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PS3 | Action | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Boxart for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 186 screen shots
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.9
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE n/a

Preview: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Preview by Travis Moses | 10/19/2007 | 15:11:21 PM PST

We play a new, never-before-seen demo of MGS4 on the show floor of E for All.

New details in a nutshell:

  • Pausing the game brings up the minimap with a full-fledged waypoint system.

  • The threat ring that surrounds Snake replaces the radar system from previous games, and increases in wavelength when a threat is nearby.

  • Enemy APC vehicles are equipped with a 360-degree security camera.

  • Smokes return in the inventory!

Here at E for All, attendees are playing a new demo of Metal Gear Solid 4, different from what was played at Tokyo Game Show. The English voice overs are in place, and the dialogue is phenomenal, as always. The demo begins in a grimy back alley of the middle-eastern setting we've all seen from the trailers. Snake receives a call on his codec from Otacon, which are rendered entirely in 3D now, informing him of the PMC vs. local militia situation. It's extremely hostile at the moment and Snake is advised to avoid any contact.

This is where it all goes down.

This is where it all goes down.

The first thing I noticed was how different the game feels since the controls have been "Westernized." The camera is now detached from the standard isometric view and can be moved around freely with the right-analog stick. The triangle button attaches Snake to nearby walls, and the X button is used to crouch or hold to go prone. Using Snake's weapon feels more like Resident Evil 4, where holding L1 raises the gun and R1 is used to fire. When the gun is raised, the triangle button takes you into first-person, or aim-down-sights, mode.

Now let's back to the demo. I walk out into the streets where a relatively small gunfight is taking place between the PMC soldiers and the local militia. Otacon calls again and reminds me not to engage. Ok, so what do I do? I call up the minimap which reveals many alternate routes through the nearby dilapidated buildings and alley ways. As I crawl through a collapsed doorway, a fight breaks out in front of me. A local militia soldier falls to the ground crying, "Please don't kill me... don't shoot!" The PMC soldier standing over him fills his chest with bullets.

When the PMC soldier turns away I switch to Snake's new Stun Knife for close-quarters combat. It's time to take this ruthless killer out. I approach quietly from behind. An indicator appears informing me that I am now close enough to grab the enemy. With the soldier in my grips, I now have a few different options. I can kill him with a kick stab to the jugular or I can wrestle him to the ground for a choke hold.

The next area opens up a bit, and it's difficult to avoid being seen. So, if I'm going to be seen, why not make a little ruckus? With the barrel equipped I roll down the street knocking over three enemies before Snake throws the barrel off and vomits in the middle of the road. Now I'm really in trouble. There's about five or more soldiers alerted to my position.

My 15 minutes with MGS4 are coming close to an end, but not before I run into an open plaza filled with broken statues. The soldiers are hot on my ass and closing in fast. I jump onto a platform with two statues and assume the modern-art position. Snake grabs the crotch of the nearest statue, active camo kicks in, and the soldiers pass by unaware that I'm not really a stone cutout.


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