Another belated review. After some scathing reviews from friends and the prospect of movie length cutscenes in between brief moments of actual gameplay I couldn’t bring myself to play this for a long time, even though the game was critically acclaimed. I also haven’t played Metal Gear Solid since the first release on the PS1 all those years ago, and was told the story would be slightly confusing if I hadn’t played the 2nd and 3rd instalment. However, being someone who makes up his own mind as to whether I like a game or not I finally decided to give this one a go, and after a lengthy install of the game, I finally did…

Update 1 – 09/06/09: A game that plays itself

You know, some games try to be so hard you feel like throwing your controller out the nearest window, some games hold your hand. Metal Gear Solid puts you in the passenger seat as you watch Solid Snake play through the game in the cutscenes. I know, I know, MGS4 is an easy target for poking fun at the length of the cutscenes, but so far this really takes the biscuit. The levels are tiny.

I actually dread reaching the flashing red dot on the radar as I have to prepare myself for another 30 to 40 minute long cutscene, broken up by brief chats with the character Otacon. I’ve only completed the first chapter so far, but even so, the amount of cutscenes and their length is insane. I fear this is actually made worse by the fact that the gameplay is surprisingly excellent. You want to be playing as Snake all the time, rather than watching him sneak into buildings or move around out of your control.

It’s only the first chapter, so I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve finished it. However, the game is such that I have to plan to play it early in the evening. I started it last night around 10pm and ended up still watching cutscenes around 1am. By the time I actually got back into the game I had to save it, quit and then go to bed.

Update 2 – 10/06/09: Please, just stop it. Stop!

Played the game for another few hours yesterday, and got to play through 1 level of the chapter. At the start, middle and end of it I had to sit through some drawn out cutscene. For what? The information is delivered so slowly I tend to lose the point of the cutscene at all. The cutscenes could be condensed into 2 minute nuggets, yet they are drawn out into 30 minute epics with endless verbosity. I actually pause the game now before a point that I feel is going to trigger another cutscene, so that I can grab a drink before it starts. I also have to save and quit the game when I start a part where I can actually play. If I was to quit before a cutscene I doubt I would have the gusto to get into it again.

But, gameplay wise, it’s good. I tried sneaking on my first run through the level, to work on my CQC, and got pretty far without being discovered however I got killed before reaching the next save point, so I said “screw it” and decided to go Rambo on the level. I was able to get to the same point I was at previously in less than an 8th the time. I hope this changes as there is nothing really forcing me to sneak. I have an abundance of weapons at my disposal, all of which are geared towards making noise. I hope in later levels I’m forced to only use stealth, because the game doesn’t play nearly half as well as a dedicated over the shoulder shooter.

Update 3 – 25/06/09: Over the hump

Well after a brief hiatus with MGS4 (played through [prototype] and have been consistantly training in SF4) I decided to get back into it. Where I left off last time was just after the cutscene where Raiden is reintroduced, all dolled up in his bio-mechanical getup. From here the story progressed as before, with short bursts of actual gameplay followed by long cutscenes. The mother of which so far was when I finally met up with a character named “Big Mama”, who decided to revise the entire MGS story for me.

However, since this cutscene, the gameplay to cutscene ratio has been slowly increasing. I’m really starting to get into it now. There are some nice throwbacks to MGS1 which will definitely evoke memories of how great that game was if you played it when it was released (although time hasn’t been kind to its veneer). Also, the need for stealth is slowly increasing which I like. I have automatic grenade launchers, shotguns and rpgs at my ready but if you use them it causes an infinite number of baddies to start spawning. While initially I hate the ever respawning baddies, I like that it is forcing me to use only stealth now to avoid this.

I’d say I’m about 70% through the game at this stage and it’s been getting steadily more and more enjoyable as it’s progressed. I only hope this pace keeps up and isn’t suddenly interrupted by another lengthy and bloated cutscene.

Update 4 – 29/06/09: Snaaaaake!!!!

Completed it finally over the weekend. Moving on from the Solid Snake centre it progresses quickly into old age, crawling along at a snails pace to the finish line. The ending is so drawn out that it sucks whatever enthusiasm I  had for the high points after your encounter with Big Mama and then Liquid completely out of the game. It reminds me of some recent anime I’ve watched, namely Ergo Proxy, which seems intent on exploring metaphysical questions of existence and purpose. Hideo Kojima, with MGS4, seems to be doing likewise. I wonder if it’s something being lost in the translation, but I couldn’t help but feel during the final scene (which I won’t spoil for you) that the characters where just spewing out nonsense for the sake of sounding deep and meaningful.

Overall, graphically it is impressive. The score and sound effects where superb and the actually game play was extremely solid, but this cannot excuse the 80% of the game that is made up of drawn out, verbose and irrelevant cut scenes. If you play it, do yourself a favour and skip to the parts where you actually get to play the game.