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. damianpara
    Sep 9, 2015
    9
    Ending a huge franchise such as MG is not an easy thing to do, nor is evolving and progressing the series as each game goes by. For the record MGSV is the most evolved entry in the series, and fans who have stuck close to Snake and co. all these years may feel a sense of hallow and misguidance after the first few hours into this game. Yes the intro is long, a-la MGS4 cut scene with a fewEnding a huge franchise such as MG is not an easy thing to do, nor is evolving and progressing the series as each game goes by. For the record MGSV is the most evolved entry in the series, and fans who have stuck close to Snake and co. all these years may feel a sense of hallow and misguidance after the first few hours into this game. Yes the intro is long, a-la MGS4 cut scene with a few moments that allow the player some control, more so masked as a tutorial. After that it's straight game play, the first 20 hours left me asking for more cut scene! Which I'm sure is the inner MG fan asking for more clarification, as I'm definitely not used to this much game play, without a lengthy explanation about the absurd situation that had just occurred. Most of the game's extraneous story, is delivered to the player via recordings given in the form of cassette tapes. Given the vast amount of exploration and seem less control between the open world and Mother Base, it's actually a great medium to listen in on some of the on-goings in the background as you're trying to organise your Mother Base staff, initiate your men into war, locate resources etc. But if you're a die-hard MG fan, my advise to you is; put everything you know aside when playing this game. I'll give you ten bucks if you don't drop your jaw in awe for the environment that you explore, the animation of the characters that are almost lifelike, the gorgeous graphics and even the added Mother Base missions and extra Side Ops. Although as amazing as this all is, the game does have some niggles that at times required me to get off my seat, and inhale a sense of "I will not punch my screen", as the controls can sometimes become extremely frustrating, especially when handling D-Horse. But these minor issues aside, I am having the absolute time of my life with this game and you should too. Is it the best MG game for the fans? I'm actually not sure. Is it one of the best games I have ever played? Absolutely.… Expand
  2. Velsuan
    Sep 9, 2015
    9
    Best gameplay ever in a MGS game! The main plot is ridiculous (as expected), but the game is just awesome! Take your time, sneak around, don't kill anybody. Big Boss is a ninja, so... act like it should be!

    Be warned that the "base" part of this game is time consuming and sometime tedious, and the online "invasion" in the middle of a main mission will probably put you off. If that's the    Best gameplay ever in a MGS game! The main plot is ridiculous (as expected), but the game is just awesome! Take your time, sneak around, don't kill anybody. Big Boss is a ninja, so... act like it should be!

    Be warned that the "base" part of this game is time consuming and sometime tedious, and the online "invasion" in the middle of a main mission will probably put you off. If that's the case, just go offline.

    Some people said there was no boss fight in this game.... but the thing is you will have the choice to fight some main enemies as boss fights... Just keep your cool, don't run, and face the heat! ;)    … Expand
  3. AndyZ88
    Sep 8, 2015
    7
    As a new player to the MGS series, I gave into the pre-launch hype and I was excited about it, but ultimately I feel the game was overall a disappointment. The graphics are good and the lighting is masterfully done, but there's not a lot of other positive things I can say about the game.

    The world feels empty and feels like it's created just to tie together a bunch of outposts. The    As a new player to the MGS series, I gave into the pre-launch hype and I was excited about it, but ultimately I feel the game was overall a disappointment. The graphics are good and the lighting is masterfully done, but there's not a lot of other positive things I can say about the game.

    The world feels empty and feels like it's created just to tie together a bunch of outposts. The scenery looks really good, but I can't help think how lazy the devs were when 3/4 out of the surface of the Afghanistan map is made of corridors through rocks. Which, admittedly, look beautiful.. I was also surprised by how rigid the animations look, and what a lack of variety there is. They could've at least added some more animations to the close-quarters fighting & such..

    There really aren't many things to do in this game world, other than the "kill this guy" / "save that guy" repetitive missions, set in the same bases, over and over again. The gameplay is also not very deep, the whole game consists basically of crawling up to an enemy, interrogating him and extracting him with the Fulton device. There are gadgets you can use, but the open world and rigid nature of it prevent you from having any meaningful stealth takedowns & tactics. At some point I just gave up and played it as a shooter, but then I realised the shooting mechanics are also unimpressive.

    The AI is bad. Sometimes is spots you from miles away, during night time...Sometimes it can't see you a couple of meters away. Sometimes you are 20m away pointing the gun at them and they're just trying to figure out what's in front of them... Also it's very underwhelming, it's like the AI has no tactic, the enemies are just flocking to take cover where ever they can and that's it... No flanking tactics, very predictable, very easy to clean out entire bases, it makes you feel like you're the Terminator, not some special ops guy who still needs to be a ghost to survive a base full of soldiers...

    I'm not going to say anything about the story. As a first time MGS player, it obviously doesn't carry much weight for me, as it does for MGS fans. The storytelling style in MGS is not really something I enjoy, to me the cutscenes and character behavior is just weird. I'm just gonna leave it at "I don't get the artist's vision".

    All in all, I feel like if this game hadn't been called Metal Gear Solid, it would get far from the 10/10 reviews it's getting, and would receive far less attention. And it's sad to see a game with so many flaws and so many shortcomings, pull out these perfect marks in supposedly professional magazines, and get these "BEST GAME EVER" reactions.... No, it is far from a "best game ever", and it's far from GOTY 2015. In the year of the Witcher, Batman AK, Bloodborne, Dying Light, the upcoming Fallout 4, it simply doesn't have the quality to compete at this level.    … Expand
  4. justdoit
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    That moment when you create a Metacritic account just to say how good a game is
    If you are on the fence get it now

    GOTY of 2015 no doubt no question
  5. picacrazy
    Sep 8, 2015
    0
    The last Kojimas Metal gear has too many problems. The plot twist is ridiculously terrible! It really mess with all the fhanchise history. Beside that, Phantom Pain has many repetitive missions over and over again the same style of mission. Come on!!! I am very dissapointed
  6. 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
  7. bw217904
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    game is so good I made an account to give my first review ever. My favorite games in the last 10 years are now: Skyrim, Mass Effect Series, Metal Gear Solid V (no particular order), the game is perfect, definitely the best game on next gen and I play A LOT of games. I haven't stopped playing since I bought last monday, definitely need to start an AA meeting for this game.
  8. Shiftian_Be
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    I dont throw around points easily. I've been playing games since Alex The Kid back on Sega. Have been a MGS-fan since Ps1 (although I know its not nearly the first MG) and have enjoyed virtually all of them, even the cinematic last 'conclusion' of the series.
    Although MGSV feels more like an ultimate Peacewalker rather than ultimate (classic) MGS, it's an amazing experience.. Im yet to    I dont throw around points easily. I've been playing games since Alex The Kid back on Sega. Have been a MGS-fan since Ps1 (although I know its not nearly the first MG) and have enjoyed virtually all of them, even the cinematic last 'conclusion' of the series.
    Although MGSV feels more like an ultimate Peacewalker rather than ultimate (classic) MGS, it's an amazing experience.. Im yet to conclude the game and although the game, up untill now, has not yet moved me or gripped me storywise like it did before, the gameplay that is to be experienced is amazing. Maybe not as big of an open world as some other titles but the shear amount of gadgets, wepons, buddies, vehicles and tactics provide an unparralelled sandbox-experience.

    Get this!    … Expand
  9. DonMega
    Sep 8, 2015
    6
    I'll give an honest review as I am not a so called "fan boy" of the mgs series and I didn't have any hype for this game. The first MGS i played was MGS 4.
    Note: I haven't played ground zero.
    This review will be split into 2 parts because the game is split into 2 very different chapters and major quality in gameplay differences. I think the major difference between quality of gameplay    I'll give an honest review as I am not a so called "fan boy" of the mgs series and I didn't have any hype for this game. The first MGS i played was MGS 4.
    Note: I haven't played ground zero.

    This review will be split into 2 parts because the game is split into 2 very different chapters and major quality in gameplay differences.
    I think the major difference between quality of gameplay is solely because of the internal feud between Hideo Kojima (the series director and creator) and Hojima (the production company) falling out and break up during development of MGS:V. Also please note this is fully my speculation.

    If I rated the game solely on Chapter 1 I would give the game a 8/10 rating. But rating chapter 2 my rating falls to 2/10.

    Chapter 1: 8/10:
    In the beginning the game is fun, the story is good and engaging. The gameplay is exciting and new. The cutscenes are awesome. The only drawback of giving the game the perfect score is that it is slightly repetitive. The side missions (side ops) consist of 5 missions rehashed 157 or so times at different locations. Don't let the 157 side missions number fool you. It's just a number and gimmick to put on the box.
    The locations also get boring pretty quickly, i knew nothing of the game before playing it so i was expecting various locations but this game mostly features sandy locations in afganistan and africa. Africa and Afganistan look the same for the most part and are a lazy created location.

    The AI is decent, they do adapt to your playstyle but are dumb nontheless. Eventually you will get to a point where the AI will snipe you with a shotgun from 300m away and my only deaths were caused by close range shotguns. Even a direct mortar hit didn't kill me.
    Controlling snake gets annoying at times, he has troubles climbing over the thousands of small rocks scattered all over afganistan and africa.
    Tanks you drive will get stuck hitting some small bushes and little rocks which makes driving them not as fun as you'd imagine.

    But other than all those cons chapter 1 main missions are very enjoyable and put together. The game feels engaging at this moment and you want to better your army, upgrade items and continue doing the same side missions.

    Chapter 2:
    I think this is where someone else took the reigns from Hideo Kojima.
    The game takes a huge nose dive in quality of gameplay. It solely feels like they just made a chapter 2 to extend the overall game time. The story feels different a new. You don't really care about anything happening in this storyline.

    A ridiculous mission unlocking system where you are forced to do a number of side missions to progress in the story. Which would be fine if they weren't the same rehashed side missions you did 100+ times in Chapter 1
    The main story missions are lazyily designed, boring and some are just baffling. Number 45 mission, without revealing anything is probably one of the worst missions in a single AAA title I have played in the last 6 years.
    During the missions I just couldn't comprehend how it was the same game I played earlier in the first chapter.
    Here I completely stopped doing the extra tasks and made it my mission to end the game asap. I honestly couldn't do it, my breaking point was mission 45, yes 1 mission before the ending. I got so bored of this ridiculous mission I rather go on youtube and watch Furious Don play it.
    Now I haven't touched the online bit and I won't as I've already sold my copy of the game to someone but I hear it has microtransactions which are mostly pay to win.

    Someone really dropped the ball on this game and could have made it one of the best games ever.

    Who should buy it?

    Hardcore MGS fans.
    People who can wait a couple months and buy this for $40. It's fun for about 10-15 hours. Depending how long chapter 1 takes you. Which is a decent amount of time, but I'm afraid chapter 2 (if bought at regular price) would feel like a rip off.

    Who shouldn't buy it?

    New ps4 users who believed the hype from friends should get witcher 3 instead. That is a top quality game.
    If you bought the PS4 solely for the release of MGS 4, please return in and get witcher 3 so that you get your moneys worth    … Expand
  10. 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
  11. EmoOutlaw
    Sep 8, 2015
    7
    Very solid game, beautiful graphics and gameplay but I always found myself being bored and wondering why I wasn't playing something more engaging. The story could be way better also.
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. SeanGamerDays
    Sep 8, 2015
    9
    Love what Kojima done to the franchise. But Konami just throw his ass off the game. As you know, Snake unit got eliminated & wasted. The fun ways in this game was to, freeroamingly go everywhere the $%&@ you want, finding easter eggs, and surprise the bad guy!
  16. Sceptic
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    This is a Masterpiece.I've never been a MGS fan,though 4 was good,but this game,despite it's slowish start turned out magnificently.The options to play as you wish are all there.Want that S rank?Play slow and stealthy like a Ninja.Want to call in air support and bombardments and go in guns blazing?Go for it!.Want to go half 'n' half?Yep!Want to skip the annoying credits after eachThis is a Masterpiece.I've never been a MGS fan,though 4 was good,but this game,despite it's slowish start turned out magnificently.The options to play as you wish are all there.Want that S rank?Play slow and stealthy like a Ninja.Want to call in air support and bombardments and go in guns blazing?Go for it!.Want to go half 'n' half?Yep!Want to skip the annoying credits after each mission?You can!Online features are minimal at this stage,though I'd expect a Battle Royale or two in there hopefully.Some game systems can be opaque at first and it will take some time to get that weapon you're craving but it's all worth it in the end.It's not as masterful as The Witcher 3,but is a GOTY contender nonetheless.Play it!… Expand
  17. 2cben
    Sep 7, 2015
    6
    I played 15 hours so far here is how I feel about this game, I don't think it's a bad game but it is NOT a masterpiece nor a perfect game.

    I just don't understand how the media (especially IGN) would often give this game a perfect score. Perfect score would mean perfect game right? Here is a list of what's far from being perfect: - The world may be big but it's impressively empty.    I played 15 hours so far here is how I feel about this game, I don't think it's a bad game but it is NOT a masterpiece nor a perfect game.

    I just don't understand how the media (especially IGN) would often give this game a perfect score. Perfect score would mean perfect game right? Here is a list of what's far from being perfect:

    - The world may be big but it's impressively empty. Apart from doing the mission what is there to do? Capture animals and pick wild flowers? How exciting! Everywhere looks the same!
    - The eyesight of the enemy is just bad, they will notice something if you're like 30 meters away then will walk a few meters and then go back like everything is normal. They will spot you if you're literally in standing in front of them. I'm not saying they should see you from 200 meters away but it's hard to take the whole thing seriously when you feel that you're playing against an army of blind soviet soldiers.
    - Snake spends way too much time crawling backward ...
    - Credits at the end of every mission? Seriously? Ideo Kojima must have some big ego issues, his name appears 100 times in total.
    - Oh well the story ...

    My game progress reports %9 but I already feel like I did all the different type of mission (extraction, kill the target, find this document, destroy this thing ...)

    There is obviously lots of great things about the game too but it's seriously impacted by all this clumsyness/empty world/I can't jump...    … Expand
  18. 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. :)
  19. 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.
  20. Quenouille
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    This game doesn't feel like a metal gear game, but the gameplay is awesome! You always have something to do and after 40 hrs I'm at 20% of completion. it's the best 60$ I have spend!
  21. jules1964
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    I will keep it short and sweet. I sold Witcher 3 to buy this game and boy oh boy i'm glad i did. To me Witcher 3 open world didn't seem life like enough for me but when i play mgs5 i forget about everything in real life and i am actually in the game. This is one game i will never sell or tire of.
  22. partyintheback
    Sep 7, 2015
    3
    As a fan of the Metal Gear series, particularly 1, 2 and 3, this game has left me disappointed. Why is that? First, it's an open world game. Now mind you, I have nothing against open world games. Open world games can be a blast if done right. Since this is the first time Metal Gear has gone open world, I had high expectations that they'd not only meet but exceed their competitors when itAs a fan of the Metal Gear series, particularly 1, 2 and 3, this game has left me disappointed. Why is that? First, it's an open world game. Now mind you, I have nothing against open world games. Open world games can be a blast if done right. Since this is the first time Metal Gear has gone open world, I had high expectations that they'd not only meet but exceed their competitors when it came to creating a world that you actually want to explore. I mean, what is the point of making an open world game if it's not interesting to traverse? If you're not going to do that, just make it a linear game like prior games in the series and perfect each space by littering them full of interesting things to see and do. And here is my first complaint with Metal Gear Solid 5. The open world is uninteresting. You have Africa and Afghanistan. Both overly brown, void of much life, and little to hold your interest while moving throughout the world. While there are side missions sprinkled throughout the world, the side missions are, sadly enough, entirely filler content that does little to add to the game. Actually, they sort of detract from the game overall. Instead of creating a linear, narrative-driven Metal Gear Solid, they've created an open world, one that doesn't have anything interesting going on in it, and then try to throw in some copy & paste side missions that are incredibly uninteresting and by-the-numbers in their design. But, then, the story must be good, especially if you're a Metal Gear fan, right? Wrong. For whatever reason, Konami replaced their old voice actors with new, more recognizable actors. For example, instead of David Hayter, we get Kiefer Sutherland. Not only does his performance fail in comparison to Hayter's, he rarely even talks throughout the game. And here's another issue, there's barely any cutscenes compared to the prior Metal Gear's. While I'll concede that prior Metal Gear's may have been overkill when it came to cutscenes, but they've swung the pendulum so far from that that there's not enough now. I do agree that the gameplay here is solid and enjoyable, but when the world it takes place in, the narrative that surrounds, and the extra content is so poor, I can't give it praise that it simply doesn't deserve. If you're a fan of open world games, this will disappoint you. If you're a fan of Metal Gear Solid's past, this will disappoint. As a fan of both, I'm floored that people are giving this game high marks. I can only surmise that it's because people were really hyped about it and now they're forgiving issues that they'll soon come to dislike. As is the case very often with people who play games and people who write about them, they sometimes overlook glaring issues when they release and then only come to grips with the fact that the game wasn't all that years down the road. Metal Gear Solid V is one such game.… Expand
  23. xtabrisx
    Sep 7, 2015
    9
    People rating this game so low are just haters. Now, focusing on the game:
    This is probably one of the best games ever. It went directly to my top 5 of all time. The story it's not the best, games like MGS, MGS3 and MGS4 are way deeper in story terms, but the gameplay, the graphics, the sidequests, the characters, and many other things make this game REALLY HUGE.
    I've been playing for 55    People rating this game so low are just haters. Now, focusing on the game:
    This is probably one of the best games ever. It went directly to my top 5 of all time. The story it's not the best, games like MGS, MGS3 and MGS4 are way deeper in story terms, but the gameplay, the graphics, the sidequests, the characters, and many other things make this game REALLY HUGE.
    I've been playing for 55 hours and still wanting more.
    Thank you Mr. Kojima for such an amazing game. You're just too good for Konami ;)    … Expand
  24. Fu_l_-_-_l_
    Sep 7, 2015
    9
    The only thing missing was octocamo from mgs4. This mgs doesn't use camouflage at all. The enemies see you when they see you. Other than that is has aspects of destiny, mgs 1 and 2 and of course ground zeros.
  25. zovanni
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    An absolute masterpiece. Music is great, graphics and gameplay above real, i've been waiting for this for years. Who are the fools that gave to this piece of art a zero? They should be kicked out of mc, they're not from planet earth
  26. 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
  27. Jimmy_Rinser
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    So good. Game allows you to be very creative and play in what ever way you want. graphics and setting all look incredible. Even though it has gone away from the more linier MGS style of gameplay you can still find yourself in all sorts of situations which still feel like original MGS games. Story is a little lacking but it kind of stays true the time in the story of which it is set. AnySo good. Game allows you to be very creative and play in what ever way you want. graphics and setting all look incredible. Even though it has gone away from the more linier MGS style of gameplay you can still find yourself in all sorts of situations which still feel like original MGS games. Story is a little lacking but it kind of stays true the time in the story of which it is set. Any lover of the old MGS games will truly enjoy this. Well worth the wait… Expand
  28. 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
  29. lindell
    Sep 7, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is like an ice cream from your youth. An ice cream containing all your favorite ingredients: vanilla, chocolate, toffee and some rainbow sprinkles on top.

    The ice cream stayed the same during 30 years, and you loved it during all this time. Suddenly the manufacturer decides to cater to the masses that only wants vanilla ice cream. The chocolate, toffee and the sprinkles are gone, ruining the ice cream for the people who loved it to begin with.

    This what I feel happened to the game. Everything that made metal gear solid good is gone with this game, to make a game to cater to the casual crowd who only want to shoot some guards. No more cutscenes, no story progression and on top of that an ending that defecates on the rest of the series like D-horse does on the enemies in this game.

    It's a sad way to say good bye to the series. The game with the best gameplay and the best graphics in the series, turned out to be the worst metal gear in the series.    … Expand
  30. Abhigyanparasha
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. Releasing without bugs and having so much content to do at all times. Not only is this the best game of this year, but also it is the best AAA release in the past few years. This is a must buy.
  31. 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!
  32. screwlicious
    Sep 7, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is a great game which. This it totally next gen and what PS4 is all about. No other games can be compared to this, period. I get half of my money back within the first 5 minutes. lol. Thank you Kojima!… Expand
  33. seburo
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    I've enjoyed this saga since MSX2. And its not always been entirely satisfying. The MGS2 Raiden was low, more now that I found out it was just to please schoolgirls. And, since MGS no other MG has reached such fluid, enticing and charismatic storytelling. But, I really think this MGS5 is Kojima's farewell to the series with tears and feelings and all. I haven't finished it but enjoyingI've enjoyed this saga since MSX2. And its not always been entirely satisfying. The MGS2 Raiden was low, more now that I found out it was just to please schoolgirls. And, since MGS no other MG has reached such fluid, enticing and charismatic storytelling. But, I really think this MGS5 is Kojima's farewell to the series with tears and feelings and all. I haven't finished it but enjoying every step of the road. Shame on this rat-boys who spam 0s just to feel important! Well, the game is genius. Enjoy it! :)… Expand
  34. jojo7yheng68
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    All those people who gave this game a bad score...only means every one is an individual, but true gamers sound OFF with a resounding 10. TRUE Candidate for GAME OF THE YEAR!
  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. TanAlpha021
    Sep 6, 2015
    9
    Hideo Kojima has done it once again, MGS V is a great game with a very interesting storyline and near perfect voice acting. The stealth is also a key factor to the game which makes it so good, be sure to grab this if you haven't already!
  37. Achelexus
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    The sexist legbeards in gamerghazi and tumblr are already whining and giving negative reviews because this game is fueled by their mythical misogyny, according to them.

    So here I am, fixing this.
  38. AMMANN7
    Sep 6, 2015
    9
    9/10

    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the first MGS game I trully enjoy

    + Open world action
    + D-dog and D-horse
    + Opening act
    + Side missions
    + Mother base upgrade system

    - A bit overwhelming in terms of content
    - Trouble connecting to servers
  39. Joshd
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    After spending 80 hours with the game and completing all missions and side ops, its safe to say that this is one of the best Metal Gear and open world games ever made. Unmatched freedom in its open world and the infiltration it offers. Limitless amounts of weapons, gadgets and costumes to choose from. Its rare nowadays that a game expects the player to be intelligent, games usually holdAfter spending 80 hours with the game and completing all missions and side ops, its safe to say that this is one of the best Metal Gear and open world games ever made. Unmatched freedom in its open world and the infiltration it offers. Limitless amounts of weapons, gadgets and costumes to choose from. Its rare nowadays that a game expects the player to be intelligent, games usually hold your hand through every step, TPP tells you your objective and walks away, letting you just go. Although it can be argued that the story lacks a little, it will differ form player to player, but, as always with Kojima he pulls off something amazing and special and something that everyone should play at some point.… Expand
  40. Cytiene
    Sep 6, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I simply cannot understand how this game is getting so much praise. I'm a huge Metal Gear Solid fan and I was really looking forward to it. But when I finally started this game, playing the opening sequence I couldn't help but feel sort of numb to everything that was happening. Sure it was cool but something was missing. Only about 30 hours later and after nights of sleeplessness where I tried to figure out why I wasn't satisfied with the game it hit me. There is no heart to it. The gameplay sure ist pretty good and it is a lot of fun. The world's are empty though and Kojima Productions had no idea how to make an open world that is diverse and feels natural. The worst part of this game is without a doubt the story. The first chapter was somehow bearable, although it felt so unfinished and things that got introduced were never explained or continued later on. The second chapter though is the worst part. It feels like they needed to throw everything they had left together just to make the story a little bit longer in the end. Quiet is an awful character and I don't feel ashamed for my "words and deeds" about her attire but that I actually defended her all this time only to learn about the utterly stupid reason she's wearing a bikini in battle. I feel ashamed for playing this game when I see her weird, hyper-sexual movements in some cutscenes and especially that stuff in the rain. The forced romance between her and 'Snake' that the story tries to shove down your throat somewhere in the middle of the game, again with no build up is so painful and cringe-worthy to look at. Also there is nothing controversial in this game that hasn't been done in other games already. Children with guns? In The Last of Us you play as a child while you're murdering people. Now I know child-soldiers are a real thing but it's so weirdly implemented in this game and doesn't really add much. Quiet being almost raped and tortured? Well that is a bad thing but the fact that men get raped too is not acknowledged at all. These scenes just feel like the game is forcing you to feel sorry for her all of a sudden. Skull Face is a silly, pathetic character that feels almost unimportant to the story. I could go on for hours. The thing that I hate most about this game is that stupid twist at the end that creates more plot-holes than it does actually explain something. It's just so stupid and unnecessary. There is no downfall of Big Boss. He doesn't become evil because of the events he has to go through. Finding out that you're playing as the medic from Ground Zeroes just makes me say one thing "Why should I even care?" There are just so many things wrong with this game's narrative that it's hard to mention all of them.

    Kojima you f***ed up big time. The only sad thing about it is that all these talented people dedicating their lives all these years to make this game are never really acknowledged behind all the praise Kojima is getting. The presentation is phenomenal, exceptional. Motion capture and cinematography is outstanding, graphics are beautiful. The soundtrack is so memorable and always fitting and the gameplay is pretty good, but all that isn't enough to save the game from it's poorly executed story and characters.    … Expand
  41. rvillodres
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    the game is a good open world game, but like most open world game like GTAV and Skyrim it suffers from the lack of things going to point A to point B, which is forgivable because when you do get to your destination you can tackle it anyway you want too, go ahead guns blazing or take short cuts or longer routes to finish an objective,which makes it the best open world game to date. The bestthe game is a good open world game, but like most open world game like GTAV and Skyrim it suffers from the lack of things going to point A to point B, which is forgivable because when you do get to your destination you can tackle it anyway you want too, go ahead guns blazing or take short cuts or longer routes to finish an objective,which makes it the best open world game to date. The best part here is that when it's your birthday is that you are given a treat by your soldiers. Controls are awesome very fluid and unmatched, graphics are superb with detail background and all character models, sound the music is fantastic you'll find playing either the MGS musics or the 80's music cassette tapes, story has a HUGE twist on the end which made it more interesting. Overall 10/10 Perfect game to date for anyone who loves open world, stealth and awesome gameplay. Also do not forget to go back to mother base from time to time for surprises and explore it.… Expand
  42. CaraDavies
    Sep 6, 2015
    7
    (SPOILER FREE)
    Could this final instalment ever really satisfy all the unanswered questions and audience expectations? Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series was medium and genre defining, not only setting a standard for stealth gameplay and mechanics, but also demonstrating in the early days of the video games industry how cinematic and storytelling techniques could be innovatively used to    (SPOILER FREE)
    Could this final instalment ever really satisfy all the unanswered questions and audience expectations? Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear series was medium and genre defining, not only setting a standard for stealth gameplay and mechanics, but also demonstrating in the early days of the video games industry how cinematic and storytelling techniques could be innovatively used to create powerful and moving stories. Fans around the world were drawn into a rich and at times brilliantly convoluted universe, populated with characters so three dimensional and likeable that the player finds themselves genuinely caring about their fates. Fates played out in a saga where sub plot and character history are an addictive garnish atop the substantial meat of a philosophically and politically motivated main narrative.
    The issue with this release is the side lining of the story which has captivated fans for so long, the lengthy frequent cut scenes and codec conversations that so characterised the series are gone.
    While Kiefer Sutherland has done a fantastic job other voice actors let the production down and your character is too often mute which becomes jarring, particularly when something is directly revealed to you and there is no snappy one liner or thoughtful response as there has been in all the other games. As someone who struggled with the series gameplay pre the introduction of Fox Engine in MGS 4 (to the point of playing them on easy mode), I can appreciate how there was pressure to match the easy fun style of recent games like GTA V, Far Cry 4 and Tomb Raider. Audiences demand a less linear world to explore; they are less forgiving of clunky controls and most desire some RPG style element such as upgrading skills or characters to chart their progression through the game.
    The Phantom Pain succeeds in bringing this more player friendly style of gameplay, not only does it run ridiculously well on PC due to the power of Fox Engine, action and stealth mechanics are greatly improved making both infiltration and a more aggressive approach really fun to play. However the addition of elements such as the development of Mother Base mainly through resource management feels slightly tacked on and dare I say pointless. Though the world is huge and open there isn’t an awful lot to do when travelling between bases or missions, making a lot of the game a frustrating dash or painstaking crawl between A and B. This would not be so noticeable if the autosave/check pointing system (you cannot manually save) was not so poorly implemented. It is difficult to tell when your game has saved and too often you end up wasting hours redoing missions because the game has bugged and forgotten a checkpoint. While some gameplay is ruined by what would seem very simple fixes, for example the close quarter combat actions, buddy attacks and prone are so over powered it ruins the immersion significantly.
    Kojami has always been an uncompromising auteur and innovator, possibly one of the most important creative minds of our times. It has been revealed there was great pressure not only to recoup profits on the pushed back release leading to annoyances like micro transactions but also that publishers Konami effectively ripped the story out of the game, hours of cut scenes were removed and for a year they wouldn’t allow funding for development of effectively anything but the gameplay. Some we will see, for example a particularly important cut scene was included on the special edition and is surely destined for upload, but some tragically will probably never reach the eyes of fans.

    The truth is this release and the mixed reactions of players across the world just goes to proves how when business and creativity come together in the right ways, as the series has done in the past, wonderful things can be allowed to develop, however as with this game when profit margins dictate creative content the result is almost always half-baked, even with the best material to work with. However, I think the best way to view the series is not through the lens of this one game, but rather as we view any iconic saga from Star Wars to James Bond, it should be viewed as a sum of its parts and judged by enjoyment it has given fans and inspiration it has given to artists. It would be easy to harshly proclaim this game a disservice to fans but in comparison to most commercial premium games it still stands out as a very good game. Kojami put it best when in an interview he said:
    “When a flower dies it scatters its seeds. Snake’s DNA, his seeds of life, dissolves in the wind and gives rise to a new life in a new place…that’s the kind of “dissolve” I had in mind. Likewise I hope I can pass various genes onto a next generation of game designers”.
    Given the commercial pressures the game was created under I’ll cherish what little story was allowed to survive, ignore the nit-picks and then probably replay the older games.    … Expand
  43. gongal
    Sep 6, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm really not sure where all the positive feedback comes from... Yes - the gameplay is great, but that's all what MGS is about...
    This was supposed to be the ultimate MGS STORY, THE MISSING LINK. What did we get? A convoluted story about a double without emotions, without his own personality. With a villan that means absolutely nothing to the series, who's personality is basicaly what venom should have been...
    The whole Chapter 2 is an unfinished mess, that starts with an awesome trailer when we expect the real **** to hit the fan, but nothing really happens... Then, out of nowhere, we are given the most awfully delivered ending in the MGS history. There's no build up, no interesting cutscenes. Everything happens "because reasons", and that they had no time to implement a proper storyline to the game.
    And the disguisting ending itself, where someone thought that would be necessary to target the game to suicidal teenagers and help them feel better about themselves... YOU ARE BIG BOSS LOL.

    Thank god they let Kojima go so he won't disappoint that much any more...    … Expand
  44. jumble
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    I dont understand how anyone could have finished this game before they reviewed it on here. I took my time and did a third of the side missions before finishing chapter 1 and that took 45 hours. the game has only been out for 5 days. on steam currently only 0.1% of people have finished all the main missions. people should be waiting till they at least beat chapter one if not 2. having funI dont understand how anyone could have finished this game before they reviewed it on here. I took my time and did a third of the side missions before finishing chapter 1 and that took 45 hours. the game has only been out for 5 days. on steam currently only 0.1% of people have finished all the main missions. people should be waiting till they at least beat chapter one if not 2. having fun so far and will update when I finished.… Expand
  45. TixyLix
    Sep 6, 2015
    5
    Just feels like another mediocre open world game to me, it's not MGS in the slightest and I'm super disappointed.

    If you were expecting the big epic story finale to the MGS series, then prepare to be as disappointed as I was. After the first hour the story just goes away, most of what is left is in the tapes you listen to and then a 2 min cutscene is sparsely dotted around every 10    Just feels like another mediocre open world game to me, it's not MGS in the slightest and I'm super disappointed.

    If you were expecting the big epic story finale to the MGS series, then prepare to be as disappointed as I was. After the first hour the story just goes away, most of what is left is in the tapes you listen to and then a 2 min cutscene is sparsely dotted around every 10 hours or so. There are no characters like you had in the other games, everyone is largely forgettable, the voice acting for the male actors is bad, they all sound too similar. There are no boss fights as you'd expect from a MGS game, no moments like you had with The End in MGS3 or Psycho Mantis from MGS.

    The world is empty and really annoying to travel through since you constantly have big rocks stopping you from going places, it really feels more like a series of funnels. All the content is in the outposts, but they all have the same objectives of sneak past guards to get to something to either kill or extract. They never do anything clever with the gameplay, it always plays the same and I got bored quickly. The previous games were much more like Mario where Nintendo constantly finds new things to do with the gameplay with each level. However in MGSV It's like doing Hideouts in Watchdogs over and over again. I don't even see why the world is there, it serves no reason but for you to travel across, which is boring. I'd have much preferred a single location like the Tanker in MGS or Shadow Moses, at least then the map would have character, rather than the generic outposts of MGV.

    The controls are very clunky, it doesn't control well at all, there is no jump button either so you'll constantly get stuck on trying to negotiate Snake over and around them. Constantly I found myself in prone and not able to get Snake to turn around, so I'd end up just having Snake moving backwards all the time, which mirrors left and right and that is so annoying.

    I think MGSV is a very mediocre game, it's like Kojima got Western open world game envy and decided to copy it. It's not satisfying with the story, which to me is the biggest crime since MGS has always been about the story. Why make a big deal out of getting Kiefer Sutherland if you aren't going to use him? I swear I only heard him talk like 5 times throughout the game.

    I fully expect a backlash to happen, in the same vein as GTA IV.    … Expand
  46. AustriaRedBull
    Sep 6, 2015
    10
    Unbelivable. It is a new MG and open world works. Graphics and Gameplay make a Dream comes true. The 2 countrys look in every mission ore side mission never like the same. I love it. And i hope the online mode same good as the SP. And i hope ...i pray for MG6 :D
  47. 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.
  48. G0ddeity
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    The game is simply amazing! The stealth elements and the graphics are equally superb. The amount of hours to complete this game and the replay value is on top of my list of many games I had before.
  49. szszsz
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    never played any metal gear before. im not very familiar with stealth genre
    BUT
    i cant stop playing it. the feeling of freedom of approach is great.
    also im amazed by how smooth this game runs, how fast it loads and how huge it is.
    will be a hard time to decide whether witcher 3 or mgs5 is the GOTY
  50. voidsea
    Sep 5, 2015
    5
    Although all we MGS fanboys should be high.
    But this crap is just an average game with feign tactic and stupid funky story.
    Open world? Lifeless and boring repeative.
    Mother base? Distractive.
    Where is the good old story telling?
    Kojima Kojima Kojima... F*k off and stop telling me this.
  51. dominic242
    Sep 5, 2015
    9
    ive been gaming since ye olde amiga days and this is easily one of the best games of the year but my vote goes to the witcher 3 ..............as good as mgs5 is it does not deserve game of the year it is a close second to the witcher 3.
  52. Tazcat2011
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    I hate to be just another person giving this a 10, but if a game ever deserved it it's Phantom Pain. Mr. Kojima not only has set the bar for stealth action games but has redefined the genre. Finally we have a game that tosses out the tired old tightly scripted mission structure and boss encounters and let's the gamer construct their own fun in how people choose to complete an objective.I hate to be just another person giving this a 10, but if a game ever deserved it it's Phantom Pain. Mr. Kojima not only has set the bar for stealth action games but has redefined the genre. Finally we have a game that tosses out the tired old tightly scripted mission structure and boss encounters and let's the gamer construct their own fun in how people choose to complete an objective. It's safe to say that if you talk about the same mission to people who played you will end up very different stories as to how they completed it. If this isn't game of the year I'll be very surprised.… Expand
  53. 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
  54. JMARSseph
    Sep 5, 2015
    6
    Why so much hype? This game is ok, nothing more, nothing less. The graphics are pretty decent, not the best. A lot of models are poorly done and for a game of this magnitude it is inexcusable. The movement can be problematic when running or just walking, yet for some reason when crawling you are like a tank and crawl relatively problem free. The combat is above average but nothing new. AWhy so much hype? This game is ok, nothing more, nothing less. The graphics are pretty decent, not the best. A lot of models are poorly done and for a game of this magnitude it is inexcusable. The movement can be problematic when running or just walking, yet for some reason when crawling you are like a tank and crawl relatively problem free. The combat is above average but nothing new. A lot of people claim the enemy A. I. is something special.....not so much. Enemies will wonder around into the open and run directly into sniper fire. Also a lot of people like all of the micromanaging at your base...not me. An abundance of content does not make for greatness or make up for typical gameplay. I am not overly impressed at all. I guess I expected more and was let down. I feel each mission is replaying the prior mission. Repeat, repeat, repeat.....................I cant decide if I will continue or trade this game while it has value. As for so called professional critics...I never have bought their nonsense, because clearly if a company pays you a lot of money to hype their product and advertise....well you wouldn't be to objective either.… Expand
  55. sgy0003
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    This is a stealth game at its finest. There is so many ways to complete your objective. Want to gather as much intel as possible before going in? You can do that. Want to charge in straight in with guns blazing? You can do that. Want to cause distraction to lure enemies away to get to your target? You can do that. Gathering your army is one of the best experience there is. You can recruitThis is a stealth game at its finest. There is so many ways to complete your objective. Want to gather as much intel as possible before going in? You can do that. Want to charge in straight in with guns blazing? You can do that. Want to cause distraction to lure enemies away to get to your target? You can do that. Gathering your army is one of the best experience there is. You can recruit enemy soldiers to your base, and assign them in different department of operation. Doing this with grant you new weapon/gadget development, gathering intel of an base your infiltrating, or bring in better support.

    The graphic is beautiful in its glorious 60 fps. The dynamic weather can affect how you infiltrate the base. For example, you may encounter sandstorm in Afghanistan. The sandstorm makes you harder to be detected, by your visibility also gets low. The weather, day/night cycle, and the location itself all affect how you want to complete each mission.

    If you are fan of MGS, this is must own. If you are a fan of open world, this is must own. If you are a fan of stealth game, this is a must own.    … Expand
  56. MisterMansfield
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    I always liked Metal Gear games but this game is insane! This is how you bring a game franchise into next-gen! Only negative reviews I see are ones that complain about prologue which yeah its kinda long but the game opens up a lot after the first 10%
  57. asfj
    Sep 5, 2015
    4
    After several-hours playing, I think I have to down-grade the game from 10 to ... because I have almost lost motivation to continue on those sprinkled and repetitive missions with our bounty hunter.

    I've no compliant on its gameplay design which is nearly perfectly crafted except for a bit of lack of environmental variation and the base accessibility(I mean although the base is huge but    After several-hours playing, I think I have to down-grade the game from 10 to ... because I have almost lost motivation to continue on those sprinkled and repetitive missions with our bounty hunter.

    I've no compliant on its gameplay design which is nearly perfectly crafted except for a bit of lack of environmental variation and the base accessibility(I mean although the base is huge but not very explorable inside it). After all, for pure gameplay, You are guaranteed by the game.

    However, where are those signature high quality cutscenes, emotional speeches, most importantly inspiring story and our hero? Even the main mission line contains lots of trivial events, and also the story itself is not that moving as usual. It seems you are only a relentless robot-like bounty hunter paid to finish bunch of repetitive missions without a reason.

    Also, the Kiefer Sutherland voiced Big Bose seems very not in his play in sharply contrast to other roles and IV's David Hayter voiced Solid Snake. Not only does he merely speak, but also speaks like reading script...

    It seems everything is carefully crafted but the story.
    It seems every actor/actress got into their roles but the protagonist.

    It would be so fun to play the game if it has a reason and inspiration, but no! because it loses heart.

    I am so disappointed to you, Hideo.    … Expand
  58. Bertoflyingfox
    Sep 5, 2015
    7
    This game is a tour de force. I've always been a Metal Gear Solid fan (Snake Eater being my favorite) and being able to follow Big Boss again but in the 80s is a treat. An explosive beginning chapter leads to the most feature-packed stealth/action game I have ever played. While the initial setting does leave something to be desired (some folks can't stand the desert sandbox for too long)This game is a tour de force. I've always been a Metal Gear Solid fan (Snake Eater being my favorite) and being able to follow Big Boss again but in the 80s is a treat. An explosive beginning chapter leads to the most feature-packed stealth/action game I have ever played. While the initial setting does leave something to be desired (some folks can't stand the desert sandbox for too long) everything else makes up for it in spades.

    Having a base, collecting weapons/armor/soldiers/animals, developing things that'll help in future missions. This game has it all and has pretty much shot up to the top of my GOTY contenders. Bravo Kojima & Team, bravo.    … Expand
  59. gisarts
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    Besides multiplayer and some exaggerated powerful characters, Metal Gear hold still a great playability and i can't stop playing. This is the most important thing in a game so far.
  60. hagworm
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    I have played almost every Metal Gear Solid game, and it's exciting to see how Mr. Kojima innovated the series and shaped it to create something so extraordinary like The Phantom Pain. The fullness and the freedom of gameplay, superb graphics, complicated yet amazing story, and lots of surprising details make MGS V: The Phantom Pain not only the best video game of all time, but also theI have played almost every Metal Gear Solid game, and it's exciting to see how Mr. Kojima innovated the series and shaped it to create something so extraordinary like The Phantom Pain. The fullness and the freedom of gameplay, superb graphics, complicated yet amazing story, and lots of surprising details make MGS V: The Phantom Pain not only the best video game of all time, but also the best entertainment product so far.… Expand
  61. 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.
  62. yazanalramlawi
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    Great game. the story is a little on the shy side, but still the open world and the liberty to play as u like ( stealth, loud ) it is up to u to play the way u like.
  63. 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.
  64. 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
  65. riseinflame
    Sep 4, 2015
    6
    Metal Gear Solid 5 Review (Spoiler Free) -

    Ever since I've seen the first trailer of MGS 5, i haven't been able to contain my hype. Waiting for the long awaited GOTY 2015 has been hard and finally getting to play it as soon as it launched was a treat. However, as many times as you see his name appear on every mission, sadly, this isn't A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME! Phantom Pain's fox engine    Metal Gear Solid 5 Review (Spoiler Free) -

    Ever since I've seen the first trailer of MGS 5, i haven't been able to contain my hype. Waiting for the long awaited GOTY 2015 has been hard and finally getting to play it as soon as it launched was a treat. However, as many times as you see his name appear on every mission, sadly, this isn't A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME!

    Phantom Pain's fox engine is amazing, showcasing a new era of open world fun that can be had in the 8th gen of gaming. However, Kojima's so called conclusion to the epic saga is a big fail. MGS 5 is an open world game with mechanics picked up from Far Cry, Splinter Cell & some other 3rd person shooters. What the game doesn't pick is anything from its previous Metal Gears.

    Metal Gear Solid 4 remains my favourite game of all time not just because of its amazing story but also its boss battles. And Phantom Pain fails to deliver on both. The game's story is left on a cliched cliffhanger and the game has a total of 1 Boss Battle. The hype with which i started the game died down each moment I progressed towards the end.

    The game is divided into 3 sections - Prologue, Chapter 1 & Chapter 2.

    The prologue features some amazing cutscenes with chapter 1 featuring 31 missions to the finale. While some of these missions are really amazing, most are repetitive and sloppy. The game's initial impressions make you say that its a GOTY, however by the end of chapter 1, you witness a boss battle which is nothing but a bullet sponge.(felt like i was playing a Destiny boss battle, shoot rockets till death... urgh!)

    What's even more disappointing is Chapter 2, which has 19 missions, 12 of which are basically missions from Chapter 1 on higher difficulty which need to be completed in a specific way, stealing away your freedom of open world tactical espionage. The way you want to play doesn't exist anymore in Chapter 2 which makes you question the existence of the open world.

    Metal Gear Solid 5 was the most hyped game of 2015 and Kojima does nothing but disappoint. I look back at MGS 4 and see nothing but laziness from Konami & Team in this game. A lack of boss battles, the sheer lack of the amount of Kojima quantity cutscenes & the exact same missions in Chapter 2 makes me glad that i spent only $60 on this game and no more.

    Phantom Pain from no angle is 2015's GOTY & while i am not interested in Fallout 4 as of now, i hope its much better than this.    … Expand
  66. killab1984
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    Someone crank the ratings meter up to 15 we need it on this one. Best game ever made and I'll stand by that. If this is the end of Kojima and MG he went out with a earth shattering boom!
  67. carlingtat
    Sep 4, 2015
    7
    I own all the major Metal Gear Solid Releases(1-5 & Peace Walker) and consider myself a huge fan of the series and I eagerly awaited the finale of the series but now that I've played over 25 hours I cant help be disappointed by what is the last true Metal Gear Solid game and the fact its finished with a whimper.

    Pluses: +The stealth and gameplay are without doubt the best they've ever    I own all the major Metal Gear Solid Releases(1-5 & Peace Walker) and consider myself a huge fan of the series and I eagerly awaited the finale of the series but now that I've played over 25 hours I cant help be disappointed by what is the last true Metal Gear Solid game and the fact its finished with a whimper.

    Pluses:
    +The stealth and gameplay are without doubt the best they've ever been and I really enjoy trying to complete each mission and side op with the perfect stealth & no kills bonus.

    +The game looks great with the new Fox Engine and for such a big game there are little to no bugs with some great optimization.

    +Extra objectives in Missions and Side Ops give the player so much to do. I've played over 25 hours and still at only 20% complete

    +Characters and Cinematic scenes are, as always, top-notch work

    +Buddy system allows for backup on missions and side ops. Quiet is very handy to have as cover fire.

    Negatives:
    - Huge open worlds are pointless if theres barely anything in it. Both Africa and Afghanistan are huge in area but little in content. Small outposts and bases are spread wide leaving the map with about 70-80% wasteland.

    -Side ops and Mother Base staff management become crucial without the game notifying you. I spent a long time defeating a boss only to find that I needed a Transport Specialist staff member to complete the mission, a fact the game did not inform me of. Another frustrating hour of searching the internet and the maps for this specialist ensued.

    -Narrative is badly paced. After the prologue it was hours before I progressed the story in any way. Metal Gear Solid has always been excellent example in a narrative driven game but TPP doesnt seem to have much story left to tell and it seems like its a side story to the missions.

    -Hiding is just pointless in this game. Another key aspect of previous MGS games has vanished. Once you've been discovered the only way of dodging enemies is by fleeing mainly because there are very few places to hide.

    This is really a 7.5 but for a whole number rating.

    -Health and Supplies are a huge annoyance in this game. There aren't many supplies around when you need them and the guns cannot hold a lot of ammo meaning you need to constantly call for supply drops. Old system of being able to have all the weapons is gone and replaced by a loadout of 4 weapons max. Also have to hide for long periods to wait for your health to recover instead of using rations while annoying blood spatters on screen reducing your visibility.

    -Micro-transactions. All that needs to be said about this. Anyone defending micro-transactions in a £40/€60 game is an idiot.    … Expand
  68. TisAFineBarn
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    As someone who went into this with 0% prior MGS knowledge, I've found that this is the best stealth game of all time, and easily one of the top 10 games of all time on any console.
  69. Glogglies
    Sep 4, 2015
    6
    Some of the most fun Ive had with a videogame in a long time. I often find myself awestruck at the amount of content packed in every mission, and the thoughtfulness put into every map.
  70. RaidenH
    Sep 4, 2015
    9
    Almost perfect.

    I would give it a perfect score if the story had more weight in the game. I was expecting it to be the greatest thing of all time, and obviously I was a little disappointed. Regardless, it is very good in that aspect, but there goes the point. Gameplay-wise it's PERFECTION. Even the new additions make it good, although I was a little reluctant at first. I really    Almost perfect.

    I would give it a perfect score if the story had more weight in the game. I was expecting it to be the greatest thing of all time, and obviously I was a little disappointed. Regardless, it is very good in that aspect, but there goes the point.

    Gameplay-wise it's PERFECTION. Even the new additions make it good, although I was a little reluctant at first.

    I really love this game, now to the side missions!    … Expand
  71. 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
  72. 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!
  73. 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
  74. 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
  75. AlexDuplex
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    I am going to tell you this right now, I LOVE THIS GAME. The game is masterfully grafted, and the pacing is perfect. The combat feels responsive and satisfying, while the stealth feels exciting and terrifying. This game has truly mastered both the action and stealth genre, and in the future games belonging to either of those genres will be compared with this masterpiece. Fans of the seriesI am going to tell you this right now, I LOVE THIS GAME. The game is masterfully grafted, and the pacing is perfect. The combat feels responsive and satisfying, while the stealth feels exciting and terrifying. This game has truly mastered both the action and stealth genre, and in the future games belonging to either of those genres will be compared with this masterpiece. Fans of the series will be pleased to hear that this game has Hideo Kojima written all over it. It is everything that we have come to love about the series. The game is full of symbolism and allusions relating to the previous games (specifically Snake Eater). The game is also beautifully optimized for all platforms so you can expect a smooth gaming experience. It goes without saying at this point that I rate the game 10/10, however this is not to say that the game is flawless. One of the main gripes i have with the game is the fact that once you are in the map, there is only two ways you can get from 1 end to another. 1: you can run/ride there 2: you can use your helicopter. however this issue with number 2 is that in order to use your helicopter to get from one end of the map to the next you will have wait through 2 loading screens. However this issue is something that can probably be patched in the future. The second issue that you may experience with the game is that it seems as though the over-arching storyline takes a backseat to the episodic storylines you play though. This is something that may dissuade the more "hard-core" metal gear fan, however i personally found every side mission to be fulfilling. I rate this game 10/10 because i wholeheartedly believe this game is the best stealth game and arguably one of the best action games out there right now.… Expand
  76. Angeluca91
    Sep 4, 2015
    9
    instructions for those who have rated this game 5 or less: 1) take your console 2)open the window 3)throw the console out 4)find a new hobby.
    seriously a game could be not be of your liking but to rating bad this game is impossible...
  77. RavensCrime
    Sep 4, 2015
    6
    Oh god Kojima, why?
    I wanted to love this game, I wanted it to be epic and a worthwhile closure to one of of my favorite series of all time, and for the most part, I thought: "This is my GotY 2015". But then, close to the finish line, it stumbles and destroys every enjoyment I could have, instead replacing it with frustration and Game Design decisions I just cant understand.
    Metal Gear    Oh god Kojima, why?
    I wanted to love this game, I wanted it to be epic and a worthwhile closure to one of of my favorite series of all time, and for the most part, I thought: "This is my GotY 2015". But then, close to the finish line, it stumbles and destroys every enjoyment I could have, instead replacing it with frustration and Game Design decisions I just cant understand.
    Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain proves that you can never expect a good Game to stay good.
    But where do I start?
    MGSV does a lot of things right.
    +The Gameplay has never been this good in a Metal Gear Game. Seriously, the sneaking is fun and engaging, and the open world aspect makes you truly want to explore.
    +The graphical Quality is pretty good and this game runs at 60fps instead of the standard 30, while also not feeling like it sacrificed visual quality for that.
    +The Game is Gigantic, with me spending over 60 hours with roughly 70% Completion.
    +The Score has never been so perfectly mixed, every single track feels like it belongs to where it is played, and really makes some scenes really emotional.
    +The cinematics are beautiful, engaging and really great, making this one of the closest experiences to an interactive movie.
    This all sounds great, doesn´t it? So why do I rate this game relatively low?
    -While the Gameplay is great, it was never the strong point of Metal Gear Solid t begin with, at least not for me. I always played this games for the Story, and the Story in this Game is one of the worst in the series, being played completely by the numbers and an ending that makes you feel like you just wasted all the Time you played Metal Gear Solid V.
    -While the Open world is pretty Big, it also gets pretty samey pretty damn fast, making you loose interest after a few hours already.
    And my biggest gripe:
    This Game takes the Peace Walker approach in storytelling in which you have a main Chapter that is pretty basic storytelling wise, and an "Epilogue" which is aimed to complete the Story. First of all, reaching that ending is a chore. You are forced to replay Missions from earlier in the Game, just on a higher difficulty Setting.Not only does that make no narrative sense, But Metal Gear Solid V cranks it up to 11, having missions where you can get One-Shot less then 1 Second in. No Room for Error, no Fairness. That is not Fun, just Punishing.
    It is funny that i would say this about MGSV, a game in development for what feels like an eternity, but it needed more Time. The Final chapter feels like it was meant to be accompanied by Gameplay, but they had to scrap that and instead just recycled older levels.
    It is sad that it had to end like this. I truly wanted to Love this Game and for the Most Part, it felt like this would be the best Metal Gear, and a true ending to the Series, but everything it left was an awful aftertaste.    … Expand
  78. 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
  79. 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.
  80. CoNn3r_B
    Sep 4, 2015
    9
    This game is great right out of the gate, it somehow balances story narrative with open world gameplay really well but there are one or two things that make it a awkward game. Here is a spoiler free breakdown of the game.

    Story: I haven't got far in the story yet but if the rest of it is like that opening then I'm in for a fun time. The story manages to take the more ridiculous aspects    This game is great right out of the gate, it somehow balances story narrative with open world gameplay really well but there are one or two things that make it a awkward game. Here is a spoiler free breakdown of the game.

    Story: I haven't got far in the story yet but if the rest of it is like that opening then I'm in for a fun time. The story manages to take the more ridiculous aspects of the Metal Gear games and wear it like a badge of pride, I think it tries too hard to be taken seriously though with certain pieces being too philosophical just after you saw a giant flaming whale eat a helicopter, but that is just Metal Gears charm. 10/10

    Graphics: The world is just plain sexy, I'm not a graphics buff I don't usually care for it but it was during a sandstorm I just stopped and thought "holy s**t! This looks awesome." The facial features of the characters are great, if you stop for too long Big Boss adopts a bored look on his face, during a fire fight he looks focused. There is just so much detail and it is great. It is a bit bare-bones though with most of the story happening in cassette tapes, its good to listen to them while you're roaming but they just become background noise over time and you miss details. 9.5/10

    Voice acting: The voice acting is where the game starts to slip, as most fans of the series know David Hayter was replaced with Kiefer Sutherland which at first made me hesitant about the game because the codex conversations were most of the previous games but Kiefer Sutherland does it well but the main issue is that he barely speaks, where in the other games Snake/Big Boss would chat until his lips fell off you don't hear more than a few direct words from Big Boss other than a question or a clarification and this can make conversations awkward, you'll have Ocelot (played by Troy Baker) chat for about half an hour and Snake will just stare with a blank look. Robin Atkin Downs the voice actor for Kazuhira Miller is a voice actor I've heard in several games and deserves more spotlight. 9/10

    Gameplay: Metal Gear V is probably the most gameplay orientated MGS so far (I haven't played MGS:1, so I might be wrong) the gameplay is smooth yet challenging but I get the felling that later on in the game as you get better weapons it becomes easy, for example when you get the silenced sniper rifle you'll never need to get close again and with all the mountains and high places it's easy to get a vantage point. Also with the scoring system I feel pressured to stealth and not kill but there are so many ways to kill people with interrogations and mortars and stuff what they should have done is what Splinter Cell did with different types of scoring systems and if you did a certain amount of things over another you would get scored for that. But other than those little things it is probably one of the best gameplay systems I've ever played. 10/10

    The world: From what I've seen of Afghanistan I would consider visiting it, I'm not sure how accurate it is but I think it will be close to real thing, I've only seen a small area so far though but it is a pretty sight, I'm glad there is no wait system but instead you have to wait in real time, there is something about sitting on top of a mountain overlooking an enemy encampment watching for guard patrols and gaps in their patrols it just reminds me of the real thing so much I'm impressed, The enemy AI is also very unpredictable, in a good way, if they see you some will immediately try to shoot you, some will panic and fumble and some might just ignore you. 10/10

    Things to do: Despite the epic size of the world there isn't much to do, there are side ops and missions but outside of that there is only resource collecting and random murder sprees, there needs to be more in the world to do, I like the way it's just a playground where you can mess with guards, blow up towers using Jeeps and so on so forth but that's just busy work which can get boring quickly depending on who you are. 7/10

    Overall though Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a must own game which has great gameplay, great story, great graphics and a great world I would gladly loose a few months of my life to this game and I believe I will.
    Verdict: 9.4/10 a true masterpiece!    … Expand
  81. AbstractCat
    Sep 4, 2015
    8
    Why Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a disappointment:
    1. Story is sparse.
    2. The world is empty and there's not much to do aside from infiltrate bases.
    3. Lethal weapons are useless and non-lethal weapons are only developed in late game.
    As a Metal Gear Solid fan, I'm disappointed.
  82. Captiosus
    Sep 4, 2015
    7
    The game is structurally sound and plays as one would expect a modern Metal Gear Solid game to play. Graphically it's better than most and the gameplay is pretty good. I have a few quibbles about the play, such as Big Boss' movement - he feels sluggish, almost drunk - and some pretty unrefined gunplay, but these quibbles aren't really that big of a deal. The narration is ho-hum andThe game is structurally sound and plays as one would expect a modern Metal Gear Solid game to play. Graphically it's better than most and the gameplay is pretty good. I have a few quibbles about the play, such as Big Boss' movement - he feels sluggish, almost drunk - and some pretty unrefined gunplay, but these quibbles aren't really that big of a deal. The narration is ho-hum and sometimes absolutely annoying, especially when getting harassed a bunch at Mother Base. But I could list a dozen games that are infinitely worse in this aspect.

    The problem I'm having with the game is that I'm finding it all so dreadfully BORING. I've enjoyed every Metal Gear game since its inception back on the NES, including the movie-fest that was MGS4, but for some reason MGS5 just doesn't really make me want to keep playing. So far it's missing the "WOW! DID YOU SEE THAT!" factor. The game features large terrains but they're are mostly bereft of life outside of your side ops and main mission areas. 15 hours in and I'm already tired of the samey repetition of the game's mission designs.

    The open world design doesn't seem all that impressive because most of the time is spent just traversing to predetermined destinations. But it's sure beautiful to look at. Also, the microtransactions really grate my nerves. I don't understand how anyone can defend this behavior. I don't think this is a Kojima design - I'm almost certain this was forced into the game by Konami.

    (Sorry, posted this here when I meant to put it in the PC reviews.)    … Expand
  83. sircolten
    Sep 4, 2015
    10
    Metal Gear 5 isn't just a game, its an experience. Whether you will be painting you base pink and playing the most absurd songs, its how you play which makes it fun.
  84. Takumi81
    Sep 3, 2015
    9
    I love MGS from MGS1 to Guns of Patriot. This MGSV is really different from the past (more freedom, open world, MB - equipment - allies development etc ...); but this is really a masterpiece of MGS : TACTICAL (yes tactic is how to use things inside a battle), ESPIONAGE (yes , mission are really close to espionage) and ACTION (during your really quiet mission, things should goes WRONG!).I love MGS from MGS1 to Guns of Patriot. This MGSV is really different from the past (more freedom, open world, MB - equipment - allies development etc ...); but this is really a masterpiece of MGS : TACTICAL (yes tactic is how to use things inside a battle), ESPIONAGE (yes , mission are really close to espionage) and ACTION (during your really quiet mission, things should goes WRONG!).
    My feeling in the past (when i bought the released MGS game) was "i'am actively WATCHING MGS", in this MGS5 release my feeling is "i'm playing MGS".
    So, a different perspective that in my opinion should "complete" the vision about MGS.
    Have a nice infiltration !    … Expand
  85. Mcfly69
    Sep 3, 2015
    6
    Well here it is, I was so excited about this game, I've played every Metal Gear from PS2 and up and have always enjoyed them. Metal Gear 5 is NOTHING like the past Metal Gears, you're in a open world and you pick your missions? NOOO that's not what Metal Gear is about, I loved these games because of the intense and interesting storyline with missions that went with the storyline, MG5 isWell here it is, I was so excited about this game, I've played every Metal Gear from PS2 and up and have always enjoyed them. Metal Gear 5 is NOTHING like the past Metal Gears, you're in a open world and you pick your missions? NOOO that's not what Metal Gear is about, I loved these games because of the intense and interesting storyline with missions that went with the storyline, MG5 is not like that and pretty much should be called Far Cry 5.. So disappointed :( you messed up on this one Kojima… Expand
  86. akakhalifa22323
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    To get S in this game is really challenging and developing new weapons is really fun. You have many things to do in this game such as main mission, side ops, fob mission.
  87. robh404
    Sep 3, 2015
    9
    Great game all around it's both fun and addictive. It gets both graphics and gameplay right. I especially love how each mission can be played using various methods. The only downsides to this game are the hard to navigate menus and controls, and the lack of much to do on Motherbase.
  88. starki11er
    Sep 3, 2015
    5
    it´s a good game but, takes elements from the other games for build mgsv 5, sadly the final is a crap and generate the feeling of wtf many people will hate the true ending. weird way to say good bye to franchise for mr. Hype kojima it's a shame
  89. askeptic
    Sep 3, 2015
    8
    There is no denying that this game is worth your time and money. With that said, a 10/10 is simply over rated due to hype. Graphics are amazing, acting is spot on, but missions get repetitive. Be prepared for a lot of down time as you set up the mission, and play it out. There is a massive amount of things you can do in this game, but for 80% of it, you will find yourself either crouchedThere is no denying that this game is worth your time and money. With that said, a 10/10 is simply over rated due to hype. Graphics are amazing, acting is spot on, but missions get repetitive. Be prepared for a lot of down time as you set up the mission, and play it out. There is a massive amount of things you can do in this game, but for 80% of it, you will find yourself either crouched or prone. You will be infiltrating a camp just to be seen and run out to reset. Don't expect any part of the "stealth" game to be realistic either. When it is all said and done, it puts together a fun to play package, but the last appear isn't fully there. Enjoy it for what it is.… Expand
  90. MooseSpoon
    Sep 3, 2015
    7
    It's a nice game. The graphics are great. The game plays well. But in all honesty it loses some points in a few areas.

    1.) The credits for every episode are annoying. I mean did you know this game was made by Hideo Kojima? Yeah it's a thing that they took his name off the box, but I'm pretty sure I knew at the start of the game it was made by him. You don't have to remind me. 2.) It    It's a nice game. The graphics are great. The game plays well. But in all honesty it loses some points in a few areas.

    1.) The credits for every episode are annoying. I mean did you know this game was made by Hideo Kojima? Yeah it's a thing that they took his name off the box, but I'm pretty sure I knew at the start of the game it was made by him. You don't have to remind me.

    2.) It feels like Far Cry. Seriously. Gather some things, craft some things, do some open world missions. Maybe it should be called Far Cry Solid.

    3.) Micro transactions. Yes, you paid for a full game and you still get micro transactions. They're mostly for the online component, but it still seems a bit silly. If I wanted micro transactions, I can play a mobile game or something from EA.    … Expand
  91. 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
  92. 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.
  93. fafafa486
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    very cool game its perfect , and have a great story the best metal gear game........................................................................................................
  94. 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.
  95. 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.
  96. 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
  97. 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. ^_^
  98. XjuLius89
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Hideo Kojima Game. You got it? It's a Hideo Kojima game! You will see "A Hideo Kojima game" at opening of the game. Opening every missions! also after complete every missions!

    Even see his face in game!    … Expand
  99. 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.
  100. Mgsfreek97
    Sep 3, 2015
    7
    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain may be Hideo Kojima's last masterpiece within the Metal Gear-franchise, and while the game feels like an ending, it also feels like a brand new imagining of the Metal Gear series. Everything from the make your own story trough gameplay, to the immersive Mother Base system where you build your own private army, the game delivers on every front. Loyal MGSMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain may be Hideo Kojima's last masterpiece within the Metal Gear-franchise, and while the game feels like an ending, it also feels like a brand new imagining of the Metal Gear series. Everything from the make your own story trough gameplay, to the immersive Mother Base system where you build your own private army, the game delivers on every front. Loyal MGS fans will be at home here, even if theres a lot of new content. The story is fantastic, even though there are fewer cutscenes than there was in the past, and therefore the cutscenes feel like a reward for the player, because they usually come after a hard boss battle or an one hour long mission, and the cutscenes are directed beautifully.

    Short summary - 11/10 go buy it, play it, feel the hype after mission 6, and then prepare for a wild ride.    … 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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