About Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Inseparable from the story of Japanese creator Hideo Kojima, the Metal Gear saga has left its mark on the world of video games. From the early installments on the MSX—a Japanese computer—to the contemporary entries, the series has captivated millions of players over several decades and propelled its creator into the spotlight of the gaming and media worlds.
The Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid games stand apart, and The Phantom Pain is the culmination of nearly thirty years spent in the world of stealth. We could talk for hours about this saga, but we’re going to trace the story back to a certain Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Released in 2014 on the consoles of the time and those of the previous generation—PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One—it was ported to Windows PC a few months after its console release. It serves as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
A subject of controversy at the time, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was essentially a full-scale demo that players had to pay for—a move that angered gamers. Over the course of two hours, it takes players on a nighttime infiltration mission into Camp Omega and offers a glimpse of the new features coming in the upcoming fifth installment. In addition to its gameplay innovations, Ground Zeroes also serves as a technical showcase for the capabilities of the new Fox Engine.
It also marks the first time that actor and singer Kiefer Sutherland (known for his role in the series 24) takes on the role of the main character. Ground Zeroes plunges Snake into a rescue mission set against the backdrop of an unapologetic and satirical critique of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. His objective is to bring back Chico (Ricardo Valenciano Libre) and Paz Ortega Andrade, but the mission doesn’t go quite as planned. This event serves as a bridge between Ground Zeroes and the main game, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Last chapter conceived by Hideo Kojima before his dramatic departure from Konami, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the ninth canonical installment in the series and prequel to the original Metal Gear. The action initially takes place in the heart of Soviet-occupied Afghanistan before shifting to the Angola-Zaire border in Central Africa. Nearly ten years have passed since the events of Ground Zeroes. Snake leads a new unit called Diamond Dogs and is tracking down the XOF group led by a man known as Skull Face.
Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is all the more symbolic given a recent development in Hideo Kojima’s career. In fact, his new game, Physint, developed by Kojima Productions, was initially rejected by Sony—apparently for budgetary reasons—before being picked up by Xbox, along with the mysterious OD.
Why Should I Play Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain?
Set nine years after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an open-world stealth-action game. For the very first time in the series, the adventure takes place in much larger environments and offers vastly greater freedom. To complete the various objectives, the player can choose their own approach. Instead of following linear paths and scripted missions, The Phantom Pain offers stealth, various distraction tactics, interaction with the environment, and a wide array of weapons and vehicles for head-on assaults.
It would take an entire book to cover all the game’s possibilities. You can take advantage of the weather (sandstorms, thunderstorms…), posters, magazines, drop off an inflatable mannequin, have the horse relieve itself to make an enemy jeep skid, use the good old cardboard box (the series’ trademark), or take the Fulton Balloon to its absolute limit (a system that lets you extract a soldier back to your base and can then be used with all sorts of objects), or become an expert in sabotage (electronics, lights, etc.). Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a treasure trove of possibilities and undoubtedly the greatest stealth sandbox of all time.
Compared to its predecessors, the game learns from your actions. The reason the freedom to infiltrate is so pronounced is that the enemy adapts to protect itself. If you spend your time using the tranquilizer gun, the guards will start wearing helmets. If you opt for a long-range approach, the camps will be reinforced with snipers to spot you. If you rely on the cover of darkness, they’ll soon set up floodlights. The AI doesn’t just stand there waiting to be taken out—it uses every means at its disposal to trap you. Animals, such as horses and dogs, also play an important role. This approach is absolutely brilliant and enhances an immersive experience elevated by the Fox Engine, a proprietary engine developed by Konami for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an absolutely fascinating and thrilling game. Even though it was affected by internal issues and Hideo Kojima’s departure, it remains a masterclass in stealth gaming.
Is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Free-to-play?
No, it is a paid game, but it came out over ten years ago and is regularly on sale. Be sure to check out the sales on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Store. Note that there’s a version called The Definitive Experience that bundles Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain with its prologue, Ground Zeroes.
Where Can I Download Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain?
You can download it on a wide range of platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. It’s a game that spans three generations of consoles.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain?
The first game from the independent studio Kojima Productions, Death Stranding is the Japanese creator’s response following his split with Konami. In this adventure, the player takes on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with reconnecting a post-apocalyptic America devastated by a mysterious cataclysm. Centered on traversing breathtaking landscapes, the game has at times been mocked and dismissed as a “FedEx quest simulator.” But its cinematic presentation, clever gameplay, and stunning production values make it a true gaming phenomenon. It features Kojima’s meta storytelling as well as his penchant for collaborating with prestigious actors. Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, and Mads Mikkelsen are part of the cast. Its sequel, Death Stranding 2, takes things even further.
Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater is a faithful remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, a masterpiece conceived by Kojima and long considered the pinnacle of the series. In the game, you play as Naked Snake—the future Big Boss—who is dropped into the Soviet jungle in the midst of the Cold War to extract a scientist and neutralize a mobile nuclear weapon. In addition to featuring stealth-focused gameplay, this installment incorporates an element of survival. You must find food to endure the hardships, engage in hand-to-hand combat, and face off against incredibly charismatic characters—including the unforgettable The Boss. A masterpiece in the Metal Gear Solid timeline.
Did you miss out on the Metal Gear Solid series and are you desperate to catch up? Konami had the brilliant idea of releasing the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection, a compilation featuring the original MSX titles, Metal Gear 1 and 2; the unforgettable Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation; the very Hollywood-esque Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (HD Collection version); and the iconic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (also part of the HD Collection). You can even enjoy the NES adaptations of Metal Gear and the much-maligned Snake’s Revenge. There’s also a Volume 2 of this Master Collection, which adds—for the first time—Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (breaking its PlayStation 3 exclusivity) and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (same story, but on the PSP). This edition also includes Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, a spin-off from the Game Boy Color catalog.
