Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots…The game that PlayStation 3 owners have anxiously awaited since its announcement. Sure, the PlayStation 3 has such great exclusives as Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. However, MGSIV is the game that is supposed to be the first "real" system seller. While I’m not handing out another 10 (probably much to DeViney’s relief), MGSIV is certainly worth the hype that has been built up.

Let us start with the first thing discussed with games. The first thing you really get a feel for: Graphics. You pop in that game and it’s the first thing that leaves an impression. Boy, what an impression MGSIV leaves. It certainly has the best graphics of any PS3 game to date. While I’m not so ready to proclaim it has the best graphics period as many others are (perhaps my non-HD TV has something to do with that), that does not make it any less impressive. With the amount of cutscenes in MGSIV, it is astounding that they can keep the graphics high throughout…and even more so that they can do it throughout the action. No spawning enemies or "fog of war", everything is smooth and gorgeous.

The only downside that I can say about MGSIV’s graphics is the fact the closeups. You have to be really close up to the item or building or whatnot, but then the graphics take a very bad turn. It’s only noticeable here and there, but it can be a distraction in those few instances. Kind of hard not to notice random pixels winking at you as you crawl through a vent. Though I am just nit-picking, and that is generally a sign that someone is looking for something wrong. In other words, MGSIV is gorgeous and only small flaws mar that.

Another category that only draws minor complaints is the sound. Metal Gear Solid has always been known for its superb voice acting, and Number 4 is no different. Many voice actors (and actresses) from previous MGS’s return, and new ones fit in superbly. I’ll admit that I’m lenient with VA’s, but this is some of the best work I’ve seen. MGSIV certainly sets the bar high. Voice Acting isn’t the only bit to shine though, and I’m not going to spend hundreds of words tooting the VA’s horn either. On to Sound Effects!

Let me say this…Describing audio can get so boring after a while, so I will "regale" you with a tale of the sound effects that will be much more interesting for me to type and for the reader (you) to read. Bear with me here. So I’m running down a dusty road as Snake (obviously), dodging from building to building. The comm blares out, but I can’t seem to catch it due to the loud explosions, gunfire, and screaming. I find myself cursing that I can’t hear the comm in the game when it hits me: I’m not supposed to! The realism the game was displaying was showing that, because of the explosions and what not, I shouldn’t hear it. Unless I find a nice quiet corner, I’m not going to have a chance of hearing it. Now that, ladies and gents, is a WOW moment. One of those moments when you realize a game truly did something special, and that isn’t the only one. The game is filled with such moments.

It just gets better too, as the gameplay is exceptional. First off, you get to do something no other MGS game has allowed to a good degree: Run and Gun. Sure, you get rewards for the "correct" way of going through the game, which would be going through it silently and using stealth. However, the designers realized that some people don’t want to do just stealth. Yes, stealth is required to a minor degree no matter what, but some people just want to blow shit up and blow someones brains out the back of their heads. Who can blame them? When playing a shooter of any kind that sort of desire usually kicks in from time to time (at the least). The fact that MGSIV allows such a smooth transition from fighting to stealth speaks volumes.

Now, I’m sure you all want some details, so I won’t go into the finer points of the transition and how it might effect global economy as a whole. Yes, I am quite full of amusingly bad jokes. Let me start with the action sequences: You have a multitude of weapons at yours disposal. Everything from Smoke Grenades to RPG’s to Assault Rifles to…Playboy Magazines? Yes, you heard me correctly. It seems that in adding all of these options the developers remembered to keep some of the goofier items: Cardboard boxes, Playboy Magazines, and the like. With all of these weapons at your disposal, it is no wonder some would choose to run through this game with guns blazing. However, guns can’t win every battle, and the Octo-Camo Suit helps to give you the competitive edge in stealth and action. What does it do? Well, it allows your suit to change camouflage for whatever you are leaning on or laying down on…Whether it be grass or a tile floor. I’m sure everyone can see how that would be useful when there are zounds of enemies and you merely need to hide for a few to get them to disperse.

The enemies themselves aren’t stupid either. Jump in a trashcan while they are watching? They are going to find you. Didn’t hide that dead body? Get ready for an enemy scout to find them and report it back. The attention to detail is astounding, and makes it so that you have to really watch yourself on the harder difficulties (there are 5 difficulties all together). Also, to make it through those harder difficulties, stealth will be needed. For those who say that the game has become a mindless shooter, I challenge them to play on hard and try and gun their way throughout the entire game. However, Stealth and Action aren’t even the best parts of the gameplay…The boss fights are. MGS has always been known for its great boss fights, each one unique and requiring strategy. These are no different. Each boss fight will test your intelligence, skill, and patience. Each one has a flaw that isn’t evident immediately. Throw in the fact that there are two ways to defeat some of the bosses, and this MGS doesn’t disappoint.

The only downside to this excellent gameplay is the lack of it. The game is decent as far as action games go, having a good 20 hours of gameplay…Nay, I should say 10, as the other 10 is devoted to cutscenes to build the plot. While I love the story, I would’ve rather had some more action in between those long cutscenes. During a second or third playthrough when you’ve found you’ve memorized the story (to a degree), you also find yourself skipping those cutscenes so you can get to the action. However, the MGS series has always been like this to a greater or lesser degree…So I’m not surprised. However, newcomers to the MGS Franchise will be quickly overwhelmed. Throw in the fact that each Act (there are 5) requires a lengthy installation, and you will find yourself sitting with the controller on your lap as much as you will tapping those buttons.

While I’m on the subject, let’s talk about the story that MGS provides. It’s really hard to understand the story unless you have played all of the other games…Or at least have read up on them. MGS has always thrown in a deep (if not the THE deepest) plot, and this one is no exception. MGSIV has the job of tieing in the three previous games, and it does an excellent job of it. The story is long, many characters from all 3 games are mentioned or make a personal appearance, and the story is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The developers have even gone so far as to provide a downloadable MGS encyclopedia for newcomers (and vets who need a refresh) to MGSIV. The only problem that many will find is the sheer quantity next to the among of gameplay. Many would say that, outside of an RPG (and even then it’s rough), 50/50 is not a good percentage ratio of plot to gameplay. However, if you can deal with the long story, it is worth the price of admission.

I haven’t really addressed controls or the camera, which have both always been a sore subject between fans and newcomers. The "broken" (matter of opinion really) camera from the previous MGS games has been fixed. Now you can go first person and glance around (you can also shoot in this angle, which is a relief to some), and snap the camera around Snake in 3rd person as well. This makes silently maneuvering in the large environments easy. In other words you won’t be fighting with the camera, just the enemies. Even the control system has been tweaked so that it fits the PS3 controller perfectly. No gimmicky sixaxis controls here, ladies and gents! Everything is quick and easily accessible. You get to set what items are in your quick items and what items are in your quick weapon slots…Both easily accessible with a tap of a button.

Metal Gear Solid IV is certainly an excellent game. You have the choice of taking cover and firing, running and gunning with the enemy and any allies you have. Then there is stealth which has its own rewards. With plenty of unlockables, you have an incentive to replay. Throw in that MGSIV has a pretty good online portion, and you’ve got all the makings of a must own PS3 game. The downsides of MGSIV are few, and none will effect the game too much. This game will please any who like a good story and good stealth.