I was very, very unsure about this game after reading the reviews and seeing a little of the latest gameplay footage. This is not a game that is communicated well via gameplay videos and now that's even more apparent...
I woke up today and my first thought was "DS release day", and the next thing I know I'm on the train to my local retailer. Now, I'm signing off after 12 hours or so of constant play time... that's the first time a new game has made me do that for years.
I'm somewhere in Episode 3. I'm taking my time building things and completing extra deliveries. And from the first minute to the 12th hour this game has been absolutely incredible. I wouldn't be able to describe how the gameplay keeps me entertained without it sounding like I was taking the piss, but it has. I wouldn't be able to explain how satisfying it is to select a loadout, plan a route, and execute a perfect delivery without sounding a little insane. I mean, how can a game that is mostly comprised of fetch quests and balancing your load be this damn engaging?
The social aspects are absolutely brilliant, too. Seeing people like your buildings and knowing they helped other players, and finding clues and equipment that others have left makes the world feel more alive than most open world games I've played even though I never see another soul roaming around.
The story and world building are the exact kind of bat-shit Kojima I sorely wanted after MGSV left both lacking, so far at least.
Kojima might not have created a new genre of video game, but he might just have created another incredible video game experience.
I need to sleep now, but I don't want to.