Metal Gear Solid 4 to launch on 12 June

It's official: Konami has announced that the fourth instalment in its extremely successful Metal Gear Solid series, Guns of the Patriots, will be released across Europe on 12 June.
Konami will whet appetites with a public beta version of Metal Gear Online before the release of MGS4, details of which will be released soon.
Delayed from last year,this latest adventure with former Foxhound black ops agent Solid Snaketakes place in 2014, five years after the "Manhattan Incident" - theevents depicted in the Plant chapter from Metal Gear Solid 2.
Guns of the Patriots is set in a world where therestriction of military intervention on foreign soil has been eased,fueling the need for private military companies (PMCs) to fight proxywars for business purposes.
So plenty of guns, tech, shooting and big robots, then.

The name's Snake, Solid Snake. That's Mr. Snake to you.

Earlier this week Sony spoke of a MGs4 PS3 bundle to coincide with the US launch, including an 80GB console, MGS4 and a DualShock 3 wireless controller, all for $499. The bundle will only be available in the US.
No mention has been made as to whether the game will utilise therumble function of the DualShock controller - something the previousgames did, making that one of their trademark attractions toPlayStation gamers. But since Sony's bundling the controller in the US,it's likely that it will be utilised fully in the game.
The game will be released on a Blu-Ray disc containing both the game and Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Online, a dedicated online title that uses locations and gameplay elements from Guns of the Patriots.

MGS4 uses the series' traditional third-person view withfull camera manipulation, but also allows the freedom to play infirst-person mode, as well as presenting an over the shoulder view,which can be switched from right shoulder to left for easy cornermaneuvering. The close-quarters combat system has been completelyrevamped, and the player will also be able to interrogate guards forinformation and supplies.
Here's a little visual taster of what's in store...

Click to enlarge...

Several elements from previous titles return in modified forms.Players will also use a new form of camouflage called Octocamo, whichreplaces the camouflage system featured in MGS3 and theOptical Camouflage seen in the first two incarnations. Dark blue whendisabled, the Octocamo suit allows the wearer to blend in with anysurface within a few seconds.
A new monocular device called Solid Eye replaces the variousbinoculars and image intensifiers from previous titles, and a steeldrum complements the series' traditional cardboard box disguise. It isable to deflect bullets, and can be rolled to knock enemy soldiers over.
Snake will also be partnered with a robotic drone, the Metal GearMk. II, which allows him to communicate with other characters. It isalso capable of engaging enemies using an electric shock, as well asproviding reconnaissance.

...destroy the radar dish, that opens the mouth and exposes Liquid...

One truly inspired fan has created a Metal Gear Rex made from Lego, that is so cool we felt it definitely deserved a mention.