Metal Gear Solid has always been praised (and sometimes bashed) by it's long cutscenes, movie-style cinematography and mind bending plot twists. Metal Gear Solid 4 continues this trend by not only reaching this goal, but by blasting it into hyper-space. But what hasn't been done well in a Metal Gear Solid game is a perfect control system, an in-depth and varied gameplay and intense action, to which Metal Gear Solid 4 not only improves upon these elements, but perfects them.
Snake's final chapter begins in the Middle East, and he is tasked with the extermination of Liquid. With nanomachines controlling and surpressing soldiers emotions, and Snake's curiously rapid aging, you know things are going to go horribly wrong from the beginning, which leads to Snake jetting off to South America, Europe and some other exotic and not-so-exotic locales. All loose ends get tied up in MGS4, such as the FoxDie virus, the mysterious Patriots and the fates of characters like Raiden, Rose, EVA, Vamp and Meryl Sliverburgh being some examples.
If you couldn't make sense of the above paragraph, then MGS4 is certainly not the game for you, as it has a convulted story that doesn't require you to have played previous games, but it sure helps a hell of a lot. Even with the fantastic gameplay, if you didn't like Metal Gear because of it's story before, then Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't going to change your mind.
But if you are one of the many that enjoys Metal Gear Solid for it's story, then the fantastic gameplay is no longer an optional extra. The gameplay is now an integral, exciting and, most importantly; fun part of the game. With new additions such as the Octocamo, a suit that changes it's colour and texture based on the surface Snake is pressed up against, and the Metal Gear Mk. II, sneaking around the environment has never been more fun.
But if you're the type of person to go in gun-ho, then you're not punished by it, and in some cases, rewarded for it. Not only does it offer a nice change of pace to sneaking, it can net you some Drebin Points (a form of currency used to buy and upgrade weapons) and you can ally yourself with the local militia, who are intent on taking down Liquid's private army.
All of this looks and sounds fantastic. War-torn buildings and gritty textures populate the Middle Eastern setting, lush jungle environments with towering trees and beautiful rivers reside in other countries. With the sound of bullets whizzing past Snake's head, pummeling explosions and heart-stopping gunshots, you'll need to remind yourself that you're not playing a movie.
MGS4 is one for the fans, but newcomers will find something they like. Although it has little replay value, and some may find Kojima's trademark humour a little tasteless, Metal Gear Solid 4 is an epic, action-packed, heart-pounding experience. Though there are some parts of the game that you are guaranteed to dislike, the clever boss battles, and some intense on-rails sequences will surely win you over.
Snake's final chapter begins in the Middle East, and he is tasked with the extermination of Liquid. With nanomachines controlling and surpressing soldiers emotions, and Snake's curiously rapid aging, you know things are going to go horribly wrong from the beginning, which leads to Snake jetting off to South America, Europe and some other exotic and not-so-exotic locales. All loose ends get tied up in MGS4, such as the FoxDie virus, the mysterious Patriots and the fates of characters like Raiden, Rose, EVA, Vamp and Meryl Sliverburgh being some examples.
If you couldn't make sense of the above paragraph, then MGS4 is certainly not the game for you, as it has a convulted story that doesn't require you to have played previous games, but it sure helps a hell of a lot. Even with the fantastic gameplay, if you didn't like Metal Gear because of it's story before, then Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't going to change your mind.
But if you are one of the many that enjoys Metal Gear Solid for it's story, then the fantastic gameplay is no longer an optional extra. The gameplay is now an integral, exciting and, most importantly; fun part of the game. With new additions such as the Octocamo, a suit that changes it's colour and texture based on the surface Snake is pressed up against, and the Metal Gear Mk. II, sneaking around the environment has never been more fun.
But if you're the type of person to go in gun-ho, then you're not punished by it, and in some cases, rewarded for it. Not only does it offer a nice change of pace to sneaking, it can net you some Drebin Points (a form of currency used to buy and upgrade weapons) and you can ally yourself with the local militia, who are intent on taking down Liquid's private army.
All of this looks and sounds fantastic. War-torn buildings and gritty textures populate the Middle Eastern setting, lush jungle environments with towering trees and beautiful rivers reside in other countries. With the sound of bullets whizzing past Snake's head, pummeling explosions and heart-stopping gunshots, you'll need to remind yourself that you're not playing a movie.
MGS4 is one for the fans, but newcomers will find something they like. Although it has little replay value, and some may find Kojima's trademark humour a little tasteless, Metal Gear Solid 4 is an epic, action-packed, heart-pounding experience. Though there are some parts of the game that you are guaranteed to dislike, the clever boss battles, and some intense on-rails sequences will surely win you over.