In a move that honestly shouldn't surprise anyone who knows how the triple-A gaming world works, Konami has officially confirmed that Metal Gear Solid V will be receiving a re-release that comes packaged with all of the game's DLC. MGSV: Definitive Edition will cost £34.99 in the UK and looks set to be the perfect version of the game for anyone who passed on it the first time.

It will be released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 14th. Aside from the original Phantom Pain that was released back in 2015, it will also include the prologue game, Ground Zeroes, that came out in 2014. There will also be additional DLC content (weapons, costumes etc.), including Ground Zeroes' Deja Vu and Jamais Vu missions, which were originally console exclusive. Finally, for those that actually play Metal Gear Online, the bundle comes with that game's 'Cloaked in Silence' expansion pack too, along with a variety of Appeal Packs.

MGSV continues the adventures of Solid Snake's predecessor, Big Boss, and was the last game to be worked on by series creator Hideo Kojima; who has since created his own studio and is working on a new game, Death Stranding, with Norman Reedus seemingly starring as the protagonist.

While Hideo Kojima's recent departure from Konami almost certainly signals the end of the legendary Metal Gear Solid series, Steam is making it easier for new players to jump into the franchise. From now until May 30th, Steam is holding a Metal Gear Solid Franchise Sale, offering several fantastic games at reduced prices.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, an open-world stealth epic that doubles as one of last year's best games, is 30% off at $27.99. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, the short prequel to The Phantom Pain, is only $4.99, 75% off the normal price. Meanwhile, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the high-octane, hack-and-slash action game featuring cyborg-ninja Raiden, is $7.49, also 75% off the original price.

Those looking for a new multiplayer experience will be glad to hear that the Metal Gear Online expansion pack, "Cloaked In Silence" (which gives players the chance to control Quiet, the mysterious and incredibly skilled sniper from The Phantom Pain's single-player story) is $3.99. Steam is also offering the cosmetic DLC packs "ALL APPEAL PACK" (which includes four smaller emote packs for Metal Gear Online) for $6.99, and the "Costume and Tack Pack" for the main campaign in The Phantom Pain for $4.99.

If you haven't already experienced The Phantom Pain, Ground Zeroes, or Revengeance for yourself, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up and play some great games. Whether it's the tense, stealth-focused drama of Big Boss and company, or the over-the-top swordplay of Raiden, Kojima's games always have something memorable to offer.

[Image source]

It seems Amazon has quietly introduced several games to their list of Amazon Prime-Exclusive items, with GTA V, FIFA 16, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Minecraft and Far Cry Primal all currently marked as "exclusively for Prime members", among others.

It's unknown how many more titles are affected by the change; however, the games are still available to purchase through third-party sellers on the site.

It's something of a bizarre move for the company, who are clearly trying to incentivize customers to fork out cash for their paid service. Membership requires an annual subscription fee of $99, or £79 per year for UK customers, and gives members access to free next day delivery and their Amazon Instant Video service, amongst other features.

One can't help but wonder, though, if the change might have the opposite effect, with customers simply going to other retailers or buying from third-party sellers instead. It also begs the question...how far will Amazon go with its "exclusive" merchandise?

Other games currently affected by the decision include: Dishonored: Definitive Edition, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Elder Scrolls Online, Battlefield Hardline, Rainbow Six Siege and, somewhat bizarrely, Farming Simulator 15. Strangely, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes also seems to be included, but not Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

What are your thoughts on the move? Would you consider paying for Amazon Prime in light of this? Or do you think Amazon have just shot themselves in the foot? For those who are already Prime members, how do you feel about the change? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was a long-awaited game in an iconic series, and one of the most highly anticipated games of 2015. It's also a game that has been plagued with a lot of controversy during its development.

From a new voice actor to the infamous Kojima/Konami dispute, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has seen its fair share of turmoil. And some of those controversies could haunt the game forever. In honor of it being the fifth MGS title, here are 5 MGS V controversies that the game might never shake off. 

5. Microtransactions

As the release date approached, it was unveiled that microtransactions would be part of the online experience. Players who participated in the PvP feature could develop extra Forward Operation Bases (FOB), using MB Coins as currency.

Fans were outraged, as the practice of microtransactions has been very controversial in the gaming industry. Other games have faced the same kind of backlash when opting for microtransactions in the online gameplay. 

Things only got worst when Konami introduced FOB insurance, a feature that has players pay real money to recover lost resources. This only added fuel to the fire. Players bemoaned the microtransactions, while many in the media were quick to denounce the feature.

4. Kiefer Sutherland replaces David Hayter

The first big controversy to hit Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was the rumor that David Hayter would not return as the voice of Big Boss. Gamers were shocked to learn that the rumors were true, and that he had been replaced with Kiefer Sutherland.

Fans of the series were either outraged or conflicted, as Hayter had been the voice of Snake and Big Boss since Metal Gear Solid. On the other had, Sutherland was well-known for his role as Jack Bauer on 24, so we knew he had what it took to play a badass character.

But here's one of the biggest problems: Big Boss is driven by resentment and the desire to continue the legacy of his mentor. Jack Bauer is the personification of a hero America needed to look up to in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. We all wondered whether Sutherland would be able to separate himself from that patriotic role and bring to life the much darker motivations of Big Boss.

3. Quiet's outfit and sexual assault

The portrayal of women in gaming has been a hot topic issue in recent years, and the use of rape in games is always a lightning rod for controversy. So it should not have been a surprise when gamers had a problem with Quiet's skimpy outfit and the use of sexual violence.  

Back in December 2013, it was revealed that the ESRB had listed Sexual Violence among the reasons why Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes had received an M rating. This was because of an audio recording of Paz being gang-raped while she was detained at Camp Omega. Even though it was an audio recording, many gamers found it to be very disturbing.

And most of us were not too pleased with Quiet's lack of clothing, along with the fact she never speaks. As if that wasn't bad enough, the beginning of Mission 45: A Quiet Exit, shows Quiet narrowly escaping sexual assault by a soldier. 

Many felt that her attire was at best juvenile and at worst incredibly sexist. And the lame excuse they gave us doesn't really help either. She breathes through her skin because of the parasites? Sure. It seems that if hypnotherapy and extensive facial reconstruction can turn a random medic into a supersoldier, someone in the MGSV universe would be able to create more breathable fabric.

2. Ground Zeroes short playtime

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain were first announced back in 2012 simply as Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. However, the project was split due to the long development time and Kojima's desire to give players a sample of what to expect. 

Gamers were excited to sample the next chapter in the iconic series, until it was revealed that it had a playtime of only two hours. Many felt that Konami was trying to pass off a demo as a real game 

Kojima assured gamers that there was more to Ground Zeroes then the main game, but fans were not appeased. The controversy forced the game to undergo several price cuts before and after its release. But for some fans, that still wasn't enough.

1. The Kojima/Konami dispute

Of all the controversies that have plagued the development of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, none has been as detrimental as the feud between Konami and Hideo Kojima.

News of a breakdown in their relationship first became public when the Kojima Studios credit and Kojima's name were removed from all promotional material for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Konami also removed his name from the game's official box art.

Next came one of the most controversial decisions of the year: Konami announced that production of Silent Hills had been canceled. The announcement enraged gamers, and Guillermo del Toro announced that he would never work on another video game. 

Allegedly, the root of the dispute is that Konami is undergoing a change in structure, and they want to focus more on mobile gaming. At the same time, the leadership at Konami was not happy that the production host of The Phantom Pain had hit $80 million. More than likely, those were both contributing factors to the fallout.

The dispute has been a disaster for Konami's public image, as most of the gaming community has sided with Kojima. The industry has taken a more mediated approach, either asking that they bury the hatchet or passively taking a pro-Kojima stance. 

Despite the turmoil, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is one of the best games of 2015 and a fitting conclusion to the series. Did any of these controversies make you reconsider the game? What's your opinion on some of these issues? Let us know in the comments below!

Hideo Kojima is an ambitious man. He created Metal Gear Solid, a game series that pioneered the blend between movies and video games. With canon that spans 50 years, and has so many intertwining stories and characters, Kojima's saga remains one of the most expansive in history.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - 1964

The third game in the series decided to jump back in time to the beginning of it all. We find a lone warrior, codenamed Naked Snake who embarks on a mission to bring peace during the Cold War. Under the orders of his commanding officer, Zero, Snake infiltrates an area of Russia to find and disarm a nuclear bomb that could decide the fate of the war.

Everything goes smoothly until he's betrayed by a former teammate and left for dead. From that moment on, Snake is molded into the hero the world knows as Big Boss. He takes down a power-hungry commander and the first prototype of Metal Gear. 

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops - 1970

A few years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3, Portable Ops finds Naked Snake recruiting a team of soldiers to combat the rogue entity FOX, Snake's former employers. FOX has a new leader named Gene who captures and tortures Snake, and once he escapes he forms a team from disbanded FOX members.

Portable Ops is the series' first handheld game. Debuting on PSP, the structure of the game was a lot different from the games that were on the PlayStation systems. It dealt more with recruitment, stats, and harvesting than a focused and linear story. Portable Ops is a somewhat forgotten MGS game. It wasn't extremely well received and the newer gameplay mechanics turned some people away.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - 1974

Now 10 years after Naked Snakes first adventure, he's become a battered and beaten solider, but a solider with a mission. The events of the previous ten years have shaped his life and he's taken the words of his former mentor to heart. Now that he has a private army at his disposal, he moves along in making them their own entity known as the Militaires Sans Frontieres, or Soliders Without Borders. 

Snake, who's donned the title Big Boss, builds a base for his soldiers called Mother Base. The plan is to be a group of soldiers who have no allegiance to any country. After recruiting some new faces and discovering a new type of Metal Gear is at bay, Snake's first round with Cipher, the organization set out to stop him, begins.

Peace Walker was also a portable game and was very similar in gameplay to Portable Ops. But, what made Peace Walker standout was the vast amount of content and it is written and directed by Kojima himself.

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes - 1975

A year after discovering Cipher is hell-bent on ending Big Boss and his team, he travels to this prison camp named Camp Omega located in Cuba. Boss seeks out his companion Chico, who is being held hostage with another companion named Paz. 

Boss infiltrates the camp and just after he rescue his teammates, he discovers a devious plot handled by Cipher. The Mother Base is destroyed and Big Boss his heavily injured, placing him in a coma for nine years.

Ground Zeroes is actually the prologue to the upcoming game, the Phantom Pain. It was released a year and a half early. 

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - 1984

Waking up in the year 1984, Big Boss  finds himself in a hospital missing an arm. Confused and distraught, the hospital is attacked and Boss escapes. After taking some time to catch up on all he's missed in the nine years he was in a coma, he discovers Cipher destroyed Mother Base killing dozens of his allies.

Boss sets out on a one way course for revenge on Cipher and the restructuring of his team. 

Essentially, Phantom Pain is Peace Walking 2.0 The team building, recruitment and customization is all there but tenfold since it's on consoles and not handheld systems. Phantom Pain has the widest variety of any Metal Gear game. 

Metal Gear -  1995

This point in the history marks the début of Solid Snake, Naked Snake's cloned offspring. During the nine years Naked Snake was out cold he was cloned as a kind of insurance so his legacy can live on.

Solid Snake is sent into Outer Heaven, a facility that houses a Metal Gear. Big Boss aka Naked Snake is Solid Snakes commanding officer and sends him on this mission to destroy the Metal Gear. However, Big Boss has a change of heart and pits Solid Snake into a series of traps. 

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - 1999

An oil crisis falls on the world and a Dr. Kio Marv as a solution in synthetic oil. Dr. Marv gets captured by a military force and Roy Campbell, head of FOXHOUND, sends Solid Snake to Zanzibar to rescue him. 

Snake uncovers a heck of a lot more than he bargained for: a new Metal Gear and Big Boss. He is unable to rescue Dr. Marv and has a battle with Big Boss, leaving him for dead. After the mission is complete Snake goes into retirement and bunkers up in Alaska. 

Metal Gear Solid - 2005

Solid Snake is forced out of retirement when a facility off the cost of Alaska is taken hostage by a team of highly trained killers who are lead by a mysterious man with blonde hair. 

Under the orders of Roy Campbell, Snake infiltrates the Shadow Moses facility to rescue the DARPA chief. As things progress, he discovers that this place houses the Metal Gear REX and the mysterious man is actually Liquid Snake, a clone of Big Boss and Solid Snakes brother, making him a clone as well. Even with these earth shattering revelations revealed to him, Solid Snake still must take down this new Metal Gear before it unleashes havoc to the world.

Metal Gear Solid was the first 3D Metal Gear game. It was released for PlayStation 1 to high praise for its expertly crafted storytelling and tight controls. 

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - 2007/2009

This is the first game in the series that had a time jump. It begins with Solid Snake doing what he does best, sneaking into a heavily guarded area. This time it's a tanker sailing off the coast of New York City. Snake discovers yet again a new Metal Gear, codenamed RAY. Before he's able to leak photos of this to the world, the tanker is sabotaged by Ocelot, an enemy of Solid Snake. The tanker sinks and Snake is presumed dead.

Jump to 2009 and an off shore oil rig called the Big Shell is taken hostage by a group called Dead Cell. FOXHOUND sends their newest agent, Raiden to take down the group. Raiden suddenly realizes he's in over his head when he meets up with Solid Snake and discovers the Big Shell is a front of a whole arsenal of Metal Gears.

MGS 2 ended up being the most polarizing of all the games. Up until the release, players expected Solid Snake to be the main star but soon discovered Raiden took his spot light. Even though MGS 2 holds up with its tight gameplay, the story is off the rails.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - 2014

Fifty years later it all ends. In 2014 the world is ruled by a strict economy where private military companies go to war simply for profit. Leading the largest one is Liquid Ocelot, the fusion of Liquid Snake's consciousness in Ocelot's body. 

Solid Snake, now much older due to the degrading of his cloned body, is pulled out of retirement yet again by Roy Campbell to assassinate Ocelot. Things don't go so smoothly when Snake discovers Ocelot controls an AI program that pretty much controls everything else. To top it all off, Snake is dying quickly do to his aging body. It's all hands on deck in the final chapter of the Metal Gear Solid Saga. 

When Kojima made the first Metal Gear game in 1987, it's doubtful he planned on it becoming the sprawling series it is today. MGS V: The Phantom Pain is the last released entry and it closes the gap on the lore. Kojima had a falling out with developing partner Konami so it seems MGS V is the last game under his wing. His legacy, however, remains as big as the MGS timeline. 

Before all the controversy and the cancellations, Hideo Kojima was riding high on the announcement of his latest game, Metal Gear Solid V. Not only would he release a next-gen Metal Gear game, but it would be split into two parts so gamers could get an early taste. This teaser left a wide divide amongst players, but damn if it isn't a welcome return to form. What took you so long Big Boss? This is Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One (Reviewed)
Price: $9.99 - $39.99
Rating: 8/10 (Gameplay), 5/10 (Story), 6/10 (Content)

This game was reviewed using a consumer copy of the game.

Gamescom is in full swing this week and that means new trailers and announcements for the biggest upcoming titles.

Konami revealed on its Twitter early yesterday that they will be debuting a brand-new gameplay trailer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain this Wednesday, August 5th, at the Gamescom.

The trailer is set to be released at 3 PM EST or 12 PM PST and is intended to provide audiences with a better understanding of the game as whole while simultaneously showcasing many of the new gameplay mechanics.  This includes largely focusing on the all new Mother Base component of the Metal Gear Solid series which Konami promises will bring a whole new level of strategy to the stealth espionage gameplay as well as feed into the game's multiplayer mode.

Gamescom will treat their attendees to a playable demo entitled "A Hero's Way" which is set in Afghanistan and marks the first time the game will be available for the public to play.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be released on September 1, 2015 on both consoles and PCs according to an announcement made by Konami yesterday. 

Don't worry, this isn't a full list of games that have made it to the Top 5, just some of the most notable. So with that said, share down in the comments some of your all time favourite games that have gone on to 5 games or more. 

Dead or Alive 5

Developer: Team Ninja

Publisher: Koei Tecmo

Platforms: PS3 and Xbox 360

The franchise title may be Dead or Alive but the game is certainly alive, even if DoA 5 is technically the last numbered title. However, there have been several spin-offs since the 2011 release including a love of the number five with DoA 5 Last Round, DoA 5 Ultimate, and DoA 5 Plus. 

Assassin's Creed III

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft

Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U and Microsoft Windows

Despite the III in the Assassin's Creed name, this is actually the fifth game put out for AC. Not every game sequel has a number and this proves it. The AC franchise is currently on their eighth game Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which is set to release October 23 of this year. 

Mortal Kombat 5

Developer: Midway Games

Publisher: Midway Games

Platforms: Game Cube, PS2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance

Mortal Kombat is another game, just like Final Fantasy that I just couldn't leave out on this list. Deadly Alliance is a follow up to Mortal Kombat 4 as we see Quan Chi and Shang Tsung attempt to revive an ancient army in order to take over Outworld and Earthrealm. While the takeover may not have worked out for them, the progressive and a bit of controversial gameplay offered by Mortal Kombat was enough to get it through a fifth game all the way to the recent tenth installment. 

Street Fighter V

Developer: Capcom

Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: Microsoft Windows and PS4

From Namco to Capcom, arcade games have such old school roots and large followings that there is almost no way you couldn't make at least five games. Street Fighter is no exception to this rule and, as a Street Fighter fan, I'm more than happy. The game is set to release early next year. 

Tekken 5

Developer: Namco

Publisher: Namco

Platforms: Arcade, PS2

If you're a fan of Arcade Style fighting games, then surely you are happy to see such games like Tekken come a long way. Tekken 5 isn't just the fifth installment but marks the ten year anniversary of the Tekken franchise. The game staying true to its roots, was originally released in 2004 for the arcades before debuting on PS2 in 2005. 

Mega Man X 5

Developer: Capcom Poroduction Studio 3

Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: Playstation, PC

Before there was Mega Man X there was Mega Man and unsurprisingly, both titles have reached their fifth game and then some. Interestingly enough, Mega Man X was meant to be the final game in the saga but on second consideration the game went on to be continued through several other titles. 

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: ConViction

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal, Gameloft

Publisher: Ubisoft

Platform: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Cloud, Android, Mac OS X, Bada and Windows Phone

Conviction is Splinter Cell's fifth game that was released in 2010. While the game did get some negative reviews thanks to monotonous gameplay and being short in length, it didn't stop the franchise from being able to launch a sixth game in 2013 under the Splinter Cell title. 

Final Fantasy V

Developer: Square

Publisher: Square

Platforms: Super Famicom, Playstation, Game Boy Advance, iOS, Android

If you were waiting to see Final Fantasy V on this list, then wait no more. There's absolutely no way I could make a list about games reaching no. 5 let alone surpassing it and not talk about Final Fantasy. The franchise is borderline unstoppable as it is currently on it's fifteenth installment. Not to mention the recent E3 announcement of a Final Fantasy VII reboot. 

Yes, this franchise, no matter how long winded, is alive and well. 

Grand Theft Auto V

Developer: Rockstar North

Publisher: Rockstar Games

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows

When it comes to Grand Theft Auto, the franchise is without a doubt one of the best. While it may be controversial, it is a beloved title and GTA V has made GTA fans love it even more. Larger than life characters and a brand new city, GTA V has it all and we can't wait to see what the eventual GTA VI will have in store. 

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Developer: Kojima Productions

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows

Two Metal Gear Solid Vs? Yep.

While we won't get Silent Hills, we will still at least get Kojima's Metal Gear Solid V, so fans can rejoice. The game serves as a sequel to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. The game is set to release early September. 

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Developer: Kojima Productions

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows

Metal Gear Solid V continues where Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker left off in the sub-series of prequels within the Metal Gear Solid franchise. The game was originally planned to be one full-length playable experience but was eventually broken up into two parts due to extended development time and Kojima wanting to get the game out to fans as soon as possible. 

Call of Duty: World at War

Developer: Treyarch, Exakt Entertainment, Arkane Studios

Publisher: Activision 

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows Mobile and Microsoft Windows

World at War is a 2008 follow-up to Call of Duty 4, making it the franchise's fifth game. While it is the fifth game, there isn't much different from CoD4 as it is simply a more enhanced version with increased audio and visual effects.  

Halo 5: Guardians

Developers: 343 Industries

Publisher: Microsoft Studios

Platforms: Xbox One

After the first ever Halo, many people knew the game was going to be a success if it chose to continue and many gamers are happy they did. The game is now on its fifth installment and is set to release in October of this year as an Xbox One exclusive. 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 and Microsoft Windows

Out of all the Elder Scrolls games, Skyrim is one of the most popular and for many reasons including its majestic open world and the accompanying DLC. While Elder Scrolls Online may have been somewhat of a debacle, it isn't enough to keep this growing franchise down. 

Don't let the title fool you, this isn't a Top 5, or at least not your usual Top 5. This is something of a best of the best. When you make a list, without a doubt whether it is about a person or thing, everyone wants to make Top 5. It is just the nature of the beast and video games are no different. 

Some games are all about one good game, while others aim for a triple threat take over in the form of a gaming trilogy. But then there are games that want to transcend all of that. 

For the purpose of this article. it is all about the number 5 and even the numbers that have come after. 

Keep reading for a list of some of the most noteworthy franchises so strong they've made it to their fifth installment and then some. 

Despite controversial times for Japanese publisher Konami involving the creator of Metal Gear, Hideo Kojima, PlayStation Plus Members will have the opportunity to experience the final Metal Gear game with Kojima's name intact for free this June. 

The latest instalment to the stealth action franchise Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, will be free for PS Plus Members on PS4, as well as turn-based strategy Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition. Super Exploding Zoo and Futuridium EP Deluxe will also be free for PS4 owners on cross-buy with PS Vita. First-person shooter Call of Juarez: Gunslinger and 2D platformer Cloudberry Kingdom round out the PS Plus Free Games lineup for June 2015 on the PS3.

The PS Plus Free Games for May such as Hohokum and Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition will remain free until 3rd June before the prelude to the much-anticipated Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and others take over.

I haven't written many nice things about Hideo Kojima, or his games. First person shooters and I had a falling out many years ago, and I'm so cowardly I can't even play BioShock, let alone Silent Hill... and there's always the fact that I think many of Kojima's decision can be read as a little sexist in a Western context. 

Still, with the recent Konami/Kojima separation and P.T. still on our minds, I find myself wondering more about the legendary video game auteur and the properties he has masterminded. So here's what I dug up. It doesn't necessarily make me like Kojima's games anymore, but I can better appreciate him as a creator. Here are ten bits of trivia about Hideo Kojima.

1.) Hideo Kojima Hates Being Called "Kojima-San"

In Japanese, Kojima-San roughly translates to "Mr. Kojima". Instead, Kojima prefers to be called Kojima Kantoku, Kantoku being a title that many Japanese movie directors use. 

He is the only game director to be called this in Japan. His explanation?  He believes the Japanese game directors are superior to movie directors... and by extensions he thinks he belongs up there with them. 

2.) Hal "Otacon" Emmerich is named after Kojima's favorite film director, Roland Emmerich

Roland Emmerich is one of Kojima's favorite directors, so he snuck in a reference in Metal Gear Solid. Otacon's first name, Hal, is also a direct reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Easter eggs like this make me realize just how in control he was in the making of games. 

3.) Hideo Kojima is friends with the Wachowski Siblings

In 1999 Hideo Kojima and the Wachowskis were interviewed for an issue of Famitsu. The Wachowski siblings even approached Kojima at a later date to discuss making a Matrix video game, though that never panned out. 

4.) Solid Snake was inspired by Snake Plissken from John Carpenter's Escape From New York

I feel like this bit of trivia is pretty obvious to people familiar with the MSG series, but it's an excuse to add a picture of Kurt Russel. In general, despite my lack of familiarity with MSG, I've always been impressed with how well some of the characters rock that eyepatch. 

5.) Hideo Kojima tries to watch one movie per day

While he has multiple favorite movies, Martin Scorcese's Taxi Driver and Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Spacey Odyssey top his list. What can I say, Kojima's got good taste in film after watching a movie every day.

6.) Big Boss canonically believes in Santa Claus

We don't know if this reflects Kojima's personal beliefs, but we do know that the Kojima Productions offices certainly decorate for Christmas.  

7.) Kojima is a recruitable character in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

There's a long history of creators adding themselves to their own fictional universes. I, for one, am tired of seeing Stan Lee in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet Kojima may be one of the first major video game creators to do such a thing. Way to get meta, Kojima. 

8.) Kojima's 70-yr-old mother played completely through Metal Gear Solid 3. 

She was over 70 years old at the time, and it took over an entire year to complete the game. That's some true motherly love right there. I can't even get my mom to read my articles, let alone play video games. 

9.) Every single soldier has a unique appearance in Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes 

Each soldier's appearance is based off a real photograph and none of the faces are duplicated. More than anything, it's this attention to detail that really impressed me about Kojima and his games. 

10.) Kojima is friends with Japanese model/porn star Minako Komukai

Komukai is a known Metal Gear nut and somehow became acquainted with Hideo Kojima. She did some commentary at a Metal Gear Online event and appeared on Kojima's HIDECHAN Radio show three times in 2006. Notably, Komukai didn't start work in the porn industry until 2011, which is some time after her work with Kojima. 

Well, that's all I got. I know there are a lot more games than this but this list is based on the games that I've played or researched on extensively at the time those games were released.

Those are the most disappointing games of 2014 in my book. What's yours? Write it down in the comments section below!

Ground Zeroes

I know that everyone's getting hyped up for Metal Gear Solid V, and obviously Kojima knows that as well. The evidence is in Ground Zeroes, a supposed prologue for players to ease into the MGS V game. There's actually nothing wrong with this game. The graphics are great, missions are intricate and focused very much on stealth, just like any MGS game should. 

All was fine except the fact that the game can be beat in one play session, and not a very long one at that. But, okay, it's supposed to be a prologue to MGS V, so let's say it's only allowed to be 90 minutes long, give or take. Charging $40 for a 90-minute game is not okay though. Definitely not okay. 

Nevertheless people are still hyped up about Metal Gear Solid V, and they should be - it looks like a damn good game. But until then, you can play this 1.5-hour, $40 adventure. 

Driveclub

Driveclub was supposed to be one of PS4's flagship titles to attract more consumers into buying a PS4 instead of Xbox One. Obviously there was a lot of promise in this game. So much so that this game was suppose to come out on PS Plus for free at one point, but never did. 

Not only that, but the server issues were also extremely problematic, as many players complained in gaming forums everywhere. That doesn't make Driveclub a bad game though. It's a decent racer with the same type of gameplay that racing fanatics are comfortable with.

However decent this game is, it's still disappointing for not living up to their promises. 

Destiny

Over $500 million. That's how much money was put into the massive hype train called Destiny. 

Destiny was suppose to be one of the best, if not the best, game of 2014. Everyone was getting so hyped up for it and calling it a great game before it even came out. Fans were eager for something new, especially something from Bungie! People were so excited for this game that they bought PS4s and Xbox Ones just to play it.

Which is why it was all the more disappointing when this game turned out to be a flop that even paid reviewers couldn't save: a non-existent story that's just a HUGE  setup for endless DLC, Peter Dinklage's flat dialogue delivery, and the ridiculous random loot had gamers everywhere complaining. Oh, top all that with the fact that you can't even trade with your friends in the game. Come on Bungie, you're better than this and you know it. 

Watch Dogs

Playing Watch Dogs, I actually enjoyed the gameplay. Being the first PS4 video game I've played, I thought the visuals looked alright - aside from some defects here and there. And I also enjoyed the tense multiplayer modes as well. 

Then I searched for some review videos and found the E3 video that made Watch Dogs famous in the first place. There is so much missing in the game in terms of graphics. The E3 reveal had MUCH better textures, MUCH better lighting, MUCH better shadows, ans so on. Overall, the current version of Watch Dogs is just a total downgrade from the E3 reveal. 

It's not that the current version is necessarily a bad game. It's just how Ubisoft promised so much, then under-delivered in so many ways that left a sour taste in many fans. 

To start off the list, let's go with the obvious. 2014 wasn't a good year for gaming, at least in terms of anticipated releases coming through on people's expectations. 

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Unity should be obvious choice for this category. I mean, just look at the picture! The glitches in this game are mind-boggling and borderline game-breaking. So much could've been way better if it weren't for these face glitches, invisible walls, etc. 

The Metal Gear Solid franchise typically has decent Artificial Intelligence but that's not always the case. Here's a clip of some bad A.I. 

I guess the bad guy was checking his smartphone while he was walking across the road. I am surprised his buddy driving even stopped to check on him. One less bad guy for Snake.

Game: Lollipop Chainsaw

Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture

Scene/Thing in Game: All the butt shots/up skirt shots/over sexualized costumes

Lollipop Chainsaw has been both criticized and praised for the depiction of the main protagonist, Juliet Starling. One side saying she is too over sexualized and it being disturbing, and the other saying it fits perfectly with the character and story.

Where I tend to agree with both, this does fit with her character, and the story to some extent, does she really need to be running around in a bikini like in the video above? Does there really need to be an over saturation of up skirt, or arse shots in the game? If it was just toned down I would find it acceptable and fitting. This is all especially bad when games are under the eye of a electron microscope from the masses.

Game: Dead Space 2

Developer: Visceral Games

Scene/Thing in Game: Eye Surgery Scene

This whole scene does a very good job at being tense and scary.

However, getting to the success state simply lasts is too long. I do not enjoy or want to see a needle slowly make it's way further into someones eye. The game could have cut to an X-ray type display showing the needle lower further into Isaac's eye. And for the failure state, the whole contraption violently slams into Isaac's face killing him rather brutally. During this time the game could have cut to black, and just had the sound playing, the effect would have been just as strong.

The part where the needle slowly lowers, under the players control, is fine. But what happens after are where the issues lie.

Game: Metro: Last Light

Developer: 4A Games

Scene/Thing in Game: 'Forced' Upon Player Strip Scene

There is a whole section of Metro: Last Light where you are basically forced to watch a whole topless Can-can, with some of the most jelly like breasts and butts. Not only is this unrealistic, but not needed in the game. It's fine to briefly show, or hint at this sort of behavior because it does happen in the games fiction, and shouldn't be hidden from the player

The other scene shortly follows the aforementioned, and is an almost forced lap dance scene. Where a stripper walks in on Artyom while he listening in on a conversation from hiding. After the conversation ends the stripper then offers her 'services' without a care in the world, and you are forced into an in game payment option. It also doesn't fit with the games story, and the character of Artyom.

All this just appears sleazy, forced, and there for the sole reason for the appearance of maturity. 

Game: Ride to Hell: Retribution

Developer: Eutechnyx

Scene/Thing in Game: Most of the game, but primary the clothed loving making scene

This may be one of the more infamous scenes in recent games. It doesn't need much explanation other than: 
There is a scene in Ride to Hell: Retribution where two characters have sex while fully clothed and with some of the worst voice acting work to boot.

It's fine to have scenes where two characters do engage with the bed, but why not hint at this instead of fully showing it, it's bad enough with movies using it unnecessarily to appear 'mature'.

Game: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros

Developer: Kojima Productions

Scene/Thing in Game: Paz 'Surgery' Scene

If you listen to all the tapes that Paz records, you hear some pretty rough and dark stuff. From her rape to torture, and even mentions of her being cut open and something being put inside her, but she assumes that is just her imagination.

After Snake manages to facilitate escape for both Paz and himself via helicopter, the player is rewarded with this over graphic 'surgery' scene - surgery is in quote marks for reasons I will go into later.

The idea is that the team on the helicopter discover something is inside Paz, naturally they must get it out, the object turns out to be a bomb.

The part which is in question of this 'surgery', is when the surgeon almost manages to make Paz's intestines fall out. Horrible stuff... especially when this is supposed to be a surgery, not a "how-much-can-you-fit-inside-a-person-without-making-their-guts-fall-out-ery".

There is nothing wrong with putting a surgery scene into a game, but either allow the player to look away in game during this so they only hear it, or make it so it's not unnecessarily gruesome. In fact I would love it if you could just look away from any surgery in game, because I don't deal well with in screen surgeries.

CAUTION: VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED FOR SOME OF THE CONTENT!

Have you ever been playing a game, and either in a cutscene or during gameplay thought to yourself, "why on earth is this in the game?!"

I have, and wanted to explore five examples of when I felt this.

Some of the following games I do like, some I do not, but all have parts which can easily be removed.

So without further ado, let's get to it!

Notable mention for Grand Theft Auto V's Torture Scene. Where, as Trevor you have to torture a character. However as this does somewhat fit with Trevor's... less gentle tendencies, it did not make the full list.

Those modders in the PC community have popped out yet another glorious mod. The game this time around is Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, the latest release in the Metal Gear franchise. A modder by the name of Pao created a mod that allows PC players to play the game in first-person.

Ben Blatcher, the one playing the mod, writes about the mod and his experience playing it. 

It's brilliant. Not being able to see what's round corners makes things much more tense, and you've gotta be really careful and try and get a good view on things beforehand. You've got to rely on your senses a lot more.

Throwing in a different perspective to a game isn't something new, it's been done by modders for a variety of games and recently it's been done by Rockstar Games for GTA V, but the novelty of the perspective change is always interesting and welcome.

PC gamers and owners of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes can play this mod right now. The mod still has problems and bugs but the experience is still one that gamers should try out.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros (now refered to as Ground Zeros) has been out on Windows for nearly one month. I have now played every mission and experimented with many ways to play the game, from full ghost, to pacifist, to lethal stealth, and finally open combat. I want to talk about what I expect from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (now refered to as Phantom Pain) from the story, gameplay, world, and AI.

Take into account that the only content for Phantom Pain I have watched is the gameplay demonstration from E3 2014, which you can watch below.

The gameplay from E3 2014.

What I expect from...

...The Story

In Ground Zeros you play as Snake, or Big Boss (also known as Venom Snake in Phantom Pain), with the story being set a few months after the events in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. For the story of Phantom Pain I am expecting one of the main antagonists to be Skull Face, the leader of XOF - which is magically FOX backwards, maybe in reference to FOXHOUND and the game's Engine - you see Skull Face in the opening cut scene of Ground Zeros talking to, and being pretty damned evil to, Paz.

 The rather unfortunate soul in the face department, Skull Face.

...The Gameplay

The gun play in previous Metal Gear Solid games were not the series strong points. This is not the case in Ground Zeros, with very well done, and sharp handling gun play, it really is excellent. Also There is finally a good cover mechanic, when you rub yourself up and down a wall you will take cover behind it, without being stuck to the cover. This then allows you to aim out from behind cover, attack guards from around the corner or over a low wall with CQC, or to simply hide. In Phantom Pain I expect to see this be taken a bit further, as being said in the E3 2014 gameplay that aiming from behind cover is now slightly faster. Based on how it worked in Ground Zeros I also expect to see the climbing mechanics improved. Maybe even due to Phantom Pain being set in Afghanistan, we may see some sort of free climbing mechanic.

The simple yet effective cover mechanic.

...The AI

In Ground Zeros if the AI spots you briefly, they will look at where you were for a short while then move back to what they were doing. If the AI sees you for a bit longer, they will move to investigate. AI will also call in gunshots, being knocked out, or any suspicions behaviour over on the radio. Shooting security cameras will lead to one or more guards moving to investigate. You can hold up enemies, interrogate them and even use them as a human shield, all of which are nothing new to Metal Gear Solid, but are all things which make the game world feel more alive. In Phantom Pain I am expecting to see this AI behaviour but on a larger scale, so a guard in a watch tower or forward lookout point will call back to the main base, as well as the local area. I am also expecting AI to react to sounds of objects being knocked over, or the wall tap system coming back - as shown in the E3 2014 gameplay, Venom Snake will use his new robotic arm to do this - I expect the AI will be reacting more dynamically. Perhaps depending what the sound is a guard may call over some other guards to check out the area.

Snake holding up a guard. This image is for the Hands Up Achievement in Ground Zeros.

...The World

The world in Ground Zeros may just be a single base, but the variety of ways you can move around the base, the amount detail put into the overall layout, even just the small details like chairs, boxes, rubble, grass, etc. make the place feel alive. They make the place feel real in a way I have not felt in previous Metal Gear Solid games. The setting of Phantom Pain is about 200 times larger than that of Ground Zeros, making Afghanistan very large. I want to see the level of detail in Ground Zeros being put into Phantom Pain, I trust in Kojima Productions ability to deliver on this. From the mountainous, areas to the desert flats I hope for each area to have the same sense of living that the base of Ground Zeros has.

The Map of Phantom Pain.

...The Little Things

The attention to detail that Kojima puts into his games, and the cool tricks he plays on you are always great. Notable examples of tricks are, swapping your controller into port two for Psycho Mantis making him no longer being able to 'read your thoughts', or moving the system clock forward so that The End dies of old age to name two.

Lastly, the PC port for Ground Zeros was outstanding, I want this to continue with the Phantom Pain. The Fox Engine appears really well optimised for each console, and PC and I wish for this to continue.

Video showing The End dying of old age.

The End

I am really looking forward to all the surprises the Phantom Pain has in offer, to this end I purposefully have not watched any trailers, or read much on the game as I want to come into this as fresh as possible. I trust Kojima to do an amazing job, and am glad they have finally fixed the gun play issues which have plagued the series since it's inception. Metal Gear Solid is the game which got me into stealth action games, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for the series.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros has just had its PC system requirements air dropped via an announcement on its Steam community page.

The specs do not require a super computer my any means, but do require you to have put a bit of money into your system.

Minimum Specifications:
OS - Windows Vista 64-Bit or later
Processor - Core i5 SandyBridge 4Core (4 Thread) 2.7GHz or above
Memory - 4 GB RAM or above
Graphics - GeForce GTX 650 or above
DirectX - Version 11 or above

Recommended Specifications:
OS - Windows Vista 64-Bit or later
Processor - Core i5 SandyBridge 4Core (4 Thread) 2.7GHz or above
Memory - 8 GB RAM or above
Graphics - GeForce GTX 760 or above
DirectX - Version 11 or above

This marks a big change for the console-only release precedent for the Metal Gear Solid series. apart from the 2013 (was out at the beginning of 2014 for PC) spin-off Metal Gear Rising Revengance, the series has not seen a Windows game since 2001 with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The series has only had one other Windows release with Metal Gear Solid in 1998.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros is due out on December 18th for PC and is already out for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is also due out for PC, Xbox 306, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4 but the release date is unknown.

(Note: I am aiming to make SkinnyReviews a different take on the traditional review formula. This will evolve over time, based on feedback from the community, my peers, and my perfectionist mindset. I hope you all enjoy.)

What is a SkinnyReview? Well, it is where I will pick two aspects of a game, then a brief bonus aspect, and base my review around those areas. It could be game mechanics, story, multiplayer, second screen use, gameplay, or something else.

There Has to Be a First

I have wanted to do reviews for sometime now, I feel I have let peers down by not doing them. This isn't good of me. However that is about to change; I have wanted to bring a unique spin to the format, I hope this is it.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes on Xbox One felt like a great game to start with. It was the last title I sunk my teeth into that wasn't an MMO or multiplayer game in any way.

Controls

It is Metal Gear Solid, but smoother. You turn like a ballerina on a very large penny and traversing obstacles is the smoothest it has ever been. You glide through grass and shadows like air, you crouch like a child perfectly sneaking behind the sofa to get to the kitchen for cookies. The camera is responsive, binoculars are your best weapon on Hard, and patience is your best friend. Sprinting is located behind the right analogue stick with a click, and while Snake does look a little like he has taken lessons from Usain Bolt, it is effective nonetheless. The d-pad allows you to select between four equipment slots - these can contain grenades, pistols, assault rifles, or my personal favourite, the RPG.

Eliminating hostiles is slicker and more satisfying than ever.  Numerous actions can be completed using a very limited number of controls. For example, holding RT when climbing a ladder and crouching behind your target present a number of option outcomes all using the same button. Using a choice menu you can either formulate a plan to trap other hostiles, or interrogate your target for information such as guard placements, weapons and ammo, and even collectibles locations. After this you can decide if you want to KO them or simply kill them, reducing the risk of the base going on alert.

The most notable flaw in the controls are when you find invisible walls at the edge of a wall or cliff face which force you to rise to a crouch stance - thereby risking detection.

Story

Right from the get-go you are introduced, via text slides, to the backstory of The Boss, Big Boss (Snake), and the events that triggered the entire Metal Gear franchise.

The game begins with the usual, and welcomed, Hideo Kojima style of saying you have got no idea what is to come. We know who the boy is, we know who the person who didn't suffer long is, but who is Skullface? What information was revealed about Cipher? XOF? Why do they have amazing laser removal technology?

The removal and disposal of the XOF badges in the introduction is a great move by Hideo Kojami. This seemingly throwaway moment is the key to unlocking the side ops Jamais Vu and Deja Vu, because collecting them is the only way to gain access to the Raiden and classic Snake operations.

There is a great deal of freedom with the approach to completing the story, and several nice side missions you can complete to change some cut-scenes. Try exploring the base before heading to the prison camp, or rescuing all the other prisoners before entering Chico's cage.

Overall, the story of Ground Zeroes is a departure from the normal Metal Gear Solid storytelling formula we know. It is like a tanker version of the tanker prelude to Metal Gear Solid 2, setting us up for what is to come without actually revealing anything... other than building bases on top of oil rigs is a bad idea.

Bonus: Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland takes over the mantle of Snake from David Hayter. Hayter has been the voice of Snake since 1998. He is loved by fans, and many feel that he is the embodiment of the Metal Gear Solid portion of the Metal Gear franchise.

I can simply say that Kiefer Sutherland fits the role, not great, but well. I never once felt that I was listening to an out-of-character performance, just a different take.

Solid or Liquid?

So, is Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes a solid entry to the series, or is it just a glorified $30/£19.99 demonstration of what Konami has locked away in an underground bunker?

It is light on story, heavy on action and stealth, but redeems itself with a fantastic ending and backstory-filled cassette tapes. Yes, cassette tapes. It is 1975, after all.

A solid 8 stars.

 With some truly incredible blockbuster titles hitting us throughout the year, its obvious that the new generation of titles is an thriving ecosystem in which will no doubt consume many of our gameplay hours over dastardly long periods of time. But what about the smaller lengthed adventures on our new machines?

Ryse: Son Of Rome comes to mind in this demographic, showcasing a gory and explosive but shallow and painfully short experience. 

Did that Microsoft adventure really amount to a full 60 dollars? The subject of overall quality and quantity in these Triple A titles is highly debatable but one thing is certain, people have limited amounts of funds to spend on their gaming pastime, and purchasing these titles fresh off the shelf really puts a dent in their pockets. 

Although it's pretty early in the 8th generation of gaming systems, with circumstances the way they are, it would be immensely beneficial to have a rental system in place for the new.

If a game is not going to entertain you for a long time, then why have to suffer financially when it comes to the lack of substance? The controversal Ground Zeroes has communities pondering these questions.

Reduced price tag or not, the span of a game needs to be fulfilling and satisfying to the customer, something which has been seemingly forgotten within the depths of these less-than-4-hour games.

What's currently available

Almost everyone knows of the fairly decent array of solutions we have for combating a game that doesn't show its 60 dollar price tag. Rental businesses currently exist, one in the form of Gamefly, a successful borrowing service in which caters to most of your gaming desires through the use of mail delivery and a paid subscription. An ingenious practice for sure, albeit limited in general market appeal and unattractive attempts to sell the games to you after you've tried them out.

The other game borrowing business everyone else is fond of manifests itself as redbox. This nifty, gigantic vending machine located in your 7-Eleven contains many of the 7th generations greatest hits, but faulters in anything more recent. This is to be corrected and expanded upon for sure as time progresses; however the public could sure rejoice if rentals from the new generation were to be implemented right now, as we are money tight and not in the mood to give up basic living conditions in order to pay for day one releases in stores.

 Don't worry, the consumer will inevitably benefit from all this.

We live in an age were the consumers 'opinions about products is extremely powerful. Maybe apart from rentals to save us from financial misery, corporations will recognize our want of change in the run time of games, leading to a complete overhaul of what is the norm in titles released today.

Who knows, maybe with a combined effort of style and substance, gamers won't need to rent anymore, as these new and improved titles will give us a complete package well worth the asking price.

In honor of Ground Zeroes fairly recent drop onto the general public, I thought it would be best to reflect upon the whole series and see what mechanics have made it the extraordinary block buster hit we all know today. Many of the mechanics we know and love in the modern MGS series are rooted in a little portable game named Metal Gear Solid or (Metal Gear: Ghost Babel in Asia) released in 2000 for the Game Boy Color platform.

"Tactical Espionage Action?"

What the heck does that mean? Well to put it simply, it's an awesome sounding phrase that signifies using your mind over your gun, the ability to creep into a base without being detected by goons. Tactical espionage action represents all the wickedly cool things made possible in the stealth genre, something MGS on Game Boy Color did very well.

This Game Boy Color title is an insane example of a port done very, very well.

There are no liberties taken for this port to function, EVERYTHING is preserved so exact in comparison with its PlayStation brother its astonishing.

The fluid movement with Solid Snake, the radar enabler, even the codec all exemplify the great features that have been seamlessly transferred from console into a puny cartridge.

The Plot is Truly Remarkable

This heart pounding tale has grizzled veteran Solid Snake being pulled out of his retirement in Alaska to investigate a compound that was formerly the infamous Outer Heaven. 

Conspiracies, twists, all of the awesome characteristics from the Metal Gear series are all present here, and they have never been so spot on and noteworthy.

Gameplay is Intuitive and Rewarding

You will spend the majority of your time maneuvering through dim-witted guards and chatting with government agents, two tasks fascinating in their own right. There is a wide array of gadgets at your disposal, ID cards, and submachine guns galore - for those interested in a more 'direct' approach.

All around brilliant animations and mechanics make this gem a blast to take in all the way through.

Jam Packed with Stuff

The fun doesn't stop after the credits role as VR missions are beautifully realized in the 2D plane. Challenging additions that prolong the game, these are welcome features that cease to grow old. There is also a link cable mode that interestingly pits two different players in further shenanigans, but come on, who still owns all those peripherals?

This, ladies and gentlemen, is not only an exceptional GBC title, but one of the most finely crafted games to ever grace any screen. 

Everything is on point with its franchise; not above the average, but furthering the quality of the series to new heights.

If you are an aficionado of the Metal Gear universe and this somehow went under your radar, play this underated masterpiece immediately, it still holds up tremendously well.

It is time again to play as Big Boss. Naked Snake. The genetic blueprint father of both Liquid, Solid, and Solidus Snake.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is the introductory chapter to the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, but it isn't any less of a game. Hideo Kojami and his team deliver a fantastic addition to both the stealth genre and the Metal Gear Solid legacy.

As ever with Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojami has hidden easter eggs, collectibles and more within the game. Couple that with the side missions and you have a lot to keep doing past the first two-hour adventure.

The genetic blueprint father of both Liquid, Solid, and Solidus Snake.

Over the coming weeks we shall be posting a range of guides, reviews and more for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Are you already playing Ground Zeroes? Keep your codec tuned to the GameSkinny frequency.