The game begins in disappointment: you’re forced to install a console game. So before I can even do anything, I’m forced to wait 8 minutes. Great initial experience there.
During the install I’m forced to watch a dude on screen chain smoke the whole time. Some of the “hints” it gave during this install (emphasis/commentary added):
- konami is not responsible for any damage resulting from misuse (misuse of what?)
- this game is intended for use exclusively with the PLAYSTATION3 system. (no crap, really? is that why its only available on the PS3? where else would I play it?)
- cigarette smoke has detrimental effects to you and those around you, particularly infants and children.
- put litter in its place. dispose of ashes in ashtrays.
- ensure that you play in a brightly lit room and sit as far away from the screen as possible (except sony makes this impossible, as I need to charge my ps3 controller, and the cord they give you for that is like 3’ long, and apparently the controller only charges if the PS3 is on!)
- avoid playing when you are tired
- be sure to take a 15-minute break every half hour
- if you begin to feel ill, stop playing immediately
THANKS MOM, for the life coaching while waiting for your game to install.
I’m really hoping that smoking is an integral part of the game now.
[72 hours later, waiting for install #2 to complete…so I’ll post more. Yes, this makes 11 minutes of install time now.]
The second install also features the life coaching that the first install did. Nice.
I wouldn’t call smoking an integral part of the game, I’d almost call it a character. Mr. Cigarette appears all over the place, as a usable item, as a major plot point in most cut-scenes. There’s even a cigarette smoking monkey. That’s just awesome.
Another very strange thing is that whenever you start the game, before anything else you get an empty black screen with the standard console “this game uses autosave, so don’t unplug your console while its saving” message. You have to press X before you even get to the title screen. This occurs every time you start the game. Lame.
The game is also more like a soap opera with an interactive video game between scenes. Every time you move into a new area, you get a phone call from someone. A general, your psychologist, your friend’s former fiancé. There’s a drama about how the colonel is the father of one of the female protagonists, but she grew up thinking he was her uncle, and now he’s married to your shrink, who calls you when you’re stressed out on the battlefield…
[And another hour or so in, I gave up on it. There are just too many other good games to play, and MGS4:GotP just isn’t my style right now.]
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