MGS4 Platinum from a MGS Vet Standpoint

[Rebourne07]

I went into this platinum thinking it would be very difficult, but in the end I'd rate it a 6/10 for MGS veterans. Having previously platinum'd MGS2, this was much, MUCH easier in comparison. That said, it's harder than your run of the mill platinum for sure. 

 

The game requires 8 playthroughs, 7 on Liquid Easy and 1 on The Boss Extreme so it all comes down to that one playthrough's difficulty. 

 

Here's some things that can make that playthrough, and thus the platinum, much easier.

 

1. Before you start, I recommend using the SaveMGO server (https://savemgo.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20) to download the Haven and Metal camos. Haven camo makes you invisible while sitting still and Metal camo reduces damage done to you by 50%. Haven camo can be very useful for sneaking and Metal should be worn during all boss fights. Unfortunately the metal camo effect doesn't help during the bike chase.
2. The trophy guide suggests making the Big Boss run your 7th of 8 playthroughs. I agree with that because by the 7th playthrough you'll know the game like the back of your hand and also that gives plenty of opportunity to stock up. Weapons and ammo carry over from run to run so make sure you stock up on everything, ESPECIALLY anything non-lethal like tranq rounds for both the pistol and sniper rifle (EVERY EMOTIVE TYPE TOO!!!!) and stun grenades, smoke grenades of every type, sleep satchels and sleep mines. Tranq rounds are limited to 50 max so buying more than that before your BBE run will be useless, same with stun grenades and all that, you can only carry 10 of each but you'll want max of everything you can have. Also buy max Vring ammo for the shotgun and max 40mm flash grenades for the grenade launcher. 
3. Use Vash12349's Big Boss guide on YouTube. I'll post a link to Act 1 of it below (first video), his strategies are amazing and easy to follow. 
4. For bosses follow all of Vash's advice except for a few parts: 
   1. Act 1 Frogs look up a guy named Jaguar King on YouTube. He's a speedrunner and his strategy includes using sleep mines on the 2nd floor balcony which makes the final (hardest) part of the frog fight a walk in the park. 
   2. For Laughing Octopus beast mode use the M82A2. For anything where you can use a lethal weapon, that's the best one.
   3. For the beauties use the Solar Gun. Vash doesn't have it cause he's doing a new game BBE run which is more hardcore than it needs to be. Two shots with the solar gun and they are out, easy peasy.
   4. For Crying Wolf his strategy is perfect, except use the grenade launcher with stun grenade ammo instead of stun grenades since its faster, easier and more reliable.
   5. For Vamp use the Solar Gun, its a one hit kill when charged.
   6. For the Rex vs Ray fight, don't use Vash's strategy at all. He wrecks Ray but he's skilled. For a much easier approach hide behind a building and circle around it charging the laser. When the laser is charged, even at level 1, pop your head out around the corner and hit Ray with it. Then if you're close enough hit Triangle for more dmg or if not just dip back behind the building. Play it safe and whittle him down with the laser. Playing offensively against Ray will get you killed. Be defensive and just hide, laser, hide, laser, repeat.
   7. For Mantis, don't use the M4 with shotgun attachment like he does! You will accidently kill a frog and not know it until its over. Instead use the Saiga-12 with Vring ammo and you'll be safe.
5. Using passwords for weapons does not invalidate any trophies! Use these 4 passwords so you can get the Little Gray emblem easier and because the Patriot is OP on the beginning of the third part of the Bike Chase. 

   deskyhstyl --- Desert Eagle Long Barrel

   jmsotsynrn --- Type 17 Mauser

   tshsniammr --- Thor .45

   pkhhnwhsjt --- Patriot

6. For the Bike Chase part, I dreaded it and studied it extensively before doing it...only to get past it in about an hour or two. Use a combination of Vash's techniques and strategies from the second YouTube video below and you'll be fine. It's not nearly as hard as everyone makes it out to be. It'd only be that hard if you tackled it blindly without using tips from others.

 

 

 

[HaserPL]

Not trying to diminish the deed, but I think that there's nothing here that wouldn't have been already well known to players going for the plat, considering this game is like 8 years old now (or at least trophies are).

[Rebourne07]

6 minutes ago, HaserPL said:

Not trying to diminish the deed, but I think that there's nothing here that wouldn't have been already well known to players going for the plat, considering this game is like 8 years old now (or at least trophies are).

I never found info related to the SaveMGO server or the weapon passwords on here. Either way your comment boils down to "This game is old so stop giving tips" which is rude and unwelcome.

[Deceptrox]

I've never downloaded any camo from MGO section but I guess that Metal camo would've made the bike chase (escecially the 2nd part)a bit easier.

[KingTom95]

3 minutes ago, Deceptrox said:

I've never downloaded any camo from MGO section but I guess that Metal camo would've made the bike chase (escecially the 2nd part)a bit easier.

 

50 minutes ago, Rebourne07 said:

Unfortunately the metal camo effect doesn't help during the bike chase.

 

It seems like its the only part of the game where it doesnt help. 

 

[Deceptrox]

Just now, KingTom95 said:

 

 

It seems like its the only part of the game where it doesnt help. 

 

 

Then it's worthless. The rest of the game ain't that bad with default stats.

[AJ_Radio]

Well that's the thing with older games. Guides have been written and published so anyone still going for those platinums can go for them.

 

The deal with Metal Gear Solid 4 however is everyone has a different way of approaching it. I remember when I was still going to college back in 2008 being utterly amazed at how awesome MGS4 looked. Nowadays, it's rather dated, but when it comes to story and delivery, it has aged like fine wine.

[walafc0]

20 hours ago, HaserPL said:

Not trying to diminish the deed, but I think that there's nothing here that wouldn't have been already well known to players going for the plat, considering this game is like 8 years old now (or at least trophies are).

1/ I wonder what was your thought process for coming up with such a negative comment about someone sharing his tips..

2/ I've never heard of all these information. I'm still on my first playthrough, this will be definitely useful for the rest. Thank you very much.

[Jhante_Brown]

On 2/4/2021 at 6:49 AM, HaserPL said:

Not trying to diminish the deed, but I think that there's nothing here that wouldn't have been already well known to players going for the plat, considering this game is like 8 years old now (or at least trophies are).

Agreed.

[Kazduin]

Metal Gear Solid 2 is certainly harder in my opinion. Metal Gear Solid V is more tedious than difficult. Metal Gear Solid 4 is snuggly inbetween, with a lot of tedium as well as difficulty in my opinion. Metal Gear Rising(Though a different genre) is a nightmare to platinum and I’d rather platinum MGS2 again than platinum that game again.

 

The SaveMGO advice for the camo codes was clever. For anyone going for it, this is good advice.

[Pa-ra-Doxx]

The only difficult parts for me during my platinum run were the bike chase, and getting all the emblems; specifically the Chicken emblem. I hate trophies that are linked to playtime, because it means having to leave the console on for an unattended period of time. MGS4 is also a short game if you skip all the cutscenes.

MGS2 is definitely the hardest MGS platinum because of Extreme/European Extreme difficulty and having to beat all the annoying VR missions.

[the_real_culture]

@Rebourne07 Wow! If only me and brother knew about those passwords all those years ago. But now I really want to do it on my own. Thank you!

[Valkirye22]

On 2/4/2021 at 5:08 AM, AJ_Radio said:

Well that's the thing with older games. Guides have been written and published so anyone still going for those platinums can go for them.

 

The deal with Metal Gear Solid 4 however is everyone has a different way of approaching it. I remember when I was still going to college back in 2008 being utterly amazed at how awesome MGS4 looked. Nowadays, it's rather dated, but when it comes to story and delivery, it has aged like fine wine.

that ending cinematic amirite ?

[Only1Tommo1]

Though I also see this as not really anything new and more of a 'look at me, I've platinumed this game!' post like some have said, I do agree with the OPs points. Though, as mentioned even by the OP themselves, guides are readily available on this site and YouTube which have this covered already.

On a side note, I do wish this game had more gameplay. I reckon it holds up well today. There's just so little of it. Been a while since I thought of MGS4, so thnx to OP for bringing it back to my attention.