This game differs from the previous 3 iterations in the series, being told over a series of five acts. Where MGS 2 and 3 were told in two, each of the five acts in the game have a different theme and style to them, along with different ways to play the game, both by act and throughout the entire game. This design choice by Kojima-san and his team allows for one of the most unique and inspired gameplay styles this generation.
The story of the game follows Snake throughout 5 different locations, as he tries to take on a mission with two contradicting objectives. His first objective involves taking down Revolver Ocelot, as he attempts to take control of the entire armed forces of select PMCs around the globe. Ocelot has already started this, by using a mother company to take control of 5 different PMCs that you fight throughout the game.
The second involves a shadowy organization in the Government called The Patriots, and trying to gain freedom for the United States once and for all. As the story progresses, these two different objectives dovetail nicely into an ending that wraps up every plot twist throughout the series, re-introducing old characters and introducing ones that have yet to be seen. Each character is wonderfully acted and portrayed by their voice actors, breathing new life into characters like Snake and Otacon.
The cinematography is top notch throughout the cutscenes. It seems that Kojima-san took all the lessons he learned through the previous titles and used that in order to make this game the best of the series. The cutscenes are long, but each one is vital to the story, allowing glimpses into each of the characters as they build to the conclusion of the game.
Gameplay in this game is drastically different from previous titles in the series. Instead of taking the usual top down perspective that previous games have used, this game uses an over-the-shoulder camera that allows for more of the world to be seen by the player. This makes gameplay a lot easier, and allows the player to play the game either in a stealthy way, or in a rambo style, run-and-gun third-person shooter. This makes MGS4 much more accessible and easy for everyone to pick up.
Other aspects of gameplay allow players to upgrade weapons, place laser sights and scopes, and increased functionality that is seen in most shooters this generation. Using the cash by selling the guns picked up by enemies, players can buy new scopes, weapons and other items that could be useful along their journey through the five acts. The game wasn't in any way revolutionary, but in terms of the series, it allowed a much deeper customization of Snake. This combined with the 'Octocamo' system, which allowed Snake's camouflage to automatically change to the environment he was next to, allowed for much more diverse and open ended gameplay and challenges for the player to overcome.
Graphics in this game are top notch, holding up to games on the Playstation 3 like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Killzone 3. The gameplay and cutscenes are wonderfully animated, and rarely are there hitches. Framerate drops to sometimes occur when there are 30-40 enemies on screen, which can happen when you aren't careful and allow enemies to sound an alert. There are some characters that do have the standard 'shiny' and 'rubbery' looks that the next-gen has brought, but only at certain times does this occur.
Overall, this game holds a soft spot in my collection as one of the best games of all time. I write this review trying not to spoil anything for the few people that have not played this game. The first time I beat this game was in June of 2008, the day after it released. After playing it for 18 hours straight, I completed the epilogue on bated breath. Every single moment of this game kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put the controller down. Every cinematic, every action I made was one step closer to the final conclusion of a story that I had played for close to ten years. When I finished, it was like a weight lifting off my shoulders, allowing me to rest and gain peace with an ending I was completely satisfied with.
My review:
5/5 Stars
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