Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

As I promised, I am now posting my own review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the "final" chapter of the Metal Gear saga. It was released worldwide 7 months ago, but I bought this one just last Christmas. This game plays only on the PS3 platform.

As the story goes, the game is set five years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 2. Most of the world's armies were replaced by private armies, who in turn wage wars and chaos for business purposes. Nanotechnology became prominent as well, and is utilized by these armies in order to enhance their mercenaries' abilities as well as to ensure their loyalty. The nanotechnology system that the five strongest PMCS use was the "Sons of the Patriots" or the SOP, which Outer Heaven- the mother organization of all the PMCs- desire to take over for their own gain. Possessing power that can rival a superpower country, Liquid Ocelot wants to use Outer Heaven as a means to actuate a worldwide insurrection. Knowing the latter's plot, Roy Campbell sends an aging and disilussioned Solid Snake to take down Ocelot and stop this insurrection. However, as the mission goes, a group of cyborg mercenaries wants him dead. Snake must strive to survive all these and finish his mission before it's too late.

Now, let's talk about some new things here in this game. The system itself was revamped, making it more intuitive than ever. The player now has the option to switch between third-person or first-person view, as well as a close-shoulder view. You can also communicate with the other characters in the game in two ways: first is the usual ad-hoc system that we usually use within all the Metal Gear games, and through the robotic drone Mk II/III, whom you can also use as a means to repel nearby enemies. The game also utilizes flashbacks by using still images from the previous games in order to see how they are connected to each other, as well as to put down all the pieces or fragments rather behind the game's events. Most of the series' characters are revamped as well, ranging from the rapidly aging Snake, whom is now possessing an unknown and deadly virus, to the now-turned cyborg ninja Raiden. It's always a treat to see these characters again srtut their stuff in order to cope out with the current situation.

The most noticeable feature in the game is the meter and index. Replacing the stamina bar, these two new bars play out just like the previous meter, but with a little difference though. The index tells Snake's current fighting condition as well as his current standing, while the meter itself monitors the latter's moods, and how it affect his current condition.

Well, in all honesty I can say that this was one of the greatest games that I have ever played in my entire life. It's the first time that a certain game like this gave me this feeling of a constant climax. It was the same haunting feeling that I've felt when I watched The Dark Knight. It's like you don't want to be removed from your seat, simply because you don't want to miss what's gonna happen next. The AI became a little bit difficult a well, meaning you have to stretch down a little more if you are to beat your enemies. However with the new stuff being placed here in the game, it's gonna be relatively easy for you. It's also good to know that this game culminates all of the past games' events, solving altogether one heck of a puzzle that looms upon each of the game in the series.

Just like how Batman puts it, "It all ends up."

I give MGS4 a 10 out of 10. :)