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Discussing The Length Of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Yesterday we revealed that the March issue of Game Informer features a 20-page blowout with new details on Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain, and series creator Hideo Kojima himself. Among the new information, we also had four hours of playtime with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Reports have been appearing discussing the prologue chapter’s length, and we want to clarify the context of what we actually experienced.
We started off our session at Kojima Productions by playing the main story mission of Ground Zeroes. Konami gave us four hours with the game, not five as some outlets have misreported. The PS4/Xbox One versions we played weren't final, but Konami says the majority of the changes in the public release will be aesthetic. Another Game Informer editor and I played the main mode and we both managed to beat it and watch credits roll within two hours. Big Boss’ mission to rescue Paz and Chico isn’t the only content that comes with Ground Zeroes, however. Konami is including an undisclosed amount of extra missions that feature different objectives that take place in the same game world. We played a mission set during the daytime that Konami has previously shown, a side mission where Snake rescues a VIP, and the console-exclusive Déjà Vu and Jamais Vu modes. We don't know how much playtime will be added by all the extra missions altogether. We know there will be more side missions than the ones we were shown. [Note: After we published this story, Hideo Kojima revealed that there are five Side Ops missions. - Ed.] Also, because it's an open-world game, you can approach the main single-player mission in different ways, which could add replay value for some.
During our four hours with the game we each played through the main story twice (our second playthroughs were significantly shorter because we knew where to go and were skipping cutscenes) and completed the previously mentioned missions. We enjoyed our time with the game and look forward to exploring the other side missions Ground Zeroes has to offer.
For more on Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, check back tomorrow for a video in which Dan Ryckert and I discuss our hands-on time with the game, including an extended discussion about our thoughts on its length and price point. Bookmark the link to our MGS V hub below to keep up with our month of exclusive videos and articles.
For the full story, the March issue of Game Informer is available on PC/Mac, iPad, Android, and Google Play. You can also get the latest issue through third-party apps on Nook, Kindle, and Zinio.
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