Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)

Old timer Snake returns for what is slated as the final installment in the Metal Gear series. View larger.

New and old characters abound in MGS4. View larger.

PMCs have run amok and the world is at war. View larger.

Octacamo will help Snake blend into surroundings. View larger.

MGS4 is a next-generation adventure set in the aftermath of MGS2: Sons of Liberty. The concept behind the latest Metal Gear Solid project is "no place to hide," and this edition in the series will force Snake into unexpected circumstances with an all-new storyline that breaks away in some ways from the previous MGS franchise entries. We don't want to spoil it for you, but, producer Hideo Kojima did reveal some very juicy bits about the game and the storyline when it was first announced at E3 of 2006. "Until now," said Kojima, "we've released two entries of the MSX2 Metal Gear series, and three entries in the Metal Gear Solid series. Add to this Portable Ops, and you get a total of six titles. All mysteries will be cleared up in Metal Gear Solid 4."

Kojima was very clear about the finality of MSG4, leaving gamers to wonder, "Will Snake die?!" When asked if the story will come to this sort of an end, Kojima responded without the slightest bit of vagueness, "It will come to an end." The MGS4 E3 trailer showed a number of characters from the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid histories. This final instalment is sure to deliver loads of cameos, in fact, it is rumoured that nearly all the characters from the series will make an appearance.

In addition to a return of classic Metal Gear Solid characters, the gameplay systems from part three are also expected to make a comeback. The camouflage system from part three will make it into MGS4, with the addition of "OctoCamo," Snake's most advanced stealth suit to date. The name appears to be formed from the words "Octopus" and "camouflage," and players will be awestruck by the chameleon-like camo that changes with the surroundings. OctoCamo allows Snake to blend in with his environment as it digitally manifests nearby textures in real time. Think if it this way, if Snake is standing next to a wall worn out with holes, he too will appear to be riddled with holes. It has also been revealed that MGS4 will have online play, but no specifics have been released. Although very little information is known about the game's visuals, rumour has it that MGS4 is expected to be the finest representation of console graphics on the PS3, and it is expected that they will just get better and better as the game nears its release date.