• MGS 4 PS3 Review

    MGS 4 PS3 Review

    Navneet Prakash, Jun 21, 2008 1129 hrs IST

    I remember playing the first MGS way back in 1998; an unforgettable experience. Today, after 10 years, I review the last game in the series, one that's as good as all its predecessors.

    Unparalleled gameplay and graphics, top-notch presentation, great sound effects, epic boss battles, high replay value, the most action-packed game in the series, brilliant cut-scenes, one of the best games ever made, Metal Gear Online.

    Cons? Are you kidding me?

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Gameplay The true highlight of the game is the sneaky gameplay, as always. This time around the controls are a little different and a lot easier, so even newcomers will find it easy to control Snake. The reworked controls make gunplay, a core gameplay element, very easy. MGS 4 isn't all about sneaking, though, for the game puts you in the middle of a battlefield and it's your choice to either go guns blazing or sneak around the battlefield. The game starts off in the Middle East, with a PMC fighting a militant group. Liquid was spotted in the Middle East and Snake is there to find him. The game has many gadgets that come in handy, the first one is called Octocamo, a suit that changes textures to match the surrounding, then there is the Solid EYE, a multi-utility goggle and the MK-II, a small bi-pedal robot controlled by Otacon. The MK-II can also be controlled by Snake and used to scout around the battlefield and electrocute a few enemies.

The first interesting enemies you encounter are called Gekkos. These are walking tanks that form a major part of Liquid's army. The Gekkos are formidable enemies, as they always attack in huge numbers and can wipe out the entire battlefield in seconds. As you go about completing your mission, you meet Drebin, a very useful guy. Drebin is a gun launderer and his business is guns. In MGS 4, all the PMCs carry ID-marked guns, so these guns can be used only by the PMCs soldiers. Drebin can unlock the guns for you, so that you can use them. You can also sell him guns found lying on the battlefield or dropped by PMC soldiers. Drebin can customize your weapons, adding a grenade launcher, a shotgun or a flashlight to your existing guns. He is the most useful character in the game and gives you some really cool customizations.

A major change in gameplay is the Psyche meter, this works similar to the stamina bar in MGS 3. You need to make sure that your Psyche meter isn't too low, as it will affect your healing and your ability to shoot. Snake will lose some morale or Psyche if he hears something disturbing. You can then regain your morale by drinking various items found on the battlefield, or by looking at the Playboy Magazine that is found in the game. The Playboy can also be used to distract other soldiers. The game has many Easter Eggs and you would need to play through the game at least 3-4 times to be able to view them all. MGS 4 creates scenarios where you need to pick up your gun and fight, mostly with a squad. In the battlefield there are two groups fighting each other, so it's your choice who you support. The side that you support will help you as well, giving you useful items like bullets and ration. A particular mission that has a lot of gunplay involved is the one where you fight the Frogs along with Meryll's squad. The Frogs are a group of highly trained female soldiers, who can be quite challenging in a group. There are many fixed scenarios where Snake will have to resort to violence, but the gunplay is so awesome you will enjoy every minute of it. MGS 4 gives you the liberty to choose between action and stealth, but succeeds in maintaining the balance. There is a particular level that will have you track down somebody, you have to do so while avoiding enemies and looking for clues that include footprints, animal movements, trampled grass and a particular piece of inner-wear (yes, inner-wear, honest). The Octocamo is very useful as it helps in sneaking around the battlefield. The way it changes textures to match the ground or wall is just awesome. You can save a particular texture for later use, and you can acquire a Face Camo as well, which makes it easier to sneak around. Let me elaborate, just in case you have no idea about the camouflage system. This system is similar to the Camo system in MGS 3. A number on the HUD indicates your visibility on the battlefield. A high percentage means that you are not clearly visible to the enemy, so once you stick to a surface and the OctoCamo changes its texture, you are almost invisible to the enemy. Let's talk about boss battles now.

The boss battles are another treat, and the first group of bosses, called Beauty and the Beast, are group of 4 deadly females with unique powers. Each of their battles is designed very well and they carry just the right amount of sensuality that you would expect from any female character in the MGS series (remember Eva, anyone?). There is a big story to their origins and reason for being what they are, and these are told in true Kojima style. There are other scenarios, which include bikes and tanks and Gekkos and Raiden and so much more. All I can say is that you just have to play it.

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Discussion Board
vikas keen
,surat, on Jun 01, 2009 05:47 PM
hey i live in surat is mgs4 available in surat city
sean hiser (sol
,lousiville kentucky derby city baby, on Sep 09, 2008 10:15 AM
hey **** all you guys not giving this game its props, truly there are no flaws in this game. this coming from someone who never played any of the other mgs titles. depending on how you play this game, its either the epitamy of action or stealth titles. gameplay is flawless, story line is absolutely amazing, even without the background knowledge of like 6 other games. drool all you wish over GoW2 as i do, believe me, this is by far the best titles out over all consoles and is a must buy. best 50 dolllars i ever spent besides a half quarter of dro....
** Message edited by moderator **
nihit
,surat gujarat, on Sep 04, 2008 06:39 PM
man... hd brought dis title yesterday.....its fantabulous.......if u r goin fr ps3 .....den i recomend u 2 buy dis title....its gr8!!..bynd imaginaions......bst ps3 or gaming title on dis planet....
v.kirankumar
,sulur, on Aug 31, 2008 09:48 AM
i want latest new games with action&adventure
madan
,chennai, on Jun 25, 2008 03:40 PM
man dont hire fanboys to review games. Are u seriously telling me there is not one fault with this game reviewers have all gone senile, catering to the hype and not giving proper unbiased opinions......
Hugh R. Nogoode
,Dededo, Guam, on Jun 24, 2008 10:48 AM
MGS4 a 'PERFECT' game? Not at all, dudes! Well, to me, it is not perfect, but it is an awesome game, though! Not a huge fan of the series--sorry, MGS-fans! Because I AM A HUGE FAN OF "GEARS OF WAR 2"! Solid Snake? Big deal! Marcus Fenix & the whole Delta squad rules!!!!
Heather B. Thyn
,Guam, on Jun 24, 2008 04:58 AM
I got my copy of this game, but to me it is not a "perfect" game after all. maybe because I was never in to the Metal Gear series ever since from the first game more than twenty-some years ago. To me, I'll probably give it a 9.5 or 9.6 grade, that is in my opinion, y'know! The game that I am really looking forward to is, "GEARS OF WAR 2", and why, you might ask? Because I don't like the whole MGS series, but I love the GEARS OF WAR thing instead--besides, this is my kind of shooting game...ever!! In my opinion, GEARS OF WAR 2 is the real deal for this year and you can argue with that statement if you want to, okay?
Nithin
,Chennai, on Jun 24, 2008 09:21 AM
XBOT!
Ranjit
,Hyderabad, on Jun 23, 2008 07:59 PM
I own both the 360 and the PS3 so not a fanboy, but have to say this MSG4 is something else. I was not that impressed till the act 1 but now I am in the ACT 3 and its like WOW, OMG what the hell did they make its awesome a true first of its kind killer title on the PS3, if you have a PS3 get this one!
Ivan_PSP
,Brooklyn, NY, on Jun 21, 2008 02:09 PM
"Cons? Are you kidding me?" LoL nice i love that part. MGS4 is truly is a must have masterpiece. Xbox 360 owners are drooling over this perfect game.
ashraf
,lko, on Jun 21, 2008 07:23 PM
agree
Brendon
,Mumbai, on Jun 23, 2008 01:01 PM
I own an Xbox and I am certainly NOT drooling over this game. No doubt it is a very good game, but I somehow do not like the MGS series after I played the original. What I am drooling about is GeOW 2 !!!
Sameold
,sameold, on Jun 23, 2008 05:07 PM
yea same game with a new way to hold the chainsaw.....WOW......i wud play the game...but i knw its going to be the same old thing
Sergio
,CA, on Jun 22, 2008 08:59 PM
So what do you remember about party one? How is this a perfect game when most of the game play is just video??? That?s why the Blue Ray disc was full, it was full of video clips, and not enough game play. How is this the best game???? You don?t even speak facts and say why its good, accept the story line? What about the game play? Don?t give me that it?s the best crap. & Ivan_PSP, don?t worry we 360 owners aren?t drooling over your baby =o). MGS 4 is OK, not one of the best but its pretty good from what I saw, but nothing to drool over. GTA is better then this =o)
Josh
,Grand-Falls, on Jun 22, 2008 10:22 PM
You're so full of crap you must be bursting. I'm playing through MGS4 for the second time and I'm skipping all of the cut-scenes to get a good completion time and the gameplay is fantastic. Lots of action packed shoot-outs, chase scenes, and boss battles. You are the one who needs to "speak facts". PS. GTA4 is agonizingly boring, utter crap in terms of gameplay.
cell989
,Pomona, on Jun 21, 2008 10:23 PM
The game's ending is the saddest most emotional ending I have ever seen in a game, its Lord Of The Rings material, and so I cried, I really did, over a game!. I still cant believe it, but its true.

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