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[The Silver]

I gotta say ... i would feel a little burned (again) being told I wasn't actually playing as big boss for this bad boy. Mostly because the whole 'Worlds most legendary and capable/deadly soldier" skill level can apparently be reached by any Joe Schmoe medic with half a dinner plate stuck in his face.

Still... if they craft it right... having BB murder my whole MB army after 20 or 30 or however many hours of work would probably make me get in the mood to murder the old man. Certainly fits the cunning villain angle.

But cmon man... "actually you weren't playing as BB at all the whole time! HAH! Gotcha."
*turns off ps4*

Turning a Joe schmoe into a legendary soldier was one of the main goals of the Patriots in mgs2.

They took Raiden, a child soldier who had repressed those memories, and only had official training via fucking vr video games and turned him into a BB level soldier on his first mission.

 

[Xiraiya]

That would be pretty messed up since you know MGS2 exists and Solidus has no scar or anything.

I really feel like Decoy is the best bet because Big Boss's face IS messed up and he is the character who can explain away injuries like that the easiest.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Turning a Joe schmoe into a legendary soldier was one of the main goals of the Patriots in mgs2.

They took Raiden, a child soldier who had repressed those memories, and only had official training via fucking vr video games and turned him into a BB level soldier on his first mission.

Cipher might've gotten the idea, or made a very primal version of it in TPP. And then maybe he later tried to derive that idea into something bigger with the Patriots?

 

[Skullface]

Man, you guys have done the impossible. You've somehow made the initially dumb "Big Boss double" theory sound legitimately cool and relevant. Well done.

I'm still really hoping this identity ruse is bullshit ;_; I'll still play and enjoy the fuck out of the game either way, but plz no

 

[Hands of Stone]

He could be, it all depends on how his aging process works, because he was born into the patriots after Solid and Liquid, to a different mother, so he is essentially younger than they are but if his aging is that rapid, he could "look" old enough, it's hard to say.
And he was off in the Liberian war in the 80s training the "small boy" unit.

If Solidus is in this I'm gonna lose my shit. My favorite snake getting to be a major character in Kojimas last Metal Gear game? Fucking ace.

 

[The Silver]

I'd much rather prefer that Venom is just some nobody, that he's "us". His past, his emotions, his experiences, his relationships, all completely erased from existence. Everything about him, everything he's ever done, all attributed to Big Boss who throws him(you) away like trash. He's a phantom.

Spoiler

(like poetry, it rhymes)

 

[DevilFox]

I'd almost prefer that. Showing Big Boss turn evil by fucking over the player would be interesting.

"Fucking over the player", according to the guide, means saving the world from the parasite. It would just be idiotic.
It would also be idiotic if Venom is either Solidus or Frank. Not only there would be some serious timeline inconsistencies but their characters would become, all of a sudden, a moron and a fool. My opinion and everything, but still, so much for the man "we're not tools of the government or everyone else" and Mr Sons of liberty.

 

[Skullface]

So spoilers are allowed here? Are there any legit spoilers? If so please give me details. Cant be bothered to read through the whole thread.

Apparently scans of the guidebook are banned from here. However, if it's allowed and if there's any interest, I saved about 10 pages worth of pictures/scans (they're in Italian), and I can manually type the text in to google translate and post the results here.

 

[Boke1879]

"Fucking over the player", according to the guide, means saving the world from the parasite. It would just be idiotic.

But we don't know about the last mission or what even the context of all of this means.

Also didn't we deduce that the "parasite" is a mechanic organism? Possibly a very early version of nanomachines?

 

[MAX PAYMENT]

But we don't know about the last mission or what even the context of all of this means.

Also didn't we deduce that the "parasite" is a mechanic organism? Possibly a very early version of nanomachines?

Its already been confirmed that it's an early form of bank machines.

 

[MAX PAYMENT]

I'd much rather prefer that Venom is just some nobody, that he's "us". His past, his emotions, his experiences, his relationships, all completely erased from existence. Everything about him, everything he's ever done, all attributed to Big Boss who throws him(you) away like trash. He's a phantom.

Spoiler

(like poetry, it rhymes)

This. But the character creator they make you do at the beginning of the game for MGO should be the face used in the reveal scene pre surgery.

 

[DevilFox]

But we don't know about the last mission or what even the context of all of this means.

Also didn't we deduce that the "parasite" is a mechanic organism? Possibly a very early version of nanomachines?

It doesn't matter what it is. His actions would be justified, that's the "problem".

 

[BreezyLimbo]

So I'm watching Giant Bomb watch the phantom pain trailers(Drew Scanlon and Dan Ryckert for their 'Metal Gear Scanlon Feature) and Drew pretty much nails it-

Drew:"So how do you get rid of somebodies language? Mess with their brain...psychic-ly."

Do we know if Mantis has anything to do with the Metal Arachea?

 

[Hands of Stone]

That would be pretty messed up since you know MGS2 exists and Solidus has no scar or anything.

Well perhaps when The Patriots set him up to be president they cleaned him up. Plastic surgery/nanomachines could be a powerful combo.

BTW, one thing that always bothered me about MGS2 was Solids (lack of) reaction of Solidus.

"Fucking over the player", according to the guide, means saving the world from the parasite. It would just be idiotic.
It would also be idiotic if Venom is either Solidus or Frank. Not only there would be some serious timeline inconsistencies but their characters would become, all of a sudden, a moron and a fool. My opinion and everything, but still, so much for the man "we're not tools of the government or everyone else" and Mr Sons of liberty.

For as much Solidus claims to be his own man and "Patriot", it doesn't erase the fact he was a pawn for most of his life. The brief incident at the Big Shell, which is his shining moment of independence, turns out to be yet another carefully orchestrated plan by the very same group he wished to destroy.

 

[crazyrabbits]

"Fucking over the player", according to the guide, means saving the world from the parasite. It would just be idiotic.
It would also be idiotic if Venom is either Solidus or Frank. Not only there would be some serious timeline inconsistencies but their characters would become, all of a sudden, a moron and a fool. My opinion and everything, but still, so much for the man "we're not tools of the government or everyone else" and Mr Sons of liberty.

I agree. It sounds like Venom is forced to liquidate his rank-and-file troops (obviously Miller/Ocelot/Huey won't die because they're tied to canon, even though Miller has shown similar symptoms in one shot from a trailer), so I guess they're framing it as a "did what I had to do" kind of situation. He finds out that the virus has spread and there's the threat of outbreak, so he feels remorseful while doing it but also determined. I guess it's supposed to mess with player expectations (you spent all this time building this place up and basically have to tear it down yourself).

I also don't believe that Venom would be a clone or someone else. This sounds like it's supposed to be a pivotal moment in Big Boss' evolution. I have a feeling that the Ishmael pages are just Konami/Kojima fucking with us.

 

[Boke1879]

It doesn't matter what it is. His actions would be justified, that's the "problem".

I'm still going off the theory that "venom" isn't Big Boss and is using him to achieve some sort of selfish goal. That would justify BB being a monster in my eyes.

 

[Xiraiya]

Well perhaps when The Patriots set him up to be president they cleaned him up. Plastic surgery/nanomachines could be a powerful combo.
BTW, one thing that always bothered me about MGS2 was Solids (lack of) reaction of Solidus.

Solidus actually says to Snake "Don't tell me you've forgotten me?"
Which is kind of interesting, so far there's been no hint of Snake/David in MGSV (which makes sense), only Eli, but it does sound like they might have crossed paths at some point, maybe Snake didn't know who he was, I mean Snake was not aware of Les efante Terrible until MGS1, he thought he was Big Boss's real son up until Liquid told him they were clones.

And he would have only found out about Solidus between MGS1 and 2.

 

[Wanda/Wander]

This. But the character creator they make you do at the beginning of the game for MGO should be the face used in the reveal scene pre surgery.

That would be awesome.

 

[GringoSuave89]

Solidus actually says to Snake "Don't tell me you've forgotten me?"
Which is kind of interesting, so far there's been no hint of Snake/David in MGSV (which makes sense), only Eli, but it does sound like they might have crossed paths at some point, maybe Snake didn't know who he was, I mean Snake was not aware of Les efante Terrible until MGS1, he thought he was Big Boss's real son up until Liquid told him they were clones.

And he would have only found out about Solidus between MGS1 and 2.

Did Solid ever meet Solidus when he was just George Sears? That could be it as well.

 

[gafneo]

I really feel like Decoy is the best bet because Big Boss's face IS messed up and he is the character who can explain away injuries like that the easiest.

I think if Kojima was using the Diamond Dogs after The Man Who Sold the World album, he would use Decoy Octopus in certain parts of the story because it's based on doplegangers that mimic. Quiet was speculated to be DO, but now that I know she can't be near water, it is not an Octopus.

 

[Hands of Stone]

Solidus actually says to Snake "Don't tell me you've forgotten me?"
Which is kind of interesting, so far there's been no hint of Snake/David in MGSV (which makes sense), only Eli, but it does sound like they might have crossed paths at some point, maybe Snake didn't know who he was, I mean Snake was not aware of Les efante Terrible until MGS1, he thought he was Big Boss's real son up until Liquid told him they were clones.

And he would have only found out about Solidus between MGS1 and 2.

I wonder how though.

You'd think Snake seeing (as far as he'd know) Big Boss again after killing him would warrant some type of reaction. I do know the public at large never connected George Sears and Big Boss as looking the exactly the same was due to The Patriots tightly controlling information about BB.

 

[Boke1879]

I wonder how though.

You'd think Snake seeing (as far as he'd know) Big Boss again after killing him would warrant some type of reaction. I do know the public at large never connected George Sears and Big Boss as looking the exactly the same was due to The Patriots tightly controlling information about BB.

With Solidus being such a public figure as the President and being the "Spitting image" of Big Boss. I wonder if Snake possibly put two and two together?

 

[Xiraiya]

I wonder how though.
You'd think Snake seeing (as far as he'd know) Big Boss again after killing him would warrant some type of reaction. I do know the public at large never connected George Sears and Big Boss as looking the exactly the same was due to The Patriots tightly controlling information about BB.

I believe they mention George Sears going into hiding because of "Health Issues" I believe that his rapid aging was taking a toll and he had to get out of the public eye, so in theory he was probably out of Snake's sight before he started looking like Big Boss, Snake wouldn't have known what a younger Big Boss looked like and beyond that George just would have reminded him of himself, that's my guess, it's vague enough that we don't really know, also before MGS1 Snake was a hermit in Alaska, so he might have not even seen the president until after MGS1.

And between MGS1/2 is a guess because Snake and Otacon were hacking information from places and hunting down Metal Gears around the world remember, so it makes sense to me that they could stumble onto that, or even were simply looking into Les Efante Terribles project in general.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

I believe they mention George Sears going into hiding because of "Health Issues" I believe that his rapid aging was taking a toll and he had to get out of the public eye, so in theory he was probably out of Snake's sight before he started looking like Big Boss, Snake wouldn't have known what a younger Big Boss looked like and beyond that George just would have reminded him of himself, that's my guess, it's vague enough that we don't really know, also before MGS1 Snake was a hermit in Alaska, so he might have not even seen the president until after MGS1.

And between MGS1/2 is a guess because Snake and Otacon were hacking information from places and hunting down Metal Gears around the world remember, so it makes sense to me that they could stumble onto that, or even were simply looking into Les Efante Terribles project in general.

The whole 'George stepped down from presidency due to health issues' was fabricated by the Patriots. They sacked him and then intended to kill him, but he resisted them.

 

[hank_tree]

Which is kind of interesting, so far there's been no hint of Snake/David in MGSV (which makes sense), only Eli

Well there's that trailer that shows Eli in a helicopter with his twin.

 

[Hands of Stone]

The whole 'George stepped down from presidency due to health issues' was fabricated by the Patriots. They sacked him and then intended to kill him, but he resisted them.

When was this stated?

Was it during President Johnsons speech to Raiden?

I'd just like a bit of redemption for Solidus after the shit show of his involvement in MGS4.

 

[Xiraiya]

Well there's that trailer that shows Eli in a helicopter with his twin.

Yes, aside from the fact they both look like Liquid with the same marks on their faces, same clothes and everything.
Snake had never met or known of Liquid before MGS1.

I just assumed it was Mantis shenanigans, it never for a second crossed my mind that it might be David.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

When was this stated?

Was it during President Johnsons speech to Raiden?

I'd just like a bit of redemption for Solidus after the shit show of his involvement in MGS4.

Yeah. Johnson is the one who explicitly states it that way, that after the Patriots found out of Solidus' involvement in Shadow Moses they sacked him and Solidus went into hiding. That to the public, the excuse given was that George Sears was stepping down due to his health.

(Or maybe Solidus went into hiding before being sacked publicly, the impression I got was that Solidus went into hiding after his involvement was exposed and after he got sacked, though.)

 

[Hellshingu]

After following this thread for the last couple of days and sitting back and processing that you are most likely not playing Big Boss I am kind of warming up to the idea.

If BB is supposed to be the character you end up hating I don't think I could hate him if I was playing as him and seeing everything through his eyes I'd already end up sympathizing with him as a character. I already have grown to like BB as a character and he has grown to become one of my favorite because his journey has been more interesting than solid snakes ever was in my opinion. If it turns out this whole clone thing is a ruse I'll still enjoy playing as BB and watching his descent into hell.

I'm just glad we can all speculate and look for any clue to help us figure it out as this is probably going to be the last time we will ever get to do this.

 

[Cubed]

Kojima and Konami deserve credit for being able to keep people guessing about the story just 9 days before release, in this day and age.

 

[Sub_Level]

The whole 'George stepped down from presidency due to health issues' was fabricated by the Patriots. They sacked him and then intended to kill him, but he resisted them.

You are correct but small correction: they made him THINK they wanted to kill him. They didn't, at least not yet. They had Ocelot take him underground and prep him for the orchestrated Big Shell takeover. He never actually successfully resisted anything. He was allowed to "resist". They could have had Ocelot shoot him in the back of the head at any time, bar Ocelot's own motives.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

You are correct but small correction: they made him THINK they wanted to kill him. They didn't, at least not yet. They had Ocelot take him underground and prep him for the orchestrated Big Shell takeover. He never actually successfully resisted anything. He was allowed to "resist". They could have had Ocelot shoot him in the back of the head at any time, bar Ocelot's own motives.

Oh well yeah. Solidus only had as much freedom as they allowed him to have.

 

[Hands of Stone]

Do we know how strongly accelerated Solidus's aging was?

He was 37 yet looked more like his early 60's when he died.

If he starred in MGSV he'd be 12 but physically he could be in his mid 20's. It was 1989 when the Liberian civil war began, at only 17 he was leading missions and took on Raiden as a child soldier. In those Rising promos he was depicted as pretty old looking already but I dunno how canon they are.

 

[Hellshingu]

Do we know how strongly accelerated Solidus's aging was?

He was 37 yet looked more like his early 60's when he died.

If he starred in MGSV he'd be 12 but physically he could be in his mid 20's. It was 1989 when the Liberian civil war began, at only 17 he was leading missions and took on Raiden as a child soldier. In those Rising promos he was depicted as pretty old looking already but I dunno how canon they are.

Id assume it was pretty rapid I agree that by the time he was a teenager he would probably look like he was in his 30s. There hasn't rrally been any confirmation on just how fast he aged. It's not too far fetched to see him appear in some way in this game in his mid 20s.

 

[RyanardoDaVinci]

Do we know how strongly accelerated Solidus's aging was?

He was 37 yet looked more like his early 60's when he died.

If he starred in MGSV he'd be 12 but physically he could be in his mid 20's. It was 1989 when the Liberian civil war began, at only 17 he was leading missions and took on Raiden as a child soldier. In those Rising promos he was depicted as pretty old looking already but I dunno how canon they are.

I always assumed that Solidus was never a child but a direct clone of Big Boss at whatever age he was at the time, then Solidus aged as a normal person would, maybe a little faster.

 

[shocky2002]

Does anyone realize that, with the info we have right now, there is absolutely no hint towards Big Boss turning 'evil' whatsoever? The Venom Snake that we know has done nothing that would suggest a heel turn, even though this thing has been marketed as the premise of MGSV.

I can only see the 'heel turn' being done by having the real Big Boss show up at the end and kill Venom who's essentially (you the player). Because Venom has to be a new character, a nobody, and not Gray Fox or Solidus.

 

[Xiraiya]

I always assumed that Solidus was never a child but a direct clone of Big Boss at whatever age he was at the time, then Solidus aged as a normal person would, maybe a little faster.

No he grew up like the others, they never had the technology to just clone a person "as is", if they could, the Patriots experiments would have worked out much easier for them.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Does anyone realize that, with the info we have right now, there is absolutely no hint towards Big Boss turning 'evil' whatsoever? The Venom Snake that we know has done nothing that would suggest a heel turn, even though this thing has been marketed as the premise of MGSV.

I can only see the 'heel turn' being done by having the real Big Boss show up at the end and kill Venom who's essentially (you the player). Because Venom has to be a new character, a nobody, and not Gray Fox or Solidus.

All of the stuff this thread has talked about, in itself, is speculation fueled by the guide. For all we know we could be completely wrong and the story gets crazier than our speculation.

 

[Xiraiya]

The most we can do is iron out and debate details and discuss theories, we don't actually know anything about the context of the story, or the story it's self.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

For all we know Big Boss is making a documentary of his struggle against Cipher, Skullface is the disgruntled producer, Venom Snake is the actor stand in for Big Boss(Who's directing!), Ishmael is the stunt double who's busy smoking up the crack, Quiet is just a model that Big Boss liked, and Chico got fired because he was a punk. And Paz(Clone Paz!) had some dirt on BB so that's why she's still in the movie.

See, it all makes sense.

 

[squadr0n]

is the Review Embargo ending tonight at midnight or is it tomorrow? Not like the reviews will tell us much but I still would like to hear some talk about length and extra stuff like the Cyborg Ninja and Raiden outfits.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

is the Review Embargo ending tonight at midnight or is it tomorrow? Not like the reviews will tell us much but I still would like to hear some talk about length and extra stuff like the Cyborg Ninja and Raiden outfits.

I think tomorrow?

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

is the Review Embargo ending tonight at midnight or is it tomorrow? Not like the reviews will tell us much but I still would like to hear some talk about length and extra stuff like the Cyborg Ninja and Raiden outfits.

I'd like to know if swords are in.

 

[squadr0n]

My bad, yea it's actually Monday 9 am pst.

Also what needs to be done in Ground Zeroes to unlock whatever content in TPP? Or is that attached to the code? I got a PS+ copy of GZ so I'm not sure I'll get the dlc code for it, I did however get one for the XBone but I'll be playing on ps4.

I'd like to know if swords are in.

doubt it, It will probably be just like the playable Raiden in Ground Zeroes extra side ops. There was mention of the ability to kick people to death though lol. Hopefully they will have some sort of katana though, a experimental HF Blade would be a really nice callback.

 

[Ozium]

https://twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/status/635275653177176064

last trailer coming on the 25th

 

[normalmode]

Just finished it an hour ago (having attended the review event and continued my progress at home). I look forward to coming back to this thread after release, but right now I can say that the post-completion cassettes really add a lot to fill in gaps between MGS3 and TPP. And yes, the post-completion timeline scroll (like the ones in MGS3 and MGS4) have been updated.

 

[Oni3298]

Just finished it an hour ago (having attended the review event and continued my progress at home). I look forward to coming back to this thread after release, but right now I can say that the post-completion cassettes really add a lot to fill in gaps between MGS3 and TPP. And yes, the post-completion timeline scroll (like the ones in MGS3 and MGS4) have been updated.

Good to hear. Excited to read your review tomorrow.

 

[thabtoUK]

REPOSTED FOR NEWCOMERS TO THE THREAD, WITH ONE LARGE CORRECTION TO A MUSIC TAPE.

Just to refresh, the official Italian version of the The Phantom Pain guide printed by Piggyback states the following points.

This information is from these pictures, which where taken by PumaWarrior on the MGS Reddit, who owns the original manual:

http://batmariafg.imgur.com

Videos proving the validity of the these pictures were also upload by PumaWarrior and can be seen here, where information has additionally been taken from:

http://a.pomf.cat/vmqfmv.mp4

http://a.pomf.cat/qzeauc.mp4

I am semi-fluent in Italian and have personally translated these points myself from the pictures in the link.

Other native Italian speakers have also verified the below points.

Thanks to Crossing Eden, Sickboy007, DevilFox on here and Sangivstheworld and Damnfiddles over on the MGS Reddit for further translating and organising some of this information.

GENERAL

• Avatar creation is for the online elements only.
• The are 50 main missions.
• There are 157 side missions.
• The alternate name of the ST-84 Metal Gear is confirmed to be the Sahelathropus.
• The ST-84 Metal Gear has 6 body parts. Every part has its own life bar and destroying each part gives different advantages.
• Zero orders Dr. Strangelove, who now works for DARPA, to develop The Patriots' AI to keep his control over the world.
• In the penultimate mission of the main story, you must make contact with and recover Code Talker. Code Talker is being guarded by The Skulls.
• The final mission of the main story is against the Metal Gear, which is being controlled by "The Third Child".
• The "Man on Fire" is Volgin. You have to get recover his body in Chapter 2.
• The guide says it's safe to assume that Eli is Liquid Snake.
• The map confirms there are three main locations; Afghanistan, Africa and Mother Base.
• Mission 46 is missing from from the guide. It does exist, but the player has to fulfill very specific conditions to access it. Konami asked Piggy Back to not to reveal how to unlock the mission or detail it's content. However, Piggy Back will gradually supply information and updates online as they become available. The website will be www.piggyback.com/it/mgsv or the player can use a Quick Response code.

SKULLFACE

• The guide states that Skullface is the main antagonist of Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain and that he was born in Hungary, where his parents worked in a secret weapons factory.
• During the bombing of the weapons factory he was knocked down and trampled on by terrified crowds fleeing in search of safety. This caused Skullface very serious injuries.
• Abandoned in critical condition and without any possibility of cure with conventional means, he survived thanks to a innovative therapy with parasites. However, this therapy also it caused his deformation and damage to his nervous system, meaning he can no longer feel pain.
• He was then recruited in secret by Major Zero and his mandate with the XOF unit was to watch over Big Boss and make sure that his important missions didn't fail. This includes Operation Snake Eater from Metal Gear Solid 3.
• Working for Zero and watching over Big Boss for many years led to him resenting the two of them, particularly Zero.
• Skullface attacks Mother Base in 1975 during the events of Ground Zeroes and tries to kill Big Boss by implanting bombs inside Paz
• When Skullface discovers that Zero and Strangelove are making The Partriot AI, he develops a parasite that infects peoples' voice boxes and stops them from speaking. This parasite is developed by Code Talker, who has the cure, but does want to share it.
• Because of the information supplied by Paz at the end of Ground Zeroes, Skullface finds Zero and infects him with the parasite. This causes Zero to slowly go into a vegetive state.
• Skullface plans to spread the parasite using the ST-84 Metal Gear.
• Skullface nearly completes his plan, but his overthrown by "The Third Child" after Mantis becomes enraged by Eli's presence in the XOF helicopter.
• Skullface is crushed by the ST-84 Metal Gear and Miller and Big Boss decide to leave him to die, so he can suffer.
• However, Huey ignores this idea and finally kills Skullface.

BIG BOSS/AHAB

• The guide strongly suggests through clues that the Medic from Ground Zeroes is the version of Big Boss who awakens from the coma in the hospital. This version of Big Boss is known as Ahab.
• The guide notes that Big Boss and the Medic have similar voices, so he is a strong candidate for being the version of Big Boss/Ahab that awakens from the coma in hospital.
• The guide continues by saying that in Ground Zeroes, the Medic is one of Big Boss' "most trusted men".
• The guide also says that the Big Boss we see on the operating table in the "Don't you die on me dammit!" scene from the trailers does not have shrapnel in his head. The guide suggests that the Medic is the person to most likely have the shrapnel in his head, while also being the same hospital room, as he protected Big Boss from the Paz's bomb blast in the chopper in Ground Zeroes.
• Huey is not sure of Big Boss/Ahab's identity when he first meets him.
• The guide says that the version of Big Boss/Ahab that awakens from the coma in hospital has a DNA test done with Eli. Their DNA does not match. The guide goes on to state that since Eli is a clone of the real Big Boss, their DNA should match. The guides says this again gives a glue to Ahab's identity.
• The guide notes that when Eli asks Ocelot where his father is, Ocelot replies that "Your father isn't here". This is despite the fact that Ahab is watching their conversation behind a two-way mirror.

ISHMAEL

• The guide doesn't definitely say who Ishmeal is. Konami and Kojima Production asked Piggyback, the creators of the guide, not to reveal it. Ishmael's identity is revealed in an optional mission after the main story has ended.
• The guide does however, go over some fan theories and gives clues towards the true identity of Ishmael.
• The guide discusses the theory that Ishmael is imaginary. It says that this can't be the case as Quiet sees Ishmael when she comes to assassinate the version of Big Boss/Ahab that awakens from the coma in the hospital.
• The guides further states that as Big Boss/Ahab is sat in the left-hand seat of the right-hand driven ambulance that's used to escape the hospital, Ishamel must be real.
• However, Ishmael suddenly disappears when the ambulance crashes. Ocelot rescues Big Boss/Ahab from the ambulance after the crash. Big Boss/Ahab asks Ocelet who Ishmael was, but Ocelot deliberately ignores the question.
• The guide says that the fact that there are "The Star of Bethlehem" lilies in the Ishmael's and Big Boss/Ahab's room is a strong clue to the real identity of Ishmael. The guide also states that these lilies hold a significance to The Boss.
• When Ahab sees the ghost of Paz the first time at Mother Base, he has an hallucination where there are clearly two versions of Big Boss on the chopper.

QUIET

• Quiet's hearing is ten times more sensitive than normal soldiers.
• Her vision is unaffected by time of day, so there is no difference in her sight between night and day.
• Quiet leaves you after mission 43 and to finish her story you will have to find her after the main story is over.
• Quiet goes to the hospital to kill Big Boss at the start of the game and speaks while doing so. She specifically says "Not yet. The patient in the next bed saw my face" in regards to if she has assassinated Big Boss/Ahab.
• Water has a negative affect of Quiet's powers.
• If you spray Quiet with water she will "writhe", because the parasites inside her are absorbing the water. She also reacts to rain.
• The guide states that Big Boss' relation with Quiet is based on mutual respect and has no traditional romantic connotation. It goes on to say that this doesn't diminish the importance of their relationship or Quiet's sacrifice when saving Big Boss.

THE SKULLS

• The are three versions of The Skulls; A fog Version, an armoured version and a camouflage version.
• All versions of The Skulls have health that slowly regenerates over time.
• Like Quiet, they also have a negative reaction to water and rain.
• You can fulton every type of Skull, leading to different rewards.
• Like Quiet, they have perfect vision during night time and you can them breathing if you listen aiming with one of thier sniper rifles.
• Destroying the "fog version" Skulls' body parts rapidly reduce their health and resistance.
• Fultoning the "armoured version" Skulls will reward with the player with parasite enhanced armour.
• Fultoning the "camouflage version" Skulls leads to the creation of an item that grants the player 30 seconds on invisibility.
• The "camouflage version"'s body parts can't be destroyed, so headshots are the most useful way to defeat these Skulls.

THE ENDING

NOTE: The excerpt of the guide that this translation is taken from does not clearly state which "Big Boss" is being referred to.

• The guide states that at the end of The Phantom Pain, the parasite that mutates peoples' vocal chords infects Mother Base. This forces Big Boss to exterminate his soldiers to prevent a global catastrophe.
• The guide continues by saying that although he takes on this responsibility without any apparent remorse, it's impossible from him to ignore the fact that he has contributed to these events. This causes him to unleash his "inner demon".
• The guide states Big Boss becomes the antagonist gradually, slowly consumed by what happens to him until all that is left is his obsession.
• After these events, Big Boss is more determined than ever to reinforce his troops, with the aim of forming a nation free from the governments' hegemony, a dream he will be on the verge of realising in the 1990's.

BOSS FIGHTS

• THE SKULLS
  
  Fog Version - Missions 1 and 6.
  
  Armoured Version - Missions 16, 29 and (And 37, 42 on Extreme Difficulty Only).
  
  Camouflage Version - Missions 28 and 46.
  
  
• QUIET
  
  Mission 11 (And 40 on Extreme Difficulty Only)
  
  
• THE "MAN ON FIRE"
  
  Prologue and Mission 20
  
  
• ELI
  
  Mission 23 (and Optional Mission 113).
  
  
• SAHELANTHROPUS (METAL GEAR ST-84)
  
  Missions 12 and 31 (And Mission 50 on Extreme Difficulty Only)

MUSIC TAPES

The map from the guide also confirms that these are some of the music tapes that are collectable from different locations.

These are in addition to some of the other music tapes that have already been confirmed:

• Laid Back - White Horse
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwATF5dnfq4
  
  
• Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMWGXt979yg
  
  
• Ultravox - Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWvPMxsDb_s
  
  
• Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nozewQJ4hyw
  
  
• Japan - Quiet Life
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrW3SLcC3OM
  
  
• Laura Branigan - Gloria
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnJCEuyUac
  
  
• Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record)
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGNiXGX2nLU
  
  
• The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa2nLEhUcZ0
  
  
• Cynhtia Harrell - Snake Eater
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsvNl1WiKkk
  
  
• Jennifer Rush - Midnight Mirage
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nofjO-N3nGo

 

[Ozium]

here's a youtube link to The Cure - Friday I'm In Love that works in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa2nLEhUcZ0

 

[ezekial45]

Any word on Nena's 99 Red Balloons / Luftballoons appearing in the game?