It sounds like you're thinking of it being more like V in terms of having side missions, rescuing civilians, support crew and thusly a more open world to accommodate this, but I think that will be detrimental. It's a single base you're infiltrating and your mission is pretty straightforward despite the twists. Making it more open world and putting in PW or V abduction and staffing mechanics just wouldn't fit IMO. I think they'll need to practice some restraint and just make it like MGS1 in terms of scope: a lone man on a somewhat linear mission through an enemy base. It doesn't need to be more than that.
Hm, in retrospect, you may have a point. I guess I had this image that sort of "bridge" both the new and old style while also bringing in stuff from the original (because hostage rescues were indeed something from the original and thus I decided to turn them into side missions that would make the player's life much easier). I dont think it would ever reach MGSV levels as I "pictured" Outer Heaven and surrounding areas as being the map, much smaller in comparison to what we had in V.
Perhaps it could follow a MGS4 style approach? Because I really wanted to draw emphasis on the conflict between Outer Heaven and local rebels so you'd know whats at stake and why Outer Heaven's senseless destruction would make many so spiteful and vengeful that they join who they were working initicially against (Big Boss) when we arrived at Zanzibar.
So yeah, you may be right that I went a tad too big in scope and something smaller is preferable, but it would also feel rather wasteful to not really expand on anything. A middle ground is preferable in this case. Good observations.
My main thought is how they're going to deal with the Venom angle (they would definitely pretend he exists, sorry @Chapalapachapa). Solid Snake needs to still believe it's the real Big Boss, so any hint otherwise will have to be a subtle nod to the audience that Snake is completely oblivious to.
I think its one of the reasons why I suggested having the big boss reveal at the end of Act 2 as a faux finale (again, the whole super computer angle is meant to almost trick normies that know the original NES version only, and even if that doesnt work, its still a neat "nod" to that version that many ancient fans grew up with in either case).
The series explored Big Boss so much that its rather pointless to keep the mystery, it was a neat twist back when the game first came out (for gaming standards at least...the whole "your commander is the bad guy" was already a well known trope back then), so its best to explore him in this phase of his life because lets be very honest here...We didnt have Big Boss truly being the leader of Outer Heaven, at all, so we would see him speaking to his men, making speeches and the neat thing is that we'd secretly have both Big Boss and Venom Snake and there would be subtle differences in their designs (the rocket punch is an obvious giveaway which one we are seeing atm but still).
In retrospect, Im not sure if there would be an ending where we see Venom Snake exchanging a final conversation with Big Boss, it sounds good on paper but would it perhaps be the sort of thing that feels rather cheesy on execution? Perhaps but at the same time, it would be weird not to adknowledge Venom in some sort of fashion since the twist of MGSV would be fresh even to normie players of the franchise.
Rather providing the thorough explanation of whole ordeal, maybe throw here'n'there glimpses of what is really going on. Like Big Boss isn't aware that his DNA was used for Les Enfates Terribles Project. He could be astonished that his base is being inflitraded by a dude lookin' alike. Final confrontation would also be more subtle giving Big Boss an impression that maybe he is being replaced, or he was being played this whole time and The Patriots are trying to replace him with someone more controllable, like Solid Snake who isn't aware of being a pawn on this chessboard.
The thing is, what is established in the "Solid" entries is that Big Boss knows about L.E.T and its the straw that broke the camel's back with his membership in the Patriots. He also knows David and Eli, he doesnt have any animosity towards them but no love either, he wants them to be treated humanely but he has nothing to do with them.
Now you would ask why Big Boss would have David in his Foxhound and even train him CQC? Well, I think it comes down to Big Boss making mistakes, shocking I know. MG1 demonstrated Big Boss had no faith in David and was expecting him to die, showing how much Outer Heaven means business that not even Foxhound can stop them. He tried to subtly boycott the mission (like the classic "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that a gas mask will be necessary in this room."...while you are already IN the room and taking damage) and began to legit sound frustrated at Solid's progression.
Big Boss thought he was defeating the Patriots by playing with their pieces, playing along with "the game" of power, not understanding that underestimating a Snake is the same mistake many of his foes were guilty off and all of them paid dearly for it...and inevitably his turn comes (or rather, Venom's).
Big Boss is far nastier in MG2 because he isnt trying to hide anything anymore and fully embraced his "villanous" role. And a remake shouldnt shy from that, Big Boss IS evil, he just looks after his own but anyone else? He cares nothing for. At that point, he looks forward to facing Solid, now respecting him as a soldier, because either Big Boss wins and achieves his goal or dies and achieves peace...he is getting something out of it either way.
Big Boss needs to be EVIL in the MG duology, engaging and complex but still evil.
