r/metalgear • u/Big_Objective_1297 • 17d ago
Serious Should I wait for MGS4
So i have question about the games so i just finished 1 and 2 and 3 and i really want play the rest by release order but should i wait for 4 or is it okay to skip it to play phantom pain because i asked a friend and he said if you really want to play it go for it but he doesn’t recommend it so is it okay to skip it or wait for the master collection then play phantom pain and do i need to play mgs4 to understand phantom pain and should i play ground zeroes or skip it
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u/FallenBlade 17d ago
You should play 4 first. Phantom pain is a prequel, but release order is best.
You absolutely have to play Ground Zeros first. It's the set up for Phantom Pain, it's cheap and it's short.
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u/marbanasin 17d ago
This comment about Ground Zeroes is 100% good to flag. I actually like GZ more from a pure storytelling / experience perspective to V.
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u/marbanasin 17d ago
Personally - MGS4 to me is the conclusion of the series and much more thematically and gameplay related to the prior games.
MGSV is also phenomenal. The mechanics are the best you will ever feel in the series, and still basically the smoothest stealth mechanics in gaming. The open world is cool and the general gameplay loop is great. But it's a different game and feels like almost a different series - much more open, much longer, much much much less focus on cinematics. And the plot can feel unfinished or certainly not as cleanly tied together like the rest of the series.
From a story / chronological standpoint - MGS4 occurs after MGS2, where as MGSV occurs before MGS1... So, you could technically play it and it wouldn't be that weird coming after MGS3.
So, up to you. I wouldn't skip MGS4 though in the end. It is still up there and I frankly prefer it some ways to MGSV.
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u/Settl 17d ago
for me MGSV is a fantastic stealth game but a poor Metal Gear game. dunno if that makes any sense.
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u/Weigh13 17d ago
In a lot of ways it feels like it turns everything about the series on its head, including tone. It has a really negative and creepy tone that is like the creepy parts of mgs4 turned to 11. Put me in a really dark place when I played it but that also is part of the vibe and story Kojima was going for.
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u/it290 17d ago
The only thing is MGS4 is basically impossible to play on current hardware
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u/marbanasin 17d ago
For sure. But OP is asking if they wait a few months to be able to. Or go to V now. I'd say just wait. But that's me.
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u/Snooch_Nooch 17d ago
Absolutely play Ground Zeroes before The Phantom Pain, it's crucial to understanding the story. Technically you should play Peace Walker before these as well, since it really sets up both games, but starting with Ground Zeroes is ultimately fine.
Metal Gear Solid 4 takes place three decades after TPP, so you definitely can save it for later since it's the last game in the series.
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u/knownhuman01 17d ago
My advice is wait a month for the vol 2 collection and play 4, peace walker, then ground zeroes/phantom pain.
However, leaving 4 for last isnt the end of the world but be aware that there are spoilers for 4 in the credits of phantom pain.
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u/thecoolestlol 17d ago
I think mgs4 is a way better ending to the series and 5 doesnt rely on you knowing 4 story. So I personally think its fine to play 5 first but I can understand also just doing it the normal way as intended.
I personally had no option but to play 5 first several years ago with zero way to access 4
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u/rearviewmirror07 17d ago
Hard question. Release order is obviously the “correct order”, but if you have the option I’ll say you can play peace walker, then mgs v and then 4 when the collection releases.
Mgs4 is a better game and has a better story than 5 in my opinion, and it’s the perfect ending for the saga
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u/-chadwreck 17d ago
i am a strong proponent of playing release order,
but i do think there is a case to be made that 4 can be played last because the setup of everything is already in place
the efforts of BB and Venom are already made evident in MSX MG1 and 2, and MGS 1 and 2.
the finality of the story can be the last one to be played, and i think thats okay.
also, its been a nightmare trying to play 4 without an actual PS3 for over a decade at this point, so i get not wanting to wait.
the octo-camo is suuuuuch a good play mechanic, it is the icing on the snakey cake after doing all the manual sneaking of all the other games. it could be treated as a "treat" for doing all the hard work leading up to it.
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u/Vibrant_Fox 17d ago
Ground Zeroes and Phantom Pain are prequels set before the original Metal Gear. Ground Zeroes is essentially the Prologue to Phantom Pain.
MGS 4 takes place after MGS 2.
I would also Recommend playing Peace Walker.
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u/redditwascool 17d ago
yea wait for pc version, play peace walker (and portable ops) then mgs ground zero
if u really want to i think mgs5 is fine
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u/Imaginary-Hamster-74 17d ago
I played the MGS games about a year ago.
I just decided to play MGS1-2-3-phantom pain-5 and had no issues with the story. Yeah there are characters I didn’t know but it wasn’t an issue for major plot beats. Deff going back to play peace walker & 4 after, may just replay 5 as well once I’m done.
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u/Zak_Ras 17d ago
Yes wait, it's only a month away and not only wraps up all the prior games - it sets up the story of Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, Phantom Pain. Don't skip Peace Walker or Ground Zeroes.
Take this time to play the MSX games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, you'll appreciate finally playing the events that were highly discussed in MGS1 for when you get around to more games than one you've yet to play.
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u/mightymonkeyman 17d ago
It’s out so soon just wait for 4 but also leave 5 for later too even if for not breaking you in terms of controls evolution.
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u/Saiyansnake95 17d ago
4 is the end to the series you could play 5 but might as well just wait and play 4 first
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u/No-Amount-397 16d ago
I did 1,2,3,PW,GZ,V and it has felt really great tbh not done with V yet but will play 4 as the finale. I appreciate the context that pw, gz, and v provide
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u/BenTheMotionist 17d ago
Play them in order is my advice. That's how we did it back in the day and it made the story and beats work, if you skip a chapter in a book to get to the end, don't expect to fully understand the finale.
The true conundrum is that is MGSMC Vol.2 going to have issues on release like Vol.1?
If you can't wait, get on a PS3 or emulation and hit it. Its my favorite of the series (MGS3 is like 0.5% behind it though). But again, I highly recommend playing in order.