Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot
Review
Are we left wanting?
by MarvellousG
reviewed on PS3
Only on Playstation 3
Seeing as I alluded to the fact that I doubt there will be a 360 port, let me elaborate. The twenty minutes total of install time is very well spent; the game looks simply AMAZING. You can almost feel the PS3 sweating as it manages to pull off one of the best looking games of all time, both artistically and technically. Everything is so sharp and detailed, that even a few poor textures can’t detract from an overall experience which is a sight to behold.
The sound is exquisite, too. With a decent surround sound set up, you will be in for a treat. Whether it’s the suitably meaty gun sound effects, the sublime, cinematic soundtrack of Harry Gregson-Williams, or the incredible voice acting that grabs you, the game would be more than passable as simply an audiobook. Well, maybe not actually, but you get my point.
Big Boss?
MGS1 had the FOXHOUND Unit, MGS2 had Dead Cell, MGS3 the Cobra Unit, and now MGS4 has the Beauty and the Beast Unit. The Metal Gear series has always been famed for its epic boss battles. Is MGS4 going to keep that trend up? Well… probably. While every fight is consistently atmospheric and rich in detail, each is arguably simply a glorified bullet sponge, with only one taking anything more than a good trigger finger to take down. They’re still fabulous encounters to watch, but they don’t come close to MGS3’s incredible battles with the Cobras.
But MGS4 doesn’t need boss fights for standout moments; the regular game is chock full of them. Without wishing to spoil too much, be on the look out for a thrilling Militia assault on a Power Station, an on-rails sequence to rival any Hollywood blockbuster, living out the fantasy of any Metal Gear fan, and then a microwave oven (arguably the finest moment ever seen in a videogame).
Solid?
So, is it a worthy conclusion to one of videogaming’s finest series? Certainly. It mixes everything that makes Metal Gear unique with the best elements from other modern game, while utilizing the true power of the PS3, and adds in one of the greatest, if not the greatest, story ever told in a videogame. Wrapping up a seemingly infinite amount of loose ends, adding in unprecedented freedom, ridiculous replay value, excellent production values, and a tear-jerker of an ending, it all results in what could well be the greatest videogame of all time.
It’s deeply philosophical, intensely moving and great fun to play, and it’s more than any fans could have asked for. If you didn’t enjoy the other Metal Gears… then you will still be swayed by the gameplay on offer here, but if you truly invest yourself in the story, you may well find that no other game in the past, present or future can really complete. Outstanding.
10
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time
