Like I thought. This will be a relatively fresh take on the open world format. The devil's in the details, but to put it simply, it 's being designed as a game first and foremost, unlike the way that everyone else does it which is basically try to draw the consumer in with land size and the promise of doing whatever you want. Just the amount of actions that Snake is capable of and how much control you have is beyond GTAs, Witchers, Failouts, AssCreeds, even Arkhams. And we've already seen, to often hilarious effect, that there is a functioning level of physics simulation that allows tools/objects to be used in a number of different ways, like using inflatable decoys to launch dudes off cliffs, setting up elaborate death traps using C4 and vehicles, etc. While maybe not as "open" as other games, the missions so far seem less scripted than many of them; you are given an objective and that is all, you aren't forced to do an exact something each step of the way like in other games. I really wish Saints Row or GTA missions would leave you alone to scope out an area and come up with your own plan.
Anyway, this is the popamole to beat this year. An open world game that has the control and agility of a linear action game, (probably) built with skill and mastery in mind, has an auteur-like vision informing it on multiple levels, filled to the brim with idiosyncratic detail. Only Batman is coming close as I see it. Of course, the turds in the media will probably still be jacking it to Twitcher 3 or pretending this game didn't happen if Fallout 3 comes out this year. But hey, I prefer developed mechanics and interesting concepts to mediocre combat, sluggish movement, and talking to farmers, so who am I to judge...
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