Metal Gear Solid 4

There have been a few high profile comebacks of all action old folks of late; Indiana Jones is having a crack at the Ruskies this time round, whip and fedora to hand, whilst Rambo was also recently back to his psychopathic best, demonstrating just why you should never pick a fight with an ex-squaddie.

Now, keeping in the spirit of the times, Solid Snake is back, old, grizzled and with chip firmly on shoulder, ready to get back into the fray as soon as his stealthy feet will carry him. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

It’s probably fair to say at this point that there are few titles that can claim to be as hugely successful, universally loved and consistently excellent as MGS. This latest instalment is the end of the road for Solid Snake and the insane word of technology and tactics that he inhabits; the last iteration and final chapter in his story (what the people in charge of the Alien franchise once called a ‘quadrilogy’, bless their silly word-mangling souls). So although fans will be sad to see him go, they’ll be pleased to know he’s going out with a bang. Oh yes.

This time round, it’s 2014 and the world is all a bit off kilter, with private companies running around waging business-oriented wars. Mercenaries are all the rage, as is a bit of Nanotechnology designed to help the hired soldiers do their job that little bit better. With arch enemy Liquid Ocelot out to cause mayhem and put together a sizeable army, it’s down to Solid Snake to get down to business and sort the whole mess out.

His task takes him to war zones across the world, including all the usual hotspots – the Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe for example – where players can get to grips with a few changes in the gameplay.

With several familiar elements from other MGS titles carrying over, albeit in an updated form, fans have nothing to worry about there – MGS4 is going to be like slipping into your team’s new kit, with its slight differences but same overall structure.

A new close quarters combat system has been brought in, whilst a new ‘Octocamo’ camouflage system has been introduced as an update to the system seen in the last instalment.

As you would expect, MGS4 has been pieced together by industry legend and all round genius Hideo Kojima, with development taking place at Kojima Productions. Wrapping things up with a nice bit of date synchronisation, June 12th will not only be the worldwide release date of the game, but also the anniversary of the date the first Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear titles were unleashed upon an unwitting gaming community ten and 20 years ago respectively.

A pre-order campaign has been building up a head of steam, getting everyone excited at the prospect of the game to come, not to mention the exclusive seven part documentary Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD which accompanies the purchase. A limited edition collector’s package has also been put together, designed to be a much sought after item amongst collectors and fans alike. With a soundtrack CD, 6” Old Snake figurine and an exclusive Making Of Blu-ray disc included in the package, it’s easy to see why.

“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is rightly seen as the stand-out title for 2008, and we were determined to come up with something special for its launch,” commented Martin Schneider, European marketing director for Konami Digital Entertainment.

“With interest so high, it is only right that we reward fans of the series for pre-ordering the game, and the Metal Gear Saga DVD is a stunning look at how the series has evolved into the phenomenon it has become. Likewise, the Limited Edition is a celebration of all things Metal Gear, and will be prized by those who buy it.”

As with any title that has the rich heritage, dense storyline and die-hard fans that Metal Gear Solid enjoys, there is going to be no shortage of fans desperate to get their hands on this. There can be no denying the mass popularity of the series, and with this latest addition promising to bring a satisfying conclusion to the story, it’s going to be much sought-after on the High Street.

Easily one of the most anticipated games of the year, and certainly a highly anticipated title for the PS3, expect huge demand and an unhealthy appetite for all things Solid Snake this summer.