Metareview: Metal Gear Solid 4
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jun 13th 2008 at 8:00AM }
- 1UP (A-) - "It is, in short, precisely what the grand finale of a legendary franchise should be: grand, final, and thoroughly steeped in its own lore."
- Game Informer (100/100) - "With the series' last breath, Hideo Kojima's defining opus does more than just surpass the previous Metal Gear titles – it creates a landmark gaming experience that continually astounds with its variety, depth, and intelligence. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a masterpiece."
- GameDaily (80/100) - "This is one of the most important games in history and you'll dig its cool boss battles, at times witty dialogue and unrivaled sneaking mechanics. Just be sure to keep a magazine handy when those cut scenes get ridiculous."
- GamePro (100/100) - "This is video game storytelling at its absolute best, and represents a new high watermark for the craft, easily surpassing the superb BioShock and the subversive Grand Theft Auto IV."
- IGN (100/100) - "Is it possible to give a game an 11? If so, this would be the game that would merit that score. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a title that exceeds all of the hype that was attached to the title."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin @ Jun 13th 2008 8:06AM
Duck and cover...places like GameDaily are gonna get flamed.
I'm personally enjoying the game. It is pretty amazing. Not perfect, but probably one of the most thought out PS3 games I've seen.
Iain @ Jun 14th 2008 2:51AM
GameDaily should be sorry for that 8 looking back at there record of other games. But they are just killing there reputation with countless other sites going all 10.
You guys forgot
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/35169.html
and
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/35169.html
Dr. Jones @ Jun 15th 2008 3:49AM
Ruining their reputation? Last I checked reviews were the reviewers opinion (unless you're GameSpot). It's stupid to get pissy because of a 8 also.. 8...is...a good score....
anon @ Jun 13th 2008 8:10AM
What is the other GOTY game?
GTA IV would be the obvious choice, but it is multiplatform so I'm questioning if that is what y'all are referring to. I know GOTY games can be multiplatform, but just making sure that I did not miss something
I cannot wait to enjoy MGS IV :)
Bearskopff @ Jun 13th 2008 8:15AM
Game of the year.
Regarding the cut-scenes. The only one close to 90 minutes is the last one. All the rest last a max of 15 minutes. Considering they're pretty integral to the story they're not very long at all. You get to interact with all of them as well.
KUV1977 @ Jun 13th 2008 8:42AM
I am not even through with the first act but already some cutscenes are boring as hell. Some are really great and if all were that good i wouldn't mind... i like good cutscenes, there can't be enough, but some in MGS4 are really just minutes of boring and sometimes repetitive and useless dialogue..
also whats wrong with AKIBA. Is that meant to be funny? If so it is just set up very badly and unfunny at all... Well, i'd find it funny if i was six maybe...
Overall graphics, sound and gameplay are very good this far..
Nathanical @ Jun 13th 2008 9:39AM
tbh, its never gonna be game of the year, as if i recall, thats done by game trailers. GT will almost certainly secretly detract points for it not being on the 360
Devin @ Jun 13th 2008 10:14AM
@ Nathanical
GameTrailers gave the game a 9.3/10 saying that the cutscenes hurt it even though they said that they were probably needed in order to sum up the Snake series, other than that I didn't know what they had to knit-pick at.
I can't wait to see this game in-person once I get my PS3. C'mon Sony, reveal that next 40GB-replacement SKU!
Cornelius @ Jun 13th 2008 12:54PM
@KUV
Akiba is another throwback to past games. I believe he's the same guy that had diarrhea in MGS (he was an enemy guard). I don't think that Kojima & friends think that having diarrhea is funny, but rather the fact that he's sick all the time. Not quite sure how he got put on Rat patrol, since he's obviously not a badass like the other two guys. But he is useful towards the end of the first chapter.
Noshino @ Jun 13th 2008 1:08PM
Akiba is integral to the game, first of all becuase of his backstory, and there are events that will make him important later on...
A1 @ Jun 13th 2008 8:22AM
And it deserves all of those ratings and more. What a game.
Riley Freeman @ Jun 13th 2008 8:24AM
im sorry but maybe its me and i dont know how. but i cant get this guy to post up against the wall properly and blend in. he never or refuses to actually put his back up against the wall. and im missing something in the controls?
Popfrogs @ Jun 13th 2008 10:26AM
You almost never put your back against the wall, you press up against it while facing it. Watch the gigantic icon at the bottom and hit triangle when it tells you to.
By the way, I'm giving this game 11/10. No game on ANY platform (including the PC) has looked, sounded, or played this well. This game is an epic masterpiece.
Slasher Hawk @ Jun 13th 2008 8:28AM
snake doesnt put his back to the wall like he used to. het just presses towards in with his face.
halebound00 @ Jun 13th 2008 12:55PM
Game Daily will be flamed about the cut scene thing, but holy crap those are some long cut scenes. I am only 4 hours into the game and it seems like half of it was cutscenes. Good thing is that they are well done and really help flesh out the story. I don't see where they could cut out much of them. I don't think they hurt the game in any way, especially not a 20 point ding.
Will fn b @ Jun 13th 2008 9:57AM
I despise that GameDaily review, it was poorly written and did not bring up legit reasons to dock the game. At least the Eurogamer review was well written and tried to explain why he subtracted points
Popfrogs @ Jun 13th 2008 11:21AM
Yeah, I just glanced over that article, and the dude shouldn't be reviewing the game for this sentence alone:
"In fact, Metal Gear Solid 4 has numerous goodies to collect, including ramen noodles, rations, bullets and even Playboy magazines, which Snake can admire."
Playboy magazines are for Snake to admire? Anyone who has played ANY of these games know that magazines are used to distract and/or trap enemies. Fail.
Bearskopff @ Jun 13th 2008 8:51AM
Akiba was in MGS1 btw. I won't spoilt it for you but the first time you saw him might have given you a clue.
dan @ Jun 13th 2008 8:59AM
and MGS2, and his dad was in MGS3
Still, I didn't find humor in it either...
dan @ Jun 13th 2008 8:59AM
IGN only gave it an 11?... If I recall, they gave GTAVI a 300, so I'm not sure If I agree with this logic... Well it IS IGN...
dan @ Jun 13th 2008 9:00AM
oops, GTAIV
preciousdeath @ Jun 13th 2008 9:14AM
Obviously, you're being sarcastic, but for those that want to know, IGN gave it a perfect score! http://ps3.ign.com/articles/881/881472p1.html
dan @ Jun 13th 2008 9:08PM
yeah, I know that, but in the abstract to the review they ask if it is possible to give an 11.
In the review for GTA IV they say they would give it a 300 if they could.... Which i completely fail to see that game getting a perfect score.
KarlW @ Jun 14th 2008 11:57AM
GTA4 really doesn't deserve it. The graphics weren't as good as MGS4, the story wasn't as good, the sound (especially Niko's accent) wasn't as good. It doesn't grip you emotionally the same way MGS4 does. This game is like a fine Swiss watch.
GTA4 is full of glitches and frustratingly bad controls. For the love of Christ, it didn't even play on all consoles when it was released, and people had to find work-arounds for it. Rockstar didn't test it well enough, and the game suffered. MGS4 was tested thoroughly and worked perfectly on all PS3s. How could GTA4 get a perfect score with those imperfections? By the same voodoo magic that meant MGS4 didn't.
Being exclusive shouldn't hurt it, because it didn't hurt GoW or Bioshock. Although being exclusive to the PS3 might, as there is a pretty bad bias towards the 360 in pretty much all forms of media. Reviewers would be unlikely to concede that the PS3 has a good title, which is a massive shame.
Ficken @ Jun 13th 2008 9:21AM
Before I played this I thought Sadow of the Colossus to be the best game I have ever played. Now it's MGS4. I used to HATE stealth games beofre thanks to splinter cell because I over calculated everything I did and ended up taking 40 minutes to finish the most simple levels there were. But MGS4 isn't like this. It allows you to play it how you want to. I like to go guns blazing and IT WORKS. Once I finish the game (which I am off to do now) I'll replay it on hard trying to sneak my way though it. I'm sure it will be as fun if not more fun.
dblakenz @ Jun 13th 2008 9:27AM
Have just finished the game! My quick review: I couldnt put the contoller down!!! Definatly 11/10!! STUNNING game, especially if your a MGS fan from the beginning! Graphics are beautiful, especially the (real time!) cut scenes, they are very close to pre rendered quality most of the time and the motion capture performace are best ive ever seen and really shine, especially towards the end, music and sound effects brilliant, the lighting and small details (eg small grains of dust on Snakes suit from crawling on a dusty floor) really brought the world alive, + there are the Kojima moments that make you smile :) The game really does blur the line between movie and game! Well worth the wait. Only complaint is the the trailers kinda killed the 1st act and a few other bits, and i kinda knew what was comming, though the 2nd act totally made up for it. Over all: Brilliant game in every respect: story, gameplay, character performaces, sound and graphics, + it's online too!
BananaBoat @ Jun 13th 2008 12:13PM
*Sigh* One more brand new game to make a run at Ocarina of Time's top spot on Metacritic.
I love the game, but I think having to sit through hours and hours of what is essentially a movie, takes that down to a 9.5 or so. Kick in that there is no GOW style cover mechanic..despite there needing to be one, and....I don't know. I hate it when reviewers try to dethrone OOT =P
igorponweed @ Jun 13th 2008 9:32AM
I'm playing it... but it does nt deserve 10/10.
cruisx @ Jun 13th 2008 9:41AM
umm ya it does, it does everythingright and its sick!
Popfrogs @ Jun 13th 2008 10:31AM
I hear Eurogamer is hiring.
igorponweed @ Jun 13th 2008 11:14AM
I'm not saying it's bad! It's Great! I'm just saying it isn't perfect!
Popfrogs @ Jun 13th 2008 11:19AM
That's exactly what Eurogamer said, they gave it 80/100 before anyone else reviewed it.
Kodros @ Jun 13th 2008 12:39PM
10/10 doesn't mean it's perfect. It just means that it is an absolutely amazing game that advances the genre.
Jimmijam @ Jun 13th 2008 9:52AM
If you skipped a cut scene, do you have the option to play them later?
LAZoftheTamarinds @ Jun 13th 2008 10:16AM
You know what's also awesome with all these 10/10 reviews?
The Gamtrailers's MGS4 game rank. Check it out I got a link to the pic below:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9452/grmi0.png
Don't believe it check it out yourself on their MGS4 page. #1 out of 6,901!!!!
corvux @ Jun 13th 2008 10:18AM
what a bunch of fanboys!!
yes its a great game but too many installations during a game... makes me sick!!!... its ps3 the next pc
Devin @ Jun 13th 2008 11:02AM
I'm sorry you had to waste a couple minutes of your life in order to play this amazing game, but get used to it.
Developers don't do this to piss people off y'know...
HektikLyfe @ Jun 13th 2008 11:56AM
No they don't do it intentionally. Why don't they install in the background while you are playing the beginning or a long intro? Other developers do it. Could it be a memory concern?
Corvux @ Jun 13th 2008 10:18AM
what a bunch of fanboys!!
yes its a great game but too many installations during a game... makes me sick!!!... its ps3 the next pc
Nerdkiller @ Jun 13th 2008 10:27AM
Y'know all of the 360 jabronis saying that the game is gonna suck, what would happen if the game is ported over the 360? It'll never happen, but they just might feel great that a game which they say sucks, is now for some reason great, just because its on their console. Just a bunch of losers who think everything is great on the 360, even Bomberman.
Not saying anything bad about the 360, I'm just saying that they should shut up.
HektikLyfe @ Jun 13th 2008 11:52AM
@ Nerdkiller: You mean how so many PS3 Fanboys complained about how Oblivion was so terrible. Then it came out on the PS3 and THEY shut up? Or how everyone was claiming BioShock was terrible and now they are shutting up since it is purportedly coming to the PS3?
Get this useless fanboys on each side of this cowardly keyboard war, NO SYSTEM IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER.
Its been said thousands of times but it doesn't get through your thick skulls. SOFTWARE is key and software CAN go both ways.
The 360 has been out longer and it has MORE great games. Give the PS3 some time and it will catch up. It has SOME great games. Even the Wii has a FEW great games.
But as far as consoles are concerned they ALL have great things to offer. Whether the developers take full advantage of each only time will tell.
So ALL fanboys need to shut the hell up and enjoy the greatest gaming generation we have ever seen. Don't ruin it with your worthless bile.
Nerdkiller @ Jun 13th 2008 7:34PM
At HekticLyfe:
I am familier with the therory of fanboiism and how its delt with. I mean, Even if Bomberman came to PS3, it doesn't mean that it'll make the game any better. It'll still be terrible overall. Another example is Lost Planet. It is actually worse than the 360 version. I've even had urges to buy a 360 at sometimes. I'm planning to buy a Wii though, so I'm not really a fanboi for any console, although I felt somewhat one sided with my comment that I made. We should really just get along.
HektikLyfe @ Jun 13th 2008 7:54PM
Just to make sure we are talking about the right Bomberman here.
Bomberman Act Zero was a failed abortion.
Bomberman Live was a great port to the XBLA.
Maybe that's where you guys got confused? Perhaps the 360 fanboy meant Bomberman Live?
dan @ Jun 13th 2008 9:09PM
No, Bioshock still sucks.
Some people hate the game, Others wished it would come out for PS3, when the game came out for 360, the people that played it, and thought it sucked said so... Now that it is released on PS3 the people that liked it, but didnt have a 360 Talked about how excited they are for it. (People think differently ya' Know) If I hate bioshock (like i do) then why would I be happy that it is coming to the PS3, your logic makes no sense
HektikLyfe @ Jun 17th 2008 3:17PM
>Lt. Dan: "If I hate bioshock (like i do) then why would I be happy that it is coming to the PS3, your logic makes no sense"
Because fanboys flip-flop. That's exactly my point.
Hunts314 @ Jun 13th 2008 10:35AM
the only fanbois I can see complaining are the ones who can't play it....I had the 360 (before I got a bunch of RRoDs) and I have to say MGS4 > HALO 3. Hell Bioshock was better than Halo.
Hunts314 @ Jun 13th 2008 12:55PM
just to clarify, I liked my 360, not trying to put it down, Gears of War was awesome, as was bioshock (as I mentioned) and Mass Effect. Its just stupid to put down a game because you A can't play it on your console or B. blindly support a console because you own it.
Besides, what kind of fanboys did you expect to see here? it is called PS3fanboy last time I checked
Devin @ Jun 13th 2008 11:04AM
And Bioshock wasn't even that great of a game! (IMO..of course)
Riley Freeman @ Jun 13th 2008 12:55PM
thats gay that its not back to the wall like previous metal gear. now the bad guys always see me on less i lie on the ground. i dont like this lack of feature. all the previous metal gears u could go back to the wall
Popfrogs @ Jun 13th 2008 2:36PM
Back or front, it doesn't matter if your octocamo soaks up the texture of the box/wall/whatever. I had plenty of guards walk past me not 10 feet away pressed against a wall. When your camo is 75% or higher you're pretty damn hard to see. Watch the top right of your screen for the numbers.