The MGS4 Challenge: Is There Really More Watching Than Playing?
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsOkay, that's it. We're throwing down the gauntlet, because as we had anticipated, this would be an issue that may give some consumers pause when deciding whether or not to purchase Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. In fact, I remember writing this editorial because I was convinced the controversy would arrive.
As another editorial at Gaming Today proves, the psychological phenomenon that says people can't seem to accurately judge cut-scene length in video games is alive and well. However, perhaps we're wrong. MGS4 really could be the very first video game on earth where you actually watch more than you play; that is very possible, if Kojima really went all-out and got nutty. But while we are very well aware of those lengthy cut-scenes, we never actually timed them, and we certainly didn't do the compare and contrast that would lay the entire debate to rest: is MGS4 really more movie than game? This says, very plainly, that we spend more time watching than actually interacting with the game, and...well, we find that incredibly difficult to believe. We've heard the game takes approximately 30 hours to complete, which means that more than 15 of those hours must be non-interactive.
Every time a game comes out with a lot of cut-scenes, we hear the same old thing: "it's more a movie than a game." It's inevitable. But it hasn't happened yet; not a single title has ever come even remotely close to proving this statement true. Will MGS4 be the first? We're asking anybody who is willing to simply give us the exact numbers: the time you spent watching (down to the minute), and the time you spent playing (again, down to the very last minute). Go ahead. Let's find out. Let's settle this once and for all. Who's game?
Related Game(s): Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
6/29/2008 Ben Dutka
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Comments (Beta)
Deleted User [Administrator]
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:03:06 AM
So that's 12 hours of gameplay and 8 hours of movies for me.
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ceedot
Sunday, June 29, 2008 @ 10:50:10 PM
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The_Vandelizer
Sunday, June 29, 2008 @ 10:51:47 PM
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shindelion
Sunday, June 29, 2008 @ 10:54:04 PM
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karneli lll
Sunday, June 29, 2008 @ 11:12:02 PM
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fatchad420
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 12:11:03 AM
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Paulno
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 12:21:23 AM
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well
this is my OFFICIAL times.
1st play through.
didnt skip a single scene, watched every minute. and finished the game without any major setbacks.
play time - 16 hours.
2nd play through.
skipped every single cut scene, with some minor set backs (was unlocking stealth camo and bandana)
play time - approx. 7 hours.
i know i can get it down to 5 hours easily.
BUT i am a skilled MGS player. so this game wasnt hard for me even on the boss extreme.
a close friend of mine took 27 hours to finish on 1st play through.
i agree with fatchad420. this game can take anywhere between 30 and 3 hours to complete, depending on your skill, how you play, weapons used, etc.
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orangpelupa
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 1:52:08 AM
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approx 580Minutes long. or about 9.6 Hours
its from Act1 to act5
act 1 = 1:24:56
act 2 = 1:53:60
act 3 = 1:58:58
act 4 = 1:34:46
act 5 = 2:48:31
this is according the torrent someone posted on 4ch, containing recording all MGS4 cutscene
here the screenshot of the files
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/1093/mgs4durationpk0.png
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Zapix
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 2:29:13 AM
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orangpelupa
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 2:58:22 AM
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cutscene time, its about 9.6hours total.
btw how long a comment will be approved? O_o
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Zapix
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 5:40:17 AM
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Note: I used a stop watch to time these.
Mission Briefings and Epilogue
Act 01 - 14:10
Act 02 - 11:56
Act 03 - 25:05
Act 04 - 21:26
Act 05 - 11:10
Ending - 1:08:45
Looking at about a total of just over 2 and 1/2 hours right there.
Last edited by Zapix on 6/30/2008 5:41:43 AM
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ThePoetRazel
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 6:29:57 AM
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The making of documentary says that there's about 8 hours of cutscenes. Achieving the Big Boss Emblem requires, among other things, to complete the game in under 5 hours.
So yes, there is more watching than playing technically.
However, this is by no means a bad thing. The story is so enthralling that no one with the mental capacity to understand the story would complain.
This is a story driven game. MGS's story is an epic tale that is told through an interactive medium which, unlike other forms of story telling, draws you in through participation.
Nothing compares to this amazing game. And to question it on something like this is the work of nitpicking minds who simply want to find fault with everything.
Last edited by ThePoetRazel on 6/30/2008 6:31:12 AM
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LegioN
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:15:19 AM
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It's the 90 minute cut scene all over again where people are blowing it out of proportion.
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LegioN
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:15:19 AM
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It's the 90 minute cut scene all over again where people are blowing it out of proportion.
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LegioN
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:15:19 AM
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It's the 90 minute cut scene all over again where people are blowing it out of proportion.
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bugzbunny109
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:43:01 AM
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Zapix
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 8:07:43 AM
My time that was 10 minutes short of 4 hours was using Stealth Camo, and basically rushing, ignoring gun fire, alerts, etc. Basically to see how fast one can really get through it. Only 31 alerts though, no continues or health items were used.
Completing it the first time took me 26 and 1/2 hours, which included mass genocide of PMCs, weapons collecting, exploring around, watching every cutscene.
A no alerts no kill run took me 9 hours skipping all cutscenes.
Depends entirely on how you play.
Without doubt though, there is definately MORE cutscene time than gameplay, however this does not take away from the game, but rather adds incredible depth to the telling the story.
Last edited by Zapix on 6/30/2008 8:11:28 AM
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orangpelupa
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 8:17:04 AM
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---
so basically its 50:50
9 Hours gameplay
9.6 hours scene.
if my coment above approved, you can see the duration for "scenes" for each act
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Zapix
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 10:37:54 AM
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http://www.psxextremeforums.com/110818-post67.html
8-9 hours is definately about right. Also, keep in mind, the game's biggest challenge is to beat the extra difficulty setting in less than 5 hours, no alerts, no kills, no items used, no continues used, no special items used.
With that in mind, you're looking at no more than 35% game time, 65% cutscenes.
Does that make the game bad? No, not at all. Infact, it makes the first time experience and story an amazing game with a great in depth story. Then multiple play throughs within a reasonable time, and the ability to skip all those cutscenes we already saw.
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vulcaroth13
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 4:38:46 PM
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0 up, 2 down
ThePoetRazel
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 5:43:30 PM
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LCF
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 6:14:40 PM
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3 up, 0 down
Zapix
Monday, June 30, 2008 @ 7:37:00 PM
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ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
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Sunday, June 29, 2008 @ 10:48:52 PM
Last edited by ArnoldK PSXE on 6/29/2008 10:49:38 PM