I have never played MGS before this game. I have to say this is also the first game I've ever felt compelled to write a review about.

The game is quite stunning, you get everything you want in a game.

The voice acting is incredible.

The ending you just sit there and are like holy crap...

Since the price is so low now, if you haven't bought this game or played it, you really should. I am not just talking it up, you really are missing out if you never play it. Don't miss out!

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There are many glowing reviews on here and I don't want to waste my time saying what other already have. I just wanted to add that I had never before played a Metal Gear game except the original for the NES in 87' when I was 4. If you own a PS3 or are planning on getting one, you owe it to yourself to play this masterpiece. You can do some background reading on Wikipedia to prepare you for the gripping story, though many things are explained in the Hollywood movie quality cut scenes, and the controls are easy to pick up on (especially with a virtual training ground to test your weapons and close quarter combat). This is easily one of the 5 best games I have ever played.

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Absolutely fantastic blend of gameplay, cinema, storytelling, and Hideo Kojima's weirdness. This is the perfect entrance for the series into the new console generation pushing all aspects of the hardware not limited to the areas of graphics, sound design, and animation. This game also has a fantastic cast of voice actors, some of whom established their breakthrough performance such as Khary Payton (Drebin). The controls and mechanics are fully evolved as you might expect such as a new take on Metal Gear Solid 3's camouflage system which has evolved into Octocamo. Mimicking an octopus, anything Snake presses up against his suit will acquire that texture eliminating the cumbersome menu switching present in Snake Eater. Tons of replay value and extras are also included, most notably the online mode Metal Gear Online which incorporates all your skills from the main game into online multiplayer. For Metal Gear enthusiasts this is a more than satisfying conclusion the the narrative. For casual Metal Gear fans this is a must play. For anyone who has never played the series this is the way to get into it. If you have never played the games, download the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database from Playstation Network to get to know the characters and their relationships so you can fully enjoy everything that is being shown to you.

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Metal Gear Solid 4 was probably the most high profile game released for the Playstation 3 during the initial launch of the console. Even if you had never played any of the previous Metal Gear Solid games, you almost certainly had heard of them. In many respects, the MGS series is sui generis; its mix of combat and stealth gameplay was revolutionary when the first MGS was released, and its over the top storylines and legendarily long cutscenes are as well-known if not even more well-known than the gameplay. Metal Gear Solid 4 follows in the tradition of the previous three games, with refinements in the gameplay to make the game more enjoyable.

You can rest assured that the crazy plot twists and long cutscenes are still present in Metal Gear Solid 4. As a matter of fact, MGS4 does a fine job of trying to unify the stories the previous three games - and to say anything more would risk spoiling the rather well-written plot. The cutscenes are gorgeously rendered by the Playstation 3, and can actually be skipped. This game has notably fewer codec scenes than the previous three games, despite the fact that the animation during codec conversations is better than it has ever been. I should probably note that the story won't make a lot of sense without having played the previous three games, and it is a good idea to play those three before MGS4 if you haven't yet.

The gameplay of MGS4 represents a rather substantial departure from the previous three games. Combat is now mostly done in an over-the-shoulder view, and there is now complete flexibility in the angle at which you can set the camera. While it may take some time for veteran MGS players to get used to the new controls, once you do get used to them they are probably better than the control schemes of any of the previous games. There is also considerable customization in the weaponry you can use, and as always has been the case in MGS games, there are usually multiple ways of fighting enemies and progressing through the game.

Metal Gear Solid games have never been particularly long, and this game is no exception. A first time playthrough, in which you watch all the cutscenes, will probably take sometime between 15 and 25 hours, depending on your skill level. Fortunately, the story is quite interesting, and the gameplay is superb. It's clear that the designers spent a lot of effort in polishing the combat in the game. There is a good mix of sneaking, combat on foot, and combat on vehicles, and the boss fights are reasonably challenging and quite interesting. There's also considerable motivation to play through the game multiple times, since you can experiment with different ways of beating the bosses and will have access to new items in repeat playthroughs.

If you have access to the Internet, it is possible to download an "MGS4 encyclopedia", which contains entries on key events, characters, locations, and more, for all the Metal Gear games (not just the MGS series, but also the Metal Gear games and the games on handhelds). The lore in the Metal Gear series is so immense that this application does a good job of refreshing your memory about the previous games and organizing all that information in one place. While there is protection against MGS4 spoilers (you can't read entries on MGS4 unless there is a cleared file of the game on your PS3 hard drive), there is no such protection against spoilers for any of the other games.

Overall, MGS4 is a fantastic game on the PS3, and has deserved the many accolades it has already received. With the price of the game being not much more than many Blu-Ray movies out there, this is a great deal and if you own a PS3 but don't own this game yet, you should buy it!

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Let me preface this review by mentioning that I had never played any previous games in the MGS series before MGS4. In fact, I had never played any PlayStation games. I had always been an X-Box guy, but I was buying a blu-ray player and decided just to go with the PS3. But thats neither here nor there. At first, I was hesitant to buy this game. Not only because I was jumping into the series ten years late, but also because I feared that it was just the PlayStation version of Splinter Cell - a game that puts me to sleep. I decided to buy it though, and couldn't have been happier. From the very beginning of Act 1 to the last second of the story, Metal Gear Solid 4 delights in every way conceivable. First off, the graphics are stunning. To this date, it is the only PS3 game I know of that projects in 1080p. In-game graphics and animations are unmatched, while characters and settings look real as life itself in the cutscenes. The plot is riveting and makes you want to sit through cutscenes that last anywhere from just a couple minutes to near a full hour later in the game. It is truly a cinematic experience that can't be found elsewhere in the gaming world. Length of the game is suberb as well. In an era where it is becoming increasingly common to beat a game in just a matter of hours, MGS4 provides 20-25 hours of solid gameplay. Like I mentioned earlier, videos are a large part of the game. There is probably around 3-4 hours worth of cutscenes throughout the course of the game. If you feel like you would become frustrated sitting through scenes that generally last 10-15 minutes minimum, then you might want to pass on this one. These cutscenes are incredibly thorough and provide most of the information for which the story is based. The difficulty level of MGS4 is perfect in my opinion. Playing on Big Boss Hard (the most difficult level) I found many instances where passing a certain area required a great deal of recall and planning. On the other hand though, there were few parts, if any, that were frustratingly difficult. If you are into rpg's, shooters, or just plain action games then I'm sure that you will love this one. I had to limit myself to just a few hours of gameplay per week just because I never wanted the game to end. Metal Gear Solid 4's story line will make you laugh and it might even make you cry. Please give this one a chance if you haven't already.

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I was reluctant to purchase this game because A) Sneak games like Hitman, Splinter Cell, and Thief are not for me and B) I heard it was mostly cut scenes. Four hours in and I am completely hooked.

This game has something special going for it and I am not sure what it is. It could be the painstaking attention to detail. It could be the quirky Japanese influence. It could be the tight controls, beautiful graphics, storytelling. To tell the truth, I don't know what it is, but what I do know is there's nothing quite like the Metal Gear series.

This is a must buy for all PS3 owners.

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Why? Because I don't think I'll ever play a game as good as this one. This game has everything. The story is on par with Star Wars, and don't be surprised if you get a bit choked up. There are a ton of weapons, many of which are customizable. Also, you often have to deal with unique situations where you aren't just sneaking around and then killing bosses- recall the torture chamber from MGS I.

If you don't like long cut scenes, still don't skip them, especially if you are the slightest bit intellectual or artistic. There are often points where the game seems to stroke Sony's ego, but they provided nothing more than comic relief, which I welcomed. I can't blame them, this game was the one to save the PS3, and it did. This game was well worth the cost of getting a PS3, even if this is the only game you get for that system. It brought back memories of the Playstation's glory days, when Final Fantasy VII, Grand Turismo, Metal Gear Solid I, and God of War ruled the land.

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Ok to start this "to each his own"!

I love the versatility of this game. This game has a little something for everyone. Along with good graphics and good game play is a great story. I played Metal Gear Solid but missed MGS2 and MGS3. MGS4 was still easy to follow and extremely satisfying when it touched on something I remember from the MGS. Rented this game, beat it on the normal setting (23.5 Hours, probably not a record but not awful either) and I am dying to purchase this game so I can play through it again on the more difficult settings.

The multiplayer I thought was good not great but for me, mutiplayer does not make the game.

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People hate it because of the movie like length but that's what helps end the Metal Gear Saga. It's like an epic adventure and the length is definitely needed. I have been lucky enough to be at the end of movie scenes when I needed to leave or quit playing but who knows. I am going to play through a couple more times after I beat it(I'm on Act 4).

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this game is great the storyline is complicated for people who started the series at this sequel. but it is great. there are lots of cut scenes and mission briefings. this game is good for first time shooter game players. i did not play that many games involved with shooting, but i checked it out and the graphics were awesome. there are high tech cqc holds if you sneak up on some one u can use cqc. it is awesome. the funny thing is how the first boss(beast) is harder than the rest(in my opinion) haha. overall i still think this game is great and if you are deciding u want it then buy it seriously

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recently got the PS3 Slim and was looking for my first game to play. before i bought MGS4, i had never played any metal gears prior. i didn't really know who Snake was or what happened at Shadow Moses, etc. a quick read through on Wikipedia took care of most of that. still, having limited background on the series, i still thought this was a great game. you can't help but be drawn into the story and there are many moments throughout the game where you feel like you're watching a hollywood movie. in fact, there are a number of large cut-scenes through out the game. if you're already a fan of MGS, then you probably knew that. there are 5 acts and each take place in a different location around the world. Act 4: Shadow Moses was probably my favorite. there are so many weapons in the game that you will probably never use all of them. game control is pretty fluid and easy to pick up. all your stats are being tracked so make sure you save often if you care about that stuff. you also get an award based on your stats at the end of the game. all in all, one of the best games i've ever played. and at $28, it's a steal. get it!

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I'm going to keep this review short. This game has immersed me in the story better than any other game I have ever played. I felt like I was in the story not watching it. I have played the whole series but this one stands out as being the best.

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There are plenty of detailed reviews here for this game, and most of them are spot on...this game is DEFINITELY worth the cost of admission. By cost of admission, I mean $299 plus the price of this new (roughly $28 here). This is the first game I played on my PS3 Slim. I originally bought Uncharted: Drake's Fortune with the system, but with the 3.0 update it wouldn't stop crashing so I went out and picked up MGS4: Guns of the Patriots.

WOW! I made a great choice. This game is digital art...simply awesome entertainment...thought provoking...TONS of replay value...better action movie than anything I've seen on the big screen in quite some time...a MUST play if you've followed the series or like action/adventure games at all.

If you have NOT kept up with the MGS series (or have missed a game or two along the way like me) stop by Wikipedia to get up to speed. I would NOT recommend playing this game without knowing the backstory on the Metal Gear world first. At least figure out the timeline and main players first. Don't spoil MGS4 by reading its synopsis, though!! I would also recommend picking up the SUPER-HIGH QUALITY Piggypack Games MGS4 guide here on Amazon (bought mine new from a used dealer for $4). The guide will detail all of the secrets and has a really good section on the character history. I missed part 2 and 3, but the guide really covered what I missed well. I wish Sony would release an HD version of MGS2 and 3.

This game got a whole bunch of 10s from the big game sites. Normally, I don't agree with the 'perfect' scores (read: GTA:IV), but this game is pretty close to perfect in my book. It's the ONLY game I've actually planned to play through multiple times. This one never gets traded in.

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C'mon..... its an awesome game, quality everywhere but not the type of game for those who like casual games, this is not like those at all, its like the best quality film or better but it really deserves time. And the wil to enjoy, yes it has long cut scenes, but every one of each is amazingly well crafted, top quality, and engaging. If some game can be made close in quality on Xbox like this? Well I'll gave my Volvo S40 for free to any one...

Kojima you are a legend.

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AMAZING stuff have been already said about this game. I only have to say that it is all TRUE!!!!

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