It wasn't just Liam. Well-known game review platforms, both domestically and internationally, along with countless creators, were all diving into the experience as well. Unlike ordinary players, these reviewers approached the game from multiple angles. A AAA-level title was typically assigned to two or three editors for simultaneous evaluation.
From narrative depth to gameplay systems and underlying mechanics, every aspect required thorough analysis. One of the most critical principles for reviewers was to avoid letting personal emotions cloud their judgment. Only by maintaining distance could they deliver objective scores and credible evaluations.
After all, no game can ever satisfy everyone. Even a masterpiece praised for generations will inevitably have its critics, those who simply don't connect with it. That's the nature of art, and games are no exception.
However, as the evaluation process continued and the story unfolded, something unexpected happened. When reviewers began watching the CG cutscenes crafted by John and Luna, those lingering long takes, paired perfectly with the haunting BGM, gradually pulled them into the world of Metal Gear: Phantom Pain.
The enigmatic revolver. Miller, driven solely by revenge. BIGBOSS, leading the Diamond Dogs as their commander. Even the ordinary soldiers stationed at the base, all of them, under those cinematic long shots, created a powerful illusion: This wasn't just a game. It felt like a real world, one that existed along a parallel timeline, where history had taken a different turn.
At its core, this was a deeply serious war-themed experience. While the gameplay structure leaned toward stealth mechanics in a traditional mission-based design, the deeper players ventured into the narrative, the heavier the emotional weight became.
And that presented a dilemma. For a game, weight and seriousness can elevate it into a timeless classic, but they don't always guarantee it will be fun.
Fortunately, Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain balanced this tension with moments of unexpected creativity and humor. For instance, players could unlock a rather absurd yet effective stealth tool through technological upgrades.
A cardboard box. As long as the player hid inside it, even soldiers walking directly past would fail to notice them. Then there was the Fulton recovery system, a high-altitude balloon device capable of extracting anything from enemy soldiers to armored vehicles, sending them straight back to base.
Of course, every extraction came at a cost. Players had to weigh whether the resources gained justified the expense, adding a subtle layer of strategy. Weather conditions and enemy's line of sight also influenced success rates, making each operation dynamic and unpredictable.
These slightly ridiculous yet cleverly designed mechanics injected a sense of levity into the experience. While not entirely realistic, they didn't need to be, after all, games are, by nature, a form of imaginative expression. And Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain was never meant to be a rigid simulation.
At first, many players approached it as a standard action-adventure stealth game: infiltrate enemy bases, complete objectives, and maximize efficiency. They experimented with different tactics, neutralizing enemies for higher ratings, extracting them back to base, and gradually expanding their own forces. In some ways, it even resembled a form of strategic "farming."
But as the narrative deepened, something shifted. More and more players found themselves emotionally drawn into the story. By the mid-to-late stages of the game, BIGBOSS infiltrated Skull Face's base in an attempt to assassinate him, only to be discovered.
Yet instead of an immediate confrontation, an unexpected sequence unfolded. BIGBOSS followed Skull Face deeper into the facility. What followed was not a battle, but a conversation.
During the journey, Skull Face revealed fragments of hidden truths. He spoke of a figure known as Zero, a major who had once commanded both of them in different ways. As they rode together in the same vehicle, Skull Face began recounting his past, as well as the origins of the vocal cord parasite.
"In order to unify the United States, and eventually the entire world, Zero believed this war was an extension of her will. But I think he never truly understood her ideals."
At that moment, a single word appeared beside the screen: THEBOSS
"Before he could walk, before he could even cry, before he was born, his native language was already English. He will never know the pain of losing one's mother tongue. Even now… he cannot understand her will."
Skull Face slowly removed his hat, revealing his scarred and haunting face. He turned away briefly, then placed it back on his head, his gaze locking firmly onto BIGBOSS. "But I can."
He then began recounting his own past, the very lines that had once appeared in the earlier trailers of Metal Gear: Phantom Pain.
After sharing his story, Skull Face unveiled his plan. He had taken part of Zero's vision and brought it to life, successfully developing a weaponized linguistic parasite: the English vocal cord parasite.
"This is not an ethnic cleanser. It is a liberator, freeing the world from Zero… and reshaping it entirely. Eliminate the common language, and the world will fracture. Nations will collapse into chaos, and people will suffer. Of course they will… but that suffering, this phantom pain, is necessary."
"After that, the world will welcome a new universal language: the language of nuclear deterrence. My Metal Gear will become the thread that binds nations together, regardless of borders. Language will no longer matter. Everyone will be forced to acknowledge one another… The world will become one."
"…This war is peace." As Skull Face's final words echoed, the BGM rose at just the right moment.
Among the many unforgettable scenes in Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain, this sequence stood out as a masterclass in atmosphere. The music, intertwined with the narrative, elevated the entire experience.
John didn't understand the technicalities of composition, but he understood emotion. He knew what kind of melody the scene demanded, and more importantly, what it needed to say. A melody heavy with sorrow, rising and falling like a tide, combined with the story provided to the band, it became something truly unforgettable.
For the players watching this scene unfold, silence filled the room. The words were soft, yet they struck like thunder: This war is peace.
At that moment, many players came to a realization. Perhaps BIGBOSS and Skull Face weren't so different after all. Yet even more intriguing was the figure both men revolved around: THEBOSS.
BIGBOSS, Skull Face, and even Zero, each of them had been shaped by her influence. So who was she, really? What had she done to leave such a profound mark on all of them?
Countless players found themselves asking the same question. And just as that curiosity began to grow, John was already back at the office of PixelPioneers Games, fully immersed in the production of the upcoming DLC storyline.