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# If you’re a gamer, then you should be playing ‘MGS4’
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/if-youre-a-gamer-then-you-should-be-playing-mgs4/
- Published: 2008-06-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:18:20.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Robert Summa A Gamer’s Life*

GAMERS CAN ALWAYS BE DIVIDED into two categories: Those who like stealth games and those who do not. For me, I’ve always been averse to them as my attention span is about as short as they come. That’s why up until Konami’s “Metal Gear Solid 4” for the PlayStation 3, I have always dabbled, but more or less avoided the “Metal Gear” franchise.

With a long and proud history of stealth gameplay and extra-long cutscenes, “Metal Gear” has always been reserved for that upper crust of videogamer who walks around with his or her nose in the air thinking and knowing that they are better than you because they endured the epic nature and critical thinking that comes along with each installment.

“Metal Gear Solid 4” changed all that, at least for me.

I hadn’t planned on picking up creator Hideo Kojima’s final masterpiece (he has said this will be his last “Metal Gear” game), but curiosity got the best of me and I figured with the power of the PlayStation 3 behind it and the need of Konami to reach out to a larger audience to justify the millions spent on making the game, I would have a change of heart with this series.

And just like eating sushi for the first time, I’m glad I gave this game a go. In short, it’s brilliant. As someone who has played videogames for more than 20 years and lived through the good, bad and ugly, this title not only stands out as one of the best games of this generation, but quite possibly one of the best single-player experiences to date.

What has really made the difference here is the refinement of the controls, the beauty of the storytelling, and the technological-wonderment of a having a sandbox-like environment in which to move the lead character, Solid Snake, in. With games such as this in the past, players were always constricted to just one or two options to complete a stage, get around enemies, or reach a goal. In “MGS4,” it is up to the player how he or she wants to complete a stage.

What this means is that the game adapts to your play style and not vice-versa. No longer are you necessarily forced to sit and time your movements toward enemies. Now, you do what you like. If you’re great at stealth and love it, then MGS4 offers every opportunity for you to exploit that. If you’re feeling more like Rambo and just want to blast your way through, then within certain limits, you can do that.

In doing this, Kojima allows the player to feel even more immersed in the game and the story that is being told. You feel the tension, you feel the drama and you feel the satisfaction of completing what seem like impossible missions.

All that being said, I must provide this warning, however, to potential players: If you’re not a fan of long cutscenes, then this title may not be for you. The non-playable cutscenes in “MGS4” can run as long as 20 minutes or so. This is a good thing for those of us who enjoy the story and pacing of the game, but if you’d rather get all your action in short spurts with no interruption, then this may be a big deterrent for you.

In the past, this fact certainly would have constituted a no-buy for me, but because the action in “MGS4” is so intense, the long cutscenes provide a much-needed break from the mayhem of any given level. Also, if you’re a long-time fan of the series, nearly every cutscene includes the opportunity to view flashbacks from the past with the press of the X button when notified on the screen.

So, is this game perfect? Well, nothing ever is. While “MGS4” unquestionably ranks among the top videogames ever made, it does have its flaws. Occasional camera issues can be a turn-off for some, but for the most part, it won’t distract or prevent you from completing your missions and getting the most out of this title.

If you’re a bored PlayStation 3 owner or someone who has been waiting for the right game to come along to justify the purchase of the system, then “MGS4” is a title that deserves a place in your entertainment library.

ROBERT SUMMA has covered the videogame and technology industry for the past four years. He had a long-running videogame column in New York City and has appeared on television programs such as G4’s “Attack of the Show” as a commentator.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062708.pdf?ref=smdp.com)