“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots”

PLATFORM: PlayStation 3

DEVELOPER: Kojima Productions

PUBLISHER: Konami

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When it comes to video games, greatness is often a subjective term. But there’s no denying that “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” has earned the right to bear that label.

In “Metal Gear Solid 4,” renowned developer Hideo Kojima has crafted a finely tuned masterpiece that will likely stand as one of the greatest games of this or any generation.

It is that good.

“MGS4” takes place in the near future and finds series protagonist Solid Snake on a mission to observe the work of private military corporations in the Middle East. He soon encounters longtime nemesis Liquid Ocelot and frankly, to tell any more would be spoiling the fun.

Let’s just say that if you’ve been following the “Metal Gear” franchise from its beginning, you won’t be disappointed by “Guns of the Patriots.” All of your questions will be answered.

However, you don’t have to be a longtime fan of the series to enjoy “MGS4.” Kojima does an excellent job providing just enough backstory to fill in most of the blanks for newcomers without bogging down the story for series veterans.

From a storytelling standpoint, “MGS4” blurs the line between a video game and feature film. Kojima shows his cinematic flair in the game’s extended cutscenes, of which there are many. While the cutscenes are amazing pieces of work, you do have the option to skip them if you want to keep the action flowing.

Speaking of action, there’s a lot more of it to be found in “MGS4” than in any other “Metal Gear” title. For the first time in the series, you can actually take an aggressive approach to missions. Of course, stealth is still the safest — and most rewarding — path, but at least now you have multiple ways to reach your goal.

Those who prefer to take the fight to the enemy will appreciate the game’s new weapon upgrade system. Early in the first act, Snake meets up with Drebin, an arms dealer who provides him with new weapons, accessories and ammo in exchange for Drebin Points.

These points are accrued by picking up the weapons dropped by PMC soldiers and others on the battlefield. You can access Drebin’s shop at any time, so if you’re in a tight spot, he’s there to lend a hand — or a grenade launcher. You’ll likely need all the help you can get, as the enemy AI can be downright brutal at times.

Visually, “MGS4” is a sight to behold. Kojima pushes the limits of the Playstation 3 to create some of the most realistic character models, facial animations and backgrounds ever seen in a game.

Sony has long been touting the graphical processing power of the PS3, and “Guns of the Patriots” is a shining example of just what the console is capable of producing.

I could shower “Metal Gear Solid 4” with superlatives all day long, but the fact is no amount of words can do justice to this game. “Guns of the Patriots” is something that you need to experience to fully appreciate. And I highly recommend anyone with a PS3 to give it a play. 

For more on the latest video games and news, see the Plugged in blog at thegazz.com Reach Jeff Rider at jrider@wvgazette.com or 348-5122.