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   Another big show, another big showing for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. One year after Konami's TGS 2005 presentation ripped our jaws off and slammed them to the ground, they return with a new MGS4 trailer put together by Kojima's crew. It's "real gameplay footage" this time, we're told, and it looks almost as great as before... Well, except for some questionable first-person bits, which look like they could use a finer targeting system.

   But anyway, why don't you go and see it for yourself. GameVideos are showing a pretty good version of the trailer, but we'll keep our eyes opened in case a clean, high-res trailer shows up so we can add it locally. The video is "just" 6 minutes long this time, but it's allegedly 100% gameplay (bar some camera perspective teaking) and it shows several interesting things.

   Gameplay wise, there's plenty of diversity here. Snake's "OctoCam" (Octopus Camouflage) suit comes in handy for stealthing around; and so does a barrel... His little robotic friend Metal Gear MK-II zapps unsuspecting enemies in the groin (what a heartless piece of machine), while Snake shows off some new moves. Then there's the dubious first-person parts I mentioned; then the ending credits; and finally... well that last part got me confused - meaning it served its purpose. In the final scene, another guy shows up in one of those OctoCam suits, which some said resembles a younger Solid Snake, but it may even be Gray Fox (Frank Jaeger) for all we know.

   For now, the thing to remember is that Metal Gear Solid 4 will put more focus on the player's freedom of choice, and it will be less stealth-orientated. They'll give you a goal, you'll decide how you want to achieve it - sneaking around or with guns blazing.

   Our local MGS4 gallery hosts some new screenshots for your viewing pleasure, and word is that Kojima has narrowed the game's launch window to late 2007, at the earliest, according to Famitsu. Not too encouraging.