Getting Back on that ol' Horse

This is interesting on many levels. For one, I haven't played a Metal Gear Solid game since Sons (I mean, I suppose I dabbled in Snake Eater, but it didn't really grab me). In addition, I haven't written a Gamepro review in at least a year. Not to mention that I haven't touched a playstation controller in quite some time. But I see it all as making my way back atop the horse. And what a majestic and downright gorgeous horse this is.

Aside from the purely aesthetically pleasing aspects of this game (The graphics are gorgeous), it's really the amount of detail that's gone into every aspect of this game. Now those initiated into the Metal Gear series are surely aware that they've always put in the extra detail, and it seems a stretch to have them top the previous installments. But they've done just that, and Hideo and the crew have created a masterpiece.

But the intriguing part of this game (And what could've been it's downfall) is the immense focus on the story, and the extremely long cutscenes. Now, in most other circumstances this might have killed the game. There are certain series (*COUGH* Xenosaga *COUGH*) who have tried hour long cutscenes, only to make the game three shades of mediocre. But in this case, you, and any passerbyers, will have glued your corneas to the screen due to MGS4's mind numbing action, cranial boosting (and severely complicated) storyline, unbelievable acrobatics and camera angles, and just plain good old fashioned character drama, that compels you to keep your eyes on every load screen, for fear you might miss something.

I only have three beefs:
1)I sometimes had a hard time swallowing the whole "War based economy and Private Military companies. Interesting, and the concept has merit, but they don't explain it too well...

2) Snake is a dumb sonuvabitch from the better beginning part of the game, then somehow attains a sage-like wisdom from the God or ridiculous timing, somewhere towards the middle of the game!

3) This game leaves me wanting to much damn more.

As for good things? Well the game is very accesible, even if you haven't been a loyal MGS fan. In addition, it pays tribute to all of the gaming gods who have stayed with the series all these years as well (it really does clear up the extremely confusing plot threads left by MGS and MGS2. It also completely justifies the purchase of a PS3 and thensome. Not to mention Multiplayer,

This game is a must have for all video gamers. MUST HAVE. It's the perfect game to bring a non-gamer in with, and will satisfy even the hardest of hardcore gamers.

I admit that with the Wii being such a dissapointment, and the 360 not fully satisfying my gaming needs, to see this come out on PS3 has really encouraged me to keep on gaming, and that sometimes, you need to revisit that old horse, to experience new tricks.