Direct quote 1999
“I don't mean it in the cinematic sense per se: game direction is more about creating situations that draw players in emotionally, and about creating atmosphere.”
What it documents
In 1999 Kojima said that even in the era of the PlayStation 2 the most important thing in a game remains a good sense of direction, and he clarified that he did not mean it in the cinematic sense per se: directing a game is more about creating situations that draw players in emotionally and about creating atmosphere.
Source
shmuplations.com; Matsuno × Kojima conversation (1999), unofficial English translation. View source ↗
“Even in the era of the Playstation 2, I think that's still the most important thing: a good sense of direction.”