System: PS3
Dev: Kojima
Pub: Konami
Release: TBA 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Pending
Preview by Matthew Walker

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Recently, it has been revealed that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will use real people. Of course, this means that the 3D modeling of real people will be in the game, but it has not been revealed why. The only thing said about this topic is that all will be apparent when the title releases. Therefore, this leaves a lot to speculate. For instance, the PS3 will have a high definition EyeToy released later this year. It is unknown when this will be released, but if it arrives before MGS4 we can assume, using the EyeToy we could implement 3D models of ourselves into the world of Metal Gear.

The new additions list continues to grow as we draw closer to the release date. Along with Snake's Octocamo and the Solid Eye, Snake will possibly be able to drive vehicles in this installment. In fact, Hideo has stated that they are trying to make Snake control any vehicle that is available. Of course, this should open up greater opportunities on how to reach point B from point A. While several of these new additions are great, there are some concerns on whether some series favorites will return, like the hunting and healing system that was in Snake Eater. No official word on that, however, with it being a battlefield setting, we might expect these to show up even if they are a little different. Hunting might be the least likely gameplay to return considering the realism Hideo and crew like to maintain.

Since the beginning of the Metal Gear series, the cast of characters has grown quite a bit. With the new Metal Gear Solid title, it appears everyone will at least be making an appearance. Well, those that were alive at the end of the last game that is. While we can be certain of new characters, it is the old ones that fans are most intrigued by. This only grew when a picture illustrating eight characters from the upcoming title brought questions and speculation. Here is a detailed list of the characters revealed and a couple of speculations.

Solid Snake- The protagonist for every Metal Gear, with the exception of Snake Eater. Snake returns older than he has ever looked, but still the baddest of the bad. When we last saw Solid Snake, he had finally learned about the involvement of the Patriots and swore that he would find Olga Gurlukovich's son, whom the Patriots had kidnapped. Snake also left with a disk containing the identities of the Patriot Wisemen, but soon finds out that the Patriot Wisemen died nearly two-hundred years ago. It is unknown exactly where Snake is at in his fight against the Patriots at the beginning of the game, but you can be sure of one thing, he is older and he is tired, but not too tired to finish the job.

Hal Emmerich (aka Otacon) - Hal became Snake's most trusted ally after the events of Shadow Moses. It was through Otacon that Snake gathered his information during the events of Sons of Liberty. When we last saw Otacon, he was much more stable than he was in the first Metal Gear Solid, and now he is right back where he is needed, beside Snake to the end. With it being revealed that Otacon will be playable through his Metal Gear Mark II, it is safe to say that Otacon still practices the indirect approach.

Meryl Silverburg- The quiet love of Snake from the first Metal Gear Solid and Roy Campbell's niece. It is not entirely clear as to why Meryl is returning to the series, whether it is because she has joined the fight directly to aid Snake under direction from her uncle or because she feels she owes a debt to Snake for saving her life in Metal Gear Solid. I hope that the story about what happened after Shadow Moses between Snake and Meryl will finally be answered.

Roy Campbell- The Colonel appears in the trailer, but it is unclear as to what level of involvement he will have past the beginning of the mission. However, given previous involvements in the MGS series you can bet that it will not end there.

Raiden- Whether you liked him or not, Raiden played an integral part in Sons of Liberty and, as I stated earlier, will appear as the character we will wish to play as. According to the trailers, Raiden this time will appear as the only other character in the Metal Gear universe that could match the badness of Snake, the Ninja. With a suped up ninja suit, Raiden has already demonstrated why he deserves to wear the suit. In the trailer, he takes down several of the bi-peds and makes one statement, "Now it is my turn to save you, Snake." Maybe this time we will figure out why Hideo liked the character so much in the first place.

Naomi Hunter- Yeah, you probably disliked her at least once during the first Metal Gear Solid, but know she has a different purpose. Her new purpose is to help keep Snake alive until his mission is over. That alone warrants her at least a little retribution for her actions against Snake in MGS. She was spotted in one of the lengthier trailers saying that Snake only had six months to live and that any other man would have already been dead. Maybe she's trying to pay Snake back for his attempts at saving her brother, Grey Fox. Only time will tell.

Liquid Ocelot- When it was just Revolver Ocelot in control, he was enough of a formidable foe, now with the mega PMC at his fingertips and constant heavier presence of Liquid we can assure ourselves that he will not go down easy. We can also be certain that the Patriots are not too far behind the curtains this time. Uncertain as to which mind is in control, Liquid or Revolver, at this point leaves us wondering just how difficult our old nemesis will be this time around.

Vamp- Appearing to have been shot in the head and dead during MGS2 makes this reveal a bit of a shock. The teaser poster revealed several sketches of the characters for MGS4, and the sketch of a man that resembled Vamp built upon the question as to whether this was Vamp or not, but upon further inspection the bullet hole scar between the eyes confirms that the pain in the neck from Dead Cell will return.

Big Boss? - There was one character on the teaser image that was not completely clear. Of course, if the image is actually Big Boss, then it will only spark more questions we will have that will have to wait to be answered. It would make sense if it is Big Boss, since it was stated before the release of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, that if the story of Portable Ops changed, then the story of MGS4 had to change and vice versa. Even with that statement, it is unclear if it is Big Boss or not.

Metal Gear- The official name for the latest Metal Gear machine has not been released, but Hideo has at least confirmed one thing about the new Metal Gears. Unlike previous Metal Gears that consisted entirely of machine, the new one will be both machine and organic life. The extent of this is unknown, but with the twists and turns, they make it seem that the lower half of the Metal Gears is where the organic life comes in.

These new Metal Gears won't just rely on the traditional brute force they have in the past. According to Hideo, MGS4's Metal Gears will use psychological warfare and promises that the fear and edge won't be just for the NPCs. He went on to further describe that the A.I. has been tweaked to a level were the enemies will react as if they where on the battlefield in real life. Setting traps, luring you into a false sense of security, and easing your levels of tension before attacking, are just a few of the new ways the enemy will interact with Snake.

In addition to the AI, Hideo hopes that the new Metal Gears will play on memories of our childhood to further feed our paranoia. As in the trailer, several of the Metal Gears made noises that resembled the cicada and, according to Hideo, this noise has been used to capture the reminiscent tranquility of childhood by bringing back memories of going outside and catching cicadas. The cicada won't be the only animal noise you might hear. It has been mentioned that the sound the Metal Gear will make while walking will be the heavy hooves of a horse. At least one other familiar animal noise has been revealed. Later in the trailer when there is a herd of Metal Gears, there are a lot of "mooing" noises coming from them, another example of a weird, yet intriguing, concept.

There has also been a loose rumor that fan favorite cutie Mei Ling will return to assist Snake. However, do not bet on it since the Japanese voice cast has been released with no Mei Ling voice-actor, but you can wish. An additional rumor is due in part to teaser poster that showed Raiden holding a baby. The speculation as to who the baby is has been split. Some believe it is the child the Patriots stole from Olga Gurlukovich. While others think it is Raiden's child, since his girlfriend was pregnant at the end of Sons of Liberty.

Metal Gear has been a series that has improved with each installment, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots does not look to stop this trend. The graphics are superior to any of the previous titles, the past character involvement looks to be more engaging, and the new toys for Snake and the players to use are very inviting. We will be in for a memorable ride if Snake Eater was any indication to how the cinematic feel will be portrayed in MGS4. There should also be a sense of continuity as well. With the Japanese voice-actors signed on to once again to voice the characters they have helped shape, American audiences can at least take comfort in that the long time voice of Snake will once again be David Hayter. While other cast members have yet to be revealed hopefully they will follow the same formula as the Japanese voice-overs.

While the mysteries still run rampant about MGS4 one thing is a guarantee: this will be one memorable, if not the most memorable, Metal Gear to date. An entire world to save, six months to live, and an old man now, it seems like the odds are against Snake. It's never stopped him before, nor has it stopped us from enjoying and feeling the emotion Hideo invokes through his games. Even though all signs point to this being Snake's last mission, if it is, Snake's legacy will never fade from our memories. MGS4 is set to give us our strongest reason to plop down $600 on the PS3 in Fall 2007, but it seems so far away.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Freelance Writer

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