Drebin Points are earned by retrieving equipment from dead or unconscious adversaries. This gameplay dynamic gives people an incentive to stun or pulverize foes. Another wrinkle to the gameplay is the camouflage mechanic called octocamo. The octocamo helps Snake mesh into his surroundings without any trouble. It is a more sophisticated system than the Metal Gear 3: Snake Eater camouflage scheme that was primarily used to sneak around opponents. Speaking of the opposition, they are astoundingly wise. The artificial intelligence is unbelievable. If Snake is spotted, then the guards will call for reinforcements and swarm you from various angles. There is an enhanced adaptation of close quarters combat.

This time around, Snake can choke a guard while he is down on the ground. He can disarm guards, slit their throats with a knife, choke them, and search enemies for gear. You can still do the same things from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty such as hold someone up at gunpoint. Performing evasive maneuvers like rolling (ala GRAW) is done with ease. There was one moment where the best course of action was to get into a prone position, roll to plant your back against the ground, and unleash suppression fire. What makes that so entertaining is that Snake can fling grenades from that same exact position. It is such a stylistic way to fight.

The two aspects that complement each other are stress and psyche bars. The stress gauge measures Snake’s mental sharpness; likewise, the psyche meter takes into account his physical efficiency. A deficient amount of psyche will result in pain, but psyche can recharge automatically. Doing certain actions can increase Snake’s stress. This can include anything from being in inclement weather conditions to getting shot. The best way to keep both the psyche and stress barometers in check is to play smart. It is surely a check and balances system that is engaging. Otacon is another pivotal character due to what he brings to the table. He enables Snake to use a robotic Mark II. This handy little device can stun guards, survey the location of an area on the map, or collect items. The one caution to this is that it runs on a timed battery. One of the many objects Snake will have at his disposal is the Solid Eye. This is intrinsically binoculars, thermal goggles, and night vision goggles all rolled into one. Furthermore, the Solid Eye can be used to scan the environments by giving invaluable data. It is arguably the most useful thing in the entire game. There are only a few insignificant blemishes to the game. First of all, there is no true radar. Instead, there is a threat ring that alters colors when an enemy is nearby. Yes, there is an indicator at the top right corner of the screen. But the radar is not as comprehensive as the radar in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes or Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Instead of having a blue cone of vision, there are red dots on the radar. Secondly, it is a bit unrealistic to have a barrel as an item that Snake can carry in his inventory. Just to reiterate, these flaws are minor and never reduces the overarching gameplay experience. Finding a major issue in Metal Gear Solid 4 is as rare as finding a virgin inside the Playboy mansion. In layman's terms, there are no massive problems with Guns of the Patriots.

In terms of visuals, there simply are not any better looking games than Metal Gear Solid 4. The character models are gorgeous, and the environments are rich in detail. You will feel like you are experiencing an interactive film.

The audio is as grandiose as the graphics. David Hayter reclaims the role of Solid Snake, and he always does a fantastic job. The voice acting, sound effects, and music are all immaculate across the board. Every line of dialogue is spoken with such a realistic touch. The gunfire, grunting, screaming, and crying are excellent. 

As far as the multiplayer is concerned, it is as enjoyable as the multiplayer beta. Sixteen people can fire bullet after bullet at each other over expansive maps. Each map is varied. There is one map that emphasizes stealth, and another map that stresses shooting at people from afar. All of the weapons in the single player mode remain intact for the multiplayer mode. Overall, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has everything for everyone.

Nicotine addicts will admire Snake's addiction to cigarettes, gamers will appreciate the brilliant gameplay, and movie experts will be attracted to the riveting storyline. What else is there is say about this game that has not already been said? Even reading the words “In his final battle, a hero must stand alone” on the back of the game case is profound. This title answers all of the unanswered questions. If anyone is reading this review right now, then he or she should do themselves a favor by stop reading and play this game. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a climactic and remarkable conclusion to a spectacular franchise. Unlike the New England Patriots, the guns on these patriots are solid.