There'll be a major plot twist, early doors

After MGS2's shock opening - getting rid of Snake, drafting in Raiden - anything goes for MGS4. We already know that it'll be taking place over multiple locations, but expect the first middle-east environment to end with some eye-opening conclusions, just like the shipwreck in MGS2's opening section.

We're expecting Dr. Naomi Hunter - seen in the 'copter that Liquid Ocelot escapes from during the E3 trailer - to play some part in this. We don't really know which side she's on, but we do know she took revenge on Snake for fatally wounding her brother, Frank Jaeger, by injecting him with the FoxDie virus in MGS - which could result in Snake's death at any time. Perhaps she believes that death hasn't come soon enough. Which leads us to...

Old Snake will kark it within the first hour of play...

Yep, he's a dead man. Either by following through with the suicide attempt at the end of the first trailer - following a failed mission to kill Ocelot - or by Naomi perhaps triggering or affecting his FoxDie infection, or simply through extreme old age. But whatever happens, we're sure the end of the first chapter leaves Snake on a slab.

...and he'll be replaced by Young Snake

As in, the youthful Snake who gets bird-droppings on his lovely camo suit in the XX trailer. Is he a resurrection of Big Boss? Or has Old Snake succeeded in reversing his super-aging issue? Well, we reckon it's neither. Instead, it's something far more interesting.

First, we know Vamp is back, along with his 'immortal' cellular make up. What we see happening is Old Snake kicking the bucket, before being reincarnated through the use of Vamp's blood or tissue, and the rejuvenated Young Snake taking up the mission to stop Ocelot's world-threatening plans.