake picks up Meryl and the two speed off on a getaway vehicle. But Liquid gives chase on a jeep of his own, and the pair crash next to a precipice, where Liquid dies from FoxDie. Snake and Meryl ride off into the distance. Afterwards, it is revealed that Snake had received the recessive genes after all, and that Liquid had actually been the dominant twin. But despite besting his superior, the surviving brother only has a limited amount of time to live due to the FoxDie virus still residing in his system, waiting for the time to activate.

Chapter 6: Genes, Memes, and Nuclear Machines

By fuzzysquash

2007.

After returning from the Alaskan archipelago, Snake and Otacon form a non-governmental, U.N.-sanctioned organization to stem the proliferation of Metal Gear technology, which they call "Philanthropy." Two years after Shadow Moses, Snake and Otacon receive word that the Marines have developed a new Metal Gear model, and are shipping it to an unknown location.

Snake infiltrates the en route Marine tanker by jumping down from the George Washington Bridge as the ship passes under, but shortly afterwards terrorists overrun the watch guard by propelling down from Kasatka helicopters and quietly knifing them. Snake sneaks past the newcomers and ventures deeper into the vessel in order to determine its destination. Along the way, he comes across Olgo Gurlukovich, the daughter of Sergei Gurlukovich (the man in charge of the terrorist assault team). Olga and Snake engage in a heated gunfight, and Snake tranquilizes her with his M9.

Click the spoiler tag to continue...

After sneaking past the terrorist guards, Snake slips into the main hull of the ship, where the remaining Marine units are gathered listening to a speech, oblivious of what has happened on the upper decks. There, Snake finds the new amphibious Metal Gear Ray model and takes several photographs of it in order to expose it to the public. All of a sudden, Sergei and Ocelot burst into the room with their terrorist comrades and declare a takeover. The Marines are caught off-guard, and Sergei gains control. But Ocelot turns on Sergei and kills him, along with the Marine commander giving the speech. Snake jumps out of hiding and aims his gun at Ocelot, calling his attention. Suddenly, Ocelot is seized with a panic attack and grips his right arm, which trembles violently and turns white. His voice abruptly changes and cries out in a familiar tone: "Brother!"

Snake discovers that Ocelot had grafted Liquid Snake's arm onto his body after his own had been sliced off by Gray Fox at Shadow Moses. Through this appendage, Liquid sporadically possesses Ocelot. Liquid Ocelot hops into Metal Gear Ray and uses it to sink the tanker, along with Solid Snake and the rest of the ship's crew.

Solid Snake and Metal Gear Ray

Two years later, U.S. President James Johnson is on a tour of an ocean-based environmental clean-up facility called the Big Shell when a rogue group kidnaps him and takes control of the structure. The Big Shell is made up of two large hexagon-shaped buildings surrounded by smaller connecting struts. From their new fortress, the terrorists threaten to conduct a nuclear strike against Manhattan if the U.S. government does not deliver $30 billion in ransom money. A young FOXHOUND member named Raiden is sent in to rescue the president and neutralize the renegade threat. Raiden's team consists of data analyst (and girlfriend) Rose and Snake's former commanding officer, Colonel Roy Campbell.

As Raiden infiltrates the base, he stumbles across a hallway splattered with blood and strewn with corpses. Inside the adjacent room Vamp, a vampire-like member of Dead Cell (the group that kidnapped the president), ambushes Seal Team 10 and quickly disposes of them. Just as Vamp jumps behind the unsuspecting Raiden, a lone Seal member bursts into the room, yells at him to get down, and unloads a clip at Vamp. Vamp gracefully spins his way clear of the gunfire, and grabs the Seal member, knocking his gun to the ground. Just as he is about to sink his teeth into his new victim, Vamp receives a call in his earpiece from a certain "Queen," and vanishes.

The lone Seal member introduces himself to Raiden as Iroquios Pliskin, and explains that he and his crew had fast-rope descended onto the Big Shell in effort to save the president. All of a sudden, cries for help ring out from Pliskin's speaker. Raiden rushes on ahead of the wounded Pliskin, and comes across a strange scene.

Raiden

Seal Team members have gathered on one side of a connecting bridge and are firing upon a lone female figure, who stands over the still and prone body of the president. But the bullets are flying around her, changing their direction before coming in contact with her body. Vamp appears and carries off the president's body, along with a black briefcase on the ground. As the Seals close in to stop him, the female warrior charges up her enormous weapon and fires an electric shockwave at the team, instantly sending their bodies flying through the air.

After the enigmatic female terrorist leaves, Raiden proceeds to Strut C, where he finds Pliskin and a bomb specialist named Peter Stillman. Stillman was sent in with the rest of the Seal team because one of his former students, Fatman, was a member of Dead Cell and had planted charges throughout the Big Shell. If sunk, the Big Shell would create an unprecedented environmental disaster of epic proportions. Pliskin and Raiden split ways to freeze the various C4 packages hidden in the two Shells' struts. Eventually, Stillman realizes that the bombs Pliskin and Raiden had been freezing were decoys. He and Raiden rush to diffuse the main explosives hidden in Struts A and H, but Stillman is unable to deactivate his target in time. The ensuing explosion kills Stillman and destroys half of the Big Shell.

Raiden successfully diffuses the other, preventing a complete collapse of the structure. As he heads back toward Pliskin, Raiden stumbles across the female warrior who had obliterated the Seal team earlier. She introduces herself as Fortune, the Dead Cell member who is incapable of dying, no matter how hard she tries. Raiden evades the mayhem of Fortune's wrath until Vamp arrives and offers to take care of the intruder for his Queen. Seeing his moment, Raiden pops out and shoots Vamp in the head, causing him to crumple instantly to the ground. As Fortune is distracted by her fallen comrade, Raiden slips into the elevator behind them and makes his getaway. But as Fortune weeps over Vamp's lifeless body, the blood-sucking Dead Cell member reopens his eyes...

Vamp

Raiden pushes toward Strut E on a tip that Fatman has specifically called him out. The two adversaries meet, and Raiden kills Fatman, ending the C4 threat to the Big Shell once and for all. He then proceeds to search out Richard Ames, an FBI agent with information about the president's whereabouts. As he heads toward Ames' location, Raiden encounters a mysterious cyborg ninja, who gives him some camouflage to help him blend in with the enemy. Upon finding Ames, Raiden learns that the Big Shell is merely a façade for the construction of a new Metal Gear model, and that the true objective of Dead Cell is a nuclear strike against the U.S., not a $30 billion ransom.

As the two talk, they spot Ocelot talking with a cloaked figure in the adjacent room who calls himself "Solid Snake." Olgo also appears and the three exchange some harsh words before disbanding. Ocelot enters the hostage holding area and spots a camouflaged Raiden kneeling next to Ames. Suddenly, Ames is arrested with a heart attack and dies, blowing Raiden's cover. The cyborg ninja appears and covers Raiden as he escapes.

Raiden then heads toward the President's location, but runs into the cloaked figure, who again identifies himself as "Solid Snake." Abruptly, Pliskin swings overhead on a helicopter and challenges the figure's identity. The mystery individual confesses that he's not Solid Snake, and reveals his true identity: he is Solidus Snake, the third survivor of the Les Enfant Terribles project that produced the clones of Big Boss. At this point, Raiden realizes that the Seal member who had been working with him was the legendary Solid Snake. Solidus boards a harrier jet and aims his sights at Raiden. With Snake's aid, Raiden takes down the harrier with stinger missiles.

Cyborg Ninja (Mr. X)

Raiden continues onward and finds President Johnson locked in a secluded room. The president tells Raiden about the existence of the Patriots, and reveals that the leader of Dead Cell (the man calling himself Solid Snake) intends to challenge their authority by taking over Arsenal Gear, a massive, mobile Metal Gear station underneath the Big Shell, designed by the Patriots to filter and control digital information In order to maintain their dominance over society. President Johnson directs Raiden to find Emma Emmerich, an information technology expert with the ability to disrupt GW, the artificial intelligence that controls Arsenal Gear.

After issuing his last executive order, the president grabs the barrel of Raiden's gun and demands that Raiden shoot him. The two struggle for a moment, but Ocelot walks in and shoots the president. Raiden obey's his executive order and moves on to search for Emma, whom he learns is the sister of Snake's mission partner, Otacon. Along the way, Raiden fights and defeats a resurrected Vamp and sinks him into a biochemically infected cesspool. Raiden discovers Emma hidden in a closet and leads her toward Snake and Otacon. When they come upon a thin walkway capable of supporting only one person, Raiden instructs Emma to make her way across as Snake and he cover her with sniper fire. At the last section, Vamp suddenly reappears and stabs Emma before Raiden can take him out.

After plugging Vamp with sniper fire, Raiden meets Snake, Otacon, and Emma in the computer room at Shell 1. Despite being heavily wounded, Emma had set up the necessary procedures to begin interference with the GW artificial intelligence system. As Otacon weeps over his barely conscious sister, Snake inputs a virus disc that the President had given to Raiden in order to disrupt Arsenal Gear's activation. But before it can upload completely, the virus is interrupted with an anti-body system. Shortly afterward, Emma dies in Otacon's arms. Snake and Raiden resolve to take the matter into their own hands and infiltrate Arsenal Gear.

Emma Emmerich (E.E.)

Snake sends Otacon to save the remaining hostages while he and Raiden head for Arsenal. Without warning, the cyborg ninja reappears and brandishes his sword at Raiden. The ninja deactivates his face mask and unveils his true identity-not a "he" at all, but Olga Gurlukovich. Raiden stares at bewilderment at Snake, who stands behind Olga and declares that he had never said he was on Raiden's side. With that, Olga slashes Raiden and knocks him unconscious with her electric blade.

When he awakens, Raiden finds himself chained to an upright board and staring face to face with Ocelot and Solidus. Solidus reveals that he had raised Raiden as a child soldier, teaching him to fight and kill efficiently before he had reached his teens. After torturing him, the two leave the room. Olga enters and discloses that she and Snake had no choice but to stun Raiden in order to smuggle him into Arsenal Gear. She tells him to meet Snake further inside Arsenal's structure, and releases his bonds upon exiting the room.

At this point, Raiden receives a codec call from Rose, who tells him that she has been a spy for the Patriots all along, disclosing every piece of information about him to her superiors. Distraught at Raiden's reaction, she insists that the one thing that remains real is her love for him. Before her transmission is cut off, Rose reveals that she is pregnant with Raiden's child.

Raiden presses onward and finds Snake. The two battle Arsenal Gear guards as they make their way deeper inside Arsenal's structure. Meanwhile, Otacon discovers that the "Colonel Campbell" whom Raiden had been taking orders from during the entire mission was not the real Colonel at all-it was an AI generated by GW that had in part been created by Raiden's own imagination and expectations. After defeating the last batch of Arsenal Gear guards, Snake and Raiden are cut off by Fortune. Snake holds her off while Raiden heads up toward Arsenal's main platform.

Solidus Snake

There, Solidus awaits Raiden and tells him that the VR training program he had undergone prior to his mission was part of the S3 (Solid Snake Simulation) program in order to recreate the ideal soldier. He then directs the Metal Gear Rays guarding Arsenal to train their sights on Raiden. Raiden takes down a number of Ray's, before dropping his stinger launcher and conceding defeat. But just as a Metal Gear Ray raises its foot to crush Raiden, Olga jumps in to save him. Olga reveals that her child is being held hostage by the Patriots, and that she had been ordered by them to assist Raiden's mission. If Raiden dies, so does her child. After she exposes this truth, Solidus grabs Olga by the throat with one of his mechanical tentacles and shoots her in the head. Solidus orders the Rays to finish their job against Raiden, but the anti-GW virus takes effect and the Rays turn their sights on Solidus. Solidus returns fire against them, reducing them to heaps of defunct machinery.

Ocelot and Fortune enter the platform area, with Snake in handcuffs. Ocelot divulges that Raiden's VR training is not the S3 program after all-the real training program is the Big Shell, and everyone in it is an unwitting participant. The entire incident had been orchestrated by the Patriots in order to obtain data regarding how to construct the perfect soldier. Everything that the present individuals possessed was given to them by the Patriots, and Ocelot demonstrated this by shooting Fortune. He tells her that she is no Lady Luck, and that her prior invincibility was just a new invisible shield technology designed by the Patriots and installed onto her. As Fortune falls to the ground, Liquid Snake seizes control of Ocelot through his arm again.

Liquid declares that he is going to eliminate the Patriots, and jumps into the cockpit of the last remaining Metal Gear Ray. Before leaving, he unleashes Ray's full payload against the remaining group. But Fortune stumbles to her feet, and in one last effort stretches out her arms in the face of the oncoming missiles. The missiles deflect away from her and she saves the group, before collapsing with her last breath. She was Lady Luck after all.

Snake and Raiden

Liquid turns Ray around and dives overboard into the water, and Snake dives after him. Arsenal Gear crashes into Manhattan, with only Solidus and Raiden facing one another. An AI codenamed "JFK" contacts Raiden through codec and tells him that Ocelot was wrong-"S3" does not stand for "Solid Snake Simulation," it stands for "Selection for Societal Sanity." The program is designed to obtain information not only about how to create the perfect soldier, but how to control the flow of information and manipulate subjective opinion as well.

JFK then tells Raiden that he must kill Solidus if he wants to save Olga's baby and Rose. Solidus reveals that he is the one who killed Raiden's parents, and the two battle it out with katanas atop the roof of the embanked Arsenal Gear. Raiden slays Solidus, and the body of the third Son of Big Boss falls down behind the statue of George Washington at Federal Hall.

In front of the building, Snake meets Raiden and tells him that he and Otacon are going to find the names of the Patriots through information gathered from Arsenal Gear. Raiden offers to help, but Snake tells him that he must settle some private matters first. Raiden meets Rose in the street where they originally met, and they promise to pass on the best of their cultural knowledge and philosophical beliefs to their child and to future generations in general.

In the epilogue of the game, Otacon contacts Snake and tells him that he has identified the names on the list of the twelve Patriots on the Wisemen's Committee. Problem is, they're all dead; and they've been buried for over a hundred years. What's more, one of the names on the list is one of Philanthropy's biggest donors...

To be continued in Metal Gear Solid 4: The Guns of the Patriots.

reservedfuzzysquash

pre-ordered aswell! :D

Two hype threads of the same game, it couldn't get any better.

That was a great reminder read for me, as well as some not known info on Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 which I sadly never had a chance to explore and play.

Outstanding write-up, I'm sure it will be very informative and appreciated by anyone interested in Metal Gear franchise. :)

must have killer up ps3 game thanks for the info thanks god i have ps3 CTR360

What?

Thank you so much fuzzysquash!QuebecSuperstar

Thank you for reading :)

New screenshots and previews added--check 'em out!

I admit you did a very good job with this thread and the old one, but it seems making a new one made people stop posting, but nice work. It is a shame the one you made in SW is getting more respond than the one here.

Anyway I was at MGS4 board and it is not a great place for me to tell the truth, some of the topics there are interesting to have but some topics are annoying, I can't believe people think MGA is part of MGS.

I think you know that since you didn't make this thread there.

Keep up the good work.

Ok I think people need to keep posting in this thread so it can stay on the first page, the thread in SW is doing much better than this and the game is a PS3 exclusive.

Come on people keep this thread alive.

This is the official boxartwork for MGS4 Limited Edtion.

Looks awesome.

http://www.kjp.konami.jp/gs/hideoblog_e/

In last Thursday prodcast of Kojima Production they talked about MGS4 bot-camp and MGO.

Chick it out.

http://www.kjp.konami.jp/gs/hideoblog_e/

In last Thursday prodcast of Kojima Production they talked about MGS4 bot-camp and MGO.

What does the MGS4 LE contain?gollum007

Here you go, TC has it on his first post but this is what it contains:

• Collectible metal case
• Bonus Blu-ray disc with two "making of" documentaries
• Four chapters of the digital graphic novel
• Metal Gear Solid 4 soundtrack
• EB Games exclusive art book
• Retails for $85

Is it sad to say that I am buying a PS3 just for this game?Wasdie

No, it is not when you buy a console for a certain game, you will get interested in other games in the future, when somebody buys a gaming console and he gets impressed with a game and buy it then he/she keeps tracking other games that interest him.

Metal gear online beta wil hit the PSN store 17 April an the new store will open on the 15.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6189087.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1

Metal gear online beta wil hit the PSN store 17 April an the new store will open on the 15.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6189087.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1

Star650

[QUOTE="Star650"]

Metal gear online beta wil hit the PSN store 17 April an the new store will open on the 15.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6189087.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1

Malta_1980

[QUOTE="Star650"]

Metal gear online beta wil hit the PSN store 17 April an the new store will open on the 15.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6189087.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1

Malta_1980

There is no mention of that in the article if you read it, in the US when you preorder MGS4 you will receive a key to input in order for you to download the game, but this article doesn't go into details about that. It could be you don't have to in the EU beta.

If I find anything new about that I'll post it back here.

Very well done job with the MGS info fuzzy, I am very impressed, and here is a video for all the MGS fans out there, enjoy. :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SIaL8r4xc8w&feature=related

http://kotaku.com/379264/oh-that-mgs4-headset-is-real

It turns out it is real.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Hands-on

I'm the first American in the world to have beaten MGS4, which is freaking awesome.

freaking awesome. by Jeff Haynes

US, April 2, 2008 - Three weeks ago, Konami extended a once in a lifetime invitation to a handful of journalists. Fourteen people from around the world gathered together at the Konami Super Campus in Nasu to experience one of the most anticipated titles in recent history, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in a specialized boot camp for the game. We weren't simply shown snippets of levels or gameplay demos; instead, we were sequestered for three days at their facility for two specific tasks. The first task was that we were to play through the entire title from start to finish with the Konami team gathering our stats and play information as we progressed.

The second task was much more important, because at the end of every gameplay session, we were asked to provide detailed feedback, which would be given to the development team to make adjustments to the final build of the title. We weren't alone in experiencing the game in this way; Kojima himself was replaying the title at the same time we were, going through the same gameplay sections and feedback tasks as we were. In effect, we became part of the design team. As I stated earlier, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially for any Metal Gear Solid fan. Not only were we getting a chance to complete the game before anyone else, but we were making an impact on the overall game that will launch worldwide on June 12th.


The final chapter in the 20-year franchise that constantly redefined the stealth action genre, Metal Gear Solid 4 brings Solid Snake back out of the shadows for one final mission to eliminate his nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. But, like every other Metal Gear Solid game, there's much more going on than a simple assassination. I certainly won't spoil the plot points or the story here; there is only so much that I'm allowed to talk about, after all. Instead, I will go into more detail on a section we've previously covered: the Middle East area that Snake has infiltrated in released trailers or demos.

But let me first preface that statement with one new piece of info that we hadn't previously known. Whereas previous Metal Gear Solid games have been relatively linear in their approach, MGS4 is much more of an open-world affair. While there are still specific locations that Snake will need to get to (which will constantly be indicated on Snake's mini-map), the environments that he finds himself in will provide multiple paths to get him to his eventual destination. This provides much more flexibility in how you fight your way through the battlefields that engulf MGS4.

Snake will come across the horrors of war.As we were told in last year's E3 trailer, war has completely changed the world. No longer is it a breakdown of diplomacy between countries - conflict has become a financial factor by itself, supporting the global economy by virtue of the PMCs that are continually moving into areas of the world and engaging in battle. In fact, battles aren't about countries any more - they're more about factions engaging other factions. Even civilians aren't safe in this new world order, as most people are simply born to fight and die, mostly without a cause or a reason to go to war. Cities are constantly shelled, buildings are blown up and every street is a battlefield. This constant conflict between nanomachine-enhanced soldiers is a significant factor within the game, and plays a huge role within your exploration of the ruined landscape of the Middle East.

Another threat comes with Liquid's elite personal guard known as the FROGS. Another squad of superhumanly-enhanced soldiers shown in previously released trailers, this all-female squad boasts cybernetic suits that allow them to cling to walls and fire at their enemies (you) from any angle. Their speed and acrobatic skills help them avoid incoming fire, which makes them even more dangerous. This is especially true when you fight them in the remains of a dilapidated hotel rigged with booby traps, where each step could be Snake's last. Fortunately, he's not alone in this massive battle. Meryl and her Rat Patrol provide ample fire support.

This four man squad is composed of a hulking brute with a Mohawk named Jonathan, a bald sharpshooter named Ed, an "intestinally challenged" grunt named Johnny, and Meryl, who's surprised and not particularly thrilled to see Snake. But for both soldiers to accomplish their missions, they have to team up to repel Liquid's attacking squads and attempt to bury them under the hotel rubble.

Ready, Aim, Fire!Meryl isn't the only familiar face that Snake runs into during his initial mission. Otacon provides intelligence support from aboard a mobile drop ship, providing hints and back up via the Mark II. Otacon also briefs Snake on various situations during some of the game's numerous cutscenes, which offer an interesting take on Metal Gear history through flashback sequences. By pressing the L1 or X button prompts when they appear, Snake can trigger a sequence or image from a previous title, adding extra depth to topics being discussed at that point in time, which is an excellent way to fill in pieces of the complex puzzle that is the Metal Gear universe of the last 20 years.

These cutscenes are not the only way that players will acquire background information on the situations Snake faces. Between operations, Snake will receive detailed mission briefings on his next assignment, Liquid's movements, or the threat of various PMCs in the area he will be dispatched to.

Watch the FROGS.Visually, Metal Gear Solid 4 is even more striking on the console than it has been in released trailers. We always had a sense that what Kojima was showing us was incredible footage, but the detail within the game itself is simply breathtaking. One example of this: when an explosion goes off near Snake, a fine coating of dust covers the camera, adding to the cinematic feel of the game. Another showcase of the striking graphics is the seamless transition between cutscenes and gameplay, many of which are only highlighted by a camera shift to indicate the cutscene has ended and gameplay has begun.

Another thing that stands out is the sound quality of the game, which is presented in Certified Dolby Digital Sound. The ambient battlefield noise provides a haunting backdrop to onscreen action, making you feel like just one part of a much larger conflict. The game's soundtrack is subtly shaded by local musical influences, as in the Middle East level, punctuated by a driving techno beat that builds when the guards become alerted to your presence and increases further if gunplay breaks out.

As I said earlier, there's only so much I can go into right now, but this is the system seller that we've all known Metal Gear Solid 4 was going to be. This preview has only scratched the surface; we haven't even described some of the bosses, radical and innovative game mechanics, or other features that make this title a fitting conclusion to one of the best franchises in gaming. As soon as we're able, we'll bring you more details on Metal Gear Solid 4, but for more information, check out our interview with Hideo Kojima here. And for new screens of the game, click on the gallery at the bottom of the page.

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/863/863825p1.html

Previews: Metal Gear Solid 4

It was truly a surreal, unprecedented experience...not even the three days I spent sequestered within Konami's U.S. office to review MGS3: Snake Eater back in 2004 could compare. In Nasu, I found it incredibly easy to sever all ties with the outside world and fully immerse myself in the dense MGS mythology for 72 unforgettable hours. Of course, the game itself remained the primary draw throughout, but the minimal distractions (wandering snow monkeys, fireside chats with Mr. Kojima at the hotel bar during the wee hours) only helped to magnify the event's otherworldly vibe. But as special as this experience was, it also brought with it a bizarre burden -- keeping all those shocking narrative revelations and massive, life-ending spoilers under wraps wouldn't be easy.

SCREENS: Don't even bother trying to take this chopper down early on...Snake simply doesn't have the right weapons. Click the image above to check out all Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots screens.

Four weeks after I watched its credits roll (well, most of them anyway...some things even we weren't allowed to see), MGS4 still occupies a considerable amount of my mindshare. Trust me, there's a tremendous amount of game to process here...and while the chance to pen a carefully controlled preview on its first hour might seem like an excellent opportunity, it almost feels like a disservice to the title Kojima and Co. have produced. This game deserves a thesis, not a moment-by-moment walkthrough of what you'll be experiencing yourself come June 12. So if you're a MGS fan who's already sold on this game, I suggest avoiding any and all media that drops between now and its launch. The surprises it has in store for you simply shouldn't be spoiled. But if you're still teetering on the edge, wondering if MGS4 is truly worth it...keep reading.

Unlike its predecessors, Metal Gear Solid 4 unfolds across several distinct, self-contained acts, and nearly every single image and video you've seen so far hails from the game's first act, dubbed Liquid Sun. Before the action begins, Snake gravely says, "War has become routine," but in reality, MGS4's warfare is far from routine. From the outset, you'll be stunned by just how many long-held, seemingly ironclad tenets of MGS have been radically reworked here. First off, you're not sent on a "solo sneaking mission" like old times -- this time, you've got help. Grizzled and gruff well beyond his natural age, Snake journeys to the Middle East to track down Liquid Ocelot (you know, triple-crossing series regular Revolver Ocelot with MGS1 antagonist Liquid Snake's arm/personality grafted on) and meet up with a mysterious backup team.

You arrive in a war-torn desert city with a group of local militia members, and you can choose to fight alongside them against the skilled PMC (private military contractor) troops controlling the streets. As long as you're wearing their garb and don't engage in too much friendly fire, the militia guys will leave you alone. But realistically, you probably won't have much luck keeping your buddies alive in this act; with Snake's limited arsenal and deadly chaos erupting all around you, stealthy survival becomes your immediate goal.

SCREENS: Whether or not you choose to help the local militia is up to you...but without Snake, they're toast. Click the image above to check out all Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots screens.

Expect to spend the first 10 minutes of playtime carefully crawling through smoking rubble and silently slipping past guards. During this time you'll scarcely stop to consider just how much easier and more instinctive MGS4's controls feel compared to what came before. Throughout development, Kojima Productions has been open about wanting to simply refine and westernize the gameplay, and they've done a stellar job. You're no longer wrestling with the camera; you won't get stuck while crouching and crawling; and aiming and shooting now feel entirely natural (once you've disabled the stifling auto aim function). It's tough to verbalize precisely how the overall "feel" of MGS4 has changed, but it's as if an entire layer of unnecessary obfuscation has been removed -- the controls feel less abstract, and you're pressing fewer buttons yet doing much more than ever before. As someone who once defended the traditional top-down perspective as crucial to the MGS experience, it's at once both humbling and inspiring to see the gameplay evolve so far beyond those staid constraints.