Too mind-blowing for one game? Snake’s latest outing needs its own prologue
Since it was first revealed at the tail end of 2012, the METAL GEAR SOLID V : Ground Zeroes saga has unfolded like the best and worst of a typical Metal Gear narrative. It’s been more than a little confusing. What is Ground Zeroes? How does it tie into The Phantom Pain? Will it be a demo or some kind of episodic content? Finally these questions have answers.
Ground Zeroes acts as a prelude to MGS V: The Phantom Pain . It’s the warm up act before the main event. Rather than release a bog standard demo, Kojima Productions are pushing GZ out as a fully-formed stand-alone digital release. As such it comes with its own price point. Current-gen versions will set you back £29.99 at retail while digital downloads will cost £19.99. New-gen versions, so far only confirmed as digital downloads, will hit you up for £29.99. That’s a steep sneak peek, for sure, but the reasoning behind GZ, and the scale across which it’ll be delivered, should get MGS veterans’ exclamation points bring-ing.
Alpha and omega
Set in Camp Omega, a naval prison on a Cuban island, GZ sees Naked Snake attempt to rescue prisoners Paz and Chico (of Peace Walker fame) from torture. It’s in this enclosed arena that
legendary series creator Hideo Kojima hopes to wean us onto the full fat game changer that the forthcoming MGS V: The Phantom Pain promises to be.
“There will be a significant difference in what MGS V: TPP brings to the series, so we want to ease players into the new environment and its potential,” Kojima explains.
"THE MORE WE SEE OF GROUND ZEROES THE MORE INTRIGUING IT BECOMES"
“As such, MGS V: GZ has been designed to introduce key elements, allowing them to fully benefit from all that the new game will offer.”
We’re used to seeing new elements introduced with each Metal Gear Solid outing, from hiding guards in lockers in Sons of Liberty, to utilising camouflage in the jungles of Snake Eater. The Phantom Pain promises to bring to bear the most significant change the series has ever seen. It’s bringing Metal Gear Solid’s token brand of stealth into the open-world realm.
To make way for such a seismic shift, Kojima’s team have had to alter the very foundations of
how said stealth works. With vast open areas for the player to pick and choose their way through, the developers are unable to control the placement of enemy units or the flow of the now much-more-emergent stealth. To deal with the resulting higher risk of being spotted from any angle, Snake needs a new skillset.
First off you’ve got a new ability that triggers whenever you’re spotted. Find yourself at the mercy of the iconic ‘brrring’ sound and time will slow down for a few seconds. The camera will also whip around to let you know who’s seen you. Marked by the increased volume of Snake’s heartbeat, these recious
moments allow you to react quickly. Tap a sleeping dart into a guard’s face as he’s reaching for his radio and you’ll avoid an all out manhunt.
Series fans will be quick to notice how barren the HUD is now. We like how information is divulged right there in the world for you to see. Case in point: when the beam of a torch or searchlight is upon you, JJ Abrams-style lens flare indicates whether or not you’re in trouble.
From what we’ve seen so far, Ground Zeroes looks to be a necessary insight into a brave new MGS world. One slice of footage does have us ever so slightly concerned however.
Towards the end of one mission, Snake’s spotted as he tries to exfiltrate the base. What ensues is a balls-to-the-wall pursuit across the compound with exploding helicopters, car chases and gunfire nailing into Snake with seemingly no effect. We even see him run towards foes firing on him to take
them out with close range combat.
Obviously these initial snippets of footage are geared towards showing off the FOX Engine at its most glorious, but we’re hoping this doesn’t mean open combat is an easier, more viable, stealth-diluting option. Various side missions (alongside the main story mission) on offer imply that there will be different play styles to chose from, sitting as they do under banners such as Tactical, Aerial and Covert.
The more we see of METAL GEAR SOLID V : Ground Zeroes the more intriguing it becomes. It’s doing its job, too. The Phantom Pain promises to be even more divergent from MGSes of the past. With an appetiser as grand as this, we’re anticipating a main course to die for.
