Metal Gear Solid Series

[Praxil]

You can't skip the cutscenes in any of the MGS games I've played.

I can skip all of the cut scenes, including all the dialogue (a bit of button mashing) in the MGS2 - Substance (Xbox). I don't remember how it was in the MGS1 however. Since it is possible to skip them in MGS2 - Substance, I bet that you can do that in any later MGS editions. Simply pushing one of the main buttons does the trick.

Lets assume that those cut scenes are good, just like they were in latest games. You only pay for a game (a copy exactly), not for how much content it has (measured for example in minutes). I think that it is stupid to whine about that you get too much of it, the content. I mean for a $60, the more the better for me. It can also be the way that you wont get any of the cut scenes in the game at all, well you're still paying that same price.

This is weird, because you can hear these gaming editors saying that some of the cut scenes are that long. However, none of them mentions on how you are able to watch them. It is like, "OMG, 90 min I can't take it!". Well, can you skip them or watch them later? "No comment on that, definitely can't say anything on that, but OMG 90 min!".

[frogbeastegg]

I have the PS2 version of the game and you cannot skip them. The xbox version has many changes from the PS2 version. You couldn't skip them in either of the version of MGS1 I played. MGS3, MGS1 gamecube and MGS portable ops are still untouched on my pile, waiting for the grand MGS series playthrough I intend to do one day.

It's a matter of taste as to whether the cutscenes are good or not. Taste varies. Some people will like them, others not. That's fine. It would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.

IMO the true content of any game is ... the game. The thing you play. That's why it's called a game. But again, that's a subjective view. Some people will disagree. You obviously do for a start. That's also fine.

TBH I'm not reading that many reviews; I never do. I'd prefer to play the game myself, and one day I will because I like the stealth gameplay. I'll buy the game whether you can skip them or not; I do own all of the games from MGS1 onwards, after all. Why exclude this one? I've seen reviewers say that you can control camera angle and zoom in via a remote control flying camera. You can circle around the characters and so on.

Please stop saying that those who disagree with your opinion on a matter of personal taste while discussing a certain aspect of a game are whiners and stupid. That's not terribly nice, to say the least. It is this I am disputing. There are valid reasons to dislike them, and valid reasons to like them.

[Fragony]

I seem to remember that ' select' allows you skip to cutscenes in PS2 verion of MGS3 at least. But why would you

[Praxil]

Please stop saying that those who disagree with your opinion on a matter of personal taste while discussing a certain aspect of a game are whiners and stupid. That's not terribly nice, to say the least.

I didn't called anyone stupid or whiner.

The cutscenes here are sure to invoke that thousand-yard stare, two in particular coming perilously close to the 90-minute mark.

This is a comment, there is no value of an opinion in it. There is no opinion in there whatsoever, no "in my opinion I like that", or "in my opinion I dislike that". I took that comment like the editor had an heart attack. So, I commented on a comment because I find it funny, that is all. Also, that is not the only editor to bring out 89 minutes long cut scene somewhat like that, which by the way can be skipped.

Yes, I find that a stupid thing to do, but that doesn't make that editor stupid. We all do stupid things, mistakes, some of us more some of us less in daily basis things and issues. But that doesn't make us stupid now does it? Now however, if some person does same stupid thing continuously, some people will call those persons stupid.

I find it funny to whine (cry) about some cut scene, the length of it specifically because nothing has been said about its quality or anything else. Over a million kids die over something simply as diarrhea in each year. And some of the editors can't handle that length? Boo hoo man, get over yourself. Now, some one thinks "my god, I think you're exaggerating with this". Am I now, really? That's my whole point, I don't understand this drama and I find it funny. I see that as whining that's how I feel about it, if that makes me not a nice person then I guess I am not a nice person.

It is unprofessional to whine through review, that is not reviewing the game.

Arguably, ninety minutes of cutscene is a loss in content compared to ninety minutes of gameplay...

Arguably? I didn't gave an option for ninety minutes of gameplay, I was talking about the cut scenes. Hey, you can take a sandwich over those cut scenes if you want to, good for you.

Very true. To me, cut scenes of that length speak to weak game design. What is wrong with a game that it's incapable of relating the story via gameplay or any other method besides hour plus filibusters?

Can't disagree more. Having long cut scenes does not speak of a weak game design. The length doesn't mean anything, now whether a cut scene is good or not that is the real issue. Also, if a cut scene is anything longer than 15 minutes, I expect ability to watch it like any full length movie (average 90 minutes). Because, if I got to stop and go do something else, then I got to go. If I already saw 45 minutes of it I really don't want to watch that 45 minutes of it again, just to see the rest of that cut scene.

What is wrong? What is wrong with what? Why every single game should include same formula of story telling? Why can't developers be creative? Maybe, the best way to tell the story in MGS4 is through the cut scenes, have you thought about that? Have you thought that there are some things you can't effectively tell trough gameplay? How you're going to tell some parts of the story through gameplay, like where Snake salutes someone's grave? I don't know what is in that 89 minutes, but if it works then I'm fine with that.

---


Speaking of the gameplay, measured in minutes. Some people praise the length of Call of Duty 4 (roughly 5 hours), some people say that Grand Theft Auto IV is too short (roughly 30 hours). I don't see why long cut scene is an issue, because of its length.

[frogbeastegg]

Looking at the original post I doubt this is what Raz wanted for his topic. True, he asked about the 90 minute cutscene rumour, but the answer has become bigger than the topic itself.

Therefore all further discussion of cutscene size etc should go to a seperate topic. If anyone wants to start it it could be interesting if it included other games and became a more general topic on cutscenes and storytelling in games.

Otherwise, back to MGS itself here.


[...]


Praxil, please check your PM box.

[Geoffrey S]

Wow, another 10 from Gamespot. Their journalistic qualities are staggering...

[Tratorix]

Wow, another 10 from Gamespot. Their journalistic qualities are staggering...

Probably the only place you'll see where they list an enthralling, well written story as one of the good things about the game, then see them call the storytelling heavy-handed like three lines later.

[Spartan198]

Just played a marathon of MGS4, took me less than two days to beat it (not that that's a bad thing, I've just always had a talent for whizzing through stealth games like MGS and Splinter Cell).

All I can say is... wow (and I don't mean World of Warcraft).


I won't say anymore, lest I want Kekvit or Frog adding me to their ****lists.

[Geoffrey S]

Lets assume that those cut scenes are good, just like they were in latest games. You only pay for a game (a copy exactly), not for how much content it has (measured for example in minutes). I think that it is stupid to whine about that you get too much of it, the content. I mean for a $60, the more the better for me. It can also be the way that you wont get any of the cut scenes in the game at all, well you're still paying that same price.

Arguably, ninety minutes of cutscene is a loss in content compared to ninety minutes of gameplay...

[Xiahou]

Arguably, ninety minutes of cutscene is a loss in content compared to ninety minutes of gameplay...

Very true. To me, cut scenes of that length speak to weak game design. What is wrong with a game that it's incapable of relating the story via gameplay or any other method besides hour plus filibusters?

I like a good cinematic, but can not imagine sitting thru one's so long as is purported to be in this game. But if you skip them, then you're missing out on what I would imagine is much of the plot.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I like a well-made cutscene in any game, regardless of length. If the cutscenes in MGS won't be drawn out or badly done, I see no problem, even if they are the length of some films.

[woad&fangs]

The cut movies can be skipped in the new MGS. It says so in the article that Lady Frog linked to.

[frogbeastegg]

Part 4 of Gametrailers MGS retrospective is up after some delays. One part to go, dealing with the two MGS Ac!d games on the PSP and the gameboy colour game. It's been good viewing.

When you look at the traits this series is best known for, outstanding boss battles always make the list. What are people's favourites? Use spoiler tags if necessary.

Psycho Mantis, due to the famous controller port swap and memory card reading. At the time that was so inventive.

Fatman. A fat man in armour on rollerskates. With bombs. And rollerskates.

Liquid Snake at the end of MGS1.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Punching that golden-haired "I'm your brother and I got all the crap genes, waaaa!" sap silly was more satisfying then it had any right to be.

[Kekvit Irae]

I hope Ac!d 2 will get a good retrospective. I really liked that game once I warmed up to the card battle system. The secret is to not look at it as a Metal Gear canon game, but rather as a fun side-story, especially since...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

you don't play the real Solid Snake.

Once you get the Stinger missiles, it's easy to farm for cards on the moving train.