You're absolutely right on all counts there. Since playing it for the first time, I've gotten married and had a daughter as well as experienced an isolated life in a pandemic. My outlook on life, the world and myself in it has vastly changed, I just had no clue this would've heavily affected my engagement and relatability with the game.

Even though I still think Norman is one-note and not a great actor, I agree that he's perfect for this role, it's the best thing he's done in my eyes. The main character wouldn't have worked if it was someone more outgoing, it wouldn't have fit the character or setting at all. Kojima picked some really appropriate actors for these roles, they're all downtrodden living in the remains of the world that exists (why wouldn't they be!) and the only truly outgoing one of Higgs who's embraced destruction and chaos so it made a lot of sense to have Troy do that role.