Review: Metal Gear Solid 4

EuroTrash

94%

I judge games based on one and only one factor, how much fun I have playing it. To say the least Metal Gear Solid 4 is giving me a lot of enjoyable playtime. I found the cut scenes intolerable and fell asleep during the installation, but to me the time it takes to install a game is not relevant, neither is the amount of space it consumes. I can just go play WoW while the game loads and it doesn't affect the fun I have playing once it is done one bit.
  
  My problem is pretty specific, the enemy AI has some huge holes that really piss me off. Specifically I'll be hiding and observing a couple of soldiers guarding an area, I'll shoot one of the two in the head and the other one will just stand there like absolutely nothing happened! I mean, I know I'm using a silencer but do you have any idea how much noise a bullet smashing through a helmet and a skull would make? There would be a huge TWACK sound followed by the guys brains splattering on the wall and his body crumpling to the floor.
  
  Little details like this have a huge impact on the game because they are happening constantly. The level of the AIs sensitivity is way to low through the entire game and it ruins the immersion for me. I'm constantly reminded this is just a game, not realistic at all.

TonyDaytona

89%

You would probably think this game is right up my ally as an FPS with spectacular graphics, but that would only be true if this WAS an FPS and not a fucking dumpster hiding simulator. No wait, scratch that this game is actually a strip club sized cock tease that will give you a 90 minute long lap dance and then when it's your turn to play won't even let you get a hand full of tit.
  
  I always wanted to jump into the cut scene battles and play! They always depicted bigger battles and more exciting situations than the game ever allows you to actually play. The movies constantly show the games "mechs" fighting truck loads of soldiers or Raiden having a sick battle, but when you gain control it's never even remotely close to as cool.
  
  The makers of this game also totally don't understand warfare at all. They are always going on about "battlefield control" and how the future of warfare is all about individual soldiers who are completely monitored. That is honestly stupid. The future of warfare is about bombs (something this game is very lacking) and air support. The "mechs" running around would be targeted by A-10s and airstrikes would be blowing the crap out of whole blocks. Snakes ability to sneak around wouldn't really matter much when a bomb blows up the area.
  
  The bosses are also stupid and childish. A super soldier fighting against boss mobs 1 at a time is played out.

Newton

93%

I really don't like Metal Gear games. I don't understand the whole appeal of a "stealth game" where you are sneaking around against AIs instead of real players. It's not like it takes skill, just exploitation of the AIs weaknesses. There is a lot you simply learn by trial and error and I hate that.
  
  With that out of the way though this game is fucking amazing. The graphics are stunning and the story is pretty good, but the best part is how smooth the controls feel. With all the new features like the special silent kills, crawling (ground humping), hiding inside objects, and the active camo uses I really feel perfectly in control with a huge number of tools at my fingertips. There are tons of ways to approach each situation; so the overall effect is a very personalized game. That is Metal Gear 4's biggest attraction to me.
  
  The game is also a new direction for video games in general. You may have heard about the cut scenes (Konami ninjas are now after me for writing this) being extremely long. Is this a bad thing? The movies are FUCKING amazing. The game is sort of a new hybrid cinematic experience and interactive game. It's virtually a new form of media. I absolutely loved the immersion that resulted from the long cut scenes and the previously mentioned freedom of game play. It feels like you are part of a sweet anime war movie while playing.