Support NeoGAF

[StueyDuck]

Is the worst mgs by a mile .... and its not even close... coudnt even get to the half of it ... its the only open world mgs and it was awful ... In fact I hardly consider MGS5 an mgs game as much as FF16 is an FF game. Mgs5 was the beginning of kojima crazy era culminating with the now batshit crazy mail man simulator.

Mgs4 as much as people didnt like it (and I love it) still feel like an proper mgs game.

but you've admitted you've not even really played 5, you got to the first mission and stopped.

as someone whose played and beaten all the MG games including the ac!d games. i know that MGS5 is definitely not the worst in the franchise.

MGS4 was a long cutscene, again i loved it because of the story but as an MGS game it wasn't very good, it had very little player agency and it didn't' really do anything with what mechanics it did have.

in comparison MGS 1, 2 and 3 had a lot more freedom even if they were still linear. Peacewalker is strange cause it's entirely mission-based which i didn't like but it was also on a handheld so it gets a pass in that sense.

 

[K' Dash]

that is the worst metal gear BY FAR, Konami sold us a fucking unfinished game, a sandbox of NOTHING and we BOUGHT IT.

Hate from CR

Fuck off.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

When someone says they didn't get past the first mission in a game but declare it XYZ then know their opinion is worth *less* than dog shit. I've said it before but I'll say it again, way too many on GAF eager to run their mouth without having any clue what they are actually talking about.

Here is another great vid, this one focused on the timeline of the series, the amount of content breaking down MGS narrative, secrets and gameplay mechanics is endless though:

 

[noob smokes]

Gameplay excellent
Story was garbage
Missions was repetitive af
Game peaked with the opening

 

[Zacfoldor]

I've tried. It's one of those games that everytime I try to like it I start playing it and the controls are just all fucked and weird and I can never be messed to fix them.

I want to like it but I can't get past this mental block in my head so I literally can't give it a chance. Sad. I know I'd love it if I could sink more than few hours into it, but damn, the beginning did not do a great job of onboarding me into the game at least.

 

[SiahWester]

It's a great game for sure, but MGSV was a massive letdown in terms of story. If you played MGS before the 5th game it was a cutscene/story focused experience. They scrapped all of that in MGSV and honestly it should not have been called Metal Gear Solid. I'm sure Kojima just wanted to do something different, but Konami wouldn't allow it so it became MGSV. Only thing I cannot stand about those games is the fact that you can't skip the damn helicopter sequences.

I miss the old MGS games. There aren't many games like that anymore where it's heavy on the cutscenes.

 

[Roni]

Yeah, 2015 was the last good year before we switched into the dark timeline. Lots of great games that year, MGSV is still uncontested in terms of gameplay. And if you're on PC, you can play using Infinite Heaven, which makes the gameplay MUCH more procedural, which fits MGSV's design. No doubt Kojima would've gone there if he had more time.

I, for one, enjoy the structure of the story and like what it had to say. It would've been pointless and foolhardy to try and fit another classic MGS story right in the middle of the timeline. Instead we got a gamified narrative, in which you had to actually investigate what was going on to figure out the story and the game had some top meta narrative too.

 

[bender]

Worst mgs

Agreed but it is also the best mgs.

 

[nial]

Yeah, 2015 was the last good year before we switched into the dark timeline.

2016-2020 and 2023-2024 were all great years, though.

 

[Pimpbaa]

My favorite MGS simply due to the sandbox nature of the game. Had so much fun running around stealing supplies and potential recruits. Researching new guns and equipment was cool tooI. I just wish they finished the game properly. Particularly in regards to child liquid snake and psycho mantis stealing that mech. Would have also liked another sequel with the real Big Boss building the base that is in MG2. Without the FOB bullshit that is in MGSV.

 

[Roni]

2016-2020 and 2023-2024 were all great years, though.

I'm not talking just about games; but even then, new great AAA experiences are rare in today's landscape. If you've been playing since the 90's, there's not that much new going on.

 

[vodka-bull]

Still in my backlog. Imho there were just too many open world games released lastbgen, MGSV, Days Gone, Horizon, Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima etc. Wish they were focusing more on linear games, as after a while every open world game feels like just another scenario of an Assassins Creed game. Currently playing through GoT and it‘s nothing more than Assassins Creed Japan Edition, all these boring sidequests which were implemented with copy and paste…

I need about 4-5 linear games before I can sanely tackle the next open world game (which probably will be Days Gone).

 

[nial]

I'm not talking just about games

Same thing for every medium out there (2016 was particularly a great year for music, for example).

but even then, new great AAA experiences are rare in today's landscape. If you've been playing since the 90's, there's not that much new going on.

I disagree, but each to their own.

 

[Icymanipulator]

Story was a mess, but it set the bar for stealth action gameplay and hasn’t been surpassed yet. An amazing game mechanically.

 

[Soodanim]

MGSV was great, but it lacked MGS-ness. There was one mission that felt like MGS of old, which isn't nearly enough. If it hadn't gone the way it did with Kojima I'd have liked to have seen a director's cut, more patches... something.

GZ was a better MGS game and I was hoping TPP was a scaled up version of that.

But in terms of gameplay any version of 5 is incredible. You can turn off all of the modern additions and conveniences too, which is what I did. Took it back to a more classic feel with far less HUD clutter.

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

I enjoyed it when it was released but it was only good for a one and done. Unlike past MGS titles, I tried twice to replay it over the years and just couldnt do it. Too much filler, empty deserts, non important random russian and south african soldiers until I get a snippet of a story with a small cutscene etc. Worst boss battles too. The only thing I could replay was the hospital section, MGS never should have gone open world because it was painfully obvious they didnt know what to do with it.

 

[Bernardougf]

but you've admitted you've not even really played 5, you got to the first mission and stopped.

as someone whose played and beaten all the MG games including the ac!d games. i know that MGS5 is definitely not the worst in the franchise.

MGS4 was a long cutscene, again i loved it because of the story but as an MGS game it wasn't very good, it had very little player agency and it didn't' really do anything with what mechanics it did have.

in comparison MGS 1, 2 and 3 had a lot more freedom even if they were still linear. Peacewalker is strange cause it's entirely mission-based which i didn't like but it was also on a handheld so it gets a pass in that sense.

MGS always was long cutscene THE GAME .. it always was a corridor (even if in the forest) straight line aproach, a heavily story/cutscene driven game with tight and focused mechanics and gameplay.... and mgs4 is all that ....MGS5 tossed all that out for an open world experience, and unfortunately I dont follow the "automatically jizz all over anything open world" mentality that a lot of players have.

The gameplay pacing and mechanics were completely different albeit using the same assets, the story was very bad, it was a game without focus and incomplete...

In the end this was the game that put KJ out of Konami trough the back and finally ended his mgs run.

It was a failed turd.

P.s. and yes I didnt play much of the game.. I wanted to play MGS ... and this was another type of game using the MGS name, even the voice protagonist was gone... I dont buy GT to play mario kart .. and I dont buy Final Fantasy to play Devils May Cry.

 

[StueyDuck]

MGS always was long cutscene THE GAME .. it always was a corridor (even if in the forest) straight line aproach, a heavily story/cutscene driven game with tight and focused mechanics and gameplay.... MGS5 tossed all that out for an open world experience, and unfortunately I dont follow the "automatically jizz all over anything open world" mentality that a lot of players have.

The gameplay pacing and mechanics were completely different, the story was very bad, it was a game without focus and incomplete...

In the end sayng was the game that put KJ out of Konami trough the back and finally ended his mgs run.

It was a failed turd.

i strongly disagree, while MGS had many cutscenes, it was still gave the player freedoms which MGS4 does not do.

MG 1-2 and S 1-3 let the player approach the progression how they choose, if they wanted to run back right to the beginning they could. 4 doesn't lets you ever do that, MGS4 was like FF13 in that regard. However MGS4 was exciting and had a conclusion to a grand story whereas 13 was just ass.

MGSV is absolutely not the worst MG game. If you played the game more you would have come across many set pieces in the open world which played much like a regular metal gear game. An expansive Bridge over a gorge, a large military base with hangers, an airport, A cliff side village with multiple levels and so on and so forth (there are too many to say).

you just need to play the game more and get past the first level which is a generic little town.

 

[Kumomeme]

some people forgot that in the end this is a videogame.

even if the story part is unfinished and controversional, the actual part is actually a 'game' and as a game, it is great.

it has one of the best open world gameplay design out there despite there is certain downgrade aspect from previous linear game. it could be better and deep inside there is stuff i wish Kojima go with different approach but after 10 years there is nothing quite like it yet.

also it has one of the best animation control. so responsive and satisfying. MGSV definitely hold gold standard over this aspect IMO.

 

[Shtof]

some people forgot that in the end this is a videogame.

even if the story part is unfinished and controversional, the actual part is actually a 'game' and as a game, it is great.

it has one of the best open world gameplay design out there despite there is certain downgrade aspect from previous linear game. it could be better and deep inside there is stuff i wish Kojima go with different approach but after 10 years there is nothing quite like it yet.

also it has one of the best animation control. so responsive and satisfying. MGSV definitely hold gold standard over this aspect IMO.

Great points.
The story in a video game is not only the cutscenes and dialogue sections,.
Just as important is your experience as you delve into the game world, atmosphere and lore.
MGSV did an amazing job at this.

 

[RaduN]

Great points.
The story in a video game is not only the cutscenes and dialogue sections,.

Thing is, V had phenomenal cutscenes and VA as well. So it's got that covered.

Wonder if there are updated sells numbers for the MGS franchise. I think V is the best selling one.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

MGSV was one of the best games of all time in terms of gameplay.

The story, however, was the weakest of all MGS games besides MGS2.

 

[genesisblock]

MGSV took more a slice of Deus Ex emergent gameplay design and ran with it. It's more close to minecraft than the heavy handed lore dump that was MGS3/4. I personally think that had they sorted this shit out with the latter ,it would have a far better reception.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Last time I played mgs5 I had a very good play through.

 

[OrangeSun77]

The story has the depth you want to give it, the game gives you freedom in every sense, in gameplay and its story, it doesn't force you to watch 4-hour cinematics or codec calls every 30 seconds of gameplay. It's a game that wants to be a game, for me, it's Kojima's most fun game, by far.

 

[genesisblock]

The story has the depth you want to give it, the game gives you freedom in every sense, in gameplay and its story, it doesn't force you to watch 4-hour cinematics or codec calls every 30 seconds of gameplay. It's a game that wants to be a game, for me, it's Kojima's most fun game, by far.

All this does, is proves the Hideo can make excellent core game loop despite being known for his "cinematics". He could turn a Amazon Simulator into a challenging and fun experience which is quite amazing for a AAA studio.

 

[FrankWza]

I remember being blown away by Ground Zeroes and Fox engine.

 

[strike670]

MGSV has the best gameplay and mechanics of the entire series, but it also has the worst story of the entire series, considering the story barely existed. But I still love the game and had a great time playing it.

 

[Kumomeme]

I remember being blown away by Ground Zeroes and Fox engine.

i remember watching and believing that graphics could not be better.

and now here we are today complaining to a visual that far far surpassed that.

at same time i really dissapointed at how Konami wasted such good engine. the pc port of MGSV is on MT Framework level of good. the engine also open world ready while other japanese company that time like Square Enix still struggle to create their own engine and open world game.

such a waste. atleast use the resource and remained recycled asset for Peacemaker remake, not that live service Survive shit.

 

[GreatnessRD]

Gameplay, graphics and overall presentation was great. The story? What story was there, and for an mgs game to have barely any story is a bad thing.

You can thank the memes of MGS4. "Oh, its an interactive movie. It's so long."

Congratulations... you get tapes!

But for the OP, MSGV was a bad MGS game, but a great open-world game if it wasn't rushed with bugs. Such a shame how it turned out after playing Ground Zeroes.

 

[kevboard]

You miss an incomplete and hastily finished game?

when an unfinished game is still great, that tells you a lot about how good the parts are that they managed to finish.

 

[begotten]

The Phantom Pain was pure garbage and the only people who say otherwise are the ones who picked it up without playing another MGS game.

I played the shit out of Ground Zeroes, the hype and anticipation for The Phantom Pain was actually insane, was loading up on PythonSelkin constantly and replaying that Red Band trailer. Constantly replaying Ground Zeroes in preparation for tackling the "open world" which sounded crazy. Anyone who called themselves a fan knew this game should have been about Grey Fox too.

Then TPP releases. Has a strong intro, then everything was just shallow feeling and repetitive after another 15-20 hours. It was a smooth and good looking game to lay your eyes on, but the gameplay was just a chore. Missions sucked and felt repetitive, the design of the missions and the environment & patrol layout was NOWHERE near as thoughtful as anything offered at Camp Omega. There was a tranquilizer sniper that broke the game from memory too. All the "boss fights" were lame. Then we get a bunch of repeat missions and the game ends. This was on Kojima, not Konami.

 

[Lord Malachite]

Couldn't disagree more with the OP.

When it launched in 2014, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was an amazing prologue. Despite only being contained to a single base, the multiple extra missions beyond the story one and the many different ways to approach things made it a sandbox that I played in for a month happily. It was an experience that had me hyped for when the true game would come.

Over a year later, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain finally arrived. When playing through the opening hospital sequence, I felt some of that hype. It was tense and exciting and I was looking forward to what a real next-gen Metal Gear experience could be.

Not long afterward, the game opened up into its true form. And I was appalled. A barren, lifeless open world that constantly sends you to the same locations to deal with the same enemies. A story that felt way off the mark even by weird MG standards. Vocal changes for major characters that were wholly unwelcome. A terribly tedious amount of base and personnel maintenance. So many things about the game felt out of place in a MGS title. After putting 40 hours into it and getting much of the way through the first act, I'd had enough.

I realized that I was decidedly not having fun. And that most of the time I'd been playing I was in denial that a Metal Gear game could be so awful. I faced up to the fact that I absolutely hated this game with every fiber of my being, uninstalled it, and never looked back. To this day I could not care less what happened in the story, to the point that I couldn't even be bothered to go online and find out. I felt completely betrayed by the franchise as a whole.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an absolutely terrible, frustrating, boring, repetitive, awful game that I do not wish on anyone. When someone expresses that they miss this game, I can't help but wonder if they also miss Online Passes and on-disc DLC. I accept that there are different strokes for different folks, but missing the worst thing to happen to mainline MGS just leaves me scratching my head. MGSV is a game absolutely best forgotten by time, as a bad dream that never happened. I might be willing to embrace it one day if a different team decided to remake it. But all it did was convince me that I was done with Kojima as a game director. While I am fully aware of the problems between Konami and Kojima and I am in no way championing Konami over him, so much of the core design of MGSV is just flat out wrong and bad that I absolutely cannot trust his judgement anymore.

 

[{insert code here}]

This was one of the most self-polarizing games I have ever played. I liked it and didn't like it, both, at the same time. One of the best games I've played ever but probably my least-liked game in the series. Can't explain it. Might have to replay someday when it gets a steam sale.

 

[Neff]

Best MGS game by far

 

[kiphalfton]

10/10 Gameplay. Nothing has topped it since.

That being said, even that can only carry a game so far.