With the rumour and controversy surrounding the length and amount of cut scenes in Metal Gear Solid 4, we decided to take a look at the first 90 minutes of the game and attempt to calculate the amount of time spent playing compared to time watching. The following are not 100% accurate timings but we believe them to be roughly correct. Events going on in the game have not been included to avoid spoilers.
With the disc loaded we first have to wait for the game to install which takes around 8 minutes. Following this the intro plays which lasts for around 10 minutes. At 18 minutes in we now get our first chance to play, with the next 6 minutes being a 50/50 split of stop go gameplay mixed with short cut scenes. Next up is a 12 minute cut scene which sees us view a second intro, this time the introduction to the first act of the game.
Act one begins and we play for around 13 minutes with no significant interruptions. Following this we watch a 3 minute cut scene leading into another 8 minutes of gameplay. Were are now roughly 60 minutes into the game, experiencing around 24 minutes playing and 36 minutes watching. Considering the 8 minute install at the start this is not really too bad going so far. The final 30 minutes though we sit through a scene bordering on 15 minutes in length followed by about 4 minutes of gameplay and then another 9 minutes of cut scene. We then get a couple of minutes unbroken gameplay in before the timer hits the 90 minute mark and so bringing our first session on the game to a close.
The final figures then for our first 90 minutes play on Metal Gear Solid 4:
Time spent watching:- 60 minutes
Time spent playing: - 30 minutes
A bunch of whiny ass 360 fanboys. No MGS4 for you. BTW, you got your asses handed to you in May NPD as well. Dumb fucksticks.
We didn’t get anything handed to us as we don’t work for Microsoft.
I like the length of the scenes….I like that I’m kinda watching a movie and playin a game at the same time.
I have actually been watching one scene now for the past 25 minutes I think, its kinda boring right now cause they are stuck on a plane going somewhere
That does sound boring. I love watching cutscenes but 25 minutes? My luck I’d die and have to rewatch the stupid thing.
I dunno. I’m not a MGS fan since I don’t like the style of gameplay. I guess if your a fan it would be ok. I like Final Fantasy and thinking of watching a 25 minute cutscene would be cool for me. But I know a FF cutscene would have tons of action to keep you sucked in.
NOTE: We are not endorsed by Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo for that matter.
Don’t know what you mean, all companies love us…
yes sorry, I meant all the companies are big fans of Button Bandits and are always TRYING to get us to endorse them but we always REFUSE.
We are not biased towards any company - apart from McVities (who make the best biscuits in the world FACT! Go out and buy a pack today)!
Thanks for the great article. Keep up the good work.