7 Years Later, There Is No Stealth Game Like Metal Gear Solid 5

A fragmentary, misunderstood masterpiece, meticulously crafted and laced with imperfection; a narrative half-resolved, a broken ouroboros. However its framed, the waves of post-release critique surrounding the ninth and final instalment of Kojima Productions’ techno-stealth thriller series often describes the game as brilliant despite it finding new and creative ways to dumbfound its audience, recontextualise plotlines and retcon character arcs along the way. These points of view are largely at odds with Metal Gear Solid V’s near-universally perfect review scores. For the most part, reviewers praise The Phantom Pain’s immersive open world, its innovative gameplay fostering player freedom.

This feature isn’t an attempt to demystify MGSV’s discombobulating narrative though; there’re already plenty of feature length analyses and series-spanning deep dives dissecting Metal Gear’s tapestried narrative floating round the internet. No, instead, this feature places MGSV’s prowess as a stealth title firmly between the crosshairs, taking aim at the strengths propping Big Boss aka Venom Snake’s final foray as the zenith of stealth games. So, let’s get started.

[sicdedworm]

There’s a mission where you have to steal intel from a base to find out where the next patrol is coming in. If you already know where they are you can skip the camp entirely and place your horse in the road where they’re coming from to make them stop. Blowing up the whole convoy with mines while they’re trying to shoe away your horse. That mission blew my mind. You can “break” the missions and they’d reward you with the highest grade for doing that. Other games just aren’t designed like metal gear games are. Also Quiet is a masterpiece of an AI partner.

[Kaioshin]

The most perfect unfinished game ever. Love the MGS franchise

[HellaNorCal]

Has it really been 7 years? Wow. I spent stupid hours playing Mgs5. I still feel like I fumbled through the game. Definitely some really good missions in the game, that still blow my mine to this day.

[WaltPowellsAIProductions]

Metal Gear Solid will forever be a masterpiece

[musanetesakupwanya]

This was one of my most epic experiences as a gamer. Just watching this video reminded me, I haven't played anything with stealth and options that comes close.

[thebadant]

One of my top 5 favourite games all time.
Huge respect to kojima for pulling off this masterpiece

[bilbobaggins]

I thought I put in approximately 600 to 800 hours but when I got my PS5 it showed I put in over 1, 800 hours into MGSV!!!
Even I was shocked at the number, as my next most played game is just under 500 hours.
I loved every minute of MGSV.
It is a masterpiece...albeit incomplete, it is a masterpiece none the less.

[utisti]

MGS5 is honestly the only stealth game I have ever liked. I know it's unfinished, but man, it has a level of polish unseen in most stealth games in terms of gameplay.

[ashidosoul]

Still no company in the gaming industry managed to outdo what the phantom pain did. I spent over 1000 hours on this game. Such an amazing game

[badrpr]

Imagine all the aspects of mgs5’s gameplay and open world transplanted into a remake of mgs3 🤩🤯 rip to any other stealth game to release after that lol

[JC__]

yeah, the gameplay literally carried this game singlehandedly to greatness. solid!

[ACameronUK]

This is a game which really trusts the player to make their own choices and discover why it’s a great experience - unfortunately, a lot of people didn’t bother and just played a few missions in exactly the same way, and then call it repetitive 🤔

[Edenia]

That MUSIC damn it HITS HARD. This is why we freaking love Kojima he knows how to create that cinematic experiences!

[jerobyarts]

As far as I know it is the only game I have seen with helpful AI companions, you can use D-dog, D-Horse and quiet in unique and innovative ways for completing missions and everything blends in well with the environment.

[PsychoTorro]

It was a bank holiday in the UK the day this came out. I had the disc through the post the weekend before it was due in the shops! was always a massive fan of MGS ever since PS1. Best gaming experience ever!
Thank you Kojima.

[grugi]

this game is so optimized, i remember playing it on a gt730 with 60 fps on 1080p

[Goobywoobygoo]

Mgs 5 is actually peak when you don’t have some jaded fanboy whinin’ in you ear because it doesn’t match up to their memory of playing mgs 3 when they were 12…

[dpfghela]

MGS V had an amazing game engine.

The episodic nature allowed for quick gaming sessions as well as longer bouts.

The story was very intriguing. But as a long time MGS fan, you can really tell where konami stuffed things up. The last act is a hot mess narratively and the boss fights aren’t a patch on the Fox or Cobra units from earlier games.

The abandoned final act cutscenes give a hint at where things could’ve gone.

Shame but still a beautiful game.

Thank you Hideo

[kmega]

Hands down best game I ever played. To put it in context, I've been gaming since Air Sea Battle and Oregon Trail on floppy disk.

[JamesGinTheHouse]

My second favorite MGS game after MGS1, this masterpiece has the best stealth gameplay ever! It's a very fun game to play, and i think we need a director's cut of this gem, Konami should make a deal with Kojima production and make it happen. NEVER GAME OVER!