Featuring a sixteen-page spread, the Official PlayStation Magazine UK this week revealed a great deal of tidbits and specifics regarding Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Since this is the first appearance of an open-world setting into the Metal Gear Solid franchise, there is plenty of room for questions regarding how things like navigation, getting around, and simply progressing through the game will be handled. Long-time fans of the franchise will be happy to know that cardboard boxes will have even more functionality than they did before. For instance, while running, Snake can use a box to slide down a hill much like one uses a toboggan. Sliding short distances on flat ground is also available, and the idea of bowling for baddies comes to mind as well. On that note, boxes can also be used for fast travel. Much like in MGS1, delivery points are marked on the map, and Snake can hide there and be transported by the enemy to other locales.
The Fulton Recovery system also has some very engaging particularities about it. One feature of it that’s been mentioned is that practically anyone or anything can be extracted with it. However, the limitation to it is that it must be upgraded in order to lift the big stuff; but Snake can still see stats on the target before fultoning it to Mother Base. One particularly interesting mention is that new languages can be learned in order to interrogate non-English speaking recruits.
Maps have been laid out of what the in-game Afghanistan is expected to look like in scale, but the game world itself is set to feature fourteen major bases with well over two dozen outposts sprinkled throughout the map. In that light, triggering an alarm while making a direct siege on a major base will result in reinforcements surging in from nearby outposts, making for options to take out the reinforcements beforehand or taking them all on simultaneously.
Mother Base itself seems to be a much more enhanced version of what it was in MGS: Peace Walker. While starting off small, it can be developed with materials and experience gathered throughout the game as well as being reinforced by adding members to the team, such as Quiet–even though it seems she’ll lower morale on-base. While on the topic of morale, Snake’s presence is needed from time to time as well, as the soldiers look to their leader for guidance, presence, and support.
I’ve chosen to exclude any of the possible spoiler-based pieces of content provided from Neogaf, but navigating to the link to find out small reveals is recommended only at the reader’s disgression. They’re easily found as they’re hidden with dark text bars that can be revealed by simply clicking on them. Take a look at some of the smaller, more peculiar additions to the game at the link provided. As a long-time fan of the series, I’m more than anxious to see what Hideo Kojima has done with his final foray in the franchise.