GameGirl.com

Before I go into my first impressions of this hellacious game, let me state for the record that beginning a game that is easily a hundred hour game during a move cross country while living out of hotels was not in any way shape or form the smartest decision I have ever made. First, I had trouble finding time to play and I would have withdrawals because I wanted to see what was going to happen next. The game sucks you in like an addicting soap opera. Second, did you know some televisions in hotels are bolted down and do not have the proper connections? Can someone please explain this phenomenon to me?

I must admit, please don't hate me, I had never played any of the Metal Gear Solid games before this one. I have a nephew, Alejandro, who is an amazing gamer and he loved the series. With all the hype surrounding the release of this highly anticipated game, and after much coaxing from Alejandro, I decided I was going to play the game. I put down my reservation at GameStop, if only to get the free DVD and waited. While I am admittedly not officially reviewing the DVD, I have to admit it was a great introduction to the game. It gave the entire backstory so I didn't feel so lost once the game was released. But this is not a review of the DVD so moving on.

When I decide to write about a game I always try to stay unbiased to what others have said or feel. I look for both the negative and positives of the game but let's be honest, how objective can you be if it is your opinion? My opinion is simple, the game really does live up to the hype. There is a reason people are still talking about, still playing and bragging about completing Metal Gear Solid 4. With that said, I am probably not the best gamer for the style of game play MGS seems to favor.

I have always been a kamikaze styled player. I prefer action, killing and, yes, dying. I want to learn the best ways to take down the enemy. This is due primarily to my lack of patience and patience is something you need to have a bit of to play this game. First, there is a great deal of storytelling in the game. It plays much like a movie and yet it is incredibly interesting so you find that you don't mind that you haven't played for nearly 10 minutes. Also interesting is the flashbacks. In the game, at various points, the X will appear in the top of your screen and if you press it (press multiple times) you will see flashbacks as they pertain to the storyline. After a lengthy but, I reiterate, well-told introduction I get to move - but, not for long. There are massive robot-looking creatures and enemies everywhere. Okay so Otacon explains things as you go along and quickly find that you are smack dab in the middle of a war and neither side is friend or foe. I abruptly find out exactly what this means in terms of game play - both sides will kill you! Here is where your patience kicks into high gear. You have to be stealthy and make use of your camouflage gear. Literally. If you stay still long enough, your uniform blends in, in a chameleon-like fashion. Problem; Solid Snake is now Old Snake, too much squatting around and you physically stress him out. You have to maneuver around battles and people unseen to get to your rendezvous points. Ugh! I am not good at this at all. Needless to say, I die, a lot. But it does not deter me from wanting to play.

I find that while I love some games because they are easy or quick achievement points, the ones I talk about most are the challenging ones. I love my robot sidekick the Mark II who is there to help me with the exchanging of the ID weaponry, specifically locked for use with only certain people, and more. That's where the crazy, Wesley Snipes looking Drebin and his crazy monkey come in. He launders the weapons so I can use all the weapons I pick up.

As the game goes on, and I die more and more, I am introduced to more characters who are reminiscent of the previous installments, such as Raiden and Naomi. While these characters are new to me, I don't feel like I missed something by not having played the previous games. Between the dialogue and intricacies of the game, you are too caught up in the mission and story to care. In my research I found that Hideo Kojima put a lot of himself into this game and it shows.

I still have a ways to go in the game and it could easily turn into a 300 hour game given the way I play but I have to admit I always looking forward to playing. I mention the story a few times because I think it is what makes the game so powerful. Add in the amazing graphics, the fun gadgets and even the humor (there is a very crude part where Snake obtains an old oil drum after a man has been caught hiding in it while relieving himself, and there is plenty of violent flatulence).

I do not want to give away too much because I really want people to experience it for themselves. I guess you could look it up but what's the fun in that?! I will have to let you know the rest goes but only after I am completely done and with a spoiler disclaimer, of course. I cannot wait to see how it all ends.

• << prev
• next >>