the game and not be blown away, either by the open gameplay, the amazing visuals, or

the deep and compelling story. This is not just another game, but rather a benchmark

other games will be trying to reach for years to come.

Over its twenty year history, the Metal Gear franchise has developed an elaborate storyline

dealing with government conspiracy and secret missions. The world have grown to be controlled

by PMCs, with Liquid Ocelot in control of the most powerful. So series hero Solid Snake

returns, only now as Old Snake, and he is the only hope. The story is amazing, and does

a great job tying up many of the loose ends in the series.

But the game is not just more of the same. The gameplay has been reworked and the changes

are impressive. Snake now moves in an over-the-shoulder perspective. You can crouch, crawl and shoot

your way through the mission. The game can be played like a stealth game where you sneak

through and avoid contact. It helps to play with stealth and make use of Snake’s new

equipment. The camo index return with the OctoCamo, which changes to fit the environment.

And the Solid Eye, which is your rader and best friend. But you can play as a shooter

where you run and shoot anything that moves. The shooting is over-the-shoulder or first

person and brings more depth to the gameplay. Snake can now pick up enemy weapons and customize

his own, with the help of arms dealer Drebin.

You will do your sneaking and shooting through some of the best looking environments I have

ever seen. The game is broken into five chapters, and five locations. From the opening level

in the Middle East during battle, to the returning to old favorite, the game is nothing short

of jaw-dropping. There is so much going on and so detailed you have to take not just

a second but a minute to appreciate it. Each levels in varied, and includes some great

set pieces and some great boss battles. You are constantly looking forward to the next

section while also enjoying where you are.

If you are looking for complaints, you are going to have to dig. The cut-scenes do tend

to drag on, with some being over 40 minutes in length. But with the superb voice-acting

and storyline, this is a small complaint. They may be long but they will keep your attention

throughout.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the highlights of the Playstation 3. With some of the deepest

gameplay, engaging story elements and unsurpassed visuals, this game is a testament to what

is video games are capable when developers have great ideas and the talents to create

them.