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Very nice indeed

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'd love to point out that i never played any of the previous MGS before. The graphics on it are excellent. A well tought out game all around. I love the level of detail in each game play. This game has kept me busy all weekend. The story is very original and reaches unprecedented levels of detail.

If I was to complain about something will be that one has to hit "start" or "x" to many times (about 4 or 5 times) to get to the actual game. Then play some, then hit "start" again to avoid more cutscenes in which you miss a lot of the history of the game.

Then there are the installing of files every time you pass an act. more time waiting. Then there are the cut scenes itself, where strangely enough you could hit the "X" or the "L1" button to see different views or what they call "flashbacks". Useless. Although I just mention that I like the level of detail (which I do) but not to the point of annoying me.

To kill a soldier you have to empty the entire magazine (unless you shoot them in the head, of course). Just about any type of weapon there is out there, you can find it in this game. Love the octocamo, although sometimes seems useless to the stupid soldiers walking around.

To get good at this game, you'll have to understand the stress levels that Snake goes through. The use of rations, medicines and other useful gadgets that he has at hand. I liked Drevins points for picking up weapons and trading for ammo or other weapons. The weapons "id lock" is an original idea that could be put to some use in the real world.

The online mode is interesting altough confusing. The games are short in time and they need to work out the spawing issue, where you respawn and die suddenly for no reason, saying that so, or so, kill you.

It is a great game after all, which I enjoy playing (not my wife).

Simply A Work of Art!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I bought a Playstation 3 and an Xbox360 at launch. I've played every single AAA game that has come on both platforms upto date, but this is the first game that truly takes it to the next level!

Metal Gear Solid 4 is simply the best piece of software that I've played up to date. The game is a thrill ride from start to finish and constantly keeps you at the edge of your seat. You'll laugh, cringe, cry and sigh. But most importantly, you'll think!

If you're a MGS fan, you OWE it to yourself to pick up this game. Trust me, you will not be disappointed! The production value is bar none; best of the best.

Kojima's Finale

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Really great game. Total fan service to any fan of the series and the controls are much better.

Some long cutscenes but wraps up the story and all its loose ends. Graphics are absolutely stunning, the cutscenes are easily the best i've ever seen in a game.

A must have for fan of the series, for newcomers probably the most polished game released this generation and the shooting is very fun.

What's a fantastic way to end the saga for Solid Snake!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

My first reaction towards this game was wow! The game was awesome, and the story line was great. I will first cover the thing that really made this a 4 out of 5 stars, the cinematic scenes. This game was literally 50% gameplay and 50% cinematic scenes. I was really hoping to play as much as snake eater or sons of liberty. Nevertheless, this game really doesn't make that a bothersome.

The first thing that was great was the graphics. The graphics were absolutely amazing. I played it on a regular tube and on HD. They are both great. Especially the way which fighting scenes had taken place. You can literally see where the world of technology has come to. The next great thing was snake. Even though snake is now known as "old snake", the way he moves and does things doesn't affect the legend whatsoever. The most greatest thing that really made this a truly great game was the explanation of everything! Everything you have not understood, MGS4 made the extra initiative to make sure you were left knowing what everything meant.

The story line was specatular. This game literally throws so many curveballs at you that you can never predict what you're going to do in this game. The new octocamo was another great thing. Snake has this uniform that is able to camoflaugh itself into anything snake touches. That was pure brillance by Knoami. I know I should've added this into the understanding portion, but Knoami does an excellent way to bring back the characters and point out there purpose. I can literally write a huge essay, but I'm writing some of the basics. I think many should buy or rent the game to know what I'm talking about. This game has left me breathless. Knoami's brilliance really stood out while making this final saga. I recommend every metal gear solid fan to play this final saga!

The Grand Finale of the Solid Snake Saga

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Funny how the original 'Stealth Espionage Action' game was born. Failed to create all-out action game due to the limited technology, video game auteur Hideo Kojima instead created a game where you avoid firefight and sneak around the enemy. Since the original inception of Metal Gear in 1987, the series have always represented the best of the best the gaming industry can offer.

Although loosely linked, each iteration was stand-alone game that requires no knowledge of the previous games. It all changed in MGS4. If the past installments slowly build the background of one of the finest video game storyline, MGS4 not only creates an immensely excellent stand-alone plot, but also brings suddenly all previous story to the stratospherically mythological level. One must experience all past games to fully understand and appreciate the level of genius MGS4 provides. MGS4 interweaves all the story so clearly into one satisfying epic culmination and brings its story to a closure. In doing so, Kojima eradicated all the past shortcoming and confusion in the plotline of 'MGS2: Sons of Liberty', and making Raiden the coolest video game character you wish you could play as. (Never thought that was possible, did you?) The ultimate joke on us compliment of Sir Hideo Kojima and his far-out sense of humor for ridiculing him on MGS2 for so long.

Close Quarter Combat (CQC) was improved upon MGS3, and not only you have free-camera, the 3rd person perspective is now over the shoulder instead of over the head, you have the 1st person-like accuracy. Furthermore, you now can shoot and move around in the 1st person perspective. All the movement and combat mechanics have been vastly improved and refined here compared to MGS3.

MGS4 is a stealth action game first and foremost, but now you have freedom to choose how you go about your tactics. You can sneak around without killing, or you can sneak around killing everyone. But most of all, you can just go around killing everything that moves. With tons of high tech weaponry at your disposal, you no longer have to rely solely alone on stealth. Improved upon camoflouge suit from MGS3, you now have octocamo suit. It adapts automatically to any environment you touch. You also have 'snake eye' that replaced binocular and also works as infrared goggle. You also have a useful aid from miniature metal gear called 'MK II' to survey the surrounding and even knock your enemy unconscious. All these do not mean the dynamic of the gameplay changes into all-out action like gears of war. You have to constantly monitor your psyche level. Continuosly shooting your way around will decrease your psyche level that directly affects your efficiency in combat so stealth is still your best course of action.

Metal Gear Solid (MGS) series always pushes the envelope to the very end of bleeding technology of its time. But here deploys Hideo Kojima a truly amazing in-game cutscenes generated by in-game engine to the CGI level seen from Final 'Fantasy VII: Advent Children'. All the staple camera techniques frequently seen in top Hollywood production is deployed here. They even use hand-held camera technique. We are talking about cutscenes directly generated by in-game engine itself, not pre-made cutscenes like CGI (computer-generated imagery). Truly beyond amazing achievement if you ask me. Natunally, the gameplay itself also looks outstanding. Possibly the best looking video game to date.

All the good looking graphics and techniques will mean nothing without excellent voice-actings headed by David Hayter as Old Snake. The music composed by Harry Gregson Williams is another area MGS4 matches on par with the top Hollywood production. Voice-actings and music enhance the overall cinematic experience to another level.

Level design is nothing short of excellent. His near perfectionist attention to details is shown in every single rubble in each level. Maps are very large, although devided by small section and loading screen. One fact that always bothers me no matter which game it is. Loaging screen here is not as bothersome as ones in RPGs but bothersome nonetheless.

There are so many hidden jokes, references to the previous games, and his usual far-out, often wierd sense of humors you need to find to fully appreciate how deep the game as whole truly is.

Is this game perfect? No game ever is. But in this case, I am more disappointed for what it doesn't have.

*****SPOILER WARNING*****

First of all, the game is still too short for game of this magnitude. Gameplay itself last about 14-15 hours if you attack everything in linear fashion. Cutscenes are about 7-8 hours; total about 20 hours give or take a little. 'MGS3: Snake Eater' still stands as the longest game in the franchise.

Next, Shadow Moses was a somewhat letdown gameplay-wise. First time I enter Shadow Moses, and I hear 'Best is yet to come' from MGS1 in the background, it was a spine-tingling experience. Then I run into Gekkos and suicide Gekkos. In the plot sense, that was inarguably the best course, but I wanted to play more stealth action against soldiers and alarms and turrets as in MGS1. I can only hope in the inevitable 'Special Improved Edition' in the future, they give us a standalone mission set in Shadow Moses guarded by the FROGS, turrets, and alarms with boss fights at the end of each stage as bonus so they don't have to disturb the existing plotline.

Next, we need cinema mode just like in MGS3: Subsistence so we can watch all the cutscenes and concentrate in story alone. Right now we can watch all the briefings cutscenes but we need to play the game again to watch the rest.

Next, VR (Virtual Reality) Mission is something you could use to finetune your techniques just like in MGS1 and MGS2. Virtual Chamber in MGS4 just doesn't cut it. Give us VR Mission in the Special Edition.

Finally, I would never thought I would say this. I want to play as Raiden. Give us Raiden, Kojima-San. Maybe Raiden's mission like Snake's Mission in MGS2. Better yet, how about the alternative path like 'Ada Wong' in Resident Evil 4 Director's cut so you can blend him in the existing plotline such as Battle with Vamp, etc. I humbly ask for your forgiveness for our ignorance of the past. Pretty Please with lots of sugar on top, Give us Raiden.

Get the limited edition if you can by all means. It comes in excellent and cool-looking hardbound case. It contains the same original game disc in original Blu-ray case with artwork. But it also contains the second case that harbors two discs. One is Blu-ray disc contains about 150 minutes worth of documentaries from the history of MGS to the Making of MGS4. The other is soundtrack of MGS4. Must-have collector's item for the long time series fans.

At last, Solid Snake's story comes to an immensely satisfying grand conclusion. This is one game that is meant to be thoroughly experienced; you invest your time in characters and storyline so much, you feel attached to the avatar in your actual gameplay. MGS4 is as close to Hideo Kojima's envisioned Magnus Opus since the inception of Metal Gear in 1987. At the end of the game (Be sure to wait and watch until the very end title shows), you will know you just experience the most cinematic video game ever created. The emotional resonance will ringer long after the end credit rolls. MGS4 is man's game like 'Dirty Dozen', not a cheek flick like 'An Affair to remember'. Just like all the previous MGS games, your heart will be filled up with such emotion that makes even grown men cry. Go ahead! Stand attention. Give this soldier a proper respect and one last salute. He really deserves it with all your heart.

Best game out on PS3? Definitely, Best game of this generation,? For sure. Best game ever? YES!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Don't bother reading any more reviews. What was the point of buying a PS3 in the first place if you weren't planning on getting this game? Well, if you are still hesitant, the only reason would be if you hadn't played any of the 3 previous installments. Well, I must say, it does seem like the full experience can only TRULY be had by playing them all at some point or another. Whether that's before or after MGS4, I don't know. What I do know is MGS1 should almost be a requirement before playing this, because there is a ton you will miss out on without having played it first. You will see why come Act 4. Thankfully, the Essential Collection is a bargain and it's not like there's any real rush to play a single player game like MGS4 anyways. You owe it to yourself, as a wise PS3 owner, much wiser than any 360 owner that is, to play this game. You deserve the full experience though, so buy the Essential collection and play them beforehand. Because this game is the finale, and it is the ultimate. Trust me, you'll want to be prepared. This is a once in a lifetime game, and you will want to have the best experience possible. This is no doubt the best game ever.

Great game, IF you love the series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is, so far, one of the best ps3 titles available (circa July 2008). It has "all things fans love and detractors hate". What do I mean? A lot of people complain about the overtly cinematic nature of the game. Yes, like all other Metal Gear Solid Games (except for Portable Ops for PSP, mainly because of the PSP's technical limitations), this is 30-40% gameplay and the rest is made from a whole bunch of dialogue and cutscenes. But Metal Gear Solid has always been that way; "and the kids just love it!" (sorry for the KMFDM pun). It sure has an overtly complicated and sometimes absurd storyline (like all oher MGS games, so this isn't really a drawback at this point).

After a whole bunch of MGS titles being written, produced and directed by Hideo Kojima one can easily know what to expect (and what not) from a new chapter in the series. If you loved all the other mgs titles, you'll feel right at home with this one (even with the stealth-in-the-battlefield tweaks, over the shoulder camera, and all that stuff they put in to appeal other gamers). If you hated all other chapters of Snake and Big Boss's history, you'll hate this one, too. It's just that simple.

Of course, if you don't know a speck about the other MGS games, you should give them a try, in the order they were released. Konami has released a nifty trilogy pack; or you can just rent the first one; if you like it, go on with the others. If not, STOP RIGHT THERE; you saw it, you disliked it, and the others are more or less the same in terms of structure and gameplay, with some minor tweaks here and there for each game (but if you hated the first one, what's the point in playing the others? Metal Gear is something you must enjoy to get the most of it).

Long-long cutscenes and radio/codec sequences, absurd and needlessly complicated stories (each one with its share of plot holes, we must admit), stealth-focused gameplay, Japanese references all over the place, blah blah blah, is what Metal Gear Solid has been all about since the very beginning (since 1998 at least, the old-school Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 games are a slightly different story). And all that stuff is here, in MGS4. So, if you are buying it, you should know what you're paying for. Nothing more, nothing less.

Never played MGS... but this game is awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

First of all, let me start off by saying that I've never played a Metal Gear Solid game in my life. This is a review for Metal Gear newbies like myself that are wondering whether or not to plunk down some cash for the 4th (or 6th?) installment in the series. (In all good faith, I will disclose that I did play a few hours of the original Metal Gear 20 years ago on the Nintendo, but those memories are a blur and so don't count!)

I had read a lot of the Amazon reviews before buying Metal Gear Solid 4, especially the 3-star reviews complaining about 'long cut scenes.' I highly recommend reading through some of these, so that you know what to expect before you buy. I'll give you my take on it, and you can decide for yourself once you play the game.

For a number of years there has been a trend of convergence between movies and video games. The two medias complement each other well. Movies' strengths are story, content and drama; video games' strengths are interactivity, intense action and virtual digital worlds. Both are very creative mediums, both are critically evalutated, and consumers of both have high expectations and are very resistant to change.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the closest that anyone has come to merging a movie and a game into a single entertainment experience. And somehow Hideo Kojima (video game designer and director of the Metal Gear series) figured out a way to make it fun also! This is the type of game that you pick up for a few minutes, and next thing you know 4 hours have gone by and you're trying to figure out how much sleep you REALLY need before that early meeting tomorrow morning. Needless to say, it is hard to put the controller down.

For me, the experience is like watching a movie (all drama and the main plot/storyline are handled during the cutscenes), but I get to be in control of all the action sequences. What more could one ask for?? I get to kick back and relax while the story develops, and when killin' is a-called for, then I get to make the decisions.

Personally, I believe this is the best game available for the PS3. The graphics are nothing short of amazing, sound effects are accurate (and necessary if you want to avoid trouble), and the game is a ton of fun. MGS4 is going to set the stage for many more big production games over the next several years.

For those Metal Gear newbies like myself concerned about losing themeselves in the complex story.. don't fret! The story is entertaining enough on it's own, and it's not hard to figure out the good guys from the bad guys without all the background. The storyline is also very linear, and your objectives at each stage are crystal clear. I recommend reading the Metal Gear primer here to catch up on all the people & organizations in past games: [...]

The one downside to MGS4 is the plot. It's like watching a big summer blockbuster, where it starts off OK but gets overcomplicated about a third of the way in and spends the rest of the movie falling apart. Kojima begins things with some entertaining and somewhat relevant commentary on private military contractors, allusions to the permanent military industrial complex, and technological change in the way we wage war in the modern age. But then the story meanders into nano-machines, the mutating FOXDIE virus, and out-of-control AIs. In the end, I feel the movie elements of the game suffered from a lack of firm direction. Do you want sci-fi? Action? Drama? Tie up loose ends from 2 decades of older games? Well, MGS4 makes an ambitious attempt to do all of these, but ends up with a mediocre 'C' effort from a hollywood movie critic perspective.

Overall, I would rate this game a solid 10/10, 5/5, A, or whatever 'perfect score' you prefer. It pushes the evolution of video games to the next level, play-wise it's great fun, and graphics/sound are better than anything I've seen.

I can only hope that we'll see more efforts along the same lines of Metal Gear Solid 4 in the not-so-distant future. Now let's see who is bold enough to forge a partnership with a major movie studio that can bring a real script, improved acting, and some serious Hollywood production cash into the picture!

Cinematic indulgence at its finest

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Trailers and screenshots come up which send fans into a frenzy about the next installment in the long-running and successful Metal Gear Solid franchise. With new hardware, more ambitious storyline and gameplay changes, many heavily hyped up the next chapter in the series. However, the game in the end became known as being graphically beautiful but ridiculous in its plotline and over-the-top to the extreme. That game was "Sons of Liberty", the second game in the series released for the Playstation 2. Its sequel/prequel "Snake Eater" improved some of the storyline indulgences and introduced some key gameplay ideas and it ended up being my favorite of the 3 on the Playstation systems. How does the fourth, "Guns of the Patriots" fare? Well it repeats many of the blunders the second one did but it's even more epic and ambitious than any of them so go figure.

Story: Taking place a few years after the Plant Incident of "Sons of Liberty", we find Snake has been aging rapidly thanks to some unknown problem. He's been hunting for Liquid, now completely taking control of Revolver Ocelot's body. With military companies at his disposal and new and powerful threats, Snake has to join up with old friends in order to finally take down Liquid and the control over the group known as the "Patriots".

To spoil any more than that would cause a great disservice since, by completely avoiding plot spoilers and explanations, the storyline's many changes and twists were all the more shocking and thrilling. Similar to the second game, the trailers and screenshots showing the Middle East is just tip of the iceberg as there is way more locales and things to do where you'll go around the world to track down and stop Liquid. While there's moments are thrilling, it's the inbetween that will make one recall the chattiness of "Sons of Liberty" and you'll literally at times put down your controller and not pick it up for at least 20 minutes to half an hour. While anyone who's played any of the previous games aren't in for a surprise that way, be warned this game is quite lengthy in its storyline and just as ambitious/excessive as before.

Graphics: "Guns of the Patriots" was one of the first games that I played on the Playstation 3 hooked up to an HDTV and even running at 720p, I have to say this game is absolutely gorgeous. From remarkably detailed character animation to the direction of the cutscenes, anyone hooked up to a high end set will be in for a real treat. And it's no longer burdened by jungles or industrial plants in its locales and many look quite stunning. The in-game graphics look just as well as they're more polished and beefed up though if you've played Snake Eater, imagine a more enhanced look of that.

Sound/Music: It's often been said that the MGS series has always been in line with Hollywood blockbusters so of course we get Harry Gregson-Williams to provide the score, who did scores Spy Kids, Shrek 2, Team America: World Police and Kingdom of Heaven. With heavy orchestral numbers and big bombast in its sound, anyone with their machine hooked up to a stereo will be in for a good one. And of course we have the voice acting which continues its top form (though Otacon's whining is still grating) and the frequent voiceovers and even ingame flashback clips are quite welcome.

Gameplay: This is that part where I say MGS has always been more watched than played most of the time. The gameplay is relatively unchanged from the rations to the weapons to CQC so it's quite easy to just go and play. Introduced though is the Drebin Store where the character you meet in the game provides your own weapon and ammo purchases where they can be customized or restocked with ammo. While some feel this makes the game easier, it works well when you're taking on a big beast (such as the Metal Gear offshoots "Gekko") and have to get more missiles for your launcher. But it sucks you can't purchase noodles or rations and when you're in the middle of a big boss fight and you haven't come across any health items in awhile, it gets a bit annoying. Similar to the camouflage in "Snake Eater", Snake this time has what's called the OctoCamo which basically acts as a chameleon-like suit that mimics the pattern of whatever you press up against or lie down on. It's a lot more handy than changing your suit in the menu and isn't quite as burdensome. There's many more gameplay changes from just controlling Old Snake in its familiar form though I'll leave that to you to uncover.

One thing I always never liked about the series is the times when playing borders on frustration and you're sent a trip to the Continue screen because of some little mistake you didn't even think would get you caught. A couple of other times I'd get very annoyed since I knew what to do but actually pulling it off was a thing in of itself. The storyline and presentation are certainly high-caliber but the gameplay can get seriously patience-trying.

With many, many secrets to unlock from FaceCamo to dolls to iPod songs to emblems, MGS will keep many a fan busy who are into 100% completion. While I still find Snake Eater my favorite, Guns of the Patriots is certainly one of the best games available for the PS3.

Must have PS3 title!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I loved this game all the way to the very end! The cinematics were mind blowing, the gameplay was exciting, and the story was a great. Plus, the multiplayer will have you on your couch for weeks, avoiding phone calls, and skipping meals! If you have a PS3 you need this game.

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