Master Collection Vol. 2 means a lot of people are about to play Metal Gear Solid 4 for the first time. It's a brilliant, deeply odd game that doesn't always explain itself, so here's the stuff it assumes you already know.
Lean on OctoCamo, all the time
Snake's suit copies whatever you press it against. Hold yourself flat to a wall or the ground for a second and it takes on that texture, and your on-screen camo percentage climbs. High numbers mean guards look straight past you. It's the single biggest thing separating a smooth run from getting spotted every ten seconds, so get in the habit of imprinting cover before you move, not after.
Your stress bar is real
The Psyche gauge isn't decoration. Take fire, get spotted, or sit in a firefight too long and it drains, which makes your aim shakier and your health regen slower. Stay patient, stay hidden, and it stays topped up. If it's tanking, back off and let Snake breathe rather than pushing the fight.
Play nice for the free guns
Meet Drebin early and you unlock weapon laundering. Guns you pick up are usually ID-locked, and Drebin unlocks them for Drebin Points, which you earn partly by collecting weapons instead of leaving them. Non-lethal takedowns and tranq rounds keep the points flowing and keep your options open, so a stun-first approach pays you back in hardware.
Use the Mk. II to scout
Early on you get a little remote robot. Send it ahead to tag guards and map a room before you commit a single step. It can even stun enemies up close. Five minutes of scouting saves you a reload, every time.
Settle in for the cutscenes
This is the big one. MGS4 is as much film as game, and some cutscenes and codec calls run genuinely long. That's the deal you're signing up for. Grab a drink, keep the controller in hand for the ones that let you tap for extra flashbacks, and don't fight it. The story's the point, not an interruption to it.
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