The Tom Clancy series has been Metal Gear's main rival
Released under the Tom Clancy banner, Splinter Cell avoided the more outlandish elements of Metal Gear and instead tried to be as realistic as possible (even if it did follow Hollywood rather than real world logic).
It succeeded so much that even Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima became a fan.
By this point the other Tom Clancy games, such as Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon, had already popularised a more realistic style of military simulator using squad based combat and real-world tactics and weapons.
As a result the two genres of stealth and squad based shooters have begun to merge, as in this month's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (check out our preview section for more on GRAW2).
"Metal Gear Solid 4 is undoubtedly the most anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusive to date."
Although stealth per se is no longer a primary concern the proper use of cover and a constant awareness of both you and the enemy's position in the game world has ushered in a new era of realism in shoot 'em-ups - to the point where the U.S. Army has commissioned its own games like Full Spectrum Warrior and America's Army.
But if that sounds a little scary the most popular exponent of the genre is still Metal Gear Solid, with its sentient limbs and geriatric sniper experts.
With Metal Gear Solid 4 undoubtedly the most anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusive around, it's a title that no other game seems likely to sneak away from it.
Published 15th March 2007
