Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

The grand daddy of cross-generational titles makes its debut on PS4.

One of the perks of playing a game on the next gen consoles is the background simulations that were largely ignored in previous generation consoles. And thanks to the PS4, the gaming experience has become a lot more immersive and takes you one notch closer to real-life like visuals.

Read FHM India in the digital libraryEvery issue, every shoot, on TCG Media.

MGS is an open world stealth action game known for its gripping storyline and rendering visuals. But, unlike its predecessors, this edition is a short, challenging game, which can be thoroughly enjoyed even by those who are not acquainted with the MGS series. The game boasts of, contrary to its instinctive norms, very little political conspiracies — which could be a welcoming change to those baffled with lengthy narratives. For those not familiar — the series requires the players to be undercover agents in areas of political turmoil and carry out assassinations. MGS sees the player as an undercover agent in the military at a dessert base saddled with the task of murdering the military in a bid to thwart a coup.

What stands out as the most impressive bit of the game is how it brings forth an open-world experience, unravelling options and possibilities. And this is coupled with how the story unfolds before the players to be on a lookout to detect flaws, utilise every nook to sneak and snoop around your enemies. The story revolves around the solitary military base which you might detest later, but the joy of replay is making your own rules. The players are bestowed with the choice of three protagonists - silent assassin, pyromaniac or the deadly sniper, the former most being our pick for most of our rounds. What should be kept in mind is the fact this edition can be taken as a training ground for the forthcoming title - MGS The Phantom Plain, and renders of what can we expect in the coming edition. The game is competent enough to create tensions like situation resonating much like playing a survival horror game. The main antagonist, The Boss, also transforms into a more flexible ninja of sorts that is able to roll, jump and shoot in line with today’s third person action games.

To handle this sort of a situation, you are given a couple technological assets like the binoculars and the iDroid. The binoculars are invaluable when it comes to avoiding unexpected confrontations, and the iDroid aggregates your mission and map information. For the more engrossed players there is ‘Reflex’ mode that briefly slows to take down an enemy alerted to your presence before they can radio colleagues. While for those more flashy, you can always go all guns blaring, thanks to the improved controls of the game.

Verdict

Unlike its previous iterations, this one is a shorter, crisper and a much more tactful game. The visuals are gripping, and more life-like thanks to the greater capabilities of PS4. Yes, it’s lacking in content and comes off as a cash-grab, but its not a bad time filler till Metal Gear Solid

• Available on: XBox 360 and PS4
• Price: ₹2000

Best rated Metal Gear Solid

• Metal Gear Solid (1998): Arguably of the most gripping games to ever embrace Sony Playstation consoles, till date.
• MGS3 (2004): The close-quarters combat, hunting and treating injuries, made this a critical chapter of the Metal Gear saga.
• MGS Peace Walker: When Snake returned to the PSP in Peace Walker, it was a substantial upgrade over Portable Ops.

From the May 2014 issue of FHM India.