A big leap in the franchise offers the best gameplay it has ever had, even if it loses some of the bolder aspects that made the big open world feel so rich. The three character juggle mostly sticks the landing. Each character feels larger than life with unique traits and specials. It's a really good game but had this followed through with the planned single player DLC, we'd be calling it the best.

One of the best in the series just might be one of the most criminally overlooked.

The gameplay is diverse with loads of extra ops and main ops to choose from. And you actually do have a choice. The characters and story are as topsy-turvy as you'd come to expect. But when you wade through the dense content experience, there's a tragically sympathetic character arc that fills in the world of MGS with something that feels vital and meaningful.

The culmination of 20 years of game narrative pays off in full as the story of Solid Snake comes to a satisfying close.

If the last game was a great entry point for newcomers, this game is the antithesis of that. Sure, you might enjoy the gameplay flow and recognize good performances from the cast when you see them, but the game DOES NOT hold your hand. This is a game made entirely for the fans. And as a fan, I can say in confidence it just might be the best in the series.