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| Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) | 
| From: Konami
Category: Video Games
List Price: £49.99
Buy Used: £18.99
You Save: £31.00 (62%)
New (13) Used (21) from £18.99
Rating:  162 reviews
Sales Rank: 189
Platform: Playstation 3
Genre: espionage-action-games
Media: Video Game
Number Of Items: 1
Age: 11 - 18 years
Operating System: Playstation 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.4 x 0.7
EAN: 4012927050118
ASIN: B000E6DYXA
Release Date: June 12, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Minor Surface marks - plays 100% - Guaranteed Case/Cover/Manual all good -1st Class Jiffy Post!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is a next-gen experience complete with top-of-the-line graphics and surround sound designed for the Sony PlayStation 3. Featuring the most revealing display of Kojima Production's premier title, MSG4 details the world where Snake must under go his final mission. In a world overrun by private military companies (PMCs), wars are no longer fought over nations or ideologies. Instead, the wars of the future are micro-managed by overarching PMCs, right down to the bullet. New gadgets and abilities fuel Snake's journey deep into the enemy domains of the Middle East, South America, and beyond. New gear includes "Metal Gear Mk. II," the ultimate reconnaissance tool, and "Solid Eye," which gives Snake real-time information on enemies and his surroundings. 
Old timer Snake returns for what is slated as the final installment in the Metal Gear series. View larger. | 
New and old characters abound in MGS4. View larger. | 
PMCs have run amok and the world is at war. View larger. | 
Octacamo will help Snake blend into surroundings. View larger. | Joined by a familiar cast of characters, Snake must once again return to the battlefield to confront his lifelong rival, Liquid Ocelot, who is manipulating the world's wars from the one world where soldiers will always have a place. But Liquid Ocelot is not the only one who will be able to manipulate the world's wars--Snake can destabilize opposing forces by working behind the scenes, supporting the local militia as they fight PMCs, creating a smokescreen that allows Snake to move freely within the war-zone. MGS4 is a next-generation adventure set in the aftermath of MGS2: Sons of Liberty. The concept behind the latest Metal Gear Solid project is "no place to hide," and this edition in the series will force Snake into unexpected circumstances with an all-new storyline that breaks away in some ways from the previous MGS franchise entries. We don't want to spoil it for you, but, producer Hideo Kojima did reveal some very juicy bits about the game and the storyline when it was first announced at E3 of 2006. "Until now," said Kojima, "we've released two entries of the MSX2 Metal Gear series, and three entries in the Metal Gear Solid series. Add to this Portable Ops, and you get a total of six titles. All mysteries will be cleared up in Metal Gear Solid 4." Kojima was very clear about the finality of MSG4, leaving gamers to wonder, "Will Snake die?!" When asked if the story will come to this sort of an end, Kojima responded without the slightest bit of vagueness, "It will come to an end." The MGS4 E3 trailer showed a number of characters from the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid histories. This final instalment is sure to deliver loads of cameos, in fact, it is rumoured that nearly all the characters from the series will make an appearance. In addition to a return of classic Metal Gear Solid characters, the gameplay systems from part three are also expected to make a comeback. The camouflage system from part three will make it into MGS4, with the addition of "OctoCamo," Snake's most advanced stealth suit to date. The name appears to be formed from the words "Octopus" and "camouflage," and players will be awestruck by the chameleon-like camo that changes with the surroundings. OctoCamo allows Snake to blend in with his environment as it digitally manifests nearby textures in real time. Think if it this way, if Snake is standing next to a wall worn out with holes, he too will appear to be riddled with holes. It has also been revealed that MGS4 will have online play, but no specifics have been released. Although very little information is known about the game's visuals, rumour has it that MGS4 is expected to be the finest representation of console graphics on the PS3, and it is expected that they will just get better and better as the game nears its release date.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Here's to you... June 14, 2008
Dick Grayson (Gotham, USA)
67 out of 78 found this review helpful
To review this game without spouting hyperbole like 'best game ever' or 'simply amazing' is something which I fear may not be possible, so forgive me if I deviate into such territory in the course of this review, but having just finished this game less than an hour ago, I find myself still feeling a tad emotional about the experience I have had the past couple of days. Needless to say, the experience has been a good one, and likely one I'll never forget for the rest of my gaming life.
There isn't a lot that can be said about MGS4 without spoiling something, and I for one strived to spoil nothing before I played it myself, which made the game all the more delicious I can promise you, so I'll keep things simple.
The game chronicles the last mission of a rapidly aging Solid Snake as the (now retired) Colonel Campbell begs him to hunt down and kill the psychopathic Liquid Snake(Still in control of Revolver Ocelot's body following the events of MGS2) before he instigates a bloody insurrection starting in the middle east using his new found resources as part of a large private military company(Or PMC, about which you'll be hearing a lot in this game). Snake, with help from the faithful Otacon and his new sidekick Sunny(A little girl with ties to previous games, as you'll discover), heads to the middle east for what he believes is his last act as a soldier, but events soon spiral out of control as Liquid's plan proves to be far more grand than anyone could possibly imagine, and Snake must travel the globe to put together a conspiracy that will reveal the long hidden secrets of the Patriots, the 'Big Shell' incident from MGS2, and Snake's own murky origins and past at long last, all told in the single most masterfully crafted piece of storytelling I have ever encountered in a videogame. It takes in the usual MGS themes of war and loss and expands them to show how these things can affect the characters we've come to know and love on a far more personal level than before, with some truly heartbreaking scenes that show the humanity behind the characters in ways no other game could possibly manage.
The trademark MGS sense of humour is still present of course, with some hilarious fourth wall breaking laughs on offer(Like when Otacon wonders when it's time to switch to disc 2, or Campbell wonders where the PS3's controller ports are so Snake can try switching to port 2 during a boss fight), there's lots in there, with some gags fairly well concealed to boot. It's a funny game, and if you've played past titles, you'll know what to expect.
Everything about MGS4 just oozes the highest possible quality really. The visuals first and foremost simply have no equal that I have seen. The level of detail present in every location is just so unbelievably stunning, I often found myself just wandering around admiring the scenery on offer and looking for various details that are easy to miss, like prairie dogs roaming freely around in grasslands or rats skulking in corners of abandoned warehouses to more simple thins like just how realistically water flows around your character when you walk through a stream. Everything here looks incredible, and that's before you even get to the amazing cutscenes, which 99 percent of the time use the actual in game engine(A couple of larger scale battle/group scenes seem to be pre rendered, and there are even a couple of live action footage scenes thrown in too) to show facial expressions and clothing details like nothing I've ever seen. From a simple bead of sweat running down someone's face to the realistic movements of their fingers(Check any game you have and you'll see how rare realistic finger movement actually is) when fiddling with something small to someone's jacket fluttering in the wind. The level of detail is just a massive leap ahead of anything else on the market. There are minor imperfections here and there of course, like enemies still don't take realistic visible body damage when shot or stabbed and the like, but such things are comparatively minor when everything else is so goddamn close to perfection.
The soundtrack again excels as with previous games, with music stalwart Harry Gregson Williams turnng in another fantastic score for the game, and regular voice actors David Hayter, Christopher Randolph and Paul Eiding among others returning to their most famous roles in fine style, considering Hayter was the only one not to get left out of MGS3. The voice acting is again on a level all it's own, and seeing Meryl back in the MGS universe after such a long time being forgotten is more than welcome. Nostalgists will no doubt be glad to hear that a large number of past game tunes get reused in here as well, and not only when listened to through Solid Snake's in game iPod(No fooling, you have a fully working iPod in here loaded with MGS related tunes and podcasts).
The gameplay is where MGS4 shines brightest in my opinion though, with a perfectly constructed control scheme that utilises the best features from MGS3 and expands on them with a myriad of new options on offer. Want to play in first person? Go ahead. Wan to simply lock on and fire at enemies for easiness sake? That's here too. Want to just play it like you have all the other MGS games? You can. Everyone is catered for here, and with the shear size of some of the gaming areas on offer, there are potentially countless ways to approach any given situation put in front of you to the point it can sometimes be overwhelming. This is not a game that is shallow or can be approached like any other bog standard third person shooter. You NEED to use your brain for this game, and the freedom with which you can let the ideas flow will spoil so many other games for you in future.
Lastly, Metal Gear Online. The fully realised online game included on MGS4's disc is a joy to play. True, I've only tried it for a couple of hours so far, but I had an absolute riot finding new and inventive ways to sneak up on opponents for the kill. That cardboard box has never been more useful. The online is superb, with 16 players at a time possible on any game/map, and an inventive system that utilises points you earn for performance being used to purchase better and more useful equipment. It perhaps doesn't innovate on any levels as much as the single player game, but as far as online third person versus gaming goes, you'd struggle to find much better than Metal Gear Online.
Complaints wise... with this game I have few, but I can see how some people might. The game requires a hefty amount of installing to the HDD for one, with an initial 8 minute install being followed at the opening of every chapter of the game by another install between 1-3 minutes in length. It's distracting I guess, but I had no real issue with it, especially as it keeps you amused with some messages accompanied the sight of Snake slowly smoking a cigarette as he waits for the install to finish. The install also eats up 4.6 gigs of memory space too, which I can see being a real stinger for those with a 20 or 40 gig PS3. Only other real issue I would note with the game is cutscene length. The cutscenes are pretty long and frequently appear, they can be anywhere from 5 to 35 minutes in length, with the ending clocking in at around an hour long, but breaks are provided often for them, and they're all fully skippable, but given just how amazing the story is and how these scenes look, coupled with the fact you are given some measure of interactivity with a lot of them, makes me wonder why you'd want to skip if it's your first time through the game.
So all in all, this, the most anticipated PS3 game of them all is a rousing success in my eyes, providing everythng I could have wanted or expected from it and then some to leave me with what will easily go down as one of the greatest, most rewarding games I have ever played, and it honestly saddens me that some people will never play this masterpiece for such idiotic reasons as what console it is on.
It's like nothing you'll have experienced before in a game, and sadly, you'll likely never see it's kind again.
The end of an era June 29, 2008
Stevie G (Manchester, England)
22 out of 25 found this review helpful
Metal Gear Solid 4 marks the series 21st year; it's promised to be Solid Snakes last mission, and Hideo Kojimas last in charge.
In interviews leading to MGS4s release, Kojima has stated that he'd like the franchise to continue in some form, so the big question is does Snake die?
That's not to be spoiled, in fact this review is mostly spoiler free, as much of MGS4 is better experienced first hand. The gag order put in place by Konami is proof that MGS4 has a remarkably epic plot, and some amazing twists.
There are some nicely done references to past games, like the Gekko trampling a cardboard box, enforcing the "games nowhere to hide" approach. There's a beautifully done dream sequence that's a tribute to the PSOne classic. Snake still smokes. In fact there aren't many games that have its history woven so deeply. Snakes inclusion in the new Smash Bros brawl on Nintendo's Wii is proof this is a franchise as rich as any.
With so many loose ends to tie up, cut scenes are plentiful and long. Quite a few top 90 minutes. They are near perfect, and as good as anything I've ever seen. Not just in games, but any other media. The sequences are just flawless.
The only drawback is that on the first play-through, more time is spent watching cut scenes than actually playing the game. The opening is a typical example of the stop start gameplay. There are nice touches to offer some interaction, like controlling the MK2 during mission briefings and obtaining characters face camo. Or triggering flashback images when certain characters are mentioned, or offering first person viewpoints during certain moments. However, these can all be skipped for that second play-through, as the games clock doesn't pause. Essential for achieving higher emblems and unlocking special items. Like stealth camo and Altairs disguise from Assassins Creed.
Almost everything is a unique experience. Graphics are fairly impressive; Snakes Octacamo suit provides some fancy graphical effects. The gameplay is more open than ever; encouraging experimental approaches and improvisation. For once, an aggressive approach is fun to play, with an over the shoulder perspective for aiming and shooting. Stealth remains just as challenging yet rewarding when done right. In terms of plot, it's safe to say that every fan will find closure from this. Every character is accounted for and nothing has been watered down or removed. Almost unnecessary plot details are included relentlessly. But surely necessary for Kojimas to make a Metal Gear to please every fan. Even more impressive is that the game could be played and actually enjoyed by someone with no prior knowledge.
An incredible game, one of the finest in a very long time. PS3s first system seller.
As close to perfection as a game can get July 13, 2008
Dr Jones (UK)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
"War has changed."
Those grim words, delivered by a world-weary Solid Snake as he prepares to embark on his final mission, mark the beginning of one of the biggest and most important games that the PS3 is likely to see for a very long time. Yes, Metal Gear Solid 4 is here at last. After months of waiting and speculation, delays and rumours, it's finally available for us all to enjoy. But was it worth the wait? Has it lived up to the hype? Does it provide resolution for one of the most beloved characters in the history of gaming? The answer, strangely enough, is a resounding yes.
I've been a fan of the Metal Gear Solid series since the original was released back in 1998. With its complex narrative, solid voice acting, revolutionary (for its time) graphics and movie-style cut scenes, MGS took gaming to new heights. The series has had its ups and downs since then - MSG2 was hampered by a meandering, over-complicated plot and an unlikeable protagonist, while MGS3 was a welcome return to form.
And so we're back to the present, ready to join Solid Snake on another mission to save the world. But this is a very different Snake than the one we saw at the end of MGS2. As those familiar with the games will know, Snake is a genetic clone of legendary soldier Big Boss. Now approaching the end of his projected lifespan, he's suffering from rapid ageing - greying hair, wrinkled skin, stiff joints etc. His appearance isn't the only thing to have changed, however - this is a man wearied and embittered by the changes in the world around him; a man at the end of his rope, both physically and emotionally.
Set several years in the future, the world economy has changed, with war now the primary driver of big business. Proxy wars are being fought all over the globe, with Private Military Companies now providing the bulk of the manpower for this seemingly endless conflict. As if this wasn't bad enough, it turns out that the several largest PMC's are all run by one parent company - Outer Heaven. A sinister face from the past (and Snake's former nemesis) is planning to unite these scattered armies and launch an armed invasion of the United States. Added to this, a shadowy group called the Patriots appear to be pulling strings from behind the scenes. As Snake delves deeper into what exactly is going on, his adventures take him from the Middle East to South America, Eastern Europe and Alaska.
That's about as concisely as I can describe the plot while still keeping this review of tolerable length. Needless to say, nothing and no-one is quite what they seem, and by the end most players will be scratching their heads more than a school child suffering from a rampant lice infection. Characters change sides and switch loyalties so often that it often becomes difficult to remember who you're actually fighting against, or why.
This being a Kojima game, the graphics and cut scenes are a grade above anything you'll have seen before. Like most people, I don't know what the PS3 is really capable of graphically, but MGS4 certainly goes some way towards proving that it's not just an insanely expensive doorstop. Character models are masterfully detailed and expressive, and the voice cast as always is top notch. David Hayter works his usual gravel-voiced magic as Snake - portraying him not just as a legendary soldier, but as a flesh and blood man facing the end of his life. It's a stirring performance, but by no means the only one.
Speaking of characters, fans of the series will be pleased to know that just about everyone who isn't dead (and a few who are) make a comeback in this final instalment, helping to tie up just about all the loose ends. Indeed, despite its best efforts to recap the story up to this point, a decent knowledge of the series will yield a far more enjoyable gaming experience. MGS4 is littered with in-jokes and references to previous games, and some later stages evoke genuine feelings of nostalgia.
But how does it actually play? Well, this is where a few of my gripes are going to creep in. As Snake said, war has indeed changed - at least for MGS players. Previous games have placed great emphasis on stealth, favouring avoidance and infiltration over pitched battles. This approach was necessitated by the player's limited arsenal of weapons. Not so here - Snake practically trips over weapons, equipment and ammunition everywhere he goes, and he's encouraged to use them frequently. Unfortunately this eliminates much of the tension inherent to the stealth genre - never will you find yourself crouched behind a crate with only a half-empty pistol to defend yourself, wondering whether to take on a passing guard or try to sneak by. The Drebin Points system, while initially satisfying, only really serves to exacerbate the problem - often you'll find yourself running around after firefights like some kind of battlefield vacuum cleaner.
It's not just the weapons that suffer from overkill, either. By the end, you'll be staggering under the mountains of useless equipment and items that Snake gradually amasses. A good example of this is the Metal Gear Mark II - a small remote controlled drone that allows Snake to stay in touch with his buddies back at base, but which you can also take control of to perform recon missions. At least, that's the idea. Never in the entire game was I able to use this feature successfully, making me wonder why it was even included. Introducing new features to a gameplay formula that is already close to perfect is admirable, I suppose, but then so is jumping into an empty swimming pool.
Still, in most other respects, the gameplay is pretty competent. The controls are tight and intuitive, if a little fiddly at times. More than once you'll find yourself backing against a wall when what you really wanted to do was climb a nearby ladder. The weapon and equipment management screens are rather cumbersome as well. And despite the greater emphasis on action, the trusty tranquiliser pistol is still around for those preferring the classic stealth approach.
But despite a few niggling complaints, I really can't mark MGS4 down. The sheer love and dedication that's gone into making it shines through from the action-packed opening to the poignant and moving finale. MGS4 is the crowning achievement in a series that has always strived to be more than it is, and if you are in any way passionate about computer games as a story-telling medium, buy this one. You won't regret it.
MGS4 Review for finished game and its amazing!!! ssssnnNAAKKEEE! June 11, 2008
UnluckyBauer007 (York England)
54 out of 71 found this review helpful
Firstly I can assure I do have the finished game Mr Postman has been good to me (for once) and I have played a good 3 hours of this truly amazing game. Now normally I would wait and play a lot more before reviewing especially a game this in-depth, but I just couldn't wait to tell everyone that this one PS3 Exclusive that can not possibly disappoint!! So if any one is a little dubious after the so-so Haze don't worry!
The first thing to hit you about this game is the sheer quality the presentation and layout is superb even the 8 minute install isn't to much of a drain with the funny comments that appear on screen (lectures on smoking and details of the mission you are about to embark on). Then with your quivering figure you hit the start game button! Don't get too excited yet, especially if you downloaded the 15 minute trailer off PS Network as you are greeted with the same 15 minute cut scene, so yes depending if you love them or hate them the cut scenes are still there and just as long. Though no one can deny how beautiful they are and make sure you keep controller in ur hand because the interactive cut scenes are back too i.e press R1 to see what Snake is looking at, they are well scripted and as usual the voice acting is superb, David Hayter is back as Snake along with the rest of the MGS cast, and Meryl looks really fit with the Next Gen Graphics BTW.
Now after you have got through the cut scenes and start playing just 3 words really OMG!. You find yourself in the most realistic war zone ever depicted on game screen believe me it seriously gives COD 4 a run for its money. It took me a few minutes to get my bearings MGS 3 was along time ago now, and the 5.1 Dolby surround sound making it feel like bullets are flying over your head its easy to get over whelmed, but you are soon back to your Snaking ways. The whole atmosphere of the game and location is astonishing! You really feel the wrong step out to the open will be your death, the two warring sides work really well at one point I just could not get by these militia, so I quickly helped the other side and after a great gun battle, I slipped back into the shadows. The whole environment war torn eastern Bosnia type setting works great and really takes it away from the quiet deserted Alaskan setting on MGS1 or the lush jungle setting of MGS3. It really remind me of last few levels of Splinter Cell Rogue Agent, but a lot more detailed, the building exteriors, interiors, the dusty open war torn roads I have never seen graphics like it, The character models are just top notch, Snake and his accelerated aged face looks great.
I really don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I wont go into story or game play too much, I will say has loads of cool gadgets this time, the camo suit is true genius and is quite Predator like and really helps as this seems to be the toughest gear yet, On quite a few occasion I was lying on the ground blended in to 85% camo and had a whole platoon march a foot from my head! There is also a lot more to help snake along the way, this game is called Guns of The Patriots! and for good reason, long gone are the days when Snake only had a Socom & a Famas to get him through, there now guns a plenty!. You can pick guns up from bodies but you can't use them straight away, not until you meet a very helpful Arms Dealer, who works similar to "The Stranger" in Resident Evil 4.
I wont tell anymore cause I just don't want to spoil it, but I just can't wait to play it some more, the story looks very interesting and has the usual strange surreal twists, a great example is when you start the game there is a 3 min cut scene of eggs frying in a frying pan and a young girl talking/laughing and then it goes back to the usual story weird!! Also if you go to the save screen there is a small screen in bottom right hand corner which seems to be CCTV footage of some ones kitchen?? I guess I will find out what this is about in time. That is my only concern is that I will not be able to follow the story again, Metal Gear Solid 2 lost me story wise completely, I'm Big Boss, No I'm Big Boss, no it was the Patriots! Aha II was Big Boss all long!???? So far though the story is carrying on nicely from MGS1 so I'm following it ok.
Sorry I have not tried the Metal Gear Online yet but I don't think it will differ much from the beta, but seriously a game of this calibre and a quality multiplayer to boot this will not be leaving my PS3 for some time!
I have never said this before about a PS3 game but if you have a PS3 get this game!!! The only reason I could think not to get it is if you really hated the other Metal Gear Games then maybe this wont won't sway you, but I would still recommend you give it a crack. Yes there is still the very lengthy cut scenes and the story may need you to have an open mind and a degree!! But if you loved the other Metal Gear's like me then do not hesitate to buy this game. Lets hope there is more games of this sort of quality to come the PS3's way!
An obvious evolution for the greatest saga in the gaming world. May 19, 2008
Rakesh Mistry (UK)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Metal Gear is strange. You either love it, hate it, or dont mind having a bash at it every now and then. This review is for all people. I'll go through why you should love it, why you should hate it and why you should, most definatly, have a bash at MGS4.
Its the final MGS. Things have moved on considerably. The story arc is as thick and complicated as ever and a tense and war engrossed start to the game sets you in the mood for things to come. Graphically this game IS the best example on the PS3 to date. Every texture and detail flourishes in glorious HD, the framerate remaining constant throughout the game, only dipping from time to time in massive battles. I wont mention the story, at all. Frankly, if this is your part of the review, the person who loves metal gear, then you're itching for the next part of the story. Whatever you've read or seen about MGS4 so far is all turned on its head! This is, so far, the best MGS. It encorporates all the classic parts of MGS. The hidden items, funny quirks throughout the game, the classic characters. All of these are present but in its strongest form yet. For any MGS fan, this is the ultimate game ever.
MGS4 can be hated, however, for some sections in the game which seem repeated. There are some similarties that can be drawn to MGS3 throughout the game, especially in its set peices. The cutscenes, to an MGS fan, are absolute heaven. To a new comer, they are long and boring. Hideo Kojima mentioned that MGS4 will explain all other MGS's and have a back story. This is incorrect. MGS4 will prompt the 'x' button at certain parts in the story/cutscene and this will show a flash back. For example when you first meet Naiomi, the X button brings up 2 images of her from MGS. How is 2 pictures going to explain one of the key story parts for MGS4? Basically, there is no attempt to bring new players to this game and the saga. I can understand the memory constraints the Kojima faced. He wasnt happy at the storage of BluRay as he felt he needed more. This may explain why no back story cutscenes where included. Rant OVER!!
If you're in two minds on whether to get this game. Whether to get into the greatest saga in videogame history then i suggest you check your wallet and make a decision. If you choose to play MGS, MGS2, MGS3 and then MGS4 then you will have a clear picture of the saga and will get the most out of every game. I urge you to do this as MGS4 has been made for the fans. Its not been made to attract new players, or to showcase PS3 hardware. It has always had the thickest of plots and deserves your utmost attention. Play MGS on PC, then MGS2 and 3 on your PS3 (60GB), then your ready for MGS4. If not, then MGS4 will still be a challenging and rewarding action game. You'll miss out on the story, and some people may find that a blessing. But without the story, all your left with is cutscene in between gameplay in between cutscene. Without understanding what the curtscnes are about, theres no point.
Metal Gear Online comes with MGS4, and its utterly amazing. If your thinking of buying MGS4 and havnt played any previous ones, then MGO on its own will be worth your money. I've only played it once so I wont comment on it too much. From my game though, it was fantastic.
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