Review – Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – The Outerhaven

Gary Marston writes: "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain isn’t just another entry to Hideo Kojima’s world-class canon; it’s an ambitious statement of a video game. A game which begins with David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ clearly exudes a certain amount of confidence – and as the song’s powerful lyrics begin to raise early themes of existentialism and humanity, players will get their long-awaited first glimpse of Kiefer Sutherland’s Snake in action (upon second reading, I realise that sounds a bit like a euphemism). The song isn’t just bog-standard contextualising filler either; it is one of many cleverly constructed layers that develop throughout the course of the 50-hour campaign. The genius of Hideo Kojima strikes in emphatic style, making Metal Gear Solid V the standout title of the year."