Just going back over last nights play time in my head earlier, I want to explain a little more as to why this game impressed me so much from the very beginning. Is that Kojima is finally starting to figure out how to reconcile having long cutscenes within a game. No longer does it seem that I'm being taken out of the game world as there are always constant reminders "Hey, you're in the game." Things like Snake's health meter popping up when he shoots a gun, cutscenes transitioning directly into gameplay, all these little indications that the cut-scenes are still cutscenes, but they are no longer separate from the game you are playing. It's a small touch, but it goes a LONG way to keeping me from just putting the controller down and going to the bathroom.
Now to piss off a few people: It's all very post modern. (And I say this actually knowing what the term means)
Anywho, I can't wait to play more tonight. All my classes got canceled so I'm kinda just sitting around today waiting.