Well, you could simply skip them and check your objectives afterwards. I mean, it's not like you'll be watching all 9 hours when you select 'new game'.

Whatever, I'll let people get back to whining about it. o_0  

 If it was like that then the game would be called Xenosaga.  I swear it took a good hour and a half before I actually got to do anything.  Loved every minute of it though, and I can't wait for MGS4.

MGS 4 has alot of questions to answer as they are trying to tie up all the loose ends in terms of Solid Snakes story. I do not see why 9 hours of scenes is bad.

Now we have people saying it should have been longer, what is wrong with 21 hours of gameplay? For a MGS game, that is a lot.

I am very much looking forward to this game even more now knowing this information.

Seems like a pretty good balance.  And how are people complaining about the length?  This is by far the longest MGS game if this is to be believed.  21 hours of gameplay is pretty long for this type of game, much longer usually just becomes repetitive.

 Why would you buy this game if you don't want to know the storyline? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of buying a "Theatrical" game?

Gaming like that is left for weak story games like Ninja Gaiden IMO.

I think the cutscenes should have the option of skipping them for when someone plans to playthrough a 2nd or 3rd time through.

Only a month to go. :)

Doesn't this game also come with MGO? Or some sort of beta version anyways?

No no, on the contrary Montana, I've mentioned many times that I may be interested in this game, and I've specifically stated that the gameplay in Metal Gear is great. Inventive and fun, really awesome. The problem is the story, which I think is puerile and prone to grandiose turns and melodrama.

A better analogy might be a movie with a great story, compelling characters, and meaningful thematic threads.... but constantly relies on backstreet boys music or something equally childish. The question then becomes: is the rest of the movie good enough to overcome the horrible choice in music? I was certainly willing to entertain the idea. But now that it's clear that this game is absolutely, positively slathered with what I consider the metaphorical equivalent of the Backstreet Boys, I'm just not willing to put up with the bad parts to get at the good parts.

 I agree. The entire point to playing MGS games is to experience the story. It's a theatrical game, an interactive movie where its the story and cinematics that defines its quality. Sure the gameplay is a great bonus for most gamers, but if that was the main draw they'd be better off playing a less cinematic game like splinter cell. I think too many people expect mgs to be something it isnt,  a purrely gameplay riven achievement like other games but mgs is a completely different genre of games. Its a movie and it is a game at the same time.

I wrote "lot of content", not gameplay length. I think you either quoted the wrong user, or didn't really read my post. 

30 hours of gameplay?

thats stunning, so what if it has cut scenes, id rather have the cut scenes in that out

goty

Excellent. I love cut scenes, even if I'm the only one.