90-minute long cutscenes in MGS4?

Originally from PSW, by way of CVG:

We know the Metal Gear Solid series is famous for its long cut-scenes, but this tops everything! Metal Gear Solid 4, the latest instalment in Hideo Kojima's seminal stealth series, has cut-scenes (note the plural) that approach the 90 minutes mark. For those troubled with time keeping, that's the length of a feature film.CVG

The news comes from PSW magazine, who's been and finished MGS4, and then promptly whispered in our ears about the shocking 90-minute cut-scenes. The latest issue hits newsstands today, by the way.CVG

We were expecting long story sequences (MGS2 approached the 45 minute mark in one) but an hour and a half of cinematics was unexpected.

The good news is that you can now skip or pause the scenes. Hands up though, how many of you are actually going to sit through the full 90 minutes?CVG

"MGS4's story is massive. The videogame equivalent of all three Godfather movies on one disc," says the mag.

"As you'd expect, you'll spend a lot of time watching cut-scenes, so if you found previous games' story exposition laborious, then you'd better find yourself a nice cushion and plenty of teabags in readiness for MGS4's.

"They can be skipped, but you'll be missing out on some of the finally crafted examples of FMV footage anywhere in gaming," the article boldly proclaims.CVG

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=189543

Seems a bit excessive.

Even if it is true, It isn't obviously going to be crammed together and the game takes over 25 hours to complete on your first playthrough ( I read that somewhere) So I don't think your really going to notice how big it is.

Or are they talking about one cutscene cause if they are then :shock:

Even if it is true, It isn't obviously going to be crammed together and the game takes over 25 hours to complete on your first playthrough ( I read that somewhere) So I don't think your really going to notice how big it is.

Or are they talking about one cutscene cause if they are then :shock:

sam280992

They're talking about actual single cutscenes that are 90-minute straight. That's why it's crazy. As well-made as they are, that's simply too much non-interaction for a video game in one sitting, though I know this won't stop me (and many others) from playing it and loving it anyway.

Btw, I didn't even notice the MGS4 sticky up top (I often subconsciously ignore stickies), so my bad about that.

Even if it is true, It isn't obviously going to be crammed together and the game takes over 25 hours to complete on your first playthrough ( I read that somewhere) So I don't think your really going to notice how big it is.

Or are they talking about one cutscene cause if they are then :shock:

sam280992

their talking about 90 min cut scenes

i will only skip cutscenes in a game after i beat them first regardless of how long it is..

[QUOTE="sam280992"]

Even if it is true, It isn't obviously going to be crammed together and the game takes over 25 hours to complete on your first playthrough ( I read that somewhere) So I don't think your really going to notice how big it is.

Or are they talking about one cutscene cause if they are then :shock:

Zeliard9

They're talking about actual single cutscenes that are 90-minute straight. That's why it's crazy. As well-made as they are, that's simply too much non-interaction for a video game in one sitting, though I know this won't stop me (and many others) from playing it and loving it anyway.

Btw, I didn't even notice the MGS4 sticky up top (I often subconsciously ignore stickies), so my bad about that.

Oh Mama, I hope they give warnings that a long cutscene is gonna come, I remember MGS2 and for instance I had to go out for dinner I wanted to finish the cutscene and it used to go on for 20 mins or even longer, and I didn't wanna miss it. But 90 mins! I love the story for the MGS series but God Damn thats big!

So let me get this straight; theoretically, I could kill a boss and a single cut-scene plays that lasts an hour and a half? Or am I reading the OP incorrectly? RobbieH1234

This part in particular would seem to indicate just that:

The good news is that you can now skip or pause the scenes. Hands up though, how many of you are actually going to sit through the full 90 minutes?CVG

Also, there wouldn't only be 90 minutes of total cutscenes in an MGS game, especially not the last Kojima-helmed one (supposedly). MGS4 is trying to take Xenosaga's crown. :P

Oh damn, and i was about to buy the game !!! Now i will just skip it, that is the worst news i have read about it

90 minutes ? They simply can't be serious that as i play, suddenly i will be ready to watch a 1.5 hour movie !!!

I can see the game getting very low scores for that, if we wanted movies, there are video clubs around

This part in particular would seem to indicate just that:

Zeliard9

If only MGS4 had good graphics,it would have been fun to see the cutscenes.Spybot_9

Indeed, both the graphics and art are vastly underwhelming to me

Oh damn, and i was about to buy the game !!! Now i will just skip it, that is the worst news i have read about it

90 minutes ? They simply can't be serious that as i play, suddenly i will be ready to watch a 1.5 hour movie !!!

I can see the game getting very low scores for that, if we wanted movies, there are video clubs around

kostmpekir

Skip the cutscene then, problem solved. If you seriously considering on getting the game, you would have though of that instead of complaining. Now admit you weren't going to buy the game in the first place for some unmentioned reason.

[QUOTE="Spybot_9"]If only MGS4 had good graphics,it would have been fun to see the cutscenes.kostmpekir

Indeed, both the graphics and art are vastly underwhelming to me

Of course it is! Your a lemming/Hermit and the other guy is a pure Hermit! Anything in your eyes which are on the PS3 is underwhelming.

THANK YOU GOD!

love' em.

[QUOTE="Spybot_9"]If only MGS4 had good graphics,it would have been fun to see the cutscenes.kostmpekir

Indeed, both the graphics and art are vastly underwhelming to me

Since when have you played the game?

According to previews/reviews the graphics are STUNNING!

pics don't do it justice, geez

Oh boo-hoo. They've already stated that the game will be making up in gameplay ten fold along with the large amounts of cutscenes. Think about yesterday's Metal Gear Solid 2 with those long cutscenes but also comes with even more gameplay. You'll have your share of gaming time, no worries. If this is true, it's only to provide a suitable send off to the series.

In fact, I'm quite happy. Too many games nowadays are of a short whimpered length. Story and gameplay wise. While either or may be terrific, they always end up providing such a "Weekend Movie" residue. Not saying MGS4 is the second coming but at least it's providing enough meat within the story as well as gaming in the second hand.

Its one 90 minute cutscene from whats known, its not to be unexpected this was stated in one of the kojima press events previews with the reviewers that went over to japan and considering this game has to wrap up "ALL" the story ties (an theres lots of them) its not surprising that one of them is the length of a feature film.

Its a story first game and always has been, gameplay has always been second and any fan knows this, its a game made for the fans remember ;) not casuals.

Story Frist an Gameplay Second.

90 minutes??!??!!! thats...thats......F****** AWESOME!!!

God i wish I had a ps3 for this game.

Its one 90 minute cutscene from whats known, its not to be unexpected this was stated in one of the kojima press events previews with the reviewers that went over to japan and considering this game has to wrap up "ALL" the story ties (an theres lots of them) its not surprising that one of them is the length of a feature film.

Its a story first game and always has been, gameplay has always been second and any fan knows this, its a game made for the fans remember ;) not casuals.

Story Frist an Gameplay Second.

Zenkuso

sorry, but story first and gameplay second should never be the case

[QUOTE="Zenkuso"]

Its one 90 minute cutscene from whats known, its not to be unexpected this was stated in one of the kojima press events previews with the reviewers that went over to japan and considering this game has to wrap up "ALL" the story ties (an theres lots of them) its not surprising that one of them is the length of a feature film.

Its a story first game and always has been, gameplay has always been second and any fan knows this, its a game made for the fans remember ;) not casuals.

Story Frist an Gameplay Second.

doobie1975

sorry, but story first and gameplay second should never be the case

Yes it should, why would a game be buy-worthy if theres basically no story or good one?

You want the single player experience, something EPIC you can come back to again and again, not some full blown multiplayer online game....which gets stale.

both the better, but story, first, IMO.

A commentor on Kotaku put it well:

"At ninety minutes it doesn't need a pause and skip, it needs fast forward, rewind, and chapter select buttons."

Seriously. I love MGS' crazy plots, and I really would very much like NOT to skip any part of it (especially this one), but come on. 90 minutes straight? And will there be some type of warning in advance that these (or this) especially long cutscenes are coming?

This is what I was talking about when I brought up Half-Life's interactive storytelling in another MGS4 thread, and how you can tell a great story and still keep the player in the game. The particular way HL did it might not work for MGS, but dammit man, let the player become involved and not remain passive for such a long stretch. An hour and a half is simply too long.

I love MGS' story, but I strongly disagree with this type of excessive form of non-interactive storytelling in a video game. I'm a film buff, so the notion of sitting down for 90 minutes straight to watching something good hardly bothers me; it's having to do it while playing a video game that does.

And before fuzzysquash comes in here with his dissertation on MGS cutscenes, let me personally reiterate that I do enjoy them and respect the craftsmanship that goes into them, but I simply find the length in this case unnacceptable.

IMO they should allow you to fast forward the cutscenes not just skip them because if I watched half of a 90 min cutscene and then had to stop I would be pretty pissed that I would have to watch it up to that piont again.

and how great would it be to rewind it as I alway miss bits when someone comes into the room and trys to talk to me

surely this means in total, the cutscenes add up to 90 minutes

it can't be that a single cutscene is 90 mins long .. that' just ridiculous

even still, good job you can pause and skip them .. i'll prob need to pause a few times, but never skip (on my first playthrough at least)

reading the CVG comments, this news has made a few people decide not to get this game .. it's a bit sad

90 minutes??!??!!! thats...thats......F****** AWESOME!!!

God i wish I had a ps3 for this game.

Norule04

I don't know why, but you just got me much more pumped for MGS.

Could the 90 minute cutscene be the ending cinema of the game. Now that I think about it, a 90 minute ending would be quite a satisfying ending for the closing of the MGS saga and it would probably be long enough to tie everything together.
tmntPunchout

This is what I was thinking. That would be awesome, beat the game, grab some popcorn and sit and enjoy the rest.

I personally hope it's true.

surely this means in total, the cutscenes add up to 90 minutes

it can't be that a single cutscene is 90 mins long .. that' just ridiculous

even still, good job you can pause and skip them .. i'll prob need to pause a few times, but never skip (on my first playthrough at least)

reading the CVG comments, this news has made a few people decide not to get this game .. it's a bit sad

akif22

If people didn't expect cutscenes from MGS4 then they shouldn't play this game, cutscenes have been in this game for awhile.

Its not called a cinematic experience for nothing, and no the cutscenes in question are 90minutes long each.

And like i've said theres a lot of story ties to wrap-up in MGS4 and any fan knows that fitting it in one game is hard enough as it is without turning it into a RPG.

[QUOTE="tmntPunchout"]Could the 90 minute cutscene be the ending cinema of the game. Now that I think about it, a 90 minute ending would be quite a satisfying ending for the closing of the MGS saga and it would probably be long enough to tie everything together.
Chutebox

This is what I was thinking. That would be awesome, beat the game, grab some popcorn and sit and enjoy the rest.

Knowing what will happen to snake at the end of it all, I'm thinking it will be epic.

It clearly says "(notice the plural)" meaning ALL the cut-scenes together will take up 90 minutes. -_-ChrnoTrigger

Erm no...it means there are multiple cutscenes that are 90 minutes apiece...your comphrehension is awful.

It clearly says "(notice the plural)" meaning ALL the cut-scenes together will take up 90 minutes. -_-ChrnoTrigger

Or that could be taken to mean there is more than one cutscene that is 90 minutes long, which would be another, more logical (in this context) reason to emphasize the plural.

The fact that they're making a big deal about this in the first place, plus the fact that the previous MGS games had way more than 90 minutes of total cutscenes, plus the fact that PSW calls the story "the videogame equivalent of all three Godfather films on one disc".... seems to indicate that you're wrong.

Oh damn, and i was about to buy the game !!! Now i will just skip it, that is the worst news i have read about it

90 minutes ? They simply can't be serious that as i play, suddenly i will be ready to watch a 1.5 hour movie !!!

I can see the game getting very low scores for that, if we wanted movies, there are video clubs around

kostmpekir

Dude, you were never going to buy the game Saolin ¬.¬

Absolutely rediculous. It's hard to believe reviewers will give this AAA if true.TMontana1004

Shame you can't see epicness and quality titles.

Just stick with GTA, HALO and calling people names over live...your cool, living in the fast lane.

Kudos.

Could the 90 minute cutscene be the ending cinema of the game. Now that I think about it, a 90 minute ending would be quite a satisfying ending for the closing of the MGS saga and it would probably be long enough to tie everything together.tmntPunchout

If it's just the ending, then that'd be fine with me. Would be great, even. If they stick it in the middle of the game, however, I'm gonna be annoyed.

CVG seems to be indicating there's more than one 90-minute cutscene, though.

I have no problem with the cut scenes, I have a problem with this game adding to the growing list of mandatory installs(4.6gb). Why do companies have to be so hush, hush on the installs until the game is 1-2 weeks away from release.

If Kojima couldnt work his way around the install, I dont see them going away anytime soon.

[QUOTE="ChrnoTrigger"]It clearly says "(notice the plural)" meaning ALL the cut-scenes together will take up 90 minutes. -_-Zeliard9

Or that could be taken to mean there is more than one cutscene that is 90 minutes long, which would be another, more logical (in this context) reason to emphasize the plural.

The fact that they're making a big deal about this in the first place, plus the fact that the previous MGS games had way more than 90 minutes of total cutscenes, plus the fact that PSW calls the story "the videogame equivalent of all three Godfather films on one disc".... seems to indicate that you're wrong.

Theres 9 hours of cutscenes if you want a ref point Zeliard ;)

Wrapping up 20 years of story telling isn't something you can do in 90 minutes of cutscenes.