Stealth is easier on the lower difficulties, for sure, but it demands more on the harder ones, which works for me. Presentation is understandably not as good, but the codecs are a major improvement over MGS4, and it's the most gameplay-driven game in the series. I guess if you play them purely for the story, it might not stack up on production values.
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"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it."