Just got done with the game. And by 'done', I mean I reached Mission 42, got really frustrated with the game to the point that I didn't feel motivated to play anymore, and then watched the True Ending on YouTube.
The first 20 hours of the game were immensely fun. I could understand why it was awarded a 10/10 by so many reviewers. However, as I approached the end of the game, I began to feel a little disappointed. And once I was done with the first ending, it all went downhill.
Don't get me wrong, MGS: Phantom Pain is a great game; it's just not a good Metal Gear game. I loved the gameplay, even thought it was near-perfect, loved the graphics and was blown away the first 20 hours. Unfortunately, I have a lot of problems with it:
- I hate having to see the intro and outro credits each time I go for a mission. The intro credits even reveal the cast, which can sometimes be a spoiler. For example, there was a mission that appeared normal, but apparently the Skulls, SkullFace and Sahelanthropus made an appearance. I saw this coming because the intro credits told me.
- I hate having to watch Snake get out of the chopper and then back into it for each mission. I just completed a Side Op a few hours ago, that took me literally 30 seconds (had to extract a container). So the mission itself took 30 seconds, but I still had to watch the whole chopper sequence (x2).
- What is up with having to repeat old missions on EXTREME or TOTAL STEALTH modes to unlock the ending? That's utter bullshit if you ask me. I expect such re-hashing from cheap second-rate games, not MGS. And speaking of rehashing, lots of missions/side ops took place in the same locations. I didn't even have to think while playing some of the later missions because I knew all the routes.
- Afghanistan is very dull to watch. I wish there had been a more varied palette. Sure it's large and fun, but something a little better on the eyes would've been nice.
- The story is pretty much non-existent for the most part. Cutscenes are very scarce, and this bothered me because I was a huge fan of the cutscenes in the previous MGS games. I love a good story, and Phantom Pain failed to deliver. Yes, I know the cassettes have a lot of story content, but it got really boring listening to the tapes after the first hour. You could argue that I can listen to the tapes while performing missions, but that's easier said than done. While I was listening to the tape, enemy chatter would break out, or Kaz would start giving me mission information or something else would just block the sound of the tape. Also, I prefer a good cutscene over audio dialogue.
- Quiet is way too sexualized. I didn't have a problem with what she was wearing, but the whole zooming in on her breasts and butt during every cutscene that features her is sorta weird. Also, it's kind of annoying how Snake and Quiet are the two characters I'm interested in, and Kojima decided they shouldn't talk. Nice move.
- The game's presentation isn't as good as the previous MGS games. Remember those split screen cutscenes in MGS 4? Or Heaven's Divide playing while you fought a Metal Gear? Or even climbing that ladder while Snake Eater plays in the background? There was nothing 'epic' in this game, except maybe the prologue (which was already ruined by trailers). Some individual missions come close, and you feel like a badass when you complete them, but that's something else. Doesn't really add to the presentation.
I remember having a few more problems with the game, but they aren't coming to mind right now. I'll update when they do.
I'd give this game an 8.5/10, MAYBE a 9 if I'm feeling generous - and this is JUST because of the gameplay and graphics. It's a great game, just not a good MGS game.
MGS 1 > MGS 4=MGS3 > MGS2 = MGS 5
