(Played as part of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 on Switch in English. 14 hours 28 minutes and 43 seconds to reach Kill Screen on Solid Normal difficulty.)
After a long, long time, 2008’s Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of Patriots had finally dropped its PS3 exclusivity and went onto all Big 3’s active platforms in summer, 2026. In theory, more can now see the definitive ending Hideo Kojima and crew duly cooked up as a nailed coffin for their Metal Gear Saga. It was received suspiciously well back in summer 2008, given there was sky high expectation while the reality was just “Good enough” and “Coulda been worse”. Let’s see how well it does under the 2026 lens.
[INSERT SINGLE PLOT DEVICE HERE], son!
The year was 2014. Military-industrial complex had reached its logical conclusion: A global war was fought under the surveillance of Patriots to ensure that people still have a society to live in. But for the rapidly aging Solid Snake, there is still a score to settle. His brother Liquid is up to a world domination scheme and Snake will go on a global manhunt unlike anything he took on before to end it all. But even with his trusted partner Otacon supporting him, Snake’s time was running short on this last rodeo.
Metal Gear series’ trademarks include weaponized weirdness and 2004’s MGS3 claimed that it had been done longer than one can imagine. From there straight into MGS4, many weird things got tied into one infamous single plot device called Nanomachines. It’s quite a letdown on that regard, making the world of Metal Gear a lot smaller. While it’s admirable that Kojima and crew managed to wrap it up relatively well, it’s nevertheless disappointingly monotone.
Guns of Patriots still has more than its fair share of masturbatory elements “A Hideo Kojima Game” is known for. One example being the way too many ass shots of its female cast during cut scenes. But overall, the game’s story still has the goal of wrapping the series up in mind. Considering Kojima and crew flying by the seat of their pants between games, the ending could have been a lot worse.
MGS4 was a combination of Konami’s corporate mandate to continue and developers’ decision to conclude. It’s nothing short of a minor miracle that those 2 reached a reasonable compromise. Compare this game to the reality of Kingdom Hearts’ convoluted stew still going under Disney’s iron fist, yours truly can’t help but think good enough is the best outcome here.
Another one bit the dust of over-the-shoulder orthodoxy
Unlike MGS 1 to 3 where equipping certain weapons limits player character’s movement, MGS4 had joined over-the-should orthodoxy, post 2006’s Gears of War. Aim adjustment enabled by it makes even tranquilizing more than one enemy easier and faster than ever. MGS4 also added crouch walk so one can move under concealment and with relative haste to advance.
On the default Solid Normal difficulty, stealth still feels strongly recommended. In Alert, Snake can be easily outnumbered and shot dead. So not to play is still the best way to win this shooting war game, even though the game offers the option to purchase more guns. While MGS4 looks like a late aughts shooter on the surface, several devils in the detail make a lot of differences.
Enemies do not react to being shot at all until they are gunned down or the tranquilizer rounds take effect. Compared to other console shooters’ dedicate weapon swap button, switching to another weapon is bit of a churn here with holding one right shoulder button then scroll with a stick. And previous MGS games’ fast unequip-equip “tactical reload” is gone, so one has to go through the aforementioned churn to switch weapon or push right face button then see the detailed reload animation plays out.
Crouch walk might take up most of one’s play time, but the game does not lack in crawl space. The first time this game gives player control, it teaches the player about places that can only be accessible to prone movement. MGS4 might be known for its about 8 hours long cut scenes but its opening does clean up its act even compared to 2004’s Snake Eater. One got to save their game under 20 minutes and there is a brief tutorial level teaching player about the game’s movement with words before that.
18 years old software running on 9 years old hardware
2017’s Nintendo Switch can be seen as holding the power of Playstation 3 in one’s palms. Playing through a former PS3 exclusive on it only adds to that impression. This re-release also manages to work fine at launch, though not everything made it out of the PS3 containment. The most notable omission is the installation screen where Solid Snake can smoke to his hearts contend (There is a cheat code to see it if you must). That is certainly an improvement for your truly who started this playthrough on the lo.
Another improvement from PS3 would be the button mapping. Using the bumpers instead of triggers for aim and shoot baffled me to no end. This remaster did the sensible thing of using the triggers for firearms in the default setting, Switch 1’s ZL and ZR being subpar not withdrawn. Oh well, “enduring” a cap of 30 frames per second is a small price compared to cost of Switch 2 nowadays. At least framerate does not drop with incoming mortars like in the PS3 original, it did not drop until the robot horde in Act 4.
Caught in good moods
The late Ryan Davis’ positive verdict on MGS4 back in 2008 says that the game caught the industry as a whole in a good mood. The “Xbox 360 and PS3” console generation had finally came on its own around that time while Mr. Davis had just co-founded this once haven for ex-Gamespot employees. The then future looked so bright. So, it’s ironic that MGS4 catches me in a good mood because the future looks rather bleak now. Or maybe I just feel better not glued in front of a PS3 for this one.
Guns of the Patriots was the best-looking video game in June, 2008 in terms of artistic and technical aspects. Yet compared to what was shown in Resident Evil 5 trailer that July, the skin texture on its character already looked plastic. Still, the game’s look holds up here in 2026 due to strong art direction.
The English translation of MGS games always contains extra flair in comparison to the relatively bland original Japanese text. I love the pitch of English cast so much that I suggested Japanese recasting accordingly. Still MGS4 has way too many glowing flaws (The rouge galley called Beauty and Beast corps still feel like a mistake for the poor narrative approach and gooner factor.) for me to hold it at a higher regard than answering “Yes, might even be great despite all its flaws.” to Big Boss’ final question of “This is good...Isn't it?"