Firearm Basics

Metal Gear Solid 4 has some seriously intense shooting. If you choose to go in guns blazing, be sure to read these tips.

1. Fire in short, controlled bursts. Pray-and-spray strategies won't work well in MGS4: the recoil will throw off your aim. Instead, fire of rapid volleys of one or two bullets at a time for maximum accuracy.

2. Always go for headshots. Shooting at legs, arms, or other body parts can take three or four hits to drop a foe. Instead, always aim for the head to drop your target with one shot.

Advanced Weapon Tactics

Metal Gear Solid 4 excels as a shooter thanks in large part to its massive arsenal of over 70 weapons. Here are some hints for maximizing your firepower.

1. Mods are a Snake's best friend. You can upgrade many of the weapons in MGS4 by highlighting the weapon in the options menu and attaching mods. Recoil grips, laser sights, and rifle scopes are top choices.

2. The M4 is a trusty traveling companion. You'll earn the M4 early in the game, and it's versatile even late in the game. It's accurate, reasonably powerful, and boasts a whopping five upgrade slots.

3. First-person aiming boosts your accuracy. For the most precise shooting possible, aim (hold L1) and then tap Triangle to enter first-person mode. This is also how you activate rifle scopes.

Reducing Stress

"Stress" is an important concept in Metal Gear Solid 4. Stress reflects Snake's well-being in various battle conditions.

1. Keep Stress as low as possible. As Snake's Stress rating climbs, his "Psyche" meter will begin to drain. If his Psyche meter drops out, Snake's hands will shake, ruining his accuracy, and he won't regenerate health between battles.

2. Stay away from stressful situations. If Snake lingers too long in a heated battle, his Stress will rise. But other environmental factors will also raise Stress, such as smelly objects (dumpsters, dirty toilets), hot sun, and other unpleasant conditions.

3. If all else fails, use a Compress. This warming pad will counteract the effects of stressful conditions. Flipping through a Playboy magazine (in first-person mode) will also reduce Snake's Stress. Later in the game, you'll find an item that you can equip to further relieve Stress.

Octo-camo Secrets

Snake's Octo-camo armor will blend in with his surroundings. But to maximize its effectiveness, master these secrets.

1. Octocamo must touch a surface to mimic it. You have to lie on the ground (hold X) or press against a wall (press Triangle) for Octo-camo to mimic its color and texture. It won't activate if you running around.

2. Octo-camo won't activate if you're moving. This holds especially true while you're lying down. Crawling one surface color (a black floor) to another (a white floor) is dangerous. You must briefly pause on the new surface for Octo-camo to mimic it.

3. Other Octo-cam secrets. You can shake the PlayStation 3 controller at any time, even during cut-scenes, to revert the Octo-cam to its default color. You can also save sharp-looking camouflage textures in the options menu for later use.