If i were to make a chart just for the fun of it, it would be 4>3>2>1.
But in all honesty, every MGS game is a masterpiece in it's own way. 1 was great because it was the first, it was fresh, humorous and intelligent, 2 was incredibly thought provoking and 3 was extremely poignant.
Now in my math book: (1+ 2 +3) x 5 = 4.
MGS4 is just everything a MGS game ever was and more. It is elaborate, thought provoking, allegorical and heart breaking and it has that "sense" of nostalgie and definitive closure few stories ever had. It is like The return of the Jedi, only 100 times better. I think it'll be a while 'till a story will again create such contexts and reach such heights as the Volta incident, REX vs RAY, the proposal scene (one of my favourites in the entire series), the final battle or the debriefing.
I really find it hard to believe that the writers didn't have the story planned out from the beginning, as everything is so expertly wrought in MGS4, making the entire MGS saga an incredibly elaborated and masterfully managed long con.
"You have the right to the remains of a silent attorney"
