Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

my rating: 10 out of 10

The day I bought my Playstation 3 I was extremely excited. Then I found myself months later not having turned the thing on almost since I bought it…until now. MGS4 has not only met but has exceeded my every expectation. This is the reason to own a PS3. Gameplay is as sweet and loaded with calories as a deep-fried snickers bar from the Texas State Fair. From the moment you turn it on you feel as if you’re really part of the story. I know that’s cliche´ to say, but the truth is simply that.Now I love Halo, and I certainly can’t get enough of the Tom Clancy franchise. However, Metal Gear Solid 4 has redefined my reason for gaming in the first place. The story is so cool and engaging that you sometimes forget your a slob sitting on a couch playing a game instead of a rogue agent kicking some serious butt. Fans of the series won’t be dissapointed, and as convoluted as the Metal Gear story can be, first-timers will pick it right up and be in the know.

I’m starting to wonder why I pay $10 to $14 dollars a ticket to go see a movie where all I do is sit and watch, all the while there is this new melding of media at my finger tips for $59 ($84 for me because I bought the limited edition from GameStop). With a movie I see it once and if I want to see it again I have to cough up more money. The kicker is that it’s the same thing again. Not with gaming, and MGS4 is the poster child for all of the right reasons.

Everything is solid. From deciding how to best maneuver a situation to upgrading and customizing your gear. The AI is superb and and cut scenes are breathtaking. Which is what makes MGS4 so incredible alone because of the seamless, and I mean seamless transition into gameplay. Everything is rendered in real-time.

It’s beautiful and that’s why I’m so giddy. I have a reason to turn my PS3 on again!!

pros: Tight controls, awesome weapon and object customization, brilliant AI, excellent story-telling, beautiful in-game visuals
cons: weird camera action when inside a barrel near a corner…that’s all I got
replay value: High