MGS4 ~ What's all the hype about?

[QUOTE="Blazerdt47"]

[QUOTE="diped"]your right, the gameplay is pretty lacklustre to most people.. and the online is terrible. I really don't know how it got a 10. People must really love awkward and confusing stories.thesmiter

Confusing story? I perfectly understand the story and let me tell you, NO game has come close to matching the story of the MGS games. It keeps you at the edge of your seat, you and lots of people just bought it for the hype and not because you actually play the series. IF MGS4 doesn't get GOTY then I lost hope in gaming, because every other game I have played felt empty ever since I beat MGS4. Im serious. This is not a lie, I have GeOW2, Please don't ask me how I got it (It's a long story). GeOW2 didn't achieve the standard set for storytelling in MGS4, no game has....yet...until MGS5 perhaps?

told you, diped.:lol:

he probably didn't play the other metal gears, blazerdt47. i had to look up who the characters were and of what significance they were to the current story.

it took me a while to peice everything together. now imagine if someone were to play the game without knowing the history of snake, big boss, liquid snake, or liquid ocelot. i had no idea how liquid snake became liquid ocelot, until i looked it up.

its easy to see how the story can be confusing, unless you're a die-hard fan of metal gear.

Well put, I have people asking me why Snake is in the 70's after playing MGS4, lol they think Solid Snake is time traveling, they don't know who Big Boss is or any other character for that matter. They just played the game because it looks cool, that's not why this game was made.

It was all good until I got to the mission in London, Act 3 I think, where I have to follow one of the revolutionary guys to find his hideout. The AI is so stupid, they can see me lying in a dark corner with 90% Octocamo yet they can't spot a guy standing right behind them. Not only that, but whenever the revolutionary guy get's spotted by the guards he runs all the way back to the beginning part of the map to hide, so I have to backtrack like a million times because the damn helicopter keeps spotting either him or me. Anyways I end up losing the guy so now I have to go back and find another guy using that stupid radio that doesn't help. After taking out half the guards and RPG'n the hell out of those hummers I got bored and turned the damn game off. Oh and another thing why when I through a flash grenade at 3 PMC's or guards only one of them get's knock out and I, who is standing 50 feet away, get's caught in the bang and is partially blind yet the other two guards aren't?

Seriously how did this game get a 10? I'm starting to regret my PS3 purchase cause I'm seriously hanging on to a limb.

CB4McGusto

No offense, but a lot of those complaints could be diminished with some skill.

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

MGS4 is not "easy" if u play on normal and up, as for the game story to sum1 who didnt play ne of the other metal gears it would be like reading lord of the rings return of the king and not reading the 1st 2 novelszomgwtfbbqlol1

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

Cloud_Insurance

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

[QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

thesmiter

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

Well, today I picked up a PS3 with a few games. I grabbed Uncharted, Saints Row 2, GTA IV, Resistance, and MGS4, mainly because of the high reviews it got. I loved the other games, but as for MGS4... I just don't really understand. The game itself is easy enough, I'm not having any trouble with it, it's just the gameplay that's getting to me. I appreciate the whole stealth aspect to it, but it feels kind of... meh. I never really liked previous Metal Gear Solid games, so that might be why, but I still don't understand how this could have gotten a 10 rating?

Unlike what a lot of people have said, I really enjoyed the cutscenes. They kept me interested in the game even though I never really got into the basic storyline or characters of the series. It was also a nice break from the gameplay which was my main problem with the game. Am I missing something here? The gameplay just seems very plain. Stealth around, camo into the wall or ground, shoot stuff, sneak through to the next level. While I'm still working on finishing the whole game, I can't say I'm too impressed with what I've seen so far. At least not 10 points worth of impressed.:|

LittleHands134

what did you expect??

in shooters its always :- run,shoot,jump, throw grenade,take cover, shoot,jump,run, shoot, take cover and so on

In racers :- its always choose a car and race in tracks against opponents..

In Platforms :- run around,jump, kill enemycollect item, jump, run, kill enemy, jump, run around

you see what I mean, if you're playing MGSIV, you expect to kill/shoot stuff, use stealth tactics, run around, sneak, shoot stuff and so on... By your logic no game deserves a 10/10 since nothing can impress you cause all games basically do the same thing with different settings / characters..

[QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

Dahaka-UK

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

[QUOTE="efrucht"]I don't get the hype either. Besides the awesome visuals, I don't see what makes MGS4 anything but a generic stealth action game with some craziness tossed in for good measure. A rental, if anything.joopyme

how is it generic, sir?

Because it doesn't contain Steroid protagonists and a 7 hour campaign.

[QUOTE="LittleHands134"]

I never really liked previous Metal Gear Solid games

Thessassin

Why did you think this would be any different? Didint like Gears 1? chances are you wont like gears 2.. common sense

perfect answer.

also, i'd like to point that the TC seems to be a fakeboy.

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

thesmiter

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

As far as games go, MGS4 is a masterpiece. I'm not comparing games to books. :| Anyway if you want an interactive immersive storyline, Games > Books always. Go play some RPGs.

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

thesmiter

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

You have all the right to express your opinion, like everyone else... but is still find it strange that you like stories with intricate characters and you like games which are fun but didnt enjoy MGSIV... MGSIV is a fun game that contains a good story with intricate characters..

But as i always say everyone has different tastes/opinions and no game/story/book etc etc can please everyone...

[QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

Dahaka-UK

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

As far as games go, MGS4 is a masterpiece. I'm not comparing games to books. :| Anyway if you want an interactive immersive storyline, Games > Books always.

the immersive capablity of books are limited only by your own imagination. i was far more drawn in to the count of monte cristo than to any video game i've played. the overall theme of vengeance and the realisation that it is a waste of life to turn all of one's power towards vengeance.

one of the most immersive storylines i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. i take it you don't read very much.

[QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Malta_1980

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

You have all the right to express your opinion, like everyone else... but is still find it strange that you like stories with intricate characters and you like games which are fun but didnt enjoy MGSIV... MGSIV is a fun game that contains a good story with intricate characters..

But as i always say everyone has different tastes/opinions and no game/story/book etc etc can please everyone...

exactly. the story doesn't appeal to me, for whatever reason. it is an amazing game in terms of scale, and storytelling. but i just can't get into it, and i fail to see how this is a bad thing.

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"]

[QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

thesmiter

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

As far as games go, MGS4 is a masterpiece. I'm not comparing games to books. :| Anyway if you want an interactive immersive storyline, Games > Books always.

the immersive capablity of books are limited only by your own imagination. i was far more drawn in to the count of monte cristo than to any video game i've played. the overall theme of vengeance and the realisation that it is a waste of life to turn all of one's power towards vengeance.

one of the most immersive storylines i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. i take it you don't read very much.

Your right, I don't read any books. Never took to them. Bore the crap out of me. I'd rather the story was spoon fed to me in the form of video game, rather than using my own imagination to guess what the hell is going on.

[QUOTE="Malta_1980"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

thesmiter

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

You have all the right to express your opinion, like everyone else... but is still find it strange that you like stories with intricate characters and you like games which are fun but didnt enjoy MGSIV... MGSIV is a fun game that contains a good story with intricate characters..

But as i always say everyone has different tastes/opinions and no game/story/book etc etc can please everyone...

exactly. the story doesn't appeal to me, for whatever reason. it is an amazing game in terms of scale, and storytelling. but i just can't get into it, and i fail to see how this is a bad thing.

I also have the habit of reading great books (like the ones you mentioned, also Machado de Assis, Nietzsche, Hobbes, Rousseau, Bobbio, etc), but i have to say, there are games with stories that captivate me just as much, but in a different way. FF games and MGS games usually do that, but the one that did it the best was Xenogears (maybe the fact that the story had influences of Freud and Lacan helped a bit). I don't see why we have to subestimate a game's story just because it's a game. There are games with absolutely no story, but a generic reason for shooting (like Gears of War), but there are games with at least a good story, like the ones i mentioned.

[QUOTE="thesmiter"]

the immersive capablity of books are limited only by your own imagination. i was far more drawn in to the count of monte cristo than to any video game i've played. the overall theme of vengeance and the realisation that it is a waste of life to turn all of one's power towards vengeance.

one of the most immersive storylines i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. i take it you don't read very much.

Dahaka-UK

Your right, I don't read any books. Never took to them. Bore the crap out of me. I'd rather the story was spoon fed to me in the form of video game, rather than using my own imagination to guess what the hell is going on.

not reading is a crime (so to speak)... i think people should at least read a little, to know what they're comparing their games to. a game can never be more immersive than a book. with games, someone already thought everything that's written for you, and you get a graphical result. You don't have to think a fraction of what you have to when you read. the fact that there's a lot more job reading make you a lot more attached to the book then you are with the game, and in the end, at least for me, finishing a book is like losing a great friend, and sometimes i even get a little sad. but that's just while i'm not getting another one to read. or a game to play:D

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"]

the immersive capablity of books are limited only by your own imagination. i was far more drawn in to the count of monte cristo than to any video game i've played. the overall theme of vengeance and the realisation that it is a waste of life to turn all of one's power towards vengeance.

one of the most immersive storylines i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. i take it you don't read very much.

SambaLele

Your right, I don't read any books. Never took to them. Bore the crap out of me. I'd rather the story was spoon fed to me in the form of video game, rather than using my own imagination to guess what the hell is going on.

not reading is a crime (so to speak)... i think people should at least read a little, to know what they're comparing their games to. a game can never be more immersive than a book. with games, someone already thought everything that's written for you, and you get a graphical result. You don't have to think a fraction of what you have to when you read. the fact that there's a lot more job reading make you a lot more attached to the book then you are with the game, and in the end, at least for me, finishing a book is like losing a great friend, and sometimes i even get a little sad. but that's just while i'm not getting another one to read. or a game to play:D

i couldn't agree more with the connection one makes with the book, the story , the characters, etc. i, too, feel like something amazing, something beautiful and strangely enchanting has come to a close each time i finish a great book. it is sad, finishing a great book. books will always be the greatest form of storytelling.

that said, i have nothing against metal gear. i just can't get into the story as much as some people.

Well, today I picked up a PS3 with a few games. I grabbed Uncharted, Saints Row 2, GTA IV, Resistance, and MGS4, mainly because of the high reviews it got. I loved the other games, but as for MGS4... I just don't really understand. The game itself is easy enough, I'm not having any trouble with it, it's just the gameplay that's getting to me. I appreciate the whole stealth aspect to it, but it feels kind of... meh. I never really liked previous Metal Gear Solid games, so that might be why, but I still don't understand how this could have gotten a 10 rating?

Unlike what a lot of people have said, I really enjoyed the cutscenes. They kept me interested in the game even though I never really got into the basic storyline or characters of the series. It was also a nice break from the gameplay which was my main problem with the game. Am I missing something here? The gameplay just seems very plain. Stealth around, camo into the wall or ground, shoot stuff, sneak through to the next level. While I'm still working on finishing the whole game, I can't say I'm too impressed with what I've seen so far. At least not 10 points worth of impressed.:|

LittleHands134

The actual game itself is not all that amazing, but the story is pretty good. The cut scenenes were awesome. I too do not know that it was deserving of a 10, I was extremely impressed after I frist finished the game, but in retrospect, I think Uncharted is the best game on the PS3 hands down.

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"]

[QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"][QUOTE="thesmiter"][QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

Nah, you are just mistaken. I'm sorry, but games that offer two entirely different ways to play through a single player game aren't very common. The game deserves all the praise its gotten considering you can play through the entire game without killing anyone, without being see once and then play through it again by killing everything using 70 unique and customizable weapons. Its almost two entirely different games...

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

thesmiter

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Sorry people with crappy opinions deserve to be told. MGS4 is a master piece = FACT.

so are you saying metal gear > the count of monte cristo? metal gear > julius ceasar, merchant of venice, shakespeare in general? metal gear > crime and punishment?

i'm sorry, but metal gear is a game. it has an interesting story, but it fails to keep me entertained.

for my games, i like fun. for my books, i like deep plot with intricate characters.

and to say that my opinion is crappy is just absurd. its a game, for christ's sake!

As far as games go, MGS4 is a masterpiece. I'm not comparing games to books. :| Anyway if you want an interactive immersive storyline, Games > Books always.

the immersive capablity of books are limited only by your own imagination. i was far more drawn in to the count of monte cristo than to any video game i've played. the overall theme of vengeance and the realisation that it is a waste of life to turn all of one's power towards vengeance.

one of the most immersive storylines i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. i take it you don't read very much.

It's fairly absurd to act like a pretentious intellectual right after you try and compare very different forms of art the way you did. A much more apt comparison would have used cinema, but whatever floats your boat I guess. You're argument amounts to trying to compare Guernica by Picasso with The Republic-it makes no sense.

I don't think I will ever understand why some people feel the need to act as though being familiar with a cl@ssic(banned word apparently) work somehow endows them with such superior learning as to be justified in acting like an arrogant ****. Citing a bunch of books that are common to most high school curriculums isn't really an impressive accomplishment. But what do I know, since other than nonfiction my favorite genre is space opera.

Also, for the record, while MGS4 is a good game, I don't consider it the best thing since sliced bread.

[QUOTE="Cloud_Insurance"]

And if you aren't familiar with the series, the game really isn't for you. Why? Because the progression and evolution of the series, and the overall depth of the game, is beyond your capabilities of understanding. If you are a fan of the series and understand what Kojima did with part 4, its one of the most beautiful games ever made.

thesmiter

you, my friend, are one of those blind fanboys. because someone doesn't like this game, it is beyond their comprehension? maybe they merely don't like the game.

i know i'm not a complete idiot. i enjoy shakespeare, dumas, dostoevsky. i would rather spend my time comprehending why raskalnikov lost his mind and murdered two people, than comprehend the beauty of metal gear solid.

sorry, but people that don't like this game aren't morons. they just don't like the way its done. you're a fool for saying its beyond our comprehension. a blind, fanboy, fool.

Read what I wrote again. I said if you are new to the series, you are incapable of understanding what MGS4 truly is. Its that simple. Here is a post I made shortly after the game released on the PS forums. If you actually read it, you'll understand why the game is held in such high regards by people who have played the entire series. Not to mention the game is pretty much unrivaled when it comes to rating the technical aspects of it - such as sound, animation, effects, graphics, etc.

------------------------------------------

If it isn't blatantly obvious to you, let me point out something first. The developers of this game changed the gameplay from Act to Act for specific reasons. You said it yourself "Now that is just so completely different than what was done with sneaking in acts 1 and 2." Its because the gameplay changes from Act to Act that this game is so awesome. Nearly all games get repetitive after the first level or so, because the gameplay rarely changes dramatically after that. MGS4 is not one of those games.

Act 1 and 2 are basically to showcase the new, refined version of the core gameplay that has been used since the original Metal Gear Solid. The developers also tie the gameplay into the story, by making the focus not on Solid Snake. He is merely a single character stuck on a battlefield between two warring groups, which he of course can interact with as he sees fit. These two acts are about the amount of freedom the player is given in how he wants to get from point A to point B, which is really the only task you have for those two levels. Do you want to shoot or sneak to get to your destination? Thats the point.

Act 3 (the first part anyway, where you stalk the resistance member) is something brand new to the series. Here it really is all about sneaking, in the most basic way. While you are free to use weapons and items, this part of the game is really just about the player using only his patience and ability to observe what is happening, to clear the level. Its not about gadgets, its not about overpowering the enemy with firepower and cqc, its about patience and intelligence. The chase sequence has been a staple in MGS games, and the one in act 3 is a blatant nod to the one at the end of MGS3 where Big Boss and Eva are escaping on the bike. This kind of parallel in the MGS4 is pretty common and was done on purpose.

Act 4 is for longtime fans of the series. Everything about Act 4 is nostalgic, including the location (obviously). Its basically used to show the evolution of the series, to see how the story and gameplay has progressed, and to remind the player of the original Metal Gear Solid. Here you can see the drastic shift in gameplay, where in MGS it was all about being stuck in confined spaces with many potential threats. Basically each zone is a puzzle with patterns/solutions that can be learned. Compare that to the gameplay in MGS3 or 4 and you will see a huge difference. The mech fight at the end of Act 4 is again fan service. This being Metal Gear, of course there will be a fight against a mech at some point. However, in MGS4 the player actually gets to use a mech themselves.

What else were you expecting out of Act 5 exactly? Everybody is dead at that point except for Mantis and Ocelot. You wanted a prolongued journey through the ship? Dunno about you, but when I started Act 5, it very much felt like the game was coming to an end. If it was any longer, it would have felt like it was dragging. And every Metal Gear Solid game has ended with a CQC battle. You were incorrect to think/expect that MGS4 would be any different.

And the run through the hallways is there for a reason as well. Its like the ladder in MGS3, its the point in the game when you are supposed to look back at what you've accomplished and contemplate what has happened. The flashbacks that you hear make that blatantly obvious...the hallway run is nothing short of epic.

By saying that MGS4 withered as it progressed, you basically are calling MGS1, 2, and 3 crap, since they are the groundwork for the last 2 or 3 acts...