Fun Friday #1 – Metal Gear Solid: Series Retrospective

Hey guys and girls, and welcome to Fun Friday, the part of the week where I explore something that interests me greatly that doesn't fall into the movie or wrestling category. Could be a video-game, could be a hot topic in the news, could be a YouTube video, it's anything I personally consider "fun" to talk about! Today's topic is a video-game series near and dear to my heart - Metal Gear Solid! I have a YouTube playlist of the top 50 MGS songs ever playing in the background, gameplay footage of all 4 games ready to watch to bring back some amazing memories, and a glass of JD and Coke for good measure! Bring it on.

Okay, so...

Man, where do I even begin with this series?

It's actually kinda' difficult to imagine a time where I wasn't enthralled by the Metal Gear Solid series. From age 9/10 onwards, I've been drawn into this incredible series of games, to the point where I would personally consider them probably the best video-game franchise I've had the pleasure of playing. The games are cinematic in nature, taking players on an emotional journey that before wasn't thought possible through the medium of video-games. Hideo Kojima, the creator of the franchise, has created a sprawling saga that I still to this day, admire and love.

As I stated above, I was first introduced to the Metal Gear Solid series with the first game on Playstation 1, simply titled Metal Gear Solid (I know, shocking right?). A sequel to Metal Gear 1 and 2, this was Solid Snake's big debut and return to the public eye and the game was heralded as an instant classic. It received unanimous praise from players and critics alike, including yours truly. If you ask any gamer to name the top Playstation 1 games ever, Metal Gear Solid is likely to be high on that list. The gameplay was unique and new, introducing the world to "Tactical Espionage Action" and forcing gamers to use their brain more than possibly any game had before (changing the controller ports in your battle against Psycho Mantis for example?). The soundtrack boasted some impressive songs that are still instantly recognisable all these years later (who can forget the "!" noise followed by the dramatic music after you've been spotted by an enemy?) and the cast of characters were all creative and captured the imagination of many. The detailed and compelling storyline had players researching the previous two Metal Gear games who may have never heard of the up until the release of MGS, a true testament to the way in which Kojima crafted a world that sucked people in and refused to let go. The game proved so popular that a remake of the game, Twin Snakes, was made for the Nintendo Gamecube, and was met with similarly favourable reviews. It was an excellent re-debut of sorts, and set the bar incredibly high for any potential sequels.

Next up was Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and man did this game polarise people for the longest of times. All trailers and gameplay footage gave die-hard fans of the series the impression they would be playing as the now legendary Solid Snake character, only for Hideo Kojima to swerve them and introduce a brand-new protagonist in Raiden! The move was either considered ballsy but brilliant, or a slap in the face. As a kid, I saw it as something different, but I can't lie, I allowed video-game magazines and reviewers to influence me for the longest time on this one and was kinda 50/50 on it. The gameplay was fantastic however, re-tooled and refined from the first game. The graphics had improved leaps and bounds with the game coming out on the Playstation 2 console, and the soundtrack was created by famous Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams. The storyline became even deeper and more engaging, and the cast of characters increased with many popular additions (I always though Vamp was pretty damn cool, and Revolver Ocelot became one of my faves in the series going forward). Knowing what we do now about the direction of the story that Kojima was trying to tell, I think people’s opinions on this game have changed drastically from when it was first released, and I'll be the first to say that mine has definitely changed. The game may not be as iconic or loved as the first, but I think it improves where it needs to and is still a phenomenal game.

Three years later, Konami and Hideo Kojima released Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on the Playstation 2 to a fanbase who were clamouring for more Solid Snake action. This time however, the game took place in 1964, so the gameplay was more focused on realism and survival. The setting and difference in era made a big difference on the ideas brought into the game, and I think it was easy to notice that this had a very different feel than the other two games. Playing as “Naked Snake” also known as the legendary soldier Big Boss (the quote-unquote “father” of Solid Snake from the first two games), we were given a glimpse into the rich history that pre-dated the two games before it. I love the characterisation of Revolver Ocelot as a young man eager to impress, but other than him, the cast were completely new. No Otacon, no Colonel Roy Campbell, no Liquid Snake… instead, we were introduced to Major Zero, Snake’s commander on the mission, and slew of secondary characters such as Para-Medic, Sigint and EVA. I didn’t really warm to these characters as much which I think hurt my overall enjoyment of the game, but I can’t argue that it didn’t still feel epic and grand in scale. The story was interesting, bringing in themes of betrayal and loyalty and laying the seeds for what was to come. At the time I was unsure of the direction the franchise was taking, but I should’ve known better than to doubt Kojima – he had a plan.

The final numbered game in the series that has been released, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, came out on the latest Sony console Playstation 3 in 2008, and as usual, the game was met with praise from the gaming industry and the legion of fans, most who agreed that the game was a milestone for the franchise. Some criticised the length of the cut-scenes, comparing the game to more like an “interactive movie”, but for me personally, the story was so engrossing by this point that I was happy to sit through them. The production and quality were top notch, making the game the most “epic” of the four, with incredible battles and startling revelations that turned what longtime viewers thought about the saga on its head. The twists and shocks kept on coming, but none of them felt forced – it all flowed naturally, and allowed the world to notice what an incredible story-teller that Hideo Kojima was and still is today. Everything came together in this game – the events from the first three games played pivotal roles in this one, all the characters introduced made some sort of impact on the franchise as a whole (the twist involving the characters from MGS3 floored me, but made perfect sense). The sound production, still by the incredibly talented Harry Gregson-Williams was off the charts, truly reaching an apex. The gameplay was the tightest it had been in the series, and it all reached and fitting and satisfying conclusion. Metal Gear Solid 4 is my favourite of the series, and probably one of my favourite games I have ever played – in the top 3 for sure.

I could gush about the Metal Gear Solid saga for hours and hours, but time is unfortunately short for this entry. However, I may revisit each game individually down the line to really explore the ideas and themes from each and what message Kojima is trying to get across in this medium. If you are only a casual gamer or hardcore gamer, please play these games. The gameplay may not be your cup of the tea, but the amazing story being told needs to be experienced. You owe it to yourselves.

That’s all I have time for today, but I hope you’ve enjoyed this first week of brand new content for the blog! Check out the image below to see what is coming up next week, and until then, thanks for reading!

Will

NEXT WEEK ON THIS IS NOT AN EXIT

Movie Monday #2 – SAW

Wrestling Wednesday #2 – WCW Starrcade 1997

Fun Friday #2 – Super Metroid