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[Hands of Stone]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=177587918&postcount=14933


lol

Man, so much disappointment is on the horizon. More and more are starting to see the cracks in this game.

 

[schlongdog]

There's a conversation I heard at MB a few times that's been bugging me. Two guards are talking and one says something about an area that is under construction, that they saw something in there and they've seen The Boss watching from above.

But I have no idea what that's in reference too.

There's also at least two other doors like Paz's that have red lights above them then give the no entry noise when you approach. Any ideas there?

 

[WrenchNinja]

It's probably the hair that gives him all that power. In Mgs1 he was bald.

Coincidence?

Psycho Mantis is Samson now? Lol

 

[Shauni]

There's a conversation I heard at MB a few times that's been bugging me. Two guards are talking and one says something about an area that is under construction, that they saw something in there and they've seen The Boss watching from above.

But I have no idea what that's in reference too.

Maybe it's just sort of a play on how Big Boss has become such a legend, he's like a living myth. Like, people are seeing him as if he's everywhere or something like that?

 

[Alienous]

There's a conversation I heard at MB a few times that's been bugging me. Two guards are talking and one says something about an area that is under construction, that they saw something in there and they've seen The Boss watching from above.

But I have no idea what that's in reference too.

There's also at least two other doors like Paz's that have red lights above them then give the no entry noise when you approach. Any ideas there?

The AI pod?

And I think those others doors might be for FOB invasions in your duplicate FOB Mother Base.

 

[schlongdog]

Maybe it's just sort of a play on how Big Boss has become such a legend, he's like a living myth. Like, people are seeing him as if he's everywhere or something like that?

That makes sense, it's the specific mentions of an area under construction with something inside though that bugs me. It was one of the first guard conversations I heard at MB and I still hear it now after finishing the game

Edit: That would make sense Alienous.

 

[Death Metalist]

I think it's a shame that most people think this game "sucks" just because people are disappointed in the story itself, even without the twist I found the story to be engaging and insane. However, for me personally I loved the whole meta message of the ending and to me it only bridges the fact that it makes sense for real BB to be alive in MG2 since SS destroys his ass in MG1.

Aside from that though this is an excellent game with options up the ass as to how to approach any encounter, you literally make our own stories within the encounters. Then you add in all the MB stuff and how it's an extension of you at all times, developing weapons on the fly and drop them on the battlefield, call in for support chopper, switch buddies on the fly, bring in vehicles, weapon/buddy/MB/character customization and the list goes on and on about tons of shit you can do in the game.

This reminds me of MGS2 all over again actually where the switcheroo happens at the beginning of the game and I remember people hated it for that even though the gameplay was MILES apart from the first MGS, heck it reviewed great as well. Later though the game became much more liked/loved than when it first released. To this day not everyone likes/loves the ending but to me I do, it also had this meta thing going on but it also predicted alot of things about information/internet censorship/control.

When you think about it, each game is memorable in their own way and that is something to be praised about really. For me personally the series as a whole first 4 are amazing, MGS5 is great and PW is bad to average. Having MGS5 as a prequel kind of hurts it because the series ended with 4 and that's it so no matter what skullface was planning to do, it would have never come to fruition because we know the events basically that should unfold yet the game surprised me with this element of language wrapped up around this parasite thing ala The Thing.

I don't know, but the more I think about it, the more I see myself in how much I enjoyed MGS5 despite it's flaws. If more games tried to do half of what MGS games strive to do, we would have better games.

 

[Coffee Dog]

I think comparisons to MGS2 are off base just because yes, MGS2 wasn't satisfying to a lot of players, but that's because the story went in a few directions a lot of people weren't prepared for and it asks a lot of the player as far as piecing together the overall themes and structure of the game and how it relates to their own actions and input.

MGSV doesn't really do that. It just has things that happen with no real relation to one another and with no real relation to the arcs of these characters. Basically, while a lot of people didn't enjoy it, MGS2 went somewhere and said something, and that's not something that I feel can be applied to a lot of the story arcs of MGSV.

 

[Auctopus]

Just connected to a server and the game forced me to infiltrate my own FOB? Wtf

 

[ShadowOfTheIco]

With all the talk of dopplegangers and decoys. Did Kojima go one step further.

Is this the real Big Boss? Dude looks like him.

The place this game takes place, Afghanistan. Is this the ultimate ruse from Kojima? Where does it all end?

 

[randomwab]

I think comparisons to MGS2 are off base just because yes, MGS2 wasn't satisfying to a lot of players, but that's because the story went in a few directions a lot of people weren't prepared for and it asks a lot of the player as far as piecing together the overall themes and structure of the game and how it relates to their own actions and input.

MGSV doesn't really do that. It just has things that happen with no real relation to one another and with no real relation to the arcs of these characters. Basically, while a lot of people didn't enjoy it, MGS2 went somewhere and said something, and that's not something that I feel can be applied to a lot of the story arcs of MGSV.

Yeah, I sort of agree. Like it or hate it, there was a reason for the switch out in MGS2. In MGSV, other than a few moments were Big Boss acts a bit odd and not saying much, him not being the "real" Big Boss has no bearing on the story at all, at least not that I can recall. If this was the real Big Boss doing the same things, it would have made no difference. It just seems so pointless unless there's something we're all missing. A rug pulled out from under us for no reason is how I feel.

 

[Ishida]

So I think in the coming weeks we're going to get a lot of ranking lists that put the gameplay of V at the top, and the story at the bottom. But where does it rank overall in the series? As an overall package including both the story and the gameplay

MGS3 = MGS1 > MGS4 > MGS2 > PW > MG2:SS > MGSV > PO > MG

 

[schlongdog]

The Paz photos, you get them from the wandering MB soldiers right? I've done 10 and got 90% of the photos but there is no 11th mission to get the last one. Any idea where I can get it

 

[randomwab]

The Paz photos, you get them from the wandering MB soldiers right? I've done 10 and got 90% of the photos but there is no 11th mission to get the last one. Any idea where I can get it

Go back to visit her, the 11th should be stuck to the wall outside her room in the corridor.

 

[schlongdog]

Go back to visit her, the 11th should be stuck to the wall outside her room in the corridor.

Thanks. I only just discovered giving her all the photos triggers that scene but man, giving her the photos is a chore. I have to leave MB and come back for her to not be sleeping on her side.

 

[Shauni]

Yeah, I sort of agree. Like it or hate it, there was a reason for the switch out in MGS2. In MGSV, other than a few moments were Big Boss acts a bit odd and not saying much, him not being the "real" Big Boss has no bearing on the story at all, at least not that I can recall. If this was the real Big Boss doing the same things, it would have made no difference. It just seems so pointless unless there's something we're all missing. A rug pulled out from under us for no reason is how I feel.

I think you're getting exactly what the point is here.

 

[afternoon delight]

This reminds me of MGS2 all over again actually where the switcheroo happens at the beginning of the game and I remember people hated it for that even though the gameplay was MILES apart from the first MGS, heck it reviewed great as well. Later though the game became much more liked/loved than when it first released. To this day not everyone likes/loves the ending but to me I do, it also had this meta thing going on but it also predicted alot of things about information/internet censorship/control.

I too think it'll be the same- a lot of people (me included) thought it was a fun game, miles ahead of the competition- with an absolute shit story that was more annoying than intriguing. Then MGS3 came out and reminded us 'damn, no, they can write! And the scenarios are even better!"

When you think about it, each game is memorable in their own way and that is something to be praised about really. For me personally the series as a whole first 4 are amazing, MGS5 is great and PW is bad to average. Having MGS5 as a prequel kind of hurts it because the series ended with 4 and that's it so no matter what skullface was planning to do, it would have never come to fruition because we know the events basically that should unfold yet the game surprised me with this element of language wrapped up around this parasite thing ala The Thing.

I don't know, but the more I think about it, the more I see myself in how much I enjoyed MGS5 despite it's flaws. If more games tried to do half of what MGS games strive to do, we would have better games.

I'll just say I strongly disagree with these statements.

For me, it seems MGS1 and 3 will remain supreme and I'll ignore the rest. V has earned a purchase for its gameplay though, that's for sure.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

K, finished Mission 31 and at this point have got a few questions plot wise. I'm hoping to just come in and out with my head down, I don't want spoiled on anything further!

If anything is still to come up later, or I've misunderstood or missed something then just let me know

1) who was the Mantis type figure? Was it actually Psycho Mantis? What is his motivation? he takes Metal gear and causes some havoc, then steals the parasite. What's his deal?

2) Same goes for the Man on Fire? Who was he?

3) Also, who were the soldiers trying to kill you at the start? They weren't with MOF or Mantis.

4) What was the deal with Ishamel?

5) What is the deal with Quiet? There's clearly more going on there and not much has been said. I admit I guess this is upcoming stuff.

6) This is more of an observation, but I felt alot of characters didn't get much development. I never get a great sense of the backstory or motivations for Skull Face or Code Talker.

7) Last, now correct me if I'm wrong here, but what was Skull Face's plan?
Far as I got, he was using archaea (which I think is a bug that produces uranium?) along with mass developed Gear Walkers to basically force global nuclear deterrence as everyone would have a nuke.
But he also controlled these nukes too somehow? And Sahalanthropus was basically an iron fist for this as it was the biggest baddest nuke weapon?
Plus he wanted to use the English parasite to basically wrest control from Zero, yes?
So the work done at the devil's house surely was Zero's work then not Skull Face cos there was no English tapes there?


Yeah, lot of questions, I bet alot of this is in tapes =/

 

[Death Metalist]

I'll just say I strongly disagree with these statements.

For me, it seems MGS1 and 3 will remain supreme and I'll ignore the rest. V has earned a purchase for its gameplay though, that's for sure.

That's fine, not everyone is in it for the batshit insane things that happen during the series but for me I think that's what I love about MGS is that it mixes so many things and themes within all this insanity haha.

 

[MDry]

So I played the trueth episode (46) .
Is this the real end ? Is there another end ?

 

[Ether_Snake]

I think there is an Arsenal Gear prototype under Mother Base. That might just be the real Zanzibar.

This is all a simulation like MGS2 was. Even Liquid jumps off into the sea after stealing Metal Gear.

Solidus will become the perfect clone of Big Boss, not because he is a clone, but because this simulation proved someone could be conditioned into becoming Big Boss. Being a mere clone means nothing on its own. Solidus is Big Boss' insurance policy.

Big Boss is watching. This was a test, Venom is the Solidus prototype! It's not over yet!

 

[Alienous]

K, finished Mission 31 and at this point have got a few questions plot wise. I'm hoping to just come in and out with my head down, I don't want spoiled on anything further!

If anything is still to come up later, or I've misunderstood or missed something then just let me know

1) who was the Mantis type figure? Was it actually Psycho Mantis? What is his motivation? he takes Metal gear and causes some havoc, then steals the parasite. What's his deal?

2) Same goes for the Man on Fire? Who was he?

3) Also, who were the soldiers trying to kill you at the start? They weren't with MOF or Mantis.

4) What was the deal with Ishamel?

5) What is the deal with Quiet? There's clearly more going on there and not much has been said. I admit I guess this is upcoming stuff.

6) This is more of an observation, but I felt alot of characters didn't get much development. I never get a great sense of the backstory or motivations for Skull Face or Code Talker.

7) Last, now correct me if I'm wrong here, but what was Skull Face's plan?
Far as I got, he was using archaea (which I think is a bug that produces uranium?) along with mass developed Gear Walkers to basically force global nuclear deterrence as everyone would have a nuke.
But he also controlled these nukes too somehow? And Sahalanthropus was basically an iron fist for this as it was the biggest baddest nuke weapon?
Plus he wanted to use the English parasite to basically wrest control from Zero, yes?
So the work done at the devil's house surely was Zero's work then not Skull Face cos there was no English tapes there?


Yeah, lot of questions, I bet alot of this is in tapes =/

You'll get your answers in the game. It might be a good idea to leave this thread, though.

 

[V3n0m Sn4k3]

So I played the trueth episode (46) .
Is this the real end ? Is there another end ?

That's the end.

 

[Formless]

Man why there is no helicopter drop near the power plant? Really annoying.

 

[Death Metalist]

I think there is an Arsenal Gear prototype under Mother Base. That might just be the real Zanzibar.

This is all a simulation like MGS2 was. Even Liquid jumps off into the sea after stealing Metal Gear.

Solidus will become the perfect clone of Big Boss, not because he is a clone, but because this simulation proved someone could be conditioned into becoming Big Boss. Being a mere clone means nothing on its own. Solidus is Big Boss' insurance policy.

Big Boss is watching. This was a test, Venom is the Solidus prototype! It's not over yet!

You should do the next MGS game.

 

[goblin]

I have enjoyed playing Metal Gear games but I'm not a big enough MGS fan to have closely followed development or controversy around TPP so I went in relatively blind and I called that I wasn't playing as Big Boss within the opening sequence.

Up front, going in, you know you're playing a Metal Gear game so you're expecting the craziness to pop off at some point -- Kojima has built up a Shyamalan-esque reputation for twists by now. Then the first gameplay moment you have, you're told to give your name, birthday, and face while the doctor literally talks about reconstructive surgery and shows you mirrors of your before-after operation faces. The assassin that comes in says something like, "Not yet, the patient in the next bed saw my face." and immediately moves to kill you, indicating you're not her main target, and meanwhile the patient in the next bed happens to be a hyper-competent bandaged man speaking in Kiefer Sutherland's voice that grunts like Snake during his struggle with her.

Once you've got the suspicion in your head that you're not Big Boss the game never wastes an opportunity to reinforce it. All of Ocelot's talk in the early game has wink-nudge qualities. Huey doesn't recognize Snake. The Boss AI doesn't recognize Snake. Volgin's fire corpse gets up close and doesn't recognize Snake. Eli doesn't match your DNA but CLEARLY has to be a Liquid Snake cameo (and even has 液体人 -- "ekitaibito" or "liquid person" on his jacket in Japanese), so the DNA mismatch is on Punished Snake's end. Other stuff I might have forgotten or missed. For the most part I plowed through the main missions because I usually save side stuff for post-game so maybe it isn't quite as obvious if you have a lot of downtime between story beats?

Totally missed the mark on the "how" of the twist, though, because I expected it to be way more than it was. Once the vocal chord parasites got introduced as the secret sauce du jour I figured everything was going to be explained by some kind of body-changing, mind-altering, skill-copying parasite strain. But nope, it was just plain old plastic surgery that made my Asian dude with no facial hair a white guy who can grow a great beard.

Not having Quiet to do the rest of the side-ops, replay missions etc is such bullshit

This is way, way more frustrating to me than the twist. There's no warning it'll happen, so I feel like I got screwed for not playing with a guide that has a big heads up before you cross the invisible line in the mission structure that forces her out of your unit. The most fun I had playing TPP came from teaming up with Quiet to dismantle enemy bases: post her up on the opposite side and have her distract guards with a loud rifle while I use a silenced one. Since guards are pretty smart about noticing your general location even with a silenced rifle (especially if they have night vision) so you're forced to switch sniper locations often, or have Quiet shoot guards you can't get a good bead on, and it creates a really fun game of cat-and-mouse.

The game can be a lot of fun to play, and I was hoping to go back and do side ops or some of the hard-mode missions I skipped over during my playthrough, but losing Quiet took the wind out of my sails enough that instead I'll wait until some enterprising PC modder releases a fix. It's a silly design move to permanently remove options in your sandbox stealth-action game where you encourage mission replayability and experimentation.

I was saying this a couple pages ago.

Perfectly okay to pull a "To Be Continued" in the middle of a fucking helicopter crash and return you to ACC but bring Quiet back to help you in the end-game? No chance.

It's stupid. I'm already going back in time to replay events that have already happened with items I didn't have at the time like an infinite ammo bandana and my cyborg ninja suit, why enforce this one arbitrary point of realism on your gameplay experience? Or if they really want to drive home that Quiet is capital-G Gone, replace her with a generic Parasite Unit sniper that decided to join Diamond Dogs named "Mute" for post-game content. She won't hum, but outside of the resources I invested into upgrading her, I'm not attached enough to the character of Quiet to care as long as I have a buddy sniper to do dirt with.

 

[HappenstanceUK]

Its a shame there was no sneaky mention or cameo for Raiden during this. It would have been about the right era for him as a child soldier right?

 

[Cavaliersfan767]

Srry if this doesnt belong here but i need a quick answer to something. Is it possible to carry more than one secondary? If not then its pretty lame that your arm takes up a slot.

 

[Lonestar]

Srry if this doesnt belong here but i need a quick answer to something. Is it possible to carry more than one secondary? If not then its pretty lame that your arm takes up a slot.

Not that I know of. Substituting in a regular soldier, has that second spot unavailable (because they have both arms).

 

[Hands of Stone]

Its a shame there was no sneaky mention or cameo for Raiden during this. It would have been about the right era for him as a child soldier right?

Nah, he'd have only been a year old at this point. Solidus gets him involved in the Liberian Civil war in the late 80's.

 

[MDry]

That's the end.

Liquid ark is still missing an ending , don't you think ?

 

[Cavaliersfan767]

Not that I know of. Substituting in a regular soldier, has that second spot unavailable (because they have both arms).

Thanks

 

[Crossing Eden]

Liquid ark is still missing an ending , don't you think ?

It was cut from the game.

 

[V3n0m Sn4k3]

Liquid ark is still missing an ending , don't you think ?

It's a cut mission. Episode 51. Google "kingdom of the flies" there's a whole video on it that came with the CE.

 

[HappenstanceUK]

All we know is that between now and Metal Gear Solid 1 Liquid Snake will lose Sahelanthropus in a card game so has to go get Rex instead.

 

[Goldfishking]

K, finished Mission 31 and at this point have got a few questions plot wise. I'm hoping to just come in and out with my head down, I don't want spoiled on anything further!

If anything is still to come up later, or I've misunderstood or missed something then just let me know

1) who was the Mantis type figure? Was it actually Psycho Mantis? What is his motivation? he takes Metal gear and causes some havoc, then steals the parasite. What's his deal?

2) Same goes for the Man on Fire? Who was he?

3) Also, who were the soldiers trying to kill you at the start? They weren't with MOF or Mantis.

4) What was the deal with Ishamel?

5) What is the deal with Quiet? There's clearly more going on there and not much has been said. I admit I guess this is upcoming stuff.

6) This is more of an observation, but I felt alot of characters didn't get much development. I never get a great sense of the backstory or motivations for Skull Face or Code Talker.

7) Last, now correct me if I'm wrong here, but what was Skull Face's plan?
Far as I got, he was using archaea (which I think is a bug that produces uranium?) along with mass developed Gear Walkers to basically force global nuclear deterrence as everyone would have a nuke.
But he also controlled these nukes too somehow? And Sahalanthropus was basically an iron fist for this as it was the biggest baddest nuke weapon?
Plus he wanted to use the English parasite to basically wrest control from Zero, yes?
So the work done at the devil's house surely was Zero's work then not Skull Face cos there was no English tapes there?


Yeah, lot of questions, I bet alot of this is in tapes =/

Keep playing and listen to the yellow tapes (also the hamburger ones). But if you want the spoilers.

Spoiler

1) It was pycho mantis. He is also known as the third boy and leeches on people anger and revenge. At the start he is leeching on the man on fire, then skull face and then takes control of metal gear cause he starts to leech off eli. When he leeches it's a symbiotic relationship in which mantis helps the people he leeches off.

2) Some guy (I presume from peace walker) who wanted revenge on big boss. Phycho mantis leeched off his lust for revenge and in return made him a man on fire.

3) not sure but i'm pretty sure they're sent by skull face.

4) HUGE SPOILERS.. NO REALLY HUGE









Ishmeal is big boss, he got the plastic surgery. You are a guy made to look like big boss and implanted with his memories.

5) She is an assasin who is burnt to near death at the start of the game. She is rebuilt with 'parasite therapy' and doesn't speak since she has the parasite for the english langauage (remember the missing third tube from skull face).

6) They have a little in recordings but i agree.

7) He wanted to give everyone nuclear weapons which could be deactivated by him. And destroy the english language meaning all nations are equal and everyone is free. Or some bullcrap like that.

Edit: question of my own. After the mirror scene is there anything else? Also WTF was up with the fire whale. I feel like that wasn't explained.

 

[MDry]

It was cut from the game.

It's a cut mission. Episode 51. Google "kingdom of the flies" there's a whole video on it that came with the CE.

I will, thanks.

But is there any clarification why they cut it ?

 

[bodyofanamerican]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=177587918&postcount=14933


lol

I've been trying to get this, actually. Where in the chopper can I see my/Venom's reflection?

 

[V3n0m Sn4k3]

I will, thanks.

But is there any clarification why they cut it ?

None but I guess no budget or couldn't meet the deadline?

 

[MDry]

None but I guess no budget or couldn't meet the deadline?

What a shame

 

[webrunner]

the story of big boss is like zeno's paradox of the arrow
every subsequent game gets half the remaining way to bridging the gap between MGS3 and MG

 

[phoenix296]

I'm on Quiet's final mission and there is no way for me to get out of it. After I finish the mission I can't use Quiet at all? Even replays of missions where she should be there?

 

[Plasma]

I think it's a shame that most people think this game "sucks" just because people are disappointed in the story itself, even without the twist I found the story to be engaging and insane

It isn't just the story though.

• The only decent boss fight is against Quiet and even that seems like a poor version of the End boss fight from MGS3.
• Chapter 2 is terrible because you get forced to replay harder versions of older missions just to unlock the true ending.
• There is no real ramp up at the end like MGS 1, 2, 3 & 4 which are absolutely superb in that regard the final fight is usually really rewarding. In this one you replay the intro with a few new scenes the game completely peters out and loses momentum towards the end.
• Getting from A to B in the game especially in Afghanistan is really bad and just time consuming I think I spent half my time in this game travelling from one end of the map to the other to get to another side op. They should have explained the cardboard box fast travel better, I managed to finish the game before even finding out about it and looking through the OT I'm not alone.
• A lot of the main missions are fairly mediocre and don't really stand out, I've been playing the game for a week now and could only pick out a handful that were truly good.
• The way the side ops are handed out isn't that great you can go through a map picking them off one by one only to get back to the helicopter and they'll give you a bunch more in locations that you were just at making it frustrating to have to constantly go back and forth.
• For as big as the open world is there aren't that many unique areas, most of the outposts are exactly the same as one another.

I won't deny it has the best gameplay mechanics of any MGS game but everything around it falls so far short.

 

[Hellshingu]

2) Some guy (I presume from peace walker) who wanted revenge on big boss. Phycho mantis leeched off his lust for revenge and in return made him a man on fire.

Edit: question of my own. After the mirror scene is there anything else? Also WTF was up with the fire whale. I feel like that wasn't explained.

He is Volgin from MGS3.

 

[Goldfishking]

It isn't just the story though.

• The only decent boss fight is against Quiet and even that seems like a poor version of the End boss fight from MGS3.
• Chapter 2 is terrible because you get forced to replay harder versions of older missions just to unlock the true ending.
• There is no real ramp up at the end like MGS 1, 2, 3 & 4 which are absolutely superb in that regard the final fight is usually really rewarding. In this one you replay the intro with a few new scenes the game completely peters out and loses momentum towards the end.
• Getting from A to B in the game especially in Afghanistan is really bad and just time consuming I think I spent half my time in this game travelling from one end of the map to the other to get to another side op. They should have explained the cardboard box fast travel better, I managed to finish the game before even finding out about it and looking through the OT I'm not alone.
• A lot of the main missions are fairly mediocre and don't really stand out, I've been playing the game for a week now and could only pick out a handful that were truly good.
• The way the side ops are handed out isn't that great you can go through a map picking them off one by one only to get back to the helicopter and they'll give you a bunch more in locations that you were just at making it frustrating to have to constantly go back and forth.
• For as big as the open world is there aren't that many unique areas, most of the outposts are exactly the same as one another.

I won't deny it has the best gameplay mechanics of any MGS game but everything around it falls so far short.

Totally agree.

 

[valentine71]

When does Quiet leaves? Does she come back? Forever gone?

 

[Ganondorfo]

I have a feeling the storyline passionate Metal Gear fans wont be happy with this game, but its one of the best in gameplay department. But the story is maybe the weakest of the whole Mgs series.

 

[Tieske]

Yeah the game is at its best in the first 10 hours when the godawful story isnt overbearing and all the equipment, tactical options and the open world feel overwhelming in the positive sense

Might not even touch chapter 2 just to not to sour my overall experience. Are the harder missions challenging enough to go in anyway?

 

[Broken Joystick]

I have a feeling the storyline passionate Metal Gear fans wont be happy with this game, but its one of the best in gameplay department. But the story is maybe the weakest of the whole Mgs series.

It's a fantastic game.
It's a really weak MGS game.

edit: top of the page, I'll expand. Gameplay is top notch, but if this was still The Phantom Pain from Moby Dick studios or whatever, it would still be a great game. I felt there was a lot of lost potential for a MGS game, and I'm annoyed that the Liquid arc wasn't resolved.

 

[Death Metalist]

It isn't just the story though.

• The only decent boss fight is against Quiet and even that seems like a poor version of the End boss fight from MGS3.
• Chapter 2 is terrible because you get forced to replay harder versions of older missions just to unlock the true ending.
• There is no real ramp up at the end like MGS 1, 2, 3 & 4 which are absolutely superb in that regard the final fight is usually really rewarding. In this one you replay the intro with a few new scenes the game completely peters out and loses momentum towards the end.
• Getting from A to B in the game especially in Afghanistan is really bad and just time consuming I think I spent half my time in this game travelling from one end of the map to the other to get to another side op. They should have explained the cardboard box fast travel better, I managed to finish the game before even finding out about it and looking through the OT I'm not alone.
• A lot of the main missions are fairly mediocre and don't really stand out, I've been playing the game for a week now and could only pick out a handful that were truly good.
• The way the side ops are handed out isn't that great you can go through a map picking them off one by one only to get back to the helicopter and they'll give you a bunch more in locations that you were just at making it frustrating to have to constantly go back and forth.
• For as big as the open world is there aren't that many unique areas, most of the outposts are exactly the same as one another.

I won't deny it has the best gameplay mechanics of any MGS game but everything around it falls so far short.

• I enjoyed Sahelanthropus, Quiet and the two out of three encounters you fight the skulls only because that they have many ways of disposing them however, they don't hold a candle to the first 4 MGS games, shits all over PW in my opinion because all that was a bunch of bullet sponge A.I robots singing.
  
• This is the only major negative, imo. It's the same thing that plagued PW.
  
• Agreed but then again the story is not it's biggest strength however, it certainly is more interesting than PW and used language in a way that is much more than a means of communication, which I enjoyed.
  
• That's what's great about MGS games is that there is always things hidden for the player to find out IF they explored enough. The cardboard box traveling thing is also in MGS1 and 2, they are also not explained in those games as well. However, you could also just return to the ACC from the menu instead of calling the chopper. Saving you on loading times and GMP.
  
• I can agree to that but at the same time most of the missions are stories I made by playing because of the options in which it gives you to tackle any encounter, I bet you 9 times out of a 10 no 2 players will have the same outcome in every mission. Heck, not even some of the heavy story related missions could have the same outcome which is great for replay value as well as experimentation.
  
• The side ops going back to the chopper thing for it to be updated never really bothered me but maybe if you have played PW you would understand why, however it's a totally valid criticism
  
• I disagree about most of the outposts looking the same. Open the map that came with the game(if you own the retail) and look at the 10 outposts, they don't look the same in the slightest and each one has many ways of infiltrating them.

Thinking about it more, I wonder if we will ever going to get a stealth game on this caliber. Chopper coming to pick me up while playing The Final Countdown as I shoot dudes and trying to escape after being caught?

I don't even want to get into the breadth of tools that MB provides you with. I mean you could drop a tank you Fulton'd previously at any moment to use it to your advantage. In any other game this could be a major thing but here it's just one simple thing upon the many other things.

Edit: You know, if you visit the OT, you'd notice many people having problems with mission 16 which is an easy as fuck mission if you experiment enough. Like if you waited long enough(or use phantom cigar)the truck would drive out the outpost and out in the open which makes it fuck tons easier to fulton and that's just one solution.

Edit2: Heck, you could fulton all the targets in the entire game that Miller tells you to eliminate. Instead, they would work for you and you'd get general info on those people which is a nice touch.

Yeah the game is at its best in the first 10 hours when the godawful story isnt overbearing and all the equipment, tactical options and the open world feel overwhelming in the positive sense

Might not even touch chapter 2 just to not to sour my overall experience. Are the harder missions challenging enough to go in anyway?

As long as you avoid the boss missions then you're all good. They are not that of a challenge HOWEVER I have read that people just did side ops/visited MB between every 2 side ops or so and they got new story based missions.