How is this getting perfect scores and 9s across the board if this is the case?

Well, I agree with you in general but I would not call early impression threads pointless. Sometimes games start very slow and may seem even crappy, it is important to get opinions how the game will evolve after start. For me, I won't give final judgment to a game even after seeing the end credits. After few months, it is easier for me to evaluate if that game really was an all time great or not. This is my personal method which I've found to be trustworthy in the long run, meaning I hardly ever have to change my opinion after that.

DD wasnt bad aswell. It really requires alot of atention going to the world to make it a joy to explore and to make varied enough tasks that complement the exploration of a new area. The quests must incentivate the exploration of the new area. Just having random points in the map that in no way follow a story flow or a quest flow just make for a very tedious game of swat those icons from your map. Also, it doesnt overwhelm the player.

Sounds almost like we are playing different games. MGS V is very much a metal gear game, the only real difference is the open world structure.  But when it comes to gameplay, infiltrating a base, taking out enemies, all the MG elements are there.  Only a lot more streamlined and playable, making it feel more fluid.  Like CQC always felt a bit off using it, but in MGSV it feels spot on, letting you take out enemies like a pro.

The game does feel a little overwhelming at the start, when all the motherbase stuff is explained.  But if you spend a bit of time with it all becomes clear. And i have to say it's a lot fun building up your base and developing all the gear. If every mission feels the same to you, the only one to blame is you. You could approache every situation the same way and it would probably work. But the fun is that you are free to really try different ways and get rewarded for it.

I played all Metal gear games (starting with the originals on MSX), and to me MGSV really feels like a grown up version. All the good elements from the previous games are here, expanded with an open world, base building and lots of freedom of choice on how you take on situations. It also feels a lot less cutscene heavy with a better focus on playing the game then just watching it (although i always enjoyed the cutscenes). I'm almost 30 hours into the game now, and it just keeps getting better.

I've figured something with this game, haven't read through all the posts so it might of been commented on already. I'm on chapter 5 and I've done 4 or 5 side ops aswell, I've really enjoyed every mission massively, I love stealth and I'm a bit obsessed with trying to get the missions done with 100% stealth no kills and in and out there without the Enemy knowing I was there. And I think that's the only way you'll enjoy the game.

My brother asked me to drive up his so he could see what MGSV was like before buying it and and I done a couple of mission with no silencers and just all out war. I found it so much less enjoyable and too easy, there's simply no challenge and no fun doing it that way. So all I can say is try challenging yourself to do the mission unseen and 100% stealth and I'm quite sure you'll love it, and let's face it, it's how mgs is supposed to be played.

I'm now in Africa or whenever it is ... I'm not really interested. My God the game just got even more boring. MGS ... get out of here. What a joke of a stealth game this is. Mission after mission of having to rush to get what you need. And fail states for not going fast enough, in a MGS game. Nothing about this game is fun at all. If you have money to spend buy a game that's not going to get panned to death once all the love for Kojima has run out. The honeymoon period will end pretty soon and those reviews that gave it 9 or higher will have lost all of the last credibility they had.

So if you wanna look cool play whatever overhyped AAA cinematic experience next-gen GOTY game is hip at the time, otherwise buy a Wii U and have lots of fun.

You mean like MGSV? And I don't want to look cool, I'll save that for people who despatately need that in their lives.

Maybe I should add grayscale looking and mature too.

What the hell are you talking about? What you going to say next, add swearing? How about big breasts and little clothing ... oh yeah, MGS has that but there's a good reason: Quiet breaths and drinks through her skin. Pathetic.