Metal Gear Solid 4
First off a huge thank you to Mr Haysmith for supplying this copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 for me to review.
Secondly as with my Preview I will not be supplying any spoilers, but expect my Profiles to be updated as of the 12th of June with all the updated history and facts on Characters, Weapons and Locations...
Story
The year is 2014 its been 5 years since the Manhatten incident involving Arsenal Gear, with the ever increasing demand to reduce the numbers of Country Military personel by their families and country men.
As a result Private Military Groups came to be to fill the void, they fight anywhere they are paid to be and have their combat controlled by the SOP system. The biggest 5 PMC groups combined have more military power than America and their mother company is Outer Haven.
The story begins with Snake in transport to a town in the Middle East, disguised as an Arab Militia, Snakes first job is to meet up with Otacons new assistance drone the Metal Gear MK II.
Prior to going to the Middle East, Snake is found at the grave site of Military Heroes where he looks over a familiar grave, then Otacon lands and informs Snake that they had found the location of Liquid.
Getting onto the Chopper, Snake finally meets up with Roy aka Colonel and he explains the situation about Liquid trying to take control of the SOP system...
I think I'll stop their as to ensure you find out the rest for yourselves...
The story as ever is a very complex one with the usual twist and turns. Kojima has seen it fit to reveal the truth around alot of the questions people have had about characters of the Past, Present and Future. This is a welcome move and for myself it confirms and reiterates alot of the facts I have come to believe.
Its pace is very well managed and with each new reveal you are given time to digest, the only let down I feel is in the Prologue act, Kojima didn't really need to tie up too many of the stories and you felt the question "Why do I need to know this?" come into play. Yes it was well scripted but I felt it wasn't needed to the extent it was supplied.
Locations
The Game features 5 different locations, each with its own unique challenge and stealth style.
The Middle East chapter as im sure you enjoyed recently in the MGO Beta is all about corner shooting and moving effeciently through the terrain.
The South American location is more about quiet ground stealth and owes alot to how you would play in Metal Gear Solid 3, but this makes this chapter all the more entertaining
After this their are other 3 chapters including Eastern Europe
Friend Nor Foe
During the each act you'll meet alot of enemies, each have their own unique style of combat and defence, but this gives rise to you the player having to constantly evolve to ensure that you both survive and succeed.
Also during the game you are assisted many familiar faces, tho most are only involved via video link or codec some take up arms with you to combat the PMC's of that location. The result is you feel alot of reliance on these people to both assist you and divert attention from yourself during gun battles.
Battles with the each of the Beauty and Beast Unit are to say the least epic, each one takes a twist on an old design and makes it fresh and entertaining. Especially when you defeat them with only a stamina kill.
Their are also a few other battles during the game some of which you have dreamed of doing others you wouldn't be believed if you told them what you had done! But that makes it all the more satisfying
Gameplay
Metal Gear Solid 4 takes in excess of 30 hours to complete on the first run and between each Act their is a mandatory install to implement the textures and content required for that duration of the game. It is refreshing to see this method of install, not only does it give the player a chance to have a break but it also reduces the required memory used on the hard drive, which could have so easily been in excess of 8Gb!
Mechanics of the Stealth in Metal Gear Solid 4 are constantly changing with each new location you are forced to take a different step to combat or avoid the enemy, one enemy for exampe is like a T Rex and if you stay out of their field of vision you are safe however if they see you, your attacked by a massive pack of them!
Graphics
Tho not as polished as those shown earlier on, the final graphics of Metal Gear Solid 4 are definately one of the best you'll find on the Playstation along with Call of Duty 4 & Gran Turismo 5. Lighting is now very realistic and the detail in peoples face is the best you'll see anywhere!
Cut Scenes
Theirs alot of cut scenes during each act and as you expect they do sometimes go on for a while, nearing the game the cutscenes last in excess of 2 hours! collectively with only a minor period of game play in the middle. But for those that are patient you'll enjoy them as they are full of interesting facts and story related tit bits.
The Missions Briefings tho strictly speaking are Cut Scenes have an interactive edge as the player can take control of Metal Gear MK II and hunt for bonus content on the Nomad. This includes batteries, music, ammo and a few other goodies...
Replayability
Metal Gear Solid 4 has a heck of alot of Hidden content, which will ensure that you replay each act over and over. The biggest pull and recently revealed feature is the ipod, hidden throughout the game are tracks for every game Kojima was involved with! but its impossible to get every track even after 3 plays!
Their are more hidden treasures but I don't want to spoil that for you...
Solid Snakes Finest Final Hours?
Metal Gear Solid 4 is for what its worth is the best stealth action game to date, Kojima has taken everything he's learned over the last 21 years and created something exceptional, it has no equal in size nor vision, even with 50GB to play with you can see that not a single byte has been wasted.
For Solid Snake he endures alot of pain and regulary has his personnal mentality questioned. He most certainly has his high times but also alot of lows...
Does he get kiiled or kills himself? Well im afraid you'll have to learn that for yourself...
Score
Graphics - 10/10 (The best on PS3 thus far)
Sound - 10/10 (Harry Gregson-Williams & Norihiko Hibino once again create an exceptional & atmospheric soundtrack)
Story - 09/10 (Excellently scripted, its only downside is the need to tie up to many loose ends in the Prologue)
Game Length - 10/10 (with a 30 hour! game time and alot of replay value theirs alot of Snake left to enjoy)
Total - 39/40
