Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are varied. Some critics praise the complexity and detail of the story, such as Hardcore Gamer and Softpedia, who mention that the game offers an interesting backstory and sets the stage for the upcoming title. Digitally Downloaded also highlights the priority given to storytelling in Metal Gear games, stating that once players get past the initial confusion, they become invested in what's going on. Additionally, GameCritics appreciates the emotionally resonant exploration of the concept of martyrdom in a literal and visceral way. On the other hand, several critics express negative opinions about the story. IGN mentions that the ending is tonally problematic and has a discomforting violation, while Cheat Code Central criticizes the short length of the story, stating that it feels more like a demo than a full game. Critical Hit describes the narrative as convoluted and jumbled, and Digital Spy states that the story is short and lacks depth, with only one noteworthy twist at the end. Toronto Sun criticizes the lack of emotional maturity and the handling of sensitive subject matter, while Eurogamer mentions that the story is slim and slightly inconsequential, leaving threads dangling as it tees up the events of Phantom Pain. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While some critics appreciate the complexity and detail of the story, others criticize its brevity and lack of depth. The game is praised for serving as a prologue and introduction to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, as well as for its interesting backstory and emotional resonance. However, concerns are raised about the narrative's length, tonal issues, and the requirement of prior knowledge of the series to fully appreciate the story. Critics like Joystiq and NowGamer mention that the game builds interest for the upcoming title and leaves players wanting more, while GameSpot and Giant Bomb highlight its role as a bridge between Peace Walker and The Phantom Pain. Ultimately, the opinions of the critics suggest that while the story has its strengths, it also has its flaws, making it a somewhat divisive aspect of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.

The majority of the critics praised the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, considering it to be a significant evolution in the series and a great stealth-action experience. They commended the game for offering diverse play styles, multiple approaches to completing objectives, and a balance between stealth and combat options. Critics like IGN and Digitally Downloaded highlighted the open-ended, open-world approach, which provided players with a promising and varied gameplay experience. The inclusion of vehicles, improved stealth mechanics, and superior AI were also mentioned as positive aspects by Softpedia and Digital Spy. The gameplay mechanics were praised for being modern, well-implemented, and offering flexibility, as mentioned by Hardcore Gamer, Cheat Code Central, and VideoGamer. However, there were some criticisms regarding the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. NowGamer mentioned that while the movement felt more natural, the limited content and shaky AI and detection mechanics were drawbacks. TheSixthAxis pointed out that the game unintentionally allowed for running through the map with impunity on normal difficulty, potentially diminishing the challenge for some players. Toronto Sun mentioned that while the gameplay was balanced between stealth and action, the new innovations like marking enemies and using different tactics were not fully explored. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is excellent, with the majority of critics praising its mechanics, flexibility, and the balance between stealth and action. The game's open-world format, diverse play styles, and the ability to experiment were highly appreciated. Critics like Eurogamer, GameCritics, and The Escapist considered the gameplay to be revolutionary, offering different paths and options. The refined controls, enhanced stealth mechanics, and the dynamic mission objectives were also highlighted as positive aspects. Despite some minor criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is overwhelmingly positive.

The majority of the critics had highly positive opinions about the graphics and visual design of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. They praised the game for its impressive visuals, stunning lighting effects, and attention to detail. IGN commended the commendable visual fidelity, particularly highlighting the gorgeous rainy nighttime map and high-quality lighting effects. Softpedia mentioned that the PC version of the game has superior graphics compared to the console version, with improved lighting, shadows, reflections, and details. They also stated that the game looks and feels amazing on Ultra settings. GameSpot and VideoGamer both described the game as beautiful in its art direction and technical accomplishments. TheSixthAxis referred to the game as a graphical tour de force for the FOX Engine and PS4, emphasizing its fantastic visuals. These positive opinions from multiple critics highlight the overall excellence of the graphics and visual design in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. While the majority of critics had positive opinions, there were a few negative aspects mentioned regarding the graphics and visual design. Hardcore Gamer noted some issues with textures and frame rate on AMD graphics cards. AusGamers mentioned that while the game was visually impressive at times, especially in the rainy nighttime setting, it lacked polish and high-level detail during the day. Impulsegamer also pointed out some issues with the engine, occasional pop-ups, and a repetitive and bland feel. These criticisms suggest that there were some minor flaws and inconsistencies in the graphics and visual design of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the graphics and visual design of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are very good. The majority of critics praised the game for its impressive visuals, stunning lighting effects, and attention to detail. They commended the game's visual fidelity, realistic environment, and seamless transitions between cutscenes and gameplay. Multiple critics specifically mentioned the game's gorgeous rainy nighttime map, improved graphics on PC, and the graphical prowess of the FOX Engine and PS4. While there were a few criticisms regarding issues with textures, frame rate, and lack of polish in certain areas, these were overshadowed by the overall positive reception of the graphics and visual design. Overall, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes received high praise for its graphics and visual design from the critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are generally positive. NZGamer praises the game's audio design, stating that it sounds fantastic and has been given a lot of love. Softpedia highlights the option for players to select their own music soundtrack while playing, which adds a personalized touch to the experience. They also mention that the voice acting, with Kiefer Sutherland replacing David Hayter as Snake, is well-received. ZTGD further supports the positive sentiment by stating that the audio is stellar, with top-tier voice acting and a score by Harry Gregson-Williams that delivers on all accounts. They also mention that the ambience sounds fantastic, especially when played through a PS Gold headset. Impulsegamer adds to the positive feedback by stating that the musical score is brilliant and sets the scene well. However, there are some negative aspects mentioned by the critics. GameCritics points out that audio cues are important for stealth gameplay, and the lack of audio cues for deaf and hard of hearing players may pose a challenge. This can be seen as a limitation in terms of accessibility. Shacknews mentions the clunky dialogue that has become a series staple, which may not be appreciated by all players. They also note that while Kiefer Sutherland's debut as Snake is praised, it is jarring for fans of the series to not hear David Hayter's iconic voice. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Sound Design and Music of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are well-executed and contribute positively to the overall experience. The game's audio design is highly praised, with NZGamer, Softpedia, ZTGD, and Impulsegamer all highlighting the quality of the sound and music. The option to select a personal music soundtrack, the professional voice acting, and the brilliant musical score are all mentioned as positive aspects. However, there are some concerns raised by GameCritics and Shacknews, such as the lack of audio cues for deaf and hard of hearing players and the clunky dialogue. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment is positive, with the majority of critics expressing satisfaction with the Sound Design and Music of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.

Overall, the opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are generally positive. Kiefer Sutherland's performance as Snake receives praise from multiple reviewers, with Softpedia stating that his voice acting is well-received and Digitally Downloaded acknowledging that he does an amazing job objectively. DarkStation also commends Sutherland's portrayal of Big Boss, describing it as subdued and believable, suiting the serious and graphic tone of the story. Eurogamer mentions that Sutherland brings a more balanced, human tone to the role of Snake, further supporting the positive reception of his performance. However, there are some critics who express reservations about the voice acting. NZGamer mentions that the introduction of Kiefer Sutherland as the voice of the main protagonist may be a point of contention for fans of the series. Joystiq also acknowledges that while Sutherland's realistic portrayal of Snake matches the darkness of the chapter, some nostalgia is lost without David Hayter. Additionally, Playstation Official Magazine UK describes Sutherland's performance as slightly phoned-in and shouty, similar to Jack Bauer, which suggests a lack of depth in his portrayal. Despite these reservations, the overall consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is of high quality. GameSpot praises the voice acting, stating that the characters move and speak with natural grace, and The Escapist mentions that Sutherland's portrayal of Big Boss grows on the reviewer. The positive reception of Sutherland's performance by Softpedia, DarkStation, Eurogamer, and Digitally Downloaded also contributes to the overall positive consensus. However, it is worth noting that there is a division among fans, with some preferring David Hayter's previous portrayal of the character. Nonetheless, the voice acting is generally regarded as top tier, professional, and fitting for the serious and graphic tone of the game.

In terms of the technical performance of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, the critics had mixed opinions depending on the gaming platform. On the positive side, the PC version of the game received praise from Hardcore Gamer, IGN, and Merlin'in Kazanı. Hardcore Gamer mentioned that the game runs well on Nvidia based units, while IGN noted that the PC version is content-identical to the console versions. Merlin'in Kazanı added that the game has been well optimized for PC and runs smoothly on a good computer. These positive reviews highlight the smooth performance and optimization of the game on PC. On the other hand, the PS4 version of the game faced some technical issues, as pointed out by Edge Magazine. They mentioned pop-in issues and disappearing enemies at long distances, indicating that the version of Fox Engine used for the PS4 may not have been fully optimized. Additionally, the Xbox One version also had some drawbacks, according to Giant Bomb. They noted an unsightly screen door effect in some transparent objects, which could be a visual distraction for players. AusGamers also mentioned occasional pop-ups and off animations on the Xbox One version. These negative aspects suggest that the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game had some technical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes had a solid technical performance, with the PC version receiving the most positive feedback. The game was praised for its smooth performance and optimization on PC, as well as being content-identical to the console versions. However, the PS4 and Xbox One versions faced some technical issues, such as pop-in problems, disappearing enemies, and screen door effects. Despite these drawbacks, the game was generally considered stable on all platforms. The positive reviews for the PC version outweigh the negatives for the console versions, indicating that the technical performance of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was generally well-received.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are generally positive. Many critics mention the presence of optional side missions and challenges that provide variety and unlock additional content, increasing the game's replayability. Critics like NZGamer and Softpedia specifically highlight the hours of replayability offered by the game through unlockable sub-operations, perfecting runs, and approaching missions in different ways. The sandbox experience and open-world approach are also praised for adding to the game's replayability, as mentioned by Softpedia and DarkStation. However, there are some critics who express concerns about the game's replay value. GamesRadar+ mentions that the brevity of the main story and the recycling of content in fresh ways may make the game feel less replayable. NowGamer criticizes the segregation of the extra missions and their lack of canon status, suggesting that they do not contribute significantly to the game's replay value. Shacknews goes as far as to describe the game as feeling more like a demo than a retail release, with completing objectives in the single playable environment being a short task. Overall, the majority of critics agree that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes offers a decent amount of replay value. The presence of side missions, unlockable content, and multiple ways to approach missions are consistently mentioned as factors that enhance the game's replayability. Critics like Hardcore Gamer, IGN, and Digital Spy highlight the challenging nature of the game and the satisfaction of discovering secrets and mastering new challenges, which can keep players entertained for hours. While there are some concerns raised by critics regarding the brevity of the main story and the limited scope of certain aspects of the game, the overall consensus is that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes provides enough content and variety to justify replaying and exploring different tactics and approaches.