Lafiel, i don't consider MGS games high art. I consider them fun and cheese. MGS4 takes itself entirely too seriously. It thinks it is the citizen kane of gaming. The other games treat themselves as if they're b movies in game form. Not this.
Huh? that wasn't directed at you, was just making a point that the MGS fans that write FUCKING essays about MGS storyline, were really dissapointed in MGS 4.
there's this one post from a angry MGS fan about MGS 4 on a official MGS fansite that was just 
Anyway your completely wrong there, how does it take itself anymore seriously then the previous three games? it was still filled with the silly humor of the previous games like the 'insert disk 2' codec call, any scene involving johhny (that whole wedding scene was not meant to be taken seriously), the psycho mantis scene in act 5 etc.
It takes itself more seriously because past MG games would continously poke fun of themselves even in the midst of the distinguished mentally-challenged. In MGS2, when it gets ridiculous and GW is hacked, Raiden runs around Big Shell NAKED. In MGS3, you're found out that you're not Raikov not by actually being caught, but because Volgin GRABS SNAKE'S NUTS and immediately recognizes that his penis and ballsack are of a different shape.
What does MGS4 have? The last time I laughed in MGS4 was this:

This is pure MGS cheese.
In MGS4 the game is like LOOK AT THESE CHARACTERS, LOOK AT THE DRAMA, DON'T YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THEM?!!?!? Especially the HORRIBLE Meryl/Johnny cutscene, which is not a good type of cheese.
I don't know what it is, but it rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed like Metal Gear finally became the game I have defended it's NOT for years.
But you're right. The Psycho Mantis scene wasn't serious, but I saw that over 10 years ago. The johnny/meryl scene wasn't serious but it was DUMB. The insert disc 2 thing was genius, I agree.