Games for Lunch: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

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0:16 "War has changed," says the familiar voice of Solid Snake. "It's no longer about nations, ideologies or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles fought by mercenaries and machines. War has changed," Snake says again in case we missed it before.

0:17 Snake continues with some exposition about ID tags, nanomachines and DNA. "Everything's monitored and kept under control. ... War has changed," he says for a third time. The age of deterrence has become the age of control, in an effort to avoid WMDs. "He who controls the battlefield controls history. ... War has changed." That's four.

0:18 Snake jumps out of the personnel carrier in a greenish cloak. A firefight begins. Snake's gun jams. He throws it down, bemused.

0:19 Holy crap, I'm in control already? I wasn't expecting this for another hour at least! "Snake, you can adjust the camera angle with the right stick." Thanks for waiting a whole five seconds to break the fourth wall there, Otacon!

0:21 I wander around a small enclosed area for a bit, but I can't figure out how to get out. The game gets tired of this and eventually takes back control, forcing Snake to crawl under one of the trucks that's boxing me in. Another cut scene. More credits over a firefight, with people getting hit left and right. A chopper flies in overhead. Snake walks out into the field, blends in with the crowd, and gets behind a box. I'm in control again.

0:23 I walk about 10 steps before another cut scene gets triggered. Why even bother giving me control in the first place? Anyway, Snake has his guard up as he inches forward. More guys get hit. Blood is flying. "Stay on the offensive," someone cries. "Hit 'em hard," says another. The other side starts retreating for some reason. A weird insect sound permeates the air.

0:25 A huge Metal Gear walker jumps in and crushes a fighter. A second one joins it, towering over the battlefield and spreading fear and chaos. The scared soldiers fire their guns with no effect. I'm given control, not that I know what to do with it. "Head north, and try not to run into any Gekko along the way," Otacon says in my ear. I'm guessing these walkers are the Gekko?

0:26 A Gekko spots me, but I make a dash to the Cut Scene Activation Point (CSAP) before he can do anything. Snake finds a gun and lights a cigarette in celebration. Blood spatters on his cape from above. It's a Gekko holding a bleeding corpse. Snake takes some fire, but the Gekko can't seem to hit him, even at point blank range. Er...

0:28 Snake fires on the Gekko and knocks it over. The robotic legs flail about in an effort to stand up. Suddenly, another Gekko bursts through the wall. Snake loses the cloak and kneels in his camo gear. "Old Snake; David Hayter," reads the credits as he runs away from the oncoming monstrosity. He tries to head up the stairs but his leg gets snagged by a wire lasso. The stairs collapse as the Gekko tries walking up them to pursue Snake. Exciting to watch, but I bet it would be more exciting to play!