Any Metal Gear Solid game, past or present, is a big deal, mostly owing to the character of Snake. Since the first MGS game, the series has slowly yet surely built up an enviable reputation for itself, with the latest Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain being the icing on the cake.
People like game creator Hideo Kojima don't come around too often into this world, but when they do, they make sure that they create masterpieces that will stick with the fans forever. And to be honest, The Phantom Pain is a masterpiece, and we can even go the distance and claim that this is probably the best game of the year.
But why would we pick the MGS title over the likes of The Witcher 3, GTA 5 and Bloodborne? Well, let's take a closer look.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain – Game of the Year Already?
Excellent Blend of Stealth with Combat
"You got to give-give-give, before you can take-take-take." That's what they say for most of the things in life. Likewise, for the videogame industry, there are a few titles that offer not-so-great stealth capabilities, but make it up with excellent combat features, while others deliver just the opposite. However, there's no compromise of that sort when it comes to The Phantom Pain. Players can flow from combat to stealth and back in MGS 5. The game has been excellently balanced to offer both experiences, and we don't remember the last that happened.
Cutscenes and Credit Can be Skipped
First of all, what we found extremely irritating in the new MGS title is that, between each mission, there's a weird credits scene that rolls in. But our irritation was soon put to bed knowing that the cutscenes and credits rolls can be skipped anytime. Fans, since time immemorial, have complained about unskippable cutscenes, with most of them repeating every time anything significant happens. But for Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, there aren't any such problems.
Detailed Customisation Options Are a Treat
Sure a number of games offer detailed customisation options that allows you to change and tweak almost anything in it, but we don't think anybody does it better than MGS 5. There's an intense level of customisation almost everywhere in the game. If you are already impressed by the realistic facial customisation options for the multiplayer aspect of the game, also know that stuff such as weapons, buddies, outfits, and even the Mother Base can be customised. There's so much customisation involved here that they could have made a separate game just to highlight the feature.
Show Us Better Graphics Than This
2015 has been a great year, as far as graphics-heavy game releases are concerned, which have been absolute treat for the eyes. There are the likes of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Batman: Arkham Knight, Bloodborne and more, but we feel none of them can come even close to the kind of bliss that is MGS 5. You need to get into everything in the game to admire the graphics, rather than, just take a look at the in-game remake of Afghanistan. 'Nuff said!
Tougher AI That Will Adapt
Even if a game is a hot prospect, it won't be half the fun if your enemies are bland and just wait for you to get killed. Sure there are a lot of different ways by which you can accomplish your tasks in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, but the fun is intensified when you also understand that the enemies are also adapting to your gameplay style. Every decision you take in the game will have some effect on how the enemies behave. For example, start hunting down too many enemies at night time and guards will start patrolling the area with flashlights.
Do you agree with us? Do you think Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is indeed the best game of the year? Let us know in the comments section below.
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