After years of playing "Metal Gear" games, I thought I knew the drill: Infiltrate the base, rescue someone, destroy "Metal Gear," and fight the last boss. This time-tested approach has won the hearts of gamers and earned "Metal Gear Solid" a spot on the industry's short list of premier franchises. But for a game as ambitious and groundbreaking as "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots," sticking to the formula simply isn't good enough. As the crowning achievement of the series' 20-year history, Hideo Kojima's final "Metal Gear Solid" title may not be what you expect, but it is everything you could hope for in a video game.
"MGS4" plays like the kind of game you always knew "Metal Gear" could be. The reinvented control scheme is the best thing that has ever happened to the series, giving combat a visceral and intuitive edge. Codec interactions are drastically reduced, which puts the focus on the stunning events happening right in front of you. Similar to games like "Call of Duty 4" and "BioShock," "MGS4" makes excellent use of scripted events during gameplay, like a rebel's execution at the hands of a PMC trooper, or a Gecko (hulking "Metal Gear"-like robots) crashing through a building. I doubt you'll even see them all in a single playthrough.
This series has always showcased amazing depth, but "MGS4" accommodates a breed of player choice unlike anything I have ever seen, providing you with the tools to overcome obstacles in any way you choose. Many titles may claim to have this feature, but its implementation in "MGS4" is truly remarkable. There is no longer just "stealth" or "not stealth" -- you devise your own solutions. How do you bypass the Gecko blocking your path? How do you keep a never-ending flood of Frogs (members of Liquid's private army) at bay? The answers may seem obvious at the time, but when your friends tell you how they approached the situations differently, you realize the scope of the freedom the game provides.
This freedom even transfers over to the boss fights. The Beauty and the Beast unit -- gorgeous women traumatized by atrocities of war -- is the most compelling and haunting collection of foes Snake has ever faced. Since you have more choice in how and when you acquire most guns, clashes with these disturbing women don't feel designed around particular weapons (with one awesome exception). They encourage you to experiment with your guns and your surroundings, leading to some harrowing confrontations that leave your knuckles white.
I haven't mentioned the story yet. That's not an oversight. As a longtime fan of the series, there are many revelations I'd love to discuss in detail, but any information is too much when it comes to the mind-blowing culmination of events. I'll just say I'm beyond satisfied and leave it at that.
Where the "Metal Gear" franchise goes from here is a mystery. Whatever happens, make no mistake: The story of Solid Snake ends here. With the series' last breath, Hideo Kojima's defining opus does more than just surpass the previous "Metal Gear" titles -- it creates a landmark gaming experience that continually astounds with its variety, depth and intelligence. "Metal Gear Solid 4" is a masterpiece.
