GamingBolt created a little throwback to MGS V. I like the video because the game went on a journey to oblivion.
So, over 3 years later, how do you think about The Phantom Pain? Started by the troubled development to split MGS V into two games, cutting the prologue out of the game to release it as a standalone title. Kojima was against this decision and it seems like this was the moment the relationship of Kojima and Konami went downhill. Kojima wanted the time and money for a project so big, maybe too big to even realise many years later.
Konami, on the other hand, wanted to make the big bucks with a popular IP where they spended a lot of budget for. Kagemasa Kozuki never liked Hideo Kojima. He didn't liked it how Kojima works, how long it took for him to finish a project and he didn't liked the delays coming from Kojima ever again. But Kozuki, as a businessman, knew how valuable Kojima was. Making him Konami Vice President back in the days. Konami played along with Kojimas escapades for many years. It was the Phantom Pain when they finally ended these escapades. Konami wanted to see results. We know, MGS V is just another victim of a decision made by Konami when they decided to show the AAA the finger. Kojima was the last expensive thing they had to got rid off. Releasing MGS V incomplete was the best way to finally get the money back they invested in the game and getting rid of the man with the expensive ideas.
But when did Konami pulled the plug when it comes to MGS V?
- The game prematurely ends when Otacons Dad leaves Mother Base
- Improvised epilogue for the big reveal of the game which is actually just the same section a little extended like the one you played at the beginning of the game
- Improvised ending for the storyline of Quiet. Not half as bad as the epilogue was
- Mission 51 which ended chapter 2 was cut out
- Chapter 3 was never realised. Remnants of the existence of Chapter 3 -Peace- exist in the Game Data.
We still don't know how much Konamis decision to pull the plug affected the overall development. Many storylines and Cutscenes where turned into audio files. Revealing moments which you can only enjoy when you find those cassettes.
Many missions are feeling like Copy & Paste. While almost perfect gameplay wise, the whole open world feels empty like wastelands. Even with the enviroments presented in the game, much more was possible.
The moment Konami pulled the plug, fine tuning and polishing wasn't possible anymore. The title song "Sins of the Fathers" was wasted in the most stupid moments in the game. The overall direction of the story segments feeling rushed and half assed at most times.
The game, although, do feature brillant moments. Brillant moments hidden away in side missions like the one with Paz. I guess many gamer who played the game never even experienced it.
So, yeah, this basically is the Metal Gear Solid V Kojima and Konami delivered to us. Even over 3 years later, it's still hard for me to accept that this is really was the big end for the franchise as we know it. What about you? Is MGS V still a topic for you?
