Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6369 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,905 out of 6369
  2. Mixed: 824 out of 6369
  3. Negative: 640 out of 6369
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  1. Damian_roar
    Oct 19, 2016
    9
    I have sort of mixed feelings at the moment i write this review, as a lover of MGS since the days of psOneFat.
    This was a must play for me, because i always wanted to fill the missing piece between the story of the boss and solid snake. And it should be a must if you're on the same situation.
    This being said, now to the harsh part, the game itself it's very well made, it adapts on the    I have sort of mixed feelings at the moment i write this review, as a lover of MGS since the days of psOneFat.
    This was a must play for me, because i always wanted to fill the missing piece between the story of the boss and solid snake. And it should be a must if you're on the same situation.

    This being said, now to the harsh part, the game itself it's very well made, it adapts on the new engine pretty well. It has some of the kojima's magic, but someway arround the middle of the game it's starts to evaporate. As if someone would like it to end soon. The story itself is great and somewhat fills the gap correctly, its intense just like expected. But for me, there's still this little piece missing.
    You can still get the idea of what happends next but coming from kojima, the one that always finish what he starts, there's just that special sensation that you get by the end of any metal gear that i didn't got here.

    Anyaways, its still a no brainer and a must buy if you like the previous ones because it has tons of it, and made great changes to an open world enviroment. I just give it a 9 because of that feeling that i got by the end.    … Expand
  2. Lostintime09
    Feb 13, 2022
    10
    Beautiful ending to a legendary series, and the perfect sequel to Peace Walker. Hideo manages to do the unthinkable and actually pulls off a real love story in the Metal Gear universe. This game has some of the best cutscenes in the entire series without all the bloated backstory exposition and decadent 15 minute monologues. This is stealth gameplay at its best.
  3. Gatesman
    Feb 19, 2022
    10
    This is one of the best games i have ever played, a must want for people who like good adventure games
  4. HollandSony
    Feb 19, 2022
    10
    This game is just fantastic, the games just blow your mind! best games in ages
  5. Carstenole
    Feb 20, 2022
    10
    One of the best Metalgearsolid games out there and the ending is just touching.

    thank you kojima
  6. Big_Bear
    Sep 24, 2015
    8
    My god there are a lot of morons on here. To anyone reading this, as usual pay no attention to the stupid 0/10 'reviews', these idiots don't seem to understand a 0-10 scoring system. One particularly idiotic review comes from 'FullMcintosh', check it out if you want a laugh, he always gives games 0/10, so again, cannot even grasp the scoring system.

    The game is at the very least an    My god there are a lot of morons on here. To anyone reading this, as usual pay no attention to the stupid 0/10 'reviews', these idiots don't seem to understand a 0-10 scoring system. One particularly idiotic review comes from 'FullMcintosh', check it out if you want a laugh, he always gives games 0/10, so again, cannot even grasp the scoring system.

    The game is at the very least an 8/10, excellent gameplay, and graphics. If you are an mgs fan you will love it. If not, then try it anyway, its a very good game. The new open world (ish) setting adds something new and gives way more freedom and choices than previous mgs games.

    On the down side the story is pretty awful and the 'twist' at the end is one of the worst pieces of writing I have ever seen, truly awful. Other than that I'm very pleased with it. 8/10    … Expand
  7. oldsnake4
    Sep 1, 2015
    9
    Just one word to sum this game up. BEAUTIFUL. Its a great game and should be treated as one. Its a mixture of Peace Walker and Ground Zeros. But why isnt Kojima metioned on the box art? Its his game he should have gotten credit for his work not just inside the game
  8. Nathan1963
    Sep 12, 2015
    10
    The best 8th game,a true masterpiece,gameplay easy the best on entire franchise,awesome graphics,in terms of stealth is the best game of all time,this is my GAME OF THE YEAR,but not the best MGS game,for me still MGS Snake Eater.
  9. TEDD95
    Sep 2, 2015
    9
    Kojima and his team have never made a metal gear that doesn't deserve full marks, lovers of the peace walker and MGS3 games would know why this game was crafted as such. So people giving bad ratings should just go back to playing COD or something they are use to or understand. This is a BRILLIANT game and is a fitting title for the series. The things that grab your attention the most isKojima and his team have never made a metal gear that doesn't deserve full marks, lovers of the peace walker and MGS3 games would know why this game was crafted as such. So people giving bad ratings should just go back to playing COD or something they are use to or understand. This is a BRILLIANT game and is a fitting title for the series. The things that grab your attention the most is the dynamic day and night systems and the fluency in movement of the things in the world and the character, this makes the gameplay very smooth. The way open world works in this title is fitting for a stealth/tactical game (this is not GTA nor witcher people). This is most definitely one of the must plays for 2015 and on PS4, for all gamers. Don't let a few negative reviews keep you from playing MGS5… Expand
  10. byateamwithlove
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. the best gamee ever just trust me ...and for those who give that 0/10 is just **** idiots if you want to buy this game buy it and if you dont sure go and watch some gameplay....and trust me you will love this..and haters they saying that storry is bad and and gameplay is **** as hell dont trust them they just cannot accept that the game is perfect classic fanboys who support other game.....… Expand
  11. Shoohart
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    Masterpiece from legend. This is amazing game. Stealth,action,strategy, very fun to play. The best game i've ever played, really. Wonderful game, just GotY.
  12. TheGamer5543
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. There is no other way to say it. Easily the best gameplay in any Metal Gear game, hands down. The graphics are SPECTACULAR, and I played it on Xbox 360. On PS4, the game obviously looks beautiful. Same goes for Xbox One and PC. The story is intriguing.

    I have nothing but good things to say about this game. It is a must own for any platform.
  13. affrogamer
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    This is without a doubt the best in the MGS series and the best stealth game EVER made! I never thought Hideo Kojima could top Snake Eater because of how good that game was and boy was I wrong. Every hardcore game should experience this masterpiece.
  14. akilles95
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    I have played snake eater the game blow my mind, i am not done with the game yet, and skullface is already a bad character like the joker, he is so awesome , the first encounter with skullface and big boss is so epic. and when the skulls just jumps and attacks i give this game 10
  15. dzpixel
    Sep 10, 2015
    10
    MGS V the phantom pain , is simple the Hideo Kojima genius series in an open word version
    the game feature the best of the stealth in a new game play approach
    every thing is so well polished , from animation to sound.
    it's the best game we have seen since year, probably game Of The Year 2010.
    highly recommended !
  16. JKR
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    I've been a fan of this series since 1998 and each iteration has imo brought something new to the table..but with MGSV kojima hasn't just outdone his previous work, he has obliterated it! MGSV is the MGS game I've been dreaming about.
    The Previous MGS games were all really for long time fans of the series. This however appeals to newcomers alike thanks to the new direction kojima took    I've been a fan of this series since 1998 and each iteration has imo brought something new to the table..but with MGSV kojima hasn't just outdone his previous work, he has obliterated it! MGSV is the MGS game I've been dreaming about.
    The Previous MGS games were all really for long time fans of the series. This however appeals to newcomers alike thanks to the new direction kojima took with this entry in the MGS universe. The trademark cut scenes which could span up to an hour in mgs4 are replaced with a great balance between game play and cut-scenes.
    All the people complaining the dead spaces in the game play should really check up on the core principle of MGSV which is TEO(tactical espionage operations), adding towns and civilians to such a game would completely destroy the immersion. So if you're going for this game thinking it's GTA then simply don't buy it, if you're however looking for one of the best gaming experiences in recent time the I highly recommend this!    … Expand
  17. Habachi
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    MGSV is, hands down, the best of the franchise gameplay wise, and a contender for best game all around as well.

    TPP takes a departure from previous titles (bar Peace Walker) in the sense that is no longer a linear, cutscene-plagued game. Cutscenes are less prominent than in previous games (except for the prologue, but it's expected for the introduction to ANY game to have plenty of    MGSV is, hands down, the best of the franchise gameplay wise, and a contender for best game all around as well.

    TPP takes a departure from previous titles (bar Peace Walker) in the sense that is no longer a linear, cutscene-plagued game. Cutscenes are less prominent than in previous games (except for the prologue, but it's expected for the introduction to ANY game to have plenty of cutscenes anyway), and missions are split. This means, no longer games where a single score was given to the whole playthrough. Each mission has it's individual score, and they can be redone if you're not sastified with the result, albeit with a reward reduction (half the GMP [money] reward).

    Main missions have the mandatory objectives to fulfill, and then hidden ones which are optional to complete but add up (either by score, or with personeel/gear). The game grants you total freedom on how to complete them. If the mission says "Eliminate x target", you can fulton him and it'll be fine (as a matter of fact, fultoning is preferrable to killing, as the targets are, more often than not, proficient at their job).

    Then you have side ops. These are missions which don't need to be completed to advance through the storyline, but whose rewards are so great that, in some cases, it's basically impossible to progress without doing them. Also, there are some side ops (tagged in yellow) which are still a must do anyway. Side ops are, imo, way more enjoyable than the main missions, since you have no scoring whatsoever for them, and you can do them the way you want without being punished.

    In terms of freedom, MGSV is a game which, albeit rewarding stealth over action, still allows you go guns blazing and get an S score anyway (happened to me so many times). You can also just explore the vast Afghan world (not to spoil anything, there's more to explore than just Afghanistan), and take on outposts and main bases for new recruits, diamonds (GMP source), vehicles, and resources to build up your motherbase. Random events (sandstorms, rains, etc) will make it easier to infiltrate, but also harder to spot the enemy if you haven't done that beforehand (you can scout enemy positions with your binocs).

    This game has more two unique features, when compared to previous titles; Motherbase, and buddies. While Motherbase isn't precisely a new one (already present in Peace Walker), here it's been reworked extensively. GMP is no longer obtained from recruits, but from sending them to Outer Ops, finding diamons, and doing Side Ops and Main Missions. It won't expand on it's own either; you need to order the construction of new facilities for it to expand, and such demands time, GMP, and resources. Unlike PW, you can also visit your MP, which is actually required because if you're away for too long, your soldiers will miss you and eventually fight amongst each other. While not mandatory to go back, some game events force you do it. You'll want to go anyway for allowing certain things to happen (there's a Main Mission which requires you to go back actually).

    Then, you have the buddy system. Basically, it's a companion which you can bring with you to combat. Only one is avaliable from start, with others being obtainable from certain events (if you don't do them, then you won't get them). They play a big role in helping you, so it's advisable to recruit all of them if possible.

    For story telling, the game largely reduced the cutscenes and replaced the info delivery with cassette tapes (also getting rid of the CODEC this way). I find this to be a god sent as you can listen to the tapes when exploring the world or just wandering around your base, meaning that no time is lost.

    All things considered (with my 30 hours worth of playing so far), this is my final score and pros-cons:

    Pros:

    Excellent Gameplay.

    Great Story (and it's delivery system. Not an overburden of cutscenes).

    Unparalleled customization capability for a MGS game.

    Open world, non-linear experience, with results in basically being different for each player.

    Mother base building (I love management, can be a con. Not too bothersome, just a two-minute browsing every now and then. You can do it while riding your chopper).

    Cons:

    Staff morale mechanics (you have to go and see EVERY SINGLE SOLDIER to raise their morale. When your base gets big, there's no point in doing it. The penalty isn't that bad either way).

    Shower isn't really needed to clean the blood. Just change your outfit and you're set. If the blood and it's cons were intended as a way to make you go back to MB, then it failed miserably.

    PS: Ignore the guy who gave a zero. He only did the prologue and failed miserably. **** gets great (if it didn't already) in mission 1.    … Expand
  18. GrandScale
    Sep 9, 2015
    9
    This review is based off of the 50 hours I've spent with the game. After 50 hours I've only completed 50% of the main story missions. Just goes to show how big this game is. Not to mention, there are a lot of side contents too.

    After a terrific intro the game will slow down a bit. And it takes some time until it picks up again. But once it does, it's getting really good! The missions    This review is based off of the 50 hours I've spent with the game. After 50 hours I've only completed 50% of the main story missions. Just goes to show how big this game is. Not to mention, there are a lot of side contents too.

    After a terrific intro the game will slow down a bit. And it takes some time until it picks up again. But once it does, it's getting really good!

    The missions so far (after some dry ones at the beginning) are really entertaining and are the reason that keeps me playing.

    The core stealth mechanic is rock solid with different flexible options. If you happen to get caught in a hairy situation, you can always call in your chopper for air support to take out the enemies one by one.

    Your buddies are your irreplaceable comrades during missions. Each one will have his benefits and are better suited for certain missions than others. They also give variety to the gameplay.

    And building your mother base is complex enough to keep you entertained.

    The only negative thing so far for me is the narrative, or the lack thereof. The game compromises story with gameplay and flow. Which is fine by me, though I wish it wasn't to this extend.    … Expand
  19. Nick530
    Sep 12, 2015
    10
    One of the best games I have ever played. Easily my GOTY so far. Kojima's last MGS game does not disappoint in any way. This is a must play if you are a MGS fan.
  20. Asellia
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    Absolutely stunning beyond words! I came into this expecting it to be good, but it's.. it's beyond that. Surpassed my expectations of not only this game, but any game in every possible way just about! I am grateful to have gotten the chance to play this!
  21. GPB
    Sep 9, 2015
    10
    I'm a fan of the series since the first MGS on PS1 and I played every single game a LOT. With this one Kojima tried something new and - he succeeded. I found myself a bit disappointed by the story while playing it, the gameplay was always godlike tier in my opinion. Good graphics, good animations, good lighting...In the end, even the story appealed to me and I found myself liking the gameI'm a fan of the series since the first MGS on PS1 and I played every single game a LOT. With this one Kojima tried something new and - he succeeded. I found myself a bit disappointed by the story while playing it, the gameplay was always godlike tier in my opinion. Good graphics, good animations, good lighting...In the end, even the story appealed to me and I found myself liking the game very much. I highly recommend it.… Expand
  22. leviathanarg
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    A master piece.
    Visually stunning.
    Super fun to play.
    Very interesting story.
    Controls are very accurate.
    Nice score, music and voice acting.
    To those all feminazis and white knights complaining for one of the characters being too sexy... please step away and do not try to taint this masterpiece.
  23. ctvLS
    Oct 7, 2015
    9
    After years of polishing the sandbox genre, we finally have a masterpiece. Don't read the reviews, just get it.
    The only low point its the Story, the characters are made from cardboard, and so unidimensional they could sing in parappa the rapper, but honestly, who cares, the world is amazing, the missions are wonderfully made, you don't get pushed around to finish things in a linear way,    After years of polishing the sandbox genre, we finally have a masterpiece. Don't read the reviews, just get it.
    The only low point its the Story, the characters are made from cardboard, and so unidimensional they could sing in parappa the rapper, but honestly, who cares, the world is amazing, the missions are wonderfully made, you don't get pushed around to finish things in a linear way, but story missions unlock more options, which is a great reward to follow the story. Its fun kidnapping enemies and then seeing them in your base. I've played hours and only have 20% done!    … Expand
  24. lander_jrs
    Oct 2, 2015
    10
    Como juego de infiltración es una maravilla. Respecto al cuidado de detalles sobre el "realismo" bastante completo. Ahora bien, la historia puede parecer algo floja, sí que es predecible, pero aún así es cuestión de gustos porque a mí personalmente me ha encantado. Se lo recomiendo a todo aquel que le gusten los MGS y juegos de infiltración y espionaje pero eso sí, no apto para personasComo juego de infiltración es una maravilla. Respecto al cuidado de detalles sobre el "realismo" bastante completo. Ahora bien, la historia puede parecer algo floja, sí que es predecible, pero aún así es cuestión de gustos porque a mí personalmente me ha encantado. Se lo recomiendo a todo aquel que le gusten los MGS y juegos de infiltración y espionaje pero eso sí, no apto para personas con poca paciencia.… Expand
  25. Ajamovic
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    This is the best game in PS4 , thanks Kojima for this Wonderful game as you usual produce, Nice Environment , lot of Missions , the most beautiful Graphic i ever seen,

    love it with all

    Waiting for your next Project , and sure it will be better than MGS
  26. JPRADO
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    There was a few games that can make a perfect score. MGS V: TPP is one of these games.
    Wonderful visual, amazing history, awesome gameplay that give you many ways to play, The soundtrack has been carefully created to the smallest detail.

    The game does not have a single bad critic, in my opinion.
  27. RaidXT
    Sep 12, 2015
    8
    a great game, allot of content gameplay wise.
    but pretty much half the story is missing/cut.
    the game feels incomplete and the missing scenes on the collectors disc proves that.
    still a good game if you want to do some infiltration gameplay and build/manage your motherbase.
  28. LSTF
    Sep 3, 2015
    8
    I've played 20 hours. It is a splendid mixture of PW and GZ. Such varied gameplay what want to replay the missions over and over again. Improvement platforms are at the highest level. No time explain, I have to get back into this game again. ^_^
  29. Vicboss2071
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    A Hideo Kojima Game through and through. With 20 hours in since launch yesterday, i can see already he and the team put in everything they had left to properly send off this series. Don't forget to listen to the tapes for more background on the story and what's going on during the game.

    The characters are so rich and finally being able to walk around motherbase and seeing my recruits is    A Hideo Kojima Game through and through. With 20 hours in since launch yesterday, i can see already he and the team put in everything they had left to properly send off this series. Don't forget to listen to the tapes for more background on the story and what's going on during the game.

    The characters are so rich and finally being able to walk around motherbase and seeing my recruits is just incredible.    … Expand
  30. Playstation_fan
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    Wow, this is just a great game to play, the story isn't up to par with other Metal Gears but i thought it was still enjoyable. The open world aspect of the game opened many ways to play and experiment with different play styles. This game isn't for everyone.
  31. Slash_wisdom
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    The long anticipated MGSV is a nice blend of all 5 MGS titles in one with a new open world freedom to explore and gives you the player the freedom to infiltrate however you like. Big Boss tale of revenge is very fun to see what and how Big Boss became a villain, he's quiet and has a new voice in (Sutherland) when he does speak I personally miss David Hayter but that does not effect theThe long anticipated MGSV is a nice blend of all 5 MGS titles in one with a new open world freedom to explore and gives you the player the freedom to infiltrate however you like. Big Boss tale of revenge is very fun to see what and how Big Boss became a villain, he's quiet and has a new voice in (Sutherland) when he does speak I personally miss David Hayter but that does not effect the game as a whole. This game is hands down the perfect storm to old and new generations of MGS fans and g=gamers alike and has game of the year written all over it. A must buy.… Expand
  32. Nathaniel_Wu
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    The best Metal Gear entry ever, and the best way to close this series.
    Whatever other Metal Gear game Konami will make, this, is the last one to me.
    Long live Hideo Kojima.
  33. HeavyGamer
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    I nver believed in a word perfect, but this game is nearly there.

    This game deserve solid 9.5 to 9.8.. nothing less! I see few trolls here (as always) giving 0 for stupidest reasons such as Those 10percent trolls are always there in every game so you can just ignore them. Most importantly tho. You gotta know your favorite genre. If I compare it to movie person who hates horror    I nver believed in a word perfect, but this game is nearly there.

    This game deserve solid 9.5 to 9.8.. nothing less!
    I see few trolls here (as always) giving 0 for stupidest reasons such as
    Those 10percent trolls are always there in every game so you can just ignore them.

    Most importantly tho. You gotta know your favorite genre.
    If I compare it to movie person who hates horror movie wont like best selling horror movie you know what I mean?

    THis is infintration sneaking game where you have to plan things befor you jump in and take your steps nice and slow, sometimes you just have to hide and wait till situation getts better (day or night, weather effects, patrol time etc) and this type of genre it self can be boring and frustrating to some gamers( especialy those who like fast pace button puncher , those who like to be a hero fighting 10vs 1 in straiggt gun fireing.
    No! This game isnt like that. You can fight them face to face but your mission score will come out poor, the point of the game is to sneak in quietl.

    This game Is consider heavy and seriouse game, deep and complicated, most realistic in action game.
    If you like the games that are opposite of what I mentioned just skip this game.
    BUtif you like stealth game, or something seriouse, by far this game is the best.I    … Expand
  34. Alcoholicorn
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best games I've ever played
    Although there are micros transactions in the game I did not actually realize it until the servers had actually started working for me, up to that point I had already put 20 hours into the game and was enjoying it so much.
    The open world cinematic nature of every moment, the adaptable enemies and their scaling difficulty as the game goes on,    This is one of the best games I've ever played
    Although there are micros transactions in the game I did not actually realize it until the servers had actually started working for me, up to that point I had already put 20 hours into the game and was enjoying it so much.
    The open world cinematic nature of every moment, the adaptable enemies and their scaling difficulty as the game goes on, the dynamic weather to mask my approach, vehicles, innumerable weapons, buddies, camos, customization options, and so on and so on.

    I mean my dog has a knife, he literally has a knife that he reaches for and pulls out of his side to slit people's throat as part of his stealth armor. WAT. Nonsense, but I love it.

    The base building has depth, the stealth has depth, the AI have depth, everything has depth. Kojima may seemed to have strayed from his "roots" but in the end this masterpiece he directed with his extremely talented studio might just as well be what he intended all along for people to enjoy, interpret, decipher, and exploit.    … Expand
  35. Dyscordia
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Metal Gear Solid 5, or should I say Metal Gear Solid V , for me one of the best games and had the pleasure of playing , perfect gameplay and incredible plot that led to a certain superficiality even manages to surprise an a way that nobody expected .

    It's been one of the best experiences playing video games I could enjoy.

    and as to the end that so many criticisms raised only say that I find magnificent , Kojima once again breaks the fourth wall and wow once more . We are big boss , we have helped build his legend , we've been his ghost.    … Expand
  36. MorrisSHM
    Sep 11, 2015
    9
    The game is excellent, has amazing graphics, addictive gameplay and stunning scenes. The game has some minor bugs, but generally I came across with few of them. Can't believe this is the last game to ever come out, I will miss the Metal Gear series.
  37. Pwnographyz
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    I've never ever had a Gameplay like this in any Game ever, the extremely many possibilities u're offered finishing a Mission. This was the first MGS for me, didn't played any others, I've never been gripped that hard into a Story like this one. There are so many 'wait, don't tell me this is poss... THIS IS POSSIBLE?!' moments. Also the hundreds of small details put in the Game gets a smileI've never ever had a Gameplay like this in any Game ever, the extremely many possibilities u're offered finishing a Mission. This was the first MGS for me, didn't played any others, I've never been gripped that hard into a Story like this one. There are so many 'wait, don't tell me this is poss... THIS IS POSSIBLE?!' moments. Also the hundreds of small details put in the Game gets a smile into my face. By far the most fun game I've ever played. 120 hours into currently. 81% Finished.… Expand
  38. RockmasteR
    Nov 5, 2015
    9
    ok, first of all let's get something out of the way, I hate Stealth, I really do, waiting for 10 or 15 minutes just to make a move, is not my favorite thing to do, but here I am, playing MGSV, and oh GOD I'm loving it, the freedom this games gives you to do your missions is what makes this game shines, you can equip yourself with the deadliest weapons enter a base and start a killingok, first of all let's get something out of the way, I hate Stealth, I really do, waiting for 10 or 15 minutes just to make a move, is not my favorite thing to do, but here I am, playing MGSV, and oh GOD I'm loving it, the freedom this games gives you to do your missions is what makes this game shines, you can equip yourself with the deadliest weapons enter a base and start a killing spree, or you can choose a stealthy way and interrogate the enemy to get information and put them to sleep or extract them or even kill them, or you can do both, start stealthy and end in a killing spree, and what I'm talking about here is just missions and did not talked about free roaming which is freedom at its best, so if you are a stealth fan go grab the game, if you are a MGS fan you already grabbed the game, and if you really do hate stealth, try this game before and I think you'll like it and get it just like I did...… Expand
  39. nezj29
    Apr 26, 2016
    10
    This game is amazing point blank period. The attention to detail the replay value the story the side missons this game is the best next gen game period. There is so many different things and ways you can go about playing this game it just blows my mind. And it really puts your brains snd skills to the test. People giving this game average scores do not know a masterpiece if it slapped themThis game is amazing point blank period. The attention to detail the replay value the story the side missons this game is the best next gen game period. There is so many different things and ways you can go about playing this game it just blows my mind. And it really puts your brains snd skills to the test. People giving this game average scores do not know a masterpiece if it slapped them in the face and that is what this game truly is i rarely come on here to score games but this is a stand out and it needs to be treated as such… Expand
  40. joaopontesvaz
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    Graphics: 10 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 10 Fun/Story: 10

    A huge game. Directly to my all time top 10 games, if not top 5... It deserves the number 10 like Ocarina, RE4, Metroid Prime, GTA V or Goldeneye. In my opinion the open world favored this type of game. The infiltration feeling and freedom is near perfection. The guns and the amount of items to develop, missions, side ops, Mother Base,    Graphics: 10 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 10 Fun/Story: 10

    A huge game. Directly to my all time top 10 games, if not top 5... It deserves the number 10 like Ocarina, RE4, Metroid Prime, GTA V or Goldeneye. In my opinion the open world favored this type of game. The infiltration feeling and freedom is near perfection. The guns and the amount of items to develop, missions, side ops, Mother Base, post end missions, partners, ..., give a great dimension and replay value. Thanks H. Kojima.    … Expand
  41. MaximumD
    Dec 1, 2015
    9
    I'll have to say that this game does feel like more of a Metal Gear Spinoff that a true Metal Gear game. However, that's great for me, because my 2 favorite in the series were Peacewalker (the remake for ps3) and MGS3. This game is more along the lines of those two, offering much more freedom than the standard MSG formula of moving through a room and watching a 30 minute cutscene followedI'll have to say that this game does feel like more of a Metal Gear Spinoff that a true Metal Gear game. However, that's great for me, because my 2 favorite in the series were Peacewalker (the remake for ps3) and MGS3. This game is more along the lines of those two, offering much more freedom than the standard MSG formula of moving through a room and watching a 30 minute cutscene followed by a 15 minute codec conversation. Don't get me wrong, all MGS games have been stellar, but I found MGS4 and 2 to be the worst as it offered the most limited gameplay and terribly long cutscenes.

    That being said, for 60$ or less depending on when you get it, the bang for your buck is astounding. Go on missions, free roam, or do side ops while building up your base, with an option to further things with the online portion which is also pretty robust. The story is fleshed out with long casette tape recordings so if you want in on it, play the tapes. Or don't, it's up to you. I love the freedom. After completing about a 2 hour session of missions and free roaming (extracting specialists for my base and scrouging for precious supplies) I sat and listened to a few tapes on the way back to Mother Base to fill in the story a bit. Everything you do in the field has an impact on your base and while the world is a little sparse, it's really all about infiltrating outposts and finding stuff to extract and build your resources. The amount of weapon variations and gadgets is huge and once you start cruising with R&D you won't even know what to do with all the possibilities at hand. Also, having buddies come with you on missions to build trust is also essential and really enhances the gameplay. Any hey, if you don't feel like stealthing it and just want to blow **** up, you can do that too. The controls are as tight as any game I've played on new gen thus far, so you can shoot it out with high caliber weapons if you so desire. Or go ahead and call in that support chopper to rain hell as you sit back and enjoy the view from a hilltop with your horse.

    Gameplay is emergent and things happen that you would not expect. You can do things that seem logical and they work, like shining a flash light at a guard with night vision which will blind them. Leave an unconscious guard on a bed and no one will notice, or they stop and complain that they are lazy, lol. I recently had an incident where I deeply infiltrated a base to extract a specialist, but as I pick him up to carry him out I was spotted. I booked up a cliff under heavy fire I noticed he got clipped a couple of times by his buddies. I thought nothing of it, except that when I tried to extract him out he was dead, lol. That sucks but at least it makes sense. Stuff like this that you don't expect frequently happens during gameplay. For instance, guards can clearly see you from a long distance during the day, but they have rely on spotlights and flashlights at night, so doing missions in the dark is logically much easier. Other times they will shoot flares out in an effort to spot you. Simply put, things feel natural and if you think you can do it, you probably can actually. If you put on green camo, you hide better in tall green grass. Put on the yellow camo and you hide better in the desert. It makes sense and the game doesn't need to explain it to you.

    The one thing that detracts from all this though is the addition of boundaries at certain places. You can climb a cliff as long there is a crack, but sometimes you can't traverse up a 5 foot high stone for instance. It's kind of distracting when it happens. Another thing, for some reason soldiers sometimes act really dumb and I'm wondering if they don't all have there own hidden skill levels. Every once in a while you will see them make some stupid decisions. Also, sneaking around in a box has always been ludicrous, but it's a staple of series at this point but I choose not to use it too much. I guess no game is perfect, but overall gameplay wise this might be the deepest game I've come across yet.

    Tell ya what, if you liked Peacewalker just get the game and you won't regret. The lack of major cutscenes in the game is a little jarring if your a fan of MGS4, but otherwise the game is superb. It's not like there are no cutscenes, it's just that they are not as developed and snake barely says anything in them.

    My one ohter disappointment is that there a clear lack of boss battles like some of the legendary ones in games past. Those were the highlights of previous games but they are almost non-existent here or are completely underwhelming. You won't any find battles like the one against Psycho mantis or The end,etc. So I have to knock the game down a notch to 9 because of that, but hey it's already got plenty of straight 10s    … Expand
  42. MickMiko
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    Como cada Metal Gear es un juego increible, le falta la historia de los demas pero en jugabilidad es la mejor , el mejor juego del año y de muchos años , gracias Lord Kojima
  43. roman_emperor
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    I really love what Hideo Kojima did with this game. He finally gave me the open world I always wanted in a Metal Gear game. The ability to tackle a challenge from any angle is fun. I like how you can gather intel and hope that you didn't miss anything. Surprises can lead to death and constant frustration. The chicken hat is humiliating but fun if you want to get some good in game footage.I really love what Hideo Kojima did with this game. He finally gave me the open world I always wanted in a Metal Gear game. The ability to tackle a challenge from any angle is fun. I like how you can gather intel and hope that you didn't miss anything. Surprises can lead to death and constant frustration. The chicken hat is humiliating but fun if you want to get some good in game footage.

    The game does adapt to your behavior. If the engine begins to notice that you like running mission in the dark, the next time you return to an area, you will find that the enemy is equipped with night vision goggles. If you like running in an going guns blazing, the game will throw heavily armored guys at with shotguns to knock you off your ass. If you like hanging back and sniping. You will find more snipers hanging around. The games mechanics are just so varied. As you progress and unlock new goodies, you change your tactics as wells.

    I'm just patiently waiting for Mother Forward Base Operation and Metal Gear Online. I have a group of friend I will cause mayhem with.    … Expand
  44. Batman2752
    Sep 24, 2015
    10
    I have been with metal gear sense the beginning. So believe me when I tell you this is one of the best metal gear games by far only rivaled by snake eater. This is the best farewell gift Kojima could ever give us!
  45. Blaxpupas
    Mar 16, 2016
    9
    Boss, congratulations! One Metal Gear that strikes with an assom gameplay and open world, but story, performaance... aren't very good but, i just think its assom.
  46. dagoldberg
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    Really an amazing game. By far the best i have played on PS4 so far. Its wacky, has a ton to do, and the story is pretty good too. The game is challenging and i really dont have much to complain about!
  47. Aryandaddy
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    The game is very good with amazing graphics, good voice acting, perfect smart game and enjoyable story. This will probably be the game of the year I enjoyed it even more than the Witcher 3 and Batman Arkham
    Knight!
  48. brandog0
    Sep 1, 2015
    9
    wow, this game has so much content it blows my mind, the graphics are fantastic, and it even has weather affects. I don't know how well the ps3 and 360 versions run but I doubt it looks as pretty as the current gen versions because there is just so much going on at once in this game. Also voice acting is fantastic i mean im one of the few who love/prefer Keifers voice for Big Boss overwow, this game has so much content it blows my mind, the graphics are fantastic, and it even has weather affects. I don't know how well the ps3 and 360 versions run but I doubt it looks as pretty as the current gen versions because there is just so much going on at once in this game. Also voice acting is fantastic i mean im one of the few who love/prefer Keifers voice for Big Boss over Davids even tho David is better when it comes to young boss and solid snake. I havent gotten far story wise but i can already tell this is a 10/10 already and I just beat the prologue. if you're a true metal gear fan, you have to get this game! also its a Hideo Kojima game, just in case you didn't know ;)… Expand
  49. Heavy_Boab
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    A fitting installation to a crazy series. In my opinion they have got the game play right this time. I've always felt MGS was slow with is mechanics and you had to be very methodical with your approach, the more action orientated mechanic really works well and compliments the stealth mechanics nicely.

    Micromanaging your motherbase is a nice way to take a break from all the action. I    A fitting installation to a crazy series. In my opinion they have got the game play right this time. I've always felt MGS was slow with is mechanics and you had to be very methodical with your approach, the more action orientated mechanic really works well and compliments the stealth mechanics nicely.

    Micromanaging your motherbase is a nice way to take a break from all the action. I really enjoy assigning staff to particular roles and sending them out on missions to get more rewards.

    I could say more but I'd be rambling about my love for this game.

    A fitting swan song for Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear.    … Expand
  50. SK747
    Sep 1, 2015
    8
    I got a chance to play and finish this early in my country. The only negative points were pacing issues, some repetition and inconsistencies with gameplay, and not as much development as I'd like for Big Boss. I like the base management and dark themes but I can understand these things aren't for everyone. Other than that it's a fantastic game with great presentation and insane gameplay.I got a chance to play and finish this early in my country. The only negative points were pacing issues, some repetition and inconsistencies with gameplay, and not as much development as I'd like for Big Boss. I like the base management and dark themes but I can understand these things aren't for everyone. Other than that it's a fantastic game with great presentation and insane gameplay. It merges the best stuff from all MGS and improves on all of them.… Expand
  51. mrcollaborator
    Sep 10, 2015
    10
    A fitting ending to the metal gear saga. The gameplay is brilliant. Much more freedom than before. This leads to a story that is a bit more spread out over several missions. But every second of it is enjoyable. Spent an entire week, just getting through the story. Still only at 50%. Worth every penny.
  52. snick
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    Massive, complex, challenging, deep, ambitious and innovative, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is more than a mere video game, it's a life devoted to the medium. A game for the ages.
  53. daytoneous
    Sep 9, 2015
    10
    This game has been receiving quite a bit of hate for the lack of story and the massive change in gameplay. Critics scores are high yet user scores are low. As a self professed huge Metal Gear Solid fan (seriously guys I have every game, as well as put over 500 hours into each) I must say that I was massively excited for this game. I have never been more excited for anything in my life.This game has been receiving quite a bit of hate for the lack of story and the massive change in gameplay. Critics scores are high yet user scores are low. As a self professed huge Metal Gear Solid fan (seriously guys I have every game, as well as put over 500 hours into each) I must say that I was massively excited for this game. I have never been more excited for anything in my life. They day it came out was euphoric for me, I could not believe that the day had finally come where I would not only get another Metal Gear Solid, but the final Metal Gear Solid. I was expecting massive story which would be highly emotional and mind-bending. I was expecting a gigantic world with smooth gameplay, and a game which is overall fun and a masterpiece... and you know what, thats exactly what I got.
    Gameplay
    It goes without saying that the gameplay is the best in the series. This is the only part of the game that everyone agrees on. The game feels so smooth it must be illegal. The shooting from all guns feels firm like a real gun, but light making it easy to shoot. The sneaking feels like you are in your own movie and most of the time the mission will play out like a grand action sequence in a movie where you are the star. Everything ties together and feels magnificent. There isn't much more to say other than, this game is worth it's 60 dollars alone for how fun it is and there is so much content on top of that. I can easily see myself putting hundreds of hours into it. As a final statement on the gameplay, I must say I felt completely in control the entire time. These grand action sequences were on par with something like Uncharted's scenes of grand mayhem and cinematic glory, except, in Metal Gear Solid V, the scenes were because of my choices, and my choices would have to get me out. This is something extraordinary which I have never seen a game do before. Suffice to say gameplay blew me away.
    Story
    This is the controversial one, the one that some people makes or breaks the game. For me, it made it. At first I was very disappointed at how after that glorious opening, the cutscenes calmed down and frankly left me without a story for about 3 hours. I almost hated it for what had happened, I almost gave this game a 7/10, but the game's story started to kick up dust again, and it was glorious. The games story really start to rank up at the end of the first part of Afghanistan, most people say there are less cutscenes and subsequently less story, but this is simply not true. If you look at the amount of cutscenes altogether, its the same as something like MGS 3 but just more spread out since the game is longer, and the story is not told as much through cutscenes (which are beautiful by the way) and more through audio peaces after missions telling you what happened and cassette tapes which give that famous MGS dialogue and deliver gut punching revelations. Some people think this was a stupid way of doing but I disagree. Yes I miss the extremely cinematic cutscenes but this new way of doing it makes it so if you don't like cutscenes and are new to the MGS franchise, you are not burdened with a huge amount of them, and the cassette tapes can be listened to while on long horseback rides giving you insight into the story while you ride. And the twist, oh the twist, it is game changing and it will make you scratch your head while you ponder it.
    Tone
    The tone is extremely dark while keeping that signature Metal Gear silliness. It as always, handles heavy topics like child soldiers with grace. Sometimes the more serious moments make the silly moments seem a little to silly but this is the case with every Metal Gear game.
    Conclusion
    The game is presented very cleanly and feels and looks incredible if any game deserves praise it is this one. This game is incredible in every way and deserves your money.
    10/10    … Expand
  54. KJosey
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    Figured this game was going to be a little polarizing with the open world aspect and the reduction of cut scenes...me included in that. However, I've spent over 50 hours with this game so far. I'm tired. My eyes hurt. My hands are near deformity. Yet, I still want to play more. The game play is unbelievable, the amount of REAL content is fantastic (not running around opening randomFigured this game was going to be a little polarizing with the open world aspect and the reduction of cut scenes...me included in that. However, I've spent over 50 hours with this game so far. I'm tired. My eyes hurt. My hands are near deformity. Yet, I still want to play more. The game play is unbelievable, the amount of REAL content is fantastic (not running around opening random treasure chests or "animus" fragments), the visuals are impressive...I could go on and on.

    The low scores are from idiots. It's that simple. If you're not a Metal Gear fan, you might not get the inside jokes and the peculiar oddities that crop up during the game, but I highly recommend this game to anyone with the cash to afford it. You can adjust practically any setting to make your play-through as easy or as difficult as you want and you can replay your missions over and over at any point (The Witcher 3 could learn from this) to improve your score, find all the goodies, and get that S-rank.

    I can't tell you if the story is good or not. This is a story that has been continuing for almost 30 years. You can accept the great parts with the cheesy parts or not. I will say that I enjoyed the story in this game better than any other MGS game, except maybe MGS1 (and I think that's due to nostalgia more than anything). The voice acting is absolutely terrific all around.

    PRO TIP: Turn off the camera shake under options. I was seriously getting a headache from it and it's my only true complaint.

    Seriously, play this game. Then send me hate mail because you spent money buying other Metal Gear games because I got hooked on the series. Happy gaming.    … Expand
  55. thegadfly44
    Sep 26, 2015
    9
    I had to scale my initial review back a bit. This game is absolutely amazing, worth every penny of 60 bucks. the graphics are awesome, it's a lot of fun to play, the story is engaging it's just about perfect.

    The reason I had to scale my initial review of a 10 out of 10 back is because of the repeated story missions. They literally force you to replay missions you've already beat at    I had to scale my initial review back a bit. This game is absolutely amazing, worth every penny of 60 bucks. the graphics are awesome, it's a lot of fun to play, the story is engaging it's just about perfect.

    The reason I had to scale my initial review of a 10 out of 10 back is because of the repeated story missions. They literally force you to replay missions you've already beat at harder difficulties to progress. This was a really dumb design choice and I have no idea what Kojima was thinking. What they should have done instead is just allowed you to go back and replay those missions on harder difficulties if you wanted to. With the way it is this was an obvious ploy to extend the amount of missions available and pad out game time. Something that wasn't even needed as the game without these "extra" missions would have been amazing anyway.    … Expand
  56. GiftofGab
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    I've put somewhere in the ballpark of 15-20 hours into this game and my initial reaction is that this is the GOTY so far. Hands down.

    Pros: -Finally a game that doesn't treat players like idiots and allows the player to attack any sort of situation as they choose. Want to play it like a traditional MGS game and stealthily accomplish the mission? Check. Want to aggressively charge into    I've put somewhere in the ballpark of 15-20 hours into this game and my initial reaction is that this is the GOTY so far. Hands down.

    Pros:
    -Finally a game that doesn't treat players like idiots and allows the player to attack any sort of situation as they choose. Want to play it like a traditional MGS game and stealthily accomplish the mission? Check. Want to aggressively charge into a base and cause mayhem? Check.
    -Buddy system adds an additional dynamic to fit most players play styles.
    -The most visually stunning game to release on the PS4 so far.
    -Large open world with an abundance of side quests and main story missions
    -In depth base expansion, staff management, and weapon development.
    -Smooth framerate with no drops

    Cons:
    -While the enemy AI is mostly spot on, there are a few instances in which they will blindly walk feet from your position and at the very worst will pause and get closer to see if they can find you.
    -The overall story is very good, but can be overwhelming/disjointed for people who are new to the series.

    All in all, this is an absolute must buy as it could very well be one of the best open world games to come out in a long, long time.    … Expand
  57. Ynja
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    Kojima kept me waiting, huh?

    But in the end, it was worth the while. I've never been so hyped to a game since GTA V and TLOU.

    I thank him for this masterpiece.
  58. JustinTheDivine
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    Konami can delete Kojima off the boxart, but they can't delete me. A Hideo Kojima Game. A Hideo Kojima Game. Rip off Kagemasa's arm so he can feel The Phantom Pain. A Hideo Kojima Game. A Hideo Kojima Game. Written by Hideo Kojima, directed by Hideo Kojima, produced by Hideo Kojima, loved by Hideo Kojima. And it's also the greatest game of all time.
  59. chescone
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    This is the best game of the last 5 years. it's a Masterpiece by a real craftsman, Hideo Kojima. Don't pay attention the the bad reviews from users, there is a review from a guy who didn't even get past the prologue.
    This is the most freedom you'll ever get in a video game. No other open world is like this. You can DO whatever you want to get the mission done. It's Amazing. Plus, you get    This is the best game of the last 5 years. it's a Masterpiece by a real craftsman, Hideo Kojima. Don't pay attention the the bad reviews from users, there is a review from a guy who didn't even get past the prologue.
    This is the most freedom you'll ever get in a video game. No other open world is like this. You can DO whatever you want to get the mission done. It's Amazing. Plus, you get to play Hideo Kojima's farewell to his greatest creation. Metal Gear Solid.    … Expand
  60. JJota
    Sep 29, 2015
    10
    The best game of this generation, and other masterpiece of the Master or Samurai Hideo Kojima...all the charisma and elements of the visionary producer are intact here, in your last game for Konami. Almost perfect, and serious candidate for the GOTY...on side of Batman Arkham Knight, of course.
  61. AhmadAlsumain
    Nov 14, 2015
    10
    This is everything you would want in a metal gear game. Plus more. The only complaints I have about this is the lack of epic moments and long cutscenes.
  62. apoe
    Sep 9, 2015
    9
    Good:

    Amazing voice acting, characters, and story. Probably has the best intro section to a game I've ever seen. Very satisfying shooting mechanics that greatly rewards careful aim and headshots. Enemies do not feel dumb, and will do things like check your last known position or try to smoke you out with mortar fire. Enemies do not feel like they can see you through walls.    Good:

    Amazing voice acting, characters, and story.

    Probably has the best intro section to a game I've ever seen.

    Very satisfying shooting mechanics that greatly rewards careful aim and headshots.

    Enemies do not feel dumb, and will do things like check your last known position or try to smoke you out with mortar fire. Enemies do not feel like they can see you through walls.

    Stealth is reliable, but you can also play rambo mode if you have good aim.

    Bad:

    Many things feel needlessly inconvenient. For example, your helicopter will take off right as you land on Motherbase, so you end up needing to call it back 20 seconds later when you want to leave Motherbase. Why doesn't the helicopter just stay landed until I want to leave?

    An option to manually save would have been nice, sometimes you forget when the last autosave happens so you are scared to exit the game and lose progress.

    Usage requirements are annoying and kind of ridiculous. For example, lvl 3 helicopter costs ~16 times more money to call down than the lvl1 helicopter, even though they do the same thing.

    A lot of the missions feel repetitive. Many of them are "kill this target at this outpost" or "rescue these prisoners at this outpost" with a few lines of story dialogue added in. Since it's an open world game, there will be more filler content than previous linear MGS games.    … Expand
  63. SShiekh11
    Sep 11, 2015
    10
    A wonderful experience with all the bad things in the previous Metal Gear games have been changed to the best , Thanks to the amazing FOX engine......................................................................................................................
  64. FRAge
    Sep 12, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee is great.… Expand
  65. siscobueno
    Sep 15, 2015
    10
    Without writing a full review I will say: I don't know if this game is actually a 10/10 but its a great game. Kojima is a man that takes risks and is successful because of it. For everyone saying the game is "too repetitive" its no different than previous games in the series. Whether its "extract this guy" or "make contact with this guy" its the same thing. The difference being thatWithout writing a full review I will say: I don't know if this game is actually a 10/10 but its a great game. Kojima is a man that takes risks and is successful because of it. For everyone saying the game is "too repetitive" its no different than previous games in the series. Whether its "extract this guy" or "make contact with this guy" its the same thing. The difference being that you are progressively infiltrating newer and tougher bases as you advance in the storyline. So in that sense its not repetitive at all.

    The game did lose me on the story which is very unfortunate since before this game I only played MGS for the storyline. Its what captivated me and kept me with the series for almost 20 years now. Never the gameplay. MGSV has me clocked in at over a 120 hours so far and I really enjoy this game. Its online functionality with the FOBs is a good addition to prolong the experience. And with MGO3 around the corner it can only get better. I was upset the story didn't live up to previous MGS titles but its easy to gain an appreciation for the individual cutscenes in the game due to their direction and cinematography and just how cool they look in general. The melodrama is still there. I think the pacing was off. Too little story. And I found myself not caring for any of the characters, including the ones we're known from before (Ocelot, Miller, etc.) I also really disliked the twist.

    I think the biggest issue I have with the story is that it felt like all the trailers leading up to the game painted a very different image than what we ultimately got. Every trailer was edited in a way to imply that Big Boss is going through a difficult time and ultimately this breaks him. You saw tension in the trailers (and in the game) between him and Miller but ultimately that amounted to nil. The twist at the end was bleh...I had to use hypnotic suggestion to forget it completely (thanks Ocelot).

    I guess not the grandeur of MGS storytelling we've come to expect but all in all its alright. Which is very unfortunate. But story aside, the game is awesome and there is plenty of gameplay there. I look forward to Kojima's next game because its obvious he's had enough writing about the MGS universe.    … Expand
  66. Xandercell
    Sep 15, 2015
    10
    A masterpiece, the best looking game on the PS4, very polished high quality presentation to go along with smooth and incredible gameplay and an immense amount of content that will have you playing for hours, each mission can be played to your style whether its being stealthy or going in loud with guns blazing.

    The story is good and engaging that features one of the best prologues that i    A masterpiece, the best looking game on the PS4, very polished high quality presentation to go along with smooth and incredible gameplay and an immense amount of content that will have you playing for hours, each mission can be played to your style whether its being stealthy or going in loud with guns blazing.

    The story is good and engaging that features one of the best prologues that i have ever played, great soundtrack and voice acting, you can also unlock items, weapons and customize them to your liking with a robust customization system.

    The game isn't perfect but it is an incredible achievement in gaming, an instant classic that shouldn't be missed.    … Expand
  67. JCH
    Sep 16, 2015
    10
    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain delivers on every level, amazing graphics, excellent gameplay and a killer soundtrack. Do not miss out on this one! 10/10
  68. RoddyRigo
    Sep 16, 2015
    10
    First Off let me start off this Review by saying I am A Huge MGS Fan but I do not limit myself to saying that all the games in the series have flaws. Just as any game does. So I'm be afraid to sport some in this.

    MGSV: The Phantom Pain is easily my favorite Metal Gear Solid, and that's a hard **** statement to make Because I played MGS 4 and MGS 3 multiple times over just to experience    First Off let me start off this Review by saying I am A Huge MGS Fan but I do not limit myself to saying that all the games in the series have flaws. Just as any game does. So I'm be afraid to sport some in this.

    MGSV: The Phantom Pain is easily my favorite Metal Gear Solid, and that's a hard **** statement to make Because I played MGS 4 and MGS 3 multiple times over just to experience them again. What makes it great? Beautiful graphics, Great Characters and Voice acting, Very in depth gameplay and so so so so much to do. All without the inclusion of the Online mode, which based off other games, will be equally as fun and addicting.

    Story - I love everything about MGS Storylines. The humor, the serious notions, the way it plays into real life history and puts it's own spin on it. It's all very clever and intriguing. You can't knock MGS for going over the top every now and then because hey, that's Kojima for you, he's weird. And lets be honest, most games coming out of Japan have a very weird characteristics, so seeing mechs in 1984 is actually pretty damn tame. Everything making a kojima game is all there, the overlaying themes, the question raisers, emotional moments, there's hardly anything you won't love SLIGHT "IMPACT" SPOILER STOP READING IF YOU WANT TO AVOID. I won't spoil anything too much, but something within the story occurs as a big twist MGS games are all known for, and it will either make you say "wow that was ballsy" and blow your mind or completely make you go What the **** that's so dumb. If you've seen the trailers you already have a slight idea, and early on you get a hell of a lot of moments making you say "could it be...?" If you beat the game you know what I'm on about. Overall I PERSONALLY loved the story, and understand some fans complaints but it's really being picky in all honesty, but I would've loved the long cutscenes MGS is known for. Created a void for me personally, but you get those cutscenes in the form of casette tapes ala Peace walker, that you listen to in order to fill in story gaps you have questions for. Something too many people overlook and ruin their experience with.

    Gameplay - THE BEST, YES THE BEST I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF PLAYING. Why? Because I can do things in so many different ways, I actually get overwhelmed in thinking what to do. Here, is where SO **** MANY PEOPLE, and getting wrong with this game. All the negative opinions I've seen that aren't just **** idiots being trolls or just being idiots, are underwhelming every aspect of the gameplay. Either they just go in full stealth with no variety, or guns blazing, and leave it at that. And yes, you can boil it down to that, but there so many ways for you to go about it, so many entry points and manners of infiltration that had me thinking "well night-time would be better because these guards will be asleep, but then I can't see the most important ones unless I choose quiet to scout, but then I lose the mobility of D-horse, or D-walker's ability to.." That's what I mean. There's so many layers to combat, and everything, down to day and night, weather patterns, Guard Patrol Patters, Truck arrival times, Guard meetups, Guard shifts, **** even the position of their HEAD matters. Everything is purposeful and every weapon and tactic you employ is rewarding when done right, and even if things don't go to plan it's a **** joy to get out of a sticky situation. Cons? Well the "open world" is more like a big sandbox to go and tackle certain guard posts. There's NO civilian life whatsoever, which makes the world feel dead and barren at times. It is a big flaw but in fairness, it's a desert and jungle War-zones, so you don't expect to see civilians, but it would've been nice to have in there and could've added to gameplay. Enemies at the start are stupidly easy, but that's to get you used to the game and mechanics, and they quickly ramp up their difficulty after the first "tutorial" modes.

    Graphics + Sound - The game is downright gorgeous to look at. With some slightly low res textures in some areas that were understandable, almost everything comes out crisp and looking great, with great, and I mean GREAT draw distance for console games, and looks **** awesome on PC. The lighting, the character models, the animations, the weapon detail, the designs of EVERYTHING are so well done. Admittedly some of the enemies may have repeats in design in the same area, but there's enough variety, and really, what more can you do with enemy types, this isn't a world like The Witcher or Elder Scrolls. Sound as well was incredible. with noise being a key factor to finding out certain things in the environment and how enemies react towards your actions. the voice acting is great. If you're unfamiliar to MGS games, the anime at times sounding voice work will come off forced or over the top but that's nothing new to MGS. You learn to love it.

    GOTY. Fallout 4 may come close, but this is my favorite game. EVER    … Expand
  69. Thanosoftitan
    Sep 28, 2015
    10
    Not sure what all of the cynicism is about, but I am really enjoying this game. I feel like I've done so much, but yet I'm only at 17% complete. This is great game to me.
  70. Preidon
    Oct 30, 2015
    10
    Best game ever released in the world, I **** love it and you willl love it too,stop reading and go buy it you lazy butt, easiliy better than fallout 4.
  71. TheTrurth
    May 11, 2016
    9
    As you walk around in this gorgeous open world in the 1980's you find yourself hiding in a box packing enough heat to blow up a 60 ton tank. Enough said.
  72. Bilbur
    Sep 1, 2015
    9
    Been playing this on PS4 all today and yesterday thanks to ShopTo, so here's my two pennies worth for what it's worth.

    After the confusing, slow paced and overly long intro, I'm settling into the gameplay and it really is sumptuous. I'm a real stickler for realistic horses in games and the horse here is very well done. In fact, in many ways it feels a lot like the horse from SotC,    Been playing this on PS4 all today and yesterday thanks to ShopTo, so here's my two pennies worth for what it's worth.

    After the confusing, slow paced and overly long intro, I'm settling into the gameplay and it really is sumptuous. I'm a real stickler for realistic horses in games and the horse here is very well done. In fact, in many ways it feels a lot like the horse from SotC, especially when you break off into a gallop and the wind rushes by your ears.

    The desert tundra filled with rocky escarpments is brilliantly realised, with a dazzling array of gameplay choices on offer. The controls feel tight, if a little bit janky with a couple of strange button choices and not really much customisation options (typical MGS fare, I guess, but it's a bit jarring after playing other slick third person games like TLoU). But it's the gameplay that's key here and it's got bucket-loads. It's just so much fun sizing up camps and outposts from the hills then sneaking in to steal gear, materials and personnel to send back to Motherbase for development. This element is superb, and easily as fun as base management in X-COM E.U. The sheer array of available research projects and upgrades is incredible and being able to physically watch the base expand and develop is highly satisfying. This is where the game actually races ahead of it's peers. Not only are we dealing with an almost open world here, with a similar level of mechanics to the very best third person games, but we're also getting a giant metagame on top which feeds into the experience in the form of Motherbase. The fact that this game performs at a rock solid 60fps on consoles is the cherry on the top and is almost mystical. To my mind, it really does set the bar very high for current gen.

    Personally, I absolutely loved Peace Walker and I disagree that tPP is totally unlike any other MGS game. For me, it feels like a very natural progression from PW. I know lots of people disliked PW for it's deviation from many MGS tropes. If you did, then don't just write-off tPP. It's much meatier in the gameplay dept and the corridor missions have been replaced with these vast open zones with total freedom and endless options. I particularly like the fact that you are part conservationist too, it actually made me chuckle with glee.

    I don't love MGS games for their story arc, however, and for me it's the weakest element of the series. I just think the characters and story haven't matured enough to keep pace with the progression of game mechanics and the entertainment industry as a whole (let alone those fans that have grown up with the series like me). When put in the context of some other games, films and box sets out there (ahem 24), I thought the beginning sequence in tPP felt positively low budget (albeit very shiny and good looking). It's a shame, because it sets things up in poor stead (in my opinion) and I feel many discerning gamers will just write it off as bollocks and send it to the swap-shop. There IS a damn fine game here buried underneath the waffle and quirky nonsense. I personally feel the series is moving in the right direction by altering the way in which the story takes centre stage, often at the cost of gameplay. If it was better written and easier to actually follow, I may feel differently.

    Snake is a great character, but the length and breadth of the military-industrialised nature of the series feels seriously at odds with many of the characters, especially when they start referring to one-another in gravelled action-movie voices as 'Rough Diamond Dogs' and 'Big Boss'. It just comes across as crass and poorly written and doesn't serve well to pastiche those 80's action movies as it would so like to. And for god's sake let me skip a cut scene if I choose, at the very least on the second visit to it. Jesus.

    That's my opinion, anyway, which I'm sure will rub up heavily against many stalwart fans, but know that I am a huge fan of MGS also. I just don't think it reached it's full potential in terms of vision. Do buy this game though. Just like playing around in Los Santos, at the very least it's a tour de force of what highly skilled programmers are capable of. At it's very best it's a superb lone-ranger military stealth game.    … Expand
  73. lukszu
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    This game is a masterpiece, from technical point of view through gameplay, story and visuals. Enjoying every minute of playing as Big Boss again. GOTY 2015
  74. Boss-Mc
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    Hideo Kojima Game, NUff said, amazing truly a master piece!'

    Its amazing in every aspect, buddy, equipments, own mother base, own mercenary army, vehicles, items and all, i never wanted to buy ps4, but when this came i just had to get Phantom Pain edition of ps4 superb quality game, and truly worth the money!
  75. Obiwanmark
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was the first Metal Gear game I've played, and it is one of, if not the best game I've played this generation. Game play is spot on, brilliant mechanics, great sound track and a great story with! Wasn't a fan of the true ending, and also thought the missions which you replay under certain circumstances post 30 were a bit cheap, however, this in no way hinders this game being a masterpiece.… Expand
  76. OutlawTX
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    I've played a lot...I'm talkin A LOT of friggin games. I've been an avid gamer since the days of Legend of Zelda, Metroid and FF1 on Nintendo. Hell I even had an Atari 2600 and Intellivision before that. That being said, This game is one of the most amazing games I've played. Period. I've got around 60 hours into it and am only at 50% completion. I can already see that I'll still beI've played a lot...I'm talkin A LOT of friggin games. I've been an avid gamer since the days of Legend of Zelda, Metroid and FF1 on Nintendo. Hell I even had an Atari 2600 and Intellivision before that. That being said, This game is one of the most amazing games I've played. Period. I've got around 60 hours into it and am only at 50% completion. I can already see that I'll still be playing after 100%. Congrats to Kojima and his crew. They made a masterpiece, all while, fighting Konami every step of the way. That fight paid off.… Expand
  77. Kraliestgamer
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    pretty phenomenal game, great sendoff to the metal gear series that while staying true to the rest of the games manages to feel completely different, a lot more serious than the previous games and that works out well in the end. easily my game of the year
  78. Cstriker01
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    One of the best entries in the MGS series. Very impressive, and the new mechanics are a natural evolution of the tactical stealth genre that MGS help establish. It is too bad that this is Kojima's last title with MGS as I would love to see where he would go next.

    The Good: Graphical fidelity is fantastic with great skyboxes and vistas. Some buildings can look bland, but this is far and    One of the best entries in the MGS series. Very impressive, and the new mechanics are a natural evolution of the tactical stealth genre that MGS help establish. It is too bad that this is Kojima's last title with MGS as I would love to see where he would go next.

    The Good: Graphical fidelity is fantastic with great skyboxes and vistas. Some buildings can look bland, but this is far and few between. The use of lighting plays a huge role with the detection system and enemy vision cones (which is no longer visible), coupled with a camo system and noise system creates a nice marriage of mechanics to make sneaking more natural. Enemies do have patrol patterns, but they are a little less predictable, but patterns are there. The base building metagame is AWESOME, I enjoy it and it makes you feel apart of a PMC and the MGS universe, it makes your base feel like a base and alive. Story is interesting but a little light, not a bad thing as I believe the gameplay more then makes up for this. Solid shooting mechanics and a great buddy, weapon, helicopter customization system.

    Bad: Not a lot really but there are a few points. The open world is great, but as a first foray into open world, you can feel it. Not a lot of wild life and zero civilians to engage with. But there is TONS to do so this doesn't hamper things.

    Motherbase, the base building aspect...none of the facilities are enterable. This sucked, I totally wanted to enter the buildings I was pumping resources into!

    Solid 10/10. GOTY contender indeed.    … Expand
  79. Kawai
    Sep 7, 2015
    9
    Finally.
    An amazing must-have game for next-gen.
    Rare to see a game that's NOT over-hyped & then NOT pushed out the doors early.
    They took their sweet time. And they nailed it on the head.
    WIN!
    (and i've only ever played Snake Eater & the prequel last year (didn't care much for it)
    This game, however, is a solid bet for GotY.
    -Only giving a 9 because nothing is perfect. :)
  80. Dat_One_Critic
    Sep 7, 2015
    8
    I am having mixed feelings. Gameplay is by far amazing. Graphics are awesome. And me being new to the series i thought the story was fun, thrilling and amazing. But the ending. The ending felt like Destiny. To finish the cliffhanger of the story it seems like your going to have to pay for the rest of the story.
    Story 8/10
    Graphics 8/10
    Gameplay 9/10
  81. Akanes
    Sep 9, 2015
    8
    'Metal Gear Solid V - The Phantom Pain' has some of the most enjoyable and notable gameplay in any game of the past few years, and Kojima's clear dedication to the gameplay in this one is very obvious. Yes surprisingly the story in this MGS installment takes a bit more of a backseat to the gameplay and provides the most deep and intricate stealth mechanics the entire series has seen.'Metal Gear Solid V - The Phantom Pain' has some of the most enjoyable and notable gameplay in any game of the past few years, and Kojima's clear dedication to the gameplay in this one is very obvious. Yes surprisingly the story in this MGS installment takes a bit more of a backseat to the gameplay and provides the most deep and intricate stealth mechanics the entire series has seen. Coupled with the smooth and clever gameplay is the integration of Motherbase, a system seen in 'Metal Gear Solid - Peacewalker'. However unlike MSF, Diamond Dogs' Motherbase is something I found far more compelling and useful. It was also something I found a lot more real in this installment, as you can visit and traverse along it. Unfortunately there isn't really a lot to see on Motherbase so most of the time you'll probably be there to shower copious amounts of blood from your body.

    Along with Motherbase is the new FOB system which uses online server connection to allow you to build another base for more resources and the ability to invade and steal other players' spoils. The invasion system is certainly a fun one but it really gets put down by the inconsistency of the servers and the integration of a free to play economy with microtransactions in an already full retail price game. The servers also affect the loading speed of the single player campaign which basically leads to the online servers being more of a detriment than anything.

    The story of 'The Phantom Pain' is definitely lacking in a lot of areas and a lot of times led me to believe there should be more where there is little. It also suffers from pacing issues, which is not uncommon for an open world game to have and it makes some of the game feel a little sparse in terms of plot. The story is generally pretty good but really if anything had more potential than it utilized.

    Gameplay has felt smoother than ever and with a pretty consistent frame rate of 60fps and striking 1080p resolution, it really is quite a beautiful game to play. The character animations feel incredibly refined and the core mechanics of the game are the smoothest they've ever been. However there are moments where sometimes terrain is unnecessarily difficult to traverse and small slopes will leave Big Boss, one of the best soldiers known to man, struggling and sliding back down. This may sound nit picky but it has actually gotten me spotted a few times and really looks ridiculous when it occurs frequently.

    The new buddy system is something I rather enjoy in the game and can allow up to 4 options for a partner, with D-Horse for traversal, D-Dog for scouting and attacking, Quiet for sniping and D-Walker.. who I'll be frank never particularly came of use to me but it's pretty cool. I will address the elephant in the room which is Quiet's attire and honestly I really don't like how exploitative the game treats her, and the reason for her look really doesn't justify why she is dressed like that at all and appears as more of a second thought of her character than the initial idea. Her actual personality and character is truly brilliant which makes it even more disappointing that she is portrayed in an incredibly objectified manner. (Thankfully you can purchase and develop clothes for her later on so there's something at least.)

    Overall I'd say 'The Phantom Pain' is the best game I've played this year and is a great addition to the series. It has a few flaws but overall puts on a fantastic performance.

    Pros:
    Excellent Gameplay
    Superb Visual Fidelity and Performance
    Interesting plot ideas
    Tons of content

    Cons:
    A lacking conclusion
    Microtransactions
    Disappointing female representation
    Bad online services    … Expand
  82. CiphirSol
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    Welcome to the new generation of gaming. This is the 1st and best example of a next gen title I have seen so far. Hopefully more games learn from this one and take us even further!
  83. Kawsgard
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    Think of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain like that epic finale to a series that marked generations.
    It's like Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
    It's something to see and review. In this case, play and "replay".
    Enjoy the animations, play the whole story, do sidequests.
    It's not every day that we have a masterpiece of games like this.
  84. TwistedSmitty
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    Excellent game, not as good as MGS4 in my opinion but a great delivery by Kojima. I find it offensive that some users are giving it a bad grade (as low as 0), not liking it is something, saying it is a bad game is very different.
  85. Rodrigogeiger
    Sep 21, 2015
    10
    The best game ever--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  86. KokeFunky
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    Una obra maestra con todas sus letras. El titulo te ofrece un nivel de inmersion altisimo, probablemente uno de los mejores en la historia en este aspecto. Un mundo hermoso y misiones muy epicas. El sistema jugable es solido y la inteligencia artificial de los enemigos es lo mejor que tiene actualmente la industria.
  87. GumBoy
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    This is the most perfectly crafted game I've probably ever seen and obviously the best MGS installment. I feel sorry for people that didn't play all the previous MGS games, because they will not be able to fully enjoy and appreciate this one. Nevertheless it's still worth giving a try if it's your first approach to Metal ear universum. For fans like me, it's just a masterpiece andThis is the most perfectly crafted game I've probably ever seen and obviously the best MGS installment. I feel sorry for people that didn't play all the previous MGS games, because they will not be able to fully enjoy and appreciate this one. Nevertheless it's still worth giving a try if it's your first approach to Metal ear universum. For fans like me, it's just a masterpiece and obviously must-have. One of the greatest birthday gifts I've ever received. Thank you Kojima San… Expand
  88. jakeman25
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    "Kept you waiting huh?"... These words at the beginning of Ground Zeroes marks the beginning of an epic game, that is MGS V - The Phantom Pain. Not only is it one of the best mgs games ever made, but to me its also one of the best games ever made. The game play is flawless, the graphics beautiful, the story is great though you gotta invest some serious time in it. Big boss is one of my"Kept you waiting huh?"... These words at the beginning of Ground Zeroes marks the beginning of an epic game, that is MGS V - The Phantom Pain. Not only is it one of the best mgs games ever made, but to me its also one of the best games ever made. The game play is flawless, the graphics beautiful, the story is great though you gotta invest some serious time in it. Big boss is one of my favorite characters and if this is the last mgs game with Hideo Kojima... then sir "I Salute You!" Thank-you for this awesome series I got to grow up with!… Expand
  89. Decaido
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    The best experience is in the Playstation 4, look for this game for a long time and indeed this note 10, is on gameplay, storyline and more, must-buy!!
  90. Ossy_King_99
    Sep 2, 2015
    8
    Absolutely amazing, A true Hideo Kojima game.
    Please take my advice and ignore the user reviews, haters are spamming negative reviews and are probably making extra accounts to give this game a lower rating.
    Phantom Pain is easily 10/10 material.
    A MUST OWN.
    If you don't have this in your collection then you should be ashamed of yourself!
  91. OwnagePS3
    Sep 10, 2015
    10
    MGSVTPP has finally come and I can definitely say it was worth the wait , this game is a marvellous example of how to make a good game and it surpasses almost all of the games that have come this year . While the game is troubled by a not so great second part of the game ( when you reach Africa ) it's still fun enough to guarantee a purchase , Afghanistan is the thief of the show with aMGSVTPP has finally come and I can definitely say it was worth the wait , this game is a marvellous example of how to make a good game and it surpasses almost all of the games that have come this year . While the game is troubled by a not so great second part of the game ( when you reach Africa ) it's still fun enough to guarantee a purchase , Afghanistan is the thief of the show with a great opening in Cyprus leading into the war torn Afghanistan where Russia is fighting the Muhajideen , it's a good way to begin the game . Once you get your own Mother Base things get a lot more interesting but as I said once you reach Africa it dials back down a little . The gameplay is probably the best part of this game , the stealth is extremely fun and even going in guns blazing Is surprisingly fun for a game based on stealth . I loved the buddy system and being able to level up you partner , my favourite being Quiet as she can scout a base and inform you where all the important items are ( enemies , prisoners , turrets etc. ) . The Graphics are also phenomenal , it's a beautiful version of the Fox Engine and I wouldn't want the graphics any other way . Overall this is a fantastic experience that at the same time has a lot of flaws , you might be wondering why I didn't lower the score even though I had some major complaints and the simple answer is , everything else in the game is done so well the flaws are surpassed and forgotten , this game is a straight 10/10 with a fantastic everything besides as I said the few flaws .… Expand
  92. WilChurch103
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    In a gaming generation where games are normally sequels that are parallel the games before it, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain proves that old dogs can learn new tricks. As a longtime fan of the Metal Gear Solid franchise I have spent the past 3-4 years tracking the development of this game and hearing almost every news article to come out. Having waited that long, when I finally gotIn a gaming generation where games are normally sequels that are parallel the games before it, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain proves that old dogs can learn new tricks. As a longtime fan of the Metal Gear Solid franchise I have spent the past 3-4 years tracking the development of this game and hearing almost every news article to come out. Having waited that long, when I finally got my hands on the game I took my expectation and set the bar really high. From the very beginning mission the game has a deep deep feel for situational discomfort, you aren't comfortable with that's happening, but this is done in a way that both excites you and scares you. You don't want to run into an enemy base but you also wonder if there are any diamonds there so you can create a larger Mother Base. It's things like this that really make the game shine as a stealth simulation, an experience where you actually feel like you are infiltrating something much larger than yourself.

    What would a Metal Gear Solid game be without it's story? Although at the time I am writing this review I have yet to complete the story, I have already seen how this story is structured and polished. Some chapters don't matter as much as others, but they all play a role in where the story is going. Even some of the side ops that aren't part of the main story hold important answers to questions created from previous games, and some give the player a fun experience that differs from the main story. Along with this incredible story comes the character's that drive them. Big Boss isn't the soldier he used to be, Kaz Miller isn't the agent he was in 1975, and Ocelot is definitely not the same as in Snake Eater. Each of these characters play an important role in where this story goes and why this story is happening. With this characters come the voice actors. When I first heard that Kiefer Sutherland would be taking the place as Big Boss I was a bit skeptical, but after having player 15+ hours of this game I can see exactly why he was chosen. Troy Baker and Robin Atkin Downes both give powerful and emotional performances as Ocelot and Miller, and both actors put just as much, if not more, raw emotion into these characters.

    Overall, The Phantom Pain is nothing short of a masterpiece, something that will be looked upon by gamers in the coming years. If there is a game that reflects the improvement of franchises, this is the one that should be looked at.    … Expand
  93. fishandcheese
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    Best game ever! The freedom in this game greats the replay-ability to another level! Apart from the story keeping you gripped, the other side-ops and base activities are really really REALLY fun and is my fav part of this game and what makes this game from very good to super great.
  94. VicViper1984
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is without a doubt a modern classic. It is a game that dares to push boundaries and to be truly ambitious where far too many developers and their series are far too comfortable stagnating with each iteration of their respective series. Whether you are a long time fan of the series, a newcomer, or even someone who found previous titles in the seriesMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is without a doubt a modern classic. It is a game that dares to push boundaries and to be truly ambitious where far too many developers and their series are far too comfortable stagnating with each iteration of their respective series. Whether you are a long time fan of the series, a newcomer, or even someone who found previous titles in the series weren't really your thing, or just outright disliked them, I implore you to try this game, really try it. I say this because it is one of the only instances in gaming history where a series has made such an incredibly and surprisingly massive leap forward, not only for the series itself, but more importantly for gaming as a whole. This is the kind of game that sets a standard, this is the kind of game that's merits can not be simply measured by the sum of it's parts. I can only hope, and pray that other gamers will look at this game as a shining example of the difference between a game that is produced with true care and creativity, with ambition behind it and innovation pushing it forward and making it a reality, and games that are just yearly releases of the same old **** running on dated engines, with barely any real change save for new maps and a new generic story, pushed out too early and often buggy and incomplete, with withheld content planned as DLC's right from the start.

    Don't get me wrong The Phantom Pain is not a "perfect game" nothing is of course. It has it's fair share of issues, could have a better fast travel system, missions could be a bit more varied, has a few bugs that could be cleared up, vehicles could have been made to preform better. But overall, in the grand scheme of what the game offers, and also compared to the faults of MOST modern games, it's flaws are negligible at their worst. And that is impressive considering how technically advanced the game is, the fact that it's on every console and PC barring the Wii/Wii U, and that it's running on an entirely new engine on unfamiliar consoles. That's almost always a recipe for a whole lot of technical glitches that this game is surprisingly lacking in all things considered.

    The one really major "flaw" that may turn some people off from this game is how it approaches it's story. Due to the extensive length of the game, and also due to the fact that it's both a Prequel and a Sequel to a long running timeline (which is a writing nightmare) the game has a relatively slow pace that won't grab a good number of people. This is amplified by the fact that Kojima made a strong attempt at shifting the focus in storytelling to be more action and expression based than dialogue based, which for any film freaks like myself, is great. The cinematography is second to none, but I fully understand how it would be hard for many to really take in. The game does provide exposition in the form of cassette tapes you can play whenever you'd like. But still I can see how the story may not click with a good deal of people. That said it is quite a violent and often times grim game, so it's great for those who are interested games that are a bit more on the mature side.

    Gameplay and presentation are where the game really shines though. As the focus has shifted from what was a cut scene heavy series, MGSV is in nearly every way, the most amazingly detailed game-play experience yet in gaming, the beauty behind it is the level of depth in it's mechanics which is what Hideo Kojima is known for, although it's always been on such a small scale. George Weidman from Super Bunnyhop once said "If The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is an ocean that's a foot deep, the Metal Gear Solid 3, is the Mariana Trench." Which is something that I would agree with. And now, Kojima has taken that depth that warranted such a statement and has applied it to an "ocean" of his own, no longer confined to such a limited scale or game length, MGSV is one of the very few games where you can do just about anything you could ever want to do and more, and more importantly, where it all feels good, where it's all natural and applicable, where any choice you make is a valid choice that isn't penalized or ineffective. But what's more it may be the ONLY game I have ever played that grows and adapts to how it's being played and then works to counter it and forces the player to grow and adapt, all thanks to it's multitude of features that all work in tandem to make each time you replay a mission, or replay the game unique, and unpredictable.

    If you have any doubts about purchasing MGSV, I implore you to throw caution to the wind and buy this game, it is without a doubt, the best game purchase you'll have made in the last decade. And it will serve to send a message to developers that this is the level of quality we expect from our games, and that we as gamers are done being shoehorned in to only having a steady stream of rehashed bull**** available for us to play. Support quality, not marketability and profit margins.    … Expand
  95. Areshandore
    Sep 8, 2015
    8
    I had a BIG expectation on this game.
    My first impressions in my first 3 hours of game-play:
    First minutes thoughts: "Hey, this is like Witcher 3 world grabbing these flowers. Maybe they're using the same engine" After not being able to cross to another side of a mountain with an alert to not abort the mission: "Hey, this is that alert I used to see in Battlefield games and I hate    I had a BIG expectation on this game.
    My first impressions in my first 3 hours of game-play:

    First minutes thoughts:
    "Hey, this is like Witcher 3 world grabbing these flowers. Maybe they're using the same engine"

    After not being able to cross to another side of a mountain with an alert to not abort the mission:
    "Hey, this is that alert I used to see in Battlefield games and I hate it. It's not open world like GTA or Witcher definitely, it's only a very large map, empty scenario but makes good wallpapers..."

    After receiving the first C rank:
    "Hmmm, I used to be better in Metal Gear Solid games, maybe I'm getting old..."

    After seeing credits on the end of each mission:
    "This is not funny, it's boring."

    Running from the "bosses" without noticing square button makes the horse run faster:
    :-/

    Wasting points for using the balloon in the tutorial:
    WTF?! D:

    Being advised that I should not use the balloon to clean dead bodies of the area:
    "Oh God, this was my first idea, this gadget should be for cleaning because grabbing soldiers for my own army is not fun".

    Overall after these 3 hours:
    A little disappointed. The first hours of MGS4 were much better. I think they were low in budget.

    I hope I change my opinion. If yes I will come back later to improve my review.    … Expand
  96. Howl
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    "What a disappointment, I hope I can get a refund."

    Your mother commenting on you SuperMe.

    The game is a master piece, easily the best saga that there is to date.
  97. Calado
    Sep 2, 2015
    9
    In a few words? The Last of Us meets open world.

    The freedom of approach, de mind blowing cutscenes and the addition of First Person Aim are amazing upgrades comparing to Ground Zeros. Even if you never played a Metal Gear game, even if third person stealth isn't you're style, you will still enjoy this game. It's a masterpiece worth your time.
  98. JDSan24
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    This is definitely not just the best game in the MGS saga, but one of the best action games ever created, period. It's a sublime masterpiece that should be taken as a reference of how games can evolve without hurting its core feeling. Props to Hideo Kojima and his awesome team!
  99. Venomous
    Sep 9, 2015
    10
    This is simply THE greatest game I have ever played, EVER. The amount of polish and the production level is through the roof. The graphics are outstanding. The story is gripping. Lots of fan service for all the MGS fans. And most importantly, AMAZING GAMEPLAY. You must get this game.
  100. shm0
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. The opening hour of the game is kind of weird - it's very illogical and feels like you're part of a movie. Once you get past this, you enter the open world which is what this game is all about. It is the best open world game I've ever played. Once you start horseback riding, you'll have memories of the Legend of Zelda, RDR, Skyrim. Every single element ofThis game is a masterpiece. The opening hour of the game is kind of weird - it's very illogical and feels like you're part of a movie. Once you get past this, you enter the open world which is what this game is all about. It is the best open world game I've ever played. Once you start horseback riding, you'll have memories of the Legend of Zelda, RDR, Skyrim. Every single element of this game works towards it's overall design. A masterpiece.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PS4 Game of 2015
4
#4 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
3
#3 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 86 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 86
  3. Negative: 0 out of 86
  1. Polygon
    Dec 3, 2015
    90
    If this is where Kojima does finally leave the series he created, it will be a bittersweet send-off, both for Big Boss and one of gaming's most intriguing auteurs.
    Read full review
  2. Time
    Nov 10, 2015
    100
    The holy grail of world-building games, it’s argued, is a black box that lets players do as they like with minimal handholding. Pliability with just the right measure of accountability. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, a tactical stealth simulation wrapped in a colossal resource management puzzle inside a love letter to theatrical inscrutability, comes the closest of any game I’ve yet played to realizing that ideal.
    Read full review
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Nov 5, 2015
    91
    There’s no denying the Game of the Year potential of The Phantom Pain. The campaign is absolutely massive, it’s almost too much to cope. That being said, Chapter II is a huge let-down and feels like artificial padding. Still, this is about as good as tactical espionage operations can get in a video game. [Oct 2015]
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