The Last In The Hideo Kojima Metal Gear Series
Developed and published by Konami, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was the last MGS games released by the famous Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima in 2015. The game was just one many in Metal Gear series. The Metal Gear Series has been around since the original Metal Gear game was released in 1987. Over the years, the series has become known for its intricate storylines, stealth-based gameplay, and iconic characters like Solid Snake and Big Boss.
The Game
The Phantom Pain takes place in 1984, nine years after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Players take on the role of Punished “Venom” Snake, a mercenary who awakens from a coma with no memory of his past. As Venom Snake, players must infiltrate enemy bases and complete missions in order to rebuild their own private army and uncover the truth about their past.
The game features a massive open world environment, allowing players to explore the vast deserts, jungles, and mountains of Afghanistan and Angola-Zaire. The gameplay is classic Metal Gear, with a heavy emphasis on stealth and tactical espionage action. The game also introduces a new buddy system, where players can bring a partner on missions such as Quiet, a sniper with supernatural abilities.
One of my favorite aspects of The Phantom Pain is its attention to detail. The game’s graphics were amazing (especially for the time), with incredibly realistic character models and detailed environments. The gameplay is also incredibly fluid, with a wide range of options for players to choose from in order to complete their missions.
Critical Acclaim & Controversy
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain received critical acclaim for its gameplay, story, and presentation. It was praised for its open-world design, which gave players a high degree of freedom and flexibility in how they approached missions. The game’s graphics and sound design were also highly praised.
However, the game was not without controversy. Hideo Kojima, the game’s director, had a falling out with Konami, and the company removed his name from the game’s box art and promotional materials. This led to speculation that Kojima had been fired from Konami, which the company denied.
Overall, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a great addition to the series, offering a deep and engaging story, exciting gameplay, and a massive open world to explore. I’d have to say it’s still one of my favorites. Fans of the series should not be disappointed, and newcomers to the franchise will find plenty to love as well. My verdict: It’s a must-play!
Life After Kojima. Steam Sale (75% Off)
While this game was the final developed by Hideo Kojima, Konami has continued on with the series. In 2018 Metal Gear Survive was release on the Xbox One, Ps4, and PC. The non-Kojima release was general viewed negatively with many complaining that the game felt generic for its branded zombie-like fights. It was also criticized for it’s lack of “feel” previous games in the series had.
Nowadays Metal Gear Solid v can be picked up fairly cheap. At the time of this article, you can get the PC version 75% OFF over at Steam for $4.99. They also have The Definitive Experience for $7.49. This package includes MGSV: The Phantom Pain, MSGV: Ground Zero (prologue story), Metal Gear Online, and all the DLCs. As a side note, if you play Ground Zero first (the prologue to Phantom Pain), there are a few rewards you get to carry forward with you into the next game via game save data.
