Guns of the Patriots is a visual gem - but after playing, I’m still not sure - is it a game or a movie? I have played the entire MGS series, and I thoroughly enjoyed them all up this this point. Which is not to say I didn’t like this game, but there wasn’t a lot of “game” to it. It was more like a movie with some interactive segments.

A heavy load of critics and gamers alike are calling this “the best game of all time”. My reaction is, “Huh?” It’s certainly not a bad game by any means, and I would even go so far as to call it really-good, but the best game of all time? No sir, not for me. While I enjoyed the storyline, and the cut scenes truly are visual gold, they are simply way, way too long and frequent. We’re talking approximately an hour of cut scenes! So, if you’re looking to buy this latest metal gear solid installment, and want to avoid disappointment, do yourself a favor and go in with the knowledge that you are going to be as much as a spectator as a player. Oh, and if you don’t watch the cut scenes, you might find yourself a little confused towards the endgame.

Now, onto the premise: Guns of Patriots takes part six years from where we last left off - and the world is in blazing shambles. War and chaos are rampant, and no one is safe. Violence can break out at any time, as the world’s economy is now war-based, with mercenary companies competing for a share of the pie.

Snake, who was no doubt happily chain smoking himself to a short-lived retirement, is called back into the front lines by Col. Campbell for one last mission, to save the world once again. Now, Snake is no longer the young stud we once new, and is, in-fact, referred to frequently as “Old Snake”, as he is aging rapidly due to some genetic mismanagement. He’ll need to rely on advanced technology more than ever to get this one done - and there’s plenty of it for us to feast on, as always.

The gameplay itself is straightfoward, pure and classic MGS. You know there’s nothing quite like sneaking up on an enemy to cut his throat. But you’ll have to endure the cutscenes to experience it.

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