Order Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Lots (and lots and lots) of reviewers have already covered Metal Gear's story, features, and gameplay extensively in the main product listing for this game, so I'm just going to talk about a few things I think potential purchasers will find useful.

Newcomers to Metal Gear Solid
*If you've never played any of the games in the Metal Gear Solid series, you really should find a way to play Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection before picking up MGS4. Each of the first three games contains important character information and backstory that is indispensable to fully enjoying MGS4 . Playing MGS4 without first experiencing MGS, MGS2, and MGS3 would be like seeing Star Wars Episodes 1-3 before seeing Episodes 4-6. In other words, a big mistake.
*MGS4 truly sets the standard for graphics, storytelling, and production values on the PS3. No, you won't be mashing buttons on your controller as much as you're probably used to, as many people here have noted, but you WILL become emotionally connected to the story and characters at a level of intensity that is usually only reached by books and films.

MGS Veterans
*Yup, the controls have changed AGAIN. But the overall control scheme is pretty close to Snake Eater/Subsistence so the learning curve isn't too steep.
*The default camera view is the same as in Subsistence. I find it to be much easier to use than the system in the first two MGS games, where one had to constantly switch between the fixed-perspective view and first-person view.
*As usual, Kojima Productions has baked in a lot of replay value. There are rewards for completing the game in various ways, such as no kills, no alerts, or in a certain amount of time. There are is also a ranking system (emblems) that provides incentives for playing through the game multiple times.
*Something that is very different from the rest of the series is the ability to purchase weapons, ammo, and other supplies at pretty much any time. This changes the dynamic of the game because foraging for items isn't terribly important anymore.
*I wish a cut-scene theater was included, like in Subsistence. There isn't any way to view cut-scenes outside of the regular sequence of events in the game.
*The game opens with a selection of faux TV shows and commercials. Watch carefully--many of the voice actors appear in these videos. Pretty cool, especially if you've ever wondered what the people behind the voices look like.
*Be sure to download the free MGS4 Database from the PSN Store. It is a comprehensive history of the complete Metal Gear universe. Best of all, it's MGS4 spoiler-free until you've completed the game at least once.

Bottom line: an essential, landmark video game that also serves as a stunning capstone to a legendary series.Get more detail about Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.