Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Comments by Oli Welsh

Excellent. I want cut-scenes, and the method of interaction you describe sounds like lot's of fun.

Sounds great. Roll on June 12th.

Not as good as a pizza, no way.

I didn't want this in the slightest, but having played as Snake in the MGO beta I can't wait! Seeing how far you can push the Octocamo against the AI troops, stealth kills, watching battles rage around you... this looks good, and I lost faith in the series after MGS3.

We cleverly forgot to add page 2 to this, but now have. The relevant people have been spoken to for several hours without interactivity as punishment.

Guess the guy with the Mohawk has size 15 feet as they seem a little big for the steps ;)

So...would it be a good MGS game for total MGS virgins to leap in?

I love cutscenes! So can't wait. Nothing I enjoyed more than sitting through the likes of Raziel's inner monologue from Soul Reaver, the lengthy Final Fantasies and whatnot. Much more fun than the apparently empty A to B devoid of reason Half Life 2 etc.

Sorry, give me Halo over Half Life any day, at least you feel like you're part of some cinematic experience.

It might be a bit intense to jump into, the promise of reliving old games in the cutscenes sounds great though. I still think the best game is the original, and the Gamecube remake was also fantastic.

We'll see how this shapes up eh?

Cutscenes longer then ever? Killed my enthusiasm for this game stone dead. They ruined mgs3 for me and although I bet this game will deliver to fans I'm glad I wont have to rebuy a ps3 for this.

if there are so many cut scenes why don't they just make a movie instead ?

360 can do fried eggs in realtime!

I like lenghty cut-scenes, every now and then. Lost Odyssey has a 20 minutes finale "cut-scene" (more like an Anime episode), and I loved it. Although I don't want another similar experience in the next couple of months.

will there be a hot coffee patch in this one too

Thats what i thought why not just go the whole hog and do a MGS film in Hi_def.
They could even stick it on bluray disc and provide it with the 'game'.
Then skip all the lengthy cutscenes and produce a tight game with lots of gameplay and no sitting around waiting.

Regarding the sub-headline (not sure what it's called) - actually, MGS1 was really the beginning of the end, since he was already in retirement and was brought back for one last mission for obvious reasons explained in the game.

i always liked MGS but the only problem was if i sat down to play for a couple of hours, and had to go out after, i could play it for an hour and a half and then stumble across a cut scene that lasted SO long that i had to turn it off so i could go out.
i love the cut scenes and i love MGS but that could be a bit annoying sometimes.
maybe with cutscenes that long it would be nice to save mid-cutscene or mid-codec talk :D

I remember MGS3 significantly cutting back on the cutscenes compared to MGS2. Meh, might just have enjoyed it more.

The comparison to MGS2 definately worries me though. I remember timing the cut scene between the last moment of gameplay and the final boss, and it clocked in at over an hour. And absolutely nothing interesting is revealed in it. And I later learned that a huge scene was actually cut from it as well due to 9/11 and it taking place in New York.

So yeah I'm now concerned. BTW did this game install? How long did it take?

My problem with MGS cinematics isn't solely the length, it's how fantastically awful the writing and acting is. If they were short, or worth watching, that'd be fine, the problem is that they're neither.

"My problem with MGS cinematics isn't solely the length, it's how fantastically awful the writing and acting is. If they were short, or worth watching, that'd be fine, the problem is that they're neither."

I disagree with this, I think it has more to do with bad direction and editing.

12th of June! Bloody hell I didn't realise it was so close to release! I was bitterly dissapointed by MGS3, my first venture into the series, but after a preview like that I can't really let 4 pass by. Lets hope I'm bored of GTA IV by then...

I stil love the MGS cutscenes. I know what I'm getting with a Metal gear game, a movie with playable sections. I'll just make sure i buy MGS4 with a big comfy new chair and enjoy the show :)

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed.

Made of w1n.

"The mission briefing is a kind of interactive entertainment that only Hideo Kojima could have come up with. It's pointless and overlong but also a strangely spellbinding kind of downtime for player and writers alike, giving the game's characters time to breathe with some gentle comic interplay and moments of tenderness, and bridging the gap between cut-scene and game."

Well that is one way of putting it I suppose. Tbh honest though, all the times I have played the various MGS games of yesteryear, I have never once sat there during one of their interminable interludes thinking "thank god this is giving me time to breath, 'cos I was pooped". If I need a rest, I'll pause the game and go make a cuppa.

Sounds.. terrible. Why can't they just make a bloody game rather than trying (and failing) to turn it into a bloody film. The awful dialogue and massively overlong cut scenes made me give up on MGS 2 and put me off even bothering with 3. It's a real shame, as there's a great game lurking somewhere under the needless bloat.

SPELLCHEQUE, PEOPLE!

"I stil love the MGS cutscenes. I know what I'm getting with a Metal gear game, a movie with playable sections."

+1. I moan about cut scenes and codec messages but I still love MGS, it's the main reason I got a PS3 and I can't wait for June (although I'm sure GTA will fill the void).

I just wish my XBox MGS2: Substance was B/C I really want to play the second one again but don't want to spend on a PS2 version. In the next update (if one) MS, PRETTY PLEASE!!!!

Have they confirmed whether or not the cut-scenes are skippable?

"I disagree with this, I think it has more to do with bad direction and editing."

I'm not quite clear. Do you mean you don't think the writing is poor? I personally think the acting is spot on for the style, in the same way as the acting iun FarCry was with on the money for the style of narrative.

My own issue with MGS cutscenes is not so much the individual screen writing, its more a matter of the actual core plot and scene briefs being a load of fan-fiction style nonsense.

Sorry, sorry everyone, I know that MGS has loads of fans and its just not my bag, I'm not right, I'm just different. I have enjoyed playing MGS games (except 3, that was a bit shite imo) and some of the mechanics were bar setting in their day. Its just that for me the story has always been rubbish. Its the bit of the game series that people rate most, but in my eyes its the worst feature. Horses for courses I suppose.

@zuljin

MGS 3 is the worst of the bunch thus far I would say. You are much better off trying one of the earlier editions, or waiting for 4 I suppose, as it does look rather good (rubbish plot not withstanding ;) ).

hey bad09, do the XBox originals still leave that "ugly trail" on the "games blade" ?
Shit, I hate those b/w icons!

I cant believe how many people hated MGS3! Loved it! Cant wait for this either, one of the main reasons i bought a ps3.

@ miiiguel

Ugly Trail? Not sure what you mean mate.

sorry, I kinda suck at english...

I meant those b/w icons (some sort of xbox 180 "logo").

An "X" with a zeroed gamerscore...

@ miiiguel

Ah I get what you mean! Yeah they still have that b/w Xbox icon. :)

My beef with the Metal Gear series' cutscenes is that the stories played out in them are rarely very interesting and the plot point developed in them is almost always completely indecipherable. They usually contain some pointless information about how Ocelot's left arm actually belongs to Snake's evil transvestite step-brother (or something). The same thing can be said about those interminable codec sequences, where just saving the game normally requires you to enter into a conversation about what Mei Ling eats for brunch. My point being: I wouldn't have a problem with the long cutscenes if they were actually interesting.

It cluters my gaming history, hate it...

Yeah, its fair enough for people not to be into this, I can see why people wouldn't like it, but for those who love it... its great. I find its like interactive 24 really.

At no point did I sit through MGS2 and think "meh" while it was going on, although at one point I did think the 2nd half was mirroring the original game in areas, this turns out to be deliberate after all. Also didn't mind Raiden, liked the alternate perspective of Snake.

I didn't like MGS3 in so far as the camoflage/endless menu action really got to me. The large sneaking arenas were great fun though.

MGS1 was heavy on the old cut scenes itself though, practically each screen was a bit of cutscene action. Each boss encounter was a pre/post cutscene fest. I just loved it though... even some of the massive codec ones.

Is 12th of June a worldwide release then?

"coldly exacting gameply" FFS Eurogamer, and in particular Oli, it takes no time at all to use Word or something to check spelling. Here: http://www.spellcheck.net - try that one.

/continues reading article...

/finds "bioengineerd"

/wonders what a Bio Engi Nerd is anyway...

/finds "goes along way"

/explodes

as long as raiden is not playble i hate that character ruined MGs2 for me, can't wait for this, i'm just enjoying the beta at the mo...

To all you guys who didn't like MGS3, care to elaborate on the reasons? I think it had a better story than 2, and it told you the story of Big Boss. All the bosses were memorable, you got to fight a young Revolver Ocelot after all, and the final boss fight was nothing less than spectacular (in terms of atmosphere and emotional discharge). Sure the game mechanics were annoying, Such as the randomness of CQC, but I judge a MGS game mostly by it's story. Yes, the first one is the best and little has changed in terms of game mechanics since, but don't be mean to MGS 3 just because it's in to do so. With MGS3 a lot of the loose ends of MGS2 were cleared up, at least that's the impression I got. You can never be too sure with MGS I'll admit that much :)

if the story is strong enough then cutscenes are fine by me, never really minded them in mgs although they annoy me in other games (assassins creed in particular)

Okay, I've only read the first paragraph, but I'm already insanely excited!!

I've always enjoyed the cutscene's in MGS. Yes the writing isn't great and the voice acting is hit and miss, but for cinematic flair it's spot on. I just hope they don't have trying boss battles like the one with The End in MGS3. I gave up. Yes probably through lack of patience, but I'm a busy man and need immediate gratification. Overall an excellent series, which I wish I could appreciate better. Can't wait for this.

I just hope they don't have trying boss battles like the one with The End in MGS3.

Hide, save the game, and load it about a week later...

Its not that I didn't like MGS3, thought it was a great laugh... the larger arenas presented to you were a great challenge to navigate through (especially with no blue cone of vision!), I just hated the endless menu action.

Move a bit, change camo, move a bit, change camo... also found the endless search and capture of food a bit pointless.

Sounds so so good. Looking forward to it. Looks like I will be getting a PS3 then...damn it! :]

I actually felt a little uncomfortable reading that review; I'm sure it is a very good game but no need to cream your pants over it!

That sounds incredibly tedious :/