There’s a lot of discourse around the title, including a lot of beautifully intertwined nostalgia and criticism, yet a lot of people agree on the topic of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’s impact. Ten years ago, The Game Awards mentioned it, and this single tweet quickly transformed into a heated Twitter discussion overflowed with love, nostalgia, and conflict. It’s truly a marvel that a game of this caliber and age can ignite such an extensive dialog.
For the enthusiasts of geopolitics and military simulation games, it is the undisputed choice. Mark from @CREATORSxrpl stated, “Such a legend of a game. Still play it to this day. ❤️,” which perfectly echoes the sentiment of the community. Gameplay draft? Nothing comes close. Nag Alluri encapsulated it perfectly with “Some of the best sandbox gameplay ever. Still looks great visually too for being a 10yr old game.” Unlike modern titles, Less is More and Finite Alluri are correct – it would still hold up if you tried to start it, which is wild for a 2015 game. Heck, compare it to some games that dropped just a couple of years later and it still looks crisp. Misaka 16180, in true Mizuki fashion, even threw shade saying “And it looks better than the UE5 Metal Gear 3 remake” which is a BOLD claim but honestly? Not entirely wrong. The Fox Engine was magic.
However, there’s the other side of the coin. The other side of the coin is the Phantom Pain, and the vague feelings of unfinished business. The story of MGSV now is the Konami and Kojima split, the missing chapter and the rushed ending. Lionel didn’t hold back: “Great game. But it could have been a true masterpiece if it had been finished and wasn’t so repetitive… Konami have blood on their hands!” And in this case, yes, he absolutely does have a point. The potential was sky high. WolfSNK went even deeper: “And it was the most disappointing release of the saga, it was incomplete and they destroyed Kojima’s work, who would’ve thought that the whole industry would end up following its steps and release incomplete games, MGSV only has 10/10 gameplay, only real fans know…” This is a huge point. People look back now and see MGSV as this weird precursor to the modern trend of games launching half-baked. It was ahead of its time in the worst way possible.
Then there’s the entire Kojima saga, which no one appears to be able to put to rest. Kamron Sanchex recalled the painful moment: “And Kojima was not allowed to receive his award.” Oof. Right in the feels. The entire scenario was quite a mess. The man behind the series was not there to celebrate its launch, which is the complete opposite of what would’ve been ideal, and ironic. It casts a shadow over the entire anniversary. Ahmadkb simply responded to someone asking for more content with a thoroughly disappointing, “There is no kojima in Konami. 🙂.” And that smiley face completes the tone of the response—it’s the opposite of comforting.
Peeling back all of the pieces and the drama, the player’s positive interactions remain strong. Paavali Henki stated, “And I loved every minute I played.” Joey__Kerr echoed this, “So much potential. I loved the gameplay mechanics.” The cycle of base infiltration, the buddy system, and the Fultoned grabbing of anything not nailed down remains some of the most fun and satisfying gameplay ever created. So many of the game’s mechanics are great, but it is very much a game of contrasts. It is a masterpiece of gameplay but the story feels like it was amputated very early on.
OYA Play condensed the feelings perfectly: “A decade later, MGS V’s impact on gaming is undeniable. Time flies in the shadows.” The impact is undeniable. Its influence is everywhere in open-world games that followed, the mission design and liberty to accomplish objectives, and action-stealth has to be named. It raised the bar for stealth action, even though it couldn’t fully meet expectations for itself.
As expected, the fans are still clinging to hope. Ryan from @TatacawVersus is screaming into the void: “WE NEED CHAPTER 3 KONAMI, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.” Dude, it’s going to never happen. The fact that people continue to inquire after it shows everything about the potential that the game had. It’s an infinite “what if.”
Ten years later we celebrate the anniversary of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Agame that is praised as a 10/10 masterpiece and simultaneously called a colossal disappointment. A game that is endlessly loved, hated, and is the subject of intense conversation decades after its release. It is a fascinating piece of gaming history that is frozen in time, released in an era of turmoil of a game developer who was once considered a legend. A game that was truly diamond and proof that even with a century’s worth of dirt it can still shine. Its legacy is etched in marble and is absolutely unforgettable, just like the story.
