Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – Trophy Patch now available for download !

[SoCalTiger]

Yeah I would have liked the single player campaign to last longer.

[Hamawy]

i bet u all played the game in normal levels. thats why it was like "short" for some of u. the real challenge is when u try the big boss level . it takes more time to discover the area & to plan your attacks. i feel this game was designed to be played at this level imo.

[Hedchekr]

I think the controls could be a tad more intuitive, but they are improved over all. A little less on the cutscenes and a little more gameplay would have been nice. But both of those are basiclly nit-picking, cause the game is freakin awesome. At least with all the cutscenes they didn't do quicktime events, I am so tired of those.

[Jojojo]

Too little gameplay, too much cutscene, and way too much attention to tying up loose ends that really didn't matter. The ending was... well, trying not to spoil, but I wish the ending was about 45 minutes shorter. Didn't need to see or hear that huge rant from random MGS character not to be named.

[Elandyll]

Overall, I think the game is an absolute blast, easily between a 9 and a 10. close to 10 for the sheer experience which makes it one of the best games around (all platforms), and to me has a huge replayability with the various objective/achievevements and the online part.

This being said, I won't complain about the cutscenes themselves, integral part of the experience and of a quality that left my jaw hangin', and you can bypass them on replay on top of that, but there has to be a way to "streamline the experience" of the cut scenes.

Let me explain.

30 mins of gameplay followed by 20mins of cutscene followed by 30 mins of gameplay. That s fine, nothing to say about it.

50mn GP - 40mn Cutscene - 30 mn GP, that's perfectly fine too.

50mn GP, 40 mn cutscene, 5 mn GamePlay, 20 mn cutscene, 45 seconds GamePlay, 5 mn cutscene. No.
We need a balance.

Do NOT give back control for a mere matter of seconds, it is extremely frustrating. Also, balance out the cutscenes around the average gameplay so that overall we get at least an equal amount (or a bit more) GamePlay than cutscenes during a lapse of 1h.

This being said, and from someone who had -never- played a MGS before, this game is awesome
I am about to finish it, and already looking forward to replay it, which is probably a first for -any- game for me

[ADRiiAN`]

20 Hours 00 Minutes 20 Seconds

[mewantyblu]

This ist'nt quite on topic but I had just beat Crying Wolf and then listened to Drebbins sob story about her and just when the cut scenes were over and I had control of Snake ...wham power goes out right when I was about to save fortionatly crying wolf was not too hard but son a *****. So much anger.

[kurtis21]

18 hours 12 min & I watched EVERY cutscene I thought the game was awesome....But i'm a Metal Gear Fan and thought this was a fitting ending to the saga

[hayzink]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

50mn GP, 40 mn cutscene, 5 mn GamePlay, 20 mn cutscene, 45 seconds GamePlay, 5 mn cutscene. No.
We need a balance.

Do NOT give back control for a mere matter of seconds, it is extremely frustrating. Also, balance out the cutscenes around thew average gameplay so that overall we get at least an equal amount (or a bit more) GP than cutscenes durign a lapse of 1h.

posted the same thing myself in the general game thread, couldn't agree more with you.

thats my only gripe

[b00st]

definitley not enough gameplay time. cutscenes are a little long for me....though very cool and we need them to happen to tell the story but they are still long.

this will probably be the first game that i replay throught me as well. i will try a much more stealth approach. i tried to be as stealth as i can but i'm certainly not going to shut the game off and restart because i got detected...i don't care that much. this game's penalty isn't as severe as the prior games for being detected IMO.

if you think about it...the achievement for beating a the game under 5hrs, which is just really skipping the cutscenes. that isn't long enough gameplay for a most anticipated game. should have a solid 10-12hrs of game play.

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by theprophecy247

God im listening to the mgs soundtrack from 1 and 4 and its simplying breath taking, so many memories with each song. Its so sad the series may be over

+1. I almost started crying when the music came on in the part when you first enter the helipad at shadow moses. Ah, the memories. and i was just playing about the crying part......................

[Shin-Ra]

So we're judging the length of a game not on your first inexperienced playthrough but on a successive rush-through to get a particular ranking?

Developers just can't win anymore unless they pad their game with crap.

Took me 17hours 20mins on the first play with a stealthy-headshot kills approach and fully intend to play the game through again. Have no complaints about the value of this game.

[Elandyll]

should have a solid 10-12hrs of game play.

Well, tbh if you play normally, without rushing, browsing Drebin's store, looking around for weapons/ammo, exploring the areas, etc, it will take you more than a straight 5h imo.
Also, a replay is always faster, and I doubt on a 1st play, even bypassing the cutscenes, that you could do it on Boss difficulty under 5h. I think.

[b00st]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Well, tbh if you play normally, without rushing, browsing Drebin's store, looking around for weapons/ammo, exploring the areas, etc, it will take you more than a straight 5h imo.
Also, a replay is always faster, and I doubt on a 1st play, even bypassing the cutscenes, that you could do it on Boss difficulty under 5h. I think.

i'm on act 4 at 12hrs 23min. taking a stealthy approach with silenced sniper going for head shots. i'm still trucking through it. maybe i'm on pace for 20hrs i don't know but these 30 minute cutscenes are really eating up my time. i fell asleep during one waiting for it to end.

though i may not beat it under 5hrs on Boss level...i picked the hard level i could and I explore all areas collecting guns for drebin. picking up soldiers and dropping them to see what they have on them. i am by no means trying to push through this game. i love it and don't want it to end...but if you cut out all the fluff/padding aka cutscenes. i'm not left with much....again i love the game....and this will be the first game in history for me to replay because i want to. even for 360...i don't replay cuz i missed points...i don't care.

[b00st]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

So we're judging the length of a game not on your first inexperienced playthrough but on a successive rush-through to get a particular ranking?

Developers just can't win anymore unless they pad their game with crap.

Took me 17hours 20mins on the first play with a stealthy-headshot kills approach and fully intend to play the game through again. Have no complaints about the value of this game.

i'm judging the game on my inexperienced learning curve first play through...i haven't beaten the game yet. i try to play each game the way it was intended to be played. MGS was always a stealth approach game and typically the penalty for being found was much more severe...at least if i get caught...i can shoot my way out and hide. i'm not talking about a second play through...i haven't been through the first yet....if you were referring to me.

[Shin-Ra]

You said 5 hours for a Big Boss ranking rush-through wasn't enough gameplay.

[Proteus]

The only way you can judge the 'time' of this game is off the first play through at Solid Normal difficulty really. This is also considering that you spent at least SOME time trying to find itunes music and other special items as they are intended in the game and not 'rushing' through it.

If you go by that, which is fully reasonable when comparing to campaigns in other games, then it's a good 10-12 hours of SOLID gameplay, or more, which is much longer than most 'formula' titles out now (i.e. GeoW, Ao2, CoD4, etc.).

People should not be judging the game off of competitive play throughs for emblems where the only focus is to skip everything and only 'run' through levels (basically, without doing a single thing). In reality, those games were not anywhere near the <5 hours people claim. I KNOW my 3:41 boss emblem was more like 30+ hours AT LEAST from all the replays and trial and error. So, I don't want to hear anyone BS'g about just 'running through' at <5 hours.

Frankly, the only legitimate reason I can think of for whining about there not being enough gameplay is because the gameplay is so darn good in this game and we all simply want more of it, period. I would LOVE to see another four acts or more... Hell, I want it to go on forever! So, yeah, I can say I'm disappointed in the 'lack of gameplay'; however, it has nothing to do with the quality of the game at all, but my own greediness for more of what is simply the greatest game I've ever played, hands down, no contest. In comparison to the dribble out there that we get normally MGS4 excels in gameplay length... especially when you consider how little of it is repetitive (yeah, all those levels of cover/shoot enemy/cover weren't all the same in other games... riiiight... more eye-candy does not equate to more gameplay in my book).

I'm very satisfied with the diversity of gameplay and length MGS4 offered and that says a lot considering I'm usually the first person on these forums *****ing about games (i.e. Ao2, etc.) not having long enough campaigns and how all games should have at least 20 hours of gameplay for $60. Quality always surmounts quantity... For me, anyhow.

[b00st]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

You said 5 hours for a Big Boss ranking rush-through wasn't enough gameplay.

i didn't talk about any difficulty level. look at my original post. someone else mentioned they doubt i could beat it in 5hrs on big boss. but to your point....yes 5hrs on big boss isn't enough gameplay. 5hrs to beat a game is a low standard. i think they spent more time on cutscenes and cinematics than gamePLAY TIME. the game mechanics are very cool. and game play is very cool. i don't think you should be able to beat a decent game in 5hrs or 6 even.

i think a game like GoW was more like 8-10hrs to get through it on the hardest level....first time through. you don't have to fill a game with crap. i know the cutscenes are telling intregral parts of the story but for the love of god. we do not need 50 minute cut scenes. i bought the video game to play video games...if i wanted to watch a movie i'd go watch a movie. i would call the cutscenes a form of padding or crap as you put it.....though necessary....still crap then.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by Proteus

In reality, those games were not anywhere near the <5 hours people claim. I KNOW my 3:41 boss emblem was more like 30+ hours AT LEAST from all the replays and trial and error. So, I don't want to hear anyone BS'g about just 'running through' at <5 hours.

Exactly, this too.

[b00st]

Originally Posted by Proteus

The only way you can judge the 'time' of this game is off the first play through at Solid Normal difficulty really. This is also considering that you spent at least SOME time trying to find itunes music and other special items as they are intended in the game and not 'rushing' through it.

If you go by that, which is fully reasonable when comparing to campaigns in other games, then it's a good 10-12 hours of SOLID gameplay, or more, which is much longer than most 'formula' titles out now (i.e. GeoW, Ao2, CoD4, etc.).

People should not be judging the game off of competitive play throughs for emblems where the only focus is to skip everything and only 'run' through levels (basically, without doing a single thing). In reality, those games were not anywhere near the <5 hours people claim. I KNOW my 3:41 boss emblem was more like 30+ hours AT LEAST from all the replays and trial and error. So, I don't want to hear anyone BS'g about just 'running through' at <5 hours.

Frankly, the only legitimate reason I can think of for whining about there not being enough gameplay is because the gameplay is so darn good in this game and we all simply want more of it, period. I would LOVE to see another four acts or more... Hell, I want it to go on forever! So, yeah, I can say I'm disappointed in the 'lack of gameplay'; however, it has nothing to do with the quality of the game at all, but my own greediness for more of what is simply the greatest game I've ever played, hands down, no contest. In comparison to the dribble out there that we get normally MGS4 excels in gameplay length... especially when you consider how little of it is repetitive (yeah, all those levels of cover/shoot enemy/cover weren't all the same in other games... riiiight... more eye-candy does not equate to more gameplay in my book).

I'm very satisfied with the diversity of gameplay and length MGS4 offered and that says a lot considering I'm usually the first person on these forums *****ing about games (i.e. Ao2, etc.) not having long enough campaigns and how all games should have at least 20 hours of gameplay for $60. Quality always surmounts quantity... For me, anyhow.

i got no emblems....nor did i even know about them until reading it on a forum, since i have not beat the game yet, i'm on the hardest level selected when you start off. IIRC you need to beat the game for Big Boss level select?

i have found many itunes for the ipod. during my play...i check every nook and cranny before i move forward knowing there is always a lil something hidden away. i feel like i haven't had enough game play...i still love the game though so don't get me wrong. i guess i just want to keep on playing...all good things gotta end some time.