Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
In February 2012, a website called Development Without Borders began recruiting staff for a new Metal Gear title. The site promised high-end consoles and the next-generation Fox engine. Screenshots appeared online showing random settings that hinted at a character resembling Big Boss walking toward a Stryker AFV vehicle. Konami officially unveiled Ground Zeroes on the 30th of August 2012, during a private function celebrating twenty-five years of the franchise. Hideo Kojima revealed very little detail about the project at that time other than it would be a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V.
The team faced internal conflict as Kojima's role as creator clashed with his duties as producer. He wanted to explore mature themes even if they alienated audiences. As a producer, he needed to tone down content to sell copies. Ultimately, creativity won out over sales concerns. An interview with VG247 captured this tension clearly. By December 2012, a teaser trailer appeared at the Spike Video Game Awards credited to Moby Dick Studio, a newly formed Swedish developer led by Joakim Mogren.
Commentators quickly realized the studio was actually Kojima Productions in disguise. The name Joakim was an anagram of Kojima, and the domain had been registered only two weeks prior to the announcement. People wearing Moby Dick shirts sat in VIP areas meant for Konami staff. On the 27th of March 2013, Kojima confirmed his studio created the trailer and announced Metal Gear Solid V would split into two games: Ground Zeroes as a prologue and The Phantom Pain as the main title. Over $80 million poured into development costs alone.
Players control Punished Venom Snake from a third-person perspective within an open world environment. He can traverse on foot or use vehicles like jeeps and tanks. Mountainous locations allow rock climbing shortcuts while helicopters provide aerial support against enemy soldiers. Airstrikes bombard target areas or change weather conditions mid-mission. Snake carries binoculars, explosives, and stealth items such as cardboard boxes and decoys to avoid detection.
The game features AI companions including D-Horse, a horse capable of hiding Snake during travel. D-Dog is a wolf pup raised to assist in field operations. Quiet serves as a mute female sniper with supernatural abilities. D-Walker acts as a manned mobile weapons platform providing heavy fire support. Their effectiveness depends on the player's relationship level with each companion. Enemy soldiers adapt tactics based on player behavior; frequent headshots cause enemies to wear metal helmets making targeting harder.
Mother Base functions as a headquarters where players develop weapons and technology. Recruitment of captured soldiers expands the base through organization. Players access Mother Base via smartphones using a companion app. The Fulton surface-to-air recovery system transports captured soldiers and objects back to the base. In-game currency called GMP upgrades defenses and equipment. Snake's prosthetic arm gains modifications like taser functions or echolocation capabilities.
In 1984, nine years after Militaires Sans Frontières destruction, Big Boss awakens from a coma inside a hospital on a British military base in Cyprus. A Cipher assassin named Quiet attempts to kill him but fails when a heavily bandaged man called Ishmael rescues them. They escape while evading pursuit from Cipher soldiers and two superhumans known as the Third Child and the Man on Fire. Big Boss loses Ishmael before being recovered by Revolver Ocelot aboard Diamond Dogs, a new mercenary group founded by Kazuhira Miller on an offshore platform near Seychelles.
Venom Snake adopts his code name and searches for Cipher across Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War and Angola-Zaire border region during the Angolan Civil War. He recruits Quiet, scientist Dr Huey Emmerich, and Code Talker, a Navajo expert forced to work for Cipher. Snake captures Eli, a British child believed to be a clone of himself though DNA tests prove they are unrelated. Cipher leader Zero was usurped by XOF, a rogue faction responsible for destroying MSF.
Skull Face plans to release a parasite killing anyone who speaks English to make nuclear weapons desirable. The modified parasite gave Quiet and Skulls elite soldiers unusual abilities. During testing, the Third Child betrays Skull Face, having Sahelanthropus wound him severely. Snake defeats the weapon and recovers two parasite vials while one remains missing. A parasite epidemic forces Snake to kill many men to contain it. Their cremated remains turn into diamonds carried into battle. Huey executes Skull Face after he is left to die.
Before the game released in 2015, presentation of female character Quiet became a major controversy topic regarding her appearance. Halo content producer David Ellis criticized her for being oversexualized and reinforcing stereotypes about the industry being full of man babies. Kojima and Konami released Quiet figurines in May 2015 as part of promotional efforts. The figure's soft pliable breasts drew criticism from Western audiences on social media and in press outlets.
Michael McWhertor of Polygon described justification for Quiet's lack of clothing as tied to convoluted story elements. He criticized how the game zeroed in on jiggling breasts and panned across asses in silly ways. GamesRadar+ David Roberts called Quiet one of most complex characters yet an example of juvenile approach to sexuality typifying Kojima work. IGNs Vince Ingenito found her warm childlike sincerity stealing scenes but felt disappointed she was required to be a lust object.
GameZones James Wynne argued the story explanation provided valid reason for scantily clad appearance succeeding in making Quiet true antithesis to sexy-just-because characters. He wrote fan service does not erase fact that Quiet is strong well-written character needing no man to save her. Her depiction placed her level comparable to The Boss who remained most impressive female character ever gracing video games.
The Collector Edition included supplemental disc containing video for unused mission titled Episode 51 Kingdom of the Flies. This footage depicted mission events through unfinished cinematics and concept artwork showing Snake locating Eli and stolen Sahelanthropus on remote island. Official story ending received criticism for feeling abrupt while critics believed Episode 51 would provide satisfying conclusion resolving plot threads. Some thought it allowed certain characters further development tying into previous series appearances.
Data miners discovered evidence of another story chapter not included in final version shortly after Episode 51 discovery. Facepunch forum users extracted data from PC version revealing missing content. Game producer Kenichiro Imaizumi refused to comment on fan inquiries while community manager Robert Allen Peeler refuted possibility of story downloadable content. Fans theorized link between Chapter 3 and Konami Nuclear Disarmament Event opened shortly after launch with goal revealing secret once all nuclear weapons disposed of.
Completion triggered prematurely the 2nd of February 2018 on Steam version despite over nine thousand player nukes existing at time resulting cutscene release. Konami announced this resulted technical error sending servers incorrect values. Similarly event achieved by PlayStation 3 players the 27th of July 2020 though October 2020 clarification stated work of cheater. Critics attributed missing content to disclosed tensions between Konami and Kojima during development.
Metal Gear Solid V shipped three million physical copies within first five days across all platforms. On release date game grossed US$179 million higher than combined opening day box office of Avengers Age of Ultron and Jurassic World films. The Phantom Pain debuted number one United Kingdom charts becoming third biggest video game launch of 2015 behind Batman Arkham Knight and Witcher Wild Hunt.
Game sold four hundred eleven thousand one hundred ninety-nine physical retail copies on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 within first week in Japan topping software sales charts that week. In UK game sold noticeably more on PlayStation family consoles than Xbox excluding computer sales moved approximately seventy-two percent copies on PlayStation 4 roughly three times amount sold on Xbox One accounting for twenty-two percent sales. Three percent sales came from PlayStation 3 while two percent from Xbox 360. By end September 2015 shipped over five million copies worldwide raising to over six million by December 2015.
Review aggregator Metacritic awarded universal acclaim to Metal Gear Solid V according to aggregated scores. Reviewers considered it best Metal Gear games cited as greatest stealth games ever made. Rich Stanton Eurogamer wrote every hand polished element slots together into head spinningly ambitious structure combining something only called visionary. IGNs Vince Ingenito felt never expected game exist where every minute gameplay detail has true purpose. Spencer Campbell EGM described changing idea what accomplished with open world game narratively and mechanically.
Peter Brown GameSpot wrote there had never been Metal Gear game so consistent tone daring subject matter captivating presentation depth gameplay volume content. The Phantom Pain became twenty-third game third series receiving perfect forty out of forty rating Japanese magazine Famitsu. Critics lauded systems mechanics controls open world design calling playing engrossing varied experience near-impeccable discoverable scenarios third pillar world design. Matt Peckham Time described world unparalleled tactical toybox sentiment echoed other critics likening missions playground encouraging experimentation tools hundreds loadout variations confronting scenarios completely different ways.
Game won Best Score Soundtrack award The Game Awards 2015 event featuring Stefanie Joosten Quiet voice actress performing Quiet Theme on stage. Golden Joystick Awards 2015 granted Ultimate Game Year Critic Choice while D.I.C.E. Awards named Adventure Game Year. British Academy Games Awards recognized Best Game Artistic Achievement Audio Achievement Game Innovation. Japan Game Awards 2016 presented Award Excellence confirming industry recognition.
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Common questions
When was Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain officially unveiled?
Konami officially unveiled Ground Zeroes on the 30th of August 2012 during a private function celebrating twenty-five years of the franchise. Hideo Kojima revealed very little detail about the project at that time other than it would be a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V.
Who are the main AI companions in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain?
The game features AI companions including D-Horse, a horse capable of hiding Snake during travel, and D-Dog, a wolf pup raised to assist in field operations. Quiet serves as a mute female sniper with supernatural abilities while D-Walker acts as a manned mobile weapons platform providing heavy fire support.
What is the plot background for Big Boss awakening in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain?
In 1984 nine years after Militaires Sans Frontières destruction Big Boss awakens from a coma inside a hospital on a British military base in Cyprus. A Cipher assassin named Quiet attempts to kill him but fails when a heavily bandaged man called Ishmael rescues them before they escape while evading pursuit from Cipher soldiers and two superhumans known as the Third Child and the Man on Fire.
Why did Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain generate controversy regarding the character Quiet?
Before the game released in 2015 presentation of female character Quiet became a major controversy topic regarding her appearance and oversexualization. Halo content producer David Ellis criticized her for reinforcing stereotypes about the industry being full of man babies while Western audiences criticized the figure's soft pliable breasts drawn by Kojima and Konami in May 2015.
How many copies did Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ship within its first five days?
Metal Gear Solid V shipped three million physical copies within first five days across all platforms. On release date game grossed US$179 million higher than combined opening day box office of Avengers Age of Ultron and Jurassic World films.