Kotaku
Background information: I hate Metal Gear. Too much sneaking, too much fuss, too much tension for my liking. Which is why it's so amazing that I just played Metal Gear Solid 4, and found it...amazing.
For starters, it's busy. This isn't a secret base or a jungle, this is a warzone. So if you think more along the lines of SOCOM or Full Spectrum Warrior, you'll get an idea of the setting. Basically it's more bad guys, more things going on. Which means the game plays differently. This isn't a shooter (deep breaths kids, it's all going to be OK), but there's definitely gunplay to be had, and I was getting a real (bear with me) Hidden & Dangerous vibe from it, especially from the very-functional first-person viewpoint. A lot less sneaking, a lot more shooting was how I went about things, and it worked. So it's nice to have that option. There's more than enough alleyways and alternate paths if you'd rather stick with the sneaking, though.
Highlight, surprisingly, was not the visuals. They're fantastic, yeah, but you have to hear this thing. I didn't get to play enough to rate the entire sound design of the thing, but you have never heard gunshots like this. It's fun just to stand in an alley emptying clips into some poor old lady's pot/jar collection. Just because it sounds so great. They sound like real guns. Loud, real guns.
Controls were tight—no rumble though. FPS shooting works as well as a decent FPS. Snake's got a suitably "heavy" presence, so there's no problems maneuvering him into the right spot or out of someone's line of sight. Which also effects the stealth aspects of the game; the engine and tight controls mean you get pinpoint accuracy at close quarters. Which is handy, because the knife takedowns are hot.
Enemy AI was a little jarring, if only because I got the impression that they may not quite be up to the task of matching the increased level of action. Example: A group of four enemies were clustered together at a distant doorway; I took one down and the other three just stood there. Didn't flinch, didn't hide, didn't react, even though I was picking them off one by one.
Still. Small beef. Like I said, I hate Metal Gear Solid. Just not this one. It's looking pretty damn great.
Comments
If you hated MGS for "too much sneaking", I'd love to know what you think of the Splinter Cell series.
How are the controls?
OK, well I LOVE Metal Gear because of the sneaking. Your write up concerns me.
The game looks great, can't wait for its release.
im sure the AI will improve in the later versions
That's strange. AI in MGS is supposed to notice when one of their allies are shot down in front of them, more so than other games.
@PlayingKarrde:
I stand in Luke's cam and HATE sneaking. Stealth games make zero sense to me. You might as well create a game about sleeping. So this is great news MGS4 will ditch most of the sneaking.
camp not cam
@XGamerX: true.
glad to hear the audio's a highlight, this game is gonna own.
I like the hiding, though...
I'm sure I'll adapt. MGS4 is looking like one sexy beast. I'd love to hear more hands-on impressions from the show floor.
Metal Gear without sneaking is like Pong without paddles. This is not good news.
MGS: most over-rated series ever. there..it needed to be said.
@ez054098: Id like to point out that nowhere did I say the sneaking has been ditched. Theres more shooting, yes, but thats a choice - as I wrote, theres still plenty of backalleys and alternate paths if sneaking is your thing. You do have a viable option of standing and fighting now, though.
Wow, well I will politely disagree with the sneaking and point to how good MGS and splinter cell are, but is this really needed? Do people need to want MGS4 than they already do? Because I know I might pay nearly 560 dollars for it.
@Plunkett: That's a relief. I shouldn't have skimmed the article.
@Heliophage:
Just as clarification, I don't like hiding in a box during a red alert until everyone stops caring that someone infiltrated their base; I enjoy the sneaking that can build tense atmosphere.
So is this the same demo Kojima showed off at the Anniversery Party? Or is it different?
If it's the same (and I'm betting it is), the AI is probably just set to Very Easy. Soldiers don't go down in one tranq unless it's a headshot on "Normal" or higher, which gave away why the AI was brain-dead in that demo.
@Plunkett:
Point taken. I think I was more wishing most of the sneaking would be removed with MGS4.
The whole fun of the early Metal Gear Solid games was the fact that you basically HAD to be stealthy. If the environment is really as busy as it sounds then sneaking will be discouraged. This is a real disappointment. After Metal Gear Solid 3 I was hoping MGS4 would take a return back to the good old days of MGS2, not trying to turn the game into Syphon Filter.
@samuraisul: Just like how halo is most underrated game series ever.
man, hating on MGS for being what it is is like complaining that the duck confit was too fatty.
Moreso it just proves that not all games are made for everyone and fanboys need to realize that their gods (MGS, Halo, Nintendo, whatever) are not for everyone and that they need to chill out and not hate.
@samuraisul: Halo 3, most over-rated, over-hyped FPS ever... there... needed to be said too...
That is weird. The AI in MGS is usually pretty damn good. Great group tactics and search and destroy as well. Ah well... I'll play it on hard if need be.
@shikoku88henro:
So we're not allowed to be disappointed that the game is shifting in a different direction than we used to like.
If MGS4 was the same game that we all know and love then it makes sense that someone who hates MGS will hate MGS4. Someone who hates MGS loving MGS4 means things have changed majorly, and not necessarily for the better.
@samuraisul: ...in another thread, congrats trolling.
@saunderez: & others: he said he had a short time with it, what makes you think that means the entire game is now less about stealth? that doesnt even make sense.
Here we go.... I'm liking this though... Sneaking or not... I sneak all the time in team arena and have plenty of fun. Things are gonna get rough with the new bosses though!
Did you get to play it with rumble???
@Shijirou: Mario most hyped and played mascot ever there needed to be said! Really does it need to be said? Let the sales speak for it! If it bombs then you don't have to tell people it stinks. This game has not been hyped that much though.
To be honest, didn't read it, I apologize.
I'm trying to keep my hype level in a safe zone.
Also MGS4 = Greatness in its most awesome form... to the max... cubed... times 9...plus 1... yea...
@Zeichrat: I think so... and from the comments above if your sub is up to the task some one will be calling the cops to your house as you shoot loud guns in this one , oh and they sound very realistic. Lots of fans boys will go to jail because of this I'm sure...
Then the internet will be at peace!
Grrr... I'm buying a 360 this weekend for Halo 3.
Guess I'll have to shell out for a PS3 when this comes out.
Because of this article, I am now excited about this game. Audio is one of the most underused elements on the Next-Gen consoles, in most games, guns don't sound like guns, cars don't sound like cars, etc. I read a bit ago that the developers were spending a lot of time on quality audio, but I've heard that before. It'll be fun to give this a go as MGS4 is one of the games for which I will buy a PS3. On a side note, it helps that I don't have to go stealth through the whole game too. I like mixing it up, a little neck cracking, a bit of knifing, and now and then an assault rifle makes for a good weapons experience
@samuraisul: Um...last I checked there wasn't a Raiden edition Pontiac, or a travelling MGS "Museum"
'Nuff said.
I'm not too interested in the PS3 at the moment, but this game is tempting. I love the Metal Gear Solid series, and to hear that a non-fan is impressed with it, then that just provides further incentive. Hopefully, once the PS3's price lowers to an acceptable point in a year or two, I'll pick it up and enjoy the fun.
i'll wait for the 360 version...ZING!
seriously though, this almost makes want a PS3....almost.
@saunderez: Resident Evil 4 doesn't count, right?
You see that the PS3 in a positive light! Things are looking up kids!
Boo. The MGS series is among my favorite games of all time. I don't like seeing the term "FPS shooting" in a preview for a game in the series. I for one don't want an MGS/Ghost Recon combo.
I am reporting Luke Plunkett for hate crimes against Metal Gear Solid. May God have mercy on his soul.
I don't think Plunkett's writeup is that much of cause for concern. Around the time when released the first teaser, Kojima was describing the new mood of the game as "you can run but you can' hide."
I think the writeup reflects that. There's lots of alleys and places to sneak, but the game is a lot busier. So you can find a quiet corner for a bit, but nowhere is SAFE. There'll always be a guy around the corner, and maybe you won't always have a convenient place to hide. So you've got beefed up offensive capabilities now, because hunkering down in a box all day won't work anymore. (That's the part I didn't like about stealth, the predictability and artificiality of just waiting for the soldiers to forget about their dead buddy and go back to their pattern.)
At least, that's the impression I'm getting. Sounds great to me, I'm almost tempted to plop down the cash for a PS3 when MG4 rolls around.
I love me some Halo, but really people why does it always have to come up in every single topic. I really do hope this game stays on the PS3. I need a reason to justify why I bought it in the first place. The 360 is getting all the love, and the PS3 and Wii are for playing movies and surfing the net lately.
Wow, I played my first ever MGS game on psp but disliked all the sneaking etc.
This sounds a bit more more style though. I just wish PS3's would come down in price so I could own the best 2 next gen consoles (xbox 360 and ps3).
sounds gd. I dint lyke prevous mgs games cos they were borin. i prefer shoot em ups not sneeking games so i hope there is more shootin in this game. i dont like the story from the prevous games either i think they were 2 complicated lol. wtf is wrong with that dudes arm lmao. so i hope the story is a lot simpler too. i have a ps3 and ill be gettin this defo cos the grafix look mint and it sounds more lyke a shootin game which i like. i cant wait for this.
I'm jealous...that is all.
Rad. Thanks for the write-up! I really have never liked an MGS game either, but with the changes you describe, it sounds like this might be the one.
@RedFive: sounds gd dunnit
I don't want an action shooter. There are a shitload of action shooters. I play them regularly, don't get me wrong. I, like most of you, have a Halo 3 countdown, in my case in my TA office. I'm not saying that people who don't like MGS are noobs or anything like that. But there are TWO good sneaking series, Splinter Cell and MGS. What few sneaking games we have are precious. Seeing how both of the series are moving away from their past is a serious cause of concern for people who appreciate the subgenre. Hence the outrage.
Please dear GOD let TheChosen be a fake post.
@shikoku88henro: Just wanted to give a quick salute to a fellow Kotaku-bot who knows what duck confit is. *Salute*
@TheChosen:
ya dis game looks is toally off da chain. i alweys wish snayke wuz more crizpy, ya kno lyke all hooked up wit the new lebron james sneeks.
How'd she run boys... ok after saying that man i can't wait for it.