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Review: Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals
The information age has had an unfortunate effect on novelty. We are so aware of everything that's out there that we can't possibly look upon a thing without drawing comparisons to things similar to it, supposed things that are "better" than this derogative... - Read the full review
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the best games I have ever played.
This is the reason you want to own a Playstation 3. I know, you’ve heard many journalists say that very same thing about quite a few other games over the past couple years. But if MGS4 doesn’t warrant the purchase of a new console, I don’t know what does.
The game does everything well. So well, in fact, that it will most likely become the benchmark for the future of gaming. Let’s face it; most games aren’t for everyone. The majority of titles on the market fill a certain niche in the industry, and there will always be a sector of the gaming population that finds a given game unappealing. MGS4, however, is right for everyone. It truly doesn’t matter where your interests lie. Whether you’re a graphics guru, a music aficionado, a strategy buff, or a multiplayer fanatic, you’ll find something in this game that is exceedingly appealing.
Hit the jump for all the delicious details. But be quiet; we don’t want to set off an alarm.
Ah, yes. Good ol’ Snake. We’ve had some fun times, haven’t we, buddy? Why does it have to end, Snake? Thanks to Konami and Kojima Productions, we have the opportunity to play the final chapter in Snake’s deep and fascinating story. And believe me; you do not want to miss this.
This time around, we play the game as “Old” Snake. That’s right; our longtime pal is suffering the effects of advanced aging. Basically, the dude looks and feels about thirty years older than he truly is. In fact, Otacon, Snake’s behind-the-scenes assistant, goes so far as to tell him he only has about one year left to live. Otacon always was sort of a party pooper.
So, it is with this Snake that we receive one final mission. Liquid Ocelot is back. And, as always, he’s a major threat to the world. Sound familiar?
MGS4 is set six years in the future. But, this near-future world is very different from the one in which we live today. War is no longer a sporadic occurrence between nations, driven by political angst. Rather, it is now commonplace. Battles are not fought by the military regimes of enormous governments. Instead, private military corporations (PMCs) hire their services out to the highest bidder. Soldiers’ bodily functions are heavily monitored, and their actions are controlled and enhanced by nanomachine technology.
And just as expected, Liquid has taken advantage of this newly war-torn world. He has taken control of five of the world’s largest PMCs, both for financial gain and his own personal motivations. And it’s up to Snake to take him out.
Our mission drops us in the Middle East, right in the middle of a firefight between PMCs and rebel soldiers. It’s here that we’re introduced to one of Snake’s new enemies: the Gekko. Think of an AT-ST from Star Wars, except faster and more agile. Also, it doesn’t shoot lasers. Major buzz-kill.
More importantly, we’re also introduced to Snake’s new camouflage: the Octocamo. Inspired by the octopus’ stealth capabilities, the Octocamo allows Snake to blend in with any surface he’s touching. This camo is so advanced that it can hide Snake from a passing enemy while standing in broad daylight, a death wish in previous games.
Another new tool in Snake’s arsenal is the Mark II. Players of the online beta last spring will recall this multifunctional robot. The Mark II’s main purpose is advanced scouting, allowing Snake to remain in the shadows while it surveys the battlefield. Additionally, this bad boy can turn invisible. No, not camouflage itself. It turns invisible. How cool is that? You can also use it to pick up weapons and rations left behind around the war environment. This, above all else, is a life saver. Many times, leaving cover to grab that last bit of ammunition will cause an alarm and, as a result, a firefight.
Snake’s last, and possibly best, new toy is the Solid Eye. Worn as a simple eye patch, the Solid Eye combines all the visual tools you’ll ever need into a single package. It has night vision and binoculars. It will point out any items strewn throughout the battlefield. It will even tell you the group affiliation, weapon, health, and alertness of each soldier you encounter on the battlefield. This tool is a must-have.
Along your quest for justice and peace, you’ll encounter a fellow named Drebin. He and his bald monkey (no, that’s not a euphemism) are black market arms dealers. From Drebin, Snake can purchase new weapons, ammo, and upgrades, or he can sell extra guns for credit. The currency here is Drebin Points, which can be accrued via the elimination of specific targets throughout the game, flashbacks during cutscenes, reaching certain points throughout the story, and selling extra weapons back to him. And since Drebin is a full-service arms dealer, he’s available at any point throughout the game.
This time around, Snake has three different meters to which you will need to pay attention. First up is your standard health bar. Nothing too advanced here. You get shot, the health bar goes down. Simple, right? Secondly, Snake now has a Psyche level. This meter is important, and it adds another layer of realism to the game. As Snake’s Psyche goes down, he’ll start to lose accuracy when shooting. And if Snake’s meter goes low enough, he’ll start to move more slowly, and he’ll even have a hard time holding up his gun. Lastly, there is the Stress meter. Snake becomes stressed if he’s out in the open, away from the shadows and cover. It goes up if he gets too hot or too cold. And it goes up if he raises an alert or gets into an extended firefight. As Snake’s Stress levels rise, he’ll get muscle aches, and his Psyche meter becomes more vulnerable.
Within the game’s meter system, there is a small detail that pops up during the course of the campaign. It’s often tough to notice, but it demonstrates the thoroughness with which Hideo Kojima and Konami designed MGS4. As Snake’s Stress levels rise and his Psyche falls, he becomes more vulnerable to attack. He moves more slowly, he fires less accurately, and he takes on extra damage. But, during intense firefights, Snake experiences an adrenaline rush, which instantly raises his psyche, enhances his abilities, and causes him to absorb bullets as if they were foam darts. And once the battle has ended, he crashes. His Psyche will bottom out, his Stress levels rise, and he is more open to attack than ever. It’s a minute detail, but it adds to the tremendous depth the game displays throughout the story.
Control schemes have always been a plague on stealth games. It often feels as though there are too few buttons on the controller for all the actions your character can perform. If you’re supposed to be a clandestine super-soldier, you’re bound to have some Bourne-like abilities up your sleeve. And over the years, complicated controls have always felt like a barrier to entry for the uninitiated gamer. However, MGS4 does a tremendous job simplifying its controls. Sure, Snake has some pretty nifty abilities. But the controls are clean and intuitive, so you’ll never have to check the game’s manual for a tutorial on choking out your enemy.
Although MGS4 is designed primarily as a stealth game, it’s very easy to turn it into an action-shooter. Combat mechanics are integrated flawlessly into the game’s repertoire. Unlike some other stealth games, engaging in a firefight doesn’t feel awkward and forced. In fact, the game’s shooting mechanics are so balanced, it almost feels as if MGS4 was designed as a shooter from the beginning.
One of the game’s biggest focuses this time around is Snake’s ability to interact with other characters throughout his campaign. For starters, Snake can side with any militia in the game. Although the PMCs are your natural enemy, you can choose to ignore them for the majority of the story if you so choose. Or, you can take them down, thereby gaining the adoration of the rebel soldiers who would normally be hostile toward you. You can also divvy out rations and compress packs to gain the favor of the local militias. In return, they’ll give you health packs and ammo during battle, and they won’t shoot Snake in the face whenever they see him. Pretty sweet deal, right? You can even hold up enemy soldiers by pointing your gun at their backs, and then shake them down for items and ammo.
Possibly the greatest improvement in Snake’s latest chapter is the development of the game’s AI. Stealth games have always been cursed with predictable patterns displayed by your enemies. In MGS4, nothing is predictable. At times, it may appear that PMC soldiers are walking predetermined patrol paths, and you simply have to wait for your opportunity to scamper by undetected. But, your enemies will change the rhythm of their route, often stopping to chat it up with a fellow soldier because… well, they’re bored. When on alert, your enemies will actively seek you out, turning over boxes and barrels, opening dumpsters, and checking behind rubble. This means that you, and anything you left behind (say, a dead body or two), are never safe. During a firefight, soldiers will take cover and perform flanking maneuvers. And since the environments are designed so well, there’s always more than one way into a given location, meaning you always have to watch your back.
Graphically, MGS4 is stunning. There is an 8-minute install when you first pop in the disc, and another 3-minute install after each chapter in the game, but they are well worth it. The environments within the game are lush and detailed. From urban rubble to a blinding blizzard, everything looks spot on. Dust and snow settle on the camera lens, and paper debris floating on the breeze performs an aerial ballet. At every turn, you truly feel like you’re in the middle of an abandoned, war-torn arena. The desolation that surrounds you is expansive, and everything you see can be used as cover or an escape route in the midst of the action.
As always, cutscenes are prevalent throughout MGS4, and some of them are pretty lengthy. The longest cutscene in the game clocks in at around forty minutes. Thankfully, all cinematic sequences can be paused and skipped this time around. But, you won’t want to do either. Each cutscene presents vital story elements. If you’ve played previous Metal Gear games, you’ll be in heaven, as all the loose ends and open plot lines are tied up in a nice little package for you. If you’re a first-timer, fear not. The game does a pretty good job of hinting at Snake’s backstory via flashbacks during each cutscene. The voice acting is spot-on, giving each character a distinct and unique personality. And best of all, each of the games cinematics are conducted within the game engine, resulting in a seamless transition from movie to gameplay.
The audio holds up its end of the bargain as well. Musical numbers throughout the game’s cutscenes add to the depth and emotion you’ll experience during the campaign. And during gameplay, each and every nugget of sound is expressed cleanly, resulting in a perfect mesh of audio, visuals, and gameplay. Explosions will shake your living room, and knocking over a tin can will leave your heart racing, wondering if the nearby soldier heard your ruckus. Even the footsteps of nearby enemies will make your palms sweat.
And of course, Hideo Kojima was kind enough to include online multiplayer in MGS4. Metal Gear Online will be no surprise to those who participated in the beta test in April. Along with the five maps that were playable in the spring, two new maps have been included in the final game. Supporting up to 16 players, each of the seven maps presents a vastly unique environment. Some levels are more conducive to open combat, while others promote stealth action. The only problem here, though, is that the gameplay will be dictated by those playing. Give a gamer a gun, and he’s going to run out and shoot things. If you have a trustworthy group of friends to play with, the game’s multiplayer can be loads of fun. But the majority of “random” games end up in a free-for-all shooting frenzy that doesn’t really feel like Metal Gear. To play online, you have to register a Konami ID. While the process can be somewhat cumbersome, it’s infinitely easier than participating in the beta was.
Although multiple play-throughs are occasionally difficult to justify in a game with such a heavy story line, MGS4 offers oodles of extras and unlockables throughout the game. After beating the game once, players unlock a new difficulty, as well as new ammunition. Throughout each of the campaign’s environments, you’ll find plenty of hidden items. Unique weapons, dolls and statues, and even iPod tunes can be found scattered through the single player story. Emblems, camouflage, and face paint can be unlocked by completing certain actions during gameplay as well. If you’re into item collecting, you’ll find plenty of motivation to come back to the single player campaign.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the type of game that everyone needs to experience. A title like this usually only comes around once each console generation, and it would be a shame to miss out. If you have ever thought about purchasing a PS3, even the slightest bit, go out and buy one now. This game could not be done on any other console this generation, and it is worth shelling out some extra dough to experience such a masterful game. This is Snake’s final expedition into battle, and you need to see it for yourself.
I'm on my third playthrough and still say this game is amazing. I've never played a Metal Gear game but have been having so much fun with this one. Sure it has some flaws but they're overshadowed but everything it does right.
Kudos to the review. I was totally expecting it to get a total score. And if it didn't, I would hve thought there was something wrong with you guys. LOL
Anyway, it is an awesome game. Love it so much and i especially love Metal Gear Online.
I'm pleasantly surprised to see you give the game a 10/10. For me it's a no brainer, I'm a fan of the series and never thought anything would top the first PSX incarnation of Metal Gear, but this game doesn't just equal it, it blows it away. I can say this game will give you an experience like no other game out there at the moment, and it's not just about the horsepower of the PS3, it's about the ambition of Kojima and the rest of the team to deliver something which redefines the whole gaming landscape. Only Rockstar with their GTA games seem to be showing the same ambition in terms of pushing the envelope. The one feature I was so worried about, namely the long cutscenes, turns out to be one of the best things about the game, they're beatifully produced, brilliantly written and incredibly well voice acted. It may sound like a cliché, but you don't play MGS4, you live it, this is an interactive and immersive experience as you're likely to find this or any generation of consoles. So yeah, for fans of the series it's a 10/10, and even if you've never played, or never enjoyed previous games I honestly thing it's a solid (no pun intended) 8.5/10
Review: Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals
The information age has had an unfortunate effect on novelty. We are so aware of everything that's out there that we can't possibly look upon a thing without drawing comparisons to things similar to it, supposed things that are "better" than this derogative... - Read the full review
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the best games I have ever played. 
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