Controversial opinion, but this is one of my favourite games. I can't think of another game that has 3rd person action, survival, crafting, stealth, base building, and tower defense rolled into one package. If you like all of those things, this is worth a closer look.
CONS:
- The first hour is boring. The story is pretty bad until the last half. There are a few animated cut scenes, but most of the story is told through still photos of characters. The acting is spotty. Some people hate that the early game is essentially "hide behind a fence and poke zombies with a spear".
- There are easily avoidable microtransactions. You won't need them to accomplish anything. Most famously and egregiously, if you want a second character, you must purchase a second character slot. There isn't any reason to do so, and this is hardly the only game to ever require such a thing, but let's face it, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
- Always online! One day the servers will go down and you won't be able to play any more.
- It's a Metal Gear game that's barely relevant to that title. It should have been a new IP.
PROS:
- Unique combination of genres unlike anything else.
- Based on Metal Gear Solid V's engine, so it plays just as well.
- I love the helpless feeling of wandering into the unknown, losing access to the map, all while your oxygen quickly dwindles.
- Campaign that gives you reasons to keep going after you finish the story.
- Fairly in depth base building. Build gardens, collect water, cook food, build various types of fences and barricades, add mortars and traps to the perimeter, upgrade structures to access better gear and obtain other benefits.
- Assign NPC allies to defense, tending the resources, exploration, medication, and more.
I could go on, but I won't. I love this game, flaws and all. It's not for everyone, but for the right type of player, there's nothing else that scratches the itch quite like Metal Gear Survive.
