Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (MGS4), Hideo Kojima's fourth installment in the Metal Gear Solid series, is slated for a 2007 release on the new PlayStation 3 entertainment system. Although there was no playable footage at the 2006 E3 Expo, gamers were highly pleased with Konami's very exciting and lengthy trailer with never before seen content. Every hour on the hour, gamers sat in eager anticipation for a glimpse of this game. Hideo Kojima once again oversees the game design, production, and direction. Most game developers are hard pressed to outdo a previous video game masterpiece. By the looks of Konami's trailer, this game looks like it will live up to its predecessors if not outdo them. In my humble opinion, it was the most promising and innovative interactive entertainment experience offered at this year's E3 Expo.

This Tactical Espionage Action next gen game encompasses the theme "No Place to Hide." Kojima is perhaps the best interactive storyteller to grace the video game industry. This game is packed with stealth, mechs, political corruption, romance, and philosophical themes. Not only do we see the return of a much older and more mature Solid Snake, but all our favorite characters make an appearance: Naomi Hunter, Colonel Campbell, Meryl Silverburgh, Otacon, Raiden, Liquid Ocelot. Yoji Shinkawa once again oversees the character design. The graphics from the CG cutscenes were pure eye candy. Add to that the epic music score from Harry Gregson-Williams, and Kojima looks to provide a truly immersive gameplay experience. Here's the MGS4 logline from Konami's website:

In a word overrun by private military companies (PMCs), wars are no longer fought over 
nations or ideologies. Rather, they are micro-managed by overaching PMCs, right down to 
the bullet. Joined by a familiar cast of characters, Snake must once against return to 
the battlefield to confront a life-long rival who is manipulating the world's wars from 
the one world in which soldiers will always have a place...

Here's some of the storyline and dialogue from the E3 2006 MGS4: Guns of the Patriots trailer.

War has changed. Our war is over. Since the Manhattan Incident, restrictions on military intervention in foreign countries have eased, fueling the demand for mercenaries. Private military companies whose business includes supplying these mercenaries. PMCs have become a serious threat to the world. The U.S. has exported too much military power. Now she's paying the price. In total, they've got enough manpower to rival the U.S. military. Based on our investigation, the five largest PMCs are run by a dummy corporation which acts as a single mother company. And the mother company? Outer Heaven. The one world which soldiers will always have a place...

War has changed. It's not about nations, or ideologies. It's not even about profit, resources, or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles, fought by mercenaries and machines. War, and its vast consumption of human life, has become a rational, well-oiled business transaction. War has changed. ID-tagged soldiers carry ID-tagged weapons, use ID-tagged gear. Nanomachines inside their bodies enchance and regulate their actions. Genetic control.. Information control... Emotion control... Battlefield control. The age of deterrence is now the age of control, averting catastrophe from weapons of mass destruction. And he who controls the battlefield, controls history.

War has changed. When the battlefield is under total control, war becomes routine. He plans to fan the flames of war even higher... To create the perfect world once envisioned by Big Boss. You mean the U.S. wasn't aware that these PMCs have been assembling an army? The PMCs and soldiers are installed with a state-of-the-art control system. As long as the nanomachines remain inside of a soldier, he won't be able to point his gun anywhere near a client. We've found him... Liquid has made his move. Liquid has taken command of an immense army, and is now preparing to unleash an armed insurrection.

Solid Snake: "War has changed. But there's one thing I must do. One last punishment I must endure. I have to erase my genes, wipe the MEME form the face of the earth. This is my final mission." Some stories can't be told by words. Some legends are meant to die. Some bloodlines must come to an end.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Release date: 2007
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots* marks the return of Hideo Kojima's legendary tactical espionage action series, evolved for the next-generation on the PLAYSTATION 3. New gameplay features, spectacular graphics and the return of several characters from the Metal Gear Solid series once again redefine this landmark franchise.

Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel
Release date: June 2006
Platform: PSP system

Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel brings the celebrated MGS comics to life on the PSP system. Edited to thrilling music, explosive sound effects, and animated visuals, the eclectic artwork of Ashley Wood is taken to an exciting new level. Coupled with interactive gameplay modes, Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel stands as the forerunner in this exciting new genre!

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Release date: Winter 2006/2007
Platform: PSP system

Big Boss returns to battle in this all-new MGS action game for the PSP system, where players control him throughout the game as well as recruit and use their own squadron of mercenaries. In addition to a full-fledged single player mode set after the events of MGS3: Snake Eater, the game's multiplayer modes let players take their custom squad online to do battle across new levels, featuring a unique "White Flag" mechanic that will allow players to fight to the death or surrender to compete again.

Des Manttari is an avid Metal Gear Solid Fan.

Links

• More Video Game Reviews by PG Editor
• Go to Dave's Gaming Domain
• Go to Dave's Slaves
• E3 Expo 2006 Index
• Konami
• Kojima Productions