5/5 ★ – rhysjcshaw's review of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

A masterclass in stealth-action; MGSV:TPP provides a rich sandbox for players to indulge in with its considered approach to missions structure, where preparing for a mission can be just as important as taking it on. Whilst the story can be VERY Kojima at times it still retains a serious lens to examine topics through, such as war and its consequences. The narrative is complimented by the gameplay at certain moments, where narrative impact is reinforced through forced player action. My only criticism is how the game encourages the player to use non-lethal weapons for the majority of the game, before then demanding high-damage lethal weapons towards the end of the first act, leaving many player underprepared for these missions. The game which made me think maybe Kojima isn't totally a nutcase.