I think the codec is played down this time.In MGS2 and 3 codec was a really useful device I used to resort to get more info, play around with diff characters(MGS2) and get hints.This time it seems I could complete the game even without opening the codec even once ! Most of the time its just Otacon on the codec,
Rosemary feels tacked on right now, maybe she'll have a role later.I can't talk to drebin whenever I want to although he calls up after boss battles. I can't talk to Raiden whenever I want. Even Otacon has very few things to say, whereas earlier he,as well as others, used to have a hell lot to talk about. Hell, the colonel used to blabber so much earlier, I can't even talk to him now.
Looks like Kojima ran out of ideas for the codec this time! or maybe I am wrong I am still at the beginning of Act 4.
Keep on calling the Codec and you get a bunch of replies...no repetition except after maybe 5 tries...that's in every section of the game. So much optional dialogue. And one of the biggest criticisms of MGS was the codec...hence it's uncritical use in this game. As I said...it's now mainly optional. A great change I might add (never particularly liked it except in MGS2 crazy AI bit )
I'd finished the game on NA default, playing no-kill on hard now.
Graphically it looks like MGS on a HD console. There are beautiful scenes and environments like South America, and the game renders very respectful amount like a small army on screen. Yet, there is no visible LOD system, possibly no streaming either, as a result textures especially ground textures are generally worst of its kind. Though framerate is very solid most of the time, there are weird chocks at some cutscenes that PS2 would have no problem (for that camera angle and visibility).
Story is poor as ever, maybe that's because I agree with Kojima about the premise hence it feels like a fun educational program for high school students. Overall a straightforward fantasy under sci-fi makeup (admittedly though it explains the monstrosities fairly well in the end). More often than not, I dislike goofy humor, self awareness of the game, over dramatization and "dear son, I love you so you must kill me" like moments (no spoilers here) but it wouldn't be MGS4 without them and I have respect for that. One thing I could live without is long stalls or "ah uh" moments in actionless cutscenes that seems to be common in Japanese anime and games. Still, if the choice was between short cutscenes like an ordinary game and MGS4 cutscenes I would always choose MGS4 as it is without thinking.
For example during the last battle (or interactive cutscene, depending on one's POV) there is a moment where snake and "the other guy" look at each other and you immediately guess what's going to happen next, yet I was really moved when they finally inject the syringes.
In short, best MGS by far, maybe even best game this gen. It's indeed a fan service, but still very much enjoyable for the rest of us.
Disagree about the graphics. Hate to bring up professional reviews like IGN and Gamespot, but they appear to agree (as do others in this forum) that it's incredibly detailed and breathtaking.
Story is as poor as ever? I think i should probably steer clear of this...but the story whips every game that's come out this generation...bar none. The emotion, the depth, the relation to present day politics and world events, as well as typing together complex happenings in the previous games with style - creating surprises and twists you'll not find in other games...or even films.
And yes I also loved that moment! I knew...no I hoped...that would happen...and I'm sure Kojima wanted us to think it would happen...but the pay off was so great (combined with the music). I truly love that scene...and wish I could just play it over and over again. Here the graphics (lighting, detail, camera angles) are unsurpassed (Crysis or no Crysis).
Still surprised no-one agrees with me about the loading during
But seriously you think the devs wanted this AI on purpose? And there are lots of other games showing noticably better AI, even games from last-gen im afraid to say.
Uh, yes? You SERIOUSLY think that devs can't figure out better AI than 'idiot AI'?
Since you're so negative on MGS4, let's take a different, very good game as an example: the AI in CoD4 consists of very little. Most enemies are meat turrets with infinite respawn. Do you really think that this is because IW can't write better AI?
I've seen various reasons for using simpler, more deterministic AI:
1) It's easier for QA to handle it when events repeat the same way under the same conditions.
2) It's easier to balance encounters: you have fewer variables to tweak.
3) It makes level building easier in general, as simpler, scripted AI behaviors can be inserted by the level designers, rather than depending on the the AI programmer (if there is one) to tweak more complex models.
4) Simpler individual behavior allows for more agents to be in a scene at the same time, which may be desirable. If I want to show off how incredible Snake is, I might want to have him blaze through a dozen stupid enemies rather than struggle against a smarter half-dozen.
To be fair, and in comparison to Uncharted, I think it's a little unfair, since Uncharted uses a completely different path for the jeep sequence (one they can optimize to not have any loading-screens intefere with the experience), where as in MGS4, you're back-tracking the entire and huge level that you've walked through before (with all the little details in them).
It's hurts the smoothness of the whole sequence a little, but after the intense battle between moving to the next map, having that 5-10 second pause was also good in a way (for me).
Uh, yes? You SERIOUSLY think that devs can't figure out better AI than 'idiot AI'?
Since you're so negative on MGS4, let's take a different, very good game as an example: the AI in CoD4 consists of very little. Most enemies are meat turrets with infinite respawn. Do you really think that this is because IW can't write better AI?
Gun and run style? Probably becouse they wanted a smooth 60fps bar for the game with the amount of characters onscreen.
I've seen various reasons for using simpler, more deterministic AI:
1) It's easier for QA to handle it when events repeat the same way under the same conditions.
2) It's easier to balance encounters: you have fewer variables to tweak.
3) It makes level building easier in general, as simpler, scripted AI behaviors can be inserted by the level designers, rather than depending on the the AI programmer (if there is one) to tweak more complex models.
Scripted AI sequenses here and there is no problem to pul the story ahead, its more about the way they act when they are "free".
4) Simpler individual behavior allows for more agents to be in a scene at the same time, which may be desirable. If I want to show off how incredible Snake is, I might want to have him blaze through a dozen stupid enemies rather than struggle against a smarter half-dozen.
The AI has to be balanced against difficulty, plus matched stealthy and CQC gameplay. The enemies are already pretty quick in path finding. If the enemies fire aggressively and quickly, there will be little chance to react in other ways except to shoot back. This is rather apparent in later levels, when we encounter a mix of high level enemies and grunts.
It also depends on what kind of players they are targeting. The new MGS soldiers radio their base slower (compared to MGS1). So they may want more casual folks jumping in.
I just finished the game... watching the epilogue now. The boss fights and alternate gameplay also makes MGS4 very interesting.
EDIT: 24:32:30 hours on Solid Normal with "Eagle" Emblem.
41 weapons procured. 366 kills.
I finished the game last night, in a 6-hour play session, and I'll just sort of copy/paste my impressions from what I posted on neogaf at the time:
"What an awesome experience this was. Best game this gen so far. Absolutely amazing in everything, technically, artistically, storywise, character development, sense of immersion, making the player feel all kind of emotions and of course, great gameplay. It's already one of my favorite games ever.
As a graphics whore, I should also mention two scenes in particular,
the bike scene
in Act 3 and
the fight scene with liquid, with its outstanding lighting
at the end. In both occasions, I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing in my screen.
Oh btw, I'm a "Hawk". That good?"
I'd also like to say that, in the second scene I mentioned, the one near the end, the lighting is the most impressive I've ever seen in a game except for Crysis. I've seen some videos of the Crysis cutscenes (probably offline rendered in very high settings like, I believe, those crazy explosion/physics youtube videos) and they had amazing lighting, which is expected. That MGS4 scene reminded me of it.
When I was watching the setup for that particular scene, I thought it might be pre-rendered but zoom was available (it's always a sign of real-time rendering in this game, right? I guess It could be faked by doing an offline render at a high resolution and then playing it back as a scaled down video which you would then be able to zoom) and all of a sudden, I was given control of Snake and the visual fidelity remained. Amazing stuff.
Overall, it's the best looking game of this generation for me so far, I don't care if it's 1024x768, it's just without peer. Awesome art direction contributed greatly to it too. I was expecting it to look good, but not this good really.
Anyway, I got that emblem at the end, but then I saw the complete emblem list and I got three more I think. Don't remember all of them but seems like I crawled and crouched a lot too. And I also had one for stealth something.
Thankfully the game is eminently replayable, gonna start a second playthrough.
I'm having alot of fun with the game, but have not been so successful at the following:
- Fighting on the same side as the PMCs or rebels... everytime I try and join in a battle I am detected as an enemy
- Determining which guns are good. There are so many weapons to choose from and I am not a gun guy so I know nothing about them. I have completely ignored my huge stock of available weapons simply because I don't know which ones to choose...I think that I am still on the defaults for most. I wish there was a simpler way of knowing "this weapon kicks ass" other than being expensive in Drebin points.
Just as an on the side comment... I wish that more devs used the same resolution/AA combo that is used by MGS4. Most other sub HD games on the PS3 are either blurry or jaggy. This game is so clean and crisp that I wish that more devs imitated what was done here if it affords them better graphics.
Support your alliance from behind, or use stealth to avoid detection. Once you have helped them secured an area, they will recognize, cheer and fight beside you subsequently.
- Determining which guns are good. There are so many weapons to choose from and I am not a gun guy so I know nothing about them. I have completely ignored my huge stock of available weapons simply because I don't know which ones to choose...I think that I am still on the defaults for most. I wish there was a simpler way of knowing "this weapon kicks ass" other than being expensive in Drebin points.
I customized my M4 with scope, masterkey (shotgun attachment) and suppressor, but switched to specialized weapons such as:
(i) M60 because it is MUCH more effective (larger rounds, bigger magazine, high firing rate). Snake's YAAAAAAGHH warcry is awesome as M60 dumps hot lead on enemy units.
You can "kill" Vamp quickly with this weapon
(ii) I forgot the name of my sniper rifle (It has a weird shape).
It took a big chunk out of Crying Wolf's health bar with just one-two hits each time
.
I have heard good things about the Mosin too. The Javeline is great against Gekkos in general (if you're in the open). MGS4's weapon library saved me countless times. You should give it a try.
Support your alliance from behind, or use stealth to avoid detection. Once you have helped them secured an area, they will recognize, cheer and fight beside you subsequently.
I customized my M4 with scope, masterkey (shotgun attachment) and suppressor, but switched to specialized weapons such as:
(i) M60 because it is MUCH more effective (larger rounds, bigger magazine, high firing rate). Snake's YAAAAAAGHH warcry is awesome as M60 dumps hot lead on enemy units.
- Determining which guns are good. There are so many weapons to choose from and I am not a gun guy so I know nothing about them. I have completely ignored my huge stock of available weapons simply because I don't know which ones to choose...I think that I am still on the defaults for most. I wish there was a simpler way of knowing "this weapon kicks ass" other than being expensive in Drebin points.
It tells you the weapons stats on the right hand side. What more do you need to know?
Each weapon has a rating for power, penetration, stability and reload rate. And then of course things like clip size what what addons you can put onto the gun are all factors.
Read the manual if you still haven't yet.
And practice in the firing range. It tells you the EXACT damage each bullet has done depending on what part of the body you hit.
It tells you the weapons stats on the right hand side. What more do you need to know?
Each weapon has a rating for power, penetration, stability and reload rate. And then of course things like clip size what what addons you can put onto the gun are all factors.
Read the manual if you still haven't yet.
And practice in the firing range. It tells you the EXACT damage each bullet has done depending on what part of the body you hit.
or maybe I am wrong I am still at the beginning of Act 4.
