Facts: “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain”
1.) MGSV is the tenth and latest entry in the long-running “Metal Gear Solid” stealth-action franchise, released as a duology. “Ground Zeroes”, serving as the game’s technical demo and prologue episode, was released on March 18, 2014 in North America. It saw an international release on March 20 in Europe and Japan. Its’ main-game follow-up, “The Phantom Pain”, was released worldwide on Sep. 1, 2015.
2.) MGSV is the first title in the series to utilize open-world environments in gameplay, whereas earlier titles were more linear. These environments are more detailed and much larger in scope, allowing players to approach gameplay objectives in any order and style they choose.
3.) MGSV is also the first in the series to achieve a cross-generational launch on multiple consoles, being released for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 (both seventh-generation), Playstation 4, and Xbox One (eighth-generation).
4.) The game’s plot is set in the mid-1980s, though artistic liberties are taken with the use of futuristic technology that did not exist during that time period. The premier example of this is the iDroid device the main character uses extensively, which figures prominently in gameplay for electronic holographic maps, menus, communications, and audio.
5.) 16 licensed songs are used for MGSV’s soundtrack, which can be accessed in-game through hidden collectable cassette tapes that can be located by the player. This game is the only one in the main “Metal Gear” franchise that utilizes licensed music, as the others contain original scores made exclusively for each game.
6.) MGSV has been touted as one of the darkest entries of the series. Through its extensive storytelling, it tackles heavy subjects such as torture, child soldiers, dismemberment, murder, and revenge.
7.) The series’ creator and director, Hideo Kojima (CQ), has gone on record as stating that Metal Gear Solid V will be the last of which he will be directly involved with. This is due to the series’ publisher, Konami, ending their contract with Kojima Productions in December 2015.
8.) MGSV uses extensive facial-capturing in making character models. As a result, every in-game character is unique, and many bear strong resemblances to their respective voice actors (and staff members of Kojima Productions). Hideo Kojima himself even cameos as a secret recruitable side character.
9.) Sony product placement features to a certain extent in the game. The main character carries a Walkman to listen to audio tapes — these tapes are BHF-46s, also developed by Sony.
10.) The game is the first and last of the “Metal Gear Solid” series to utilize the FOX Engine, which allows for creating impressive visual details and enhancement of core gameplay mechanics.
