Ciao! I'm Off to Italy!

I'll be back on August 1.

I'm going to try and update this thing with some pictures at some point throughout my trip. Stay tuned!

Arrivederci!

Metal Gear Solid 4 Afterthoughts

**This article is spoiler free**

Upon completing Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, I said this to myself without completely realizing it:

"Wow. This was a great movie."

Did I mean to say, "this was a great game."? Probably. Nonetheless, I found it quite amusing that I mixed up these two words, considering that I honestly felt like I was watching more cut-scenes than sneaking around and snapping necks while playing MGS4.

I digress.

MGS4 was an amazing game. I honestly think the way the game actually plays is, up to this point, unmatched. The refined controls are a few ticks away from flawless, the animation is crisp, smooth and realistic, and all of the new (one being not-so-new) environments are masterfully designed.

I can assure you that everything I just stated is not the speech of a blinded Metal Gear fanboy that praises anything Hideo Kojima's cat pees on. The actual gameplay really is perfect. That being said, I am downright disappointed that there just wasn't more of it. I've never felt so desperate for a cut-scene to end during a Metal Gear game -- and that isn't to knock the cut-scenes at all. The movie sequences are about as expertly directed as the gameplay is constructed, but to put things summarily...

they're just too long.

Apparently, Kojima Productions agrees with me on that note. During the prolonged mission briefings, the team decided to let players use the Metal Gear Mk. II/III while Snake and company talked it up. You can use the Mk. II/III to snoop around the Nomad (the plane that Otacon and Snake use to get around) and find items that'll aid you on your next mission. You can also take a look at the security cameras inside the Nomad instead of watch the cut-scene, but rolling around in the Mk. II/III is a lot more entertaining. I think the plot points that I still don't understand can be blamed on the fact that I was too busy ramming my Mk. II/III into Snake during the mission briefings instead of actually paying attention to all the talk about nanomachines and viruses.

Which brings up my second and final gripe about MGS4: I'm not a biomedical engineer or a rocket scientist, and therefore, I do not immediately grasp all the nanomachine hullabaloo. Sadly, that is a bit detrimental to my overall experience, especially since I've been such a huge fan of the story since I played the original. The original MGS had a story that kind of went in that direction, but still remained relatively easy to follow because genes, memes, zenes and wenes were not as prominent as they are in MGS4. The original probably has one of the greatest stories ever told on any video game platform. Metal Gear Solid 3 was similar in that sense, due to the fact that it took place in the 1960's, and nanomachine technology was not around at that time (thank God).

Besides these two hiccups in my experience, this game was simply stunning. It's one of the few titles I encounter every now and then that actually compell me to continue playing even after completing it. There are so many ways to conquer a level that I find myself constantly beating, then reloading a stage just to try and best it in a different way.

Perhaps I'm disappointed by the lack of more gameplay because I know that Solid Snake's tenure as the protagonist of Metal Gear games is finally over (Kojima stated this is the last game in the Solid series). Either way, Snake goes out with a bang. Guns of the Patriots is a masterpiece from the frenetic introduction that takes place on a Middle-Eastern battlefield, to the epic final boss fight against ______ that takes place on top of ___________.

I bought a PlayStation3 for this game. If you don't have one, I suggest you do the same.

Cheerio!

Another 10?! Metal Gear Solid 4 Impressions

"I've been waiting for MGS4 since I was two!" yelled out one of about thirty or so males in line for the midnight release of MGS4 at my local Gamestop. Mind you, the kid couldn't be over twenty years of age (and no, it wasn't me).

The midnight release was actually a lot less chaotic than I expected. While the lines that formed for the launch of other recent titles, such as Halo 3 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, were absolute madness, MGS4's launch was relatively quiet. Even an hour before the release, there were no more than twenty people hanging around Gamestop's front door. Some intently read their MGS4 special edition manuals, while others in line attempted to negotiate a deal with those whom were towards the front of the line -- in order to get their hands on the scarce MGS4/PS3 bundle.

"C'mon, I'll give you eight-hundred for it," implored one desperate gamer to another, the ladder simply shaking his head.

I would've felt the failed negotiator's pain, but thanks to some perseverance, I managed to actually get an MGS4/PS3 bundle held on the side for me. Five-hundred-and-thirty-four dollars of my hard-earned cash vanished that Wednesday night, and honestly folks, after playing about five or six hours into MGS4 already, I can say it's been worth every cent.

Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. Check out Jeff Haynes' review here.

Yup. Another 10.

I won't agree or disagree with the score just yet, seeing how I'm only a few hours into the game, but if I had to rate what I've played so far...

Yeah, 10 sounds about right.

The cinematography is pure art. The dialog, characterization, character design, the this-could-be-our-world undertone is the work of an absolute mastermind. The visuals, from the newly designed HUD, newly designed pause menu, to the way Snake's OctoCamo suit blends into its environment are simply jaw-dropping and drool-inducing. The actual gameplay is just... you get my drift? The game reinvents itself while still maintaining that elemental, suspenseful me-against-the-world super-spy stealth-action.

The game's level design (so far) is a lot more reminiscent to MGS3's. No narrow hallways with completely conspicuous security cameras or locked sliding doors that require a level-9 card to pass through. The levels are expansive and, thanks to the new behind the back, right-analog-controlled camera, are easier to navigate than MGS3's environments. The new camera also makes the transition between indoor and outdoor environments a lot easier.

The new aiming system is perfect. It feels as Konami meant to create a shooter. Pressing L1 now draws your weapon and brings the camera over Snake's shoulder. A yellow reticule appears on-screen and you can now aim in all directions -- while moving -- without going into first person mode. A click of the R1 button fires your weapon, and if you want get a more precise shot, slap the triangle-button to go into first-person mode. Snake can now move while in first-person mode as well. Shooting around in first-person mode almost feels like you're not playing an MGS game -- but I mean that in a most positive way, because the first person shooting in MGS2 and 3 was quite horrendous (what kind of legendary soldier stands completely still while shooting anyway?).

Go get this game now.

On a completely different note, I saw The Incredible Hulk tonight. That was good.

I also finally beat GTA4. Great game. Definitely overhyped, though.

Oh, and sorry for the lack of pictures, but it's been brought to my attention that whenever I post a picture up here without permission, the fleas of a thousand camels might infest my groin region. Therefore, here's a pretty entertaining video from YouTube for you.



See you next time folks. Same butt-time. Same butt-channel...

It's Been a While...

... Kind of.

It hasn't been that long, but I know, I've disappointed many of you by not doing my weekly (or semi-weekly) update. Not to worry. School is finally over as of today, and Thursday I'll be posting some pics of the MGS4 launch and writing a bit about it.

'Til then...

Ciao!