Save your comrades from evil Black Site camp in Kojima Productions latest game, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Just like we all already know, MGS V: Ground Zeroes is a prologue to a much larger and supposed to be the 'main' game of MGS V, The Phantom Pain which won't be released for another 2 years *sigh* so, is this prologue really worthy of its pricetag? Or is it just another awful trick from big developer to get a quick buck from naive fans?
The Story (7/10)
+ set the atmosphere and the gritty theme of revenge Hideo Kojima wanted to tell, absolutely right.
+ awesome script as always
+ beautifully shoot cinematics
+ the story extend not just on the game, but through tons of cassette tapes that you can collect on the game world, so despite its small package, it contain a lot of background story for The Phantom Pain.
- the main core story is still awfully short and brief
- of course, the game released too early so you need to wait too long for the continuity of the story
The Gameplay (9.5/10)
+ MGS goes open world!
+ Omega Camp is not a big map, but it provides various ways for you to explore
+ Total freedom to get the mission done, from the traditional stealth to guns blazing (not really recommended)
+ Changing weapon or item by using d-pad, no more scrolling through the R2/L2 button
+ Enemy will automatically drop their items when they downed
+ Regenerated health made the game much more simpler, no more collecting noodle cup for health :P
+ Amazingly believeable AI behaviour, they will cooperate with each other and their commando will coordinate them realistically.
+ Ability to tag enemies and see them through any object
+ Reflex feature that put you on slow motion when you get caught by enemy give you more chance to survive (you can completely turn this feature off)
+ Arrow(s) to show you the enemy(s) that see you
+ Much, much more simpler UI
+ Despite the regenerated health, the simpler control, the enemy tagging, the reflex, and the arrow, the game is by no means easy. You still need to be extra patience and learn the pattern of the enemy patrol because going guns blazing will only get you trouble.
+ There are 4 side missions with enough scenario variety to play after the main Ground Zeroes mission
+ Getting higher final score and explore another ways to finish the mission are quite enough reason for replayability
- the Ground Zeroes mission last for only 99 minutes for me at the first time (guns blazing like an idiot) and drop to roughly one hour on my second play (exploring other passage and going stealth)
- Auto cover is really annoying
- i search through google and i can't find anything about weapon suppressor that breakdown after 30-60 shoots so i don't understand why this thing is still exist in this game.
- controlling Big Boss while he's crawling can be a bit tricky
- the enemy commando sometimes give up too fast to find you after a combat situation.
- there are only one map
The Graphics (8.5/10)
+ truly amazing in-game engine cinematics
+ highly detailed textures and particle effects
+ cool J.J. Abrams style lightning (really like it!)
+ fluid animation
+ detailed facial animation
- low framerate on several locations on the map. It's a bit disappointing because GTA V, The Last of Us, and Uncharted 3 show what PS3 can do without sacrificing any framerate
- pop up texture and object (i really surprised to see plants and rocks pop out from nowhere in this game)
The Sound (9/10)
+ cool scores
+ you can import your own music from your HDD to be played as the scores
+ you can choose what music to be played when the helicopter arrive...and one of them is Ride of the Valkyries, how cool is that?
+ Kiefer Sutherland did a great job as Big Boss, so is Tara Strong as Paz.
- the rest of the cast did a standard job, sometimes too overdramatic, sometimes too annoying.
VERDICT (8.4/10)
MGS V: Ground Zeroes did a good job as a prologue, you can really see the direction Kojima Productions wants to go for the evolution of Metal Gear Solid series. But yes, the length of the game solely rely on your pursuit of perfection and exploration on every mission and if you are no stranger to the MGS series, it might not take too long.