1988. Like most early adolescents, a majority of my time was spent with a small box called the Nintento Entertainment System enjoying what hormonally challenged kids enjoyed most; videogame violence. Bionic Commando, Ninja Gaiden and Golgo 13 were just a few of the games feeding my need that year. Also like most kids, I loved comic books, and it was when flipping through a certain issue that I came upon an advertisement for an upcoming game called Metal Gear.

What the gameplay suggested was something I thought was innovative but inconceivable in an era where Stallone & Schwarzenegger filled young minds like mine with the idea that running & gunning was the only approach to gaming. I was nonetheless intrigued by the ad which introduced gear like a radio transceiver, infrared goggles, gas masks, mine detectors and remote control missles you guided with the gamepad to name a few. It was in stark contrast to the weapon or two I had, an occasional vehicle and a brief objective I was given at the beginning of a level in many games I played prior to this.

What I experienced was something that changed my perspective of what action gaming was capable of and with the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, I have no doubt my expectations will be met and exceeded just like Metal Gear and every subsequent release did during it's 20 glorious years. Many games have come along attempting to evolve or duplicate the stealth gaming formula with hit & miss success, but no game series has consistently satisfied like the Metal Gear series & no series possibly will.

Long live stealth action gaming.