+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted January 21, 2008 Subscriber² Share Posted January 21, 2008 At CES 2008, much to my surprise and delight, I had the opportunity to play the MGS4 Trial. I'm a huge Metal Gear fan so being able to play the game before it's Q2 launch was incredibly satisfying (if only to reassure me that the game is still on track to live up to the high standards of the franchise.) Because the game is likely to remain low-key until launch, I decided to record my entire play-through and post it for the Metal Gear fanatics out there who are scouring the net for even just a morsel of new MGS4 footage. The good news is that MGS4 has all the production value you've come to expect from a Metal Gear game and even in the tiny taste that the trial provides, it's clear that it will put Snake into some pretty unfamiliar, but nonetheless incredible, settings and situations.First thing I'd like to mention is that the controls were non-inverted and I'm used to playing inverted (we tried changing them, but it wouldn't stay)... So if you're watching the video and wondering why every once in a while I look directly up at the sky or down at the ground, that's why. Similarly annoying is my play style; Metal Gear is a sneaking game, but due to the fact that there was only one demo terminal and it being my first time playing this installment, I just wanted to experience the entire thing as quickly as possible so the next person could play (it still took over 20mins.) The silver lining here is that, if you're a shooter fan who traditionally hasn't liked MG's stealth gameplay, you'll be happy to know that you will probably still have a good time playing through the entire game guns-a-blazing. The ability to play through the game like a shooter is made possible, almost exclusively, because of the new control scheme. On paper, the buttons are mapped in a very Gears-of-War-style, but they definitely don't feel that way (which, I'd guess, is because the cover systems of the two games are completely different.) Left-stick moves you around, right-stick changes your view, clicking right stick switches the camera to your other shoulder, left trigger to aim, right trigger to fire, etc. Probably the biggest indicator that the controls are more shooter-oriented is that the square button is used to enable or disable auto-aim on the fly. All of that being said, I'm still undecided if I like the new controls. While this is probably due to the inverted/non-inverted issue I faced, control-wise the game didn't feel very much like previous Metal Gear titles. It also doesn't help that I ran through the trial as fast as possible, but a lot of what I liked about past MGS games was the ability to use my radar in conjunction with what I could see on screen... that just isn't necessary anymore. So while the controls feel really awesome, insofar as replicating a standard with an N-th degree of polish, at this point, for me, they seem to water-down the Metal-Geary-ness of the controls and how I personally play the game. It's also important to note that the audio of the game is so much better than what you can hear in the video. Not only from a positioning standpoint, but also in its clarity - particularly the bullet sound effects, which whiz by your head and actually sound like they make contact with objects behind you. This is especially impressive because of the atmosphere of the game; it really feels like there's a war going on around you with skirmishes breaking out seemingly at random. One of my favorite parts of the trial has a crew of PMC troops fighting their way up a street, when out of nowhere a building in the background gets bombed by organic-looking flying machines (at 16:50 in the video.) As the troops continue to make their push, the building collapses and, a few seconds later, plumes of smoke and dust gush out into the streets (which are a couple of blocks away from the blast.) Cool! Speaking of skirmishes, prior to playing the trail I was under the impression that you could actually choose which side you want to fight for or remain completely neutral. However, throughout my play time it seemed like you're always against the PMC troops and you only have the opportunity to ally yourself with the Rebels. A better example, whenever you're spotted it's the PMCs that call for back-up and sweep the area in traditional Genome Soldier fashion. So I have a feeling that we're going to end up being on the Rebels side of the conflict by default (which 99% of people would prefer anyway.) On the graphics-side of things, MGS4 looks identical to what I was expecting. Despite the high expectations made by previously released trailers, gameplay videos, and screenshots, I was still impressed with Kojima Productions ability to make the game look so good. Every scene is bustling with life and movement, all happily moving along without any dip in framerate (I couldn't tell if it was 30 or 60fps, but it didn't so much as hitch once.) It looks good... it has that organic appearance that can only come from a combination of awesome visuals, animation, and atmosphere, all of which are hallmarks of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Additional footage downloads: * 720p WMV * 720p MP4 * XVID 640x360 * Stream I should probably mention this before I finish up: The video was recorded at 24fps, so you won't be able to distinguish the proper framerate based on the video. Also there are a couple of jump-cuts/glitches where I merged consecutive video files (at 8:43, 10:46, and 17:21); none of those glitches were present in the game. It was butter - nothing but liquid-fluid. I recommend you burn the video or put it on USB key and play it back on your 360 or PS3 as it looks best on a TV. A big thanks goes to BlimBlim/Gamersyde for being gracious enough to host the video (which nears a whopping 700megs.) Also, keep checking back as there should be some more CES video coverage coming soon. And, yeah, it'll have more N'Gai! Video/Source: http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/specials...s&pagenum=1 Downloading the 720p MP4 to watch on my PS3 as we speak :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiracyX Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 It doesn't look that bad to be honest. The trailers shown before hyping this game up are no where near what we have now. It looks ok, but nothing amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted January 21, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted January 21, 2008 (edited) It doesn't look that bad to be honest. The trailers shown before hyping this game up are no where near what we have now. It looks ok, but nothing amazing. The only bad thing IMO, is the lack of any content/info outside of this same level/enviroment for the past x amount of months. An article a short while back did say Hideo was going to take a GoW approach - Something to do with unleashing a lot of info on one day - Can someone confirm if GoW done that? GDC better have some new footage :yes: ps. I still haven't seen the playthrough above yet. psps. Watching now, when MKII appears, you can see the "rex flashback" come up on screen with the button x as the input to view :) - We knew there would be flashbacks anyway. Edited January 21, 2008 by Audioboxer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo003 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Either the guy playing is dumb or the targeting system sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyLarry Veteran Posted January 21, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 21, 2008 Either the guy playing is dumb or the targeting system sucks. First sentence Second Paragraph... First thing I'd like to mention is that the controls were non-inverted and I'm used to playing inverted (we tried changing them, but it wouldn't stay)... So if you're watching the video and wondering why every once in a while I look directly up at the sky or down at the ground, that's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huleboeren Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Anyone noticed how the crosshair(?) shows where you are pointing and where the projectile will actually hit? especielly when up close to a wall or corner Its the small details like this that make me love MGS :yes: The guy playing sucked tho - run'n'gun - tsk tsk, not a true Snake :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo003 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I didn't read anything so.... thanks for telling me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H. Veteran Posted January 21, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 21, 2008 holy smack bottom, that 720p WMV is 665MB!!! I wonder how much the Mp4 is... checking... only a tad smaller at 601MB. I'm downloading the WMV i guess... guaranteed to play on the 360 while MP4s are tricky (when will they get rid of those old formats, it's time for MP48s :) LOL Playing on my HH DD DDBVDVD Player) :) Holy - 2hrs to wait... i refuse to watch low quality streams or youtube versions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huleboeren Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 ^Get the torrent I got a decent speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sin-ergy Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 that man ass is highly disturbing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yusuf M. Veteran Posted January 22, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 22, 2008 holy smack bottom, that 720p WMV is 665MB!!! I wonder how much the Mp4 is... checking... only a tad smaller at 601MB. I'm downloading the WMV i guess... guaranteed to play on the 360 while MP4s are tricky (when will they get rid of those old formats, it's time for MP48s :) LOL Playing on my HH DD DDBVDVD Player) :)Holy - 2hrs to wait... i refuse to watch low quality streams or youtube versions! That surprised me too. I have 36 minutes left to go so I hope it's worth the wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy0 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Can someone remind me what the glowing ring thing around Snake is for? I have forgotten... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyLarry Veteran Posted January 22, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 22, 2008 Can someone remind me what the glowing ring thing around Snake is for? I have forgotten... I have not played any of the previous MGS's, so I am just going on what I have watched and read about this version, but my understanding of it is that is the "surface area" his suit can copy and mimic?? Can anyone confirm or deny this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazuyette Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 nothing next-gen in whatt I watched . But I liked teh tiny Rex MK.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy0 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I have not played any of the previous MGS's, so I am just going on what I have watched and read about this version, but my understanding of it is that is the "surface area" his suit can copy and mimic?? Could be right about that; certainly has some sense to it. Can anyone confirm or deny this? It wasn't in the previous MGS games, but I remember either reading/seeing something saying what it was for, but I have simply forgotten - hence why I asked, so thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keito Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 The wavy ring around snake is to show where potential danger is edit; Kazuyette - I hope you're not really stating that this could all be achieved on xbox/PS2 hardware, which it surely couldn't have been. Granted, MGS does not have the best graphics/physics but it sure is something that can only be done on these "next-gen" consoles (we shoudl drop the whole "next-gen" thing anyhow, it's been like what? over a year since all consoles have been out, so it's hardly the "next" generation anymore) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Ninja Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I have not played any of the previous MGS's, so I am just going on what I have watched and read about this version, but my understanding of it is that is the "surface area" his suit can copy and mimic??Can anyone confirm or deny this? A new monocular device called "Solid Eye" replaces the various binoculars and image intensifiers from previous titles, and a steel drum compliments the series' traditional cardboard box disguise. It is able to deflect bullets, and can be rolled to knock enemy soldiers over. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_4 It's called the Solid Eye. http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-99431.aspx If you go to the PS Store and download the 15 minute game play demonstration Hideo demos it in the game. Its pretty cool :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy0 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 The wavy ring around snake is to show where potential danger is Yep you are right, thanks. "The dotted white line around Snake shows the presence, direction and level of threats. Waves relay the direction of the threat - the higher, the more dangerous. Red waved mean bigger danger, like a tank." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazuyette Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 The wavy ring around snake is to show where potential danger isedit; Kazuyette - I hope you're not really stating that this could all be achieved on xbox/PS2 hardware, which it surely couldn't have been. Granted, MGS does not have the best graphics/physics but it sure is something that can only be done on these "next-gen" consoles (we shoudl drop the whole "next-gen" thing anyhow, it's been like what? over a year since all consoles have been out, so it's hardly the "next" generation anymore) Maybe it's the quality of the video itself that is to blame, but what I saw didn't impressed me at all. That's what I meant nothing more. And maybe it's because of the fact that the MGS series bores me to death . (no flamebaiting here, I'm just stating my opinion mate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted January 24, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted January 24, 2008 Maybe it's the quality of the video itself that is to blame, but what I saw didn't impressed me at all. That's what I meant nothing more. And maybe it's because of the fact that the MGS series bores me to death . (no flamebaiting here, I'm just stating my opinion mate) This is a very old build, I'd keep that in mind. It hasn't changed in quite a while. They've been showcasing it for 4~5 months, and it's been playable since late last year (demos at Tokyo game show). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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