Parents' Guide to Metal Gear Survive

While neither as character-driven nor as philosophical as a traditional game in this series, this survival sim gives players a chance to revisit some mechanics from the series' older games. Metal Gear Survive's greatest strengths are its combat and survival systems. Learning how to manage scarce resources, use your time in the field efficiently, and effectively combat enemy hordes takes time and is challenging, but never unfair. Plus, the tactics involved in protecting targets by strategically deploying barricades, traps, and other gadgets are compelling. Map exploration is perhaps a little more frustrating than it needs to be -- especially in areas obscured by a toxic dust cloud that makes it very easy to get lost -- but there's a definite sense of satisfaction that comes with discovering and revealing new locations and earning a hard-won wormhole transportation device (essentially a fast-travel location).

Long-time series fans are bound to be a little disappointed by Metal Gear Survive's refusal to move Metal Gear's intricate narrative forward in any serious way, but there are still some brief moments of reflection on the consequences and follies of military conflict -- aspects for which the franchise is well-known. A bigger issue is that the survival shtick eventually becomes a bit formulaic and repetitive. Hunting for food and purifying water grows wearisome after a while, and many mission objectives fall into just a handful of categories. Thanks to the large and diverse array of gradually earned weapons, gear, and gadgets, the combat remains fun and satisfying throughout, but the goals we're provided could vary a little more. Though fun in places, Metal Gear Survive is undeniably a minor entry in Konami's storied series.