This review contains spoilers
Weird game. So many of its decisions are insanely baffling and just a straight up downgrade of key aspects from the previous entries. A lot of the worst aspects of the series are at their peak, there's so much linearity to its game design, i could only name 2 memorable bosses that live up to the standards of the series and some of these new characters are just straight up not it.
Besides all that? I love this game. It's a shame i didn't get to play it myself and had to go out of my way to learn about its systems and whatnot, because its approach to actual stealth and new systems blow my mind and is something that at the very least i have a lot of respect for. Big issue with the cutscenes themselves is how dragged out and substanceless they can come to feel, but those times when it delivers some its best plot twists and sensational character work make it all feel extremely worth it. Metal gear as a series is one where you can feel, in each one of its games, its urges to destroy itself and be the last one forever for real this time around, but none do it like this one. There's a huge feeling of finality and exhaustion lingering as you go, you've been here, you remember the good times you've had with these people and the ways you've been changed by it. But also everything has changed for everyone since the last time, for the worse! Nothing and no one feels eternal or at their best, their struggles should've ended a long time ago and yet they're still here, fighting and suffering the same way as last time but with barely anything to look forward to. Their time has passed, and in the end it all loops around to the same thing! It was worse this time and if the fight goes on what's there to look forward to, why should Snake be around anymore anyway? For a lot! this game's focus on legacy is something else and it's hard to explain, but i think the novelization puts it well by just giving us Otacon's perspective on Snake's last days:
"I won't tell you in this book how long he lived after Big Boss set off on his voyage from that cemetery, or what kind of life he had. All I'll say is his last days were peaceful. He passed gently, simply falling asleep with a smile on his face. When I thought back to the days and nights he'd spend in constant battle, I found great solace in this."
I too find great solace in this, so i'd rather believe in it, at the very least.
Besides all that? I love this game. It's a shame i didn't get to play it myself and had to go out of my way to learn about its systems and whatnot, because its approach to actual stealth and new systems blow my mind and is something that at the very least i have a lot of respect for. Big issue with the cutscenes themselves is how dragged out and substanceless they can come to feel, but those times when it delivers some its best plot twists and sensational character work make it all feel extremely worth it. Metal gear as a series is one where you can feel, in each one of its games, its urges to destroy itself and be the last one forever for real this time around, but none do it like this one. There's a huge feeling of finality and exhaustion lingering as you go, you've been here, you remember the good times you've had with these people and the ways you've been changed by it. But also everything has changed for everyone since the last time, for the worse! Nothing and no one feels eternal or at their best, their struggles should've ended a long time ago and yet they're still here, fighting and suffering the same way as last time but with barely anything to look forward to. Their time has passed, and in the end it all loops around to the same thing! It was worse this time and if the fight goes on what's there to look forward to, why should Snake be around anymore anyway? For a lot! this game's focus on legacy is something else and it's hard to explain, but i think the novelization puts it well by just giving us Otacon's perspective on Snake's last days:
"I won't tell you in this book how long he lived after Big Boss set off on his voyage from that cemetery, or what kind of life he had. All I'll say is his last days were peaceful. He passed gently, simply falling asleep with a smile on his face. When I thought back to the days and nights he'd spend in constant battle, I found great solace in this."
I too find great solace in this, so i'd rather believe in it, at the very least.