User Score
8.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2660 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. ed
    Jun 5, 2008
    10
    I am not allow to spoil anything and that was the deal for getting an early copy of MGS4 but guys this game is worth even the $85+ for the collectors edition.

    it has all you need in a game full of action and espionage.
    that 90 minute scene crap is all nothing but flamebait.

    If you are an early MGS fan you wont be disappointed
  2. TS
    Sep 16, 2009
    10
    I would give this game a 20 if I could. This game, along with MGS1, MGS2, and MGS3, are the best games I've ever played. The game is full of emotional moments, and some of them brought me to tears. The gameplay is amazing, allowing you to stealth or shoot your way through the game. And the cutscene length is no problem, as they are really well done cutscenes, and you'll probably enjoy watching them. Amazing game, the #1 game on PS3, and the #1 game of all time {along with the entire series of course}. Expand
  3. Jan 29, 2011
    10
    This game follows the greate path of the rest of the MGS games. The controls, grapichs, and story is just plaine awsome. This game will emerge you deep into the world of Solid Snake for hours and hours and you wont get bored. This is truly a must have game, because you will have missed one of the gaming worlds Brighest pearls if you dont. 10/10, and i would rate it higher if possible:)
  4. OtekaOmaru
    Jun 9, 2008
    10
    Haha! Those euro sites look like right arseholes right about now, don't they? Everyone gives the game 95 and up while they just sit there with their 80s. Need I remind everyone, that both Egde and Eurogamer, gave Halo 3 a shining 100. That says it all.
  5. infamousbutcher
    Jun 14, 2008
    10
    well 9.9 coz theres no such thing as a perfect game. but this is as cose as you will ever get. This game plays up to the Metal Gear series.now im finding it hard to describe coz i dont know where to start. If you havnt played the series, go out and buy MGS, MGS2 and MGS3 subsistance (metal gear 1 and metal gear 2 solid snake included) then play this game, you will be in for a story that changes direction more than you change your underwear. It is without a doubt the best game series and story in existance. Expand
  6. Dec 14, 2010
    10
    Absolutely one of the best games I've played on my PS3. I have all 4 of the MGS titles, and I kinda think this one is much better. It's not the graphics, though the graphics are amazing. But the storyline is incredible. The controls are easier and better, much better than the old ones. The villains look bad ass, some villain's and characters return from MGS, MGS2, and MGS3. I also like Solid Snakes new suit that camoulflages automatically. I can't find any problems with this game, except the extremely long cut scenes like the last 3 game. But, the cutscenes are pretty cool anyway but too long. However, this is an amazing game. If your a fan of the MGS series and have a PS3, this is a MUST GET game in the collection. Expand
  7. AlexAguilera
    May 31, 2008
    10
    I loved this game from start to finish and a great way to end the story of snake. I wish I could play as Snake when he was younger, but everything else in th game makes up for it. It's the whole package: Graphics, Gameplay, Presentation, Tilt, and Replay Value. Three words :Buy This Game! You will not be unsatisfied.
  8. MarcBaicu
    Jun 3, 2008
    10
    This game is one of the best ever made. I just wish that the last review (80) would just be deleted or something, because the reviewer obviously has no idea what he is talking about. We should start up a petition to remove the last review, its messing up the average!
  9. JFoundation
    Aug 17, 2009
    4
    I kinda knew what to expect from this, having read about all the cutscenes, and having played MGS on PS1 years back I knew that it'd be another ridiculously unfathomable Japanese plot about stupid fantasy characters with idiotic names. That said, I picked it up second hand because of the hundreds of 10/10 reviews. I honestly don't know how anyone could really think this is worthy of any more than a 6 or 7/10 at best. For a start, gameplay makes up about 20% of the experience, but the gameplay is seriously dull. At no point do you really feel in danger, instead there are long periods of plodding about areas that feel like they've been designed on Super Nintendo in 1994, followed by a frustrating bit that you might have to do a few times because the objectives are just unclear and baffling. Let me be clear - this is not a game for grown adults. I have arrived at a part of the game that requires a bit of trial and error to overcome, and having tried a few different methods, I just can't be bothered to waste any more time on this game, I have more important things to do with my free time. The only things MGS4 has in it's favour are it's presentation and the cutscene graphics, which are pretty despite the truly preposterous "storyline" which tries to sabotage your will to live. PLEASE - If you're not a 15 year old fanboy, don't waste your time with this, truly the most overrated game I have played in 25 years of gaming. Expand
  10. MarkWood
    Sep 23, 2006
    10
    From The Stoneage of 3D gaming came MGS1, a rev olution in gaming. With the next generation came MGS2, pushing the boundaries of graphics and gameplay. The PS3 is near and it is innevitable that hideo kojima will produce another game that will bring the joy back to games again
  11. ScottF
    Mar 30, 2010
    6
    I really wanted to like this game. I loved MGS1 & 2 as they featured lots of tight stealth action. However, I found MGS4 left me cold. Instead of sneaking correctly through the more open ended levels, I found it easier to just run through in the open in a dash to the next checkpoint. I found the cutscenes stupidly long, and excruciatingly boring. Whats the fun in playing for 5 minutes, and then watching a mind numbing 20 minute cut scene? Another 5 mins of playtime, and another 20 mins of putting the pad down and twiddling your thumbs? It'a an absolute mess of pacing. The game is technically very sound, and if you are a big MGS fan you might be able to put up with it and enjoy it. But for non series fans, and people who actually want to PLAY a video game, and not just stare at cut scenes, steer clear. Expand
  12. KeithLamprecht
    May 28, 2008
    10
    Truly as good a story teller as any movie! This story has been developed over 20 years to provide the finale to one of the greatest video game series of all time. In Snake's final chapter we learn about the Patriots and Liquid's last stand. Relevant to foreign policy today, PMCs and global uprisings create a history that one can truly get enveloped in. On the PS3, a system that can provide such great graphics, sound, and realism, this game will blur the line between games and art. Expand
  13. MartinAndy
    May 30, 2008
    10
    Epic from start to finish. I received an early copy of the game, and for a MGS4 it is nothing short of pure brilliance. You will NOT be disappointed. If you have been a fan of the series, this is utter perfection. Enjoy on June 12th.
  14. solidzellmofasa
    May 30, 2008
    10
    i bet my friend $400 that metal gear is going to win game of the year he bet on grand theft auto 4.gta is way over rated and i own the game it deserves a 7 and mgs4 derves a 10 this is way better than gta4 on graphics,gameplay,trill,story and lets not forget the legendary snake can kick the russians butt
  15. ChrisLou
    Jun 1, 2008
    10
    In short, Metal Gear Solid 4's gameplay takes the best of the previous MGS games while mixing elements from Resident Evil 4.

    The story does a spectacular job concluding Old Snake's journey that will please fans over and over.

    This game is truly one of the greatest and most memorable games to date.
  16. DanielDunn
    May 22, 2008
    10
    I have yet to play it but since 140 other people who have yet played it can score it I will to, The first 3 (not including the 2 original) were great games with great story's, so I cant wait for MGS4, I also game it a 10 to help balance out all the BS reviews from PS3 Haters and Xbots.
  17. Sep 29, 2012
    10
    I was browsing through Metacritic and couldn't help but notice this game had a below-than-expected user rating. So I must do this masterpiece justice by writing one of my own. In my opinion, MGS 4 is a glimpse of what games will be in the future: movies in which you will interact. Right when the menu pops up you get the feeling this game is different.


    I won't lie, I am a huge fan of t
    his franchise since I played Metal Gear on NES. I consider Metal Gear Solid 4 to be the best of all. Snake, the main character, has never been so likeable, and even those who never knew him will soon enough love this guy. He's old, he's fighting enemies far stronger than him. He endures pain throughout the game, yet he never gives up. And he still has time to make us smile with his "simple soldier" reactions as he interacts with the other characters. This game is flawless. The animation still competes and even beats most games. The movement of the different characters, vehicles, and natural objects is extremely well made. The atmosphere of this game is incredible. The sound effects are top notch and the music comes in at the right moment to add more intensity to what is happening on the screen. The graphics are still very, very good. I believe they finally were equalled a couple of years ago by a few other games. This game's scenario is perhaps the only bad thing about it. It's complicated even for Metal Gear fanatics. The cutscenes are long, yes, but they can easily be equals to movie scenes you watch in theaters. Many of them are breathtaking in terms of epicness, and others add more character to the different people involved in the story. You will forever remember how you felt throughout your first playthrough of this game, it's so intense that you will sometimes think about it after playing it.

    You can complete levels in various ways depending on your style. Solid Snake is an expert at CQC ( Closed Quarters Combat ), and once you are sure enough of your skills, you will enjoy knocking out your enemies a lot more than simply shooting them. You have many many gadgets to help you in your quest and you can unlock many more as you play. Many have a cartoony feeling to it, such as the legendary cardboard box in which you can hide to avoid detection. There are no trophies for this game since it was released in the pre-trophy era of the PS3.


    This game has an online mode and it's lots of fun. You can do pretty much everything you do in solo mode. There's even a game mode that allows people to be Snake and his remote controlled robot while both teams fight each other. Some players have become experts now, and you might have a hard time winning, which can lead to frustration. You can, however, access a training area and be trained by one of the experts who can teach you how to play online.


    This game was already a classic the day it came out. It will forever be remembered by those who played it. In retrospect I believe nobody can give this game a bad note, it has to be 9 or 10. Those who gave it a lower note should not be worthy of writing reviews. This game is pretty much a cornerstone in video gaming and was, to me, the symbol of what PS3 ( and other same-gen consoles ) were going to do in the upcoming years.
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  18. AJHill
    Aug 9, 2009
    10
    Overall best game I have ever played. Amazing story. Amazing Graphics. Funny. Serious. Sad. Corny. Unbelievably intelligent. Incredible replay value. Beautiful soundtrack. Great implementation of Sixaxis controls.

    There's absolutely no reason to give this game anything below a 10.
    The first game that I have ever decided to keep forever.
    Absolutely amazing.
  19. JeffB
    Nov 6, 2009
    5
    I was expecting a lot going into this game. It looked beautiful, the ratings were excellent and the game looked promising as a whole. And by the time the first cut scene was over and the controls were given to me I had decided that it was my favorite game of all time. From that point on however, it was all down hill. As the game progresses it loses more and more of its mature tone towards a theme that is absolutely idiotic. The characters are terrible, they look ridiculous and the conversations reminded me more of Pokemon than a video game. The are attempts at humor and pathetic and the game will interrupt you for basically no reason in some parts so it can play another idiotic cut scene that will likely take up another half hour of time you should be sneaking around. I have never seen a video game such as this in which almost every character is either unbelievably gay or just plain stupid. Snake is the only good character in this game and at some points I thought this only because the other characters were so unbelievably terrible. Despite these things however I played out the rest of the game hoping it would pass. Unfortunately however these things only got worse as the game played on. By the end you will have seen four crazy bitches scream for 20 minutes straight (which is honestly nothing more than irritating), You will have seen a monkey smoking, a full grown man crap his pants and then watch in disbelief as the game try's to make you laugh with fart jokes, a gay vampire dance like a ballerina as you repeatedly blow his brains out, an incredibly pale ninja guy fight with a sword in his mouth, the absolute worst attempt at romance I've ever seen a video game attempt during a shootout, and to top it off there will be a wedding at the end the is so unbelievably gay that I literally turned my system off because of. I hate to say it but in order to experience this game's good qualities you will have to survive being hit over the head with so many unbelievably stupid elements that the game will fall short as a whole. Expand
  20. jasonAnsari
    May 31, 2008
    10
    i dont have words to explain how good the visual quality of the game is, i mean from the moment game starts everything seem real and as if ur are playin a movie....gameplay mechanics are tigher and interchange b/w first person and third person is smooth...also the drebin points improves longevity of the game...but all i can say about the game is from the moment its starts and ends....u on every occasion u praises KOJIMA for his fantastic work..and playing game show how much sweat and tears they have shed making it possible...its an experiance u must have...game requires 0 prior knowledge about MGS series...this game cant be more perfect...must buy for every ps3 owner and the one on the fence..here ur chance to buy ps3....go for it... Expand
  21. JamesC.
    Jun 13, 2008
    10
    I just knew this was gonna end the series badly, but this did it amazingly. Kojima is brilliant, everything was beautiful and (spoiler) when raiden was holding his sword via his mouth, I must say I started to believe in god.
  22. Snakesucks
    Jun 22, 2008
    0
    This game is terrible, I buy games to play them not to watch long cut scenes of some nonsensical story. Cinematics can't save this game, the gameplay is awful too. Stealth is done better by several other games, and it is a bad excuse for a shooter as well. Stay away...
  23. OwnedL
    Sep 4, 2009
    10
    This game is the final one with Snake in it and has untold amounts of blood, sweat and tears into this. I thought that it overall had great gameplay, visuals were very good, and the audio was a bit under my tasted. The video was remarkable, having dust fly up ontu the screen when you enter a dusty area. Blood will also fly onto the screen. Though I hate to see Snake leave the seen, he is old, tired and lonely (lol). You desreve your rest we salute you. Expand
  24. DavidSchmidt
    Aug 20, 2009
    10
    This game did the impossible and surpassed the hype that it had built up behind it. It wrapped up every loose plot point of the previous game while giving you an emotional experience that no game has yet achieved. It's not the kind of game for people who need to headshot something every couple minutes, but if you want a story full of believable and sympathetic characters and action sequences that rival most Hollywood movies then you need to play this game. When I had finished this game all I immediately called up my friends to talk about how incredible this game was. This game is truly a single player masterpiece and if you haven't played it yet do yourself a favor and go buy/rent it. Expand
  25. MikeWinter
    Jun 15, 2008
    10
    I've been playing video games for, about, 25 years (got an intellivision around 1983), and this is, simply, the best game I have ever played. I am a huge Metal Gear fan, and being so does enhance the experience of playing this game, but even if you have no, prior experience playing this series, I think It can still be a very rewarding and unique experience.
  26. KamilNie?
    Jun 3, 2008
    10
    MGS4 is very good game, if game is so great as others MGS games it must be great. Fuck hamurgers that can't see nothing out of Gears of War or other games with so inteligent history. Now I understand why other side of earth say that americans are the most dumb country in the world!
  27. LarryGrauss
    Dec 26, 2008
    10
    This game just blew my tiny little mind to pieces. The graphics are undoubtedly the best ever made. I do not exagerate at all. MGS4 is the only game to take up the whole 50G of the Blu-Ray, and that's after extensive data compression. This game was one of the reasons I returned my XBOX 360 and got a PS3 (thank God I still had the receipt!)
    And what is it with hating the cutscenes?
    The cutscenes are jaw-droppingly amazing and quite enticing. And the story is complex, but it is also the best of any game so far.
    10/10.
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  28. Feb 7, 2012
    3
    Got this because I loved MGS Snake Eater. Played mgs4 once, then twice, then some more. Thought it was great. Played it recently, it was ok. The cutscenes were horrifically long to the point where I was nodding off. The graphics were good. The thing that I hated the most was the europe mission, following the Resistance member. That was so boring I had to quit and come back later and listen to music to kill the boredom. Expand
  29. Nov 4, 2012
    4
    I enjoyed all the previous MGS games when I was younger. This is definitely the worst of the lot, by far. I tried to like this game but there are just too many annoying things with it. First of all this is not a pick up and play game, which would not have been a problem if I was still at school or college etc. However for someone with a full time job, family etc this is just no good. I put the game on to "play" for an hour only to be sat watching a cut scene, yes this game has introduced a whole new meaning to the word "cut scene". There is more cut scenes than gameplay to be had here, cut scenes literally go on for hours. I admit the cut scenes in themselves are not that bad, they can be enjoyed if you are really into the story of the game. The story is ok but too far fetched for me, too unrealistic. Bosses with annoying screams/screeching sounds just takes away from the realism. I have always preferred games to have an element of realism and MGS 4 has moved to robots and machines. For me the other MGS games are much better than this. I may try the HD collection in the future as I genuinely enjoyed previous MGS titles. This is more like a movie which is not much good for someone who has limited time to play, like myself. The gameplay elements are good in places but there are constant cut scene interruptions. You can skip and if you do this you realise how little gameplay there is in the game. Overall a lot of people love this game but its not for me. I guess I am considered a casual gamer now and this is not easy to pick up and play. If you are looking for stealth action I would consider the alternatives of Hitman and Splinter Cell, for me these are better games.

    This "game" is so slow that I put it on to play for an hour but I am sat watching the whole time. I don't really watch many films, I prefer to play games and I though I had bought a game not a movie. There has never, to my knowledge, been a game with as many cut scenes as this. Not a game for me I am afraid, just not worth the time and effort. Another point is that this game is very Japanese, the characters, everything is Japanese.
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  30. Spartan
    Jun 19, 2008
    5
    This is the part where like every single other person here I either show I'm a PS3 fanboy and rate it 10 or show I'm 360/Wii fanboy (both good consoles to) and rate it 0. Yet since I'm neither I'll split the difference and give it a 5.
  31. ZackM.
    Jun 8, 2008
    10
    I love t. It is definetely my best game of all time. It even beats COD4! Graphics better than anything before it!
  32. JC
    May 28, 2008
    10
    Game of the decade! No question about it!
  33. JohnB.
    Jun 13, 2008
    10
    I've played it for a couple of hours, and its amazing!
  34. AnttiA.
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    Absolutely the best game you can have for PS3. Now go get it if you don't already have it. About 60% is game play and rest is video and codec talk. No too long sessions but they might get way if you aren't interested in the story. MGS4 has story unlike no other. It's long, it's got lots of tight twists and it's well written. I am pretty sure that even a person who doesn't have previous experience of the MG/MGS games gets a grip of the plot. Not too much is placed for plot thought. Graphics just blow away GTA4 for example with all the small things it has. I'd recommend playing this on a HDTV with HDMI and all the necessary HDMI adjustments done from PS3 settings. Expand
  35. Aug 6, 2011
    0
    Do not buy MGS4. MGS3 is such a better game. Metal Gear Solid 4 does not encourage being stealthy in any way, shape, or form. This game is so boring when trying to be stealthy. In order to be stealthy, you literally go 1 centimeter a MINUTE. Snake is painfully slow in this game. All this game did was make me want to play Metal Gear Solid 3; where I don't go 1 centimeter a minute.
  36. Jun 16, 2012
    0
    METAL GEAR AVERAGE metal gear solid 4 is the biggest letdown in this console generation its not a bad game, its a great game but its nowhere near a triple A game compared to this generations great games- uncharted, mass effect, halo reach- metal gear solid 4 is a disgrace to the metal gear name graphics- some of the textures and backgrounds are SUB SD sub SD on a so called HD console- is a downright disgrace for a tinshop small company-
    but for one of the ps3s premier game developers this is unacceptable
    its not that kojima productions makes up for this with detail- the landscape has basic detail- average draw distance- average overall is the best way to describe the graphics
    MGS 3 was ps2 was a powerhouse- MGS4 could be done on the wii
    unchartered 3 or mass effect 3 look a generation ahead of MGS4

    sound- 10/10
    harry gregson williams has done anotrher amazing job- the intro screen is some of the best music in the entire franchise- the music is suitably epic

    controls- average- there is a HUGE shooter emphasis now- before (back when kojima made games for himself and didnt ass kiss the western audience) MGS was 90% stealth 10% shooting

    MGS3 was 70% stealth 30% shooter- a happy medium

    mgs4 is crap- there is no reason for the game to have any sneaking anymore- it could be called gears of solid- with extra long cutscenes

    it feels rushed- what was kojima doing for 4 years- the story is barebones- barely trying to put everything together there is no stand alone adventure- just old rehashes
    the graphics engine looks s**t next to uncharted 2

    the ANIMATION work is playstation 1 level- its so bad- no one at konami has a clue about mo cap animation work- if snake is crouching and you turn the stick- he turns ON WHEELS WITH NO ANIMATIONS

    DISGRACEFUL IN THIS GENERATION

    radio chatter in MGS 3 was taken to the next level- MGS 4 has none of that charm or brilliance- again= you find yourself asking- what was kojima doing
    youre talking to otaBORE for most of the game- there is the STUPIDEST ADDITION OF ROSE AND A PSYCHE GAUGE- which adds less than nothing
    the radio chatter is a disgrace

    this feels like a watered down MGS3 with shooter elements replacing the brilliance

    kojima hasnt made a truly great game since mgs3- and that was FAR from perfect

    this is a step down

    7/10 is very generous for this mess of a game

    the story is so bad i dont even want to score it
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  37. Dec 27, 2012
    0
    The worst piece of **** i have ever played. I was dying witch antecipation for this one after MGS3 (the best ps2 game in my opinion). But MGS4 just disapointed horribly. The main thing that blew it for me was the retarded storyline. Most people with whom i had this argument before say that i didn't understand it. This is not the case. I understand probably 99% of it. The thing is that i simply hate it. And i truly can't understand how someone with half a brain could possibly not feel like his intelligence is being raped given the overwhelming amount of empty dialogs, flat anime style characters and pointless over the top **** raiden ballet style unrealistic action scenes this game presents. About the dialogs, i actually came up with a formula to generate MGS4 dialogs:

    Something, something...the patriots.
    Something, something...lalulilelos
    Something, something...big boss.
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  38. Tom
    Jun 25, 2008
    0
    A user said there isn't a game on the 360 that can top this? One word mate : HALO best video game on earth
  39. AtratusS.
    Jun 13, 2008
    10
    I had high expectations for this game having been a long time fan of the series. Hideo Kojima's latest iteration of the series exceeded my expectations in every regard. If you own a PS3 this is a must buy. If you don't own a ps3 but are serious about games, consider taking the plunge. MGS4 is one of the greatest games of all time. Make sure you've got some free time set aside because you're not going to want to stop playing until you reach the end. Expand
  40. MiguelM.
    Jun 10, 2008
    10
    A game like this comes only every so often, a remarkable culmination to a remarkable series.
  41. DustinU
    Sep 30, 2008
    10
    Wow, seems to me like our friends from across the pond (in the UK) don't seem to like Kojima's latest masterpiece.

    Fine and good. I will at least maintain some respect for those who didn't like it because it was their first time playing an MGS game, however much they were warned that they wouldn't know what was going on unless ALL 3 previous games had been played to
    completion beforehand. But to the others that are just bitching and moaning about how slow it is, if you don't like it, go back to playing Halo.

    THIS GAME WAS MADE FOR THE FANS!!!!!!! There, I wrote it in big letters so the half-brained members of society can read it and hopefully (yet in futility) try to understand what that means. If you loved MGS1 but found your interest start to fade in MGS2 and 3, you WILL NOT LIKE MGS4, so do all of us a favor and remove yourself from the ranks of those who play it, because you simply don't deserve to.

    And before I go, I feel the need to ask Bob R. to kindly remove himself with extreme prejudice from the human gene pool....this man's sole complaint was "You can't even molest Sunny, game was a let down.".....
    ......
    ......
    ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?! That's not even the least bit funny you total failure of a human being.
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  42. RobW
    Sep 4, 2009
    5
    Fantastic graphics, good gameplay and fairly non-linear objectives made the first few levels really enjoyable, but I quickly became increasingly frustrated with the volume and length of the cutscenes - if you were to take them all out, you'd find that there's hardly any actual "game" here at all. Some of the objectives aren't clear, and you have to keep repeating sections over and over until you get it right. The bit where you get to play as Snake in MGS1 was genius though, but it just made me want to dig it out of the loft and play it through again rather than sit through any more of this pile of drivel. Expand
  43. DradleyD.
    Jun 8, 2008
    10
    An extremely impressive swansong to a peerless and pioneering series that never fails to amaze.
  44. MansourG.
    Jun 9, 2008
    10
    This is easily the best game you will play ever itthe PS3 system, and if you are a fan of the series this game will rock you,, its kojima at his best, the story finaly ends here, you will be shocked by who are the patriots, and who knew about them!
  45. StevenOnraedt
    Nov 19, 2008
    10
    There is no game in the past present or near future capable of removing this game of its pedestale.. Epic scenes,innovative gameplay and a story to sank your teeth in,this game has it all... It is with a great divided sense of grief and joy i say goodbye to Snake,but he' was,is and will always be the single greatest achievement and character gaming brought forth.. Truly incredible...
  46. JohnN
    Jun 16, 2008
    10
    Simply amazing , couldn't put the game day! Everything was above my expectations, story, graphics, game play. MGS4 was the perfect end to a 20 year saga. I feel most game companies are worried about their profit more than creating a place in gaming history. I have wasted my time with way too many games, but Mr. Kojima has created such a masterpiece.
  47. Chris
    Jun 18, 2008
    10
    MGS4 is fantastic...unbelievable. It's truly unlike any other gaming experience ever in terms of immersion. It's true that there are long cut scenes but you can skip them if you like. The game literally re-invents itself at every turn. I did not buy my PS3 for MGS4 and I'm not a fanboy so this review is not biased, it really is an amazing game. I can see how reviewers might not understand some aspects of the game. Like for example I was playing it with my friend who's into games like Call of Duty and he thought it was stupid that there were robots and playboys and other unrealistic or silly elements... but all the Metal Gear's before this one were the same in terms of 'believability', so if that leaves a bad taste in your mouth after playing it then I guess you can't like Resistance or Halo or any other game like that either. Expand
  48. jakerake
    Jun 25, 2008
    10
    wow wow i just want to say who are the patriots and wow who ever thought eva was snaks mum that is weird but this game is so awsome it reminds me of army of two but wy better for any mgs fans this is like the cherry on the cake or pie if u prefer
  49. P.R.
    Aug 12, 2009
    10
    I was never ever good at MGS, I've never beaten one before and played many. I loved it to death though. I wish I was better at that MGS because I wanted to play that game over and over again even though I only played it once. The camera angles are so much better than the previous games btw.
  50. kyuudmc
    Nov 19, 2008
    10
    HAY READERS!!! just ignore all those idiots who rated the game so badly! this game is definitely one of the verrrrry best video games the history has ever known! just take a look at the 100s above! if you ask 4 my opinion .. I'd say it's probably (THEE) best game! ..... you'll definitely like it. even if you're an ANTI-MGS guy you wont give it less than an (8) unless you're one stubborn idiot that is (respectively ^^) anyway whether you like what's written here or not . the game is a MUST-HAVE for every gamer .... NO, even for non-gamers XD Expand
  51. Drogo
    Oct 13, 2008
    10
    This game moved me like no other game could. I kept my attention 100% threw the whole game and I could not of asked for anything better than this. A Instant classic. Don't believe the haters on this game I believe they are all XBOX fan boy :P j/p :D
  52. KyleMorgan
    Dec 22, 2008
    10
    I know some people complain of long cutscenes, but you have to understand: this game franchise is older than many of you. Don't complain about ridiculous cutscenes because you don't understand the characters and the plot. Anyway, the shooting mechanics are new and refreshing for the MG series. I love the emphasis on teamwork in MGO and the catapults. For those of you who didn9;t play the original MGO you don't understand how lucky you are. In the old MGO people just camped on top of buildings and waited to shoot those coming up ladders. You now have the luxury of a catapult. Expand
  53. Aug 18, 2010
    10
    I feel like Hideo Kojima's message isn't just designated towards the Metal Gear franchise, but at the gaming industry itself. In the sea of garbage video games that are released today, Metal Gear Solid 4 is the hidden gem and the final swan song of the once stellar business.
  54. Jan 15, 2011
    10
    I do respect the points of view of the users who have given this game a bad review as what most of them say its true, it does have some of the longest cinematics i have seen in a game , but to me , this is not a flaw, because you really need to see these to fully understand what Master kojima wanted to you to feel about the story, yes they are long, but they add so much to the overall feeling of the game ..... The final mission of my favorite character (hence my nickname) , the legendary soldier , now an old man , ready to tackle the impossible just one last time before he can rest in peace, you can see him struggling , His unbreakable will and his skill are his only advantage against a legion of enhanced soldiers much younger than him ....... if you are a fan of the series , this game is an absoulte masterpiece , this game alone is worth the 500 dlls i paid for my ps3 when it was launched ...... The graphics, the soundtrack (In the final battle , i was losing but when i started to hear Snake Eater i made a comeback and bamm!!!!), the controls , the variety of ways you can complete this game is amazing...... Feel like sneaking in ? do it .... Feel like going guns blazing? .... go ahead..... this game has raised the bar in some many ways that it has become the best game of the past 10 years. The only game that i have ever played that made such a huge impact in me was The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This game was launched on 1998 , i never tought that i would see a game that could top this ...... yeah , there have been great games these past years , Uncharted 2, Gears of war, COD4, Metroid Prime , Mario Galaxy , Mass Effect 1 and 2 , God of War 3 , The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion....i have played and finished all of these awesome games , but none could come close to Ocarina of Time.....until i played Metal Gear Solid 4 .....Thank you Master Kojima ....i am a 27 year old man , parent and husband ......but you Sir made a game that made me remember why i loved this Hobby so much back when i was 10 years old. Expand
  55. Sep 9, 2010
    8
    This game is good. One of the best stories i have ever experienced, some of the better stealth gameplay out there, and excellent graphics. The story is told in very long cutscenes and this game was very short without them. I was playing this game like i usually do a normal game on my first playthough and it took about 9 hours but without the cutscenes this game is reduced in half. The gameplay also is not as good as the other metal gear solid games. There is a lot less stealth in the game. The game is very smooth in gameplay during the stealth parts. But there are a lot of run and gun parts and you can tell that the game was made for stealth. Most Sections are stealth, but you are sneaking around a huge battlefield which makes it almost impossible to be spotted because they don't detect you from your bullets because it blends in and they don't see a lot because the enemies all focus on the other AI. This is still a fun game but is is far from perfect. Expand
  56. Apr 11, 2011
    10
    Only one word can describe this game...... EPIC one of the most anticipated game of 2008. Here comes Solid Snake in his final stands the well and awesome story,genius graphics, the return of many old characters (especially Raiden made a cool change)and finally the answers for some unanswered question.
  57. Jun 10, 2011
    10
    Almost 4 years after it's release date, Metal Gear Solid 4 remains one of this platforms crowning achievements. In fact, upon its release it set the standard for next generation gaming content with it's deep, emotionally engaging story, state of the art visuals, unprecedented sound design, and enough extras to encourage over 100+ hours of game play. A standard that remains exceptionally high, even in 2011. Expand
  58. MeestYk
    Oct 10, 2008
    10
    Simply the best PS3 ever produced. When you think of a game given credit for graphics you tend to think it's a crappy gameplay in it, BUT it's actually the opposite. Solid Metal Gear 4: Guns of the patriots is simply well made for us, gamers. It has a great story sequel, a great game interface, deep characters realizations, and the action is just intense. You'll feel completely drowned in it once you spend just a few minutes playing it. Highly recommended. A must have for all gamers who love games with a full story, freedom to do what you want with the weapons and gear customizations and its universe. Plus there's plenty of cinematics to pull you even deeper into this game. As a result, Hideo Kojima and his team pulled off a masterpiece with this latest installment. I highly praise this game as the GOTY for the PS3 system without a doubt. If there were an 11/10 this is it. Expand
  59. mikemike
    Dec 20, 2008
    10
    if someone puts in this game 5 or 0 just doesnt understand the story and that kojima is trying to end a perfect end with an appropiate sotry so all of you go to hell and learn how to play a game.Alsp please stop gaming you are just embarrasing it
  60. PascualA.
    Jun 9, 2008
    4
    Bad game, little gameplay, boring CG movies, etc
  61. CodyB.
    Jun 30, 2009
    10
    If it is possible to give a game an 11, this would be the only game in the world to reach that score. I'm not even an mgs fan but I just LOVE the series as if I were a fanboy! MOST people love this game to death for the glowing angel of an epic masterpiece it truly is, while SOME people diss it because of the long cutscenes (THEY HAVE TO BE LONG OR YOU WONT GET THE STORY), the dialogue (those people who say this game has terrible dialogue are just angry because they are just to damn retarded to understand what the characters are actually saying, too much high-class words for them), & the story itself (PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE STORYLINE IS TELLING, SUCH AS THE HORRORS OF WAR, ABOUT MORALS IN LIFE, ACCEPTING DEATH, AND SOOO MUCH MORE). 89% of gamers all over the world who experienced this epic masterpiece praised the storyline as well as the characters and presentations, hideo kojima was extremely plesed with the final version of the game as he said in the metal gear 20th anniversary party, however he was dissapointed with the early versions though but that's in the past. Millions of gamers preordered this game way before it even came out & even camped outside malls & outlets for days & nights just to get their hands on this game!! Only 11% of gamers around the world who played this game were dissapointed but nobody cares about them anyway, they're dumbasses, they're way too mentally retarded to understand the complexity & substance of the epic moments this masterpiese presents (too many big words for inexperienced gamers who hate this game because they don't understand it?). Anybody who rates this game low is an INEXPERIENCED gamer who has NO LIFE and understands NOTHING of videogaming...or life AT ALL, get this game or be like one of them. I SWEAR TO GOD this is a true masterpiece of EPIC proportions!!! Expand
  62. JohnF.
    Jun 21, 2008
    10
    The perfect conclusion for the MGS saga.
  63. MarkD
    Sep 4, 2008
    8
    Snake goes out with bang, yet as a big fan of the series i still feel slightly let down. The gameplay is perhaps the most non linier in the history of games; Play it stealthily or as an action shoot em up, take people out with a sniper rifle, use a distraction technique, utilize your items in all sorts of different ways. The graphics are stunning, perhaps the best the PS3 has seen yet and the music wouldn't be out of place on a Hollywood blockbuster. When it's good it's close to genius and there are moments that will blow your mind. As a self confessed fanboy i really wanted to give it 10/10. However it's not perfect so i can't!!! One of the main problems is (you guessed it) the plot and cut scenes. I don't have a problem with long cut scenes or a deep plot in a game but if that's the way you want to go give us something less muddled Kojima; When those looooooooooong cut scenes are filled with pointless, droning monologues about genetics or preechy guff about war i do have a problem! Not to mention the plot holes and the fact that half of the plot doesn't make sense. The other problem is the steep learning curve. You're expected to be using Snakes subtler stealth techniques virtually from the start and the camera isn't perfect. I can see how a number of people (especially MGS virgins) could be put before they've really got into the game. So, MGS4 although brilliant in many ways is best described as a flawed masterpiece! Expand
  64. Samir
    Dec 13, 2008
    10
    Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots deserves to be called the greatest game of the PS3 and one of the best games of this year.
    Every aspect of MGS4 is perfect.
    Fantastic graphics, soundtrack, storyline and gameplay.
    Truly a masterpiece. Kudos to Hideo Kojima for the creation of this great game.
  65. AndrewL
    Dec 5, 2008
    10
    Best game of 2008, console-wide. The ability to play the game however you want is still astounding. The game welcomes a good challenge with an amazing array of levels to explore and countless ways to kill, trick or sneak around Old Snake's enemies. Although cutscenes can drag, the complaints never came out of me, I'd play the game in many sittings and experience a welcoming cutscene each time. I can't begin to describe how high I jumped out of my seat during Raiden's intro fight with the Gekko. For those who don't want to sit through the lengthy scenes, I can assume two reasons. 1) You are not a Metal Gear Fan (you couldn't possibly be..)
    2) Haven't learned that the cutscenes akin to Powerpoint Presentations show zero importance to the story. (and are easily the lengthiest..)

    The game would recieve a nine for Big Mama's disturbing cleavage but Kojima allows you to skip scene so he's earned his point back.

    The perfect game - a MUST have.
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  66. JohnHarris
    Dec 6, 2008
    10
    This game is a masterpiece in every way. Its graphics are amazing, the gameplay is addictive, and the story is really fitting for a metal gear game. The story is so emotional that I nearly cried when the game ended. This game will be remembered years from now as a true modern classic, and will be known as the greatest game in the one of the greatest series of games of all time.
  67. MichaelKahn
    Feb 18, 2009
    10
    I'm rather disappointed at the gaming community for bashing this game for it's cutscenes. This game is a masterpiece and truly shows the peak of today's gaming. It shows the tragic end to a true legend. He was not a hero, he was just one man, a soldier who followed his orders. Solid Snake. Everything about this game was incredible. The writing was superb and was well portrayed my the characters movements in each cutscene. Then comes the gameplay. Some of you may be wondering if they focused too much on story and not gameplay. Nope, they managed to have absolutely flawless controls and a wide arsenal of weapons. There are 69 and many other additions! The presentation is well done. The game looks polished and runs at an excellent framerate that I didn't see drop once (it goes about 50-60 FPS). What is amazing though is how seamless the transfer from cutscene to gameplay can be sometimes. Every cutscene is done with the game engine. You may not be playing, but it is still gameplay. To prove it, you can interact in some cutscenes and zoom in at anypoint you want. Come to think of it, there are only two FULLY rendered cutscenes within the game. The story in this game is above any in any game series. It truly puts the whole entire story into a masterpiece conclusion. During the credits I was speechless and sat through the whole credit sequence. *NOTE TO ANYONE WHO BEATS THE GAME* There is. like in all MGS games, an audio playing at the end THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY important! Back to what I was saying. As a console collector, this game will always be in my top 3 gaming collection tied with GTA IV for the #2 spot. Please buy this game, it is worth every penny and the multiplayer is definitely worth a shot. Expand
  68. ColinS.
    Dec 23, 2008
    10
    I have never touched a PS3 before. I spent all my time playing Wii. I was never really a sucker for these big ass, violent gamwes everyone was playing. Then i played MGS4. I never played a MGS game before, but this one was simply amazing. The numerous cutscenes were actually very enjoyable, and dont listen to what anyone says; the cutscenes make the game more immersive. The graphics were jaw-droppingly amazing. Easily the best of all
    time.
    This game dosent deserve 10, it deserves 11!
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  69. AlanAsco
    Dec 25, 2008
    10
    This is one of the few games that excel in every aspect where a game should. Graphics,story,game play, easter eggs, online etc. Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best game ever made even without its online i've beaten this game 21 times no B.S. and i MGO is my favorite online games followed by halo and gears of war. Metal Gear Solid 4 is an emotional game and is just amazing in every way I almost cried at the games conclusion and also throughout. 11/10 Expand
  70. Sep 27, 2010
    10
    this is easily the best MGS game in the series . the amount of guns is mind blowing , more freedom in the game to go where you want , the new octocam is sick , the story is entertaing , and you finnaly get to drive a metal gear ... hell yeah. they also made Raiden not seem like a whiny **** any more he actaully seemed cool in this game . the voice acting is top notch as usaul . the graphics are just amazing . the boss fights are alot of fun . every thing feels answered in this one . i finished this game happy that i know the whole story now . if you never played a MGS game then rent this first if you didnt like them before dont bother pickin this up. MGS fans apply only. Expand
  71. Sep 22, 2010
    0
    This game was far too similar to Devil May Cry a game that was originally on the older version of the Playstation called Playstation 2. It was pretty rare and few people remember it like I do but I had two copies and thats hard to forget. Its funny how some games stay in your brains. I never pleyed the previous encarayshuns of this game but I think think they are about a robot-boy hybrid called mandible. I got a little confused because they kept calling a man a snake and some of the people ignored me if I slept on the floor. I didnt watch many of the cut scenes because they looked like bad films. there were hardly any cars in the game which is a shame because i just played need for speed hot pursuit and i like to change the tyres and add a wing to the car because maybe one day the car will fly like a plane. it did have a jeep but they are slow. i like the man that owned the shop but dont know why he kept the monkey in pants i guess if the monkey wasnt in pants he would do a poo in the suv but that can be easily cleaned. An oversight on behalf of the makers IMO. I like that you can add things to guns. The bad things were the naked women, the old man i had to be, the colonel man and the pants monkey. I liked the lady doctor character because she was like my mom. Expand
  72. Mar 3, 2011
    10
    I just bought MGS4 on 3/4/2010 I've always own both a Xbox 360 and a Ps3 and have been playing action games since doom 95. I can honestly say that MGS4 is the best game in existence. Regardless of MGS4 being a few years old, I would still recommend this game to anyone who hasn't played it yet... When I first put the game in I said to myself "WOW, what a fkn Splinter Cell rip off!!!" But within the hour I honestly couldn't put the controller down. MGS4's original and has an amazing story that most games lack now a days. Simply a masterpiece. Expand
  73. Apr 27, 2011
    10
    10/10 = Masterpiece = A Cinematic dream. A Work of art. This IS Metal Gear Solid 4!!
  74. Dec 16, 2010
    10
    Truly one of the best Metal Gear Solid games of all time, I recommend you play this if you're a true hardcore fan of the series.
  75. Dec 26, 2010
    9
    This game truly was magnificent... I agree with most that it will stand the test of time as one of the greats of all time. There were a few "cheesy" moments in the story if you ask me that didn't add much but as far as the scope and magnitude of this effort it is right up there with Grand Theft Auto IV. This brings stealth, action, weapons, upgrades, and a fantastic story with epic boss fights. A truly memorable experience every gamer should check out. I'd give this a 94 out of 100. Collapse
  76. Oct 24, 2012
    8
    I thought I would re-rewrite some of my reviews,I reviewed this game a really long time ago but anyway. I can understand how some people gave this game a low score. This game however doesn't deserve a 0. The game IS a stealth game and there are some parts of the game that are not stealth at all, it's just that Kojima wanted to mix it up a bit and give options. I didn't mind the cutscenes I thought they were cool, however the mission briefing videos were infact boring and I had a hard time keeping my eyes open aswell. They tried to fill the whole 50GB blu ray disc. The game itself is about the same length of MGS 3. The game itself does not deserve a 10. But the people that say the graphics are horrible...I don't understand that one. The Graphics are quite nice actually, when bullets hit the ground debris will be seen, even games toda in 2012 do not have that. People complaining about toilet humour but say that they LOVEEE MGS 1? Hmm I guess you do not remember the toilet humour in that game... Yes I do like MGS 3 better than this one,but I like the story. The people that are just coming into this game will not like it because they wont know what is going on. I agree that Kojima could of giving more of a Recap considering all the cutscene in this game are long as hell, they could of easily recapped the story for people... I find that they were really creative in this game, especially when Sunny is making breakfast and the eggs are kind of fortune telling. A lot of people didn't catch that..... I did and I thought it was cool. I didn't like how they didn't tell you if Snake died, the whole point of this game was story, and we DID get a big long story but we didn't get the answers or closure to the most important parts of the story. They should of handled the story differently. I also thought that the gun IDS were cool but at the same time lame. Also I thought Drebin was a stupid character that just follows snake around to sell him stuff. My main gripe about this game were the bosses. They were fun and all in some aspect but the characters didn't interest me, except liquid. I thought it was amazing how at the end of the game you fight "liquid" ontop of the ship with fists, just like in the first MGS when you fight liquid ontop of Metal Gear,it's kind of like "the final fight" and it was very well done. People that complain about how it was too "japanese" give me a break, do you guys seriously only want to play generic games that are all the same? The controls are okay, but I find that the controls in MGS 3 were a touch better. Here's a break down.

    Graphics- 8
    Gameplay- 8
    Fun- 9
    Replay Value - 7

    As I give the game itself an "8" the experience is a 10
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  77. May 3, 2011
    10
    its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the best game ever !! its the
  78. May 5, 2011
    10
    This is a fun game for the PS3 its story was great and it kept me playing the game till the end GREAT GAME! its a game ALL PS3 owners must have and play till the finish.
  79. Jun 24, 2011
    10
    i just beat this game for the fifth time in the past years since it came out, and i have to say, it still holds up and even beats some games out graphically. Game play did indeed change between series to fit a more casual audience, but it was for the better, as it made the game into a more fluid experience during those big set pieces. There's a ton of stuff aimed at fans that they will understand FAR more to players who just pick it up because of the Hype factor. GOTYAY Expand
  80. Jun 15, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is no doubt the greatest single player experience ever to grace a console. The multiplayer is also pretty good, but I'll get to that later. Casual gamers may be turned off by the heavy reliance on strategy, especially for a shooter, but just because you aren't noob tubing across the map doesn't mean it's anything shy of an amazing game. Hideo Kojima delivered a complete package, with stellar graphics that, even 3 years old, beat anything on the market today. The character models are so real you'll swear it was filmed. The environments aren't original, but look spectacular. Now, as many gripe, the game does have plenty of cutscene. HOWEVER, a mere push of the start button brings up an option to skip a cutscene, and letting you get right back into the action. Gameplay revolves around either trying to be stealthy and remain undetected, or going out guns blazing and over powering the enemy. Each course of action has its own consequences - and get this - in the GAMEPLAY, not in the cutscenes (which remain constant on every play through) as with RPGs. With 69 weapons in your arsenal (plus 1 secret weapon), the options are incredible. You can set a C4 on a guard, and let him walk into a group, then blow them all up at once, for example. You could avoid detection by a chopper, or load up a stinger, then dive into the nearest dumpster. The sheer amount of possibilities for every obstacle brings this game to an unprecedented scale. Now the cutscenes are long, and frequent, but they are interesting and engaging. Anyone with an IQ higher than 80 (on a typical 50-150 scale) will be hooked, and absolutely engaged by the clever plot twists, background plots, real world references, series references, breaking of the 4th wall, and that scary sensation that Kojima has delivered (since the original MGS) that the (at least political) events of the game COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN and may be happening as we speak (watch the infamous MGS2 "patriots" cutscene, and you'll always see the world in a new light). Even the casual, passive gamer won't help but be able to watch in awe at the more epic points of the story. The multiplayer is built on great mechanics, but the menus aren't user friendly, it takes a while to load, it taxes your internet connection, the expansions are far too costly, and it has become less and less active over time. Keep in mind Kojima did not plan on making Metal Gear Online, and it really is just a bonus to the amazing single player game. Kojima planned on delivering an unforgettable experience to his faithful followers, and he did just that. Many believe that MGS4 may have saved the PS3. That could very well be the case, and if so, it was more than successful. After all, "Just like your father... you're pretty good!" Expand
  81. Jun 25, 2011
    9
    Fantastic graphics, a great story (which is heavily tied in with the other Metal Gear Solid games) and excellent stealth gameplay round out the last of the MGS games. The biggest issue is that the game simply doesn't let you play it enough; it'll probably take a little over 20 hours to beat, but expect more than half of that to be taken up by cutscenes.
  82. Sep 11, 2011
    9
    well i just started to review games because ive noticed a change w/ metacritic and decided it was time to view my voice, which is a non-biased and opinion of the overall exp with the game im rating. well to those who have yet to play this game.. now is a good time,lol.. 5-10 bucks to add one of my favorites to your library because i believe this game should be in everyones either have played or own category. MGS4 well there is a lot of ground to cover with this game and there isnt enough space to describe the details and wonderful examples of developing perfection along w/ pretty cut scenes and visuals. this is one of those games which i cant help but smile when i think about it. there are many ways to tackle this game, many items to find and plenty of choices to make in regards to how you engage into the next act. stealth is my weapon of choice but can be very challenging which i always welcome in a game, a good but not frustrating challenge. it is a well thought out and designed game. snake has many gadgets and devices which allow him to be able to complete his missions in a tech savvy manner, also has an ipod to help him ease his mind along the way. he does smoke like a chimney but cigarettes help ease his nerves. snake faces the harsh reality of what is transpiring and his hunt for truth is emotional but he is a mans man and faces what ever it may be head on. people often take away from mgs4 because of some lengthy cut scenes , but i loved every moment of them and trust me when i say that the cut scenes do not take anything away from the gameplay or campaign, it adds a compelling story to it and i welcomed the story with open arms and was delighted with every part of this game, as far as glitches or bugs, well i will say this. NOTHING takes away the pure, wonderfully crafted game which i am a proud owner of. i bought this game years ago and to this day i do not see many games that can compare with the overall exp. yes games have new tech hence better capabilities as far as graphics etc, but in my honest opinion this game could be released next week and still would rank as a pure bred contender w/ "next gen gaming" thinking of this game is tempting me to put the disc in, thats how much i enjoyed it after playing through it 2 times already.

    its a bargain bin game by value, but it is a gem by design and always will be.
    p.s. if you have the game you can download the official guide/mgs4 encyclopedia for free. that in itself was very impressive and large in content/detail.. great game
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  83. Dec 6, 2011
    10
    This is one of the best games I've ever played. I love this game so much. I've beat it on all difficulties. Every single person who gives this game a negative review is out of there mind. They can't deal with a game like this "everything has to have guns going off every 2 seconds" this is what COD has done to the gaming community. Its just a bunch of people who play this and say that this is to slow I have to go back to my FPS. And that is really sad. These guys will bring the downfall of good games in years to come. Everything will just try to be a FPS. Expand
  84. Mar 22, 2012
    8
    Half movie, half game with stellar (and refined) gameplay fed through a socio-political plot that both forewarns and commentates. As with the rest of the MGS series, current and upcoming social issues and the fourth-wall are used as the tools to tell the story of 'mercenaries' fighting for the freedom of the world from war and tyranny. However, the problem "Guns of the Patriots" runs into is the difficult and highly criticizable realm of story/saga closure - which it doesn't fail at.
    The only real grip I have about the game is the insignificance of the obvious tie-ins of older characters to help settle the closure of the series; the characters where there for practically nostalgic purposes. Other problems would be the massive amount of cut-scenes (which are highly reasonable, considering the amount of story that is trying to be told) and simplicity of the bosses (relative to the rest of the series). But all these are magnified nitpicks.
    Overall, this game is great and shines well enough among all the great games of this generation to be considered an important step in video game story-telling.
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  85. Aug 29, 2012
    9
    I decided to pick this up again after the August trophy patch. It is a beautiful game in my opinion. The controls have been modernized so it took some adjusting to (I had been playing the MGS HD collection). The movies and cut scenes are excessive though well done. My girlfriend will sit and watch and attempt to follow the story, as ridiculous as it is. Overall this is a fantastic metal gear experience and I'm glad I had an excuse to play it again. Expand
  86. May 28, 2012
    10
    To rate this piece of virtual art any less than a 9 is a crime (and I would only rate it that low if I wasn't familiar with the series). I had high expectations for the final chapter of Solid Snake, and not only did the game fulfill, it completely blew me away. Due to Metacritics wall-o-text, I'll have to use brackets to make it easier to read. [Graphics: Beyond 10, the amount of detail on faces, the environment, and combat on a console game is mesmerizing. Watch the ripples of wind from a helicopter hit Snake's hair and clothes.] [Sound: 10, The guns are loud and echo in the distance. Metal Gear Gekkos, however, sound strangely like cows.] [Music: 10. Nothing less of orchestra and mixes of old and new electronica to give MGS4 a truly epic feel.] [Voiceovers: 9, worthy of a summer blockbuster movie, although I'm getting tired of Snake's overly scratchy, guttural voice.] [Gameplay: 9, the same sneak and disable (or kill) mechanics of the past Metal Gears are here, and are better than ever. Your advanced sneaking suit can camoflage to any surface, giving you a new level of stealth. A new feature includes holding an enemy hostage and firing over their shoulder. There is also a VERY wide array of weapons at your disposal, each coming with a detail description of their histories and capabilities, as well as upgrades. Another new option is switching between over-the-shoulder and FPS view for your firearms, which can be clunky or smooth depending on your settings. There's a slight learning curve for these new mechanics, especially if you're new to the series, but once you get used to it, the game is an absolute blast to play.] [Plot: 10, more interactive movie than a traditional game. MGS4's story is a bit convoluted, but becomes clearer as it moves along. It's themes of war, change and freedom is going to inspire a lot of philosophical discussion. Ultimately, once you discover Solid Snake's ultimate fate, you'll realize the overall direction of the story is more tragic than it is triumphant. Of course, for those who are impatient or have OCD, you can simply skip the cutscenes.] [Replay Value: 9. Four years after buying this game, I am still playing it with joyful glee.] Conclusion: MGS4 has showed how far video games have come as an art form, and will forever stand as one of the pinnacles of gaming. Expand
  87. Aug 30, 2012
    10
    By far the best video game I've ever played, I have played this so many times and it just keeps getting better, and the people giving it bad reviews have no taste in games
  88. Jan 10, 2013
    8
    Metal Gear Solid 4, in short is a very unique experience which for the most part is enjoyable. The main story took me around 20 hours to complete and delivered a satisfying ending. Handling missions the way the game intends you to is a rewarding feeling which requires a level of skill. The game doesn't hold your hand, which is great but would be even better if it's game play was perfect. Even when mastering the game's controls it would simply be a lie to say that it feels completely fluid. Although it's stealth and shooting mechanics are a major improvement on previous main titles there are times when the game feels sloppy and unresponsive. Visually the game is stunning but other than the 'Old Snake' start menu theme the soundtrack never really stuck out for me. Metal Gear Solid 4 has quite the complicated story line, and it's told through hours of cut scenes. This isn't entirely a bad thing though, as the story they tell is quite interesting. You grow to appreciate the games characters and you understand their relationships with each other as well as their importance to the MGS universe. Unfortunately it's hard to ignore the fact that they are lengthy and at times a chore to sit through. Although some of the action cut scenes were top notch, a handful of story driven ones felt like they could have been reasonably shorter. Boss battles were undeniably the highlight as they were both fun and engaging in a way that makes them very memorable. Although it's hard for me to agree with the countless amount of people who have given this game a 10/10, it does a lot right and is worthy of a 8. Expand
  89. PetD.
    Jan 28, 2010
    3
    Sorry, after MGS1,2 and 3 - where is 4? I mean, not these long and boring cutscenes. 20 minutes of cutscenes, 5 minutes of shooting (wheres stealth action?). I f i want to see a film, i go in cinema. this game is absolutely over hyped !
  90. MarkD.
    Jun 14, 2008
    10
    I'm not sure what's wrong with GameDaily, games(TM), EuroGamer or Edge, but I don't see how you can give this game anything less than a 90, if that. While it does have it's slow moments (a certain cutscene takes forever - but to show everything that is happening in one second usually takes about 10 in any game or movie), it always speeds up just in time. The ony thing I miss from any of the previous games is the animals; while there are a few, there are not as many as in MGS3, but this can be expected. There are other minor details that could've been clearer, but then the game would've taken another year, and the extra dwelling time for the developers and gamers would've only damaged the title further. Also, the Mission Briefing and Act screens are a little lame. I can't really say much about what makes the game good, because then I'll ruin it for any who have not played it. Expand
  91. TaiTan
    Jun 22, 2008
    10
    The best game ever created, period.
  92. AndreyK.
    Feb 7, 2009
    10
    Probably the biggest blow out of the MGS sage. This masterpiece is just like a bible, thats puts all the stories in one, major point. Don't even have the words to describe it. Although I've never played MGS3, I still was able to pick the story connected to the previous parts (MGS1 & MGS2) and reconstruct missing link (MGS3). I'm not such a fanboy nor die hard gamer, but for me , since MGS1, Snake had a special meaning. Especially after the last cut scene of the game, I almost dropped a tear. Expand
  93. Justin
    Sep 23, 2009
    9
    Great game. Amazing storyline that gets confusing at times, but worth it. The cut-scenes are long but that makes the game so much better. I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 because of my inability to watch the epic Raiden vs. Vamp battle. The whole splitscreen that goes on is cool, but what use is it if all my attention is directed at not dying and killing a bunch of robots. Awesome game.
  94. EdgarVeríssimo
    Nov 25, 2008
    9
    Metal Gear Solid 4 is pure genious, from the graphics to the gameplay which come together to create a very intense experience... crippled only by the fact that you almost don't need the controller due too an enormous quantity of cutscenes from the very start to the awesome finale...
  95. AlbertCiccon.e
    Nov 9, 2008
    10
    This game was not intended for people to just pick up and play without any prior knowledge to the game. Calling it boring is just pathetic and inexperienced... Its kind of like an inside joke, unless you know what Kojima is expressing, your'e left completely out of the loop. That is exactly what Kojima was trying to achieve in this Fantastic Finel installment of MGS.
  96. JohnA.
    Jun 10, 2008
    10
    OMFG this game is the best game of ALLL TIMMEEEEE What an amazing piece of software....best game on planet earth HANDS DOWN! Wow...just wow.
  97. JAce
    Jun 13, 2008
    10
    It really is as good as it promised to be - maybe even better.
  98. DanM.
    Jun 10, 2008
    10
    Haven't got it yet, but have seen a leaked sending video, it will blow your mind with the ending alone, such a greart way to warp things up, I expect the rest of the game to be very playable just like the previous ones, but it deserves a 10 just for that end sequence in my eyes. Kojima please make a sequel to Snatcher now!
  99. ChrisO.
    Jun 21, 2008
    10
    Absolutely brilliant. The best Metal Gear game ever. Yes there are a bunch of cut scenes but get over it.
  100. AbdulM.
    Jun 21, 2008
    10
    Metal Gear Solid 4 is awesome. End of Story.
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 82 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. Guns of the Patriots is almost intimidating in the consistent quality of its ideas, invention, and execution...Even by the series' stratospheric standards, MGS4 is a remarkable high point. [June 2008]
  2. 99
    If you've ever loved any one of the Metal Gear games, or any moments from the series, there will come a moment when MGS 4 will send your spirits soaring. If you've loved them all, well then there'll be many, many more. It’s a masterpiece.
  3. Guns of the Patriots is a frustrating, fractured game that turns Metal Gear Solid's world upside down several times over, but never changes it.