metal gear solid

Metal Gear Solid (メタルギアソリッド, Metaru Gia Soriddo^?), commonly abbreviated as MGS, is a stealth-based game developed by Konami and first published for the PlayStation video game console in 1998. It is the third canonical game in the Metal Gear series, produced and directed by Hideo Kojima, with artwork by Yoji Shinkawa. Metal Gear Solid alternates stealth game play and expository cinematic sequences.

To date, Metal Gear Solid has spawned one sequel (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, released in 2001) and a prequel (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, released in 2004). A fourth game, titled Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is currently in development, set for a late 2007/early 2008 release on the PlayStation 3.

Plot summary

In late February of 2005, FOX-HOUND, aided by the members of the genetically-enhanced Next-Generation Special Forces unit, lead an armed uprising during a military demonstration being held at Shadow Moses Island, the site of a nuclear weapons disposal facility and a remote isle located in Alaska's Fox Archipelago. In the process, they gain control of Metal Gear REX, a nuclear-capable bipedal tank, and demand that the U.S. government give them the remains of Big Boss, or risk a nuclear reprisal. Solid Snake, a legendary soldier torn from his "peaceful" retirement in Alaska's Twin Lakes, is dispatched at the request of Roy Campbell, his former CO, to penetrate the terrorist's defenses and neutralize the threat.

During the operation, Snake meets and acquires the aid of Meryl Silverburgh, Campbell's niece; Dr. Hal Emmerich a.k.a. Otacon, the lead developer of Metal Gear REX; and a team of top specialists in varying fields, who communicate with Snake via Codec. While battling against FOXHOUND, Snake encounters a psychotic cyborg ninja, who lives only to fight Snake. The ninja reveals his true identity to be Gray Fox, Snake's old war buddy who seemingly died by his hand in the Zanzibar Land incident (the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake). After defeating five members of FOXHOUND and successfully destroying Metal Gear REX with the assistance of the Ninja, Snake effectively eliminates the terrorist threat. Snake finally confronts the instigator of the entire uprising: His clone brother, Liquid Snake. Each Snake, Solid and Liquid, both carry the genes of the 20th century's greatest soldier, and their father, Big Boss. After a long and protracted struggle, Snake finally defeats Liquid and leaves the legacy of Shadow Moses behind him.

Gameplay

Despite its substantial levels of realism in both plot and setting, Metal Gear Solid is at heart very similar to its MSX predecessors. The player must navigate the character, Snake, from point A to point B in the game world without being detected- doing so triggers an alarm and draws armed enemies to his location. The only way to return to the lower alert setting is to hide somewhere suitable until a timer reaches zero, then attempt to continue. To this end, they are armed with a variety of items and gadgets, such as the now-legendary Cardboard Box disguise. The emphasis on avoidance promotes a far less violent form of gameplay compared to its contemporaries- firing an unsilenced fire-arm will likely result in quick death for the player against large enemy teams.

Punctuating the player's progress are plot-exposing cut-scenes and radio conversations, as well as set-piece encounters, often involving boss characters. Only by discovering the weakspots for these enemies and defeating them can the player progress. These are where the player will most often use the game's weapon-set- ranging from high-caliber pistols to defensive grenades and rocket launchers.

Cinematic presentation

The entire game was fully voiced, with an unprecedented amount of quality voice acting talent. The majority of the game's dialogue takes place during radio conversations between Solid Snake (Akio Otsuka/David Hayter, Japanese and English respectively) and other characters through a transmitting device called a "Codec". Upon completion, the game features a rolling demo mode, in which the player may watch every cutscene and Codec conversation in the game without actually playing through it. The game contains over four hours of dialogue, which contributed to its shipping on two CDs.

The rest of the plot unfolds during fully-voiced cut scenes of ground-breaking quality. These scenes featured motion captured movements, elaborate camera shots, and special effects. They were rendered in real-time using the game's 3D engine. This decision to go with real-time rendering cost the scenes some realism: the characters' mouths did not move during dialogue and instead a slight jiggle of the head was used to represent speech.

Breaking the fourth wall

In a stylistic quirk, Kojima's script breaks the fourth wall in a number of places.

• Psycho Mantis performs a variety of stunts to prove the truth of his telepathic and psychokinetic powers. He tells the player if he has certain Konami-developed titles saved onto the same Memory Card as his Metal Gear Solid save data, moves the control pad around using the vibration function in one demonstration of his skills, and cannot be defeated easily in combat without moving the control pad to another controller socket.
• Early in the game, the Codec frequency for Meryl (140.15) can only be found on the back of the game's box or jewel case. This was initially commissioned in an effort to curb piracy, as without contacting Meryl, the player cannot progress in the game. This puzzle is a continuation of one seen in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake on the MSX2, which also required the player to look behind the game's packaging when Campbell changes frequency number.

• Just before Snake is captured and tortured, Mei Ling contacts Snake by Codec and says "Snake, wouldn't now be a good time to save your mission?" In fact, Mei Ling's very presence in the game breaks the fourth wall. Despite being dubbed a 'Systems Analyst', her only interaction with the player is to save the game, which they announce openly across Codec.
• During the battle with the Hind D, the Colonel advises Snake that he can determine the gunship's position by following the sound of its rotors. However, if the player has set the game's sound to monaural mode, Campbell and Mei Ling will express pity to Snake for being too poor to afford a Stereo TV.
• During the Revolver Ocelot torture sequence, he warns the player not to use a controller with an auto-fire function to cheat, warning them that he can detect it.
• Master Miller also gives advice which is obviously intended for the player rather than Snake. For instance, he warns that people's reaction speed decreases around 3 AM (obviously warning players not to play in the middle of the night) and that if you feel tired you should get some rest. At one point he also tells Snake to trust his instincts "as a soldier, as a gamer".
• Before the fight between Snake and Psycho Mantis Snake ask Meryl What happened to the backround music.

Release Information

Game releases

Japanese release

Two versions of Metal Gear Solid were initially released in Japan; a stand-alone version containing the game itself, and a premium package containing the game, a t-shirt, a B4-sized pamphlet, memory card stickers, a serialized FOXHOUND dog tag, and a CD soundtrack containing music from the original MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. The premium package that was sold to the general public in Japan came in a silver-colored metallic box, while a gold version was given to Konami stockholders. Both the premium package and the standard release came with a demo version of Gensô Suikoden II.

North American release

Metal Gear Solid was released first in Japan, over six weeks prior to the North American release. As a result, the American version has some minor refinements added during the localization process, such as adjustable difficulty settings (the Japanese version was equivalent to the North American version's "Easy" setting, with an unlockable "No Radar" mode), an unlockable "demo theater" for viewing all cut scenes and Codec conversations, and an unlockable tuxedo outfit for Snake in addition to a new skin for the Cyborg Ninja from the Japanese version, whereby the blue and red elements of his exoskeleton were swapped. The features added in the English-language version, including the English-language voice track, appeared in "Metal Gear Solid: Integral," released on Playstation in Japan only.

The English script was translated by Jeremy Blaustein, who localized the English script for the Sega CD version of Snatcher. While his work in Metal Gear Solid was accurate to the original Japanese script, many of the lines in the games were Americanized by Blaustein.^{citation needed]}

The release was one of the few PlayStation titles to be emulated on the Sega Dreamcast using Bleemcast!. The emulator ran the game in Dreamcast's standard 640x480 resolution and added some additional filtering effects as well.

European release

In the European releases of Metal Gear Solid some countries received a version of the game dubbed in their own languages, such as Spanish, French and Italian. In contrast, the European releases of later Metal Gear titles featured only English dubbing with subtitles in the respective country's language. The European versions included a playable demo of Silent Hill. A premium package was also released in Europe; although its contents differ from the Japanese version. It contains the game, its soundtrack, a t-shirt, postcards, dog tags, a reversible poster, and memory card stickers. The dog tags in this package have a generic design with the Metal Gear Solid and Konami logos, instead of the FOXHOUND design from the Japanese version. The European version also differed from the American version by making the "Extreme" difficulty (unlocked by beating the game once) even more difficult than in the US version, as it introduced more restrictions on the player, such as extended guard vision distance.

Metal Gear Solid: Integral

Released on June 24, 1999 in Japan only, Metal Gear Solid: Integral was a typical international version release. It included the additional features added in the North American release (such as the English-language voice acting and an additional unlockable outfit for Solid Snake), several entirely new features, and an extra disc of entirely new content.

The new features added to Integral that weren't present in the North American release include an additional difficulty level ("Very Easy", which gives the player an MP5 with unlimited ammo and silencer already equipped), a new costume for Meryl based on Solid Snake's sneaking suit, unlockable first-person view and "Alternate Round" (which has different placement and routes for guards) modes, and two additional radio frequencies with messages from the developers and secret music. Players could also download their clear data to the PocketStation, to play a special classified mission with Naomi or exchange their clear data with other players.

While the PlayStation version of Metal Gear Solid: Integral was never released outside of Japan, it was ported to PC for western markets. The Microsoft Windows version of Metal Gear Solid released in 2000 in North America and Europe is actually based on Integral and even uses the Integral moniker on the game's title screen. As such, it includes all of the extra features (save for the PocketStation link) and the VR Disc.

VR Missions

The VR Disc included with Integral was released as a stand-alone game for English-speaking markets: in North America as Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions (released on September 30, 1999) and in Europe as Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions (released on October 29, 1999). The European version required a copy of the original MGS in order to be played. This disc includes 300 virtual reality training missions, ranging from simple tests of sneaking or fighting skill, to various tasks. Contrary to what the game's cover and back copy may imply, only three of these missions involve taking the role of the Cyborg Ninja. This disc also included three pre-release trailers for Metal Gear Solid, a photo shoot mode where the player could take pictures of Mei Ling and Naomi, and an unlockable preview picture of Metal Gear RAY from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Bleem!cast

In 2000, the company Bleem made a version of the PlayStation emulator for Dreamcast that allowed users to play Metal Gear Solid on Sega's console. The emulation included an option for higher-resolution graphics.

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

An enhanced remake of Metal Gear Solid, titled Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was developed by Silicon Knights under the direction of Hideo Kojima and released for the GameCube in North America, Japan, and Europe in March 2004.

While Twin Snakes was largely developed at Silicon Knights, its cut scenes were developed in-house at Konami and directed by Japanese film director Ryuhei Kitamura, reflecting his dynamic signature style, utilizing bullet-time photography and choreographed gunplay extensively. The game's composition duties were split: some of the in-game music was handled by Steve Henifin and Silicon Knights' and music staff, while the rest of the music (in-game, menus and cut scenes) was handled by Konami's music staff, including Metal Gear Solid 2 co-composer Norihiko Hibino.

Twin Snakes uses the same areas and maps as Metal Gear Solid, but includes gameplay, AI, and graphical improvements from its PlayStation 2 sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. In particular, the tranquilizer weapons from Sons of Liberty return, as well as Snake's greater range of movements and first-person aiming.

The voice acting was re-recorded, with most of the original voice cast from Metal Gear Solid returning. The highly acclaimed voice cast from the PlayStation version returns in this update. One exception is that the Cyborg Ninja is now voiced by a different actor. In the original game, Cyborg Ninja was voiced by Greg Eagles, who also voiced Donald Anderson. In the remake, he was voiced by Rob Paulsen. Greg Eagles did reprise his role as the DARPA Chief in the remake. Unlike previous MGS titles, no Japanese voiceovers were recorded for The Twin Snakes. Instead, the Japanese release used the same English voice acting as the North American and European versions.

As with previous Metal Gear Solid titles, a Premium Package of The Twin Snakes was released in Japan in addition to the stand-alone version. The box includes the game itself; a platinum-colored GameCube adorned with the FOXHOUND logo; a 44-page book titled Memorandum containing production notes, sketches and photos; and a GameCube disc called the "Special Disc" containing an emulated version of the Famicom version of the original Metal Gear and a Twin Snakes trailer.

Spin-offs

Metal Gear Solid Drama CD

Metal Gear Solid Drama CD (or alternatively Drama CD Metal Gear Solid) is a two volume compilation of a Japanese-only radio drama continuation of Metal Gear Solid, released on December 4, 1998 and January 8, 1999 respectively. The radio drama itself was aired on 18 serialized installments from October 24, 1998 to January 9, 1999 as part of Konami's syndicated club db programming in Japanese radio stations.

The radio drama is not an adaptation, but rather a continuation of the events from the game. The seiyus from the game reprised their respective roles in the drama, while new characters are introduced as well. (The experiences of the main characters reflected in later Metal Gear Solid games, however, and the Drama CD characters do not reappear in later works.) The radio drama was directed by Shuyo Murata and written by Motosada Mori (the military advisor of the Metal Gear Solid games).

Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Roy Campbell and Mei Ling are depicted as working once again for the U.S. military and FOXHOUND after the events of Shadow Moses, going on several classified missions in hostile third world nations. Meryl is portrayed as wearing the same sneaking suit outfit Snake wears in the game (which was later made into an unlockable extra in Metal Gear Solid: Integral and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes). Several new characters are introduced, the most prominent characters being Sgt. Allen Iishiba (voiced by Toshio Furukawa), a Delta Force operative who assists Snake and Meryl, Col. Mark Cortez (voiced by Osamu Saka), the commander of the fictional Esterian Special Forces and an old friend of Campbell, and Capt. Sergei Ivanovich (voiced by Kazuhiro Nakata), a former war buddy of Revolver Ocelot and fellow interrogation specialist from their SVR days.

Metal Gear Solid comic book

In September 2004, IDW Publications began running a comic book version of Metal Gear Solid, written by Kris Oprisko and illustrated by Ashley Wood. The comic mimics Yoji Shinkawa's gritty style using a palette of greys and rough, sketchy paintings as panels. This first arc is now available in two paperback volumes, each with 6 issues and a cover gallery. Due near the end of 2006 is Metal Gear Solid: The Complete, featuring all 12 issues of the comic book, a cover gallery, and exclusive artwork. More recently, a new arc has launched telling the tale of "Sons of Liberty", including a special issue #0, containing character info and a special 5 page story.

Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel

In January 2006, Kojima Productions announced a new title for the PlayStation Portable titled Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, known as Metal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinée in Japan. It's based on the comics by IDW Publications, and includes enhancements such as sound effects, music, and animation. The title delivers the viewing experience in two interactive modes which were designed to give further insight into comics. Upon viewing the comic, the player presses the square button to open a "memory search" mode that allows them to freely search for characters and items by navigating the screen in three dimensions. Anything discovered is added to a database in which the content can be traded with users via Wi-Fi. Also included is a mission mode where information that the player has collected from the comic is added into a library. Missions are assigned requiring that the player to properly connect together the gathered info.[1] The title was released in North America on June 13, 2006, Japan on September 21st and Europe on September 22nd.

Reception

Metal Gear Solid has frequently been selected by a number of gaming publications as the greatest action game on the PlayStation^{citation needed]}. It was the first ever Platinum Award winner (gotten by four perfect scores of 10) given by Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine. Most famously, it was groundbreaking in its use of spoken dialogue and cinematic presentation, which served to enhance its intricate plot. The availability of 3D graphics and the extensive storage capacity of the CD-ROM format, compared to the limited cartridge format the Metal Gear team had to work with during the late 1980s and early 90s, made it possible to create a more cinematic version of Hideo Kojima's vision for what its predecessors, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake on the MSX2 could have been like.

After a teaser showing at E3 in 1997, it became one of the most highly anticipated games of its time.^{citation needed]} It topped the sales charts upon its release in 1998,^[1][2] and held the number one spot in the ELSPA UK video games chart for eight consecutive weeks, a record at the time.^{citation needed]}

Cast

Metal Gear Solid's English-language voice cast is a typical cross-section of the voice-acting talent at the end of the 20th century, and many of the voice actors in both major and minor roles are experienced voice actors. Other studios that have drawn on this pool of voice-acting talent include LucasArts (particularly Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) and Hanna-Barbera Productions (including such shows as The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy). Despite their experience, however, the majority of the credited cast, save for David Hayter and Doug Stone, were credited under pseudonyms. This was due to the fact that the American voice actors were not sure if the project was Union-sponsored or not. The English-language voices were directed by Kris Zimmerman, who is a freelance voice director for games, cartoons and animated movies and a former voice director for Hanna-Barbera Productions; she later went on to direct the voices for the later games in the series.

Lead cast

David Hayter lent his voice to Solid Snake, and it has since become his highest-profile speaking role and, save for his later screenwriting work on comic book movies X-Men and its sequel, X2: X-Men United, his highest-profile role of any kind. Because of the above mentioned uncertainty concerning the actors' Union, the European edition manual (but not the actual game) and certain U.S. demo versions credit Hayter under the pseudonym Sean Barker, the character he played in Guyver 2: Dark Hero. Veteran seiyu Akio Otsuka voiced Solid Snake in the Japanese-language version.

Cam Clarke, already noted for his work in Robotech, the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, and the English-language adaptation of Akira, voiced Liquid Snake. He used the pseudonym "James Flinders". Banjou Ginga voiced Liquid Snake in the Japanese-language version.

Debi Mae West, credited as "Mae Zadler", voiced Meryl Silverburgh. Kyoko Terase voiced Meryl in the Japanese-language version.

Supporting characters

Incidental voices

Music

Main article: Metal Gear Solid Original Game Soundtrack

The Metal Gear Solid score was composed by a number of in-house musicians at Konami, including Kazuki Muraoka, composer of the soundtrack of the NES version of the original Metal Gear. The in-game music has a more synthetic feel, often similar to ambient music, which increases pace and begins to introduce strings during the more tense moments. It has a distinctly videogame-style looping nature. Cut scene music, however, is more overtly cinematic, with stronger use of orchestral and choral elements.

A relaxing and contemplative ending theme by Rika Muranaka, titled "The Best is Yet To Come", covers the game's end-credits sequence and features Irish lyrics sung(sung in Gaelic) by Aoife Ní Fhearraigh. An alternate ending theme, which is heard upon completing the game three times, was written by composer TAPPY. This theme was previously featured in the game's trailers, and also set the style for later Metal Gear games.

These three styles (synthetic game music, orchestral cut-scene music, and a vocal ending theme) are revisited throughout the later games such as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. (A brassier, more orchestral soundtrack, inspired largely by the soundtrack of the James Bond films, was recorded for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.)

The music used during the VR Training mode is a reworking of the main theme from the original MSX version of Metal Gear. Added music from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is included in the VR Missions expansion as well.

References

External links

Official

• Metal Gear Solid official website (Japanese)
• Metal Gear Solid: Integral official website (Japanese)
• Metal Gear Solid Windows version official website

General resources

• Metal Gear Solid at MobyGames
• Metal Gear Solid at GameFAQs
• Metal Gear Week on 1UP.com, with Hideo Kojima interview