Let me say one thing first, this is the best game of this console
generation. Not only that, its also one of the very best games ever
made. This may sound like hyperbole, but it isnt. If you love video
games and movies, this is nirvana. It takes some of the best gameplay
ever in video games and combines it with cinematic presentation to make
a game that is both unique and that has depth uncommon for the industry.
I
can't actually talk about the story of MGS4 for fear of spoilers, but
know this; this is one of the best video game stories ever told. Not
only does it wrap up the entire Metal Gear universe, but it puts
EVERYTHING into perspective and gives it all meaning. Even MGS2 makes
sense based on the revelations in this final chapter. The story has
many twists and turns and is occassionally long-winded thanks to the
cutscenes, but it is so well written and presented you wont even care,
even with an ending cinema that is almost an hour in length.
Now
for the actual gameplay, the most important part of any game. The
biggest addition to this series here is in the revamped controls. The
controls are still very Metal Gear-y, but they are much more
simplified. Shooting has been completely reworked to use the shoulder
buttons, which makes it much easier and less frustrating to do. Every
action has been simplified to either using one or two buttons, as
opposed to the other games that some times had very strange button
combinatons to do simple things.
The stealth is just as good
as its always been, and its an evolution of Snake Eater's stealth
philosophies in many ways. Your Octocamo suit, which blends in with any
environment if you stand still, takes the tedium out of the camoflauge
system introduced in Snake Eater by making it where you dont even have
to think about it, its automatic, making the gameplay much more
streamlined and continuous. Your new gadgets are all useful,
particurally the Solid Eye, which is an evolution of the ever present
radar, but makes it better by making it run on power, instead of
infinately knowing where every enemy is. It keeps the feel of the old
games while not making it too easy at the same time.
The other
major gameplay system introduced is the Drebin system. Its basically a
weapon's customization system that allows you to use points earned in
battle to upgrade weapons by adding parts to them such as scopes, and
to buy extra ammo and weapon modifications. It really helps even out
the stealth and the action by making both equally important, so you
have to play using a combination of both. However, since you can buy
ammo at any time, one small critisism of the system is that it can make
the game a little too easy at points. Running low on ammo against a
boss? Go to the shop to buy more ammo in a jiffy.
Speaking of
bosses, the boss battles here rank among the series' best. The Beauty
and the Beast Unit are a very unique boss unit and each present a
formidable challenge. All the fights are different from eachother and
the same tactics can never be used twice. The key is to experiment with
all of the tools you have and to notice patterns to take down each
opponent. The Screaming Mantis fight in particular, ranks in my opinion
in the top 5 fights in a series known for its incredible bosses.
Overall,
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is simply a masterpiece. It is
a game in which everything about it serves to create a uniifed whole.
There is nothing unneeded here, and it allows the player to really pick
and choose how you want to approach the gameplay. It is the perfect
stealth action game and is destined to be remembered as one of the
greatest video games ever produced in the years to come.
