Apparently, you don't know much about Japanese cartoons or so-called "Manga." 

For decades, it's been far more successful than Japanese game, anime, or movie in terms of storytelling.

You'd better do your homework before making a comment like that.

I really dont understand why all the hate?

There are people that have never played this game (sameless, onimusha12) and are attacking it as if its some sort of threat to them.

Seriously stop arguing and enjoy the game, it was made for people to enjoy not to argue about it.

Well, in a way; I think that cut-scene based games *could* tell a good story; however, they would have to absorb the qualities of the media.  I hate to bring it up again, but imagine Halflife again.  They could easily have made a cutscene in which the portal opened to the other world.  Instead, they had you directly cause it, while all the exposition was people talking to you as you do whatever.  Not the best example of it from the series, but hey - whether or not you've played HL to the end, I feel the opening scene is one most gamers will know. 

Having long-winded exposition can be used effectively (Listen to any of Doctor Breen's speeches in HL2: they're as long-winded and exposition-y as you could ever want.  BUT, because you listen to them while playing the rest of the game, and you have other goals to accomplish beyond listening to the exposition).

I do agree that my personal favorite stories are the ones that tell themselves through gameplay; exposition can add a lot of backstory, though, which can further your knowledge of the medium and provide new insight into the story.  It can just be used so much more effectively than hour-long ramblings.

EDIT: I also fixed a typo in my previous post; I meant to write 'expand for yourself' not 'itself'  I am sorry if this caused confusion to anyone reading it.

Oh, cut-scene based games can tell a good story. That wasn't my point. My point that any cut-scene heavy game is avoiding the strengths of the medium and instead trying to turn it into a more familiar medium with more limitations, like movies.

Oh, in that case, very very true.

I'm tired of this argument, so I'll just say:

If you want to see a game that CRUSHES Metal Gear Solid in story, storytelling, interactivity, complexity, depth and writing, go play Planescape: Torment (which uses almost no cutscenes).

I saw you recommend that earlier as well; I've been looking for it (legally) and if I can't find it I will resort to other methods, but you definitely got at least one person to check it out

if you haven't played the first three, you will be lost with the fourth game.

 You are like one of the biggest haters of games you haven't played. Hyprocracy much?

Planescape was good but not amazing. MGS games have far more in depth and lengthy philosophical exposition than Torment did. The 8 circles of Zerthimon and ending dialogue were thought provoking but besides that there wasn't enough discussion on the subjects the game wished to adress.