Metal Gear Solid 4 impressions

[Viper86]

The game is finally here. Use this thread to post your impressions about the game. I'll try to post something later today once I get a chance to play it.

[DeaconBlade]

werd

[Bobby Crougar]

I'll let you know when GT5 and the next socom are out. That's when I plan to get a PS3...again.

[DJSteel]

I bought it.. I'll post impressions after playing a bit..

[Mikewarrior]

Most are saying it's an amazing game (Even Xbox fans) & it also looks better than past videos...

Check this out - http://forum.teamxbox.com/showpost.php?p=11010229&postcount=3442

& this - http://forum.teamxbox.com/showpost.php?p=11009818&postcount=3436

I don't know if those pics are cherry picked (While skipping worse looking areas) but that is impressive looking = My next MUST BUY, when I start to buy games again.

This will help sell a lot of Ps3s

[Dreaded Dragon]

Snake is so old...I miss young Snake. :(

[AeroHudson]

This is the series that synched a PS3 for me. In July I will get to play it myself. Can't wait to read your impressions folks.

[DJSteel]

i've played through part of Act I

First of all, the install takes about 4 minutes.. the game starts off like a movie with credits and all while Snake is in the back of a truck with Freedom fighters. You get to the battle field and you try to get familiar with the controls...the graphics are really nice...probably some of the best I've seen.. The cutscenes are beautiful.. and the coolest thing about that is you can hit a button in some parts of the cutscene and you'll get flashes of some of the stuff they are talking about.. the other thing is Snake is not old because this is so far in the future...

[Dreaded Dragon]

the other thing is Snake is not old because this is so far in the future...


Errr....um....do you mean in the flashbacks? Because Snake IS old in the game.

[DJSteel]

but it's not related to his age.. he has something that is making him age fast...

[aquaboy1976]

I like the screen when installing the game. I love how the tips point out the obvious!

[DJSteel]

I didn't know smoking was bad for you...lol

[Viper86]

Snake is aging rapidly because he's a clone. The Fox Die virus may also be playing a role.

Anyway, I've started playing through the game. I'm not very far but I'll give a few impressions. It's good to see that they did something to make the install screen less boring. There's a "wtf moment" right when you start the game. Not sure what the point of that weird ad was. The opening cutscene is really intense. I liked the seamless transition from cutscene to gameplay.

Octocamo is a pretty cool feature. An enemy stumbled over me, which I thought was kind of funny. Controls are pretty solid so far. Weapon and item management seems to be a little more organized. It's a great looking game, both gameplay and cutscene wise. I also came a cross a Playboy magazine, which was interesting. There weren't any nude pictures but it still included some nice looking women.

Overall, I've liked what I've seen so far. Off to play some more.

[Dreaded Dragon]

but it's not related to his age.. he has something that is making him age fast...Oh yeah, okay. I didn't get what you were trying to say. It's been a long time since I played MGS1/2 and I never played 3, so I'm pretty rusty.

[DJSteel]

MGS 3 was a 'prequel' and took place before the Vietnam War...

[aquaboy1976]

For the little I played MGS4 so far, it's been pretty good. :)

[DJSteel]

played through act 1... game is fun so far... i met the bosses and liquid ocelot... there are some funny things that happen... it seems this one is more directly related to MGS 1 than 2...

[Deadly Cyclone]

Well I have beaten act one. This is one of the best games I have played in a long time. The graphics are top notch, music sucks you in to the story and the gameplay flows very well. I don't play a lot of Playstation so I thought I would have trouble with the controls for a while but I immediately picked the game up and started playing with no problems. Overall I would highly recommend this game to anyone who can get their hands on a PS3! :)

[Viper86]

I'm working my way through act 2. Excellent game so far. Fun gameplay, great music, awesome cutscenes, and an engaging story. The interactive cutscene at the beginning of act 2 was pretty cool.

[Mikewarrior]

Many feel that MGS4 is the crowning achievement of this generation.

Could be.

[Dreaded Dragon]

Many feel that MGS4 is the crowning achievement of this generation.

Could be.


And many don't:

Xbox highest rated (http://www.metacritic.com/games/xbox360/scores/)

PS3 highest rated (http://www.metacritic.com/games/ps3/scores/)

Wii highest rated (http://www.metacritic.com/games/wii/scores/)

I think you'll notice that every console has at least one game that is rated higher than MGS4. The scores have been going down too, not up. So we'll see. However I'm sure it's still a great game and I want to at least try it at some point.

[Mikewarrior]

Hey Deac.. How about you school this guy ^ about review scores & how they are NOT reliable.

XBOX SITE = http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=583567

38.03%

Over 1/3rd thinks it is this Gens best... How about I try a Sony site?

[Dreaded Dragon]

You're right user reviews are better.

CoD4 for playstation ranked higher. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/callofduty4modernwarfare#users

As opposed to 9.0 for mgs4.

[Viper86]

Some reviewers have said it's a masterpiece and others haven't. IGN US wanted to give the game an 11. I'm not going to use reviews to judge what's a masterpiece and what's not. There are many games out there that have been called crowning achievements in gaming, like the Half-Life series. Both HL and HL2 are averaging 96 according Metacritic. Does that mean Super Mario Galaxy and GTA IV are better than the HL series because they are averaging 97 and 98? No.

[Mikewarrior]

Dreaded Dragon I'm LMAO at you... no, not even close = Do you even realize there are a lot of haters who post low scores just to cause MGS4 to get a lower score overall?

Try again.

[Dreaded Dragon]

Yeah, I guess there is that. I hadn't checked the scores for these games before, so I didn't see how many of them sounded legit. You can always tell the fanboys because they usually give a review before the game is even released lol.

BTW have you played this game yet? I might not get a chance for a while because my bro isn't going to pick it up right now.

[Mikewarrior]

I'll get it used = Blu-Ray doesn't scratch.

[EDIT] I also want to see if any word of a version will come to the 360

I just have that feeling something will happen like Bioshock

[Dreaded Dragon]

Lol, okay but I don't think MGS4 is unique in that regard.

[Mikewarrior]

Blu-Ray gives me a good reason to not pay the FULL price for ALL Ps3 games... You see?

[Dreaded Dragon]

I'd get it for PS3 if I was you (when you choose to get it). Games usually run better on their native system.

I still doubt it'll come out for xbox...that would be a lot of damn dvds.

Edit: Yeah, I see. I've bought used games before but never have any of them been scratched. I guess that would be a nice comfort though, for games in general even new ones.

[Mikewarrior]

I still doubt it'll come out for xbox...that would be a lot of damn dvds.

Compression is key & I would bet it wouldn't end up more than 4 DvDs = Lost Odyssey also has 4 & It doesn't take that long to change a DvD

Shorter than chapter installations, that's for sure. Oh, and Virtua Fighter 5 was also a initial Ps3 game that ended up better on the 360 in graphics/movement... LIVE was the icing.

[Mikewarrior]

You know... How much will I save by buying MGS4 used when they are finally available?

$5?

I keep seeing posts like this (These are new) - http://forum.teamxbox.com/showpost.php?p=11018035&postcount=814

& this - http://forum.teamxbox.com/showpost.php?p=11018043&postcount=815

From long time Xbox fans that I know from TeamXbox... It makes me want to say screw it, I'm paying $60 for a new version of Ps3s MGS4 & in no way will I wait to see if there ever is a 360 version!

[Dreaded Dragon]

Yeah, I have Lost Odyssey. It's not bad at all, but I don't know how much info it actually contains uncompressed. The whole used game thing is pretty lame. I got Gears of War for $55 when I bought it. They were sold out of new copies or I would've bought it new. I have had better deals on most used games I've bought, but I'm sure MGS4 is one of the ones that will never go down in price significantly.

Still $5 is a meal.

[Mikewarrior]

lol, I compleatly forgot that my work (Costco) could have them in stock for $55 NEW = http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11272069&search=Metal%20Gear%20Solid%204&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=Metal%20Gear%20Solid%204&Ntt=Metal%20Gear%20Solid%204&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

I'll check tomorrow

[DJSteel]

they may do a subsistence version of the game.. but I doubt it will go to the 360..

[aquaboy1976]

So I've been able to play this for a few hours now and I am loving it!

[Viper86]

Finished this up last night. It took me around 20 hours to complete. I thought it was a brilliant game and definitely one of the best games of this generation, if not of all time. Great gameplay, great story, great graphics, great cutscenes, great voice acting, and great sound.

I've seen reviews complaining about the cutscene length but I didn't see what the big deal was. I found most of them to be engaging and not all that long. The ending cutscenes total around an hour but none of the others come close to that mark. I'll post a pro's/con's review later today. I have think about how I'll do that without really spoiling elements for the rest of you.

[blazsox]

I bought the game today. I wanted to hold off until I go back through the previous 3 (though I am impatiently waiting for the original MGS to be available on PSN) before I got 4 but damnt I stare at the cover of this game all day at work.

[Dreaded Dragon]

Lol, just do it! You know you want to. :popcorn:

[Viper86]

Here's some pro's & con's.

Pros

-Great graphics. Some of the best looking character models I've ever seen. Environments seem to get better as you progress through the game.

-Excellent story. Rarely did I ever feel bored while watching a cutscene or codec sequence. There a are a lot of high energy points as well as several sad moments. The story definitely puts your emotions to the test.

-Several instances of a seamless transition from cutscene to gameplay. Being able to control the Mk.II during the cutscenes for missions briefings is pretty cool as well.

-Top notch voice acting.

-Raiden has gone from a girlie wimp, to a stubborn badass. I was actually a little disappointed that he wasn't playable.

-Sound effects are pretty good overall. Most of the weapons and explosions sound great.

-Attention to detail in this game is excellent. Dust and dirt will cover the screen when you're near an explosion or if you're in a building with some dust floating around. If you turn the Solid Eye to light enhancing mode, you can see footprints left by Snake and the enemy. There's a particular part of the game that involves snow. Ice will form on the screen and on Snake due to the cold temps. You'll also see fog hovering just above the ground while you're in doors.

-Weapon and item management is more organized now.

-Drebin's shop is a nice feature. While you don't have to worry about running out of ammo anymore, it gives a lot of customization options.

-Controls are improved. Aiming is easier both in first and 3rd person. CQC controls are also improved.

-Gameplay is quite fun. You can choose to sneak around the whole game, go in guns blazing or use a combination of both tactics. Each act has it's defining moments as well.

-Most of the boss battles are fun. They get a bit better towards the end of the game.

-A good amount of humor is thrown in.

-OctoCamo is a cool feature.

-AI is pretty solid for the most part. They'll work together and stuff. The Gekko are pretty cool enemies to battle.


Cons

-Stress and Psych. gauges are interesting but rarely do they become a factor. I think these things could have been implemented a little better.

-Framerate is inconsistent both during gameplay and cutscenes.

-Boss battles aren't as challenging as they were in previous games, which is slightly disappointing.

-A few of the weapons sound rather weak.

-AI has its stupid moments. Sometimes they'll just stand there and let you shoot them.

I could probably go on and on about this game but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't finished it.

[Deadly Cyclone]

I finished the game the other night, I don't have time to write up my full opinion but I can say this is in my top five best games I have ever played.

[Mikewarrior]

I finished the game the other night, I don't have time to write up my full opinion but I can say this is in my top five best games I have ever played.

See Deac... We don't lie = You must get a Ps3 now!:d

[DJSteel]

Insert Disc 2.. where is that at?? LOL

[Viper86]

It's towards the end of Act 4. I know people thought it was a shot at the 360 but it's actually not.

[DJSteel]

I know.. I saw it.. that and the Psycho Mantis part... so funny..

[Mikewarrior]

It's towards the end of Act 4. I know people thought it was a shot at the 360 but it's actually not.

Is it a shot at MGS on the Ps1?

[DeaconBlade]

See Deac... We don't lie = You must get a Ps3 now!:d

it could be the best game of all generations and i wouldn't get it :lol: i just can't afford it. if i could maintain two consoles, i would.

but the cost isn't worth it..no matter how you fanboys get :coolguy:

[Viper86]

Is it a shot at MGS on the Ps1?

Yes

[Mikewarrior]

it could be the best game of all generations and i wouldn't get it :lol: i just can't afford it. if i could maintain two consoles, i would.

but the cost isn't worth it..no matter how you fanboys get :coolguy:

What an excuse... I don't believe it! = You are a Microsoft paid crony like Major Nelson.

Now I know, & knowing is half the battle!:d

[DeaconBlade]

:lol: believe me...if i were making Major Nelson money, i'd have a PS3, Wii and 360 and a DS to boot.

[Mikewarrior]

lol Deac... How many 360 games do you own, or are you going to say you RENT them all?:)

[Viper86]

I know.. I saw it.. that and the Psycho Mantis part... so funny..

The thing with Mantis was definitely one of the funniest parts of the game.

[Mikewarrior]

Anyone playing online?

[Mikewarrior]

lol Deac... How many 360 games do you own, or are you going to say you RENT them all?:)

:confused:

I see you but you don't reply. :(

[DeaconBlade]

lol Deac... How many 360 games do you own, or are you going to say you RENT them all?:)

i think i own about 5 or 6. :afro:

i rent sometimes too.

[Mikewarrior]

i think i own about 5 or 6. :afro:

i rent sometimes too.

Fro real Deac?:conf:

You have how many games played on your 360?

[EDIT] Btw, how come you get/play 360 games before their street date?

[Mikewarrior]

Fro real Deac?:conf:

You have how many games played on your 360?

[EDIT] Btw, how come you get/play 360 games before their street date?

Deacon has left the building... He's lying to me?:(

[Dreaded Dragon]

What an excuse... I don't believe it! = You are a Microsoft paid crony like Major Nelson.

Now I know, & knowing is half the battle!:d

Lol. Deac = Major Nelson minion.

It's like any game to me. I want it, but I'm not going to get a console just to get it. Hopefully at some point in the future I'll own it, but I'm not going to freak out if I can't.

[DeaconBlade]

Btw, how come you get/play 360 games before their street date?

uhhh because i'm cool like that? :grinking:

[Mikewarrior]

uhhh because i'm cool like that? :grinking:

:irked: No, not anymore.. Being an Xbox fanboy is Last Gen... Get with Sony! :)

[Viper86]

Stop hijacking my thread. :mad:

[AeroHudson]

MGS4 = WOW!!!! :bow::bow::bow::bow:

[aquaboy1976]

MGS4 = WOW!!!! :bow::bow::bow::bow:

Agreed!

[AeroHudson]

The end of Act II is off the hook.

Once you track down Naomi the Raiden sequence that we are all familiar with from the E3 footage was just awesome. Couple that with the turret gameplay and the reveal on why Vamp is the way he is and man I was glued to the screen.

Loving this game!

[aquaboy1976]

I finished this game last night. I was happy the way it ended.

[AeroHudson]

Just finished Act III last night...

Started to dovetail Snakeater into the plot and some old characters come back for some significant appearances. Really liking how they are telling the story and how it is coming together.

Acti III also had a wicked "on rails" section that was hectic and frenetic. Gecko's, PMC soliders and Frogs coming at you from all directions. Loved it!

[Viper86]

ACT 3 started off slow but finished really well, even though it had a rather sad ending. Now you get to play through Act 4, which is the best act in the game IMO.

[AeroHudson]

ACT 3 started off slow but finished really well, even though it had a rather sad ending. Now you get to play through Act 4, which is the best act in the game IMO.

Excellent! Yeah, Act 3 eneded with a bang and yes a bit melancholy.

I'm finding it a bit harder than I thought to watch Snake deteriorate like he is. You can tell that he won't make it through this one. The death of EVA was very sad. I like EVA a lot from MGS3 although I have not finished that one as of yet.

[ThisIsTheEnd]

I beat it yesterday. Although the story was sort of complicated, it kind of made sense at the end.

I liked the ending a lot after thinking about it, but not the very second it ended.

[AeroHudson]

Just finished ACT IV and man what a finale for the act at the end.

Getting to control Rex on the way out of Shadow Moses and blasting away Geckos and then battled Ray / Liquid was quite intense. Felt like and end of game finale and not a mid game boss. The final cut scene with Raiden, although a bit over the top, was also quite cool.

On to Act V and the grand finale!

[AeroHudson]

Just finished the game Saturday night. Great finale. Really my only criticism of the game is the writing. It can get a bit long in the tooth and as a result the story suffers. Based on that, my overall high level rankings of this game would be...

Presentation: 10
Gameplay: 9.5
Story: 8 (due to the drawn out explanations and convoluted elements)
Replayability: 9.5

Overall, I see this game as a system seller. Very good, and unique, experience and well worth the price the admission. I just started a second play through where I will try a no alerts no kills run.

[DJSteel]

I'd up the story score just a little.. there are some very funny references to previous MGS games.. many you'll get as you get farther along in the other MGS games.. Psycho mantis kicks ass..

[AeroHudson]

I'd up the story score just a little.. there are some very funny references to previous MGS games.. many you'll get as you get farther along in the other MGS games.. Psycho mantis kicks ass..

I agree. I played all but the last half of MGS3 so I definitely understood all of the references. The aftermath of the Screaming Beauty boss battle was hilarious. I lol'ed quite a bit.

The ending sequence with Major Zero just made for a very convoluted and disjointed explanation in my mind. I could be a bit harsh overall from a score perspective. I could see an 8.5 but I couldn't go any higher than that. Prior to that last bit it was a 9.5 for me.

I think Hideo could take some pointers and notes from some of the best cinematic story tellers to help cut down the dialogue a bit (e.g. Spielberg, Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, etc.). If he could make the message a bit more concise I think the series would be better for it.

[Viper86]

I probably give the story around a 9. I thought it was great overall. The ending was solid but not what I was expecting really.