It's summer. I've played every MGS except for 4. Time to rectify that?

[Greatest Ever]

Should I play MGS4 and if I do should I watch the cutscenes or nah

I'm pretty sure I know the story as is and it looks mad boring most of the time

My other option is continue Game of Thrones lol I'm on season 3

 

[Isotope]

the cutscenes are what make mgs4

just bring some popcorn and enjoy the ride

 

[Greatest Ever]

the cutscenes are what make mgs4

just bring some popcorn and enjoy the ride

Click to shrink...

But they're so long ugh

 

[ThorHammerstein]

Hell yes~ I'd only played 1, 2, and 3, and then 4 about eight years after release. The game wasn't awesome but there was some very cool fan service and throwbacks. It was a nice conclusion.

 

[zebetite]

I wish I could go back in time and NOT play MGS4 tbh

 

[Morrigan]

Shit no. Awful game. I bought the PS3 for it, barely touched it, shelved it for months, only to finally resume and finish it almost a year later, and I regret the time wasted.

 

[HotAndTender]

But they're so long ugh

Click to shrink...

It's worth it, from what i remember i enjoyed the gameplay as well. You should play it 141.12%

 

[Silky]

You played 5 instead of 4?

 

[Greatest Ever]

I wish I could go back in time and NOT play MGS4 tbh

Click to shrink...

So let's say I'm only asking because I enjoy tactical TPS games, general MGS gameplay, and AAA Japanese games, and not because I give a shit about MGS' story, why would you say you could?

 

[DC5remy]

Don't waste your summer like this OP

 

[Greatest Ever]

You played 5 instead of 4?

Click to shrink...

I played 1, 2, and 3 on Vita and 5 on PC. I've had four forever, but there was no way I wasn't gonna play 5 with how good GZ was.

 

[Jawmuncher]

It's worth playing to see how whack it is. There's some good moments sprinkled throughout.

 

[_zoipi]

I'd say that it's woth. Last good MGS game.

 

[Linus815]

continue game of thrones, I'd say. S3/S4 is amazing.
I love story driven games but MGS4 is just too much. And the story itself is kind of... jesus christ, what the fuck was Kojima thinking? So much pointless exposition, retcon, fan service... it's just a mess of a game.

 

[Lionheart]

One of if not the best game of last gen.

What a thrill, do it OP. Some epic moments await, its what MGSV was missing.

 

[Truant]

Gameplay wise, it's very hard to go back to the other games after V. Never cared for 4 myself, it felt so boxed in.

 

[ActWan]

it's a hell of a ride i'd definitely recommend playing it because it has great gameplay and cool moments

But they're so long ugh

Click to shrink...

if that's your response best to just skip it entirely and not even watch them lol

 

[Ushojax]

It's a terrible 3 hour movie with a 35 minute game demo attached to it. I wish I could erase it from my memory.

 

[Greatest Ever]

it's a hell of a ride i'd definitely recommend playing it because it has great gameplay and cool moments
if that's your response best to just skip it entirely and not even watch them

Click to shrink...

Cool cool I just want the gameplay but I'll watch slavishly long cutscenes if they entertain me I'm watching GoT rn after all

 

[Greatest Ever]

It's worth playing to see how whack it is. There's some good moments sprinkled throughout.

Click to shrink...

Yeah the sheer whackadoo nature is why I'm tempted to plug the PS3 back in

 

[Coolsambob]

It's the best one, so hell yes.

 

[Force_XXI]

Only if you blow through it in like 2-3 days, that games performance is dreadful, but if that doesnt bother you enjoy!

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

MGS4 is an amazing game especially for those who played every MGS at the time of release.

Nowadays ? I'm not so sure anymore.

I mean I don't think the game aged that well mechanically speaking, especially with far superior MGS game released after.

I'd say play it with hold expectations.

 

[Sgt. Demblant]

Yeah you should play it.
I have this weird relationship with MGS 1 through 4 in that I hated the act of actually playing them but I'm still super glad that I did and had that experience*. Simply watching the cutscenes cannot replicate that.

*5 was the reverse. Immaculate gameplay, felt completely empty once I beat it.

 

[Deleted member 4869]

Yes. It's one of the best games on the PS3. It amazingly won Game of the Year TWICE back in old GAF.

Give it a shot.

 

[Deleted member 32374]

Yes and go whole hog. I started playing MGS4 for the first time in 2016 myself.

 

[Thornquist]

OP.
Imagine your favorite piece of fiction. Lets say it is the original Star Wars trilogy.

Imagine George Lucas marrying of princess Leia to a Ewok, while Han Solo dies of cancer on the toilet because he hates Star Wars, and somehow holds you guilty for "forcing him to finish it".

That is MGS4.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

*5 was the reverse. Immaculate gameplay, felt completely empty once I beat it.

Click to shrink...

Everytime I think of MGSV I get sad. My hype was through the roof after Ground Zeroes. It was supposed to be the GOAT, the game that would combine an amazing gameplay to a story ride like MGS4.

Well at least it was a fun game.

 

[Pankratous]

If you have to ask whether you should be watching the cutscenes, you shouldn't even be considered playing the game at all. Or any story based game for that matter.

 

[Greatest Ever]

OP.
Imagine your favorite piece of fiction. Lets say it is the original Star Wars trilogy.

Imagine George Lucas marrying of princess Leia to a Ewok, while Han Solo dies of cancer on the toilet because he hates Star Wars, and somehow holds you guilty for "forcing him to finish it".

That is MGS4.

Click to shrink...

Well it's a good thing I don't give a fuuuuck about MGS' overarching story. I still understand why it disappointed so many with that story. You ever seen Super Bunnyhop or Matthewmatosis' video on it?

 

[LiK]

You must PLAY MGS4. You have to. It has some of the best nostalgic moments.

 

[Deleted member 49319]

The first two chapters are worth playing and replaying.
Chapter 4 is worth experiencing once.

 

[Deleted member 47318]

But they're so long ugh

Click to shrink...

In that case, don't.

In MGS4 it's the gameplay breaking up the cutscenes/movies at times, rather than the other way around.

 

[Greatest Ever]

MGS4 is an amazing game especially for those who played every MGS at the time of release.

Nowadays ? I'm not so sure anymore.

I mean I don't think the game aged that well mechanically speaking, especially with far superior MGS game released after.

I'd say play it with hold expectations.

Click to shrink...

I will definitely hold expectations, I'm not expecting anything near MGSV let alone a game from 08.

If you have to ask whether you should be watching the cutscenes, you shouldn't even be considered playing the game at all. Or any story based game for that matter.

Click to shrink...

but what about

Ya know

The game's

gameplay

 

[Dakb]

Is there already a way to play this game that doesn't involve a PS3?

 

[C.Mongler]

I love MGS4, but it feels like an interactive movie at times. I wouldn't bother unless you want to watch the cutscenes. The game's story is fucking goofy as hell though, and you'll either love it or hate it!

 

[zma1013]

If there's one thing MGS4 cuscenes are not, is boring. There is some wild shit in those cutscenes. The lunacy on display in MGS4 is off the charts. Sure the story goes south halfway through and turns into bad fan-fiction garbage, but it's the type of fan-fiction garbage that you will never forget. You will simaltaneously be entertained and disappointed.

The gameplay itself is pretty good, what little of it there is. Worth playing through for sure. Good boss battles too.

 

[LiK]

Is there already a way to play this game that doesn't involve a PS3?

Click to shrink...

It's on PSNow.

 

[AmbientRuin]

4 is better than 5

 

[Deleted member 8784]

It's cheeks.
Never has such a nose-dive in quality been seen quite like after MGS4's second chapter.

 

[Specific Power Ranger]

MGS4 is the game that I started with. It was great at the time. I'm sure it still is. Do et !

Spoiler

I have since played Metal Gear Solid 1,2 and Metal Gear 1,2. Still missing Metal Gear Solid 3 and 5.

 

[Karthane]

If you played 1,2,3 and didn't feel the urge to play 4 until just now, I'm going to assume you won't like it. If you LOVED those games and the story and want to see the conclusion (sort-of)...then play it. It's very story focused.

 

[Deleted member 19218]

It's like the complete opposite of MGSV. It focuses way too much on story and not enough on gameplay.

It's dated and looks poor now, the controls are clunky, the environments are tiny and limited. It has lots of cool little tricks to figure out though like playing dead next to dead bodies and knocking people out with crotch grabs but yeah...anyway I would still play it just for the conclusion to this saga. While you could just YouTube it all, some scenes would lose their impact because Kojima is known for breaking the fourth wall and stuff such as...

Spoiler: MGS4 Gameplay spoiler

That microwave corridor

Think back to the Psycho Mantis fight in MGS1, having to fiddle with controller ports was such a cool gimmick, and having your gameplay stats read was pretty cool also. Those that simply watch stuff like that on YouTube wouldn't get the same experience.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

I will definitely hold expectations, I'm not expecting anything near MGSV let alone a game from 08.

Click to shrink...

There are some pretty neat ideas though, some gadgets are cool, I like the idea of the Threat Ring to replace the Soliton Radar that has plagued the series. The weapon salvaging was clever (weapon are ID-registered so you could take them but not use them immediately, you had to hack them inbetween missions to use them).
Act IV is brilliant.

For all the shit we put Kojima through for his scenario shenanigans or his questionnable choices (*ahem* Quiet *ahem*) I think he's a brilliant game designer.

Spoiler

As a writer if he's left alone, well, we have a saying in French which is "être en roue libre".
The man needs an editor able to channel him

 

[modestb]

Well it's a good thing I don't give a fuuuuck about MGS' overarching story. I still understand why it disappointed so many with that story. You ever seen Super Bunnyhop or Matthewmatosis' video on it?

Click to shrink...

I went into this thread expecting to say "If you liked MGS1-3 enough to beat them obviously you should play 4", but hearing you don't really care about the story at all - MGS 4 is a waste of your time. The gameplay is good enough but if you're not interested in seeing the end of the saga don't bother.

 

[Pankratous]

I will definitely hold expectations, I'm not expecting anything near MGSV let alone a game from 08.
but what about

Ya know

The game's

gameplay

Click to shrink...

A game is compromised of everything, not just the gameplay.

And if you are playing a STORY based game, then the story is the most important part. It's literally to move from one chapter to the next. To learn more about the story.

If you just want good gameplay then play something that is entirely about that.

 

[Techno]

It's better than TPP tbh.

 

[Papercuts]

no
you're fine.

 

[Servbot24]

Do it, it's an amazing game. Just be ready to watch some cutscenes.

 

[Deleted member 41520]

The gameplay is incredible - arguably better than MGSV's in many ways.

But there's barely any of it. Or at least, barely any good stuff. Most of it is weird contrived scenarios or shoebox encounters. Act 1 and Act 2 are two of the greatest game segments I've ever played... then it collapses.

And the story is pretty painful on the whole. The cutscenes aren't boring, they're just poorly paced and often poorly written.

I will definitely hold expectations, I'm not expecting anything near MGSV let alone a game from 08.
but what about

Ya know

The game's

gameplay

Click to shrink...

Ah you asked specifically about it... but not in the OP

The gameplay is incredible. It's insanely tight. Like the most crisp movement ever. Some of the deepest mechanics ever - holding guards up, frisking them, interrogating them; tons of physical moves, shit like lie on your back and throw grenades backwards over your head for a different arc; octo-camo is cool but you can also do it without; disguises; fucking with guards via the SOP system... The shooting is pretty tight. There are tons of tools and weapons (there are far too many guns, it's like completely redundant how many there are) with some really cool depth in the bosses (albeit not to the level of MGS3).