I’m not a fan of cut scenes. I railed against the constant cut scenes in the Bourne Conspiracy game and I’m a bit aggravated with the never ending cut scenes in MGS4. Don’t get me wrong, MGS4 is a fine game. Some would argue that the cut scenes add that much more to the game. Those people may be right. They may be wrong.
Right now, I’m about 25% thorough Act 4 of MGS 4. Without counting the cut scenes, I estimate that my ACTUAL playtime, where I’m actually moving Snake around, is some where between 5 and 7 hours. Maybe more, maybe less. The problem is: There’s only one act left. That means that there’s, at best, 4 more hours of gameplay left. Hopefully?
So how the heck did this game get billed as a 40 hour gameplay experience?
Cut scenes. WTF?
Since when did gaming companies begin counting cut scenes when determining overall gameplay time? Granted, I’m new to this info-tainment, gaming journalism, so I may not be in the “know,” but I’ve never heard of including cut scenes in overall gameplay time. Maybe it’s new? Maybe MGS4 is breaking ground in the pulling the wool over peoples eyes department? Who knows.
The worst part about it is that the cut scenes are entirely skippable, which would mean that even if we entertained the idea of including the 20 some hours of video in the game towards a total play time, that time, in my opinion, is still moot, as that entire portion is wholly skippable.
For those that are reading this and saying to their computer screen, “You idiot, those cut scenes are awesome and I’ve watched all of them!” All I can say is that I agree with you - in part. My opinion so far of the cut scenes, based on a 100% score on my awesomeness meter indicates that only about 15% of the cut scenes are awesome, while the other 85% are a total bore. I’ll still watch them, but as of Act 4, there’s only two key scenes that come to mind out of the entirety of video that i’ve had to put the controller down to watch.
So where does that leave us in the end? I anticipate that my total play through, not including cut scenes, on the normal level of difficulty, to be right around 10 hours, give or take an hour. That’s not that long. That’s not even close to the estimated 20 hours that has been bandied about by reviewers across the net. Maybe Act 4 and 5 are super huge? Who knows. I hope that is the case, but in the end, it still feels like I’m watching the coolest parts of the game and unfortunately, those parts are entirely skippable.
Remember when Kojima was rumored to be working on a MGS4 movie? Well, I think you’re looking at it.
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46 responses so far ↓
1 Yamster // Jun 16, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Personally, I think that to play MGS you’ve just got to accept that there’s one mean Mother Hubbard of a storyline to contend with while you play, and if you can sit back and enjoy them, that’s great. If you can’t stand the storyline, skip the cutscenes. Whatever!
2 Meresin // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:10 pm
They’ve got a long, convoluted storyline to wrap up. It’s no surprise that the cutscenes run long. I went into this game expecting a more cinematic experience, so I’ve actually enjoyed it for the most part…Although some of it has been total cheese, the majority has been interesting.
They really shouldn’t count cinematic time as play time, however. You’re right about that. It’s a bit dishonest, because you’re not really playing. You’re watching. Most of the reviews I read mentioned that, however, so it wasn’t exactly a huge secret.
3 MGS // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:26 pm
MGS4 GOTY and FU#K YOU Lono!!!
4 jimmy // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:35 pm
you’re only through 25% of Act 4 and you’re complaining that you’re WATCHING the best parts of the game?
maybe you should play through the whole game before you post articles like this. some of the most memorable best parts of the game take place at the end of Act 4 and Act 5 and i’m not talking about the cutscenes.
5 FrankyFourFingers // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:43 pm
You can either sit down and enjoy the game like the other 98% of people have, or you can just look for sh1t to talk about and complain…
The game is not 7 hrs of game play, took me 25hrs to beat it, if you don’t think that the story is part of a game, there is hundreds and hundreds of games out there that have no story.. i think you’d like those better. Mgs has always been like this, don’t complain about it. and if you don’t like them skip them.
But i do understand that mgs just as Lord of The Rings.. most people loved it but yet there was some people with a 3 y/o attention span that simply get aggravated with the movie and call it boring.. i guess you’re the latter.
Lono you barely just bought a ps3, and you had and in my opinion still have big hate for it.. stop whining about mgs please, it’s the same broken record from 360 fanboys.. yeah great game but what about the cutscenes… pathetic….
6 theKingAdhoc // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Seriously Lono, why do you even game? All you seem to do is complain, complain, complain. Did you miss the other 3 MGS games and decide that maybe this one was for you? They have always been like this. 10 minutes play, 15 minute cutscene. 1 hour play, 40 minute cutscene. Deal or don’t, i assume you’re not strapped to a chair clockwork orange style, forced to play.
7 piston11792 // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm
OK, its obvious some of you are upset with lono, but I truly have to agree. I may not be a Metal Gear fan but i have played before. I also think someone shouldn’t have to be a fanboy to really love a game. However, if you aren’t a Metal Gear Fanatic I don’t see watching hours upon hours of cut scenes can be considered a “perfect” experience. Don’t get me wrong, i really like the game play elements of this game, but throughout this game I’ve questioned the amount of gameplay to the amount of cut scenes and MGS4 seems more like a long drawn out movie instead of a game. Of course, this must be what MGS fans like, cause they’re getting a lot of it in this game. One more thing, lay off of lono for his honest opinion, cause hes not the only person questioning how much “game” is really in MGS4.
8 Bob // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I agree with Lono. This game is such a waste of time. Just give me gameplay for Christ’s sake. If I wanted to watch a movie full of Engrish and cheesy dialogue I’d go rent Mac and Me.
9 jimmy // Jun 16, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Engrish?
That wasn’t indicative of racism at all (sarcastic comment)!!!
10 Orakga // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Translated: “GTA is great. But there is just too much driving!”
I beat the game in 20 hrs, and 8hrs of that were cutscenes. But given how they wrapped up the entire story, I actually enjoyed most of them. They were all relevant, and they all answered something that wasn’t explained before. Obviously, however, if you haven’t played the previous MGSs (especially the first one from 1998) it would be hard to appreciate this.
Also, I think the crappy voiceacting in the English version makes the cutscenes harder to watch. I checked out the English version yesterday, and…ugh.. yeah, I feel your pain Lono; it was lame.
They need to release a English-subbed Japanese-language version. Like someone said above, it was like watching an MGS movie.
11 Eddiemilz // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:13 pm
lol i love you lono, seriusly, you’ve got to be one of my favourite writers ever… (and you’re always the one to mention me on the podcast
)
that being said, this article seems a little off..!
i’d be very very impressed if (like u say, excluding the cutscenes) you completed the game in 10 hours on your first time round. who knows, maybe you’re just amazingly great at it - as i would estimate it took me at least around 15-20 hours to complete
also i believe the cutscenes are part of the story, and you should’ve expected it from an MGS game. (not that that’s an excuse for adding it to gameplay time - i’m just saying you shouldn’t complain about watching them - there is a skip button)
I think what i’m just trying to get at is this seems like a very harsh article considering you should’ve expected everything that you got, and you havn’t even finished the game - a game i’d highly consider to be the best new game i’ve played in ‘08
Tho i’d just like to say the comments above by ‘RedRuby’ , ‘MGS’, and ‘LOLOL..’ are stupid. keep that sort of crap to yourself
12 An // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Lono, you are right, I rather play through a BS story shooting space aliens and waiting to finish the fight.
Screw u a hole. Why you all bunch of idiots don’t accept that this game is awesome. Play the first MGS and you’ll see that the cut scenes are not new. Remember Kojima said, that this game was fans of the saga (mostly). If you are someone that just bought the game just to check it, then go play halo and let the rest enjoy this awesome game. Ignore this idiot and buy the game, you won’t regret it.
I finish the game and I’m on my second. “Oh, Naiomi”- Act 2 after the boss fight
13 Juvenileimp // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I think you guys are missing the bigger point of this article. sure hes not a big fan of the cutscenes , but what hes sayin is that the cutscenes shouldnt be counted as gameplay time . I think that alot of people are being decieved into thinking that the game is 20 hours long but in reality your only playing for 10. the word gameplay means the time spent actually controlling the game, not the time spent watching cutscenes.
14 nubpower // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:24 pm
ok wtf why is thier such a flame war here? mgs4 is great its an improvment in every way gamplay wise now lono the game counts total hours at the end of each act not including cutscenes i fineshed ost of them at 13 hours mabye less maby more 13 x 5 = 65 hours of game+ mabye 9 hours of cutscenes now kojima is a etheir realy crazy or the end all be all of smart ppl cause the game has so many secrets i played it 2 times now so the games story isnt as good as the mgs 3 story in my OPINIAN see i capatilized so u see its my OPINAIN game was great so all u haters and ppl saying mgs4 is the end all be all plz stfu mgs4 is great yes not perfect but still great id give it a 9.8 but thats just me cod4 would get a 9.9 and halo 7.9 becuase halo is average so halo fanboys fell free to flame me because fankly i dont give a flying fu** about wat u have to say because all the cod4 fanboys are to busy playing cod4 the only resaon im not is cause i dont have my xbox right now so :p ok so screw u im going back to owning kereans at starcraft yea im that good o and lono gj i feel u but best not to make sg look like haters just for the sake of hateing
15 nubpower // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:29 pm
forgot to say that laughing octopus was the only memrelbe boss fight it so f**king hystaricial heheh ull no wat i mean lono *wink*
16 KingofKings // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I agree with RedRuby that MGS series won’t be forgotton for generations to come that how deep this game is… as for Lono article… that will be forgotton within seconds.
17 attempted angles // Jun 16, 2008 at 4:55 pm
so, I really, really am enjoying this game so far (i’m partway through act II). I do have to question the amount of cut scenes, though: I love mgs for the game play and can get into the convoluted and ridiculous plots for the sake of the inspired game design. I just don’t really understand why partitioning game play and storytelling seems like an apt game structure. They are much more pleasant this time around than they were in mgs2, but still, completely removing the element of interactivity and control feels off and ham-fisted. I think this was formerly a means of advancing the story with limited graphics, but as games like half-life 2 have shown, there are ways to inject story without stopping game play. It seems like an outmoded mechanic.
18 Sev // Jun 16, 2008 at 5:14 pm
It’s really sad that when someone tries to give an honest opinion on what he feels is a flaw, people claim he is a “360FAGBOY”…
As an MGS fan, I can clearly see that MGS4 was basically made with fans in mind. Yea it’s been made more accessible but it’s still the same ridiculous plotline and lengthy cutscenes as ever. I and MGS fans like it, but I guess Lono doesn’t. So what?
19 TOO KINGS // Jun 16, 2008 at 5:29 pm
WOW! That will teach you Lono. Never kinda, sorta, inadvertantly, accidentally give your opinion on the best PS3 game so far. There aren’t many so they cling very tightly to what they have. with that said, the game freakin rocks and yes some of the cut-scenes are a snore.
20 Blackswordsman // Jun 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I could see Lono not liking all the cutscenes but he is right, does not stop it being GOTY so far. Probably will be.
21 Dakkster // Jun 16, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Jesus Bobblehead Christ, some of you PS3 fanboys are defensive. He’s not bashing the PS3, for crying out loud! He’s bashing the element of CUTSCENES! This may be a newsflash to some of you, but there are games on the 360 that have a bunch of cutscenes as well.
And FrankyFourFingers, that comment about Lono not liking story in games yada yada, was completely misguided. Again, that’s not what he’s complaining about. Story exposition in games can be executed in a lot of different ways. Cutscenes is one of them and one that isn’t very interactive. Look at Bioshock for example. There you have a bunch of interactive storytelling.
22 Kiltman67 // Jun 16, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Nevermind what we should and shouldn’t count as gameplay when we’re talking about the length of the game, I think we should give up talking about length of games completely.
From what I’ve seen, it all began with RPGs (particularly FFVII) and whenever someone tells you that a particular RPG lasts 40 hours you know that at least a quarter of that is going to be walking backwards and forwards between various places. I won’t speak for anybody else, I’d rather have 10 hours of high quality cutscenes, then 10 hours of walking between quests but ultimately I’d prefer it if nobody talked about game length ever again.
It just doesn’t seem to exist in other forms of entertainment (apart from people saying a particular film is too long etc.), people don’t complain that an album didn’t have enough length or brag about the fact that their favourite novel takes 10 hours to read whereas yours takes 5.
Beyond the fact it doesn’t even make sense (people play games at different paces, some people skip cutscenes, some people don’t do side quests etc.) it’s been shown to be a complete non issue by Call of Duty 4 which was relatively “short” and yet was perfectly formed and satisfying.
23 DaNKaZ // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm
ive played all mgs’s, and dis 1 was by far my fav.
the gameplay was amazing, and yes, the cutscenes were long, but they explained a lot of the story and gave us all an insight to the characters and how they behave.
the cutscenes are what gives us a break from running and gunning, and lets us immerse ourselves in the story 20 years in the making.
i also feel that the japanese voice casting wud be rubbish to listen to.
1. u probs wont understand the language.
2. their voices dont sound as “epic” as david hayter’s (snake).
3. the english voices sound the way they do (especially for snake) coz hideo kojima copied snake plissken character- voice and looks from escape from new york films with kurt russell.
newayz, all in all. best game ive ever played ! BUY IT !!!
24 DaNKaZ // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:14 pm
also, just to note.
at least the game has beautifully graphics with detailed cutscenes. they pleasent to watch, unlike halo.
without the cutscenes. this wud jus b anuva standard game with no consideration to story. at least its being different, and i say- succeeding.
25 Lono // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Wow, to the numerous name callers that posted, all I have to say is that I didn’t realize we had so many MGS fanboys on the site. You all obviously didn’t even read the article.
For the record, I love the game. All I did was ask a question.
If you’re sole reaction is to say Fu$k me or call me a xbot, then you sir are a fanboy and an moron.
If you’re so friggin blind that when someone asks a question about a game you love and your first reaction is to freak out… you are a fanboy and an idiot.
If you can’t look at something with a critical eye without becoming completely infuriated, you are a fanboy and an douche.
To all of the big talking, anonymous wannabes that want to trash me…. Thank you for your page views… LOL
26 NecrisJ1MM // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Lol @ the fanboyism here.
27 Mikey Mike // Jun 16, 2008 at 6:54 pm
It should have been sold as an interactive movie, its not a game.
28 ofx360 // Jun 16, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Well let me first say love the site. I usually get the podcast from itunes so its been awhile since i checked out the site. Anyway the adding cutscenes with the gameplay count has been going on since Final Fantasy XII. Most resent offender that i can remember (excluding MGS) is Kingdom Hearts 2 - fourty hours of gameplay my ass. Then you moaned about gameplay time being ten hours or so, which is funny cause i really can’t recall any game (not rpg) taking more than ten hours to complete.
29 Lono // Jun 16, 2008 at 9:16 pm
@ofx360: what about ratchet and clank games? What about Uncharted? both clock in at more than ten hours… Maybe you don’t play enough games… Just askin, cause I can keep naming games over 10 hours long all. night. long.
30 lwelyk // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Lono, don’t try logic. It doesn’t work. I haven’t played MGS before, but the cutscenes are driving me away. I’m a huge JRPG nut, but I don’t like the idea of having to deal with all of that, mostly because what I know of the storyline doesn’t interest me. The gameplay looks fun, and I’ve loved Splinter Cell, but the plot just doesn’t seem to interesting to me. I’ll probably pick the games up sometime, and who knows, I may love them. But back on subject, yeah I think the cutscenes don’t count as gameplay really. Since no playing is going on, but for the most part I’m used to seeing exaggerated gameplay length anyway. Just divide what’s on the box by two and you’ve got an accurate picture of how long it’ll really last.
31 lwelyk // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Oh, and since I just noticed this bit:
“i really can’t recall any game (not rpg) taking more than ten hours to complete.”
Wow. Most games I own last more than 10 hours…
Can you give me some examples of big games that only last that long?
32 Juvenileimp // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I dont understand why the ps3 fanboys got up in arms over this article. Guys, its just his opinion. He even stated that he liked the game he just had a different view about the cutscenes.(If you guys bothered to actually read the article instead of getting mad that someone had a different view you would know that).
@ all the guys who called Lono names and a fanboy and told him to eat cock to name a few things just because he had a different take on ONE aspect of a game that you personally think is great, that would make YOU the fanboy not Lono.
HAVE A NICE NIGHT.
33 Piranacon // Jun 17, 2008 at 2:18 am
Seeing as the comments have lead to name calling etc.
I have but one thing to say:
Thank God I’ve saved Namoi between the physics Engine in Her’s and Racheals breasts I now have a reason to watch the cut scenes (Anyone not not noticed, go back to the 2 level Where the general tells you to talk to his other half, then whilst watching fast forward (in bursts) through the conversation.
34 Loki // Jun 17, 2008 at 3:34 am
@ Piranacon
Who are Namoi and Racheal?
Who is this General?
Where were you while you were “playing” this game?
35 Yamster // Jun 17, 2008 at 3:47 am
33 comments later, these comments have crumbled. Oh dear!
36 Piranacon // Jun 17, 2008 at 3:57 am
@ Loki Who needs proof checking :p
I mean:
Naomi = Namoi
Colonel Roy Campbell = General
Racheal = Rosemary
Must Have been watching something else
37 Apex // Jun 17, 2008 at 4:20 am
lol u guys are A holes he was just asking a question and he is completely right you cant count cut scenes as gameplay (as someone said: time controlling snake) he wasnt saying that the game is a piece of sh*t because of the cut scenes he was saying that in the official completion time it shouldnt include the movies in between
so if u read this article and then responded by typing all caps at Lono telling him that he is an idiot, then just do us all a favour and F*** off
this is not a fanboy sight
38 SarcasticSparki // Jun 17, 2008 at 9:45 am
Fanboys are fun! They add such warmth to the gaming community. It could be because they are very loving of their chosen winner, or that they just fling fresh poo around like fighting monkeys.
Anyway, I think story makes the game interesting, but playing is what makes it a game. Which is why I liked how COD4 allowed me to controller where I was looking during the intro cutscene in the car.. or forcing me to futilely crawl to my death after the bomb went off. Or how Gears of War had the “Y” button story elements that didn’t break you out of playing, but allowed you to quickly see what was going on story wise.
I would be interested in seeing the game timer of someone playing MGS4 on normal and skipping the cutscenes. Maybe that will happen after new game smell wears off of this one.
Lono, as long as you’re having fun playing when you get the chance, and enjoying the story, keep a positive outlook on the game. In the fanboy rants, I think it sounds like you’ll have some good game play coming up soon (end of 4, and 5).
39 Reriherg // Jun 17, 2008 at 9:56 am
As much as I wanna bash Lono right now hes kind of right MGS4 to me is the best game ive eva played. /All Lono said was why do they count the cutscenes as gameplay
40 RK1 FaMiCuS // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:31 am
@lwelyk
“Can you give me some examples of big games that only last that long?”
Call of Duty 4
Halo 3
Gears of War
Guitar Hero 3
Heavenly Sword
Resistance
Shall I go on…
41 RK1 FaMiCuS // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:37 am
And Lono thought the Halo Jesus Fanboys were bad, I guess he never met the Snake Jesus Fanboys.
42 RK1 FaMiCuS // Jun 17, 2008 at 10:40 am
@SarcasticSparki
“I would be interested in seeing the game timer of someone playing MGS4 on normal and skipping the cutscenes.”
Or someone could just record all the cut scenes and figure out the cut scene times from that.
43 Review101 // Jun 17, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Finally MGS4 came out and criticism start to pour in. Fans of this series been waiting for over 4 years now and finally got our hand on it. This is one of the best game out to date… and there won’t be another game like this series for long time to come. According to Kojima, this game is made for the fans…keeping in mind-and for that reason for cinematic aspects like Lono mentioned.
MGS4 is already GOTY contender and majority of game sites already review it AAAA. This tell Kojima did a fantastic job on MGS4 and ending one of the biggest series of all time for the fans.
44 hawk979 usa // Jun 17, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I skipped through most of the cut scenes in GTA4 on the first play through. The way I see it a cut scene is like scripted gameplay, a reoccurance, which is good the first play through but after that it’s button smashin’ time and on to the action.
45 kdot // Jun 18, 2008 at 8:08 am
erm.. am I the only person who read the article and didnt instantly feel offended? is like half the people here were pushed out of MGS’ womb the way its defended unconditionally.
From reading the article i got that the game is being enjoyed but it shouldnt be said it has X amount of gameplay when Y of that is cutscene’s. Regardless of if they are an integral part of the game, X hours should be actual gameplay, I personally wouldnt consider watching an hour long cutscene, gameplay time.
Dunno maybe I am getting old and my brain matter has started dissolving due to the alcohol fuelled late nights, but MGS1 had more gameplay than cutscene? Or maybe I skipped them as when I’m gaming I like to play so would have been getting very impatient no matter the quality.
46 Joe // Jun 19, 2008 at 10:03 pm
YOU ARE WRONG.
big boss emblem = total play time is under 5 hours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfLskjo429w
dont tell me he actually played less than 5 hours while watching the cut scenes
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