Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is as similar to as it is different from the rest of the Metal Gear Solid series.

After two decades of sneaking in mostly linear missions throughout the series’ myriad locales, The Phantom Pain’s open world is a positively overwhelming infiltration playground. Set primarily at the Angola-Zaire border in Africa and Northern Kabul, Afghanistan, Big Boss’s missions and overall journey is nothing short of epic, where you can spend over 100 hours playing it before reaching 100 percent completion. Both areas are immensely well crafted, where enemy-occupied bases are dense in man-made structures, while the expansive plains and deserts are convincingly sparse in useful resources. It’s refreshing to explore an open world where you’re not pulled in by an activity every dozen square yard or so. Equally important is that exploring both locals is a gorgeous trek, rich in photo ops, day or night.

The gallery showcases is modest sampling of what Big Boss can encounter in The Phantom Pain.

Another early morning at the Angola-Zaire border.
This would be a “deep thoughts” moment, but the lens flare is distracting me.
That luminescent flare was launched just for me as well as that mortar round in the distance.
Visiting a large compound, not that I got an invitation.
Desert riding clears my head.
Making new friends.
When I don’t shower for days, the flies let me know.
Taking in the African fog.
Buttes remind me of New Mexico and atom bomb testing.
My Mother Base is a well-oiled 24/7 operation.
Free souvenirs are everywhere!
I am at home on this lonely road.
Thanks for all the pick-ups and drop-offs, chopper pilot!
I am Big Boss! I can run forever since I don’t have a stamina bar!
I am Big Boss! I am also a tomb raider!
Tearing through Africa, ready to infiltrate for the right price!
You’d be surprised how much the light of the moon lets you see things at night.
Scouting this convoy. They’re in for a surprise!
This jungle reminds me of a mission I partook in the 1960s.
Would you believe an animal conservation group asking us to do this!?