Reviews// Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Also, had Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots not drawn so much attention to the narrative and spent to much of its time and mine on the cut-scenes, I wouldn't be going on about them either.

When all is said and done though, will you, the MG neophyte, enjoy the game? Will having bought the product give you a lovely warm sense? Hell, yes. Most of my criticism is of a game that at least tries to be spectacular; which tries to deliver to the player.

It is a fun game to play (I can hear the purists screaming – and I want to hear more). Yes, it's a fun, fun game to actually sit down and play. Bear in mind that I'm a very old fellow who has to have his nurse bathe him nightly and recently can't sleep without half a bottle of 1951 Knappogue Castle inside him and I smoke Marlboro Red but even I got to grips with it fairly rapidly. I stumbled over D-pad in relation to shoulder-pads when choosing items or weapons to start with – did the damned D-pad go up or down? But even an old codger like me didn't flounder forever and I was soon switching kit like a good-un. Now, all this stealthy stuff. It's hilarious. Really, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

There are a few hiccups though: your enemies will occasionally walk through you; the weapons system is laboured (do not ever use auto-aim); you are provided with lots of items that you will never use but thinking that you might leads to a mental paralysis; I want to be able to jump when I want to jump... these are examples. But these are largely made up for by the intelligence, detail and pleasure that enables you to give yourself over to someone else's world view... a point that I'm sure Kojima would find ironic and amusing.

Final bit of advice to the newcomer. If you really want to get the most out of MGS: GotP, then play some of the back-catalogue. Sure, the game itself is worth your PS3's power consumption but playing the older iterations first will help in appreciating this one, Also, if you hate them, you don't have to pay out for the latest and last (but is it) version.


[b]SPOnG Score: 99.999% (for fans) 90% for those new to the lore.
Conclusions
Two sets of conclusions:

First: for the seasoned MGS fanboy. It's the greatest game that has ever or will ever be created. The only flaw is that it does not kill you personally when it ends – because you have nothing else to live for. The reason it doesn't get 100% is because it actually does end.

Second: for the occasional MGS fan or new gamer. This, apparently final, iteration of the franchise will delight if you don't get lost in the cut-scenes. Enjoyable game-play, graphics and audio that make something out of your PS3 that you could feel was worth calling a return on (gaming) investment.[/b]