Metal Gear Solid 4 - 1st Review - Score Inside


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WARNING - Minor spoilers and hints at storyline outcomes in this topic. Nothing concrete is given away, however if you want to save every last drop of MGS4 for your play through, don't read.

FYI, the game got 10/10, you need not read any further if you don't want to.

The UK Official PlayStation Mag has got its Exclusive Review, and if there was ever any doubt, it has recieved a perfect score.

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Source: http://n4g.com/ps3/News-144402.aspx

Download Scans : MGS4 Review in OPM UK - 35.6mb

Choo-Choo, all aboard the Hype-way Express! :p

Put official and playstation together, and let them review the exclusive on MGS4, and you were bound to get 10/10.

However I'm sure it's worth 10/10 :devil:

ps. When I can, I'll source larger full page scans!

Prior reviews from this mag - RFOM 7/10, GOW2 8/10, MGS3 9/10

Metal Gear Solid 4: The first review is out!

And we've talked to the man who wrote it. Here's what he thinks

Metal Gear Solid 4. Looks like it's going to be good, doesn't it? But just how good, exactly? Just "Hmmm, this is fun, I'm glad I did buy a PS3 now" good? Or perhaps "There you go Hideo. My first-born child in recompense for this audio-visual wonder you have kindly bestowed upon my life" good?

One man knows the answer to that. His name is Paul Fitzpatrick and he's written the world's first review of the game for the UK's Official PlayStation Magazine. And he very happily gave it a none-better 10/10 score. The review will be in issue 19, which goes on sale on Friday 16th of May, but you don't have to wait that long. We have you see, spoken to Paul and found out exactly how he feels about the biggest game on the PS3 this year. Want to know? Of course you do.

One word of warning though. We've tried to keep this interview as spoiler-free as possible, but if you absolutely, positively don't want to even read a single hint of a seed of a scrap of a possibility of a plot point that you could extrapolate to work out the truth by the time the game comes out, click away now. In fact if that's the sort of person you are, why the hell are you reading this story anyway? Be off with you!

OPM%20MGS4%20Cover%20Crop--article_image.jpg

GamesRadar: First things first. This is the epic resolution to an epic saga and it comes on a Blu-ray disc. Just what sort of percentage of the playing time do the cut-scenes take up?

Paul Fitzpatrick: Hard to say. I didn't time the cut-scenes, but I completed MGS4 in just over 29 hours, and at a guess I'd say it was two thirds playing to one third watching. But that is a guess?GR:b> How long did you spend finishing MGS4 for the review? What was your play schedule like and how how complete a look at the game do you feel you got? Anything you would have liked to take some extra time over?PF:b> 29 hours and six minutes was my exact play-through time, and I saw everything I felt I needed to see to really get the measure of the game. I'd love to go back and play through with all the cool weapons and items unlocked of course. There are some beauties. Oh, and the play through didn't take in Metal Gear Online, which is being reviewed separately.

MGS4_10--article_image.jpgGR:b> The gameplay formula seems to have made the biggest single-game evolution we've ever seen in the MGS series. Does it still feel like a Metal Gear game despite that? If so, how have Konami maintained that essence, and if not, how have things changed?PF:b> It totally feels like Metal Gear. The faction dynamic isn't over-used and when it is available is only ever an option, supplementing stealth. It was a bit of classic Kojima misdirection to suggest that everything would be tied to that. The characters, themes and to a lesser extent, the core controls and abilities are where MGS really resides, and they have remained the same, even if what you do with them has altered.GR:b> The game seems to be made of a wider spread of game styles and mechanics this time. Is it still as focused an overall experience as we expect from Metal Gear?PF:b> Yes, for the reasons above. Emotionally, there is some dilution as there are so many individual stories to tie up and resolve, but from a gameplay perspective it's remarkably focused.GR:b> What's the single biggest improvement over the previous games? What makes the biggest difference in MGS4?PF:b> Having what is basically a classic FPS shooter control set up is the biggest improvement (although I guess it debuted in MGS3: Subsistence). It means that when Snake has to shoot it out, you can negotiate that with confidence for the first time.GR:b> You said in your review that MGS4 isn't perfect. What were your biggest complaints with it, and why did those issues disappoint you? Any major flaws?PF:b> I think the game's ending suffers from the Return Of The King syndrome in that it keeps ending when it should really draw a line earlier on. That's the main one for me. Also, the 'togglable' auto-aim isn't always as smart at locking on as it should be in those situations where it really makes sense that you use it.

MGS4_9--article_image.jpgGR:b> Why weren't those problems enough to stop you giving the game a 10/10 rating?PF:b> For me, like the greatest films, it's outstanding because of, and not despite, its idiosyncrasies and flaws. It's the expression of one very creative person's vision and to see that undiluted with all it's eccentricities and genius intact is remarkable. It's also a cracking story and truly rewarding to play.GR:b> Can you talk about anything that really surprised you? Anything you weren't expecting, or that you expected to be there but wasn't?PF:b> I was expecting the faction dynamic to be enforced, and to feature for longer. The other thing that surprised me is something that should be left to surprise you too. Sorry!GR:b> Without giving too much away, which characters and story elements should we be looking out for this time? Any surprises or character moments you found particularly rewarding as a long-term fan? Does Raiden redeem himself?PF:b> Raiden does redeem himself, although clearly Koj loves him a lot more than we ever will. Big Mama's story is worth looking out for too, but it's impossible to say much more without spoiling it.GR:b> Did the game's ending feel as final a resolution as we're being led to believe it is, or is there still potential for continuation with or without Kojima?PF:b> A bit of both. This is the end of Snake's story, but there are other characters who feasibly could live to sneak another day.

MGS4_8--article_image.jpgGR:b> As an overall production, does the game deserve the years of hype it's garnered?PF:b> It is unique, and mostly for the very best reasons. It is, lest I haven't said this enough, a really, really enjoyable game to play. So, for my money, yes.GR:b> Do you think its release will make any kind of difference to the PS3 as a platform? Some say it'll sell systems like nothing we've ever seen before, while some think it will only sell to the pre-converted hardcore Metal Gear audience.PF:b> I think GTAIV is more likely to shift hardware, but if you like games at all and/or have any interest in where they're going, this is indispensable. This is a game for the fans. But if you're not one, it doesn't take much to get on board. The earlier games are still superb, and wikipedia can get you up to speed with the plot in fifteen minutes. Get involved!GR:b> In ten years, how do you think MGS4 will be viewed in comparison to the rest of the series?PF:b> As a brilliantly inventive, reassuringly mad grand finale to a consistently inventive and mad series.

Source: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-s...53655522074/p-3

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It just about had to get a ten.

Very expected. Not very informative, either. Though I have to admit I've been buying scratch offs lately, hoping to win enough to buy a PS3 for this game.

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How did i not see this coming. This isn't news worthy really. I could see the Official Playstaion Magazine would give this game nothing less that 10/10 otherwise it would be an inuslt to Konami/Hideo Kojima.

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haha.. finallly ill get to play some MGS4..

amazing tht ive never played this game :(

lets hope im even able top complete it ;)

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Really did anyone expected any other score for this game :/ .

Not really, but the Mag did give MGS3 9/10 :p

I doubt it will get anywhere near GTA4 on the wide scale of things, but I hope it does well when the rest of the critics come into play - The ones most people will want to read, as an official magazine mixed with an exclusive review is bound to turn favourable regardless of if the game deserves it or not.

Still, watch Gamespot give it an 8.9 :rofl:

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Really did anyone expected any other score for this game :/ .

Not really. I think this review is corrupt to be honest. I am not saying it's a bad game AT ALL, i haven't even played it obviously, but you just knew what the score it would get from this Magazine.

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Not really. I think this review is corrupt to be honest. I am not saying it's a bad game AT ALL, i haven't even played it obviously, but you just knew what the score it would get from this Magazine.

What do you think about GTA4 getting 10/10 almost everywhere then?

This is why I hate figure ratings.

I can see MGS4 being the perfect game for me, although I still don't think any game deserves the perfect score, but meh, I beat that issue to death during the GTA4 review era. Just gotta live with no standards in the gaming reviewing industry, and make sure you read as many reviews as you can to get a good idea about a game before buying - And try a demo if you can.

I'm much more interested to see what 1UP give it, an A or A+. Doubt it will go below A.

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What do you think about GTA4 getting 10/10 almost everywhere then?

This is why I hate figure ratings.

I can see MGS4 being the perfect game for me, although I still don't think any game deserves the perfect score, but meh, I beat that issue to death during the GTA4 review era. Just gotta live with no standards in the gaming reviewing industry, and make sure you read as many reviews as you can to get a good idea about a game before buying - And try a demo if you can.

I'm much more interested to see what 1UP give it, an A or A+. Doubt it will go below A.

This thread is about the review of MGS4 i though, which is why i left my opinion based to the review for this game and nothing else.

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This thread is about the review of MGS4 i though, which is why i left my opinion based to the review for this game and nothing else.

Well if you're just talking about this title, how on earth do you know if it doesn't deserve high ratings or not?

Only 1 review out so far. If they all start coming out high, are you going to claim they're all corrupt before even playing the game? :blink:

See I thought you were calling out the idea of 10/10 reviews, being "corrupt", not 1 title specifically that gets the treatment (which is why I questioned you on the recent GTA4 10/10's), and I would of agreed with you there due to me not liking anything getting a perfect score. Which is down to the mixed standards of reviews in the gaming world (percentages get used, out of 10 is used, A-D is used).

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What do you think about GTA4 getting 10/10 almost everywhere then?

This is why I hate figure ratings.

I can see MGS4 being the perfect game for me, although I still don't think any game deserves the perfect score, but meh, I beat that issue to death during the GTA4 review era. Just gotta live with no standards in the gaming reviewing industry, and make sure you read as many reviews as you can to get a good idea about a game before buying - And try a demo if you can.

I'm much more interested to see what 1UP give it, an A or A+. Doubt it will go below A.

This thread is about the review of MGS4 i though, which is why i left my opinion based to the review for this game and nothing else.

I thought the GTA4 reviews were corrupt aswell and you just knew what the score it would get. It's like the Official and Exclusive reviewers get either

1) Paid under the table to say just good things about the game

2) Not want to insult the game creator(s)/developers by giving a fair score on the good/bad of the game.

Well if you're just talking about this title, how on earth do you know if it doesn't deserve high ratings or not?

Only 1 review out so far. If they all start coming out high, are you going to claim they're all corrupt before even playing the game? :blink:

See I thought you were calling out the idea of 10/10 reviews, being "corrupt", not 1 title specifically that gets the treatment (which is why I questioned you on the recent GTA4 10/10's), and I would of agreed with you there due to me not liking anything getting a perfect score. Which is down to the mixed standards of reviews in the gaming world (percentages get used, out of 10 is used, A-D is used).

Only one review so far and many more to follow with 10/10 100% etc.

There hasn't been a decent MGS for 10 years and i don't think this will be any different to MGS2 or MGS3. (Notice how i never said the game sucked)

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This thread is about the review of MGS4 i though, which is why i left my opinion based to the review for this game and nothing else.

I thought the GTA4 reviews were corrupt aswell and you just knew what the score it would get. It's like the Official and Exclusive reviewers get either

1) Paid under the table to say just good things about the game

2) Not want to insult the game creator(s)/developers by giving a fair score on the good/bad of the game.

1UP talked about this, there's no doubt at all many, if not all exclusive reviews usually bag exclusivity out of agreeing to be favourable.

I can't say that for them all, as I don't know, but many of them will be.

There hasn't been a decent MGS for 10 years and i don't think this will be any different to MGS2 or MGS3.

We'll see :devil:

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Not really. I think this review is corrupt to be honest. I am not saying it's a bad game AT ALL, i haven't even played it obviously, but you just knew what the score it would get from this Magazine.

Corrupt? Please. You sound bitter for some reason!? Why wouldn't it get a 10. The game looks and plays (according to all pre release play tests etc) fantastically.

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Ok guys I didn't mean to start this thing about conspiracy, but I was just saying that the game which is last in the series is not going to get anything less in review. As all MG games I know it's going to be the best in the series.

I would like to keep the business end in my gaming hobbies to be separate from enjoying the game. This game is going to bring an end to the story 20 years in the making, just think about it.

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1UP talked about this, there's no doubt at all many, if not all exclusive reviews usually bag exclusivity out of agreeing to be favourable.

I can't say that for them all, as I don't know, but many of them will be.

We'll see :devil:

Yes we will see. I really hope it is a good game though but i will wait for more reliable reviews to come (Y)

Corrupt? Please. You sound bitter for some reason!? Why wouldn't it get a 10. The game looks and plays (according to all pre release play tests etc) fantastically.

Because I disagree that MGS4 got 10/10 from the Official Playstation Magazine and they are the Exclusive Reviewers? Please you sound bitter towards me because i don't agree with the review like i suppose everyone has to.

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Yes we will see. I really hope it is a good game though but i will wait for more reliable reviews to come (Y)

Because I disagree that MGS4 got 10/10 from the Official Playstation Magazine and they are the Exclusive Reviewers? Please you sound bitter towards me because i don't agree with the review like i suppose everyone has to.

Its the first time I've seen you question the integrity of reviews.

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I guess it would be a little fairer to judge if we could actually read the review, to see if they really do just go on a praising marathon, or if there is balance in the review.

However I can't find larger scans (current are too small, and pages are missing).

The 16 (I think it was 16) gaming journalists who got to go and complete the game from start to finish at Konami HQ did write very positive previews, so it's not like we're going into this score cold turkey.

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Nice interview with the guy who wrote the review - Explains the scoring and answers some more questions.

WARNING - Minor spoilers, such as the game's length amongst other hints at the storyline/outcomes.

On the length, im happy at it clocking in at 29 hours! That sounds like a good length to me :D

Metal Gear Solid 4: The first review is out!

And we've talked to the man who wrote it. Here's what he thinks

Metal Gear Solid 4. Looks like it's going to be good, doesn't it? But just how good, exactly? Just "Hmmm, this is fun, I'm glad I did buy a PS3 now" good? Or perhaps "There you go Hideo. My first-born child in recompense for this audio-visual wonder you have kindly bestowed upon my life" good?

One man knows the answer to that. His name is Paul Fitzpatrick and he's written the world's first review of the game for the UK's Official PlayStation Magazine. And he very happily gave it a none-better 10/10 score. The review will be in issue 19, which goes on sale on Friday 16th of May, but you don't have to wait that long. We have you see, spoken to Paul and found out exactly how he feels about the biggest game on the PS3 this year. Want to know? Of course you do.

One word of warning though. We've tried to keep this interview as spoiler-free as possible, but if you absolutely, positively don't want to even read a single hint of a seed of a scrap of a possibility of a plot point that you could extrapolate to work out the truth by the time the game comes out, click away now. In fact if that's the sort of person you are, why the hell are you reading this story anyway? Be off with you!

OPM%20MGS4%20Cover%20Crop--article_image.jpg

GamesRadar: First things first. This is the epic resolution to an epic saga and it comes on a Blu-ray disc. Just what sort of percentage of the playing time do the cut-scenes take up?

Paul Fitzpatrick: Hard to say. I didn't time the cut-scenes, but I completed MGS4 in just over 29 hours, and at a guess I'd say it was two thirds playing to one third watching. But that is a guess…

GR: How long did you spend finishing MGS4 for the review? What was your play schedule like and how how complete a look at the game do you feel you got? Anything you would have liked to take some extra time over?

PF: 29 hours and six minutes was my exact play-through time, and I saw everything I felt I needed to see to really get the measure of the game. I'd love to go back and play through with all the cool weapons and items unlocked of course. There are some beauties. Oh, and the play through didn't take in Metal Gear Online, which is being reviewed separately.

MGS4_10--article_image.jpg

GR: The gameplay formula seems to have made the biggest single-game evolution we've ever seen in the MGS series. Does it still feel like a Metal Gear game despite that? If so, how have Konami maintained that essence, and if not, how have things changed?

PF: It totally feels like Metal Gear. The faction dynamic isn't over-used and when it is available is only ever an option, supplementing stealth. It was a bit of classic Kojima misdirection to suggest that everything would be tied to that. The characters, themes and to a lesser extent, the core controls and abilities are where MGS really resides, and they have remained the same, even if what you do with them has altered.

GR: The game seems to be made of a wider spread of game styles and mechanics this time. Is it still as focused an overall experience as we expect from Metal Gear?

PF: Yes, for the reasons above. Emotionally, there is some dilution as there are so many individual stories to tie up and resolve, but from a gameplay perspective it's remarkably focused.

GR: What's the single biggest improvement over the previous games? What makes the biggest difference in MGS4?

PF: Having what is basically a classic FPS shooter control set up is the biggest improvement (although I guess it debuted in MGS3: Subsistence). It means that when Snake has to shoot it out, you can negotiate that with confidence for the first time.

GR: You said in your review that MGS4 isn't perfect. What were your biggest complaints with it, and why did those issues disappoint you? Any major flaws?

PF: I think the game's ending suffers from the Return Of The King syndrome in that it keeps ending when it should really draw a line earlier on. That's the main one for me. Also, the 'togglable' auto-aim isn't always as smart at locking on as it should be in those situations where it really makes sense that you use it.

MGS4_9--article_image.jpg

GR: Why weren't those problems enough to stop you giving the game a 10/10 rating?

PF: For me, like the greatest films, it's outstanding because of, and not despite, its idiosyncrasies and flaws. It's the expression of one very creative person's vision and to see that undiluted with all it's eccentricities and genius intact is remarkable. It's also a cracking story and truly rewarding to play.

GR: Can you talk about anything that really surprised you? Anything you weren't expecting, or that you expected to be there but wasn't?

PF: I was expecting the faction dynamic to be enforced, and to feature for longer. The other thing that surprised me is something that should be left to surprise you too. Sorry!

GR: Without giving too much away, which characters and story elements should we be looking out for this time? Any surprises or character moments you found particularly rewarding as a long-term fan? Does Raiden redeem himself?

PF: Raiden does redeem himself, although clearly Koj loves him a lot more than we ever will. Big Mama's story is worth looking out for too, but it's impossible to say much more without spoiling it.

GR: Did the game's ending feel as final a resolution as we're being led to believe it is, or is there still potential for continuation with or without Kojima?

PF: A bit of both. This is the end of Snake's story, but there are other characters who feasibly could live to sneak another day.

MGS4_8--article_image.jpg

GR: As an overall production, does the game deserve the years of hype it's garnered?

PF: It is unique, and mostly for the very best reasons. It is, lest I haven't said this enough, a really, really enjoyable game to play. So, for my money, yes.

GR: Do you think its release will make any kind of difference to the PS3 as a platform? Some say it'll sell systems like nothing we've ever seen before, while some think it will only sell to the pre-converted hardcore Metal Gear audience.

PF: I think GTAIV is more likely to shift hardware, but if you like games at all and/or have any interest in where they're going, this is indispensable. This is a game for the fans. But if you're not one, it doesn't take much to get on board. The earlier games are still superb, and wikipedia can get you up to speed with the plot in fifteen minutes. Get involved!

GR: In ten years, how do you think MGS4 will be viewed in comparison to the rest of the series?

PF: As a brilliantly inventive, reassuringly mad grand finale to a consistently inventive and mad series.

Source: http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-s...53655522074/p-3

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I have the review sat in front of me. I'll see if I can scan it.

Yeah great thanks.

Even high quality digi cam pics will do fine (Y)

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GR: Did the game's ending feel as final a resolution as we're being led to believe it is, or is there still potential for continuation with or without Kojima?

PF: A bit of both. This is the end of Snake's story, but there are other characters who feasibly could live to sneak another day.

Hence the jackass ruined the story. :angry:

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