The "game part" of MGS4 isn't bad at all, its I think at least on par with Splinter Cell and the like, maybe a bit shorter and there are more "out" when you are not stealthy anymore(.50 on 2 legged "Gekko" is much more fun than sneaking by them....lol), and the playtime I think is at least as long as most COD games in offline campaign. You could always skip the movies as I do now....I think the oil tanker was MGS2, comparatively that was more frustrating I must say without the free camera control. I do agree though cut scene is excessively long especially if you replay the game....