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Comparing Metal Gear Solid 4 to Ground Zeroes is "nonsense," says Kojima

Ground Zeroes is an open-world game and vastly different than MGS4, Hideo Kojima says.

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It would be silly to directly compare Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots because the games are vastly different, Hideo Kojima has said. Posting on Twitter last night, Kojima said it it "nonsense" to compare his latest effort to 2008's PlayStation 3 game because because Ground Zeroes is an open-world game, while MGS4 was not.

Ground Zeroes is also expected to be substantially shorter than MGS4 because it is a prequel to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and not fully its own game.

Kojima also responded to criticism about Ground Zeroes after publisher Konami released a handful of images comparing the current- and next-generation versions of the game yesterday. He said the Xbox One and PS4 versions will indeed be visually superior, but stressed that the developer's visual style should remain consistent across console generations.

"I published comparison images of consoles since I get so many questions. Once I said the contents & controls can be equally amused by player as we carefully adjusted, people say 'then next-gen is meaningless.' Well, I want people to play nextgen if they were able to buy, and for those who couldn't, play current-gen version as it is indeed [multiplatform]."

"Next-gen looks better because of its hi-spec, but what I want you to feel is the point the photo-realistic image we pursue in Fox Engine. Fox Engine made it even the current-gen look as good as next-gen," he added.

Finally, Kojima said the already announced Ground Zeroes comparison video showing off the visual differences between console generations might be published sometime today. We'll include that video here or in a new story if it does indeed arrive later today.

Ground Zeroes launches on March 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. Sony will release a special Ground Zeroes limited-run PS4 console in Japan.

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Boondha

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Well, I don't think mgs fans care about anything. I will just buy and own it even if I can't play. BIGBOSSSSSSS!

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G4mBi7

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I wasn't comparing but since you mentioned it, i went back and played MGS4 and compared it to the PS4 graphics, they look nearly identical. So what's the deal bro? Why does the PS3 version have just shitty graphics when MG4 could push the system, are you saying you slacked on the PS3 port?

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hikaruai

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" it it nonsense"???...not only does this guy write 90% bs stories, but he doesn't have an editor either?...where the f*** is the quality control here gamespot?

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Sithxterminator

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Game informer pretty much said "the campaign is 2 hours long" but people seemed to have read it as the whole game.

If you get up to date on your news especially the boot camp you will see that many people had completed the campaign and a few missions and weren't even half way through with completion.

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Moegitto

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Still haven't seen a good reason to charge $40, 5 hours is less than almost every COD game and at least that horrible series has MP to extend it's life. Not to mention MGS: GZ is a prelude chapter, I seriously doubt they can find a way to push much content into it. Also it's under 2 hours, so I'm being generous with the exact number. 90 minutes (as you said) is pathetic for a SNES game, let alone a system that has 8GB of RAM...

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GuardianofHonor

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Now they're starting to sell DLC ripoffs before the game is even released, is there no end to the greed? 40$ for a 2 hour game, excuse me while I puke.

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Vodoo

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They should've just concentrated on the main game instead of putzin around with a 2 hour demo. Most people are not gonna pay $40 for 2 hours of gameplay (even less with their lengthy cutscenes). It's a ripoff! I wouldn't pay more than $15 for 2 hours. It's the principal of the matter.

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UnrealPro

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I'm not paying $40 for a game that can be completed in a couple of hours and has no multiplayer mode. I got suckered with Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for PS4 paying full price for it a few days before it officially released, and Last of Us Left Behind is around 3 hours in length and was $15. This game should be at the most $10 and released on XBL and PSN digital downloads only.

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HuskerMetal

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Don't care about the resolution, frame rate or length. I love MGS this is a buy for me. And yes buying the physical copy.

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Vegeta1120

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<< LINK REMOVED >> you and me both brotha!

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deactivated-588e2038987e3

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<< LINK REMOVED >> There are just some series that you fall in love with and stick with through thick and thin, MGS is such a series and luckily I'd have in it regardless due to its consistent quality alone, the developers haven't done anything to make buy their products just out of brand allegiance yet.



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deactivated-588e2038987e3

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'd have faith* in it, to make me* buy

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DeanoFantasy

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I honestly don't know what to say anymore about Ground Zeros, wait for the reviews I guess.

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PlatinumPaladin

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You know, despite all the bashing this game has taken from gamers (myself included) I don't think I've seen anyone even mention MGS4, let alone attempt to compare it. The game is six years old.

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FlameBoyBen

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@PlatinumPaladin Hes (kojima) trying to change the topic of conversation. This press about the shortness of the game is terrible PR

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deth420

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thats like comparing zelda, to zelda 2...or apples to apples.

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CaveManCobb

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@deth420 Zelda and Zelda 2 are completely different games. I think you mean apples to oranges.

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deth420

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<< LINK REMOVED >> No, I mean when you make a sequel to a game, of course it gonna be compared. even if they are completely different.

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GeekasaurusWrex

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MGS V is a prequel, chronologically speaking. Its a sequel to MGS Peace Walker, not MGS4.

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mack10

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> If only you had this much passion for ending real problems. Stop repeating the same thing over and over again, people start believing you less and less.

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Garm31

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Have they removed the first person camera? Can you still hold up enemies in first person? The shoulder view looks and probably will feel awkward. Hated it in Peace walker.

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Saayko

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A remade Metal Gear game covering the stories of "Metal Gear", "Metal Gear 2" & "Metal Gear Solid" with this engine would be a bomb. It would be a great opportunity to expand the roots of the story with new long fancy cutscenes (As Kojima likes it) telling us the stories that many young folk don't know and older fans would love to see them again in better graphics with more sophisticated storytelling. Also imagine the possible gameplay potentials of a bad-ass young Solid Snake with abilities granted to him by fox engine.

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PlatinumPaladin

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Frankly I'd just be happy with remakes of the Metal Gears. Metal Gear Solid just has that classic visual style.

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Garm31

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

No more Solid snake, well not for a while. A prequel about THE BOSS set in WW2. How she formed the Cobra Unit and eventually won the war for the Allies. Imagine using the open world Fox Engine and having to go out and recruit members of Cobra. Plus THE BOSS is a far more interesting character then NakedSnake/BIG BOSS or Solid Snake.

It would be nice to see another leading lady in an industry dominate by male, steroid fueled, antisocial, moody, mass murders.

It would be a welcome break from the norm. Also THE BOSS would kick Snakes ass, any day of the week.

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omgmike23

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I read your opinion. And respect it. Honestly I'd hate to play a mgs game that was The Boss and not snake. Solid Snake has only been in 2 Games. (Well I guess 2 games and like an Hour in MGS2). Big Boss has been pretty overdone now after mgs5 releases. And as for The Boss kicking Snakes ass, I Disagree. Big Boss(Naked Snake) beats her at the end of snake eater(he didn't want to fight her the whole game and clearly held back fighting her until the end when he kills her) and Solid Snake Beats Big Boss in Metal Gear 1 & 2. The thing you need to remember about Solid Snake is he was Genetically modified to be "The Perfect Solidier" unlike Big Boss who was just a normal human. So IMO more Solid Snake, Less Big Boss and Snake beats Big boss and The boss. Sorry for that gigantic story book lol.

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hystavito

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Is there a good place to read the background stories for the series, or would you have to play them all to understand? Every time I read people's discussions, It sounds so confusing :).

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Saayko

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I know about the wiki, and there are also full cutscenes on youtube, but playing it would be something else.

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Saul_Ed_Snake

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>Just go to the Metal Gear Wiki. But be ready to read for a few hours, lol. This game has 25 years of history.

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endorbr

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Wasn't aware anyone was really making the comparison of MGS4 to MGSV but that still doesn't explain why the prologue to MGSV is basically just being chopped off of the full game and sold to us at $20-40 effectively making the game an $80-100 purchase.

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Wej_accept_it

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Realistically it probably comes down to several different reasons; bug testing the all new engine across four different consoles, getting feedback on bugs/general gameplay and giving gamers a taste of the franchise for the first time in years. Since MGS4 in 2008 there's been basically Peace Walker on handhelds and two separate collection bundles, Konami need to give it's fanbase something to play to keep them interested in the series. Especially since there is still no real release date info for Phantom Pain yet

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sakaiXx

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people were fine with MGS2 demo tanker mission why not this game ? plus DOWNLOAD the darn thing its like 10bucks cheaper if you download.

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deactivated-60b838d2a137f

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<< LINK REMOVED >> IS that a serious question..? Demos are FREE...

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eyeball2452

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Pre-order swag used to be free too. Now you have to buy the books, music and figurines. Can't argue, if there's demand, then go for it. I don't value things that end up on a shelf in my closet though.

The problem is that games became big business and that's not a good thing.

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sakaiXx

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> mgs franchise doesn't know the meaning of the word "free". seriously you gotta pay for mgs 2 and 3 demo and you could finish mgs 1 in 3 hours why question this game. Its not like today's game are long, some even got only 5 hour worth of gameplay if you don't rush. its up to you if you wanna buy this if you are new to the series but its kinda that mgs tradition.

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Garm31

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MGS 4 is a turd in Snakes cereal. It killed the franchises future setting. And kojima still didn't have the balls to kill off Solid Snake. The less said about MGS 4 the better. It's past is FAR! more interesting anyway. Come on kojima, announce a prequel starring THE BOSS.

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JustPlainLucas

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'm going to back you up a little bit. I just finished MGS4 last week, and I must say, I don't think the gameplay was entirely up to snuff compared to previous entries. In fact, the Act 3 alone (except for the epic ending) was enough to place this below MGS3. There wasn't a single thing I disliked about MGS3. There were many problems I had with MGS4.


What I can't back you on is calling MGS4 a turd. It's still a great game on its own merits, just that it was impossible to ever top MGS3. I thought its story was excellent, and I loved the whole Liquid taking control of the world's arsenal aspect, and the cutscenes were top notch. And well, yeah, Snake should have died. Even if Kojima wanted him to, it's still his fault because it's his game, and he caved.

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omgmike23

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Am I the only one who think metal gear solid 1 was the best in the series? I'm just a sucker for Solid Snake, idk why but I seem to dislike Big Boss.

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horizonwriter

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah because your opinion is definitely the one that represents how most feel about it. Oh wait. It was heralded as one of the best PS3 games, got near universal acclaim and was well received amongst most fans of the series, even though the general consensus is that MGS3 was the best of the bunch. I guess your just a part of the angry, screaming minority then, but yeah Kojima should definitely listen to you...

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Garm31

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

The reviews for MGS 4 were way too generous. It's as if reviewers forgot that MGS3 Snake Eater even existed. Snake Eater is hands fucking down the best game in the series. It's a masterpiece. Yes!, even better then MGS 1. "It was heralded as one of the best PS3 games" It's not even in the same league as The Last of Us, Uncharted 2 or God of War 3. It doesn't even break the top ten Ps3 games in my opinion. And I fucking LOVE! MGS

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horizonwriter

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Um, since there are over 800 PS3 games even making it to the top 20 or 30 would still put it as one of the best by percentage. No one said it was in the top 5. And for the record, no game made before 2010 should ever be compared to such an end-of-cycle game like the Last of Us. Games closer to the end of a console's lifespan are almost always significantly better than earlier ones.

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deactivated-588e2038987e3

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I understand not liking the ending but all and all MGS 4 was a terrific game and holds it own against other entries in the franchise and other top games in general.

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zelhand

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@Garm31 It's was the rest of the staff rather than Kojima who didn't.

It's well known that both Snake and Otacon weren't meant to make it.

Most of the staff hated this leading to the game being rewritten to have a happier ending.

Snake still suggested to die anyway, just shortly after the end rather that during it.

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Morphine_OD

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<< LINK REMOVED >> no

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