

It's 6AM and the sun is about to rise, but the outpost is already filled with armoured cars. Three Spetsnaz commanders are conducting a secret meeting at a remote Afghan military base. The attention to detail is simply staggering. The game's Fox engine runs beautifully on PC, with stunning draw distances and incredible object detail protagonist Big Boss’ sneaking suit creases convincingly as he runs, gets wet when it rains and gradually gets dirtier and bloodier as you spend time in the field without returning home for a shower. With two huge open areas, there’s massive scope for exploration, even if there’s a lot of empty space between the populated areas. The continual adaptation of the bad guys means you're constantly second-guessing what opposition you'll encounter on each new mission. Only attack at night and soldiers will soon be equipped with night vision goggles.

Steal enemy resources without getting detected and surveillance cameras will begin appearing at outposts and military bases. Enemies will gradually get shields, body armour and riot gear if you only use close-quarters weaponry. Helmets will be issued to soldiers if you rely overly on sniper rifles and headshots. Players are actively encouraged to mix up their strategies, as enemies quickly adapt to your methods. We eliminate with silenced rifles, then exfiltrate by foot. She quickly spots the patrols, security cameras and my targets. I've just airdropped in on the mountains above the base with my sniper companion.
METAL GEAR SOLID 5 GAMEPLAY FULL
It's 3AM and clouds are blocking out the full moon. Enemy patrol routes change depending on the time of day, too. The order in which you tackle each mission, the equipment and weapons in your loadout, the AI-controlled buddies you bring along with you, and what time of day you make your move can all be changed on the fly, often resulting in completely different experiences each time.
METAL GEAR SOLID 5 GAMEPLAY SERIES
Hideo Kojima's stealth series might have started life with linear, story-driven adventures, but Metal Gear Solid 5 leaves almost everything up to player choice. The Phantom Pain is a stunning example of how giving players an entirely open world can create myriad ways to approach a single objective. I crawl back outside and ride by horse off into the sunset, undetected. Instead, I attach a Fulton balloon to each soldier and send them floating into the sky, ready to be retrieved by my support team. Three shots from a tranquilized pistol put my targets to sleep, but they are too valuable to kill. After crawling through a drainage tunnel I emerge next to the meeting point. I ride my trusty horse down an unguarded maintenance road, keeping out of sight until I'm right outside the base.
