From: ZFS | #022
No, it is definitely more gameplay-driven, which is to say that most of the content and appeal revolves primarily around the gameplay. I have played every MGS game numerous times, more than almost anyone as here, so I know where the appeal lies in replaying. It holds just as true in PW as any other game, especially with grades at the end of missions. The pacing of the story also isn't broken up unless you choose to do side missions as they come. They're never required to get to the next story mission.
I assume you like RPG elements, which is fine. As long as those elements are in an RPG. Metal Gear Solid has never been an RPG. So those elements are unwelcome. And they were incredibly boring and just take away from any of the (lackluster) action the game has to offer.
As far as MGS4 is concerned, the stealth in the game is the weakest of the four by a rather wide margin. The design of the encounters is very poor, and even on Extreme is far too easy to get through. It's because the AI is the same, but now Snake is far more capable and the environments are far larger. MGS4 is a better third-person shooter than a stealth game.
Not really. Sneaking around is just as diverse as ever. Well... okay. It is easy as long as you CRAWL everywhere. But that's just boring. I don't play like that. Same with MGS3 actually. And since, as you said, the environments are so much bigger in MGS4 it's even less ideal to be crawling from point A to B. And the enemies are pretty sharp, especially when you're dealing with FROGs. And again, as the areas are indeed a lot bigger, it's much more difficult to escape from enemies if you get an Alert. Sure you can still gun everyone down, but that can cause issues that I'm not fond of.
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~Halo Everybody run!
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