Hideo Kojima is like football, or a Kit-Kat an entity of two halves. On one side, you have the original gaming auteur, a man with consummate control over his games and the universe they unfold in. It would do Metal Gear Solid a disservice to termit something as anaemic as ‘franchise’ it’s more like a shed-based hobby project spun violently out of control; like taking up woodworking and accidentally building the Spanish Armada. He’s serious about that control, striving to make new, exciting projects with every step.
But on the other hand, you have the man who simply won't stop joking around who, while critiquing western imperialism and crypto fascist governmental control, will snigger over a boob and have voice actors record entire sections of monologue in which they’re undergoing a particularly strenuous toilet episode.
That was never clearer than in his personal demonstration of a new 20 minutes of The Phantom Pain footage at the Tokyo Game Show. Set in a new African environment, Kojima managed to show off a raft of interesting, well thought out new features as well as the ways they’re being put to puerile,
slapstick effect. Want a full rundown? Please refer to our in-depth tabulation.
1) THE NEW BUDDY SYSTEM…
The Snakes have never quite been alone, what with Codecs and contacts, but you’re now able to call in AI support. So far, we’ve seen controversially clad sniper Quiet, who can be ordered to support (marking targets) or attack alongside other more niche abilities. And keep an eye on her if she dies, she’s gone for good.
…INCLUDING A WOLF WITH AN EYEPATCH
But Kojima’s hinted that other characters will be able to join you including DD, a one-eyed wolf puppy who can be rescued, Fulton-ballooned to base, raised by Revolver Ocelot and brought along on helicopter-assisted walkies, presumably to track targets and make us sad when he inevitably gets shot to pieces.
2) QUIET IS A MUTE (ISH) SNIPER…
Snake always meets a few strangers on his travels here it's your new buddy, an expert marks person who's been “deprived of her words”. That doesn't mean she's silent she hums a tune when she spots enemies for you but she’s one of the more enigmatic characters we know of so far.
…WHO HAS SUPERHUMAN POWERS
That is until she starts moving about, when she becomes a little more obviously unusual. Quiet can turn invisible, run at the speed of a hatchback across all terrain and shoot grenades you toss into the air, propelling theminto targets. She’s essentially the worst-dressed member of the X-Men.
3) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT…
Upgrading your new Mother Base HQ isn’t just a case of constructing an impenetrable Fort Boyard-like gauntlet against pesky multiplayer invaders. Doing so also enables you to study and build new or upgraded technology to bring with you on to the battlefield in the single-player sections.
…ON BIG BOSS’S ROBOT ARM
But it also lets you mess about with Naked Snake’s new prosthetic extremity. Far from just the blood-red appendage we first saw, there are different colours and even entirely new abilities like the power to spin the hand at such speed that it generates enough electrical charge to knock out a fully grown man.
4) IN-MISSION SUPPLY DROPS…
Taking an unexpected leaf out of Just Cause 2’s book, Snake can call in weapon or equipment drops at almost any time, letting you kit up for unexpected changes in mission parameters, don more appropriate camouflage for your location or just knock out unwitting enemies with big boxes of guns.
…WITH A MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT
Far from the practical implications, however, we just like how Snake styles these drops out most obviously when changing clothes. In the latest demo, he orders a new Sneaking Suit, jumps into the fallen box and shakes it about a bit before revealing his latex-ensconced buns to a short fanfare.
5) TONNES OF GADGETS…
By this point in the Byzantine storyline, big Boss runs his own outfit, Diamond Dogs and he’s been rewarded with some neat spy gear. From his holographic PDA to the Sonar Bio-Detector (which marks wildlife and human activity), you’ve got tricks up and down your sleeves.
…INCLUDING BLOW-UP BIG BO
Some of that kit is a little less impressive (while undoubtedly useful), however. Take the Active Decoy a Frisbee with an inflatable Snake effigy inside. You can use it to distract guards, or as the world’s oddest mine ,using its sudden explosive force .
But on the other hand, you have the man who simply won't stop joking around who, while critiquing western imperialism and crypto fascist governmental control, will snigger over a boob and have voice actors record entire sections of monologue in which they’re undergoing a particularly strenuous toilet episode.
That was never clearer than in his personal demonstration of a new 20 minutes of The Phantom Pain footage at the Tokyo Game Show. Set in a new African environment, Kojima managed to show off a raft of interesting, well thought out new features as well as the ways they’re being put to puerile,
slapstick effect. Want a full rundown? Please refer to our in-depth tabulation.
1) THE NEW BUDDY SYSTEM…
The Snakes have never quite been alone, what with Codecs and contacts, but you’re now able to call in AI support. So far, we’ve seen controversially clad sniper Quiet, who can be ordered to support (marking targets) or attack alongside other more niche abilities. And keep an eye on her if she dies, she’s gone for good.
…INCLUDING A WOLF WITH AN EYEPATCH
But Kojima’s hinted that other characters will be able to join you including DD, a one-eyed wolf puppy who can be rescued, Fulton-ballooned to base, raised by Revolver Ocelot and brought along on helicopter-assisted walkies, presumably to track targets and make us sad when he inevitably gets shot to pieces.
2) QUIET IS A MUTE (ISH) SNIPER…
Snake always meets a few strangers on his travels here it's your new buddy, an expert marks person who's been “deprived of her words”. That doesn't mean she's silent she hums a tune when she spots enemies for you but she’s one of the more enigmatic characters we know of so far.
…WHO HAS SUPERHUMAN POWERS
That is until she starts moving about, when she becomes a little more obviously unusual. Quiet can turn invisible, run at the speed of a hatchback across all terrain and shoot grenades you toss into the air, propelling theminto targets. She’s essentially the worst-dressed member of the X-Men.
3) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT…
Upgrading your new Mother Base HQ isn’t just a case of constructing an impenetrable Fort Boyard-like gauntlet against pesky multiplayer invaders. Doing so also enables you to study and build new or upgraded technology to bring with you on to the battlefield in the single-player sections.
…ON BIG BOSS’S ROBOT ARM
But it also lets you mess about with Naked Snake’s new prosthetic extremity. Far from just the blood-red appendage we first saw, there are different colours and even entirely new abilities like the power to spin the hand at such speed that it generates enough electrical charge to knock out a fully grown man.
4) IN-MISSION SUPPLY DROPS…
Taking an unexpected leaf out of Just Cause 2’s book, Snake can call in weapon or equipment drops at almost any time, letting you kit up for unexpected changes in mission parameters, don more appropriate camouflage for your location or just knock out unwitting enemies with big boxes of guns.
…WITH A MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT
Far from the practical implications, however, we just like how Snake styles these drops out most obviously when changing clothes. In the latest demo, he orders a new Sneaking Suit, jumps into the fallen box and shakes it about a bit before revealing his latex-ensconced buns to a short fanfare.
5) TONNES OF GADGETS…
By this point in the Byzantine storyline, big Boss runs his own outfit, Diamond Dogs and he’s been rewarded with some neat spy gear. From his holographic PDA to the Sonar Bio-Detector (which marks wildlife and human activity), you’ve got tricks up and down your sleeves.
…INCLUDING BLOW-UP BIG BO
Some of that kit is a little less impressive (while undoubtedly useful), however. Take the Active Decoy a Frisbee with an inflatable Snake effigy inside. You can use it to distract guards, or as the world’s oddest mine ,using its sudden explosive force .