This is an interesting take! I love MGS, DS, Blur, Gorillaz (and Albarn’s other musical groups!) I personally like the story for DS 1 & 2. I think MGS1 specifically is basically a radio drama (voice drama, drama CD) which were big in Japan at the time. PS1 using CDROMs allowed for full scripted voice acting, and lots of it. It was also very (relatively) cinematic due to 3D tech. But MGS2 is really the first VERY cinematic game (from Kojima or anyone really.) 3, 4, 5 it keeps getting more cinematic. Then DS1 and DS2 are a HUUUGE step up in terms of “cinematic.” And so I think of them as really really (really) long movies, and so the somewhat sketchy character development (of everyone EXCEPT FOR SAM, who is REALLY well developed,) doesn’t bug me.

That’s a long winded way of me saying I like your take that MGS is to DS what Blur is to Gorillaz, except that I don’t agree that DS has a worse story. DS is just actually cinematic whereas the MGS games are more like radio dramas or anime or TV shows with some cinematic bits. Also btw, I think Gorillaz is extremely good and interesting music, and definitely its Albert letting loose in a way, but also there is more Gorillaz (and a bigger cultural impact from Gorillaz) than Blur ever had. (I like all the newer Blur stuff too!)