Last year, parents were debating with kids as to why they didn't want to buy Halo 3. Many gave in. Now kids are begging for Snake's last mission - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Is it a game for your kids?
The short answer is No; but it's simple why kids want to get their hands on this M-rated game for the PS3.
1. It's theatrical - a heroic, larger-than-life protagonist (Solid Snake); movie-like panoramic vistas; an epic symphonic soundtrack coupled with you-are-there-hear-me-pant real-life sound effects; and, of course, lots of weapons and gunplay.
2. It's a war game that roots against war itself. What else might a Japanese company - post Hiroshima - suggest ? The game often depicts characters having conversations about the uselessness of war and its damaging effects on innocent victims - like children.
3. It's the thinking-gamer's war game. Players observe politicians using mercenary soldiers for their own career advantages. MGS demonstrates the impact of war beyond bloodshed. It explores psychological implications on the minds and souls of its soldiers. (Die-hard players say they actually choose this game for its storyline.)
Now, granted, many gamers will not pay any attention to these deeper themes, especially kids. Most play for the kill. Thus, that makes a game like MGS another violent war game that risks falling into the hands of the under-aged, and promoting violence rather than demeaning it. So, when your tween starts begging for the new Metal Gear Solid 4, remember it's not a game for kids.
