Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Positives:

• Story
• Characters
• Most of the bosses
• Musical score
• Gameplay
• Graphics
• Voice acting

Negatives:

• Some of the pacing

In my opinion, this is probably the best installment of the Metal Gear Solid saga. Everything that me and definitely a lot of other people hoped for in the series will be a reality. And we were right! Hideo really pulled out all the stops on this one! The graphics were top notch, the AI was excellent, the voice acting was incredible, and of course the weapons, what's a Metal Gear Solid game without the awesome weapons? But the one thing I admire most about this game is the incredibly realistic detail. The detail of this game is so amazing that you might think you are out there yourself. I mean, from big stuff like, gunshot sounds and the way people react when you bump into them to the small stuff like, a drop of rain on the camera, bent grass trampled underfoot, snow getting in your hair, hearing a train far away in the background, if you get close to a building, you can hear the people inside, that kind of stuff. The story is amazing too. Get this game! You won't be disappointed.

"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" means more to the fans of the series than anyone else, which is why some new players may look upon the game with dismay due to the long cut scenes and intensely complicated plot, but the sheer art of this game is undeniable.

It plays like an interactive movie. The game play is very well done and refined, and sometimes is intense and very challenging. Even vets of the previous titles will need to be more careful as they sneak their way through each level, but at the same time, there are more tools to utilize in order to successfully complete a mission.

The games best points are: 1) The story. Fans of the previous games will really get into the plot, because all the elements tie the older titles together as older characters and places weave their way into the story, triggering those feeling of nostalgia that make the MGS series so captivating.

2) The graphics. The game is visually stunning with intricate textures and high polygon-count models. The rendering of human faces is also second-to-none.

3) The music/audio. The musical score is very well done, featuring the spy-like orchestral/electronic hybrid soundtrack that is a signature of the MGS games. The sound effects are fantastic as well, from the firing of guns and explosions to the voices of the characters.

and finally...

4) The game play. What makes MGS4 so great is its ability to facilitate different styles of mission approach. Although the story may be linear, the path to its completion certainly is not. There are so many ways to approach each level. It is possible to run and gun your way to victory, or sneak like a ghost through each area without ever being seen, and each of these methods have their own SUB-methods that can be utilized. Simply put, the player is totally in charge of how things get done, and this thought provocation makes the game all the more satisfying.

Of course, their are all the little things, such as the cut scene controls among many more Easter eggs that make MGS4 such an interesting game. It contains all the great elements of a challenging video game, but laces it with movie-like story qualities better than any other video game series to date.

After my first completion, I was left with such a profound feeling that I couldn't get my mind off of it. It made me go back and play the entire series. This feeling can only be experienced with games that are as rich as MGS4 is, which in essence, is what makes MGS4, and its series, one of the most unique and unforgettable experiences ever.

A fantastic conclusion that should not be missed by anyone. 10/10

This is easily the best game i have ever played .....I only recently purchased a Ps3, but the first game i bought was MGS4. Having said previously that MGS3 was my favourite game ever i didn't think it could be surpassed but boy was i wrong this game has everything , the graphics and game play are just out of this world, the characters are amazing .....And the boss fights well with each one i just kept saying wow. The fight in the snow with Crying Wolf was up there with the fight with The end from the 3rd game.......It really is a shame there will be no more Snake because i could go on forever with the best game series ever . To the makers of this game..........Well done !!!!

Beyond anything you have played/seen, flawless storytelling, absolutely phenomenal, a bright imagination vividly executed. You have to play it, to believe it exists. Left me speechless. There is no other game like Guns of the patriots.

Even before I started playing I was so impressed with Konami's safety measures reminder, a nice animation of Snake in the background as the game installs. Then the main menu blew me away with Snake in the cemetery approaching the tombstone. For 10 minutes or so I couldn't get past this because of the soundtrack. Then there was a nice extra video material with David Hayter. I don't know if this comes with the 25th anniversary edition or not, but I hope everybody enjoys it. After finishing the first mission I could see why Sony wanted to have Guns of the patriots as their exclusive. The graphics are so much ahead of its time, I can hardly believe this was made in 2008, almost 10 years ago. In addition to the great game play, Guns of the patriots have absolutely outstanding cut scenes/an epic story, and a soundtrack to make your skin crawl. After making my way to the first boss, I had a tense and long fight. Digging a little deeper and beating the second boss, I know now this will make my top favorites list and become one of those addictive replayable games. The plot and the action are breathtaking. The epilogue was the most emotional and heartwarming piece I had seen in a long time. I'm 37 and still was ready to cry. Again, this game has the best cut scenes you will ever see. The characters are adorable, with rich background. The villains are so real, every next boss fight is more fun. I can imagine what an enormous work Kojima did writing the screenplay to this Masterpiece with capital M. In fact, saying it's a masterpiece is an understatement, it's something bigger. So much love and passion and energy and life invested here. Everything is top notch. Such a fresh and exhilarating game. Bravo, Hideo—san.