21 years ago, a hero appeared in the world of gaming: a soldier who fought alone against all odds to save the world. Over time, the hero became a legend, changing the world of gaming with his epic battles and redefining stealth action games. After more than 20 years of service, Solid Snake has finally been honorably discharged in the latest chapter of the Metal Gear Solid series. This is Snake’s final mission, but he will not go quietly into the night, nor will he allow himself to be bound by previous titles. In fact, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots shatters the proverbial norm and sets a technical, cinematic and gameplay standard by which future action and stealth titles will be measured. Although it has been a long time, this game is a true classic, a masterpiece by Hideo Kojima, Kojima Productions and Konami.

The world of Metal Gear Solid 4 is rather dark. In fact, in many ways, it is exactly the world Solid Snake and Otacon wanted to avoid. Set in a future six years in the future, in this production, wars and conflicts are no longer sporadic events focused around the world. Instead, the entire planet is engulfed in constant fighting. War has become a self-sustaining industry in itself, and the entire world economy has been replaced by contracts for private military companies (PMCs) selling their services to the highest bidder. These mercenaries are constantly striving to prove their effectiveness on the battlefield in order to secure more contracts, resulting in ever-increasing destruction as nanomachine-equipped soldiers clash in cities, buildings and streets. In such a chaotic environment, even civilians cannot protect themselves from the constant fighting, as skirmishes can break out at any time.

Solid Snake has returned from retirement for this scenario, as he takes on the role of Colonel Campbell in his final mission to save the world from the ultimate threat. Snake will initially infiltrate Middle Eastern combat zones as an inspector for the UN PMC to assess how the local military is handling the situation on the ground. Of course, he has a more pressing mission that requires him to use his specialized skills: finding and assassinating Liquid Ocelot, who has risen to the head of five of the world’s largest PMCs. That’s certainly easier said than done, as Ocelot surrounds himself with a group of deadly allies in Solid Eliminate Snake, including a quartet of deadly ladies who appear to be half woman, half machine, known as the Beauty and the Beast Corps.

Or should we say Old Snake? The legendary soldier suffers from accelerated aging due to cellular degeneration. This is far more detrimental than his tobacco addiction, which leaves him physically older than his age and at times limits his movements. To complete his most difficult mission yet, Solid Snake will have to learn some new tricks up his stealth sleeve. Luckily, Metal Gear Solid 4 has plenty of that and is arguably the deepest and most extensive title in the series.

Fans familiar with previous Metal Gear Solid games know that each title introduces new gameplay mechanics available to Snake. What’s surprising about Metal Gear Solid 4 is the plethora of extras added to this title. Even if you come across a system or mechanic that you didn’t think would fit into the Metal Gear universe, Kojima has you covered. The team has found a way to seamlessly integrate them into the gameplay and ease your fears and concerns with ease. They’re not only well-balanced and fairly layered, but each one extends the scope of MGS4, which could be described as epic. From the opening action sequence in the Middle East where you and a group of militia fight a PMC, to escorting Meryl and the Rat Patrol group through a fierce firefight with the Frogs (Liquid’s private soldiers), to the climactic battle at the end of this title, you’ll be amazed at how deep the game is.

Take, for example, a new version of Snake, the classic on-site procurement order, who plays a key role in the title. In previous games, Snake was deployed with minimal equipment and had to find weapons scattered throughout the facilities he invaded. This allowed him to sneak in and out of places secretly and use enemy weapons without leaving a trace. This concept does not apply in this new world. Each soldier’s nanites restrict the use of weapons to their ID-coded owners, ensuring that no one else can use them against the owner. Thanks to these new technological restrictions, Snake must rely on the services of a weapons launderer named Drebin. Drebin (and a strange hairless monkey named Little Grey) are mysterious figures who seem to be everywhere at any time. They strip all firearms of their safety measures and sell new weapons, accessories and ammunition. While the price of his services varies depending on the demand for a particular weapon and the day of the week (he also offers a 20% discount off retail prices), Drebin is always available to provide Snake with whatever he needs.

This greatly expands Snake’s arsenal and techniques. Not only can he instantly purchase new weapons or unlock collected weapons that can be used immediately in battle, but he can also customize some of his firearms by adding everything from laser sights and foregrips to silencers and grenade launchers, affecting their statistics and tactics. Weapons. For example, adding a foregrip to an assault rifle increases stability and increases the chances of an accurate shot; on the other hand, adding a flashlight can blind soldiers, slowing them down from performing CQC moves or acquiring items. Also, if Snake runs out of ammunition for a particular weapon during a battle, he can instantly purchase additional cartridges to use during the fight.

Of course, all of these purchases are dependent on Snake having enough Drevin Points to purchase the desired items and weapons. Snake gets these points in a few ways. First of all, he can give extra weapons he doesn’t need to arms dealers so that Drevin can keep his business going around the world. This means that weapons dropped by incapacitated or slain enemies can be looted for points. He also gets various Drevin Point bonuses for flashbacks that appear here and there during cutscenes, certain story moments, and the elimination of certain enemies. Players can also receive certain bonuses depending on how they play the title. This system is incredibly comprehensive, and players will be surprised at how it affects their experience.

Indeed, some critics will say that the extensive influence of the Drebin system and its points makes the game overly simplistic, eschewing the title’s traditional stealth roots to focus on action. This is a very superficial look at the functionality of this new mechanism, allowing players to choose exactly how they want to play the title. Those who value the stealth aspect of the series can choose to sneak through the game with an emphasis on stealth, limit their ammo purchases, or avoid the Drebin system altogether. These players will find a host of new features that support covert action.

For one, the Octo Camo system and threat rings give players new ways to infiltrate areas, as Snake can easily blend into the environment and detect enemies. A clear evolution of MGS3’s camouflage system, Snake’s body suit instantly reflects the appearance of the surface he’s standing or lying on, helping him blend into his surroundings. Each pattern can be instantly saved and recalled at any time, effectively turning Snake into the ultimate chameleon. This works in conjunction with the threat ring, which shows players the direction enemies are currently facing. The more alert the soldier is, the higher (and redder) the spikes on the threat ring will be.

It is very important to use these two effectively, as Snake will be facing off against the most intelligent soldiers he has ever seen. The enemy AI is very smart and will not follow set patrol or search patterns. In fact, during non-alert periods, they will socialize with their comrades, chatting and spending as much time as possible while waiting to deploy. However, once the alert or warning phase is triggered, they will actively look for trouble, including taking out any possible hiding places such as boxes, barrels, etc. They will also immediately call for reinforcements and perform intelligent flanking maneuvers to eliminate their targets. So you might have to try everything from pretending to be dead to roll on the ground to avoid visual contact, to new CQC attacks like lying on top of an enemy and silently strangling them, and keeping them out of sight as you enter the battle. But even the stealthiest players will have to fire a few shots here and there and rely on firepower to survive in any given battle.

Action-oriented players can now make the most of their firepower to break through enemy soldiers much more easily than before. Of course, the ability to buy and customize new weapons from Drebin helps. Depending on the location, you can also use mortars and fixed machine guns. This allows players to eliminate anyone within the weapon’s kill zone by bombarding gun emplacements or spraying a large amount of shots at enemy locations. Players also have new tactical ways to eliminate soldiers, such as: B. Rolling to avoid fire and even shooting them in the back if they fall off their feet.

But even the rough run-and-gun tactics are balanced thanks to the Psyche and Stress meters that control and affect Snake’s mental state during combat. The Psyche meter sits just below Snake’s health bar and affects his physical abilities and weapon accuracy. The lower the Psyche meter, the harder it is for Snake to stay effective in combat. In fact, he begins to feel the effects of aging, to the point where he can be immobilized for a few seconds by being grabbed in the back or other pain. These values ​​slowly recover over time, but the meters can be further affected by the Stress meter, which measures the tension Snake is feeling at the time. Snake dislikes certain conditions because they don’t contribute much to his mission: B. Being outdoors instead of in the shade, being in a place that’s too hot or cold, or being spotted by an enemy. The more stressed he is, the more his spirits will decline.

The only drawback is that occasionally, especially if his levels are spiking during combat in the alert phase, he can go into a state of combat frenzy. During this phase, your Psyche will be stable and Snake will take less damage, but there is a significant caveat. Once the rush is over, his stress and Psyche meters will drop to their lowest points, reflecting the adrenaline drop he is suffering. This makes Snake very vulnerable to attacks, so players must carefully balance this state. This fine line between stress and mentality promotes a balance between stealth and action, helping MGS4 appeal to a wide gaming audience that is not only drawn to fans of stealth and action, but also to its diverse gameplay.

Whatever method you use to explore the game environment, there are two gadgets that will greatly aid Snake. The first is the Solid Eye System, which eliminates the need to constantly switch between safety glasses and binoculars in the field. Not only does the Solid Eye System include night vision and binoculars, it also identifies everyone on the battlefield based on their group affiliation, the weapons they carry, and the items they drop on the battlefield. This gives you a wealth of tactical information that can be exploited through stealth or brute force.

Another gadget is the Mark II, a small robot that Otacon provides to Snake. The Mark II is a very versatile device, as it can be used as Snake’s vanguard. Thanks to its small size and cloaking ability, the Mark II allows the player to develop a sense of where enemies and other dangers are lurking, giving him an advantage in battle. It can also be used to incapacitate soldiers, as it can deliver a powerful shock similar to Snake’s stun meter. This is another great way to evade guards without being noticed. Additionally, the Mark II can be used to collect weapons and items, and any weapons Snake collects are also instantly converted into Drebin points, as the Mark II is a communication channel through which Snake can contact Drebin. This is a safe way to pick up weapons in the middle of a firefight without exposing Snake to unnecessary fire, provided Snake deploys his robot from a protected location.

More than the play style and different devices that can affect the overall experience during combat, the Drebin system touches on the player’s primal collecting instinct, giving the player the feeling that they are running out and collecting every pistol, every rifle, and every grenade that is germane to surviving in the heat of battle. But it also establishes Snake as another cog in the war economy, someone who will exploit the system from the inside to protect the rest of the world from its devastation by any means necessary. In a way, this also applies to Snake’s ability to gain allies on the battlefield. It may sound like a strange concept, but the fact that the world is engulfed in factional warfare means that there are times when Snake can use this division to his advantage. As Snake travels through the game’s various environments, he will encounter various militia forces battling PMCs for control of the location. In this situation, the player essentially has two options: on the one hand, the player can focus on being a lone wolf and act independently, fighting against PMCs and militias alike. This is perhaps the most traditional way to fight your way through a Metal Gear Solid title, but it does present an additional challenge, as virtually everyone in the area will be hostile towards Snake.

On the other hand, you can try to gain their trust by working with local troops or by attacking PMCs. By building a reputation as a freedom fighter who believes in your cause, the militia will help you in your mission by providing additional fire support during battles or by eliminating PMC soldiers. In addition, the PMC will help Snake by giving him various items such as ammunition and health items during battles. However, you should be careful with your aim during the battle. If you accidentally endanger the militia, it will ruin your reputation with them and may turn them against you. So you will have to either regain their trust after some time or avoid their attacks by careful disguise that makes you look like you are a member of the organization.

All of the above contributes to Metal Gear Solid 4’s fascinating story, which is simply incredible for two main reasons. Firstly, as the final chapter of the Solid series, it resolves all the loose ends that existed in the series. It is an amazing achievement that players who have been looking for answers to questions that have arisen in the previous games will find them in MGS4. Many of the mission reviews not only explain where you will go in the next mission, but also cover most of the latest information about the series. Patriots, Fox Day, Metal Gear – Somehow, the team at Kojima Productions managed to condense all the vague concepts of the series into an easy-to-understand storyline that players can understand. “That’s not to say it’s completely clear to newcomers, but it does try to be as explanatory as possible. In a way, some of the cutscenes act like CliffsNotes for the Metal Gear Solid universe, providing additional details for players who have been actively following the series, while also summarizing what’s going on for newcomers. In a way, this provides more than enough incentive for newcomers to the series to fully purchase and explore the previous games in the series, such as Metal Gear Solid: Essential Collection.

Secondly, Metal Gear Solid games have always dealt with contemporary themes, but MGS4 in particular is peppered with allegories and themes from both previous games in the series and the real world, revealing subtle depths. Kojima weaves a story into a top-notch experience that explores complex elements such as the horrors of war and its impact on civilians, technology gone horribly wrong, psychological manipulation and control (whether by technology or by organizations), and personal sacrifice. In many ways, the number of themes dealt with in the title and their treatment within the title and franchise is large enough to merit a treatise on its own. There is one caveat to exploring these themes: the cutscenes and dialogue sequences that occur around the exposition of these plot parts can get a bit long. In fact, the longest cutscene in the game lasts about 45 minutes, which might seem like a stretch given the numbers. However, most players won’t pay attention to the clock as the scenes themselves are so fascinating, but cutscenes can be paused if you need a break or life gets interrupted, which is a nice addition to this title.

All of these features contribute to a great gaming experience, but even more impressive are the graphics, making MGS4 one of the best looking titles in gaming history. It’s clear that Guns of the Patriots is squeezing every pixel possible out of the PS3 and rendering it beautifully. As a result, players will witness one of the best games ever made for consoles or PC. Character models are large and impressively rendered in real time, and the transitions between cutscenes and gameplay are seamless and natural. Additionally, certain action sequences are as crisp and framed as many Hollywood action movies, with some moments that surpass cinema, especially in how the story is told. A lot of this has to do with the camera angles that make the game action look exquisite. Since Subsistence, it’s clear that Kojima Productions has focused on creating a camera system that works the way players want it to and allows them to enjoy the game. You can experience the entire game in first person if you wish, or switch shoulders by clicking the right analog stick.

The environments are peppered with crisp detail, including subtle details like smudges on a camera lens and water droplets flowing smoothly across the screen. The game does a massive 8-minute base install, then further shows off the graphical improvements by installing separate acts at the end of each chapter. These second installs only take a few minutes, but are crucial. When one stage is installed on top of another, the replaced textures, levels, and environments speed up load times and transitions. The graphics are not without their issues, however. Some textures are flat in places (there are low-res issues here and there) and there is a slight drop in frame rate during huge explosions, but these issues are generally covered up by the game’s level of detail and the cinematic scope of the title, highlighting what a masterpiece this is. This game is.

It is also supported by an excellent soundtrack, including “Love Theme,” one of the best songs in the MGS4 series. Hauntingly melodic, with a tone that evokes a sense of loss and memory, this song feels very fitting for the atmosphere of this game. The soundtrack fully encompasses the breadth and depth of the MG world, thanks to the included iPod feature that plays different songs that can be unlocked as you discover classic songs throughout the game. Further enhancing this title is the fact that Snake and all the other characters in the game also sound phenomenal, performing brilliantly in their dialogue.

We haven’t even mentioned all the features of the title, such as the photo gallery where images taken by Snake with his camera are saved and displayed, or the virtual shooting range where you can practice with the various firearms available in the game. We haven’t even mentioned the exquisite evolution of the control scheme, which is the best ever in this title. However, another important feature of MGS4 is the integration of Metal Gear Online, which adds multiplayer functionality to a package that is already rich (no joke) with a single-player campaign. Strictly speaking, Kojima Productions shouldn’t have even had to include this section in the game, especially since this is a starter pack and is expanding into a standalone online product. But what is included on this disc is a good preview of what we can expect in the multiplayer section of Metal Gear.

As with the beta test, Metal Gear Online offers five multiplayer maps on which up to 16 players can battle it out. The starter pack includes two additional levels not in the beta: Urban Ultimatum and Ambush Alley. Urban Ultimatum is a large level that is more impressive for its verticality than for the many nooks and crannies you can explore. Many players can climb ladders attached to buildings to take up positions as snipers on rooftops. Meanwhile, Ambush Alley is all about stealth and surprise, with bombed-out rubble and destroyed buildings providing players with plenty of cover to attack and eliminate unsuspecting opponents.

Although you will need to sign up for a Konami ID and register your character in the online game (beta players, all your old accounts have been reset and your progress lost), the process is very easy and runs much faster. Things are going better than they did back in April. A few small tweaks have been made to MGO, including: B. Changing skill names to more descriptive terms. For example, the Throw ability, which determines how well you can throw grenades, has been changed to Quarterback, and the Quick Move ability has been changed to Runner. This does not affect the abilities themselves; it’s just to make it easier to tell at a glance which traits to assign to Snake. Another change concerns clan creation. In the beta version, you could reach level 2 with just a few hours of playtime, but in the final version, you’ll need to reach at least level 3 with 20 hours of playtime to create your own clan.

The final change we noticed is the online music selection. Players can choose from songs from the two original titles, or from all 21 years of the MGS series. Blasting Metal Gear’s Tara track at someone in Groznji Grad is pretty cool. During stealth missions, only Snake can dictate the music selection, which seems appropriate considering he’s a target for both teams. We had concerns about the first two downloadable choices, though. One is simply a codec pack that allows players to provide voice commentary during gameplay, and the other sells additional characters for Konami IDs. The codec packs aren’t vital or useful, and the price for the extra soldiers seems a little steep at the moment, but considering you don’t need to buy either to experience the action currently raging on the servers, it’s a minor issue Konami can always iron out.

Verdict

Is it possible to give a game an 11? If so, then this game is worthy of this score. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a title that exceeds all of the hype surrounding this title. Whether you’ve seen every trailer and every screenshot, read every preview, or heard every interview, you won’t fully understand how phenomenal this title is until you sit down and experience it for yourself. Legends are hard to die, and they deserve heroic stories that live on long after they’re gone. Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the endings for the legendary warrior Solid Snake. Not only does it condense the entire Metal Gear series, but its depth, complexity, and technical excellence make it one of the best games of the year, and indeed of all time. Take a well-deserved break, Snake. You deserve it. We take our hats off to you.