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MGS4, as I’m sure you’ve heard, has really been trying our patience this week with its lenghty cut scenes. So far, in my playthrough of the game, its been as if the gameplay breaks up the videos — instead of the other way around. Video games have, since their inception, been trying to cop off the vision of Hollywood and the way it presents its story.
The following is my prime examples for which games have presented their story best, worst, and which one gets halfway there…
Best Presentation
BioShock — Ken Levine’s baby really took video game story telling to a new level. Instead of forcing the player to watch the story unfold a certain way, it took more of a Half-Life 2-esque approach to it. The interactive storytelling made the game fall into its own, creating a story that was engaging and even presented some game philosophy questions towards the end of your aquatic adventure.
Worst Presentation
XenoSaga: Episode I — This game served as the spiritual successor to the PS1’s “Xenogears,” after the creator left Square and started Monolith Soft with the help of Namco. People are surprised when they hear of lenghty cut scenes in the Metal Gear Solid series, but this one takes the cake. Not only are the cut scenes upwards of 45 mins long, but they are incredibly bland, uninteractive, and the animations are kept to a minimum.
Snake’s Latest Adventure Gets Halfway There…
Yes, the cut scenes are long in MGS4, but at least they’ve managed to entertain so far. The title seems to be confused on whether it wants to be a great action movie or gripping “sneaking” game, but it does both. And while it might make the case largely for the former, it meets us right in the middle.
For our final verdict on how it ultimately fares stay tuned to R3Match for the full review.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
MGS4 has major issues in terms of its presentation. It’s perhaps the most contradicting game I’ve ever come across.
God, I really need to finish it someday…
June 13th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Its the new gen of gamers in their 20s. Gaming went from white vs back, to these new mid 90s epic adventure. And then again back to red vs blue. Shoot and die,re-spawn, over and over lol. Its what the young 20 some kids only know. And yes its a cool side circus add on of gaming. But its not gaming, or what gaming could have been by now. MGS4 and Biodshock and others, are what gaming was supposed to be. Before we hit the WW2, and red vs Blue stall out of gaming. Im Not done yet. But MGS4 has got back to gaming vary well. And it has the side circus “online gaming” as a nice little add on. And you get it with the buy. So all the more. Great game, great deal. I wont argue if the developers want to make more epic longer games like this. And I dont think anyone else would. Part of the problem is its on a PS3. Lets face that fact. So its gonna get some overreacted slams. Put this on a 360. And the kids would find a way to say its best game of the last two centuries lol. And thats just how the US kids and media are. Its part of the deal Sony has to face with every game. But either system, either way. Its one of the best games out their.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
@ M83 there’s definitely a new generation of gamers, but it’s still the 30-something males buying most of the games.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Metal Gear Solid 4 is the single greatest game I have ever played. It may help that I’ve beaten every game in the series, and know the characters very well, but this is THE greatest video game created by mankind.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
MGS4 is a great game, but I wouldn’t call it the greatest I’ve ever played. As far as PS3 games, it’s #2 on my list.