Thankfully, that was rectified a week later when Konami threw a party for "Metal Gear's" 20th birthday and famed developer Hideo Kojima gave a demonstration of "Guns of the Patriots" in action.

The concepts we've been hearing about for two years have finally fallen into place. Throughout the course of the demo, Snake uses his monocular device (the Solid Eye) as both binoculars and thermal goggles, lobs grenades while lying on his back, and sneaks around in barrel (which is more resilient than, say, a cardboard box). Otacon's Metal Gear Mk. II robot will also figure prominently into recon, since Snake can control it remotely (with an in-game Sixaxis controller, no less) to scope out an area and shock unsuspecting troops. All of these were actions were illustrated in gameplay, not just as in-game cinematics.

In one case, Snake wore a design that made him to look like a statue, allowing him to stand still as a patrol passed by. Even cooler is the fact that, with the touch of a button, players will be able to make the sneaking suit take on the colors and patterns of its surroundings, chameleon-style.

In addition to the camouflage, there are other elements that resemble features in previous installments. For instance, Snake still seems able to keep a boundless arsenal with him at all times, which is selected through scrolling menus in the lower corners of the screen. CQC makes a return as well, and though it will have new functionality (like disarming opponents), we have yet to see if the control scheme has been tweaked.

These mechanics are undoubtedly just the beginning. Sure, we've gotten a taste of what the game will be like, but Kojima is known for keeping secrets right up until a game's release. We're betting that there are still plenty of details hidden from view.