Many people have criticised Ground Zeroes simply for offering little as a full release. Ground Zeroes serves as a prelude to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and as such, it's made up of one mission with a couple of side ops as extras. On the surface, there's very little replay value but there's an unsaid rule in video gaming: never underestimate Hideo Kojima. Yes, Ground Zeroes is short but it offers some of the finest gameplay the Metal Gear Solid series has seen. The game is a lot more immersive with little to no direction towards mission objectives; logic and observation suddenly become far more important. Learning information from overhearing guards or directly interrogating them is of utter importance, making stealthy play even more rewarding. The game is also remarkably open, allowing players to take multiple paths to get to their objectives. The side ops might be overlooked simply because they don't seem to add much but each offers a different take on the game. 'Intel Operative Rescue', for example, is heavy on action with Snake abandoning stealth to mow down enemies from a chopper, showcasing the game's improved gunplay. Of course, it all looks beautiful too, thanks to the graphical advances in the new generation of consoles and the whole game is so full of easter eggs and Kojima magic that it simply cannot disappoint fans. Ground Zeroes might seem like a short experience on the surface (and for the average player, it probably will be) but Metal Gear aficionados will get plenty of hours of enjoyment and excitement for their buck. Of course, the worst thing about the game is that it will fuel your appetite for more and The Phantom Pain probably won't be arriving until much later in the year. Playing through Ground Zeroes might inadvertently lead you into a new gaming drought as everything pales in comparison whilst you wait for The Phantom Pain... Oops! Can you think of any more short but enjoyable games that could get people through their gaming lulls? Is there a game you return to time after time when there's seemingly nothing else to play? Let us know in the comments below.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
