Over the last twenty years the Metal Gear series has influenced and
changed the action / adventure genre with every new entry in the
series. Without it, stealth-action would not exist and story-telling in
games would not be what it is today. Metal Gear needed a final chapter
fitting of its great legacy and that's exactly what Hideo Kojima has
given to it.
From the very beginning you get that special atmosphere only a Metal
Gear game can create, starting with the familiar gunshot echo upon
selecting a new game from the main menu. For me that has always been
the moment when all the hype and expectation of the new MGS game
finally comes to fruition. That feeling of, "this is it. Metal Gear is
here."
After an install period which lasts around 10 minutes it's go time.
During the game's installation you're treated to a real visual showcase
of the Old Snake character model up-close and in-engine - your first
indication that you've got something special in your hands. MGS4's
character models are so far beyond any other game that its shocking.
You also get some typical Kojima comedy, as smoking warnings scroll by
in-between the usual video-game health warnings...while Snake stands by
puffing away on his trademark cigarettes.So even while the game is
installing you're still being entertained. It's worth mentioning the
before each new act in the story a further 2 minute install is
necessary. In most games this would be pretty intrusive but in MGS4
you'll be glad of the break to take in and absorb all that's been going
on.
The visuals in the environments are just as impressive as the character
models. Textures have been produced with great realism and in the
larger battles the framerate very rarely dips even slightly. There is
the odd flat looking texture but a game of this epic scale can be
forgiven for that. The level design is slightly "old-fashioned" but
you'll be so engrossed in what's going on that you'll barely notice.
If you've played previous games in the saga you'll notice that the
controls have been changed considerably. The new button-layout is much
more "western." The shooting and camera controls now evoke those made
standard in 3rd person shooters like "Gears of War." Actions like
Close-Quarters-Combat (CQC) and taking cover have also been
streamlined. This makes them much more user-friendly and encourages
more use of what, in previous titles, were often unnecessary and
ignored additions to the control of Snake.
Once you've had time to get used to the new and improved controls
you'll be introduced to Snake's most important new items, OctoCamo and
the Solid Eye. OctoCamo is essentially a high-tech version of MGS3's
camouflage mechanics. It allows Snake's sneaking-suit to take on the
colour and texture of any surface he presses against, either by going
prone or taking cover against an object. It looks great and also
removes the biggest issue from MGS3 where you constantly had to pause
the game to change camoflages using a menu system. The Solid Eye is an
electronic eye-patch, combining binocular, night vision and analytical
functions. The last of these allows Snake to see determine the nature
of items and enemies in the environment before approaching them.
Determining the nature of enemy soldiers is incredibly important in the
new battlefield environments. A key new gameplay mechanic sees Snake
infiltrating different areas around the globe in which local militias
are battling with Private Military Companies (PMCs). Neither side is
truly Snake's enemy as he works towards his own goals in the war-torn
regions. However, siding with one or other of the warring factions can
help Snake achieve his own objectives. Taking sides is as simple as
attacking a PMC or militia soldier during the battles or offering one a
useful item to gain their trust. As a result, soldiers who trust Snake
will offer him alternative routes and create distractions to aid his
progress. It's a mechanic which is very simple to engage with and
influence and allows you the freedom to fight in the battles with your
chosen side (using the improved shooting controls) or adopt a more
traditional stealth-based approach.
If you choose the more "run and gun" style of play you'll find it to be
much more accessible than in previous MGS games. Some of this is due to
the terrific improvements in control, but it's also down to the
in-depth weapons customisation in the game. One character you meet
early on acts as a weapons wholesaler, offering new weapons as well as
upgrades and ammo, for a price. Most weapons offer at least one
upgradable part, with many offering 5 or 6 customisable pieces.
Considering that there are around 50 weapons in the game this is quite
an achievement, overshadowing some recent FPS games like "Call of Duty
4."
Of course, even with all the amazing new things going on in MGS4 there
is always going to be one thing in a Metal Gear game which rises above
anything any other game can offer. The story.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is quite simply the best piece of story-telling in
video-game history. The quality of the writing and direction is better
than most Hollywood blockbusters. Cut-scenes flow seamlessly with the
gameplay and run beautifully in real-time inside the game engine. Most
importantly though, every loose end in the Metal Gear saga is explained
and tied-off. I'm reluctant to say too much about the story in case I
spoil it for anyone yet to finish it. Suffice to say though, that its
an emotional roller-coaster and I'm certainly not ashamed to say that,
as a huge MGS fan, I spent the majority of the finale in tears.
On top of the single-player story you also get "Metal Gear Online," a
multiplayer game taking place in the MGS universe. It works well enough
and features all the game modes you'd expect. However, the emphasis on
premium downloadable content and the fact that so many better and more
accessible online games exist will prevent it from being anything more
than an also-ran. However, this has no detrimental effect on the
overall package whatsoever, because no-one will purchase MGS4 with the
online content as a priority over the single-player experience and
story.
For years Hideo Kojima has been seeking to create his ultimate
masterpiece, to fulfil both his own dreams and those of his fans. I can
say, very confidently, that he has achieved not only this, but he has
also produced comfortably the greatest video game of all time. Never
before and probably never again will story and gameplay be so perfectly
in tune with one another.
I realised today that, though I thought I was emotional at the game's
end because of the story, deep down I had realised that gaming will
never again be as good as this. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The
Patriots is as close to perfect as we are ever going to see.
"I'm no hero. Never was."
- Solid Snake
