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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
The North American box art for Guns of the Patriots.
Developer(s)Kojima Productions
Publisher(s)Konami
Designer(s)Hideo Kojima (producer, director, writer)
Shuyo Murata (director, writer)
Kenichiro Imaizumi (producer)
Yoji Shinkawa (director, character designer)
Composer(s)
  • Kazuma Jinnouchi Edit this on Wikidata
SeriesMetal Gear
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
ReleaseJune 12, 2008[1]
Genre(s)Stealth Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer online(Metal Gear Onlineonly, downloadable content)

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (メタルギアソリッド4) (commonly abbreviated to MGS4) is a stealth action video game in the popular Metal Gear series. Directed by Hideo Kojima, Shuyo Murata and Yoji Shinkawa, Guns of the Patriots was developed by Kojima Productions exclusively[2] for the PlayStation 3 video game console. The game, designed around the motto, "No Place to Hide!", is the last Metal Gear game developed by Hideo Kojima, and the last game in the series starring Solid Snake.[3] The game was released worldwide on June 12, 2008, 10 years after the release of Metal Gear Solid and 20 years after the first Metal Gear.[4][5]

Gameplay

File:94408-10-1.jpg
Old Snake aiming at mercenaries.

In Metal Gear Solid 4, the player (Old Snake) must navigate the game world in order to progress, using stealth and cunning in addition to traditional combat. It uses the series' traditional third person view with full camera manipulation, but also allows the freedom to play in first-person mode, as well as an over the shoulder view which can be switched from right shoulder to left for corner maneuvering. The Close Quarters Combat system has been completely revamped. The player is also able to interrogate guards for information and supplies.

Several elements from previous titles return in modified forms. Players can also use a new form of camouflage called "Octocamo", which replaces the camouflage system featured in Metal Gear Solid 3. Dark blue when disabled, the Octocamo suit allows the wearer to blend in with any surface within a few seconds. The Sixaxis controller's motion-sensing capability is utilized to reset the OctoCamo to its default color. A new monocular device called "Solid Eye" replaces the various binoculars and image intensifiers from previous titles, and a steel drum complements the series' traditional cardboard box disguise. It is able to deflect bullets, and can be rolled to knock enemy soldiers over, but can lead to Snake being sick should the player roll around too much.

The game is filled with cut-scenes that explain what happened in previous MGS games and how that relates to the events of MGS4. Players are be able to choose whether to view these scenes by pressing the circle button on their controller when prompted. Players can also have the choice of watching certain cut scenes from predetermined camera angles or exploring them with the Metal Gear Mk. II. [6]

Snake is also partnered with a robotic drone, the Metal Gear Mk. II, which allows him to communicate with other characters, in addition to the CODEC radio system from previous games. It is also capable of engaging enemies using an electric shock, as well as providing reconnaissance.[7] This drone is reminiscent of Gillian Seed's robotic sidekick of the same name from another Hideo Kojima game Snatcher.

Due to the lack of a rumble feature (an important part in previous titles) from the PlayStation 3 during much of the development, the game had been designed with a new feature: a white "Threat Ring," that visibly vibrates when sound is made nearby.[8] As a series known for extensive use of rumble, when Sony announced the reintroduction of a new DualShock 3, MGS4 was announced as one of the first major games to make use of the force feedback capabilities.[9]

Snake's health plays a small factor during gameplay. If injured on the battlefield, cuts and burns will remain on his skin. However, the developers wished to avoid putting the stress of maintaining Snake's health onto the players, so he wears a muscle suit, allowing players to move in a similar fashion to previous games.[10]

Snake has two meters that replace the stamina bar from Snake Eater. The first meter, "Stress", is based on current fighting and climate conditions. This can cause Snake to go into a "combat high",[11] that increases his accuracy and reduces damage sustained. However this effect will eventually wear off and could cause Snake to momentarily collapse. Smoking a cigarette calms Snake down.[11] The second meter, "Psyche", slowly drops over time reducing Snake's accuracy. Scanning the pages of a glamor magazine will increase the meter.[11]

There is also a "Baseline Map" which is a radar map with a dynamic circle based on Snake's "presence" to the environment.[8] Accessible through the main menu, the Virtual Range is a test facility that allows the player to access the game's library of weapons as well as practice Snake's CQC moves.[11]

Plot

Characters

The cast of the game is comprised almost entirely of characters from previous Metal Gear Solid games, although a few new characters are introduced as well. A prematurely aged Solid Snake returns as the game's sole playable character under the new codename Old Snake. Assisting him are Roy Campbell, his former commanding officer; Otacon, his sidekick since the original Metal Gear Solid; Naomi Hunter, the scientist who injected him with the FOXDIE virus; Meryl Silverburgh, heroine of Metal Gear Solid, now the leader of Rat Patrol Team 01; Mei Ling, Snake's former data analyst and now Captain of the recommissioned USS Missouri; Raiden, the protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, now a Cyborg Ninja; Rosemary, Raiden's former girlfriend, who now works as a psychological counselor; and EVA from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, now a resistance fighter named Big Mama. Also assisting Snake are two new characters: Drebin, a gun launderer accompanied by his pet monkey, Little Gray; and Sunny, Olga Gurlukovich's daughter, who was rescued from the Patriots.

The antagonist of the game is Liquid Ocelot, formerly known as Revolver Ocelot, an agent of the Patriots until his mind was taken over by Liquid Snake as a result of an arms transplant. On Liquid Ocelot's side are: Vamp, a surviving Dead Cell member from Metal Gear Solid 2; The Beauty and The Beast Corps; and his private army, the Haven Troops.

File:926596 20080521 screen019.jpg
Left to right: Ed, Meryl, Jonathan and Johnny.

The four members of Rat Patrol Team 01 consists of Meryl; Ed, Meryl's second-in-command, radio man, and sniper; Jonathan, a hulking soldier; and Johnny, also known as "Akiba", the team's electronics expert. Meryl, Ed, and Jonathan use the SOP (Sons Of the Patriots)[12] system to share each other's senses via the nanomachine network inside their bodies. Ed and Jonathan are named after the two main characters of Hideo Kojima's Template:Vgy adventure game Policenauts, from which Meryl originally appeared as a supporting character. Johnny appeared in the first Metal Gear Solid as the guard who was stripped naked by Meryl.

File:Metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots beauty-beast-unit.jpg
The Beauty and the Beast Corps.

The Beauty and the Beast Corps, also known as the SNAKEHOUND unit, serves as the central boss characters of Guns of the Patriots: Crying Wolf, Raging Raven, Screaming Mantis, and Laughing Octopus, all members of The Beauty and the Beast Corps. Their animal names openly reference the members of FOXHOUND from Metal Gear Solid, and the emotions relating to the Cobra Unit from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. A close inspection of Screaming Mantis reveals two marionettes of previous MGS bosses: Psycho Mantis and The Sorrow, both of whom were psychics. All four of them are women who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The only way they can cope with the damage done to their minds is to become war machines. Their inner appearance is referred to as "Beauty", while their outer appearance is referred to as "Beast". Four real-life models were chosen for their in-game appearances as their "Beauty" side: Lyndall Jarvis, Scarlett Chorvat, Mieko Rye, and Yumi Kikuchi. The English dubbing for the characters is done by having the female voice actors perform the lines while Fred Tatasciore overdubs on top of the female voices, creating a split-voice effect for the characters.

Story

Fictional chronology
in Metal Gear

Set in 2014, five years after the "Big Shell Incident" (the events of the Plant Chapter from Metal Gear Solid 2), Metal Gear Solid 4 portrays a world where the restriction of military intervention on foreign soil has been eased, fueling the need for private military companies (PMCs) to fight proxy wars for business purposes. Nanotechnology has become prominent, both to enhance the capabilities and enforce the loyalty of mercenaries. The nanomachine system that PMCs use is called "Sons of the Patriots" or "SOP". The five largest of these PMCs (Praying Mantis, Otselotovaya Khvatka, Werewolf, Pieuvre Armement and Raven Sword) are owned by a single mother company named Outer Haven, operated by Liquid Ocelot. Amassing an army whose manpower rivals that of the United States, Liquid prepares to launch an armed insurrection by taking control of SOP. With the world once again in crisis, a rapidly aging and disillusioned Solid Snake is deployed into the Middle East by Roy Campbell to terminate Liquid. Guns of the Patriots takes place in five locations: the Middle East, South America, Eastern Europe,[13] Shadow Moses Island, and Outer Haven.

Act 1 - Liquid Sun

Snake begins his mission by sneaking into a war-torn Middle Eastern city in a local militia's convoy. He retrieves Metal Gear Mk. II, a robotic drone Otacon developed to assist him remotely, and receives orders to meet up with Campbell's informants, Rat Patrol Team 01. On the way to the rendezvous point, Snake runs into Drebin, a self titled "gun launderer" who has the ability to bypass the failsafe controls on ID-tagged weapons, allowing anybody to use them. He strikes a deal with Snake where he will unlock ID-tagged weapons and provide ammunition and equipment for Snake as long as he scavenges fallen weapons on the battlefield for him. After leaving Drebin, Snake encounters Rat Patrol in Advent Palace and is shocked to learn that Meryl Silverburgh is the team leader. After Snake and Meryl discuss their assignments and pasts, Advent Palace is raided by Liquid's elite soldiers, the FROGs. Rat Patrol, with Snake's help, escapes the building. Snake continues towards the area where Liquid was last sighted and prepares to assassinate him, but before he can carry out his objective, an unknown force causes all of the soldiers in the area to begin attacking each other or violently collapse. As Liquid escapes in his helicopter, Snake also collapses, but as his vision fades, he is given a syringe by Dr. Naomi Hunter and is carried away to safety by Johnny.

Act 2 - Solid Sun

Upon returning to HQ, Otacon receives a message from Naomi, which explains she is held captive in South America. Snake infiltrates the area and meets up with Drebin, who reveals that The Patriots are actually a network of AIs designed to run America. Naomi explains that Liquid is using Big Boss's genetic information to access the central AI, JD. She also explains that Snake has only a few months left to live, as his FOXDIE virus has mutated and can now attack spontaneously. Snake and Naomi escape with Drebin, defended by a cyborg Raiden holding off Gekkos and a resurrected Vamp, getting wounded in the process.

Act 3 - Third Sun

Returning to HQ, Naomi explains that Big Boss is medically alive, as are his cells, but his mind is locked away by nanomachines. The body is in the control of the resistance group Paradise Lost in Eastern Europe, where the leader, Big Mama, reveals herself to be EVA, the surrogate mother of Solid and Liquid. She reveals the origins of the Patriots, founded by Major Zero forty years ago. An army led by Raging Raven attacks, and Snake and Mama escape down a sewer connecting to the River Volta, where Liquid is waiting for them, and displays his power over SOP by incapacitating an entire army of American troops mentally, through his ability to lock down the System controlling their nanomachines. He incinerates Big Boss, and Big Mama severely burns herself trying to save his body and later dies in Snake's arms.

Act 4 - Twin Suns

Liquid plans to use Metal Gear REX's rail gun to fire a nuclear warhead at JD, so all of its power would be directed by GW, which is in his control. Snake returns to Shadow Moses Island, where REX's remains are still located. Raiden kills Vamp in the REX hangar after Snake suppresses Vamp's nanomachines, and Naomi commits suicide by suppressing her nanomachines, allowing her cancer to overtake her. Otacon manages to reactivate REX, and Snake uses it to fight a Metal Gear RAY piloted by Liquid. Liquid had seized control of an Arsenal Gear prototype, which he renamed Outer Haven and it is from there that he will launch his nuke.

Act 5 - Old Sun

After Snake's infiltration of Outer Haven, Otacon uploads a virus designed by Naomi into GW, which makes its way into the rest of the Patriot's system and shuts it down. Snake and Liquid Ocelot engage in one final fist fight on top of Outer Haven, where Ocelot's personality breaks through before dying.

In the epilogue, Meryl and Johnny are married, and Drebin reveals he was forced to work for the Patriots as a gun launderer before being freed from their grasp. Raiden's cybernetic body is reverted to an organic form through surgery, and reunites with his fiancee Rose and their son. Rose reveals her marriage to Roy Campbell was a charade to keep her protected from the Patriots, while Raiden completed his mission. Snake attempts to commit suicide in the graveyard housing the graves of Big Boss and The Boss, preventing the mutated FoxDie strain from spreading further, but is stopped by a resurrected Big Boss.

Epilogue - Naked Sin

Big Boss tells Snake that the body burned on the Volta was Solidus Snake's, and that he was reconstructed with stem cell surgery using parts from both Solidus and Liquid's bodies. He brings Major Zero along with him, confined to a wheelchair in a vegetative state. Big Boss explains Zero's motives for creating the Patriots, and subsequently euthanizes him. He reveals that Ocelot and EVA had been working to bring down the Patriots, with Ocelot using self-hypnosis and nanomachines to mentally transform himself into Liquid. Both Ocelot and EVA were killed by a new strain of FoxDie injected into Snake that neutralized the older, mutated strain; this strain also infected Big Boss, when he encountered Snake. He finally makes peace with Snake and The Boss before dying on The Boss' gravestone, saying his final words to Snake: "This is good... Isn't it?".

In the coda, Snake explains to Otacon he will spend his remaining days as a recluse. Otacon wishes to come in order to chronicle the last days of Solid Snake. Snake initially refuses but relents, allowing Otacon and Sunny to accompany him.

Development

Hideo Kojima announced that he would be retiring as director of the Metal Gear series after Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and would leave his position open to another person for Metal Gear Solid 4, as he had announced he would after Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.[citation needed] As a joke, the new director was announced as "Alan Smithee", but in R, a 400-page book bundled with Metal Gear Solid 3's Japanese "Premium Package", the director was revealed to be Shuyo Murata, co-writer of MGS3 and director of Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner. He has also contributed humorous easter eggs to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. However, it was announced that Kojima would be co-directing the game with Murata after substantial negative fan reaction, including death threats.[14]

The title was described as "essentially finished" by January 2008, and went through extensive beta testing.[15] At Destination PlayStation on February 26, 2008, Sony announced that MGS4 would be released worldwide on June 12, 2008, along with the special MGS4 PlayStation 3 bundle.[16]

Guns of the Patriots is the first PS3 game that uses a full 50GB dual layer Blu-ray Disc through extensive efforts in data compression.[17]

Cast

Character Japanese English Motion Capture Actor
Old Snake (Solid Snake) Akio Ōtsuka David Hayter Ryōji Okamoto
Raiden Kenyū Horiuchi Quinton Flynn Takeshi Yoshioka
Eiji Morisaki
Hal "Otacon" Emmerich Hideyuki Tanaka Christopher Randolph Shumei Kawashima
Naomi Hunter Hiromi Tsuru Jennifer Hale Haruna Aimoto
Colonel Roy Campbell Takeshi Aono Paul Eiding Takashi Kubo
Liquid Ocelot Banjō Ginga Patric Zimmerman Taro Kanazawa
Meryl Silverburgh Kyōko Terase Debi Mae West Eriko Hirata
Vamp Shinya Tsukamoto Phil LaMarr Naoki Saito
Mei Ling Hōko Kuwashima Kim Mai Guest Yumi Kikuchi
Rosemary Kikuko Inoue Lara Cody Haruna Aimoto
Big Mama (EVA) Mari Natsuki Lee Meriwether Mao Yūki
Screaming Mantis Mao Yuuki Andrea Zafra (Normal voice)
Fred Tatasciore (Beast voice)		 Mao Yuuki
Crying Wolf Eriko Hirata Debra Wilson Skelton (Normal voice)
Fred Tatasciore (Beast voice)		 Eriko Hirata
Laughing Octopus Haruna Aimoto Paula Tiso (Normal voice)
Fred Tatasciore (Beast voice)		 Haruna Aimoto
Raging Raven Yumi Kikuchi Nika Futterman (Normal voice)
Fred Tatasciore (Beast voice)		 Yumi Kikuchi
Drebin Keiji Fujiwara Khary Payton Takashi Kubo
Sunny Kikuko Inoue Christina Puccelli Yasuyo Nabeshima
Johnny (Akiba) Jun Fukuyama Beng Spies Kazuki Muramatsu
Jonathan Hideyuki Tanaka James Sie Motosada Mori
Ed Shōzō Iizuka Dave Fennoy Shigeyuki Horita
Big Boss (Naked Snake) Chikao Ōtsuka Richard Doyle Akio Ōtsuka

Soundtrack

Main article: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Original Soundtrack

The score to Metal Gear Solid 4 is being led by Harry Gregson-Williams, his third Metal Gear Solid soundtrack,[18] and Nobuko Toda, who provided music for Metal Gear Acid and Metal Gear Acid 2.[19] Directed by Norihiko Hibino, GEM Impact employees Yoshitaka Suzuki and Takahiro Izutani also made compositions late in the game's production.[20] Other contributors are Konami employees Shuichi Kobori, Kazuma Jinnouchi, Akihiro Honda, and Sota Fujimori.[21]

There are two vocal themes for the game. The opening theme, "Love Theme", is sung by Jackie Presti and composed by Nobuko Toda. The ending theme, "Here's To You", is sung by Lisbeth Scott. Before the release of the game, "MGS4 - Theme of Love - Smash Bros. Brawl Version" was provided for Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the Shadow Moses Island level.[22]

The official soundtrack was released on May 28, 2008 by Konami Digital Entertainment under the catalog number GFCA-98/9.[23] It is comprised of two discs of music and 47 tracks. A soundtrack album will also be packaged with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition.[24]

Marketing

At a press conference on May 13, 2008, Hideo Kojima announced a marketing campaign and agreements with several companies to promote the game. Apple laptops feature in the game and an Apple iPod is an in-game item that Snake can use to change the background music, listen to in-game podcasts and collect hidden songs scattered throughout the game. ReGain Energy Drinks are used in the game as a stamina booster, and Sony Ericsson mobile phones are used.[25]

Konami and Ubisoft put an unlockable costume in the game for Snake, Altaïr from the Ubisoft stealth game Assassin's Creed. Initially revealed on April Fool's Day 2008, Kojima later announced that it would actually be in the game, unlockable by doing "something special". To obtain the attire, the player must acquire the "Assassin Emblem", a nod to the game's title.[26]

Konami was originally planned to organize grand launch events in Tokyo, but some of them were canceled with the "safety of participants in mind" in light of the Akihabara massacre on 8 June 2008.[27][28]

Versions and releases

Limited Edition

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition is to be released simultaneously with the game's standard edition, as an enhanced counterpart. The release will contain Guns of the Patriots, a box with artwork by Yoji Shinkawa, a Blu-ray containing two "making of" documentaries, and the game soundtrack. The Limited Edition will be available exclusively at GameStop in the United States and EB Games in Canada,[29] while a similar bundle with an additional 6-inch 'Olive Drab' Old Snake Figurine has been made available at Play.com in the United Kingdom. [30]

Release bundles

In North America, a bundle containing an 80GB PlayStation 3, a DualShock 3 wireless controller, a downloadable game coupon from PSN and a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released for US$499 on June 12 2008 to coincide with the release of the standalone edition.[31] Japan will see the release of the Guns of the Patriots Welcome Box that contains the game itself, a DualShock 3 controller, and a 40GB PS3 in either black, white or silver.[32]

Sony has also announced a limited edition pre-order bundle containing Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition and a matte grey (officially titled Gunmetal Grey) 40GB PlayStation 3. First announced in Japan on March 18, 2008 at a cost of ¥51,800[33] the bundle sold out within six days from March 20 2008 to March 25 2008.[34] An identical bundle was available in North America for pre-order on May 19, 2008 in "very limited" supply for US$600 at Konami's official website.[35]

Metal Gear Online

Main article: Metal Gear Online

Metal Gear Online (commonly abbreviated to MGO) is the online component of Metal Gear Solid 4. The game features 16-player online stealth battles, encouraging players to engage heavily in teamwork. MGO is distributed with MGS4 in the form of a starter pack, and will eventually see a stand-alone release. The game will also be expanded through downloadable content via the PlayStation Network, potentially for up to 10 years.[36]

The game was in beta testing in Japan from August 20 2007 to September 3 2007[37]; around 3,000 people were selected to join the test sessions. A further beta test was then announced for release in April 2008. US and Canadian customers who pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4 in April received an "invite code" along with their documentary DVD, whilst European PlayStation 3 owners were able to download the beta from the PlayStation Store. [38] However, due to many technical difficulties - including busy registration and login servers - it was postponed to April 25 2008 and continued until May 11 2008, promptly shutting down at midnight PST. It then returned on June 12 2008 for the world-wide release of MGS4.[4]

Metal Gear Online is region locked and players can only play others in their own region.[39]

Reception

Metal Gear Solid 4 so far has received high praise from critics, with a 94% aggregate rating at Metacritic[53] and a 92% aggregate rating on Game Rankings[52]. The first review was a 10/10 from PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), commenting "[MSG4] shifts gears constantly, innovating again and again".[54] The game has been awarded 10/10 from Game Informer[55] and a 5/5 from GamePro.[citation needed] The game also received perfect scores from PlayStation: The Official Magazine (5/5)[citation needed], Japanese magazine Famitsu (40/40)[56] and Empire Magazine[57]. The game received a 9.9/10 from IGN UK[58], a 9.5/10 from IGN AU[59], and a 10/10 from IGN USA. IGN USA was quoted in a video review, saying MGS4 is 'one of the best games ever made.' [9] Edge[42] and Eurogamer[43] both gave the game 8/10. GameSpot gave it a Perfect 10/10 saying Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the most technically stunning video game ever made. [60]

Reviewers were unanimous in approval of the way the title continues and concludes the series. Eurogamer stated that "You could not ask for a funnier, cleverer, more ambitious or inspired or over-the-top conclusion",[43] and IGN Australia found that the result "refines the MGS formula and introduces just enough new (or respectfully influenced) ideas to ensure that it stands on its own as a game".[59] Edge concluded that "it is faithful to its fans, its premise and its heart, delivering an experience that is, in so many ways, without equal",[42] while IGN UK describe it simply as "the ultimate Metal Gear game" and "a dazzling, heart-lifting, voyage of discovery".[58]

The new control scheme ("the ideal balance of intuitivness and range"),[42] camouflage system[58][42] and shift to more free-form, "replayable" gameplay (in particular the Drebin Points system and alternatives to "stealthy" play)[58][42] were particularly highly praised with a few minor annoyances.[59] The variety of set-piece events, details such as the "psyche" meter, and healthy provision of secrets were also remarked upon.[58][42] Eurogamer tempered their overall praise with concern that one of the chapters may induce "ennui", but noted that the game quickly recovered,[43] while Edge expressed mild disappointment that the "Beauty and the Beast" unit compare poorly to the previous title's main foes, the "Cobra Unit".[42]

The game was also lauded for its technological and artistic achievements, with Edge describing the "Otacon" character as "the real star", and "a gaming revolution" while they found the game's score to be superior to that of many Hollywood offerings. The magazine felt that the few visual shortfalls (such as texture detail) did nothing to detract from the game's overall quality.[42] IGN UK comment that the attention to detail in both visuals and audio represent "sublime brilliance", and remark upon innovations such as the use of split-screen.[58]

Criticism of the game was largely levelled at the storyline, which reviewers found at times to be confusing[43][59] or poorly executed[58] and with IGN UK advising players to revisit the earlier titles for clarity.[58] However the overall result was praised as emotionally engaging and topical, and characters such as Liquid Ocelot were singled out for the quality of their depiction.[43][58][42] It was generally conceded that although the use of cut scenes is more intrusive than it needs to be (comprising "about half of the content of the game" by one estimate, and which "might make you crave action, or wonder why they couldn't have been turned into interactive sequences"),[58] the style is somewhat appropriate given the rest of the series[59] ("in many ways it's a vindication of Kojima's unique interpretation of the videogame medium"[58]) and unlikely to trouble fans.[42] The addition of a pause function for these story sequences was universally welcomed.[43][59][58]

Edge and Eurogamer alike concluded that although the game represents an apotheosis of the series style, it ultimately fails to revitalise it, and will not win over new fans.[43][42] IGN UK were concerned that the game's hype and widespread praise may lead to disappointment, but feel that objectively, the game is a "masterpiece".[58]

As of June 17, 2008 MGS4 has sold over 476,000 units in Japan alone[61]. MGS4 has also caused a boost in PS3 sales, having sold 77,208 units.

Konami review limitations

Several publications have commented[62][63][64] on limitations given to pre-release reviewers by Konami, including discussion on the length of cutscenes and size of the PS3 installation. These limitations have resulted in Electronic Gaming Monthly delaying their review.[62] In lieu of a review, the magazine printed a roundtable discussion about the game,[65] with a proper review expected to print in the magazine and post on 1UP.com after Konami's restrictions have been lifted. Kojima Productions spokesperson Ryan Payton has since explained more specifically what the NDA restricts, and has amended "some items [that] are outdated and require more explanation." He also listed the length of install times, noting that the restrictions were intended to prevent spoilers regarding what occurs during the installations.[66]

Following this statement, GameSpot published an article in which they claim they will be unable to review the game either, claiming Konami have withheld review code because of non-compliance with the limitations. The article originally implied that the absence of a review was due to their refusal to attend the "Boot Camp" event at Kojima Productions' offices. However they have revised it to state that the Boot Camp was a mid-development feedback and PR exercise, and would not have led to a review in any case.[10]

The day before Konami's restrictions were to be lifted, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewer Jeremy Parish clarified the reasons for the self-imposed review embargo, dispelling rumors of a disagreement between Konami and EGM on the review conditions in a lengthy blog commentary.[67] His review of the game appeared on the website shortly after.[40]

The limitations were of particular interest due to a widely-publicised[68][69][70] claim by CVG that the game had "cut-scenes that approach the 90 minutes mark",[71] misattributed to PlayStation World magazine. GamePro and Ryan Payton have described this as an exaggeration.[72][73] A review by Edge describes scenes "perilously close" to 90 minutes in duration, but this has not been commented upon by the publisher.

References

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  9. ^ "The List Of PS3 Games That Support The DualShock 3". Kotaku. Retrieved 2007-09-20. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  10. ^ "Exclusive Q&A: Hideo Kojima talks Metal Gear Solid". GamePro. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b c d "No Country for Old Men". EDGE Magazine (188). United Kingdom: Future Publishing: 62–71. 2008. {{cite journal}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |quotes= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
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  21. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 4 Track Listings and Artist Details Revealed". 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
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  23. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots Original Soundtrack Confirmed". 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
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  43. ^ a b c d e f g h http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=143797
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  45. ^ GameMaster Review
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  50. ^ http://ps3.ign.com/articles/881/881472p5.html
  51. ^ http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1794/Metal_Gear_Solid_4_Guns_of_the_Patriots.html
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  55. ^ Game Informer Review
  56. ^ http://wiieveryday.blogspot.com/2008/06/famitsu-20080606.html
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  60. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/adventure/metalgearsolid4/review.html
  61. ^ | Nearly 500,000 MGS4 sales in Japan
  62. ^ a b EGM delays MGS4 reviews, Konami's 'limitations' cited at joystiq
  63. ^ MGS4 print reviewers asked to not disclose install time, cut scene length, reports MTV at joystiq
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