Metal Gear Solid V finally has a release date! It’s one of the best news stories of the week for me personally, only soured by Hideo Kojima himself. The famed creator of the franchise has been creative director on all the core entries, and has notoriously stated on a few occasions that he would be walking away. It’s no different with The Phantom Pain, but for the first time I actually believe him.
In the same video where the release date for the title was announced, Hideo Kojima revealed that The Phantom Pain would be the last Metal Gear Solid title he would personally work on. That’s not to say there won’t be more, but rather no more with Kojima’s hand in it. The developer acknowledges past statements that mirrored this, and used them to emphasise just how serious he was.
“I always say ‘this will be my last Metal Gear’, but the games in the series that I’ve personally designed and produced — Metal Gear on MSX, MG2, MGS1, 2, 3, 4, Peace Walker, and now MGSV — are what constitute a single ‘Metal Gear Saga.’ With MGSV, I’m finally closing the loop on that saga.”
And that actually makes perfect sense. The Phantom Pain bridges the gap between the Big Boss ear and Solid Snake’s first outing on Shadow Moses. Not only does it wrap up the arc Peace Walker introduced, it most probably explains a lot about the ending to Metal Gear Solid 4, where the Boss himself makes a surprising appearance at the end. The Phantom Pain will bring about an end, at least in Kojima’s eyes, to the Snake saga. The franchise can, obviously, choose to ignore that.
But just like any creator, Kojima really seems like he’s happy with what his franchise has achieved. There seems to be no better time to let go of it than now, especially since previous promises came with all sorts of dangling narrative strings attached. That’s not the case here, so he’s probably very serious this time.
It could, in classic Kojima style, just be an empty promise. There’s a lot that can happen after the launch of Metal Gear Solid V, but if the game is everything Kojima promises, I don’t see a reason for him to go back on his word this time. Who knows – maybe we’ll finally get that Zone of the Enders sequel then.
Last Updated: March 5, 2015
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 09:37
That one part is a serious spoiler for those who havent played MGS 4 yet.;)
If there even exists such a person.
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 09:38
That would be me.
ReaperOfSquirrels
March 5, 2015 at 09:43
Me too… oh wait… I haven’t played a single MGS… I tried 1 and 2 and just couldn’t get into them.
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 09:44
There’s a sex joke in there: Solid Snake, couldn’t get into… Too early?
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2015 at 09:45
Bwaahahaha
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 09:44
Away with you heretic!
Pariah
March 5, 2015 at 09:54
Glad I’m not the only one. *YAWN*
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 09:57
Well, I did get a few laughs when the general/commander in chief/whatever would go Snake? Snake? SNAAAAAKKKEEEEEEE!!!!! When the bad guys made chicken wire out of Snake…
Pariah
March 5, 2015 at 09:58
Lol. At least you got something out of it. 🙂
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:03
My Snake is Solid! I put in!
Pariah
March 5, 2015 at 10:04
I don’t want to know, but thanks. 🙂
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:00
Yeah but you’re just weird. You didn’t even like WWE!
Pariah
March 5, 2015 at 10:04
XD
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:18
I got news for you: Any person over the age of 12 that likes WWE needs help. Preferably the psychiatric kind.
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:21
Can you recommend anyone good?
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:23
Ag, anybody with a matric in woodwork would help for you.
Damn. I am bitter by even my own standards today.
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:23
Noem jy my ‘n houtkop? 😛
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:29
It’s about context I believe. Plus, one of the main roads in Vereeniging is still called Houtkop Road…
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:31
Yeah not going to take a chance, must get back to work and I’m a sucker for a internet fight 😛
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:00
Yeah but you’re just weird. You didn’t even like WWE!
Sageville
March 5, 2015 at 11:18
Me too, started the first one, couldn’t get out of the first area, felt shame, never played MG again.
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2015 at 09:45
Everyone who didn’t own a PS3. They would have released it on 360 if it had a bluray drive. But it didn’t so it would have released like this 😛
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–slV04RGP–/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/18mfgm84j37gmjpg.jpg
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2015 at 09:43
ZOE sequel!!!!!!!
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 09:47
Screw that! I just want him to start showing us some Silent Hill!
Umar
March 5, 2015 at 09:48
This
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2015 at 10:01
Screw ZOE??? O_o
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 10:42
Yes… Screw ZOE… Its just not the master piece everybody makes it out to be… Well not for me anyways.
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 09:43
Who is Kojima and who is Mordin Solus?
http://www.thefilteredlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Mordin_Solus.png
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 09:46
Two entirely different games and universes but GOOD question!
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 09:53
Yeah… Seeing as Kojima is part of real life and well, Mordin Solus is a fictitious character from a game…
Umar
March 5, 2015 at 09:46
Dat feels when Boss shows up….Fuck man. ‘father and son’ …
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 10:00
That moment when you realize your the same age as your father…
Umar
March 5, 2015 at 11:26
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK that FOXDIE…….those feels when he met up with meryl and he’s like an old man already….I want to cry 🙁
RinceThis
March 5, 2015 at 09:47
Spoilers!
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:06
I hate stealth games to be honest. I am always wondering: What would Femshep do?
Kill everyone in sight, get what she came for, blow up the base, go back to the Normandy and make out with Liara.
http://img2.goodfon.su/original/1680×1050/e/cb/liara-t-soni-liara-mass.jpg
Spathi
March 5, 2015 at 10:08
Your Femshep sound like Duke Nukem (or Bombshell, which is the female Duke)
Dutch Matrix
March 5, 2015 at 10:10
Duke Nukem is a sissy! Femshep would wipe the floor with him! She head butted a Krogan, ffs!
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 10:48
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/200/c/2/mass_effect_3___we_ll_bang__ok__by_giogiogio4-d56f87l.jpg
I laugh EVERY TIME!
WitWolfy
March 5, 2015 at 10:44
My heart and save games still belong to Miranda.
Mabenito
March 5, 2015 at 10:27
Jehuty is bawwwssss..!
Hendrik
March 5, 2015 at 12:26
I played every single MGS. Actually played MGS1 like 9 times. Best series ever. I am going to buy a PS4 just for this.
Jonah Cash
March 5, 2015 at 13:13
Funny I played one a ton of times as well but 2 is my favourite… It just had it all!! But 4’s ending is epic, 3 is probably my least favourite… didn’t like the controls in 3 at all!!
J_Joestar
March 5, 2015 at 18:12
isn’t he good buddies with Masahiro “I’m not making any more Smash games… except i probably will” Sakurai?