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Casey Lau

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots   has been publicised as the last chapter in Japanese video game developer Hideo Kojima's  acclaimed stealth-action franchise, which made its debut about 20 years ago. The game, published by Konami  exclusively for Sony's PlayStation 3 console, sends the series' principal character, Solid Snake,  in what is supposed to be his final mission against old foe Liquid Ocelot.
Set in a war-torn world, the Metal Gear saga includes seven  titles covering a five-decade chronology (1964-2014). There have also been supplemental and related games, but these were outside the main narrative.
This time the Special Forces agent  takes on the latest version of the game's   antagonist, a  walking tank with nuclear-launch capabilities.
The series is credited with popularising the story-driven, stealth-action genre, in which a player's aim is to avoid detection and eliminate targets silently. In Metal Gear Solid 4, an older and wiser Solid Snake uses his stealth abilities, new reconnaissance tools and  an OctoCamo  suit that allows him to  blend in with the environment  and  sneak deep inside enemy locations.
This game,  which takes full advantage of the PlayStation 3's stunning graphics capability and cinematic surround sound, ties up all the previous titles' storylines to give Solid Snake a brilliant sendoff. Late last month, however, an erstwhile assistant producer with Kojima let slip that a multiplatform sequel was in the works - news that must have cheered up many of the franchise's loyal fans.
It is hard to lump the Metal Gear canon with the twitch-shooting, guitar-strumming and puzzle-solving video games of its era. Unlike those offerings, each of the Metal Gear titles tackled philosophical themes and presented stories like Russian dolls, in which one revelation is followed by another and then another until the fitting conclusion.
It  must have felt like a bittersweet victory lap for Kojima when he visited Hong Kong in July, meeting enthusiastic fans at Sham Shui Po's Dragon Centre shopping mall as part of the Metal Gear Solid 4 World Tour. Perhaps it was Kojima's way of saying 'thank you' to  those who have followed his accomplishments in the game industry through the years.
Pros: A masterpiece that solidifies the franchise's elite, blockbuster status.
Cons: The long wait for a sequel.



Snake charmer