Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (commonly abbreviated to MGS4) is a stealth action game in the popular Metal Gear series. Directed by Hideo Kojima, Shuyo Murata and Yoji Shinkawa, Guns of the Patriots was developed by Kojima Productions exclusively for the PlayStation 3 video game console. The game, designed around the motto, "No Place to Hide!", is the last Metal Gear game developed by Hideo Kojima, and the last game in the series starring Solid Snake. The game was released worldwide on June 12, 2008, 10 years after the release of Metal Gear Solid and 20 years after the first Metal Gear.
Metal Gear Solid 4 so far has received high praise from critics, with a 94% aggregate rating at Metacritic and a 93% aggregate rating on Game Rankings[. The first review was a 10/10 from PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), commenting "[MSG4] shifts gears constantly, innovating again and again". The game has been awarded 10/10 from Game Informer and a 5/5 from GamePro.[citation needed] The game also received perfect scores from PlayStation: The Official Magazine (5/5), Japanese magazine Famitsu (40/40) and Empire Magazine. The game received a 9.9/10 from IGN UK, a 9.5/10 from IGN AU, and a 10/10 from IGN USA. IGN USA was quoted in a video review, saying MGS4 is 'one of the best games ever made.' Edge and Eurogamer both gave the game 8/10. GameSpot gave it a Perfect 10/10 saying Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the most technically stunning video game ever made.
Reviewers were unanimous in approval of the way the title continues and concludes the series. Eurogamer stated that "You could not ask for a funnier, cleverer, more ambitious or inspired or over-the-top conclusion", and IGN Australia found that the result "refines the MGS formula and introduces just enough new (or respectfully influenced) ideas to ensure that it stands on its own as a game". Edge concluded that "it is faithful to its fans, its premise and its heart, delivering an experience that is, in so many ways, without equal", while IGN UK describe it simply as "the ultimate Metal Gear game" and "a dazzling, heart-lifting, voyage of discovery".
