MGS4 has a database thingie in it which can tell you.

Though I strongly advise that you play the games before MGS4, particularly MGS3 which is probably the best non-Nintendo game besides the Phoenix Wright series in my opinion.

As for Twin Snakes, it's a remake of MGS1 that's exclusive to GC. It's the same as MGS1 in most ways, except the cutscenes are a bit more extreme. Oh, and of course, the graphics are better.

Just call Kojima and ask him to tell it to you.

whats his number? ;)

lol i could send him a heartfelt email telling him how i am incredibly intrigued by his games characters and his cinematic style but dont have the money for the old games, could ask him to send me all the old ones and tell him i will buy mgs4 after i play them lol :P

Gametrailers. MGS Restrospective should do wonders for you. If not, Wikipedia, or what's been stated above, the MGS Database

Wow, really? :S That's pretty messed up. I've never checked it myself so I just assumed it was good.

I have to admit to watching walk through's of all Metal Gears up to MGS3. Found them on Youtube. A very good way to familiarize yourself with everything, if you won't have the means to play them yourself.

If you're going to just read or watch the story of the first three MGS games, you might as well go ahead and do the same for the fouth. Don't bother playing it. The first and third game trump the fourth in storytelling, so it's them you should be holding out on until you can play them.

Edit: Just so no one gets into a tizzy over this, consider everything I said as my opinion. I understand some of you think MGS4's story is the greatest thing ever, even better than MGS and MGS3. I don't.

MGS1 had a good story, MGS4 had a good gameplay and control the 2 in between are mediocre at best.

BTW the story becomes bananas in 2 and only get worse with 4, The epilogue *Barf*

No, don't! Kojima said he doesn't understand it himself any more :D