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You appear to be calculating something like Wins Above Replacement by saying the only thing that changed between these releases is the director being replaced.

You appear to be calculating something like Wins Above Replacement by saying the only thing that changed between these releases is the director being replaced. But you don't know that for sure. For example, Kojima would have known the most impactful, most critical staff at Konami. When he started his own thing he might have encouraged them to move. If this had happened Konami would have had to complete the new game with a gutted team, which would explain the poor quality. Of course you can say "well if this is true it only shows that Kojima can attract the best talent to work for him" and sure, that's probably true. But then we can't claim it's all completely Kojima doing the work.

somenameforme 3y ago
Sure, I think that's a perfectly reasonable point. You'll find quite a lot of name overlap on Death Stranding (Kojima's first independent game) and Metal Gear Solid 5. But rather than appeal to Kojima attracting the best talent, I'd appeal to something else. Kojima has been creating Metal Gear games for nearly 40 years. And while there's naturally going to be some overlap between iterations, it's all liminal. Go back to the original 1987 Metal Gear on the NES and you'll find 0 overlap except for Kojima. Kojima was a new hire at the time and thrust onto a completely new team on a project already in development. He dramatically shifted the direction of what was being built, and what was born was Metal Gear. And, as would become a recurring pattern for every single title he's been involved in, it was met with phenomenal reception.
- nindalf 3y ago
  Yeah, what you're saying is quite likely. I think the truth is somewhere in between. Kojima benefits from relying on a highly skilled team that deserves more credit than they get. At the same time he probably doesn't get enough credit for attracting that talent and creating an environment they can flourish in. If that were easy then anyone would do it.

somenameforme 3y ago

Sure, I think that's a perfectly reasonable point. You'll find quite a lot of name overlap on Death Stranding (Kojima's first independent game) and Metal Gear Solid 5. But rather than appeal to Kojima attracting the best talent, I'd appeal to something else. Kojima has been creating Metal Gear games for nearly 40 years. And while there's naturally going to be some overlap between iterations, it's all liminal. Go back to the original 1987 Metal Gear on the NES and you'll find 0 overlap except for Kojima. Kojima was a new hire at the time and thrust onto a completely new team on a project already in development. He dramatically shifted the direction of what was being built, and what was born was Metal Gear. And, as would become a recurring pattern for every single title he's been involved in, it was met with phenomenal reception.

nindalf 3y ago
Yeah, what you're saying is quite likely. I think the truth is somewhere in between. Kojima benefits from relying on a highly skilled team that deserves more credit than they get. At the same time he probably doesn't get enough credit for attracting that talent and creating an environment they can flourish in. If that were easy then anyone would do it.