Needless input also plagues the game, such as having to press the action button to climb ladders and mount waist-level platforms. Having to confirm every little move is unnecessary. These kinds of actions should have been handled automatically, much in the way that Uncharted: Drake's Fortune contextually dealt with movement, cover, and mounting waist-high obstacles.

The game falls short in how it treats those new to the series. Two decades of history make Snake's final mission a climactic resolve; however, it's also loaded down with complicated allusions, jargon, and characters that hold no meaning whatsoever to the uninitiated. Following the story as it weaves through years of unanswered questions and unresolved grudges is equally as challenging to a newcomer as the combat itself. This unapologetic focus on addressing themes central to the series makes the game great, yet at the same time it prevents a reasonable level of accessibility for those new to the saga.

To be certain, this is the ultimate hardcore game. While it introduces a number of innovations, its core remains in tune with classic console gaming. Peppered throughout are moments that clearly hearken back to older installments or other games, yet it modernizes them in a way that ensures the experience is fresh and carries artistic value. More than a mere sequel, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a representational masterpiece to be remembered well beyond the years of this generation.

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