>>1231576
>the level design of MGSV is an actual sandbox as in you can problem solve using every single tool in the game
The open world is bare-bones that doesn't encourage the player to explore to find some interesting stuff with varieties of content like Elden Ring, the Elder Scrolls games, and the last two 3D Zelda games. The only worthwhile shit is farming though collectibles and doing side-ops but it gets incredibly boring. Open world for Metal Gear is very antithetical because past games have proven that its works best with linear level designs.
>but did someone else feel really emotionally attached to everything?
Not that much if you ask me.
1. The lack of bossfights, which only consisted only of Sahelanthropus, is criminal.
2. I find it difficult to get attached to the story and its characters. Skull Face wasn't that much of an interesting villain to me because of its hate-boner for languages (especially English) and he was more borderline insane compared to other antagonists of previous games. Ocelot's role as some walking encyclopedia feels incredibly off-character compared to his other roles as a cocky, self-confident gunslinger who idolizes Big Boss as a friend and a rival. Most of Quiet's shtick is for fan-service. Huey was fucking annoying. Venom Snake's as a copy of Big Boss feels bland that he gets very few, memorable conversations during in-game cutscenes. The only character that I felt attached more was Kaz, because he had more emotion compared to the rest.
The best emotional moment for me that I had was when Venom put all of his dead soldiers' ashes onto his face, to show his charisma for the dead and for everyone to see that he was still a caring military leader.