Unless you've been hiding in a box, you'll probably be aware that Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot has been released to the masses.

The final chapter of the Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid saga is set in a battle-scarred future where huge conglomerates fight for supremacy using armies of hand-picked mercenaries. This devastated world is seen through the battle-weary eyes of an older Solid Snake who has been charged with infiltrating a number of key locations across the globe, including the Middle East and South America. As such, the epic end to Snake’s story offers ground-breaking combat elements, a refined control system that offers unprecedented control over the aged hero, and the tying up of key plot lines and loose ends.

Similarly, the accompanying Metal Gear Online features all the stealth and combat elements of Guns of the Patriots, as it drops the player into a series of war zones and game options.

So, are you ready for Metal Gear Solid 4? Did you pre-order? Will you be taking a day off work or skipping school?

Let us know your thoughts and first opinions of MGS4 in the HEXUS.forums.