REVIEW: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)

If you are a fan of video games, and more specific, if you are a fan of Playstation games, no doubt you've heard of "Metal Gear Solid". The first "Metal Gear Solid" game came out in 1998 and pretty much changed the landscape for stealth games. Created by genius Hideo Kojima, "Metal Gear Solid" combined tactics and serious game play with an EPIC storyline that still rivals the best action movies I've seen. Thanks is also in order for Yoji Shinkawa, the character designer and artist responsible for the amazing look and feel of "Metal Gear Solid". There are not many video games that you look at in awe of the artwork, the storyline, and the voice acting, in addition to the game play. "Metal Gear Solid", and its three subsequent sequels are perhaps the closest to a masterpiece that video games have ever reached.


Having said that, the new "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" marks Hideo Kojima's first foray onto the Playstation 3, which provides him with the ability to better already superb graphics. He really amps up the plot line, placing Snake in the middle of a ridiculous Middle Eastern war involving genetics, nuclear weapons, and world domination. One of the ideas in "Guns of the Patriots" is that wars will be fought by opposing private military companies (PMCs). Every soldier on the battlefield is controlled by nanomachines controlled by a single network, Sons of the Patriots (SOP). Snake's arch-rival decides to take over the network, thus taking over all the soldiers in the world and takin' over Earth.

The "Metal Gear Solid 4" storyline might confuse and anger Americans that aren't used to lots of dialog and don't recognize all the cameos by characters from the other "Metal Gear" games. It's alright. There has got to be at least four hours of cut scene in the game, so if you aren't a huge fan of the storyline you will probably bitch about it. As usual, the plot is totally melodramatic and ludicrous, and plenty of people probably wouldn't enjoy it, BUT the impossible storyline is more interesting than most other games. It won't change your life, but it is a good end to a long-lasting series of games.