Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain - 6 Things We Learned From Gamescom 2015

5. Personal Hygiene Is A Big Deal

The maintenance of personal hygiene is an area that has rarely been explored in video games. Like going to the bathroom, it's one of those experiences that seems too mundane to waste your time on when you're immersed in acting out whatever power fantasy a given game offers you. We knew for some time that MGS V would let you take a shower as Big Boss/Snake, washing off the comical amount of blood you get covered in during missions. But now we have more insight into the unique mechanic, and how it affects gameplay and the way in which other characters react to you. Firstly, if you don't shower between missions, Snake's in-mission performance will take a hit. Taking a shower ensures that you don't have an detrimental effects during missions. Secondly, if you don't shower, then flies will eventually appear around you, and what should be a triumphant return from dangerous missions can turn into a walk of shame as guards at your base turn away from you in disgust, grimace, and comment on the miasma emanating from shameful Snake. There is also a morale system when you're back at Mother Base, and it seems likely that troop morale will take a hit if you go around stinking of blood and viscera. If Snake's hygiene issues get too serious, then Ocelot will come up to you with a bucket of water and throw it in your face. Arguably the most helpful thing Ocelot has done in any MGS game...