GAME DEVELOPMENT "Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots" represents the end of an era as the sixth and final chapter in the Metal Gear SAGA. Not only was this the final Metal Gear title for Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa, but for the series main protagonist Solid Snake as well. MGS3 was suppose to be Kojima's final game, but the release of the new Sony PlayStation 3 prompted talks about making MGS4. In a 400-page book bundled with the MGS3 Japanese Premium Package, the director was revealed to be Shuyo Murata, co-writer of MGS3 and director of "Zone of the Enders The 2nd Runner". He has also contributed humorous easter eggs to "Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty" and "Metal Gear: Ghost Babel". However, it was later announced that Kojima will be co-directing the game with Murata after substantial negative fan reaction, including death threats. Just about every trailer and press conference made it clear that this will be the final installment of the saga and all questions will be answered. A New Environment Unlike the previous Metal Gear titles, MGS4 takes place in the middle of a war. Snake is on the battlefield, stuck between 2 warring factions. On one side are the PMC (Private Military Company) soldiers, which represent the more high-tech warfare. The opposition is the local guerrilla forces, more or less lightly equipped. The player has the choice to side with and help any of the 2. Depending on which one you choose, the progressing through the game will vary. Helping the PMC's may get you higher-tech weaponry for example. On the other hand, helping the gorillas may provide you with alternate ways to reach your destination. The game is left open to whatever choice the player makes. There is a degree of psychological effects of battle used in the game. Seeing his comrades die could cause a soldier to break down in fear or run away in panic. In addition, MGS4 is not limited to a single location. Snake travels around the world on various missions as a part of his overall objective. Abilities and Equipment As detailed as MGS3 was when it came to abilities, MGS4 manages to add a tremendous amount to Snake's repertoire. The player can now run while crouching and slowly slide off ledges into a hanging position. He can hide inside of a barrel, similar to the way the cardboard box was used. But the barrel can also provide some shielding from fired shots and can be used as a rolling ram against the enemy. There are various ways Snake can move on the floor now; standard crawling, playing dead, crawling and shooting while lying on your back, and rolling side to side. There are new CQC take-down techniques introduced to silently immobilize the enemy. An electric stun-gun feature is introduced in the back of the CQC knife. When throwing an object like a grenade, the planned trajectory is shown allowing you to aim where the item will land. When holding up guards, Snake can now physically search them for items. An instant KO in the form of a crotch grab is added for a quick disposal of a held up guard. The camouflage system returns, but with some changes. Snake has a new Octocamo that can take the patter of whatever he leans against. Doing so can allow him to move practically invisible while lying on the floor or pressed against a wall. In addition there other suits that he can choose for instances like blending in with statues. A mask that has the same Octocamo is also included allowing for full disguise. A new device called "Solid Eye" allows Snake to perform a variety of optical tasks and data processing rapidly. It replaces the need to carry a scope, night vision, and infrared goggles separately, while also adding the ability to get readouts on his surroundings. Snake is also partnered with a robotic drone the Metal Gear Mk. II. It serves as a communication devise and can be used for reconnaissance, even engaging enemies with using an electric shock. Snake controls it using a PlayStation 3 controller. Perhaps the single biggest shock in MGS4 is the ability to actually pilot a Metal Gear tank, namely Metal Gear REX from "Metal Gear Solid". The final battle pits Snake piloting the MGS1 REX against Liquid piloting the MGS2 RAY. The extent of this duel is unknown as of yet. While the game is played with in 3rd person with the addition of the 3D camera introduced in MGS3, MGS4 allows for a several options. In order to accommodate various gamer preferences, the view can be changed from the 3rd person standard to a 1st person shooter, or an over-the-shoulder look (right to left shoulder switch is added for better cornering). The game is aimed to cater to all styles and preferences. The healing, stamina, and food obtaining features used in MGS3 have not been revealed yet. VERSIONS There is a difference in the voice work between the Japanese and the English versions that to some degree influence one of the main characters. As stated by Hideo Kojima, the character Liquid Ocelot was intended to have Revolver Ocelot's voice. However, the Japanese voice actor Kji Totani who provided the voice of Revolver Ocelot in MGS1 and MGS2 passed away in February 2006. As the result, the Japanese version of the game will have Liquid Snake's voice for the character Liquid Ocelot, provided by Banj Ginga. The English version stays true to the original game design and will have Patric Zimmerman, who voiced Revolver Ocelot in MGS1 and MGS2, reprise the role. METAL GEAR ONLINE STORY Five years have passed since the Big Shell incident in New York. Restriction of military intervention on foreign soil were eased, fueling the need for private military companies (PMCs) to fight proxy wars for business purposes. Nanotechnology has become prominent, both to enhance the capabilities and enforce the loyalty of mercenaries. The five largest of these PMCs are owned and operated by a single mother company named Outer Haven, which is under the control of Liquid Ocelot. Amassing an army whose manpower rivals that of the United States, he prepares to launch an armed insurrection. With the world once again in crisis, a rapidly aging Solid Snake (who's body is completely breaking down as a side effect of being a clone) is deployed into the Middle East by Roy Campbell to terminate Liquid. (Game Start) 2014. Coming Soon! Characters Solid (Old) Snake The Legendary Mercenary that was created as a part of the Les Enfants Terribles Project in 1972. Snake now shows signs of advanced cellular degeneration caused by the cloning process used to create him. He is recruited for one last mission by Roy Campbell to assassinate Liquid Ocelot. (Voiced by Akio tsuka in Japanese and by David Hayter in English) Otacon Hal Emmerich continues to support Snake as a member of Philanthropy. He remote controls the robotic drone Metal Gear Mk. II that assists Snake in his mission. (Voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka in Japanese and by Christopher Randolph in English) Raiden Due to a personal trauma (Unknown) he has replaced most of his body parts with a Tokugawa Heavy Industries exoskeleton with artificial blood. Only his head and spine remain. He comes in to assist Snake in his mission. (Voiced by Keny Horiuchi in Japanese and by Quinton Flynn in English) Roy Campbell Former Commander of FOX-HOUND he now works closely with the United Nations. He is sent to hire Solid Snake for an assassination hit on Liquid Ocelot. (Voiced by Takeshi Aono in Japanese and by Paul Eiding in English) Naomi Hunter Former FOX-HOUND Chief of Medical Staff, she has unique knowledge of the FoxDie virus and the SOP. She is held hostage by Liquid Ocelot to help him assume full battlefield control over the PMC troops. (Voiced by Hiromi Tsuru in Japanese and by Jennifer Hale in English) Sunny The daughter of Olga Gurlukovich. She was kept away from her mother by the Patriots in order to manipulate Olga. (Voiced by Kikuko Inoue in Japanese and by Christina Puccelli in English) Meryl Silverburgh Now the field commander of the newly-reformed FOX-HOUND unit. Her squad Rat Patrol Team 01 is with the CID, investigating PMC activity. (Voiced by Kyoko Terase in Japanese and by Debi Mae West in English) Ed Part of Meryl's Rat patrol Team 01 unit. (Voiced by Shz Iizuka in Japanese and by Dave Fennoy in English) Jonathan - Part of Meryl's Rat patrol Team 01 unit. (Voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka in Japanese and by James Sie in English) Johnny (Akiba) Formerly involved with the Shadow Moses and the Big Shell incidents, the diarrhea-stricken soldier is now part of Meryl's Rat patrol Team 01 unit. Unlike the rest of the unit he does not use SOP. (Voiced by Jun Fukuyama in Japanese and by Beng Spies in English) diarrhea Drebin A gun-launderer that removes the signature IDs from PMC weaponry allowing others to use them freely. He has a pet monkey Little Gray (Voiced by Keiji Fujiwara in Japanese and by Khary Payton in English) Big Mama (EVA) Now 78 years old, her role is not yet revealed. She is hinted as being a resistance leader against the Patriots. (Voiced by Mari Natsuki in Japanese and by Lee Meriwether in English) Liquid Ocelot Since the Big Shell incident Liquid Snake and Revolver Ocelot have fully merged into a single entity. Now in command of Outer Haven, he seeks to gain control of the SOP to achieve battlefield control over the PMCs and launch an armed insurrection. (Voice by Banj Ginga in Japanese and by Patric Zimmerman in English) Raging Raven - Member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit. (Voice by Yumi Kikuchi in Japanese and by Nika Futterman in English. Beast voice by Fred Tatasciore) Crying Wolf - Member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit. (Voice by Eriko Hirata in Japanese and by Debra Wilson Skelton in English. Beast voice by Fred Tatasciore) Laughing Octopus - Member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit. (Voice by Haruna Aimoto in Japanese and by Paula Tiso in English. Beast voice by Fred Tatasciore) Screaming Mantis - Member of the Beauty and the Beast Unit. (Voice by Mao Yuuki in Japanese and by Andrea Zafrain English. Beast voice by Fred Tatasciore) FROGS (HAVEN Soldiers) - A group of twenty elite female soldiers that are Liquid Ocelot's private army. (Voice by Sarah Sido in English) Little Gray Drebin's pet monkey. METAL GEAR UNITS (more information to come when the game is released) Gekkou (Moonlight) - Mass-produced, bio-mecanical, unmanned bipedal units manufactured by ArmsTech Corp. The U.S. military designates them by the name "Irving"; their frequent use by PMC's has caused it to be a replacement for tanks as a means of conducting armored warfare. The Gekkou is used particularly by the Praying Mantis company. Metal Gear REX The original ArmsTech prototype from Shadow Moses was partially restored for brief combat. It is piloted by Solid Snake. Metal Gear RAY The original Marine prototype now shows some modifications, such as a missing tail. Instead of the Marine logo it now shows the OUTER HAVEN lettering. It is piloted by Liquid Ocelot. |
