This game is a masterpiece, but I would never play the story again.

I think the criticisms are valid, whether that's the Kojima-y writing or the somewhat annoying mid-section. But the thing that makes for me is the fidelity, it's a new level for fidelity. My Parents, walked into the room during a cutscene and asked what movie I was watching, when I said it was a game they were floored. I found myself amazed at the views and the amount of detail that went into the game, I truly believe this is a new paradigm in art direction and graphics.

The music and sound design are also well done, fitting for themes of the game and help give you the sense of isolation when walking in some far off distance from any other people, only complaint is that there is no in-game music player while you're out and about. At points the soundtrack felt like a blockbuster film during action sequences.

I found the story captivating, but as I said to start with- I would never play through it again, because it sort of loses its charm when it's all said and done, because of the mystery it lays out in the early acts that come to fruition after. If you like spotting the foreshadowing, you could just as easily check out videos of particular scenes.

The negatives are that the last few sequences - while serving a purpose narratively, feel a bit too long winded and I started getting a little annoyed at being stopped every few steps by other characters to close their arcs before the finale. Adding to this, there are moments where the game decides to shift gameplay to something I don't think its too suited to, but that is only a few times and they're pretty short.

I don't think a review can ever do this game justice - likewise with videos that show all cutscenes, because the act of getting from point A to point B is YOUR story, and adds a lot more when it is your struggle to get over that mountain or being saved by another player's structure.

In short - I think its a great example of how story can be told in game, where not only the cutscenes and dialogue help bring to life, but the actual gameplay itself. It's not for everyone, I wouldn't recommend it if you have issues with holding forwards with nothing much else happening.