So it has been over a week since the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, I am already in love with this game. The first opening cinematic will have players immediately drawn in. Especially major fans of the franchise and even more  if you played the Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes game.

Plot:

Once again you will play as the Legendary “Naked” Snake also now known as “Big Boss”. After the destruction of his original mother base known as “Outer Heaven” in 1974; Big Boss is now awakening from a nine-year coma. His unit went missing and his best friend Kazuhira “Kaz” Miller who had been captured recently. At first glance, presentation is already at an all time high and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Hideo Kojima in terms of presenting a game such as Metal Gear Solid. What Kojima showed us already is a scared, weak, but determined Big Boss who now wants nothing other than revenge to the group that almost killed him, destroyed his base and hurt the lives of his friends. Once Big Boss was able to safely escape the hospital from an armed group of soldiers looking to finish him off he meets up with a very old combatant during his days from the CIA in 1964. You will be surprised to see who it is as he will help get you back on your feet and help the boss return to combat ready to rescue Kaz. You then will arrive to in Kabul, Afghanistan, which happens to be the last known place Kaz was located inside of enemy outpost. After all the dialogue is done you will be able to freely play the game.

Graphics:

The graphics of the game are stunning. The amount of detail that there is in this game will make you feel like you are there in Kabul. The horse you ride on is one of the many examples of beautiful art in motion. The desert sand, the buildings, the small river flows, and just everything that is shown in this game looks beautiful. At times when I play, I just sometimes stand there looking through my binoculars.  I find myself in awe as to what is in front of me and become fully immersed.  

Gameplay:

During game play, it’s just you and a small set a weapons: a tranquilizer for non-lethal attacks, an assault rifle equipped with a suppressor for silent take-downs or self-defense, and a few tools like night vision goggles. Don’t worry, you can pick up a cardboard box after you complete the first mission. Once you get a feel for your weapons and tools, the game will walk you through the controls. If you’re still familiar with any Metal Gear Solid game after Metal Gear Solid IV which used the over the shoulder aiming and full control of camera function, then you will be set. If not, standard shooter controls are in with L1 or LB to aim and R1 or RB to shoot. One new added control is that Big Boss finally sprints. Yes!! Click the left stick and Big Boss will take off running. But, be careful you can easily be spotted by enemies patrolling around in outposts or base camps. There is a lot you can do in this game after you complete the first mission. For example,  once you establish the new “Mother Base” you are given a recovery system which you can extract prisoners, enemy soldiers or even the fauna such as sheep, wolves and bears. Later on when you upgrade the recovery system, you will able to extract vehicles and even unprocessed containers such as biological materials and minerals to help build your base.

So trying to be a non lethal machine is key to how you can have new weapons, items and new army to help you out. You even have staff members who will be auto assigned based on their skill sets such as, combat, research and development or base management and the more you have with great skill sets,  the more production you can achieve to help you in the field of battle.

In the time that I have put into this game, I can’t wait to find out what happens to Big Boss and to find out what the reason for the destruction of Mother Base and his army.

What did you think of this latest installment?  Let us know in the comments section below.