MGS4: A True Revolution In Gaming?

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

It's finally here: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Not only is it the single biggest PlayStation 3 exclusive thus far, it's one of the biggest titles of the generation, and - dare we say it - one of the biggest in history. So many gamers these days are complaining about a lack of innovation in the industry, but will Kojima's masterpiece represent the revolutionary benchmark even the naysayers can't ignore?

You will see our review soon, but in the meantime, we're starting to wonder where this game will rank in the annals of game lore. Interestingly enough, while we do hope for some innovation in the gameplay, we're looking to the presentation and structure to be revolutionary. Cut-scenes and CGI have been a part of games for over a decade, but MGS4 may represent a new leap in that area of interactive entertainment. This is where we may cross over the line from a game peppered with a few story-enhancing cut-scenes to a story driven by the cut-scenes and the gameplay experience combined in an almost equal formula. Obviously, we'll be playing more than watching (anybody who believes otherwise is being naive), but the movie sequences are guaranteed to be both breathtaking and unique.

Kojima and Co. poured their heart and soul into this one, and for once, we're looking forward to a story-based video game that urges us along an intriguing literary path. We're not frustrated by long cut-scenes, and we actually play through with eager anticipation to reach the next stage of the plot. This is a structure and style almost never seen before in games; even with certain RPGs that have had long cut-scenes in the past (Xenosaga, for example), that's an entirely different scenario. We have always been aware of the jarring change between cut-scenes and gameplay, but now, we may be lost in an engaging experience that promises fluidity between non-interactive and interactive entertainment. In other words, MGS4 may set the bar for all future cinematic game features, and developers may start to realize they need to weave the active action with the passive fabric of cut-scenes. Weave, not obviously separate.

But this is nothing more than hopeful speculation. Just about everyone has sky-high expectations for this one, and we just wanted to chime in with our thoughts on the issue. And now...lie in wait for our review, which is guaranteed to be one of the deepest and most detailed on the 'Net.

Related Game(s): Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

6/11/2008 Ben Dutka

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