This playthrough was three years in the making. I played off and on for those three years, but mainly in two big chunks, with the first being during the two week period between when I got this game and when I bought SMT IV, and the second being the past few weeks. SMT IV is a game that has extreme personal significance to me, and while I don't think Nocturne will ever mean that much to me, I still absolutely love everything about it. The world, the music, the tone, the atmosphere, the gameplay. It's incredibly well crafted. I hope I get to play through it again, someday.

I usually go back and forth between this and 3 for my favorite metal gear. Obviously right now I'm leaning towards this game due to recency bias, but I truly think it'll last this time around.
The writing present in this game is unlike I've never seen before, in both games and fiction in general. There's a certain intrigue present throughout, as though you never have any information on what's going on at the given moment; as if you're simply a pawn in a game beyond your comprehension. The conspiracy here is great; well thought out, well planned, and well executed. Seeds of the secrets held within can be found throughout the game as both the player and Raiden's suspicions build until a final and spectacular release, spilling out all the secrets of the story; what has been hidden from us the whole game. The confidence in this game's writing and mechanics is greater than any other ive seen. The people making this truly believed in what they were making. Even the funniest moments and metatextual references are done in complete confidence, and it shows. The gameplay here is incredible as well. The bosses are well designed and challenging, with memorable personalities and mechanics. The sneaking is challenging, with enemies being able to see above and below their normal line of vision, and also being able to hear your foot steps. This combined with more dynamic movement and pathing, add to the immersion and depth present throughout. There are so many hidden mechanics and secrets here as well, like being able to do pull-ups to level your grip strength, or standing on your tiptoes to see higher up than you would normally be able to, or being able to watch ice cubes melt in real time. Every aspect with this game was done with masterful precision and confidence, making the game feel impressive and new, even twenty-two years later. I said at the end of my Metal Gear Solid review that I found that game impressive for its time and still incredible, but not a masterpiece. This game here, is a masterpiece of both writing, gameplay, and mechanics.