Zero Punctuation Season 9 Episode 36 The Phantom Pain

Zero Punctuation is a video game review series hosted by Australian video game critic Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw. In season 9, episode 36, Yahtzee reviews the highly anticipated game, The Phantom Pain.

The episode starts with Yahtzee introducing the game and its creator, Hideo Kojima, who is known for his storytelling in games such as Metal Gear Solid. Yahtzee comments on how Kojima has created a reputation for himself of being a "pretentious hack" but also acknowledges that Kojima has created some great games in the past.

Yahtzee then moves on to his actual review of The Phantom Pain, starting with the game's story and characters. He praises the game for its minimalistic storytelling approach, where players are left to fill in the gaps themselves. Yahtzee compares the game's story to a puzzle, where players are given bits and pieces of information that they have to put together to understand the overall narrative. He also comments on the game's protagonist, Big Boss, and how he is a more nuanced character than previous games in the series.

Next, Yahtzee discusses the game's open world design. He notes that the game's world is massive and filled with things to do, but he also criticizes how the game encourages players to constantly return to their home base between missions. Yahtzee argues that this interrupts the game's flow and makes it feel more like a chore.

Yahtzee then moves on to the game's core gameplay mechanics, commenting on how the game mixes traditional stealth gameplay with more action-oriented segments. He praises the game for its variety, but also critiques how the game can feel overwhelming with its abundance of mechanics and controls.

The episode then shifts to graphics and presentation. Yahtzee notes that the game looks great and has some impressive visuals, but he also criticizes how the game's lighting can make it hard to see enemies. He also comments on the game's reliance on cutscenes, noting that they are beautifully designed but can be too long and disrupt the game's pacing.

Finally, Yahtzee wraps up his review by discussing the game's overall quality and recommending it to viewers. He notes that while The Phantom Pain has its flaws, it is still a fantastic game that is worth playing for fans of the series or those who enjoy open-world games.

Overall, Zero Punctuation's review of The Phantom Pain is a thorough and entertaining critique of the highly anticipated game. Yahtzee's humor and sharp wit make for an engaging review that provides valuable insight into the game's mechanics and design.