TGS hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 21st 2007 at 9:45AM }

Imagine yourself, surrounded by hundreds, nay thousands of people, bustling about. A constant murmur rings in the background, as the sounds of endless explosions, gunfire, and bouncy anime music intertwine in a cacophony of disarray. Finally, come to the grasp that you must navigate a complex game in a language which you are completely unfamiliar with. It was under these extraneous circumstances that we've come to play Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Tokyo Game Show floor, having survived the hours-long wait for a brief time with Hideo Kojima's latest.

Simply thrown into the game was a daunting challenge, one that borders on insurmountable. Once again, Snake has an incredible variety of moves at his disposal -- and he must use them in order to survive the challenges at hand. Metal Gear Solid 4 is far from the most intuitive game we've played, and unguided play didn't lead to much success in the battlefield. It's clear that, in spite of its warlike setting, the game remains true to its "tactical espionage" roots. Stealth is highly rewarded, and bravado will usually lead to some trialling battles that undoubtedly end in death. For example, a tank will be able to gun down Old Snake in all but a few seconds: sneaking past the tank, and the troops that support it, is essential for mere survival. Navigating through the environments felt natural, and the context-sensitive icons that appear at the bottom of the screen are certainly a refreshing addition. Snake will be able to walk, crouch and crawl with relative ease, and with the improved camera, navigating the environment has become far easier. The box and barrel, in which Snake can hide, both appear in the TGS demo, and give Snake a few options in remaining hidden in the environment.

But, it's not like Snake will be helpless in the face of combat. Old Snake still has access to his CQC moves, and when faced with enemies one on one, they'll likely face a quick death. The gunplay has been improved, though. The game's over the shoulder mode feels natural, allowing Snake to move and shoot at the same time. The targeting reticule is surprisingly intelligent, indicating when objects and walls get in the course of your shot. Although some may be able to play MGS4 as a quasi-FPS game, the number of enemies will make that a daunting challenge.

While we need a lot more time and familiarization with the game before making any judgment, we can say that the game pays a lot of attention to detail. For what purpose is unclear. For example, in the map, not only will Snake be able to see his location and his goal, but he'll also get temperature and wind information. Extraneous? Or is it a vital part of the gameplay? In addition, we noticed a stress meter at the top left corner, under Snake's energy bar. It rises fairly slowly, but steadily. Once again: what are the consequences of high stress. Certainly, something we're intrigued by.

The feeling of being part of a battlefield is certainly one of Metal Gear Solid 4's greatest strengths. It may look very different from previous titles in the franchise, but it stays true to the overall feel of the series. Enemies will react in a very animated manner, as in previous titles, and humorous modes of play remind the player that this isn't an overly stern discussion on war -- it's a video game, and it's meant to be fun. The presentation seems vastly improved in this new iteration: the menus are clean and sleek, and subtle effects, such as the static that appears in your screen when hit, give the game a nice visual edge.

There's a lot more to be seen of Metal Gear Solid 4. Hopefully, it won't be too long until Kojima Productions provides English language native speakers a chance to play, and maybe even fully understand, the new ideas found in such an ambitious project.

Tags: metal-gear-solid, metal-gear-solid-4, mgs, mgs4, tgs07

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Sep 21st 2007 9:52AM

Come to the 360 already!

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Sep 21st 2007 9:58AM

I loved the original for the PS1. I remember it was on, oh no, 2 DISCS! It was such a pain to switch discs during the game /sarcasm.

I especially loved the part where the game asks you to put the controller down and watch it RUMBLE.

But seriously, the PS1 version was such a great game. I remember being sick from depression and the game really got me through a tough time.

I'm happy for PS3 owners, but I'd still love to see this make it to the 360.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 10:25AM

"I remember it was on, oh no, 2 DISCS!"

Is it just me, or are there more defensive 360/xbox fans trying to preempt this talk than SDF ones bringing it up.

But let me take a whack at the bait. No, changing discs is not a Sisyphusian task. However, there is a reason that 3.5 floppy went to CD, then DVD: Because size matters. Why press 2-4 DVDs when you can press one Blu Ray, or HD DVD if you prefer.

I find the arguments on space to be somewhat useless. Space is always both welcome and necessary for future expansion. The only argument you can reasonably make is that the added space is not worth the cost to implement it.

Without a doubt the PS3 is more expensive because of Blu Ray. I happen to think the inclusion worthwhile, but this whole pre-emptive whining about changing discs and how we should applaud you for your ability to change them is silly. Given equal cost, would you by the 120GB Elite or the 20GB HDMI Premium 360?

I thought so. The same applies to optical media. Many don't think the cost worth it, but that doesn't negate the fact that it would be useful at some price point.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 10:26AM

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 10:27AM

Crap, my apologies for the double post (and the post apologizing for the double post...etc.)

upz @ Sep 21st 2007 10:40AM

Borland, I think you hit the nail on the head. That's possibly the best articulated arguments for capacity I've read yet.

Prof_Chaos @ Sep 21st 2007 11:15AM

Borland. Thank you for a breath of fresh air in your comment. You are absolutely correct. To be honest, I have next-to-no use for either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD as a movie format, but it makes sense as a storage format for games, software and HDD backup. Movies will be mostly distributed digitally long before the next 10 years are up, but there will always be a need for storage media and the like. I think it was absolutely a nice addition for the PS3, however, it was also costly.

On topic now, this game looks fantastic. I've never played much of the MGS games, but I'd be really looking forward to playing this. For my sake, I'd love to see this on the 360 because I don't have nor want a PS3 at this point. Let me be clear, these are purely selfish reasons.

ill trooper @ Sep 21st 2007 11:18AM

Borland, sometimes all that information you have to convey just won't fit into one post, and must be spread out over two posts, requiring changing the post to read the second half. We can deal with it.

RedJoggingSuit(MSDF-Battle Angel) @ Sep 21st 2007 11:30AM

Yes, there are more 360/xbox fans that preempt this talk simply because there are more of them.

But let me reel this sucker in. I personally don’t care if I have to change disks, because I’ve done it before. It would be great if the DVD could fit more data, but the only benefit for the gamer is that after a certain checkpoint you wouldn’t have to get up and put a new disc in.

The size of the DVD doesn’t limit what programmers can put into a game, unless they are intent on fitting the entire game on a single disc. Whether the game is 2-4 DVDs or one Blu Ray the price will remain the same. Besides Blu Ray movies, how does Blu Ray benefit the gamers? Heavenly Sword filled up an entire Blu Ray, but the length of the quest is comparable to many games from this generation, if not less.

This whole argument on space is meaningless to us (the people who play games) and how you want us to be drool over how much space is on a Blu Ray, while that means absolutely nothing to you in the end. More HDD space is pretty useful though.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 11:55AM

"how you want us to be drool over how much space is on a Blu Ray"

Nyet comrade. I don't know about you, but while I appreciate space I don't find it erotic. Now Blu Ray movies are sexy, but that wasn't the point of my post.

You can substitute HD DVD for Blu Ray if you swing that way. There is nothing wrong with that lifestyle after all.

There is a benefit to gamers in more space, always. If not now, then later down the line. What may not benefit you is the added cost. Be happy in your cheaper purchase as I am happy in mine. But don't make smaller discs a point of pride. 640k is not enough for some.

RedJoggingSuit(MSDF-Battle Angel) @ Sep 21st 2007 12:14PM

"But don't make smaller discs a point of pride. 640k is not enough for some"

Maybe you misunderstood, I don't take pride in the storage capacity of my systems disc format...ahem.

I was just wondering why 1 disc is better than more than one. I have owned my 360 since launch and at this point I can honsetly say it is the best console I have ever owned. That doesn't count games that are coming out days and weeks from now.

Oh yeah DVD 9 is about 8.5GB, which I believe is about 8,912,896k but Im not to good with math so you might wanna add that up.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 12:24PM

"Im not to good with math so you might wanna add that up."

Just a reference to a dumb urban legend: http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1997/01/1484

RedJoggingSuit(MSDF-Battle Angel) @ Sep 21st 2007 12:38PM

I have seen that before, but rumors fly like a teradyctal with three toes.

This is silly back and forth that will lead nowhere. Anyway MGS4 looks crazy awesome...I cant wait for it on 360!! ;) I keed I keed unless it does come out.

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:15AM

@ borland502

No where in my post was I trying to bash Sony or Blu-ray. If anything, I was commending Konami on how awesome Metal Gear was on the PS1. Disc size is trivial when you play such a spectacular game, hence the /sarcasim. You, yourself said the disc size argument is useless. Then why argue it? Should we sympathize with the people that complain about changing discs? Because those people are the ones my sarcasim was directed, it wasn't directed toward your console, fan boy.

eddyk @ Sep 21st 2007 9:54AM

It will definitely come to the 360, Konami need to get it's money back !

Silver R. Wolfe @ Sep 21st 2007 9:55AM

Because the 4 million PS3 owners just aren't gonna eat this game up right?

eddyk @ Sep 21st 2007 9:58AM

Yes, 4 million is good, but 10 million is better !! :D

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 21st 2007 9:59AM

It will be more like an 8-10M install base by time this game comes out.

Trev @ Sep 21st 2007 10:16AM

It MIGHT come to 360 when the Substance pack comes out, but looking at previous games (MGS, MGS:I, VRM, MGS2, MGS2:S, MGS3, MGS3:S. Not adding one for Twin Snakes because it was a remake) Xbox has gotten one out of eight and that one didn't sell especially well. It's niche on Xbox was already filled by Splinter Cell.

Nutshell: 360 might get MGS4:S, but the track record doesn't look good for it.

Trev @ Sep 21st 2007 10:17AM

Well, that looked dumb. Thought of, but forgot to type MPO. Portable Ops. Durr.

MariosInferno @ Sep 21st 2007 10:33AM

"It will be more like an 8-10M install base by time this game comes out."

So...it'll be a year in roughly two months. Roughly 4-5M PS3s sold. So, as of March 2008...about 4 months after it's first year...you expect the market share to double. That's a hell of a holiday rush for a $600 console. Do you work for Sony??

jsn @ Sep 21st 2007 10:34AM

4 million consoles, half of which were purchased to be blu-ray players... So make that 2 mil, and extrapolate realistic sales figures, if MIGHT sell 1 mil copies over time, MAYBE. More likley 400-600k. I stand by that number even more when you look at teh sales history of the series. They've gotten lower with each version.

if they drop the price of the ps3 again, I can see this game and some of their upcoming titles spurring sales. Otherwise, this game won't move units. It's a sequel to a tired franchise that has sold less and less as the series has progressed. The game itself doesn't do anything new or unique and much of what made the series unique has been done better by other games. Sorry SDF, but facts be facts.

Slaziman @ Sep 21st 2007 10:38AM

By the time this comes out 360 will be at 20 millon, so...

upz @ Sep 21st 2007 11:02AM

*Sigh* Must we always fight?

"4 million consoles, half of which were purchased to be blu-ray players... So make that 2 mil"

While I agree with you that 8-10 million by March 2008 is an unreasonable stretch, to think that Blu-ray users and gamers are entirely mutually exclusive is ridiculous.

"I stand by that number even more when you look at teh sales history of the series. They've gotten lower with each version."

I'd argue correlation versus causation with you here. You're absolutely right that MGS3 sold less than MGS2, and Portable Ops lesser still. But the reason for this is much more complex than the simple idea that people are tired of the series.

The debut of a series on a new console almost always sells better than its sequels. The reason is a combination of gamers being game-starved during the beginning of a console life cycle, as well as the allure of seeing something either entirely new or familiar but with a brand new sheen. Take a look at some sales figures for Final Fantasy, Splinter Cell, or any other game series. You'll find this is true far more often than not. As for MGS:PO selling less than 2 and 3, isn't that more of a matter of install base?

"The game itself doesn't do anything new or unique and much of what made the series unique has been done better by other games."

You could say the same for most big name franchises. Including Mario, including Madden, and of course, including Halo.

"Sorry SDF, but facts be facts."

Yes they are, my friend.

Trev @ Sep 21st 2007 11:15AM

@slaziman and jsn

Trolling trolls are trolls. Seriously, don't you guys have some Gears to play or something? Or are you just upset that the only people not saying this game is amazing are you and your fellow xbots? Someone's jealous they don't get to play it.

Also, MariosInferno who actually gets a mature response, that's $500. It's still a lot, but there's not $305 ($100 wireless, $180 HDDDVD, $25 Play-and-charge and rechargeable battery. just checked amazon for those prices) worth of accessories. One is modular, one comes with everything. I hold them equal in that regard. Opinions will always be divided about which one of those solutions is better.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 21st 2007 11:13AM

The holiday season will be good to all consoles. The PS3 should be at around 6-8M sold by Dec. 31. Another 3 months to sell 2M more in anticipation for MGS4 among other titles shouldn't be hard to do.
But yeah, it's Sony, they can't do anything right huh?

jsn @ Sep 21st 2007 11:26AM

upz: While they aren't mutually exclusive, I don't think the % of people who bought a ps3 primarily as a movie player but will buy a game or two is high enough to skew things much.

Even if we say the PS3 should have 3.5 mil potential MGS buyers by its release, I would think even a 25% sell through would be a bit much to project. Maybe 15-20%? That can't sit well with them, especially considering the game probably had fairly high dev costs.

I dunno, I guess the point is that they can't be very happy with the sales projections..

jsn @ Sep 21st 2007 11:29AM

mattb: c'mon man, the PS3 would have to start selling at a nearly 2x-3x its highest rate to date to hit those numbers. Even a price drop isn't going to make that happen. 2mil units in 3 months? 600k units per month? I know you're on the SDF but c'mon man, use some logic.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 21st 2007 11:43AM

Just because you disagree with me doesn't mean there is a flaw in my logic. You are a biased fanboy. Of course you think your logic is fact any anyone else is wrong...we get it for the thousandth time.

Trev @ Sep 21st 2007 11:52AM

Ok, I like the PS3 and even I see the issues with someone with "SDF" in their tag commenting on someone's bias.

No hard feelings intended, but damn dude, you are going to get flamed so much.

upz @ Sep 21st 2007 12:00PM

Jsn, I agree with your point on development costs, but I'd estimate sell-through to be higher than 25%. Resistance sold well over 1 million and it's little more than your above average FPS! At the end of the day, though, everything is still up in the air. My bet is between 1-2 million, but this will be an interesting one to watch.

Slaziman @ Sep 21st 2007 1:37PM

@Trev

Trolling trolls that troll the trolls are trolls.

?

MariosInferno @ Sep 21st 2007 1:45PM

"Just because you disagree with me doesn't mean there is a flaw in my logic."

It's not simply him disagreeing with you, it's simple facts that put flaws in your logic. From now until MGS4's release date, the PS will have to muster BETTER holiday numbers than it posted in it's first holiday during regular months to come close to your figures. The PS3 has averages, for the year, a bit over 130K console sales per month in the US and less than 20K per month in Japan. It ain't gonna happen. Don't take it personally, but the thing is not going to match the market share of the Wii and 360 in 6 months. Not one spec of factual data suggests this is close to possible.

So YEAH, your logic is flawed.

NATO_Duke @ Sep 21st 2007 10:00AM

So, let me get this straight...the game is about a snake on a battlefield having to stay alive? I dunno, do reptile games sell that well? Sounds a lot like Worms on XBL!

Jake @ Sep 21st 2007 10:03AM

I'm not a huge fan of stealth based games. I actually don't enjoy the MGS gameplay all that much. But for some reason, I really enjoyed playing through the last three.

Can't really explain that one.

upz @ Sep 21st 2007 10:35AM

Your avatar looks kind of like Uwe Boll.

JL @ Sep 21st 2007 11:43AM

god damn that was funny upz.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 10:05AM

if the stealth actually works well then cool. too bad the story sucks. but hey, if it comes to 360, i'll try out a bargain bin copy eventually

Night Elve @ Sep 21st 2007 10:14AM

Yeah right the story sucks ... if you say so.

NeoAngelicPrince @ Sep 21st 2007 10:18AM

It does suck. Its just a long, drawn out story that ultimately results in nothing.

I don't see whats so special about MGS4 and its storyline that has sony fanboys waiting on baited breath for more information.

Just reading that whole article tells me all I need to know about the game.

phattie @ Sep 21st 2007 10:20AM

You probably prefer the story for games like Wiisports and WarioWare.

Noshino @ Sep 21st 2007 10:24AM

err....the story sucks? its one of the best ploted stories...

"It does suck. Its just a long, drawn out story that ultimately results in nothing."

I think you are commenting about the wrong game, I believe you are refering to Halo's storyline

"I don't see whats so special about MGS4 and its storyline that has sony fanboys waiting on baited breath for more information."

play the games, and you'll see what has gotten so many people interested on it...hell, here is the example from Jake..

"I'm not a huge fan of stealth based games. I actually don't enjoy the MGS gameplay all that much. But for some reason, I really enjoyed playing through the last three.

Can't really explain that one."

...see?

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Sep 21st 2007 10:38AM

I'm not a MG fan really. I played the original Nintendo game and MGS2. But I have found that they at least put a little more effort into the plot than many shops. It sure beats "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle."

But then I'm in games for the story. Great gameplay is an aide to revealing the story. So I may be in the minority here.

Jon @ Sep 21st 2007 10:41AM

So Neo you played it already? Or is your brain incapable of taking in more than Wario Ware?

Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 21st 2007 10:32AM

Duh, Hey George, my car is kinda small, would a bigger car with more SPACE be a good idea?
George responds; Naw, you dont need more space, just use more than one car.
As soon as George says this his limo pulls up and he gets in.
MORE SPACE IS A GOOD THING, PERIOD.