Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end.

The Phantom Pain is the kind of game I thought would never exist - one where every minute gameplay detail has true purpose. Its lack of story focus is sure to be divisive for the Metal Gear faithful, but the resulting emphasis on my story, my tales of Espionage Action, easily make it my favorite in the series. There have certainly been sandbox action games that have given me a bigger world to roam...

Convoluted stories and top notch stealth mechanics have been staples of every Metal Gear release. My first contact with the series was back in 2002 when I saw a used copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 for sale at Blockbuster Video. At that time I knew nothing about the series other than the good reviews and TV commercials. I decided to give it a shot and I was blown away by what I experienced. Engrossing ...

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Such player-driven drama, comedy, and action eclipses anything in the disappointing scripted narrative. The Phantom Pain is one of the worst Metal Gear stories ever told. It functions neither as a standalone narrative nor as worthwhile insight into the series overall. And yet, The Phantom Pain is the best stealth-action game ever made, one where playing flawlessly is just as thrilling as outright ...

A celebration of everything that makes MGS so brilliantly unique, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain heralds a new stage in Kojima's stealth opus that might sadly be his last. Should the Metal Gear series continue without Kojima Productions, we'd be surprised if it's anywhere near as superlative as this. The Phantom Pain is sensational.

Despite the fact that I hit a few snags along the way, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain feels like a simultaneous celebration of the series, and a decidedly new chapter. It’s equal parts tough and flashy, and it’s fitting that if this is Kojima’s last Metal Gear, he goes out on a high note.

The Phantom Pain makes a major departure from the gameplay of the earlier home console games, but it’s brilliant for it. The story loses its momentum half-way through and the boss fights can fall flat, but those are minor points compared to the outstanding open world that has been created for you to play in and the freedom to do so.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an ending to a massively popular series, and it's excellent. It takes chances that have never existed in the Metal Gear franchise without compromising any of the qualities that are beloved by many.

There may be some issues with it, but Metal Gear Solid V is a beautiful game with a story that is fairly interesting.

You creep into an enemy base inside a cardboard box that, when stationary, the guards don’t seem too suspicious of.

It would be impossible to talk about Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain without mentioning the whole Kojima-gate. A few months ago, rumors started to circulate about Kojima parting ways with Konami after the release of MGSV. These were eventually confirmed and the publisher even went as far as removing Kojima's name from all marketing material, which angered some long time fans of the series.