Damn, that final cassette tape at the end of the game hits way harder knowing how much it's directed towards the player. "I cheated death thanks to you" takes on an entirely new meaning now knowing that. Superb analysis as always.
I love Phantom Pain just because of how sad and pathetic and pointless the whole thing is. Another day in a proxy war without end where you can't do anything that would change what the world eventually turns into nor can you even hope to redeem Big Boss in your mind because he already commits abject evil by conscripting his medic and turning him into Venom. It's just a bunch of guys who have no idea what the fuck they're doing, who are all too eager to turn against one another in their paranoia, and nothing ever gets better. The road to hell. What a wonderful game.
@@Josep_Hernandez_LujanEven that is a testament to how far down Big Boss has fallen, remember, he had a falling out with Zero because Zero wanted to make him into an icon that could sway the masses, and yet... He ends up embracing his own cult of personality, one where soldiers willingly give up everything, for him. "We live and die by your order Boss".
"It's just a bunch of guys who have no idea what the fuck they're doing, who are all too eager to turn against one another in their paranoia, and nothing ever gets better. " just made me think about Hideo dumping David Hayter just to stunt cast (which is his entire MO now), and just konami in general.
To you reading this, Jesus can help with whatever problems, hardships, and issues you have. Believe in him and what he has done on the cross for your salvation he came to save us from hell and eternal suffering. You can not save yourself he came to save us. Turn from your sins, repent which is changing your life to follow the way of God and not your way, your way will lead you into a pit of despair I know it, my way lead me in a pit straight to hell, but Jesus rescued me and he can rescue you. He can grant a peace and joy unfelt, and be your closest friend always there, This is the gospel Jesus Christ, son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After he went to his tweleve disciples and many others before ascending into heaven eternally triumphant over all his enemies and making it so that there is now no condemnation for sin to all those who believe in him, but only everlasting joy. John 3:16
To you reading this, Jesus can help with whatever problems, hardships, and issues you have. Believe in him and what he has done on the cross for your salvation he came to save us from hell and eternal suffering. You can not save yourself he came to save us. Turn from your sins, repent which is changing your life to follow the way of God and not your way, your way will lead you into a pit of despair I know it, my way lead me in a pit straight to hell, but Jesus rescued me and he can rescue you. He can grant a peace and joy unfelt, and be your closest friend always there, This is the gospel Jesus Christ, son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After he went to his tweleve disciples and many others before ascending into heaven eternally triumphant over all his enemies and making it so that there is now no condemnation for sin to all those who believe in him, but only everlasting joy. John 3:16
Admittedly MGSV story wise doesn’t add much to the actual timeline of MGS as a series beyond an explanation as to why you “kill” Big Boss twice in 2 separate games but it does have my favorite cast of characters in the entire series including my overall favorite Venom Snake who has what may be the most tragic story of all the snakes. He was just a Air Medic who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got turned into a puppet by the man he tried to save, one that was forced to wear the face and even the mental state of the man he swore himself too. He then had to endure pain after pain and tragedy after tragedy just to find the truth and even when he gets it he can’t or won’t break the illusion that he’s Big Boss and still continues to follow the path laid out for him by Ocelot and the actual Big Boss even when it leads him and his men to their deaths.
To be fair Solid Snake wasn't sent to Venom to kill him, but to fail his Mission. But in any way BB underestimated the capabilities of his clone and thus sadly Venom was dispatched with haste in BB's stead by everybodys favorite Snake guy. Solid and Venom would have gotten along nicely under other circumstances, I presume.
6:57 fuck, I haven't heard all the tapes, but everytime someone makes yet another MGSV essay they pull a tape out of nowhere that reveals something that blows my mind yet again. I honestly don't want to hear them now and just continue to get bits and pieces of it the more the game gets analysed...
You know I think MGSV is sort of the most genius Metal Gear story in a lot of ways because of how it treats the concepts of truth and identity. A lot of people like you see the ending as a sort of acknowledgement of the players and Kojima thanking us for playing his games. And I think that's a very valid and intentional interpretation of it. But I think an equally valid interpretation is the way I see it. The ending is an inverse of MGS2's message of individuality and anti-hero worship. MGSV treats the wiping of identity to be this great sin that ruins people's lives, then it says Big Boss himself wiped our identities. The main mission that sets Big Boss on this whole course is one where his mentor, The Boss is conveniently thrown away by the world governments like she's disposable. He vows to create a world where this sort of thing doesn't happen to soldiers. Then he becomes a hypocrite in MGSV because he accepts the wiping of his soldier's identity and will go on to use them as a human shield that will be conveniently killed off when he needs to escape The Patriots again. I think you only have to look at the cynicism Kojima held while writing MGS4 to prove that this was partly his mindset when writing the twist of V. On some level it probably bugs him that these games are so popular that their stories and messages can often be forgotten by the players so he decided to take the one that they misused the most (MGS2 which has been said to be everything from a piece of crap where you play as some loser instead of snake, to an epic prophecy of how the 'crazy libs' will ban you from twitter for posting racial slurs) and go 'fuck it, you want the truth to be malleable? Well here's a story where key plot points often contradict each other and make no sense (Kaz in the GZ tape, some of the odd things with Ishmael, Code Talker says some odd stuff, Huey being arguably innocent, Eli's escape never being resolved), and where you get to play as the epic 'hero' you wanted (who horrifically wipes the identity of the player, uses them as a fall man, and utterly disrespects and abuses you, though in the end Venom and most players accept their role happily like Winston in Room 101). Just like the world of 1984 that MGSV is inspired by, the truth is hidden behind endless layers of doublespeak and may not even be truly knowable at this point. All you're left with is a story where you have to make up what it all means in your mind, and most players will go to the easy route Kojima laid out that plays into the themes of the game. Like thinking DD's inhumane torture and abuse of Huey is deserved even though they literally never prove he was aware of the attacks beforehand and even the notion of him being aware being extremely unlikely which just feeds into your lust for revenge. Assuming Kaz is on your side even though he's in the GZ tape, he was working for Cipher behind Big Boss' back in PW, Code Talker doesn't trust him, he has some concerning ties to the outbreak on Mother Base, and he may very well be using Huey to distract everyone from investigating his role in everything. Then the ultimate act of doublethink. The notion that Big Boss is at all a good man worthy of admiration after he literally wipes your identity, forces you to fight his battles for you, becomes a complete hypocrite, and sets you up to eventually be killed when he needs the world to think he's dead. And the truly insane part of this is that this doublethink is just as valid and correct as the 'true' interpretation of the ending where this is the moment that Big Boss becomes a genuine villain. Kojima was able to both make Big Boss a villain and hero (something that is reflected by many of the characters who talk about him in later games), craft an ending that has a super interesting meta-narrative about identity, hero worship, hypocrisy, and personal truth, then finally give players a heartfelt goodbye all at the same time.
I don't recall if it was mentioned in the past videos and I would've skipped 4 since I hadn't played it, but Leadhead never bringing up the idea that Kojima was also cynical about V in any way seemed like a blatant omission. The GZ erasure had to be a reference to the internal conflict at Konami (maybe the timelines don't quite fit, but they would prevent him from accepting an award and stripped him from MGSV's promotional material). Since 2/3, it seemed like the MGS IP had to be applied to every new project he worked on despite the most recent entry being "the last one". On identity and expression, I was largely disappointed in how easy it was to avoid violence in any encounter. If you're already playing and researching nonlethal, the child soldiers added nothing new. The Mother Base quarantine was also subpar since most soldiers were easily replaceable and aren't given enough chances to exhibit personality. The plot that medic's (i.e. the player's) personhood was ever overwritten by Big Boss and the threat posed by his enemies falls largely flat cause from a game balance perspective you have the most freedom with a sandbox that ends up often giving you more control rather then taking it away from you. Past the first several missions you rarely become overwhelmed by a lack of awareness or surges in enemy number and strength regardless of your kit. I'd also have to disagree on Venom ever becoming a villain. While uncontested Patriots are an issue, the way in which Skullface went about the lingua franca issue warrants the execution. There's also the dissonance in Venom literally disarming nukes in FOBs seemingly just to spite Skullface even though he WILL become a nuclear wielding "baddy" by Metal Gear. MGS 1 handled nuanced entertainment about war and the action hero way better by never having a well-munitioned tranquilizer and regularly putting the player into situations where they were made to play the part of an engineered killer. While Ground Zeroes was really messed up, MGSV never really seemed to match that tension. The sacrifices and betrayals that occurred in previous games (especially 3) are arguably worse: having an eye carved out and killing your mentor as opposed to losing a kingdom built on abducted mercenaries and armed goons which you readily rebuild over maybe a year at most. The narrative and themes are better than I gave it credit at launch. You're right in that Kojima practically ticked every box he needed to, but the story and "film making" really took a backseat to making a highly replayable stealth sandbox.
HELL YEAH RETURN OF THE QUEEN! Can't wait for these vids to all be compiled together, I use video essays as a sleep guide and your MGS videos are a new fav!
Been meaning to say this for a while, but your new aesthetic style with the foreground and game backdrops is brilliant. Engaging, relevant, original and perfect for the YT essay format of videos. Love it.
Really enjoyed the ideas you decided to share with us, this is probably my favorite discussion of the series, and likely my favorite discussion regarding games generally. Glad I found your channel girlie, thanks ✨
OMG POST CREDIT SCENE I'm so happy you got to experience this series that meant so much again with your gf, and her receiving it so well. That's truly beautiful This project was also truly beautiful. I'm sure I speak for others when I say I can feel your soul poured into these videos, and how important, how powerful they turned out. Thank you I'm sure whatever you decide to work on next will be wonderful, you seem secure in sharing your voice, and that voice is what made this series so impactful. Your perspectives relating to this art is what made them truly great for me. Talk about something else that resonates with you and I'm sure it will be incredible (or anything else you cook up ✨) Who would have thought the girl who gave me all these big-sister tips early in my transition would leave such an impact on me in such a different way. Really, really, thank you Okay Tedx talk over 🤪
i practically grew up with the metal gear series and im SO happy that you are actively talking about it, even when i have the story ALL figured out im always left searching on other points of view. THANK YOU Leadhead!!
I have *never* played a single metal gear game, but this series fascinated me so much that i saw the whole thing through. Really interesting stuff and well done. I loved it :) (also omg the background details throughout this whole series have been so cool. Just how the background interacts with you is like the neatest use of greenscreen i've seen in a long time.)
Thank you for your honestly and insights into these great games. Sounds like you've had some challenges lately, but it always sounds like you are in a better metal space. Can't wait to see what you put up next!
The earliest video of yours I remember watching was your Dr. Strangelove video (hard to believe that was like 5 years ago) and this series just feels so monumental, it really shows how far your work has come. If I had consistent income I'd definitely be on that Patreon, fantastic work lead
Did YT have a stroke or drop you? Been subscribed to you for some time and I saw this in my subscription but had no idea this was a series and your last 4 videos flew over my head. Oh well, time to play catch up and enjoy your new content deeply.
You know, after many, many hours spent on MGSV analysis videos, I kind thought I knew everything there was to know about this game that I love. But here I am, absolutely mind-blown about that last tape directed at the player. This video is my introduction to your channel and now I'm going to go back and watch all of your analyses.
that speech at the end of MGSV always gives me goosebumps, it always felt like I was being spoken to, I am Venom, he is me, we are Big Boss, it never mattered what “canon” course brought us there or the details bulldozed to give us more games, it was the journey of self discovery and reflection that on the other side of playing these games I can say has left me a more introspective and considerate person, thank you Lead, and thank you Kojima
This video series has been so good, half thought-provoking and half comfy vibes. I still struggle to connect with mgsv, the meta narrative feels so contradictory to the actual narrative (what little there is, anyway) that while I appreciate the big boss player sendoff, I just can't bring myself to find it satisfying overall. I definitely don't subscribe to the theory that it was "bad on purpose" but it did and still does make me feel that phantom pain you were talking about. But even so, I love hearing people talk about this game because it gives me more to chew on while I try to navigate my own feelings on the game, so thank you for sharing your analysis and experience! Your soul shines through the whole way. Looking forward to rewatching these in the big video soon!
The Metal Gear series is the only one that I can beat the entire series of games, watch all the cutscenes, and still learn things from video essays regardless of how many I watch. Re-contextualizing "The Man Who Sold the World" was a brain blast and a half. Fantastic.
You know, I genuinely strongly recommend searching up some videos on mgs 5 lore, cause there's actually some great intresting stuff, everything is though out brilliantly, it's just that most of the lore is given subtly or through cassets, out of the way
Amazing analysis, you should feel proud of it, I understand that fear of covering a topic you already did in the past, but if one thing experience taught me, is how revisiting something like this ends up being a nice testament to see just how far you've grown and changed as a person, becuase the Leadhead who started video essays wanting to make the best Metal Gear video possible with little experience, is not the same Leadhead that stands today, with years of experience in editing and a more confident attitude diving deeper than before into what made these games leave such an impact. You did an amazing job, and I look forward to see what project you will pursue next!
For me, MGSV was always a story about revenge, and how hollow leading a life centered around it is. Skull face is motivated by the killing of his family and people, Kaz is motivated by Skull Face's destruction of MSF and is obviously pretty much exclusively driven by hatred for most of the story. Eli wants revenge on Venom, and so does Quiet at first. There's probably even more I'm forgetting. But my real point is once Skull Face is dead (end of Act 1), once the protagonists get the revenge that they were working towards for the entire events of the game, they have nothing left, and the story likewise putters out. The takeaway, for me, at least, is that any life motivated by revenge and hatred will either be cut short by someone else you wronged along the way, or ultimately hollow after your own is exacted, because even though revenge is inherently a selfish action or goal, you're not really living for yourself. I hadn't really put my thoughts about this game into words before, and was inspired to by your segment about MGS2 and how the story of the game is what you make of it. I like that idea a lot, and this game is always a good reminder for me never let myself get to a point where I'm living for a grudge. "Facts do not exist, there are only interpretations," indeed. Loved the video!
Loved the end! You seem to be a very genuine and honest person and it shows. The bit where you said that your GF playing the series with you was the final motivation for these vids got me emotion. Doing things and sharing with those we love, are aways the best things you can do! Be well, man! Salutes from Brazil.
Honestly, there so i much i have to say about V, i guess you can call me a MGSV apologist. I think indepently what people think if the game was finished or not, i don't think we would get "much more" in terms of story breakthrough, even if we had 2 more chapters, the story is set when Big Boss is being, well, a mercenary, some people back then expected to have to recruit foxhound members but even so, unlike most of series, V game themes are inserted in the actual conficts you are in than the "main plot". Chapter 2 meat is mostly in the story events you can't replay which are basically dealing with the aftermath of getting revenge personified by Kaz, which personally i think it was really well done. Either way, the setting but specially the ending hammers down that what you live during the events of V are but a footnote in Big Boss history as a mercenary. On hindsight, now when compared to death stranding, it seems that V's reliance on tapes and characters not talking much isn't just because of themes and events of V but it's Kojima trying to refine his formula. Most of the tapes, like most of the colectibles in DS are thr equivalent of optional codec calls and the yellow tapes are like the long codec plot exposition dumps that would be a nightmare to turn in to a cutscene, there actual contextual codec calls that are mission specific but, like death stranding, it seems kojima doesn't want the "plot" to mess with gameplay unless the player really wants to. And well, there are no vocal cord parasites in DS but Sam, like Venom, Only speaks with "his" team, Leaving cutscenes with only the superficial information needed to understand the plot. also i'm completely agaisnt the idea Venom simply complied with his role as a decoy and died like a loyal soldier in Outer Heaven. Both the trailers, the themes and the ending screams to me Venom follows the same path of Skull Face in seeking revenge using his "master's" own infraestructure
It’s an interesting full circle that all the games tell snake to feel something because the powers that be don’t want him to feel anything then MGSV finally puts that on the player and tells us thaT WE need to feel something much like how the game constantly told snake to feel something. That’s my biggest takeaway from these videos and it’s super humanizing to think about
I always felt it was like it was a battle of fire and ice. The gameplay was so solid, but the lack of resolution just made me feel empty in the end. It ended in a whimper instead of a bang and that's just heartbreaking.
Having the plot synopsis and character motivations laid out in a couple minutes as opposed to spread thinly over hours of filler side missions and resource gathering definitely makes this game's conflict feel A LOT stronger and was actually my favorite part of this video. It's just a shame the final act felt sparse and the 5 minute jeep ride with Skullface was anticlimatic. Pacing, particularly Africa's grindy start, and not being able to hear the audio tapes were my biggest issues and really detached me from what was going on in the game. I think drawing correlations between the GZ mission and Konami's politics surrounding Kojima and MGSV would've been more appropriate than just "it's about what you personally take away from the series", and it would've been interesting to go into more of the specific relationships between the supporting cast, but likening MGSV to 2 was a good approach. Thinking about the advertisements, previews, and pre-launch speculation, I definitely felt there was a bait and switch with this game, too. However, instead of it being the characters themselves (Venom and Big Boss are practically the same to the player), it's more their actions and motivations that seemed subverted. Venom literally did nothing wrong. Skullface actually had good aims, but an unacceptable method. Khaz and Huey are up in the air as to being the biggest malcontents with dubious allegiances. Of course, the stories don't have to really "matter" or make sense, the series has always been tongue-in-cheek between the morals, but there does have to be some internal consistency for a compelling work. MGS2's was always about manipulating information, events, and trying to remain stoic through all of that. MGSV's was more about revenge by any means and the fall of that hero to accomplish it. You sort of get the former if you don't care about the bigger implications of Skullface and don't tie back the violence to the US government, but you never really have to experience the latter.
MGS fans are a lot. "Bullet to the head for the franchise." How many albums does your favorite band have? Is it even close to how many MGS games there are? Likely not. Some fans seem to genuinely believe the series would've continued to produce brilliant games had it not been *executed.* That's.. maybe true. But it's overwhelmingly more likely it would sputter out, like nearly every other long-term creative endeavor.
lemme check real quick. Uh, looks like the most recent Buckethead release was...September 7th, this year, bringing his total to...493 albums and counting. If I move to next down the list with Demetori, six and a bit good albums of nine and counting is pretty close to Metal Gear's six and a bit good games of eight and no longer counting.
I hope u know how much the metal gear series and ur analysis means to so many people, myself included. what the metal gear series did for you, your channel has, to some extent, done the same for me. as a closeted trans person, ur trans field guide meant a lot to me. as a metal gear fan, this series helped me see these games in a new light. and as a human, getting to interview you for a speech in high school last year to speak about something I cared about meant so so much to me. I wish you the best in all your work, looking forward to the next video you have in store
Damn, that final cassette tape at the end of the game hits way harder knowing how much it's directed towards the player. "I cheated death thanks to you" takes on an entirely new meaning now knowing that. Superb analysis as always.
I love Phantom Pain just because of how sad and pathetic and pointless the whole thing is. Another day in a proxy war without end where you can't do anything that would change what the world eventually turns into nor can you even hope to redeem Big Boss in your mind because he already commits abject evil by conscripting his medic and turning him into Venom. It's just a bunch of guys who have no idea what the fuck they're doing, who are all too eager to turn against one another in their paranoia, and nothing ever gets better. The road to hell.
What a wonderful game.
Medic's a loyal man. Even after he finds out the truth he continues playing his part
@@Josep_Hernandez_LujanEven that is a testament to how far down Big Boss has fallen, remember, he had a falling out with Zero because Zero wanted to make him into an icon that could sway the masses, and yet... He ends up embracing his own cult of personality, one where soldiers willingly give up everything, for him.
"We live and die by your order Boss".
"It's just a bunch of guys who have no idea what the fuck they're doing, who are all too eager to turn against one another in their paranoia, and nothing ever gets better. " just made me think about Hideo dumping David Hayter just to stunt cast (which is his entire MO now), and just konami in general.
To you reading this, Jesus can help with whatever problems, hardships, and issues you have. Believe in him and what he has done on the cross for your salvation he came to save us from hell and eternal suffering. You can not save yourself he came to save us. Turn from your sins, repent which is changing your life to follow the way of God and not your way, your way will lead you into a pit of despair I know it, my way lead me in a pit straight to hell, but Jesus rescued me and he can rescue you. He can grant a peace and joy unfelt, and be your closest friend always there, This is the gospel
Jesus Christ, son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After he went to his tweleve disciples and many others before ascending into heaven eternally triumphant over all his enemies and making it so that there is now no condemnation for sin to all those who believe in him, but only everlasting joy. John 3:16
To you reading this, Jesus can help with whatever problems, hardships, and issues you have. Believe in him and what he has done on the cross for your salvation he came to save us from hell and eternal suffering. You can not save yourself he came to save us. Turn from your sins, repent which is changing your life to follow the way of God and not your way, your way will lead you into a pit of despair I know it, my way lead me in a pit straight to hell, but Jesus rescued me and he can rescue you. He can grant a peace and joy unfelt, and be your closest friend always there, This is the gospel
Jesus Christ, son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After he went to his tweleve disciples and many others before ascending into heaven eternally triumphant over all his enemies and making it so that there is now no condemnation for sin to all those who believe in him, but only everlasting joy. John 3:16
19:52 okay the way the soldier's gun goes in front of you and even casts a shadow is really cool
Yeah, the games graphics are really cool. At 9:41, you can see the helicopter blow up dust while hovering around.
Admittedly MGSV story wise doesn’t add much to the actual timeline of MGS as a series beyond an explanation as to why you “kill” Big Boss twice in 2 separate games but it does have my favorite cast of characters in the entire series including my overall favorite Venom Snake who has what may be the most tragic story of all the snakes. He was just a Air Medic who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got turned into a puppet by the man he tried to save, one that was forced to wear the face and even the mental state of the man he swore himself too. He then had to endure pain after pain and tragedy after tragedy just to find the truth and even when he gets it he can’t or won’t break the illusion that he’s Big Boss and still continues to follow the path laid out for him by Ocelot and the actual Big Boss even when it leads him and his men to their deaths.
To be fair Solid Snake wasn't sent to Venom to kill him, but to fail his Mission. But in any way BB underestimated the capabilities of his clone and thus sadly Venom was dispatched with haste in BB's stead by everybodys favorite Snake guy. Solid and Venom would have gotten along nicely under other circumstances, I presume.
Wow this video was so good, but I can’t wait for the MGS 6 analysis, easily the deepest game in the series
How you watch a 33min video in 8mins!?
@@RhianWilkinsonMusic 🤨🤨🤨 for real
@@RhianWilkinsonMusic x16 speed for the win! 😂
@@IvoryMadness. busting it down adhd style
Either I've hopped dimensions in my sleep or your talking about MGS survive because as far as i know MGS 6 doesn't exist
6:57 fuck, I haven't heard all the tapes, but everytime someone makes yet another MGSV essay they pull a tape out of nowhere that reveals something that blows my mind yet again.
I honestly don't want to hear them now and just continue to get bits and pieces of it the more the game gets analysed...
ong bro, especially when you think abt the shit that paz went thru at camp omega, that makes a betrayal from kaz so much worse
You know I think MGSV is sort of the most genius Metal Gear story in a lot of ways because of how it treats the concepts of truth and identity. A lot of people like you see the ending as a sort of acknowledgement of the players and Kojima thanking us for playing his games. And I think that's a very valid and intentional interpretation of it. But I think an equally valid interpretation is the way I see it. The ending is an inverse of MGS2's message of individuality and anti-hero worship. MGSV treats the wiping of identity to be this great sin that ruins people's lives, then it says Big Boss himself wiped our identities. The main mission that sets Big Boss on this whole course is one where his mentor, The Boss is conveniently thrown away by the world governments like she's disposable. He vows to create a world where this sort of thing doesn't happen to soldiers. Then he becomes a hypocrite in MGSV because he accepts the wiping of his soldier's identity and will go on to use them as a human shield that will be conveniently killed off when he needs to escape The Patriots again.
I think you only have to look at the cynicism Kojima held while writing MGS4 to prove that this was partly his mindset when writing the twist of V. On some level it probably bugs him that these games are so popular that their stories and messages can often be forgotten by the players so he decided to take the one that they misused the most (MGS2 which has been said to be everything from a piece of crap where you play as some loser instead of snake, to an epic prophecy of how the 'crazy libs' will ban you from twitter for posting racial slurs) and go 'fuck it, you want the truth to be malleable? Well here's a story where key plot points often contradict each other and make no sense (Kaz in the GZ tape, some of the odd things with Ishmael, Code Talker says some odd stuff, Huey being arguably innocent, Eli's escape never being resolved), and where you get to play as the epic 'hero' you wanted (who horrifically wipes the identity of the player, uses them as a fall man, and utterly disrespects and abuses you, though in the end Venom and most players accept their role happily like Winston in Room 101).
Just like the world of 1984 that MGSV is inspired by, the truth is hidden behind endless layers of doublespeak and may not even be truly knowable at this point. All you're left with is a story where you have to make up what it all means in your mind, and most players will go to the easy route Kojima laid out that plays into the themes of the game. Like thinking DD's inhumane torture and abuse of Huey is deserved even though they literally never prove he was aware of the attacks beforehand and even the notion of him being aware being extremely unlikely which just feeds into your lust for revenge. Assuming Kaz is on your side even though he's in the GZ tape, he was working for Cipher behind Big Boss' back in PW, Code Talker doesn't trust him, he has some concerning ties to the outbreak on Mother Base, and he may very well be using Huey to distract everyone from investigating his role in everything.
Then the ultimate act of doublethink. The notion that Big Boss is at all a good man worthy of admiration after he literally wipes your identity, forces you to fight his battles for you, becomes a complete hypocrite, and sets you up to eventually be killed when he needs the world to think he's dead. And the truly insane part of this is that this doublethink is just as valid and correct as the 'true' interpretation of the ending where this is the moment that Big Boss becomes a genuine villain. Kojima was able to both make Big Boss a villain and hero (something that is reflected by many of the characters who talk about him in later games), craft an ending that has a super interesting meta-narrative about identity, hero worship, hypocrisy, and personal truth, then finally give players a heartfelt goodbye all at the same time.
I don't recall if it was mentioned in the past videos and I would've skipped 4 since I hadn't played it, but Leadhead never bringing up the idea that Kojima was also cynical about V in any way seemed like a blatant omission. The GZ erasure had to be a reference to the internal conflict at Konami (maybe the timelines don't quite fit, but they would prevent him from accepting an award and stripped him from MGSV's promotional material). Since 2/3, it seemed like the MGS IP had to be applied to every new project he worked on despite the most recent entry being "the last one".
On identity and expression, I was largely disappointed in how easy it was to avoid violence in any encounter. If you're already playing and researching nonlethal, the child soldiers added nothing new. The Mother Base quarantine was also subpar since most soldiers were easily replaceable and aren't given enough chances to exhibit personality. The plot that medic's (i.e. the player's) personhood was ever overwritten by Big Boss and the threat posed by his enemies falls largely flat cause from a game balance perspective you have the most freedom with a sandbox that ends up often giving you more control rather then taking it away from you. Past the first several missions you rarely become overwhelmed by a lack of awareness or surges in enemy number and strength regardless of your kit. I'd also have to disagree on Venom ever becoming a villain. While uncontested Patriots are an issue, the way in which Skullface went about the lingua franca issue warrants the execution. There's also the dissonance in Venom literally disarming nukes in FOBs seemingly just to spite Skullface even though he WILL become a nuclear wielding "baddy" by Metal Gear.
MGS 1 handled nuanced entertainment about war and the action hero way better by never having a well-munitioned tranquilizer and regularly putting the player into situations where they were made to play the part of an engineered killer. While Ground Zeroes was really messed up, MGSV never really seemed to match that tension. The sacrifices and betrayals that occurred in previous games (especially 3) are arguably worse: having an eye carved out and killing your mentor as opposed to losing a kingdom built on abducted mercenaries and armed goons which you readily rebuild over maybe a year at most.
The narrative and themes are better than I gave it credit at launch. You're right in that Kojima practically ticked every box he needed to, but the story and "film making" really took a backseat to making a highly replayable stealth sandbox.
MGSV VID BY LEAD DROPPED LETSGOOOOOO
HELL YEAH RETURN OF THE QUEEN! Can't wait for these vids to all be compiled together, I use video essays as a sleep guide and your MGS videos are a new fav!
Can't express how much I love your channel and analyses, and how well done this series has been. Excited to watch it in one chunk
not Leadhead: Kept you waiting, huh?
that’s what I call a turn around time! but srsly, thanks for working so hard on these videos
mgsv is one of my favourite games ever. it and breath of the wild changed my view on gaming completely
Been meaning to say this for a while, but your new aesthetic style with the foreground and game backdrops is brilliant. Engaging, relevant, original and perfect for the YT essay format of videos. Love it.
I've never played a metal gear but this series has been awesome to follow. Can't wait to see what comes next!
I can see this series was really important to you, and I did watch all of them.
It was really good! I wish you good luck with your future projects!
Really enjoyed the ideas you decided to share with us, this is probably my favorite discussion of the series, and likely my favorite discussion regarding games generally. Glad I found your channel girlie, thanks ✨
OMG POST CREDIT SCENE
I'm so happy you got to experience this series that meant so much again with your gf, and her receiving it so well. That's truly beautiful
This project was also truly beautiful. I'm sure I speak for others when I say I can feel your soul poured into these videos, and how important, how powerful they turned out. Thank you
I'm sure whatever you decide to work on next will be wonderful, you seem secure in sharing your voice, and that voice is what made this series so impactful. Your perspectives relating to this art is what made them truly great for me. Talk about something else that resonates with you and I'm sure it will be incredible (or anything else you cook up ✨)
Who would have thought the girl who gave me all these big-sister tips early in my transition would leave such an impact on me in such a different way. Really, really, thank you
Okay Tedx talk over 🤪
I know it's beside the point, but that sweater looks super cozy
Thank you for these fantastic videos Lead.
i practically grew up with the metal gear series and im SO happy that you are actively talking about it, even when i have the story ALL figured out im always left searching on other points of view. THANK YOU Leadhead!!
Man seeing this channel upload is the highlight of my day
Your green screen game is on point. Fantastic framing of these backdrops.
THERE'S AN OBSTRUCTION AT THE LZ. REQUESTING REMOVAL.
I really enjoyed this whole series of yours thanks for your amazing work!
This was a phenomenonal series, thank you
Thank you for making this series. It meant a lot to me as well.
have you considered though that ahab is literally me
no me.
I loved this! Even though I didn't know much about the series your analysis and explanations were really nice. Thanks for sticking with it!
i love your content it's so bingeable
Great stuff as usual!!
Your mgs series is really good and I haven't even played any of those games
I have *never* played a single metal gear game, but this series fascinated me so much that i saw the whole thing through. Really interesting stuff and well done. I loved it :)
(also omg the background details throughout this whole series have been so cool. Just how the background interacts with you is like the neatest use of greenscreen i've seen in a long time.)
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this video series! Best wishes to you moving forward 🙏
Someday you just check your phone at lunch and bam, NEW leadhead video to enjoy just in time.
I've been waiting for this one, your videos are incredible
I always love seeing you in the couch! It looks so comfy.
Trans wisdom from your couch.
Thank you for your honestly and insights into these great games. Sounds like you've had some challenges lately, but it always sounds like you are in a better metal space. Can't wait to see what you put up next!
Thank you SO much for this series, this has been my introduction to the channel and ive been absolutely blown away and emotionally moved ;-;
Penelope strikes again! i'm gonna enjoy this!
I guess the real MGS lore is the Kojimas we made along the way
I see Leadhead upload a new video? I smile. Looking great, btw.
Thank you for making this video, and this series!
At this point, Konami finally releasing remastered versions of all previous Metal Gear games for PC later this month just feels bitterly sarcastic
"Remastered" my ass lol
@@justmusiciaan lol yeah
The earliest video of yours I remember watching was your Dr. Strangelove video (hard to believe that was like 5 years ago) and this series just feels so monumental, it really shows how far your work has come. If I had consistent income I'd definitely be on that Patreon, fantastic work lead
Did YT have a stroke or drop you?
Been subscribed to you for some time and I saw this in my subscription but had no idea this was a series and your last 4 videos flew over my head.
Oh well, time to play catch up and enjoy your new content deeply.
I love this series of videos!
These interpretation videos are art pieces of their own. Thanks for the great work, very thought provoking stuff
I havent watched in a while.
You seem so much happier I'm proud of you dawg!
It would be cool to have a video about how you analize videogames and how people can look deeper into their favorite games.
A wonderful birthday gift - thank you for this.
this video is a great time sink. made me realize something about the game i wouldn't have thought of
You know, after many, many hours spent on MGSV analysis videos, I kind thought I knew everything there was to know about this game that I love.
But here I am, absolutely mind-blown about that last tape directed at the player.
This video is my introduction to your channel and now I'm going to go back and watch all of your analyses.
Being born in the beginning of the 2000s, this was the MGS of my life, and boy oh boy, it was amazing
that speech at the end of MGSV always gives me goosebumps, it always felt like I was being spoken to, I am Venom, he is me, we are Big Boss, it never mattered what “canon” course brought us there or the details bulldozed to give us more games, it was the journey of self discovery and reflection that on the other side of playing these games I can say has left me a more introspective and considerate person, thank you Lead, and thank you Kojima
Old $crim pic nice.
great vid and great series
the gun barrel going in front of your chair is such a cool detail (20:42)
Thank you for making this. Keep up the good work
youre realling inspiring to me, i want to make meaningful stuff like you
This video series has been so good, half thought-provoking and half comfy vibes. I still struggle to connect with mgsv, the meta narrative feels so contradictory to the actual narrative (what little there is, anyway) that while I appreciate the big boss player sendoff, I just can't bring myself to find it satisfying overall. I definitely don't subscribe to the theory that it was "bad on purpose" but it did and still does make me feel that phantom pain you were talking about. But even so, I love hearing people talk about this game because it gives me more to chew on while I try to navigate my own feelings on the game, so thank you for sharing your analysis and experience! Your soul shines through the whole way. Looking forward to rewatching these in the big video soon!
I've been playing around with situating myself in video games in my videos. The way that Leadhead did it, tough, is 100x more entertaining
The Metal Gear series is the only one that I can beat the entire series of games, watch all the cutscenes, and still learn things from video essays regardless of how many I watch.
Re-contextualizing "The Man Who Sold the World" was a brain blast and a half. Fantastic.
Miss it's only been like, half a week.
Can only contain so much hype
im so proud of you
Bro I finished this game a week ago... it's so crazy that I've been seeing all these new MGSV vids after really getting into the series ❤
You know, I genuinely strongly recommend searching up some videos on mgs 5 lore, cause there's actually some great intresting stuff, everything is though out brilliantly, it's just that most of the lore is given subtly or through cassets, out of the way
Amazing analysis, you should feel proud of it, I understand that fear of covering a topic you already did in the past, but if one thing experience taught me, is how revisiting something like this ends up being a nice testament to see just how far you've grown and changed as a person, becuase the Leadhead who started video essays wanting to make the best Metal Gear video possible with little experience, is not the same Leadhead that stands today, with years of experience in editing and a more confident attitude diving deeper than before into what made these games leave such an impact.
You did an amazing job, and I look forward to see what project you will pursue next!
I appreciate you giving mgs 4 and 5 the credit they deserve as games
5 isn't my favorite mgs but having played 2 and 3, I still really like 5
Lore of Never Be Game Over: A Metal Gear Solid V Analysis momentum 100
This video came out at the perfect time i've just started playing MGSV again
Been putting the majority of this series on hold until I eventually finish all the games.
Been playing them out of order due to what I grew up with
15:30 I had never felt so called out until the “more important” qualifier as Ghost Babel is unironically my second favorite game in the franchise
For me, MGSV was always a story about revenge, and how hollow leading a life centered around it is. Skull face is motivated by the killing of his family and people, Kaz is motivated by Skull Face's destruction of MSF and is obviously pretty much exclusively driven by hatred for most of the story. Eli wants revenge on Venom, and so does Quiet at first. There's probably even more I'm forgetting. But my real point is once Skull Face is dead (end of Act 1), once the protagonists get the revenge that they were working towards for the entire events of the game, they have nothing left, and the story likewise putters out. The takeaway, for me, at least, is that any life motivated by revenge and hatred will either be cut short by someone else you wronged along the way, or ultimately hollow after your own is exacted, because even though revenge is inherently a selfish action or goal, you're not really living for yourself. I hadn't really put my thoughts about this game into words before, and was inspired to by your segment about MGS2 and how the story of the game is what you make of it. I like that idea a lot, and this game is always a good reminder for me never let myself get to a point where I'm living for a grudge. "Facts do not exist, there are only interpretations," indeed. Loved the video!
Loved the end! You seem to be a very genuine and honest person and it shows. The bit where you said that your GF playing the series with you was the final motivation for these vids got me emotion. Doing things and sharing with those we love, are aways the best things you can do! Be well, man! Salutes from Brazil.
Honestly, there so i much i have to say about V, i guess you can call me a MGSV apologist. I think indepently what people think if the game was finished or not, i don't think we would get "much more" in terms of story breakthrough, even if we had 2 more chapters, the story is set when Big Boss is being, well, a mercenary, some people back then expected to have to recruit foxhound members but even so, unlike most of series, V game themes are inserted in the actual conficts you are in than the "main plot". Chapter 2 meat is mostly in the story events you can't replay which are basically dealing with the aftermath of getting revenge personified by Kaz, which personally i think it was really well done. Either way, the setting but specially the ending hammers down that what you live during the events of V are but a footnote in Big Boss history as a mercenary.
On hindsight, now when compared to death stranding, it seems that V's reliance on tapes and characters not talking much isn't just because of themes and events of V but it's Kojima trying to refine his formula. Most of the tapes, like most of the colectibles in DS are thr equivalent of optional codec calls and the yellow tapes are like the long codec plot exposition dumps that would be a nightmare to turn in to a cutscene, there actual contextual codec calls that are mission specific but, like death stranding, it seems kojima doesn't want the "plot" to mess with gameplay unless the player really wants to. And well, there are no vocal cord parasites in DS but Sam, like Venom, Only speaks with "his" team, Leaving cutscenes with only the superficial information needed to understand the plot.
also i'm completely agaisnt the idea Venom simply complied with his role as a decoy and died like a loyal soldier in Outer Heaven. Both the trailers, the themes and the ending screams to me Venom follows the same path of Skull Face in seeking revenge using his "master's" own infraestructure
Thank you it's a good series
Ive just started my first playthrough like a week ago. This one will have to wait
I would be super curious to hear your thoughts on the work I've done analyzing MGSV.
Cant wait for the metal gear survive vid
BABE WAKE UP LEADHEAD MGSV VIDEO DROPPED
I'm a giant fucking nerd about MGS so I'll have some shit to say about this video once I've finished it.
My name is also Jake and I’m also a giant nerd with a lot to say about MGS
lead head
lead head
lead head
lead head
lead head
head lead
It’s an interesting full circle that all the games tell snake to feel something because the powers that be don’t want him to feel anything then MGSV finally puts that on the player and tells us thaT WE need to feel something much like how the game constantly told snake to feel something. That’s my biggest takeaway from these videos and it’s super humanizing to think about
nice analysis bro
I always felt it was like it was a battle of fire and ice.
The gameplay was so solid, but the lack of resolution just made me feel empty in the end.
It ended in a whimper instead of a bang and that's just heartbreaking.
WOO HELL YEA
Having the plot synopsis and character motivations laid out in a couple minutes as opposed to spread thinly over hours of filler side missions and resource gathering definitely makes this game's conflict feel A LOT stronger and was actually my favorite part of this video. It's just a shame the final act felt sparse and the 5 minute jeep ride with Skullface was anticlimatic. Pacing, particularly Africa's grindy start, and not being able to hear the audio tapes were my biggest issues and really detached me from what was going on in the game. I think drawing correlations between the GZ mission and Konami's politics surrounding Kojima and MGSV would've been more appropriate than just "it's about what you personally take away from the series", and it would've been interesting to go into more of the specific relationships between the supporting cast, but likening MGSV to 2 was a good approach.
Thinking about the advertisements, previews, and pre-launch speculation, I definitely felt there was a bait and switch with this game, too. However, instead of it being the characters themselves (Venom and Big Boss are practically the same to the player), it's more their actions and motivations that seemed subverted. Venom literally did nothing wrong. Skullface actually had good aims, but an unacceptable method. Khaz and Huey are up in the air as to being the biggest malcontents with dubious allegiances. Of course, the stories don't have to really "matter" or make sense, the series has always been tongue-in-cheek between the morals, but there does have to be some internal consistency for a compelling work. MGS2's was always about manipulating information, events, and trying to remain stoic through all of that. MGSV's was more about revenge by any means and the fall of that hero to accomplish it. You sort of get the former if you don't care about the bigger implications of Skullface and don't tie back the violence to the US government, but you never really have to experience the latter.
How delightful
Leadgoat, goathead.
Honestly, my favorite in the series
Fyi I honestly feel that code talker is sorrows phantom or one of the original philosophers
woaaaw you look sooo goooood babe 😍😍😍😍 glad to see these kind of green screen incrustations !
MGS fans are a lot. "Bullet to the head for the franchise." How many albums does your favorite band have? Is it even close to how many MGS games there are? Likely not. Some fans seem to genuinely believe the series would've continued to produce brilliant games had it not been *executed.* That's.. maybe true. But it's overwhelmingly more likely it would sputter out, like nearly every other long-term creative endeavor.
lemme check real quick. Uh, looks like the most recent Buckethead release was...September 7th, this year, bringing his total to...493 albums and counting. If I move to next down the list with Demetori, six and a bit good albums of nine and counting is pretty close to Metal Gear's six and a bit good games of eight and no longer counting.
@youmukonpaku3168 do me a favor and look up the 'Steiner math promo'
Yay!! Another video 😍🥰💙
great vids, thanks
Why are we still here....
why am I still here?
Another metal gear masterpiece 🎊 🎉
I hope u know how much the metal gear series and ur analysis means to so many people, myself included. what the metal gear series did for you, your channel has, to some extent, done the same for me. as a closeted trans person, ur trans field guide meant a lot to me. as a metal gear fan, this series helped me see these games in a new light. and as a human, getting to interview you for a speech in high school last year to speak about something I cared about meant so so much to me. I wish you the best in all your work, looking forward to the next video you have in store
You got that thinking chaie
every time i watch a video about MGSV i have kom suser tod playing in my head.
Never be game over.
Shordy where did you get that nightstand I need it (also, you are passing VERY well idk if anyone told you)
You rock