
An Excellent Game, and Amazing Conclusion
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
MGS4 is, in essence, an experience. True, it is a video game...but a game like no other. While playing the conclusion to the MGS series, of which I have been playing since I was in 9th grade back in '99, there were emotions that arose that no other form of entertainment has ever even come close to stirring. MGS4 is one of the most depressing games ever created, mix that with its amazing ability to raise nostalgia within long term fans, and you have yourself one of the most powerful pieces of entertainment this decade. In short: the story's conclusion is sure to not disappoint.
Of course gameplay is ultimately the most important aspect in (most) video games. It just so happens that MGS4 also tends to excel in this area, as well. If comparing the gameplay most closely to a past title, I would have to say that it most resembles MGS3. Snake will not find himself often limited within corridors with enemies with cone shaped fields of vision. Instead, he will be hiking through battlefields, trying to sneak past as two factions battle it out. Camo makes another appearance, although thankfully it is done automatically by the game, destroying the need for constant start-menu interruptions, as was the case in MGS3. Although at times MGS4 at times feels closer to a 3rd person shooter than a stealth game, at its core the stealth elements remain. On easier difficulty settings, however, you may find it possible to Rambo your way through enemies...
If I had to find a complaint in MGS4, it would only be that there were actually, in my opinion, too many weapons. It was hard to manage all of the weapons I was collecting, as you are only allowed to equip a set number at any given time. Furthermore, you have the ability to customize your weapons with silencers, laser sights, grenade addons, etc. I eventually found the weapons I felt most comfortable with, and just stuck with those...but this ultimately allows for more replayability.
Graphically speaking, the game is phenomenal. It is the best graphical product I have seen this generation. The level of detail for every element of the game is amazing, from generic enemies, to main characters, to major villains, to weapons, to dust, to vehicles, to terrain, and etc.
Then there's the online component...
I could rave about MGS4 for many more paragraphs, but let me conclude with a tl;dr...
-in depth gameplay, with multiple possibilities in completing objectives
-extremely details high definition graphics, some of the best seen this generation
-one of the most powerful emotional rides found in entertainment (really only applies to long term fans, however, due to its strong reliance on nostalgia)
-absolutely amazing conclusion, which manages to tie up pretty much every loose end left from previous installments
-an excellent online multiplayer experience
MGS fans: you are surely not going to be disappointed.
Newcomers: well, the story won't make much sense without playing 1-3...
Review ID: 10000000008345448

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