Metal Gear (video game)

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Metal Gear
Metal Gear cover.jpg
Japanese MSX2 box art
Developer(s) Konami
Publisher(s) Konami
Director(s) Hideo Kojima
Designer(s) Hideo Kojima
Programmer(s)
  • Hiroyuki Fukui
  • Tomonori Otsuka
  • Koji Toyohara
Artist(s)
  • Masami Tabata
  • Azusa Fujimoto
Writer(s) Hideo Kojima
Composer(s)
  • MSX version
  • Iku Mizutani
  • Shigehiro Takenouchi
  • Motoaki Furukawa
  • NES version
  • Kazuki Muraoka
Series Metal Gear
Platform(s)
Release
July 13, 1987
  • MSX2
    • JP: July 13, 1987 [1]
    • EU: July 1987
    Famicom/NES
    • JP: December 22, 1987
    • NA: June 1988
    • PAL: 1989
    Commodore 64
    MS-DOS
    • NA: August 30, 1990
    • EU: 1990
    Mobile phones
    • JP: August 18, 2004
    • NA: 2008
    Windows
    • WW: September 25, 2020
Genre(s) Action-adventure, stealth
Mode(s) Single-player

Metal Gear [lower-alpha 1] is an action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami for the MSX2. It was released for the system in Japan and parts of Europe in 1987. Considered to have popularized the stealth game genre, it was the first video game to be fully developed by Hideo Kojima, who would go on to direct most of the games that followed in the Metal Gear series. [2] A reworked port of the game was released for the Famicom a few months later, which later saw release in international markets for the NES over the following two years; this version was developed without Kojima's involvement and features drastically altered level designs, among other changes. [3]

Contents

Players control Solid Snake, an operative of the special forces unit FOXHOUND, who goes on a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear, a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from anywhere in the world, as well as rescue a number of fellow agents who have been captured by the enemy. The game was a major international success, with the NES version selling 1 million units in the United States. Metal Gear is recognized as the first mainstream stealth game, [4] and is credited as a pioneer in stealth mechanics [5] as well as storytelling via a portable radio transceiver. [6]

An emulated Famicom version came with the special edition of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes on GameCube. A more faithful port of the MSX2 version was later included in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2, as well as in the HD Edition of the same game released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Vita, with these newer ports featuring a revised translation and additional gameplay features. The MSX version was also released for Wii Virtual Console and PC. [7] Both the MSX and NES versions of Metal Gear were re-released as part of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 compilation for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Gameplay

Solid Snake avoiding a visual encounter with enemy soldiers (MSX2 version) Mgear.png
Solid Snake avoiding a visual encounter with enemy soldiers (MSX2 version)

The player controls a military operative codenamed Solid Snake, whose objective is to infiltrate the enemy's base while avoiding visual contact and direct confrontation with patrolling guards. If the player is seen, the game enters the "Alert Mode". In this situation, Snake must escape from the enemy's sight in order to resume infiltration. The method of escaping varies depending on the circumstances behind discovery:

Snake starts his mission unarmed, but can arm himself with numerous firearms and explosives that can be obtained throughout the enemy's stronghold. Each weapon has limited ammunition, these can be replenished by obtaining ammunition caches. A suppressor can be obtained that allows the player to fire the handgun and submachine gun without making a noise. Some weapons can be used to clear obstacles such as hollow walls and electrified floors. Snake can use his fists to punch and defeat patrolling enemies. Occasionally, if the player defeats a guard with punches without alerting anyone, the defeated guard will yield a single unit of rations or an ammo box that can be picked up. In addition to enemy guards, the player will be confronted by mercenaries who will challenge the player to combat, serving as the boss characters.

The enemy base consists of three different buildings, with multiple floors (including basement levels) within them. The player uses key cards and other items to unlock doors and explore new areas. Each door will only open with a corresponding key card. Information can be obtained by rescuing hostages being held within the buildings. After rescuing five hostages, the player's rank will increase by one star (with the maximum rank being four stars), allowing for increased carrying capacity and maximum health. However, if a hostage is killed, the player will be demoted to the previous rank.

A transceiver is available for Snake to keep in touch with his commanding officer, Big Boss, or one of the resistance members operating covertly near Outer Heaven (Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer). Each of Snake's allies specializes in a specific subject and will usually provide information or advice based on the player's current area, although a reply is not always guaranteed. The player must keep track of each character's frequency number in order to remain in contact with them throughout the game.

The MSX2 version requires the use of a tape drive (such as the Sony Bitcorder) in order to save and load game progress from checkpoints. A Game Master II cartridge can also be used to enable save states via floppy disks at any point. Versions on later platforms eliminated these complicated requirements thanks to standardized storage devices such as memory cards and internal disk drives.

Plot

Setting

Metal Gear takes place in 1995 –while not defined in the Japanese MSX2 version of the game, which referred to the year as "19XX", [8] the release of Metal Gear Solid established the date within its narrative. The game forms the first entry in an overarching plot concerning the character of Solid Snake, with the origins of the game's plot being later explored in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain .

Characters

The player's character is Solid Snake, a rookie member of the special forces group FOXHOUND sent on his first mission. He is assisted via radio by his commanding officer Big Boss, who offers information about mission objectives and items; as well as a local Resistance movement composed of leader Schneider, a former architect who guides Snake through the layout of the fortress and knows the locations of key items; Diane, a former positive punk vocalist who provides information on the enemy forces from her home; and Jennifer, who infiltrated Outer Heaven's medical staff to find her missing brother and assists Snake as an inside agent. Among the prisoners Snake rescues are Grey Fox (Gray Fox in the later versions), a FOXHOUND agent who was captured during a previous mission; Dr. Pettrovich (Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar in later releases), a robotic engineer who is working for Outer Heaven against his will; and the doctor's daughter, Elen, who was kidnapped by the enemy to coerce her father into developing Metal Gear.

The bosses include Shoot Gunner (renamed Shotmaker in later versions), a former Spetsnaz agent specializing in the riot gun; Machinegun Kid, a former SAS operative armed with a machine gun; Fire Trooper, a former GSG 9 operative who uses a flamethrower; Coward Duck (Dirty Duck in later releases), a boomerang throwing terrorist who shields himself with hostages; Arnold (Bloody Brad in later releases), two TX-11 class androids designed by Dr. Pettrovich; and the legendary mercenary who founded Outer Heaven, whose true identity is unknown until the end.

Story

Near the end of the 20th century, the West discovers that a weapon of mass destruction is being constructed inside Outer Heaven, a fortified state founded by a "legendary mercenary" 200 km north of Galzburg, South Africa. The special forces unit FOXHOUND sends top agent Gray Fox to infiltrate the fortress, assess the situation and neutralize the threat. FOXHOUND loses contact with Gray Fox a few days later, with his last transmission being "METAL GEAR..." To discover what happened to Gray Fox, FOXHOUND commander Big Boss sends his newest recruit, Solid Snake, into the area in an operation codenamed Intrude N313.

Upon insertion into Outer Heaven, Snake makes contact with local resistance members Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer. Using all of his skills and the equipment he procures on site, he manages to rescue Fox. Fox explains that Metal Gear is the codename of a nuclear-equipped bipedal walking tank, which can engage in all forms of combat and launch nuclear weapons from any location. Outer Heaven plans to use Metal Gear to impose itself as the new world superpower.

To destroy Metal Gear and topple the Outer Heaven mercenaries, Snake rescues lead Metal Gear engineer Dr. Pettrovich and his daughter Elen. The scientist explains how Metal Gear can be destroyed, and Snake takes on Outer Heaven's troops. However, he begins to notice that the traps put in his way are too precise and wonders how information on his activities is being tracked. Big Boss begins to act strangely, giving misleading advice that leads Snake into several traps, and eventually ordering him to abort the mission (breaking the fourth wall by telling the player to turn off the system). Moreover, Schneider is ambushed by hostiles and is presumed dead after losing contact with Snake.

Snake penetrates Outer Heaven's main base and takes out Metal Gear before it reaches completion. As he safely escapes the compound's basement, he is confronted by the mercenary leader of Outer Heaven, who turns out to be Big Boss. The corrupt leader reveals that he had been using his connections to steal military intelligence, establish his own mercenary force, and fund his activities. It was his aim to have Outer Heaven become the world's greatest superpower, able to bring even the West to its knees. He had the rookie Snake sent in, hoping to have him captured and feed misinformation to authorities but had quite obviously underestimated Snake's capabilities.

Having lost Metal Gear and much of his force, Big Boss starts the self-destruct sequence for the compound, and promises he will not die alone; Snake will join him. Snake defeats Big Boss in the last battle and escapes the Outer Heaven compound as it crumbles in flames behind him. [lower-alpha 2] After the end credits, a message from Big Boss is displayed saying that he will meet Solid Snake again.

Development

Director Hideo Kojima was asked to take over a project from a senior associate. Metal Gear was intended to be an action game that featured modern military combat. However, the MSX2's hardware limited the number of on-screen bullets and enemies, which Kojima felt impeded the combat aspect. [9] The MSX2 also had limited scrolling capabilities, which made it difficult to produce a smooth scrolling shooter, like Konami's arcade hit Scramble (1981). [10] Inspired by The Great Escape , Kojima reversed the focus of the gameplay from shooting down the enemy to avoiding capture. [11] The game design was no longer about shooting but about "trying to form the tension of hide and seek" according to Kojima, subverting the shoot 'em up genre popular at the time. Kojima designed the game so that, when Snake is discovered, the gameplay changed to become a puzzle video game "like Pac-Man " (1980) where the enemy guards behave like Pac-Man ghosts that Snake needs to avoid. [10]

Kojima introduced a portable radio transceiver, which was used to enhance the storytelling. According to Kojima, it allowed "you to send and receive comms" and the "game moves along with the player, so when the drama happens when the player" is not present, "the player’s current situation can be depicted while the other characters’ story or situation can be foreshadowed in parallel" simultaneously. [6]

The game was titled Intruder during the early planning stages. [12] The packaging illustration used for the retail releases of the game, which depicts the protagonist Solid Snake holding a gun, was traced over a publicity still of Michael Biehn posing as his character Kyle Reese from the 1984 film The Terminator . [13] Kojima, who was still newly employed at Konami at the time, had no involvement with the production of this illustration. [14]

Releases

MSX2

Metal Gear was originally released on the MSX2 home computer in Japan on July 13, 1987, with an English version released in Europe during the same year. Due to memory constraints, the Japanese version was written entirely in katakana (with character names presented in Roman letters), while the English version is written entirely in uppercase, has numerous instances of erroneous grammar and misspellings, and features fewer radio calls than the Japanese version (with 56% of the calls kept) and shortened messages. [12] [15]

On August 18, 2004, Konami released a port of the MSX2 Metal Gear for feature phones through their Konami Net DX service in Japan as a promotional tie-in for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater . This updated port served as the basis for the version included on the second disc of Subsistence (the expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 3) for the PlayStation 2 released in 2005, and later in the HD Edition released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011 and for PlayStation Vita in 2012. [16] [17] In 2020, a standalone version of the port was released on PC through the storefront GOG.com. [18]

The MSX2 Metal Gear would be released as a Virtual Console download for the Wii in Japan on December 8, 2009. [19] The ROM used for this emulated re-release has been modified to bring it more in line with the later versions of the game released for other platforms. [20] An Amiga port of the NES version was announced in 1989, [21] but was not released; although an unofficial Amiga port of the MSX2 version developed by hobbyist programmer h0ffman in May 2021. [22]

Famicom / NES

The level designs were altered for the NES version, which includes an extensive outdoor sequence prior to reaching the first building. NES ME USA screenshot.png
The level designs were altered for the NES version, which includes an extensive outdoor sequence prior to reaching the first building.

A port of Metal Gear for the Family Computer (or Famicom) was released in Japan on December 22, 1987. This was followed by an English localization for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES) released in North America in June 1988 (published by Konami's Ultra Games division) and in Europe and Australia sometime in 1989. This was the first version of Metal Gear that was released in North America, since the MSX2 platform was never released in that market. [23]

According to Kojima, the port was developed by another Konami division at Tokyo which was given the source code from the MSX2 version without the consent of the original team. Many changes were made during the porting process that later led to this version being publicly disowned by Kojima years after its release. [3] [24] [25] [26] Masahiro Ueno, who worked as a programmer for the NES version, has stated that the staff who worked on the port were given a three-month deadline and were ordered to make the port as different as possible from the MSX2 version. Due to hardware limitations with the mapper used, the Metal Gear boss ended up being replaced by a Supercomputer guarded by four enemy soldiers. [27]

Another big change made to the game was in the level designs. Instead of the underwater infiltration from the MSX2 version, the NES version starts the game with Solid Snake parachuting into the middle of a jungle alongside three other soldiers (who are never seen nor mentioned after the intro). After landing in the jungle, the player must reach a transport truck at the end that will take Snake to the entrance of the first building. The player can use other transport trucks to reach the entrances of the other buildings quicker, since they travel in a cyclical pattern. The basement floors of Building 1 and 2 in the MSX2 version were made into separate buildings, Building 4 and 5 respectively, which are only reachable by going through one of two jungle mazes located in the outdoor areas between the other three buildings. The correct path to take in the jungle maze is never revealed in the game. [28] In addition to the removal of the Metal Gear tank, the Hind D boss on the rooftop of Building 1 was replaced by a pair of armed turret gunners called "Twin Shot". [3] [25] The NES version lacks the higher alert phase from the MSX2 version and the jetpack-wearing soldiers on the rooftops of Building 1 and 2 lost their ability to fly (making them act more like regular guards). On the other hand, enemies no longer drop ammo nor rations when punched to death. Much like the MSX2 version, the English localization of the NES versions contains numerous instances of erroneous grammar, such as "Contact missing our Grey Fox", [29] "Uh-Oh! The truck have started to move!", [30] and "I feel asleep!!" [31]

Passcodes are used in this version to save progress. When Snake is killed by the enemy or loses his life by certain other means, the player is given a choice to continue the game from the last checkpoint or quit and resume later with the given passcode. The passcode keeps track of Snake's rank (which determines his checkpoint in this version), inventory, hostages rescued, bosses defeated and certain event flags. [32] One particular passcode featured in the Japanese and North American version, in which the player types the expletive "fuck me" and fills the remaining spaces with "1", will transport the player to the final battle with no equipment. This resulted in the passcode system being altered for the European versions of the game, with all of the vowels being removed.[ citation needed ]

Because the MSX2 version was not released in North America at the time, the NES version was the one that served as the basis for a couple of home computer ports released by Ultra Games in 1990 for the Commodore 64 and MS-DOS. [33] The Commodore 64 version was released in 1989, [21] and the MS-DOS version in 1990. [33] An emulated port of the Famicom version was also included in a bonus disc packaged alongside Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes in a limited edition GameCube console bundle released in Japan. [34]

Compilations

The HD Edition version of Metal Gear was re-released as part of Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection for PlayStation 3. Ports of both the MSX2 and NES Metal Gear versions were also included with Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. [35] [36]

Reception

The MSX2 version of Metal Gear was ranked on MSX Magazine 's top 20 best selling MSX games in Japan for five months, debuting at no. 4 on the October 1987 issue and peaking at no. 3 the following month. The NES version was a major international success, selling 1 million units in the United States. [37] It was the second top-selling game in the United States during October 1988, just below Super Mario Bros. 2 , [38] and remained in the top ten through early 1989. [39]

The Games Machine gave a positive review of the MSX version, giving the game a 79% score. They stated that the "initial impression of disdain at this non too-impressively animated macho man may rapidly change on delving deeper." They praised the graphics and the size of the game area, underlining the fact that it ensured "the action and suspense never wanes". They also wrote that the game was rapidly addictive, and that "the urge to get further into the game is quite strong". They concluded positively on the quality of the game, saying that if "this standard of Konami software is maintained then maybe more people will think hard about joining the other 200,000 MSX owners". They noted that there was no information regarding the game's Japanese author at the time, but stated that "whoever they may be they certainly seem to know their business." [40]

Famitsu rated the Famicom version 24 out of 40 in 1988, [41] and 3 out of 5 stars in 1989. [42] Game Players reviewed the NES and Commodore versions, stating Metal Gear "out-Rambos" Rambo and is a "fearsomely challenging" game that "takes place in an elaborate maze-like setting and has plenty of room for strategy as well as stamina." They listed it among the top 100 best games of all time in 1989. [21] Computer Gaming World also reviewed the NES version, praising its "strong concept" but stating it was "something less than a total success". They called the graphics "acceptable" and praised how it requires the "player to acquire newer, deadlier technology through the course of a game" but criticized the control system and the player's great vulnerability when unarmed at the start of the game. They nonetheless stated that Metal Gear "shows great promise for future Ultra Games entries" as it "attempts to move beyond the standard run/jump/shoot format" of most NES games, concluding the game to be "a potential super-hit that, unfortunately, is sabotaged by its own weaknesses". [43]

The NES version of Metal Gear was ranked the 104th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power 's Top 200 Games list. [44] GamesRadar ranked it the sixth-best NES game ever made, and the staff felt that it popularized its genre. [45] In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly named the NES version the 35th best console video game of all time, citing "how you have to think like a spy to win, which means you don't always have to fight." [46] Game Informer placed the game 53rd on their top 100 video games of all time praising the game’s stealth aspects and dramatic plot. [47]

Legacy

Its success led to the creation of two separately produced sequels; the first one, Snake's Revenge , was produced specifically for the NES in North America and Europe in 1990 and the other, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake , was the sequel developed by Hideo Kojima and released in Japan for the MSX2 during the same year as a response to the former's creation. The latter was followed by Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation in 1998, which was in turn followed by numerous sequels and spinoffs in Metal Gear series.

The intro theme ("Operation Intrude N313"), main theme ("Theme of Tara") and game over theme ("Just Another Dead Soldier") from the MSX2 version were reused for the VR Training theme in Metal Gear Solid, which in turn was reused in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance . "Theme of Tara" is one of the tunes that can be heard in the "Shadow Moses Island" stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, the music for the beginning section of the Battleship Halberd Interior stage of the Adventure mode, where Snake officially enters the storyline, and can also be selected as music with an iPod item in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots .

Metal Gear is recognized as the first mainstream stealth game, [4] and is credited as a pioneer in stealth mechanics [5] as well as storytelling via a portable radio transceiver. [6] Splinter Cell and Far Cry 2 designer Clint Hocking stated that every stealth-action game "owes its existence to the success of Metal Gear" and that, "Without Metal Gear, there would be no stealth games." [48] Unreal and Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski cited the military themes and action gameplay of Metal Gear as a major influence on his work, and he named Gears of War in homage to Metal Gear. [49] [50] Tenchu creator Takuma Endo also cited Metal Gear as an influence. [51]

In 1988, Konami published a gamebook adaptation of Metal Gear in Japan as the second installment in their Konami Gamebook Series. The gamebook is set two years after the events of the game, in which Solid Snake is called back into action after FOXHOUND receives intelligence on a terrorist group who have obtained the plans for Metal Gear and are now mass-producing the mech. The book portrays Solid Snake as an unsuccessful illustrator in his personal life outside his job as a FOXHOUND agent. [52] [53]

In 1990, a novelization of Metal Gear was published in the U.S. by Scholastic Books as part of their Worlds of Power series of novelizations based on third-party NES games. The Metal Gear book was written by Alexander Frost under the pen name F.X. Nine, the same pen name used for all the authors in the Worlds of Power series. [54] This book adheres much more closely to the localized version of the backstory as presented in the North American packaging and manual, as opposed to the actual in-game plot which was not changed to reflect this difference. Big Boss is not featured in the book, but instead, two different characters, Commander South and Colonel Vermon CaTaffy, serve as Solid Snake's commanding officer and Outer Heaven's leader respectively. The book also gives Solid Snake the identity of Justin Halley and changes the name of his organization from FOX HOUND to the Snake Men. Because the book was targeted at young kids, the cover illustration was altered, with Snake's handgun being airbrushed out.

Remake attempts

Official

During a public Q&A event conducted at London with Geoff Keighley on March 13, 2014, series' creator Hideo Kojima expressed interest in developing remakes of the MSX2 Metal Gear games in order to reconcile plot discrepancies that have since been introduced into the series, but had no plans at the time due to the ongoing development of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (itself a prequel set before the events of the original Metal Gear). [55] However, Kojima has since departed from Konami following the release of The Phantom Pain, leaving the possibility of such remakes in question.

Unofficial

A Metal Gear remake mod for Alien Swarm was in development that was granted permission by Konami to use copyrighted material with the agreement that they don't make a profit from the recreation or accept donations for the production. [56] It was canceled on June 3, 2014. [57] David Hayter was set to voice Solid Snake. [58] A new fan remake is currently in development using Unreal Engine 5 titled Outer Heaven. [59]

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Big Boss is a fictional character from the Metal Gear series created by Hideo Kojima and developed and published by Konami. He was first introduced in the 1987 Metal Gear game as the commanding officer and father of Solid Snake, featuring in a twist as the game's main antagonist. He is later featured in the prequel games as Naked Snake, an American Special Forces Operator and decorated war hero. Political manipulations cause him to be disillusioned when facing his own mentor, and he gradually develops his own private mercenary company while growing into the original Big Boss persona and being referred to as simply Snake.

<i>Penguin Adventure</i> 1986 video game

Penguin Adventure is a racing platform game released by Konami in 1986, and a sequel to 1983's Antarctic Adventure. The game marks the professional debut of game designer Hideo Kojima, who participated in the planning.

<i>Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots</i> 2008 video game

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a 2008 action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation 3. It is the sixth Metal Gear game directed by Hideo Kojima. Set five years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the story centers around a prematurely aged Solid Snake, now known as Old Snake, as he goes on one last mission to assassinate his nemesis Liquid Snake, who now inhabits the body of his former henchman Revolver Ocelot under the guise of Liquid Ocelot, before he takes control of the Sons of the Patriots, an A.I. system that controls the activities of PMCs worldwide. The game was released on June 12, 2008.

Characters of the <i>Metal Gear</i> series

The Metal Gear franchise features a large number of characters created by Hideo Kojima and designed by Yoji Shinkawa. Its setting features several soldiers with supernatural powers provided by scientific advancements.

<i>Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops</i> 2006 action-adventure stealth video game

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, officially abbreviated MPO, is a 2006 action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation Portable. The game was directed by Masahiro Yamamoto and written by Gakuto Mikumo, with series creator Hideo Kojima acting as producer.

<i>Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker</i> 2010 video game

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a 2010 stealth game developed and published by Konami. It is the seventh Metal Gear game written, directed, and designed by Hideo Kojima, and the fifth installment of the Metal Gear Solid series, as well as the fourth Metal Gear game made specifically for the PlayStation Portable, following Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. A remastered version of the game titled Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - HD Edition was later released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in North America and Europe and as a stand-alone retail release in Japan.

<i>Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain</i> 2015 video game

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a 2015 action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami. Directed, written, and designed by Hideo Kojima, it is the ninth installment in the Metal Gear franchise, following Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, a stand-alone prologue released the previous year. Set in 1984, nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes, the story follows mercenary leader Punished "Venom" Snake as he ventures into Soviet-occupied Afghanistan and the Angola–Zaire border region to exact revenge on those who destroyed his forces and came close to killing him during the climax of Ground Zeroes.

<i>Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes</i> 2014 video game

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a 2014 action-adventure stealth video game developed and published by Konami. It is the eighth game in the Metal Gear series directed, written and designed by Hideo Kojima, and serves as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, released the following year. Set in 1975, a few months after the events of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the story follows Snake as he infiltrates an American black site in Cuba called Camp Omega, attempting to rescue Cipher agent Paz Ortega Andrade and former Sandinista child soldier Ricardo "Chico" Valenciano Libre.

The Metal Gear video games consist of 17 different albums, totaling over 940 hours of music within the 11 games. There were four different music labels used for the albums in different games. These include Sony Entertainment, Konami Digital Entertainment, Phantom Studios, Sumthing Else Music Works, and King Records (Japan). The most used record labels were Konami Digital Entertainment and King Records. Konami was used for Metal Gear 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Music Collection, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Original Soundtrack, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Original Soundtrack, and the Metal Gear 25th Anniversary: Metal Gear Music Collection, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. King Records was used for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake Original Soundtrack, Metal Gear Solid Original Game Soundtrack, Metal Gear/ Solid Snake: Music Compilation of Hideo Kojima / Red Dis, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Soundtrack 2: The Other Side. Several different producers were used for different games. These include Konami, Masahiro Hinami, Noriakio Kamura, Norihiko Hibino, Tojima, Harry Gregson-Williams. Konami producing 6 out of the 11 Metal Gear games. The games used many different genres of music throughout the games. They are as follows: breakbeat, classical, drum and bass, electronic, hip hop, jazz, ambient, acoustic, Latin American, electronic rock, industrial metal, alternative metal, hard rock, power metal, neoclassical, romantic music, lounge, and rock and roll.

References

Notes

    1. ↑ Japanese: メタルギア, Hepburn: Metarugia
    2. ↑ The 2015 prequel Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain reveals that the commander Solid Snake defeats in Metal Gear is not the original Big Boss but his body double, Venom Snake.

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ "METAL GEAR 25th ANNIVERSARY 「メタルギアソリッドの真実」" (in Japanese). Konami Digital Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
    2. ↑ Jeremy Parish, "Metal Gear," Electronic Gaming Monthly 225 (January 2008): 93.
    3. 1 2 3 Steven Kent. "Hideo Kojima: Game Guru, Movie Maniac". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. HK: I really don't like saying this, but it really wasn't up to my standards. The care that I put in the original wasn't there. It [the Famicom version] was a more difficult game. In the very beginning, when you go from the entrance into the fortress, for example, there are dogs there. In the Famicom version, the dogs just come after you and you get killed. It was too difficult to get into the fortress. The fun stealth element was not there, and the actual Metal Gear, the robot, doesn't appear in the game.
    4. 1 2 Shane Patterson (February 3, 2009). "The sneaky history of stealth games: Hide and seek through the ages". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
    5. 1 2 Stanton, Rich (August 12, 2015). "Metal Gear Solid: The first modern video game". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
    6. 1 2 3 Rai, Priye (13 July 2024). "Hideo Kojima Recalls the Original Metal Gear's 'Biggest Invention'". MSN . Retrieved 15 July 2024.
    7. ↑ "METAL GEAR on GOG.com". GOG.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
    8. ↑ Metal Gear User's Manual (in Japanese). Konami. p. 4.
    9. ↑ Rezaee, Stan (12 July 2017). "The Legacy of Metal Gear, 30 Years Later". 8Bit/Digi. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
    10. 1 2 Low, David (April 2, 2007). "GO3: Kojima Talks Metal Gear History, Future". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
    11. ↑ Szczepaniak, John. "Before They Were Famous". Retro Gamer (35). Imagine Publishing: 74.
    12. 1 2 Gantayat, Anoop (2012-09-16). "Before There Was Metal Gear, There Was "Intruder"". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
    13. ↑ Ledford, Jon (2016-03-08). "25 Stolen Images in Video Games". Arcade Sushi. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
    14. ↑ "小島秀夫 on Twitter: "MG1の時は新人でパッケージには全く関与出来ず不本意なものになったが、「スナッチャー」では開田裕次さんにMG2では高荷義之さんにMGSでは生頼範義さんにメインビジュアルやポスターをお願いできた。当時はゲーム自体のビジュアルが陳腐だったのでイラストでのメインビジュアルは重要だった。"" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
    15. ↑ "Nekura_Hoka's Metal Gear Code Site". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27.
    16. ↑ "The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Explained". Archived from the original on 2015-11-25.
    17. ↑ "KONAMI MOBILE". Archived from the original on 2009-02-23.
    18. ↑ "Classic KONAMI games return to modern computers on GOG.COM". GOG.com. 2020-09-25. Archived from the original on 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
    19. ↑ "Wii バーチャルコンソール タイトル一覧" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on 2008-01-12.
    20. ↑ "おきブログ 昔のゲームの想い出 [0200] 「メタルギア」 [コナミ][1987][MSX2]". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
    21. 1 2 3 "100 Guidepost: The Hot 100". Game Players . No. 5. November 1989. pp. 106–11.
    22. ↑ "HOT NEWS as MSX 2 classic Metal Gear has been released for the Amiga 500". Indie Retro News. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
    23. ↑ "NG Alphas: Metal Gear Solid". Next Generation . No. 40. Imagine Media. April 1998. pp. 54–55.
    24. ↑ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan website staff. "Editorial about the Famicom version of Metal Gear" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
    25. 1 2 Buchanan, Levi (2008-06-13). "Have You Really Played Metal Gear?". IGN. Archived from the original on 2012-06-24. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
    26. ↑ Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1. Konami. 2005.
    27. ↑ "Interview with Masahiro Ueno, by John Szczepaniak". Videogames Website — Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 2015-02-14.
    28. ↑ Browning, Robert. "NES Metal Gear script FAQ". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
    29. ↑ Konami. Metal Gear (NES). Level/area: The first radio transmission with Big Boss at the start of the mission.
    30. ↑ Konami. Metal Gear (NES). Level/area: Whenever Snake enters a moving truck.
    31. ↑ Konami. Metal Gear (NES). Level/area: Whenever an enemy soldier wakes up from his sleep.
    32. ↑ Babcock, Doug. "Metal Gear Password Generator". Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
    33. 1 2 John Szczepaniak (May 4, 2012). "Charles "Chuck" Ernst Interview". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
    34. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Premium Package details" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
    35. ↑ "METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1". store.playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
    36. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Announced For "The Latest Platforms"". Nintendo Life. 2023-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
    37. ↑ Hideo Kojima (Interviewee) (March 14, 2006). Metal Gear Saga, Vol. 1. Konami. Konami decided to develop a NES version of Metal Gear, but I had absolutely nothing to do with this game. The game launched worldwide and became a huge hit, selling one million copies in the U.S.
    38. ↑ "U.S.A. TOP 10: 10月28日" [U.S.A. Top 10: October 28]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1988, no. 22. 11 November 1988. p. 10.
    39. ↑ "U.S.A. TOP 10: 1月20日" [U.S.A. Top 10: January 20]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). Vol. 1989, no. 3. 3 February 1989. p. 14. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
    40. ↑ "Metal Gear (Konami)". The Games Machine (2 (December 1987)): 61. November 1987. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
    41. ↑ "メタルギア (FC)" [Metal Gear (FC)]. Famitsu . Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
    42. ↑ "メタルギア" [Metal Gear]. ファミコン通信 〜 '89全ソフトカタログ[Famicom Tsūshin: '89 All Software Catalog]. Famicom Tsūshin. 15 September 1989. p. 49. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
    43. ↑ Worley, Joyce; Kunkel, Bill; Katz, Arnie (October 1988). "Video Gaming World". Computer Gaming World . No. 52. pp. 49–50. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
    44. ↑ "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power. Vol. 200. February 2006. pp. 58–66.
    45. ↑ "Best NES Games of all time". GamesRadar . 2012-04-16. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
    46. ↑ "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 136. Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article (on page 100) explicitly states that the list covers console video games only, meaning PC games and arcade games were not eligible.
    47. ↑ Cork, Jeff. "Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
    48. ↑ Interview with Clint Hocking Archived November 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , GameCritics, May 24, 2005
    49. ↑ "DualShock Nexus: Hideo Kojima's Huge Influence on Cliffy B". Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
    50. ↑ "Cliffy B toast Hideo Kojima Hard Rock Cafe Seattle MGS25th Anniversary party". YouTube . San Diego Comic-Con. March 4, 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
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    52. ↑ Metal Gear. Konami Gamebook Series (in Japanese). March 31, 1988. ISBN   4-87655-013-1.
    53. ↑ "ISBN 4-87655-013-1 on Webcat Plus" (in Japanese). Retrieved March 30, 2009.
    54. ↑ Frost, Alexander (July 1990). Metal Gear. Scholastic Books. ISBN   0-590-43777-1.
    55. ↑ "HIDEO KOJIMA interview with host Geoff Keighley - 13 March 2014". YouTube . Retrieved January 29, 2016.
    56. ↑ Pitcher, Jenna (3 June 2014). "Metal Gear fan-made remake given the go ahead by Konami (update)". Polygon . Vox Media . Retrieved 12 June 2014.
    57. ↑ "Outer Heaven". Twitter . Twitter, Inc. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
    58. ↑ Phillips, Tom (18 August 2014). "Canned Metal Gear fan remake reveals David Hayter involvement". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
    59. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (7 October 2015). "MGS fan is remaking the first Metal Gear in Unreal Engine 4". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
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