The best game in an already near-perfect series.
In 1998, Nintendo published The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, to critical acclaim from critics and gamers alike, with many calling the game “perfect” and topping numerous lists as the number one game of all time. Since then, very few games have reached the level of praise that Ocarina of Time received. That same year, Konami released Metal Gear Solid, the third game in the Metal Gear series, for the Sony PlayStation to a similar reception, but not receiving the same perfection buzz.
Ten years later, Konami released Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PlayStation 3. Between the release of the first Metal Gear Solid and MGS4, there have been a handful of games to obtain what many to believe is perfection. However, with the 2008 release of MGS4, it seems that Ocarina of Time finally has a contender; another game that can be considered entirely perfect.
MGS4 takes any previous ideas you may have had about video games and throws them to the wind. Even if you’ve been a fan of the Metal Gear series for a while, MGS4 raises the bar for games, seamlessly combining the best elements of games and cinema. There’s no padding, no quirky, annoying mechanics, just action mixed flawlessly with storytelling. Just think of it as watching a movie, but being able to play through the exciting action sequences.
For many, the largest draw to MGS4 is its story. The Metal Gear series is known for its use of story and its ridiculous plot. Seeing as how this is the last game in the series, it seemed a near impossible task to tie up all the loose ends, and do it successfully at that. However, the story is wrapped up fantastically, through a number of hours of in-game cinematics and a (very) long end cinematic.
Not only does the game rise and fall beautifully overall, but each individual act is fantastic standing alone, with each ending with either an interesting boss battle, or an action-heavy sequence. Some truly cinematic moments happen throughout each act, many of which span between cutscene and gameplay seamlessly, simply laying a heads-up display over the cutscene and giving the player control, which helps keep you immersed in the game.
The fourth installment brings about many tweaks and changes to the Metal Gear Solid series, addressing numerous complaints from the previous three Solid titles, such as awkward gunplay and camo mechanics. On top of these tweaks are a number of number of additions that make the Metal Gear Solid series much more approachable. MGS4 can be played a number of different ways, giving players a lot more room to breath, as confrontation can be a constant occurrence.
While each gameplay style is different, they each take advantage of Snakes range of gadgets and weapons. Possibly the best piece of equipment that Snake has is his Octocamo suit, which works similar to the camo system in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but instead of manually changing the camo and navigating through menus each time the environment changes, the Octocamo automatically changes Snakes suit to match the environment around him.
Aside from his Octocamo, Snake has a number of other new gadgets and weapons with him this time around, including the Metal Gear Mark II, which can be used for scouting out areas and hitting enemies with a small shock. While it may seem like a practical gadget, the Mark II isn’t forced on you and won’t always be your gadget of choice (depending on how you play of course).
Making a slight change from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the stamina meter is replaced with a “Psyche” meter, and a stress level is added on top of that. Once again, depending on how you play the game, Snakes overall psyche and stress level will play a large or small roll on Snakes overall performance. Once again, based on how you play, the stress meter could have no effect on the game (if you play stealth-heavy) or rear its head over and over, even giving Snake a “combat high” if the action gets especially hectic.
Now all of this isn’t to say MGS4 is without flaw. The main complaint however, is one that won’t be realized by all who play, and is a nit-pick at that. While the first three games in the Metal Gear Solid series were primarily stealth based, MGS4 opens the gameplay spectrum to a number of different styles, leaning more towards an action game rather than its stealth-action roots. So long time Metal Gear fans going in looking for a game based entirely off stealth can choose to play MGS4 that way, but shouldn’t be surprised when the game suddenly takes a turn towards a firefight or two.
Visually, MGS4 is one of the best looking games available. The cutscenes and gameplay flow together without a hitch, and look stellar. The particle effects in particular are fantastic, and each environment looks stunning. The art style fits along with the previous Metal Gear Solid games, but due to the graphical power of the PS3, looks leaps and bounds better than it’s already fantastic looking predecessors. If you’re looking for a graphical tour-de-force, then you’ve found it. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better-looking game this generation.
On the audio side of things, it’s just as impressive as the visuals. With the soundtrack composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, each track is atmospheric and fantastic and is worth owning on its own. Outside of the soundtrack, all the effects, from the sound of each individual gun to the sound of the birds in the trees sounds great, and really add to the overall atmosphere of the game. The voice-work for the characters is terrific, although the dialogue is nothing you wouldn’t find in a cheesy war-movie, although for fans of the series, that’s nothing new.
In the end, it comes down to a single question: do you own a PS3? Yes? Pick up this game. No? Find a way to play it. Not since Miyamoto’s Ocarina of Time has there been a game this good. Seeing as how this is the final game in the Metal Gear storyline, it seems like it couldn’t have had a better send-off. For fans of the series, this is everything you could have ever wanted in a MGS game, and for those new to the series, it’s a fantastic action game, and while you might be a little lost when it comes to the story, you’ll still have a blast. Hats off to Hideo Kojima; you’ve truly created a masterpiece.
