Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid 4
Bringing Cinematic Experiences to Consoles
Metal Gear Solid took the tried and true stealth formula of the previous Metal Gear games and added cinematic appeal in Metal Gear Solid 4, to the raving acclaim of the critics. The game is heavily story driven, with plenty of action and stealth. It can be played both Rambo-style, with guns blazing, or like a typical spy game, with plenty of sneaking and deception. Opening the gameplay style opened the door to new fans, while still appeasing the old, but not all are pleased with the new take on the Metal Gear series.
Fan Reaction to Metal Gear Solid 4
Some new fans were disappointed by the cinema-like story-telling, complaining that the experience was more like watching a movie than playing a game. Their complaints are unfounded, however, because Metal Gear Solid 4 seamlessly mixes video and gameplay in fun and exciting ways, not to mention that previous Metal Gear outings are notorious for their numerous cut-scenes, as anyone who has ever played a Metal Gear game knows.
Those lucky enough to be long-time fans of the genre were largely excited by the in-depth story and gameplay style, but there were some who sorely missed the open world environment and slightly less linear gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. These were the players who benefited most from the cinematic experience, however, as only those who understand the Snake legacy would understand all the nuances in the Metal Gear Solid 4 cinematics.
Hideo Kojima Immerses Players in a Cinematic Experience
Whether or not people enjoyed the game does not make Hideo Kojima’s latest installment any less than a masterpiece. Both the in-game and cut-scene visuals are flawless in every aspect, the voice acting is top-notch and the game really does play like a long movie. Kojima and his team have shown that developing video games is an art form, just as with any film or artwork.
From the intense final moments with Snake crawling through a radioactive tunnel to the split screen fight between Vamp and Raiden, Metal Gear Solid produces magical moments rarely seen in most mainstream video games. Kojima has capitalized on the idea that video games are the most powerful medium ever created, like film and art they focus on incredible visuals, and like a novel they immerse players in a story. Video games, however, are unlike any other medium in the way they can immerse players into a world. Instead about watching or reading another’s adventure, players get to live their own adventure.
A New Era of Video Games
Metal Gear Solid 4 is by no means perfect, it reeks of cheesiness in its storytelling, but it overall it is a fantastic experience with intense, involving moments. Moments that would mean nothing if the players had no emotional investment in the game, but Metal Gear Solid 4 strives to ensure that players connect with Snake and the other characters of the game, so each new discovery feels new and real.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is part of a new era of video games since there has been a strong push towards story-telling in recent video games. Saving the princess doesn’t always cut it, so developers like Kojima are working hard on pushing the ideal of video games as art, rather than merely mindless entertainment. Whether the wider community will ever accept it as such remains to be seen, but Metal Gear Solid was a solid attempt at invigorating and innovating in the video game industry.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Characters
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