Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Reviews

Warning: Spoilers

Metal Gear Solid 4 is a fantastic experience that combines the medium of game and film in a never before seen way. It tops its predecessors in audio/visual quality as well as in story telling and dialogue, making the whole experience not only more intense and captivating, but also more accessible to a broader audience. It is impossible to compare Metal Gear Solid 4 to any game out to date, and it will surely take a long, long time until anything as good as this comes along again - if it ever happens.

Even more so than the previous Metal Gear Solid games, this last installment rises above its medium, and becomes more than just a game. People have debated over the question whether games can be considered as "art", and while this is all in the eye of the beholder, Metal Gear Solid 4 comes as close to art as any game before. In my view, Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't just art, but it's also one of the finest pieces of art I've ever encountered. It's a masterpiece, a complex and layered experience that will move you on so many levels, in so many ways, and even manages to be unique, new and refreshing. And isn't that what art is all about?

Metal Gear Solid 4 has its minor issues, and surely not everyone will be happy with the directions the story takes. But it is impossible to discard all the fantastic moments this game has to offer because of these (minor) issues.

Metal Gear Solid 4 will forever mark gaming history. It's sad to see the series come to an end, but what an end it is. Thank you mister Kojima, for more than twenty years of incredible and groundbreaking entertainment.

One of my favorite Metal Gear Solid games! I absolutely adore the cut-scenes and stealth, especially the first three acts.

A visual and technical masterpiece in cinematics and dense gameplay. This is as good as it gets with a breathtaking soundtrack. I guess the most lacking aspect of this game is its use of items, and some problems with some of the level designs that lack replay value. This game almost made it to near perfection, though. I love the boss fights very much!

It should be noted that to get the most out of this game, you really should have played the three Metal Gear: Solid games that came before this. Possibly even the original Metal Gear game on the NES. However, if you have played all of these games, you will be able to get the most out of this amazing conclusion to the Metal Gear story. Hideo Kojima really went out of his way to make sure that each and every single loose end gets wrapped up. The gameplay is superb, as is standard for the Metal Gear games. It's a great stealth system they have set up, and for better or for worse, if you mess up the sneaking around part you can more than likely whip out the heavy guns and blast your way out of your mistakes.

One of the greatest games of all time,no doubt about it.The game captured me with it's improved gameplay and camera,nice graphics..HELL,Great graphics,and also new elements they added but the best thing that I really liked about this game is the storyline.Love this game.

Best game in the PS3 console thus far.

The bar has officially been raised. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots is the single most ambitious game to be released thus far. If you own a PlayStation 3, or consider yourself a fan of video games, then you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, is the ultimate game for fans of the series, explaining every last plot detail, and offering a perfect conclusion. Newcomers to the series should have no trouble picking up the gameplay, as this game can be played with its conventional stealth tactics, or you can choose to play it as a shooter, and run and gun through the whole game.

The game picks up 5 years after the Big Shell incident from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty and is a direct sequel. However the story will explain everything dating back to the first Metal Gear, even the prequel, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The story is told through gameplay, and the over the top cinematic cutscenes that blend together seamlessly and never take you out of the action. This time around cutscenes are fully skippable, even though we don’t recommend skipping them at all. We suggest you instead take the time to catch all of the flashbacks, which can be initiated by pressing the X button during certain parts of a cutscene. Cutscenes at points, offer a first person view from Snake so you can see things going on, that you wouldn’t normally be able to see. During “mission briefings” you can take control of the Metal Gear Mk II and inspect areas that are off limits to gameplay, netting you hidden items, and a special view of the Nomad. The characters have the biggest impact on the storyline, and no other game has done a better job of making you feel what the characters are feeling. No other game brings you closer to having a relationship with the characters, where you actually develop an emotional attachment to them. One moment you will be rooting for someone, then next moment you will be furious when they double cross you.

During the game Kojima Productions really stresses the “Final Mission” theme. You will actually feel Snake’s pain, and by the end of the game, just like an “old dog of war” you actually want to see him “put down” to end his suffering.

Another one of the game’s themes is the psychological effect of warfare, and throughout the game, they did an amazing job showing it. From letting you feel the mental anguish of the Beauty and the Beast Unit, only to hear their back story, and actually feel bad for them. To, getting a chill when you hear the call of a Gekko.

The games visuals are simply the best that any console game has to offer, and really shows what the PlayStation 3 is capable of. During the whole playthrough, I didn’t notice any screen tearing, or any frame rate drops, only smooth, breathtaking gameplay.

The audio in the game really brings the battlefield to life, espcially if you have a decent surround sound setup. The sound of bullets flying by, and people screaming are so realistic it will really give you the feeling of being there. The musical score, is the best the series has seen, every track going perfectly with the atmosphere of the game. Snake even has an iPod, where he can choose tracks discovered throughout the game.

As soon as you finish the main game, it will leave you wanting to play it again and again. It even gives you plenty of reason to play it, with many unlockables, alternative costumes, and an emblem system rewarding you for things such as, “no continues” and “no alert phases”.

Even if you were to do everything the main game has to offer, you can always swith to Metal Gear Online, with its many multi-player modes. Play with as many as 16 players and test your stealth and shooting skills online. MGO even offers the games “Drebin Points” system, and allows you to customize your weapons as well as your weapon inventory. Full clan support, and rankings are available community features.

In summary, this is the best video game I have ever played. So good, that every other game I had once considered a 10, has me reconsidering that score. Before MGS4, I didnt realize how complete a video game could be. This is the first game this generation to “wow” me, the first game to make me say” so this is what next gen is”. As I said before if you own a PlayStation 3, or are a fan of great video games, then you simply must play this game…

This is the only game I feel comfortable giving a perfect score to, Kojima Productions have given us nothing short of perfection, and I must give respect when its due.

Game is out of this world -the online is a nightmare - as currently lost over a 1000 hours so far - in fact the only game I play now...10/10

I'm no hero... Never was. I'm just an old killer...
After playing Metal Gear Solid 2, 3 and Portable Ops in rapid succession over the summer, I found myself with the need to seek out and play Metal Gear Solid 4. The continuation of the epic story was all I could think about. That is one of the greatest things about the Metal Gear series, the story is so rich with depth and intrigue that you need to play it all in one go to fully realise the scope of everything that is happening.

Five years after the Big Shell Incident (MGS2), the world has been plunged into an everlasting war. The Patriots saw fit to create a war economy where Private Military Companies are hired throughout the globe to fight meaningless skirmishes for the sake of profit. Suffering from a debilitating aging condition, Solid Snake is asked by his old friend Roy Campbell to go back into the thick of it once more when it is discovered that the leader of the 5 largest PMCs is none other than Liquid Ocelot…and he has a plan.

This was the first game I played on my PS3 so it was a brand new experience all together. My immediate delight was seeing how far the graphics have improved for the series. Having completed MGS3 a few weeks before, I was absolutely amazed at how acute the details were, especially on Snake’s sun-beaten face and the carnage in the opening FMV. Being my first PS3 game, I was a little startled that I had to install each chapter of the game as I went through. This can take a few minutes but I can only assume it’s there because of the amount of memory required to play the game.

I’m sure you’ve all read that the game is one long FMV with intermissions throughout where you actually play. I do agree they are quite long but if you want to appreciate all the support characters this is your only avenue. Don't you want to know what you're playing for? It also gives your hands a good rest. During one of the chase scenes, my thumbs were quaking from constantly changing direction and aiming for pinpoint accuracy. The informative debriefs gave me that time to rest up!

CQC makes a welcome return which would be the first time we are able to use it as Solid Snake. I read that after Zanzibarland (Metal Gear 2) that Snake vowed never to use it again because of Big Boss’ betrayal. Well that doesn’t matter now! I found myself only using it for pleasure though. Weapons and ammo were quite easy to obtain, plus you had the 24 hours services of Drebin’s gun laundering business. I think I spent most of my points on buying (unfortunately degradable) silencers for all my weapons as you usually found yourself in a situation where even being stealthy can’t help. I'm quite snipe happy and prefer chalking up headshots.

The cure system has been completely removed which I felt was one of the more interesting assets of Snake Eater. Stamina has been replaced with ‘psyche’ which deals with your state of mind and whether you can handle the situation you get yourself in. Something as trivial as a comment about your appearance can take this down though! In other news don’t worry guys, the camera angles are no longer a problem! You have complete control of the camera now so there aren’t any blindspots like before.

Jumping from 1964 to 2014 obviously means a lot of upgrades in technology. The Octocamo suit is one of my favourites. Not only does it save fumbling through the menu for a new costume, but it’s so easy to use. All you need to do is lean against the surface you’re hugging and you’re instantly matching it! My second favourite is the Metal Gear Mk.II. This handy little robot is literally Snake’s sidekick as it stealthily follows you around everywhere; you can control it to create diversions, reconnaissance and shock guards.

The Solid Eye was a useful concept but I found myself forgetting all about it. It is an amalgamation of infra-red goggles, night vision, binoculars, the soliton radar and gives stats on all enemies in sight. Unfortunately for this very helpful bit of equipment, it is battery powered! It runs out quicker than a spanking new Sony Ericsson! I just learned to use my peripherals checking every corner, nook and cranny. There are boss fights when you have no choice but to use it but other than that, I got through the game just fine without it.

Character-wise: the whole gang is here! Solid Snake, a man who was once at the human peak of fitness and lethality, now finds himself with geriatric attributes. Hes out of breath often, verging on seizures and can’t crouch for long without his back giving out. You really do feel for him, the legend himself has succumb to such a disability that he doesn’t even know why he is still fighting but he still does because even though his body has changed, his mind is still in the game. Thankfully, the Octocamo suit is able to sustain Snake’s body for his final mission making him somewhat capable like the previous installments. Special shout out goes to Raiden’s miraculous return, for everyone who hated him in MGS2, you are in for a big surprise!

The voice talents are beyond repute. All returning from previous installments, you really do get a feel of continuity from it. Unfortunately Cam Clarke wasn't able to make it back for this epic but I feel Patric Zimmerman really does outshine the lot of them and creates a real atmosphere when he enters the scene.

You're pretty good...
As with the main series of Metal Gear Solid, you find yourself facing a group of villains with insane abilities. The group in MGS4 is no different. The Beauty and the Beast Unit are the most diverse, tedious and fucking awesome female villains you’ll ever fight against. Each member is a tribute to the main boss’ from the old games which is fun for the die hard fans to think about it. Check my boss rundown list for full details on the bad guys of MGS4.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with Guns of the Patriots. The gameplay can be very fast, nauseating and above all fun once you get the hang of it. As long as you are willing to listen, you can get so much out of the story that you’ll be thinking about it for months after completion.

Isn’t that what we really want out of a game? When it still lingers on our minds once its over and the drive to replay it to recreate those moments?

The gaming world was introduced to a hero a soldier that fought alone against impossible odds to save the world. Over time, the hero grew into a legend that changed the gaming landscape and redefined stealth action games with his epic battles. After more than two decades of service, Solid Snake is finally receiving an honorable discharge in the latest chapter in the Metal Gear Solid franchise. While this is Snake's final mission, he isn't going quietly into that good night, nor is he being constrained by previous titles. Indeed, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots shatters the proverbial bar, becoming a technical, cinematic and gaming standard that future action and stealth titles will be judged by. It's been a long time coming, but this game is a true classic and a masterpiece from Hideo Kojima.