Sid Shuman who happens to be a Senior Editor over at gamepro.com has already played MGS4, the lucky bastard and below he outlines the 25 biggest surprises that he found in the game.
A socially relevant storyline: Private military companies
(or "PMCs") are a key threat in Metal Gear Solid 4 because they've escalated
combat into a never-ending war economy. But in a case of truth being stranger
than fiction, PMCs are a serious concern in modern-day Iraq. Ever heard of Blackwater? I was pleasantly surprised to see how MGS4 tackles
these tough topics in a mature, yet entertaining, manner.
Upgraded graphics: Metal Gear Solid 4 gives the series its
biggest visual update yet, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's easily one
of the prettiest games ever made.. New-generation graphical techniques like HDR
(for realistic lighting), antialiasing (for sharper visuals), and
post-production filters (for color saturation effects) make Metal Gear Solid 4
an example of bleeding-edge game production. High-resolution character models
add even more detail, allowing you to see skin grain and armor scratches when
viewing Snake up close.
Crystal-clear sound:: Thanks to Skywalker Sound's
state-of-the-art audio mastering, MGS4 has some of the crispest, clearest sound
effects I've ever heard -- the booming gunshots will make your hair stand on
end! The Hollywood-style soundtrack, a series hallmark, is also predictably
fantastic, and Snake's raspy voice sounds more desiccated than ever. This is one
game you'll want to play with headphones, or a high-end speaker setup.
The oil barrel: In addition to his trusty cardboard box, Snake
can now equip an oil barrel from his inventory. It works much like the cardboard
box, providing a handy hiding spot for industrial areas where a cardboard box
might arouse suspicious. But the oil barrel doubles as a weapon, enabling Snake
to roll over nearby enemies and send bodies flying. A handy, if overlooked, new
item.
A mature new style: Prior games in the Metal Gear series have
drawn equal inspiration from anime and Bruckheimer-style cinema, featuring
cartoonish villains and offbeat humor. But Metal Gear Solid 4 is a different
beast, drawing its look and feel from gritty films like Children of Men and games like Gears of
War. That's not to say that humor is AWOL in MGS4, only that it's used more
sparingly. The overall style of the game is somber, but not nihilistic.
The Outer Haven soldiers: This all-female outfit of advanced
soldiers serve as Liquid's elite soldiers. Exceptionally agile and
well-equipped, the "frogs" fire punishing P90 SMGs. Worse, they're equipped with
long talons on their feet and hands, which enable them to cling to ceilings and
walls, or bound from wall to wall. They first appear in the latter half of the
Middle Eastern level during a climactic gunfight in a run-down hotel.
Blu-ray disc storage: Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the first
games to truly give the PlayStation 3's Blu-ray drive a serious workout. Using a
dual layer 50GB Blu-ray disc, Metal Gear Solid 4 is easily one of the most
data-intensive games ever released on any format. That translates into more game
content, better-quality audio, and cleaner HD video. And to think: Kojima said
that 50GB Blu-ray discs aren't big
enough...
The Solid Eye: Part radar, part vision enhancer, the Solid
Eye is a hugely helpful addition to Snake's inventory. When you equip it, you'll
gain a radar view to help spot nearby enemies. Perhaps more important is that
nearby items and humans will be highlighted for easy identification. You can
also switch to optional night vision and binocular modes, though these will
quickly drain your batteries. When I played, I found myself sticking to the
default "radar" view most of the time.
Aiming down the sight: Though both MGS2 and MGS3 featured a
first-person aiming mode, these were fairly clunky and inaccurate. MGS4,
however, adopts a more traditional "aim down the sight" mechanic popularized by
games like Call of Duty 4. If you tap Triangle while aiming, you'll switch to a
fully mobile first-person perspective where you can move and shoot as in Halo or
Call of Duty. If you crouch or lie down while aiming down the sight, your shots
will be almost perfectly precise. This gameplay element felt particularly
polished during my play session, and I found myself frequently dropping into
"FPS mode." Of course, it's purely optional.
Returning characters from MGS1: It's well known that a whole
host of classic MGS1 characters return for an encore in MGS4: Colonel Campbell,
Otacon, Naomi Hunter, and Meryl Silverburgh were unveiled in various trailers
and have fans drooling already. Then there's Liquid Ocelot, a fusion of Liquid
Snake's and Revolver Ocelot's personalities. MGS1 is widely regarded as having
the best cast in the entire Metal Gear series, and with so many alumni returning
for MGS4, you could almost call MGS4 the first "true" sequel to MGS1.
Real online multiplayer: Well, sort of. The Metal Gear
series is going online with Metal Gear Online, a
new standalone online game that will emphasize team-based battles. From what I
saw, I expect that Metal Gear Solid 4 will include a trial version of Metal Gear
Online. How many levels and modes will be included in the trial? I have no idea,
but some is definitely better than none.
The Metal Gear Mk. II: Meet the newest Metal Gear...an
adorable, puppy dog-like bot! An early gift from Otacon, the Mk. II is a handy
tool in the initial sections of MGS4. When activated, you switch to controlling
the Mk. II as it wheels through corridors. With its integrated invisibility
cloak, you can send it out ahead of you as a recon bot. It also packs an
electric whip that's handy for stunning nearby guards on the sly. The Mk. II
also serves as the courier between you and Drebin when you buy or sell guns.
Octo-camo: Metal Gear Solid 3 was a great game, but its
clunky camouflage system made you delve into menu screens every time the
landscape changed. Not so in MGS4: your color-changing armor will automatically
shift to match your surroundings, aiding your stealth efforts. You can also
restore the armor's default hues at any time by gently shaking the
controller....it's a bit like an Etch-a-Sketch. I found the octo-camo to be one
of the best features in MGS4 -- it makes the stealth scenarios faster and
easier.
Old Snake: Snake's weathered appearance gave me some doubts
at first. Who wants to take the role of a mustached fuddy-duddy, anyway? But as
I played the game, I found that Old Snake is an extremely interesting character.
He's no longer an invincible, larger-than-life superhero. Instead, he shows
vulnerability, uncertainty, and mortality, rare qualities for any action game
star. By focusing on the human element, Kojima Productions has made one of the
boldest choices in game design I've seen in years. It's very, very
refreshing.
Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection: Okay,
technically this isn't "part" of Metal Gear Solid 4, but it's still completely
relevant. Many of the themes, characters, and plot threads outlined in the first
three games re-appear in Metal Gear Solid 4, but with new depth and meaning. If
you're jonesing to play MGS4, I'd recommend that you re-visit these classics in
the precious time remaining before June 12th. These games will gain new
relevance when you finally play MGS4.
DualShock 3 support: Rumble is back! The Metal Gear series
and rumble technology have a long history; Metal Gear Solid was one of the first
games to use the original DualShock's rumble function, and we hailed its
implementation as groundbreaking. MGS4 is fully compatible with the
rumble-capable DualShock 3 controller, and though the DualShock 3 isn't
required, I felt more immersed in the game with the effects on. Cinemas, too,
are made richer through rumble effects for explosions, shocking moments, and the
like.
The Geckos: These gargantuan enemies are new to Metal Gear, and
they are fierce foes that are equipped with powerful weapons and sensors. In
fact, these bioengineered killing machines are so tough that they're practically
indestructible -- your best bet is to simply run and hide! Explosive weapons
will inflict some damage, but generally, these behemoths are too tough to tackle
directly.
Epic boss fights: If you're a Metal Gear fan, then you
already know to expect some seriously epic boss encounters in MGS4. Kojima
Productions has been surprisingly liberal in revealing secrets through game
trailers. For instance, this video shows
Liquid Ocelot and Snake facing off in a pair of Metal Gear mechs. Then there's
the Beauty & the Beast unit, a collection of killer androids who were
introduced as the "bosses" of MGS4. But we'll talk more about them
shortly...
Storyline closure: It's all been leading up to this! Though
the individual plot lines of the three previous games all had some form of
closure, Solid Snake's tale has remained elusive...and unfinished. Luckily,
Metal Gear Solid 4 promises to tie up many of those loose threads and shed new
light on Snake himself. Will he find peace? Will he simply kill himself, as
hinted at in the first trailer? I won't spoil any secrets here, but I suspect
players will be pleased by the ambition and honesty of the story.
Weapon mods: One of MGS4's most addictive new features is
the ability to customize your weapons. Most weapons will accept basic silencers,
but others will accept recoil-control grips (these improve accuracy),
flashlights (which briefly blind enemies), laser sights (improved hip-firing
accuracy), and rifle scopes. The stock M4, a Swiss Army knife of a weapon, also
accepts an under-barrel grenade launcher or under-barrel shotgun. You fire these
powerful sub-weapons by aiming (hold L1) and then tapping R2 to unload. Even
later in the game I found myself gravitating back to the modded M4 carbine --
it's a versatile weapon.
The crouch-run: In prior games, Snake only had two movement
options: he could a) run or b) crawl on his belly. Metal Gear Solid 4 helpfully
adds an in-between option I'm calling the "crouch run." By running in this
low-profile position, Snake can move at a brisk pace without totally blowing his
cover. To crouch run, simply tap X to crouch and then start moving. I played
much of the game while in a half-crouch, and found it helped immensely.
New stealth moves: In MGS4, Snake has several new maneuvers
that make sneaking easier. The first is the "inchworm," where Snake plays dead
and slowly crawls across the ground. The second is the roll, which enables Snake
to flip unto his back if he needs to shoot enemies or hurl grenades. The third
is a revamped "wall press" that enables Snake to smoothly peek around corners
and take potshots at nearby enemies. I also liked how Snake can hang over a
ledge to wait for enemies to pass underneath, them swoop down for the coup
de grace.
Collectible weapons: With over 70 weapons in all, gun
collectors will find much to celebrate in Metal Gear Solid 4. Many of the guns
we've seen are based on real-life weaponry, including the P90 submachinegun
carried by the Outer Haven troops, and the M4 carbine that Snake finds early in
the game. Once you meet Drebin, a black-market gun launderer, you can "unlock"
new weapons you find by paying a small fee in "Drebin Points." You will also
automatically cash in any duplicate weapons you find for Drebin Points. I found
myself darting out of cover simply to scoop up nearby weapons. Weapon collecting
is clearly one of the game's most addictive features.
Simpler controls: If you enjoy games like Gears of War, Call
of Duty 4, or Rainbow Six, you'll instantly take to the new control scheme in
Metal Gear Solid 4. As in those games, you aim and fire weapons with the
shoulder buttons. This may sound like standard stuff, but the MGS games have
typically used old-school controls that have confused some gamers. Not this
time. Though I knew about these control changes before I played the game, I was
surprised how much I liked them: they felt sleek, simple, and utterly
natural.
The Beauty & the Beast unit: First introduced last
fall, the Beauty & the Beast unit is a group of four metal monstrosities who
represent Liquid Ocelot's most trusted lieutenants and, obviously, key obstacles
for Snake. These including Laughing Octopus, a master of
disguise equipped with Doctor Octopus-style tentacles; Crying
Wolf, an armored quadruped with enormous strength; Raging
Raven, an airborne killing machine equipped with multiple rocket
launchers; and Screaming Mantis, a mysterious figure who
appears to control the actions of her squadmates.
Of all the features in MGS4, the Beauty & the Beast unit is one of the
most ambitious. According to Metal Gear lore, the Beauties are women who
experienced the horrors of war and retreated into violent cybernetic shells. Now
they're working for Liquid Ocelot, and their twisted minds and armored hides
make them extremely dangerous foes. What's more, the animal names of the
Beauties reference bosses from MGS1. A coincidence? We think not.
