I like the cassette tapes in theory. The content contained within is basically all the best story beats and some of the most metal gear moments in the series (kaz burger) but the implementation is borderline awful. Yes they are basically codecs but those people forget that codec calls and the plot dumps were meticously paced. Not just random tapes that can be listened to randomly. This game has a dedicated codec button which basically contains ten phrases. They should have mapped tapes to play through the codec so players get vital info while playing without Kaz talking through or over the tapes.
The cut content argument as an example of the game being unfinished is decent. Content gets cut all the time but this basically fucks over an entire plot strand. Something I doubt they wanted to do but were forced. A better example of how mismanaged the game is is actually the second half of the game. The pacing, mission structure and climax is fucked. And can all be attributed to rushed production and compromises. I doubt kojima intended the second chapter to be so haphazard by design (regardless of what the meta-defence force say)
The cut content argument as an example of the game being unfinished is decent. Content gets cut all the time but this basically fucks over an entire plot strand. Something I doubt they wanted to do but were forced. A better example of how mismanaged the game is is actually the second half of the game. The pacing, mission structure and climax is fucked. And can all be attributed to rushed production and compromises. I doubt kojima intended the second chapter to be so haphazard by design (regardless of what the meta-defence force say)
