Why is a game about being a delivery boy so good? Is it the infrastructure building mechanic? Is it the batshit insane storyline? Is it the fact that every mountain is climbable? Is it the reserved use of combat and massive punishments for killing people?
Who knows, all I can say is I haven't had this much fun with a game in ages.
Kojima games have an insane wind up. Like you won't get critical abilities until like 15 hours in. In DS, you don't get the car until you make it most of the way across the map, and that comes before guns and the ability to do damage to the ghosts.
As you unlock new abilities, it becomes this really interesting open systemic experience. Kinda like the Mario games or Dishonored games.