Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

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Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (Japanese: メタルギアソリッドVグラウンドゼロズ Hepburn: Metaru Gia Soriddo Faibu Guraundo Zerozu) is an action-adventure stealth game developed by Kojima Productions, produced by Konami, released for Play Station 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC via Steam. It is part of a sub-series of prequels in the Metal Gear series, taking place after Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Ground Zeroes stands alone as the first part of Metal Gear Solid V, acting as the prologue for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The game follows Snake as he infiltrates a fictional American black site in Cuba called Camp Omega, attempting to rescue Cipher agent Paz Ortega Andrade and Sandinista child soldier Ricardo "Chico" Valenciano Libre.

The game offers players new methods of sneaking and traversal methods as well as the choice in what order the story events take place by selecting missions in any order they like. The game was originally set to be released alongside The Phantom Pain but an extended development time resulted in director Hideo Kojima splitting the project in two parts so that players will get an early access to Metal Gear Solid V. Critical reception to the game has been generally positive with praise aimed towards its mechanics, voice-acting, story, and graphics, with criticism aimed towards its short length.

Tropes used in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes include:
  • The Alcatraz: The idea behind Camp Omega.
  • Big Bad: Skull Face, the mysterious leader of the XOF, is the one responsible for keeping Paz and Chico on Camp Omega.
  • Darker and Edgier: Even for the Metal Gear series, this game is pretty dark in themes, which include the torture of children and rape, not to mention it's one of the first games in the series where the US military is portrayed in an openly negative fashion and are killable opponents.
  • Downer Ending: The MSF lose his base, Paz is dead, along with presumably many others, and Big Boss is left into a coma.
  • False-Flag Operation: Turns out the nuclear inspectors were XOF, and they attack as soon they arrive in the MSF base.
  • Rape by Proxy: Cassette tapes reveal Skull Face made Chico rape Paz to torture the boy, since he became aware of his crush towards her.
  • Semper Fi: US Marines are your opponents in this game, being the guardians of Camp Omega.
  • Tech Demo Game: The main mission of the game doesn't take very long to beat, and it was explicitly released as a preview of the The Phantom Pain, showing off what the FOX engine can do, with a story you could sum up on an index card.
  • The Faceless: The eyes of the nameless Medic in the helicopter are always out of view.
  • Wide Open Sandbox: Insofar as you wish to explore Camp Omega, it's completely accessible, though very little outside of it explorable save a few outside regions bordering the camp.