Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes
File:Ground Zeroes mockup.jpg
Offical cover
Developer(s)Kojima Productions
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Hideo Kojima
SeriesMetal Gear
EngineFox Engine[1]
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Xbox 360[2]
Genre(s)Stealth, third-person shooter, open world
Mode(s)Single-player

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (メタルギアソリッドグラウンドゼロズ, Metaru Gia Soriddo Guraundo Zerozu) is an upcoming stealth action video game developed by Kojima Productions and produced by Konami.[3] It will be the ninth entry in the Metal Gear series, and will be the first to have an open world gameplay structure.[1] The story will take place following the events of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker[4].

The game was announced at a private function celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Metal Gear series, and made its public debut two days later at the 2012 Penny Arcade Expo.[5] It will be the first game to utilise the Fox game engine developed by Kojima Productions.[6]

Plot edit

The game takes place sometime after Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, with Big Boss returning as the protagonist under the name of "Snake". In the PAX 2012 trailer it was revealed that his mission objective was to be rescue both Pacifica Ocean and Chico Libre from Camp Omega, a hidden American site located in southern Cuba. Kaz Miller discusses the plan for the mission with Snake, claiming that he would finish it in a short time.

An unknown scarred figure was seen in the demo leading an organization under the shroud of XOF, leaving the grounds of Camp Omega before Snake arrives. He is seen handing a cassette deck to an unknown boy in a cage. He is shown to have a small gap in his chest with a headphone jack attached. The scarred man brands the boy a traitor and leaves. He then leaves the camp via helicopter and orders his soldiers to discard all the group's arm bands by throwing them out of the helicopter.

Gameplay edit

Features such as crawling and crouch-walking have returned from previous entries, as seen in the demo.[7] The game's movements and animations, however, are far more smooth and include realistic transitions. Third-person shooting has been confirmed, as are the searchlights from the original Metal Gear Solid which look to play a larger role in Ground Zeroes.[7] The player in the demo is seen driving a vehicle and calling for a helicopter.[7] Creator Hideo Kojima has expressed the more open world feel to the game, as the areas that Snake will traverse are far larger than in previous entries.[1]

As in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes will offer a base-building feature that allows player to develop weapons and items from their virtual motherbase[8]. A new addition, however, is the ability for the player to access the motherbase from their own real-life smartphones. Kojima added that it will be accessible in multiple ways. Series director Hideo Kojima revealed that the game has a new "day/night" cycle that runs in real-time, and that "depending on how you travel between one stage to the next, [the] travel time will affect the time of day when you arrive at your destination".[9]

Development edit

The game was announced at the 25th anniversary event of the Metal Gear series, and made a public appearance at PAX 2012, two days later.[5] Director Hideo Kojima confirmed that Big Boss will return as the game's protagonist in a story that will serve as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid 5[5]. It will be the first game to utilise the Fox game engine developed by Kojima Productions.[10] It is possible that the game might be in development for Microsoft Windows, as Kojima is developing an upcoming Metal Gear Solid game for the platform.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Crossley, Rob (30 August 2012). "Kojima reveals new Metal Gear Solid game running on Fox Engine". Computer and Video Games UK. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes Extended 14-Minute Gameplay Demo". IGN. News Corporation. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  3. ^ Reilly, Luke (30 August 2012). "Open-World Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes Unveiled". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. ^ Jones, Nick (30 August 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes – Analysis & Secrets Revealed". Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Schreier, Jason (1 September 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes Is A Prologue To Metal Gear Solid 5". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  6. ^ Toyad, Jonathan (30 August 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes shows off Fox Engine and possible open-world elements". GameSpot UK. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Toyad, Jonathan (August 30, 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes shows off Fox Engine and possible open-world elements". GameSpot. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  8. ^ Toyad, Jonathan (September 27, 2012). "Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes to feature base-building, will support multiple devices". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  9. ^ Cocker, Guy (28 September 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes includes Mother Base, day/night cycle". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  10. ^ Toyad, Jonathan (30 August 2012). "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes shows off Fox Engine and possible open-world elements". GameSpot UK. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  11. ^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (22 February 2012). "Next Metal Gear Solid targeted for 'high-end consoles' and PC". Retrieved 14 October 2012.

External links edit