I hope MGS5 is a passive revamp of past Metal Gears. The AI particularly would seem dated if they returned with the same amount of intelligence as they have now. The new Snake should I think, be more streamlined also; I know people don't think Splinter Cell Conviction is the best example to use by comparison given how generally unfavourable it was, but I think that game did so well to reboot the mechanics of the game that it was just a shame they forgot to put some focus on the rest of it. Sam Fisher felt less cumbersome, heavy, and had become a fast predator.
I'm not saying the new Snake has to be the new Sam Fisher, just that for that particular game, what they did with Sam, was a very fresh approach and that's what I would like (at least passively) done for a new Metal Gear for a new generation. I don't like the idea of games retaining their core mechanics just because it's popular and brings in sales. Developers should always push the envelope further.
Speaking of a new Snake for a new generation, I really... really want Kojima to make the next Snake ...wait for it, a female badass. I think it's the natural next step for telling a new story, because to have yet another brooding male hero would seem a bit been-there-done-that.
Focus on a female who is has the mystique, the beauty, the physical prowess and tactical knowledge of Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell (the SAC series particularly for those who know it). She's not that far off from Snake personality wise, and she's really a great example of a tough gal without losing her femininity, kinda like Sarah Connor without the whole, "hey I'm miss sociopathy, let's go kill a black guy!" spiel.
Maybe some of you are saying, "Hey, Meryl already is the tough gal in the series."
Meryl's great and all, but as much as we all like Meryl I think she doesn't have that appeal and mystique that main characters should have. Raiden is a good example. Even though some people like him more now that he's become a cyborg ninja, people still remember his baggage. People will twice as likely vote for a game about Gray Fox than a ninja Raiden game.
Also with a female Snake, we don't need to wait for a female supporting cast to show up for Kojima to show off his extensive repetoire of perverted camera angles.
As the game is now, it feels too easy, and a lot of the challenge is self-imposed which is fine, and the stealth is still very effective at building tension:
"Is he gonna see me, is he gonna see me, is he gonna see me, is he gonna see me??? AGH CRAP!"
But that doesn't mean you can't add a few new improvements to the AI or make Snake more animated to really smoothen the mechanics. Just look at Nathan Drake and how easy and streamlined the stealth aspects are. They're fast yet well animated; it makes it look cool, stops it being robotic. We need this to happen for Snake.
Let's move forward with Metal Gear Solid.
