Finally finished the game today. I spent about 5 hours thinking this was the end. I think most of the main emotional delivery is actually earned, definitely the best Kojima has done, and it's really quite good even outside of 'for a video game'.
The twists and turns were a lot of fun, and I really dig this kind of surreal narrative. But it's ultimately somewhat restrained, which is probably for the best. If I wrote the story I probably would have included even wilder twists and deeper surrealism.
Ending stuff:
Although relying on sentimentality, the Cliff -> Sam -> Lou stuff is really well delivered throughout, and the ending, where Sam finally has his link to the world, a reason for going on, is really satisfying and very well 'shot', that very last scene with the photo and Lou's hand especially.
I did finish the game.
I read all the Wikis.
Still trying to wrap my head around the "Extinction Entity" concept. That's the only part of the plot where I'm like, "Wut?"
Endgame stuff:
I kind of wondered about the 5 hovering beings on the beach, that was never explained. Amelie pointed to them saying that Sam was still connected. But were they the 5 other EE's?
But really with her powers she's more like just a non-omnipotent semi-omniscient God. She can bring anyone back from the dead. Bring the dead back to Earth. Destroy the world. Whatever. Gods are capricious and prone to anger... or was that wizards? Just unknowable. Definitely not the most compelling part but more twisty turny story material.
Also, did anyone else play the game like me? As soon as I had vehicles I drove EVERYWHERE. Mountainous delivery? I'll drive my bike. Cliff edge? Bike. Maybe do a leap of faith with a truck. I definitely spent a lot more time driving vehicles than walking.
I used a floating carrier about 2 times total.
I had a few real popular bridges, kinda surprised nobody else built the one in particular.