Metal Gear Solid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the original Metal Gear Solid released for the Sony PlayStation. For the Game Boy Color spin-off of the same name, see Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. For the announced film, see Metal Gear Solid (film).
| Metal Gear Solid<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;"> The American and Japanese covers of Metal Gear Solid used this logo on a simple white background, with no other details other than trade dress.</td></tr> | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (West)
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)</th><td>Konami (PS1) |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation: JPN</small> September 3, 1998
|
| Genre(s) | Stealth action |
| Mode(s) | Single player
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)</th><td>ESRB: Mature (M) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Microsoft Windows <tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media</th><td>2 CD-ROMs (PS1) |
Metal Gear Solid (メタルギアソリッド Metaru Gia Soriddo?) (commonly abbreviated to MGS) is a stealth-based game directed by Hideo Kojima.<ref>GameSpot site staff. Metal Gear Solid Tech Info/Credits. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> Metal Gear Solid was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It was well-received publicly and critically, shipping over 6 million copies worldwide<ref name="sales">Big Gaz. Metal Gear Solid 3 Exclusive For Sony. GamePlanet New Zealand. Retrieved on October 31, 2006.</ref> and scoring an average of 94% in Metacritic's aggregate.<ref>Metal Gear Solid Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> It is the fourth game to be released in the Metal Gear series and a direct sequel to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
Metal Gear Solid's story centers on a retired soldier infiltrating a nuclear weapons disposal facility to neutralize the terrorist threat of FOXHOUND, a special forces unit in possession of a nuclear-capable bipedal tank.
To date, the game has spawned a sequel (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) and two prequels (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops). A fourth game, titled Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is currently in development for the PlayStation 3.
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[edit] Gameplay
Despite visual improvements, Metal Gear Solid's gameplay remains similar to its MSX predecessors. The player must navigate the protagonist Solid Snake from point A to point B without being detected<ref>IGN. Metal Gear Solid. IGN PSone. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> — detection sets off an alarm, drawing armed enemies to his location To return to a lower alert setting, the player must hide somewhere suitable until a timer reaches zero.<ref name="gs1">GameSpot. Metal Gear Solid for PC review. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref>
To remain undetected, the player can perform techniques which make use of Solid Snake's ability and the environment, such as crawling under objects, pressing against walls, and making noise to distract guards. These are carried out using the third-person camera and an on-screen radar, which displays guards and their cones of vision.<ref name="gsguide">James Mielke. Metal Gear Solid Strategy Guide. GameSpot. Retrieved on November 15, 2006.</ref> Additionally, Solid Snake is armed with a variety of items and gadgets, such as thermal goggles and a cardboard box disguise.<ref>Matthew House. Metal Gear Solid - Overview. allgame. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> This emphasis on avoidance promotes a less violent form of gameplay — firefights against large enemy teams will likely result in heavy damage and possible death for the player.<ref>Metal Gear Solid PC - Instructional Manual. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref>
Interrupting the player's progress are plot-exposing cut scenes and radio conversations, as well as set-piece encounters involving boss characters. To progress, players must discover weaknesses for these enemies (such as attack patterns) to defeat them. This is where the player will most often use the game's weapon-set, ranging from high-caliber pistols to rocket launchers and defensive hand grenades.<ref name="gsguide" />
In a first for the Metal Gear series, a training mode is available in which players can practice hiding techniques, weapons use, and sneaking.<ref name="gameguide"> (1999) Konami staff: Metal Gear Solid instruction manual (in English). Konami, 49. SLES-01370.</ref> Although gameplay does not often sway from stealth, there are a few sequences that entail a firefight between the player and the enemy, both from the third-person and first-person perspectives.
[edit] Story
[edit] Characters
Metal Gear Solid's protagonist is Solid Snake (voiced by David Hayter), a legendary infiltrator and saboteur. During the mission, Snake receives support and advice via radio. Colonel Roy Campbell (v.b. Paul Eiding), Solid Snake's former commanding officer, supports with mission advice and battle tactics. Naomi Hunter (v.b. Jennifer Hale) helps alongside Roy Campbell with medical advice, while Nastasha Romanenko (v.b. Renee Raudman) provides item and weapon advice. Mei Ling (v.b. Kim Mai Guest) saves the player's progress onto a Memory Card.<ref>Skenvoy ACE, IWOC. Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation and PlayStation 2. BBC's h2g2. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref>
The main antagonist of the game is Liquid Snake (v.b. Cam Clarke), leader of FOXHOUND.<ref name="gameguide" /> FOXHOUND, an elite special forces unit, is comprised of Revolver Ocelot, a Western-style gunslinger and expert interrogator; Sniper Wolf, a preternatural sniper; Vulcan Raven, an Alaskan mystic armed with a massive mini-gun; Psycho Mantis, a psychic profiler and psychokinesis expert; and Decoy Octopus, a disguise expert.<ref name="gameguide" />
Other characters include Meryl Silverburgh (v.b. Debi Mae West), the niece of Roy Campbell, who fights alongside the player; and Dr. Hal Emmerich (Otacon) (v.b. Christopher Randolph), the lead developer of Metal Gear REX. Solid Snake also meets Cyborg Ninja (v.b. Greg Eagles), a mysterious cybernetically-enhanced ninja who opposes both him and FOXHOUND.<ref name="gameguide" />
[edit] Plot
In 2005, FOX-HOUND and the genetically-enhanced Next-Generation Special Forces unit lead an armed uprising at Shadow Moses, a remote isle located in Alaska's Fox Archipelago and the site of a nuclear weapons disposal facility.<ref>3D Gamers site staff. Metal Gear Solid: Integral info. 3D Gamers. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> In the process, they gain control of Metal Gear REX, a nuclear-capable bipedal tank, threatening the U.S. government of a nuclear reprisal for the remains of Big Boss.<ref name="history1">GameSpot site staff. GameSpot's The History of MetalGear. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref> Solid Snake, in retirement at Alaska's Twin Lakes,<ref>Snake: Colonel, I don't work for the government anymore. Let me go back to Twin Lakes. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> is dispatched at the request of Roy Campbell to penetrate the terrorist defenses and neutralize the threat.<ref>Stratosphere. Metal Gear Solid Brief Synopsis. Metal Gear Solid: The Unofficial Site. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.</ref>
During the mission, Snake locates hostages Donald Anderson and Kenneth Baker, both of whom seem to die of a heart attack.<ref>Master Miller: The cause of death. Didn't the ArmsTech president and the DARPA Chief, I mean Decoy Octopus,... die of something that looked like a heart attack? (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> After the DARPA chief informs Snake of Metal Gear REX's deactivation procedure,<ref>DARPA chief: ... you can just insert the card keys and engage the safety lock Snake: And if I do that? DARPA chief: Yes. You can stop the launch (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> Meryl Silverburgh contacts Snake to assist him via codec. While searching for her, he battles Revolver Ocelot and Vulcan Raven, though both escape. Snake subsequently battles Gray Fox, the mysterious ninja, in order to rescue Dr. Hal Emmerich (Otacon). Meryl finally meets up with Snake, only to be telepathically forced by Psycho Mantis to attack Snake,<ref>Naomi: It's Psycho Mantis. He's controlling Meryl. That tune is his mind control music. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> until Snake kills the psychic master. Shortly thereafter, Sniper Wolf wounds Meryl and captures them.
Liquid reveals to the imprisoned Snake that the two are clones of Big Boss;<ref>Liquid: (to Snake) There definitely is a resemblance. Don't you think, little brother? Or should I say big brother? I'm not sure... Anyway, it doesn't matter. You and I are both the last surviving "sons of Big Boss."(Metal Gear Solid)</ref> however, Solid Snake was endowed with Boss's dominant traits, while Liquid received the recessive,<ref>Liquid: Yes, twins, but we're not ordinary twins... we're twins linked by cursed genes. Les enfants terribles. You're fine. You got all the old man's dominant genes. I got all the flawed, recessive genes.(Metal Gear Solid)</ref> for which Liquid hates Solid. Liquid gives Snake over to Ocelot, who tortures him.<ref>Liquid: (to Ocelot) We're shorthanded, so make this little torture show of yours as short as possible. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> Snake escapes, climbs a communications tower and encounters Liquid in a Hind-D attack helicopter. Snake successfully shoots down the helicopter<ref>Snake: Oh, I had to take out that helicopter. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> and later kills Sniper Wolf after a second ambush.
Upon entering the underground base of Metal Gear REX, Snake engages Vulcan Raven for the second time and defeats him. Before Raven dies, he reveals that the Donald Anderson encountered was actually Decoy Octopus.<ref>Raven: That was not the DARPA Chief. It was Decoy Octopus. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> Shortly after, Master Miller calls and reveals that Naomi Hunter had given Solid Snake the genetically engineered virus "FoxDie," designed to kill people with particular genetic codes;<ref>Master Miller: Snake, have you ever heard of something called "Fox Die"? It's some kind of virus that targets specific people. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref><ref>Master Miller: Snake, try to remember. Did Naomi give you some kind of injection? She was in the best position to have done it, but I don't know what her motive was. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> earlier claiming the lives of Baker and Octopus.<ref>Master Miller: Didn't the ArmsTech president and the DARPA Chief, I mean Decoy Octopus,... die of something that looked like a heart attack? Well, apparently Fox Die kills its victims by simulating a heart attack. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> Snake accidentally activates Metal Gear REX,<ref>Computer: PAL code number three confirmed. PAL code entry complete... (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> and in a similar twist, Master Miller reveals himself as Liquid, informing Snake his entire mission was manipulated to activate the nuclear weapon.<ref>Snake: You mean you had this planned from the beginning? Just to get me to input the detonation code? (Metal Gear Solid)</ref><ref>Campbell: Snake, you've been talking to... Liquid: ...Me... dear brother. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> Gray Fox appears, and helps Solid Snake destroy Metal Gear REX. After a long and protracted struggle, Liquid Snake finally succumbs to FoxDie.<ref>Snake: Naomi, Liquid died from Fox Die too. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref>
In the immediate aftermath, Snake is told he actually possesses Big Boss's recessive traits<ref>Ocelot: Until the very end, Liquid thought he was the inferior one. (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> and has an indeterminate amount of time left before FoxDie kills him.<ref>Ocelot: The vector? Yes sir, FoxDie should become activated soon... (Metal Gear Solid)</ref> He then leaves Shadow Moses before it is destroyed in an airstrike. Depending on the player's actions during the game, there are two possible endings: in the non-canonical ending, Ocelot kills Meryl and Snake escapes with Otacon, while in the canonical ending she survives and escapes with Snake.
[edit] Development
Development for Metal Gear Solid began in 1995<ref>GameSpot staff. Metal Gear Solid Comes to the Nintendo 64. GameSpot. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref> with the intent of creating the "best PlayStation game ever". Developers aimed for accuracy and realism while making it enjoyable and tense. In early stages of development, a SWAT team educated the creators with a demonstration of vehicles, weapons and explosives.<ref name="gsold">GameSpot staff. Metal Gear Solid Casts Its Spell. GameSpot. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref> Hideo Kojima, director, stated that "if the player isn't tricked into believing that the world is real, then there's no point in making the game". To fulfill this, adjustments were made to every detail, such as individually designed desks.<ref>IGN staff. More News From Metal Gear Solid Creator. PSXIGN. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref>
The characters of Metal Gear Solid were created by Hideo Kojima, although modifications and mechanics were made by conceptual artist Yoji Shinkawa. These were completed by polygonal artists using pencil drawings and clay models by Shinkawa.<ref>IGN staff. The Art of Design: MGS2 & Z.O.E.. PS2IGN. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref>
Hideo Kojima wanted greater interaction with objects and the environment, such as hiding bodies in a locker. Additionally, he wanted "a full orchestra right next to the player" which made modifications to the track (instead of switching it) at certain situations. Although these features could not be achieved, they were used in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.<ref>IGN staff. E3: Hideo Kojima Interview. PS2IGN. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref>
Metal Gear Solid was revealed to the public at the E3 gaming event in 1997 as a short video. It was later playable for the first time at the Tokyo Game Show in 1998 and officially released the same year in Japan<ref>Grant. The Metal Gear Timeline. The Metal Gear Edge. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref> with an extensive promotional campaign.<ref name="gsold" /> Television and magazine advertisements, in-store samples, and demo give-aways contributed to a total of US$8 million in promotional costs.<ref>GameSpot staff. Metal Gear Gears Up. GameSpot. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.</ref>
[edit] Versions and re-releases
The English version of Metal Gear Solid (translated by Jeremy Blaustein) contains minor refinements made during localization such as adjustable difficulty settings, unlockable outfits, and a "demo theater" for viewing cut scenes and radio conversations.
Some countries in the PAL region received a version of the game dubbed into their own language, including Spanish, German, French and Italian. All PAL versions feature a more-difficult "Extreme" mode which introduced restrictions such as extended guard vision. The premium package released in Japan<ref>NCSX. Metal Gear Solid Premium Package. NCSX. Retrieved on October 21, 2006.</ref> was also released in the PAL region, albeit with some differences.
[edit] Integral
Released on June 24, 1999 in Japan,<ref>allgame staff. Metal Gear Solid Integral Overview. allgame. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.</ref> Metal Gear Solid: Integral is an international version with additional features and an extra disc of additional missions (established as virtual training).<ref name="history1" /> New features included costumes, the "Very Easy" difficulty level and three game modes, one using the PocketStation.<ref name="history1" /> Although only released in Japan, the Microsoft Windows version of Metal Gear Solid is based on it.<ref name="history1" />
The extra-missions disc was released as a stand-alone game outside of Japan — in North America as Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions<ref name="history1" /> (September 23, 1999) and in the PAL region as Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions (October 29, 1999).<ref>GameFAQs staff. Metal Gear Solid VR Missions Info. GameFAQs. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.</ref> VR Missions features training missions testing the player's sneaking and fighting skill. It includes trailers for Metal Gear Solid, previews for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and a "photo shoot" mode to take pictures of Mei Ling and Naomi.<ref>GameSpot site staff. Metal Gear Solid Integral review. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 25, 2006.</ref>
[edit] 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.<ref>GameSpot site staff. Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes Tech Info/Credits. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 25, 2006.</ref> 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. While the storyline and settings of the game were unchanged, a variety of gameplay features from Sons of Liberty were added and the graphics updated.
[edit] Digital Graphic Novel
Announced in January 2006, Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel is an interactive comic — based on the story of Metal Gear Solid — for the PlayStation Portable.<ref name="GScomic">Tim Surette. MGS digitally stripped for PSP. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 29, 2006.</ref> Although a transcript of the IDW Publications comic, it features visual enhancements and two interactive modes designed to give further insight into the comic.<ref name="GScomic2">Matthew Rorie. E3 06: Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel Exclusive Hands-On. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 29, 2006.</ref> Upon viewing the comic, the player can open a "scanning" interface to search for characters and items in a three dimensional view.<ref name="GScomic2" /> Discoveries are added to a database which can be traded with other players via Wi-Fi. The "mission mode" allows the player to add collected information into a library. This information must be properly connected in order to complete a mission. Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel was released in North America on June 13, 2006, Japan on September 21 and the PAL region on September 22.<ref>GameSpot site staff. Other Versions. GameSpot. Retrieved on October 29, 2006.</ref>
[edit] Other media
The Metal Gear Solid Drama CD is a Japanese radio drama continuation of Metal Gear Solid. Directed by Shuyo Murata and written by Motosada Mori, it aired, in 18 segments, from 1998 to 1999 on Konami's CLUB db program. The series was later released on two separate CDs.<ref name="mgsdramacd1">DRAMA CD メタルギア ソリッド Vol.1 Accessed on August 3, 2006 (Japanese)</ref><ref name="mgsdramacd2">DRAMA CD メタルギア ソリッド Vol.2 Accessed on August 3, 2006 (Japanese)</ref> Set after the events of Shadow Moses, Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Roy Campbell and Mei Ling pursue missions in hostile third world nations as FOXHOUND. Characters not seen in Metal Gear Solid are introduced, such as Sgt. Allen Iishiba (voiced by Toshio Furukawa), a Delta Force operative who assists Snake and Meryl; Col. Mark Cortez (v.b. Osamu Saka), an old friend of Campbell who commands the fictional Esterian Special Forces; and Capt. Sergei Ivanovich (v.b. Kazuhiro Nakata), a former war buddy of Revolver Ocelot.
In September 2004, IDW Publications began release of a comic book version of Metal Gear Solid,<ref>Shawn Patty. IDW to Release Metal Gear Solid Comic Book. Silver Bullet Comic Books. Retrieved on October 25, 2006.</ref> written by Kris Oprisko and illustrated by Ashley Wood.<ref>IDW Publishing and Konami Present Metal Gear Solid - The Comic Book. IDW Publishing. Retrieved on October 25, 2006.</ref> As of 2006, it has reached 12 issues.<ref>Metal Gear Solid. IDW Publishing. Retrieved on October 25, 2006.</ref> The comic mimics Yoji Shinkawa's gritty style using a palette of grays and rough, sketchy paintings as panels.
[edit] Audio
Metal Gear Solid's musical score was composed by a number of in-house musicians at Konami, including Kazuki Muraoka, who also worked on Metal Gear.<ref name="kazuki">IMDb site staff. Kazuki Muraoka. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref> Composer and lyricist Rika Muranaka provided a song called "The Best is Yet To Come"<ref name="rika1">IMDb site staff. Rika Muranaka. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref> for the game's ending credits sequence.<ref name="rika2">Metal Gear Solid Game Credits. The Unofficial Facts Site. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref> The song is performed in Gaelic by Aoife Ní Fhearraigh.<ref name="aoife">Aoife Ní Fhearraigh. My Albums. Aoife Ní Fhearraigh. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref> The main theme was composed by Tappy Iwase.<ref name="rika1">IMDb site staff. TAPPY. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on October 23, 2006.</ref>
Music played in-game has a synthetic feel with increased pace and introduction of strings during tense moments, with a looping style endemic to video games. Overtly cinematic music, with stronger orchestral and choral elements, appears in cutscenes.
[edit] Reception
Metal Gear Solid was publicly successful, shipping over 6 million copies worldwide.<ref name="sales" /> Upon release, it was one of the most rented games,<ref name="ignrental">Metal Gear Breaks Into Rentals. IGN (1998-11-19).</ref> also topping sales charts in the United Kingdom.<ref name="uksales">News: World. Acorn Gaming (1999-04-09).</ref> The Official UK PlayStation magazine labeled it as "the greatest game ever made; unputdownable while it lasts and unforgettable when finished." The advent of cutscenes to the Metal Gear series and the quality of the voice acting impressed critics.<ref>Metal Gear Solid Review. CheatCC.</ref>
In general, Metal Gear Solid was well-received by the media, and was given high scores by some of the most prominent gaming critics. Gaming website IGN awarded the "incredible" rating of 9.8/10,<ref>IGN Metal Gear Solid review. Retrieved on 28 October, 2006.</ref> while the Game Rankings website gave it a score of 5/5.<ref>Game Rankings Metal Gear Solid review. Retrieved on 28 October, 2006.</ref> GameSpot granted a lower rating of 8.5/10, calling it "revolutionary" but criticizing the length and difficulty.<ref>GameSpot Metal Gear Solid review. Retrieved on 28 October, 2006.</ref>
Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded Metal Gear Solid the Platinum Award (four perfect scores of 10), making MGS the first game to receive it.<ref>Five and Ten Years Ago in EGM. EGM. Retrieved on October 28, 2006.</ref> IGN editors ranked Metal Gear Solid as the best PlayStation game ever, also giving it the "Best Ending" and "Best Villain" awards.<ref>IGN staff. Top 25 Games of All Time: Complete List. IGN. Retrieved on November 3, 2006.</ref>
Metal Gear Solid has appeared in many "best games of all time" lists. In 2005, IGN editors placed it 19th out of the "Top 100 Games",<ref>IGN staff. IGN's Top 100 Games: 11-20. IGN. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.</ref> while the readers voted it to 9th place.<ref>IGN staff. Reader's Picks Top 10 games: 1-10 work=IGN. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.</ref> Members of GameFAQs ranked it the 8th best,<ref>Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest - The 10 Best Games Ever. GameFAQs. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.</ref> and readers of Japanese magazine Famitsu ranked it 50th in a 2006 poll.<ref>Colin Campbell (2006). Japan Votes on All Time Top 100. Next Generation. Retrieved on March 11, 2006.</ref> It also placed 23rd in Entertainment Weekly's list<ref>EW staff (2006). The 100 greatest video games: 21-30. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on November 17, 2006.</ref> and 17th in Electronic Gaming Monthly's.<ref>EGM staff (2001). Electronic Gaming Monthly's 100 Best Games of All Time.</ref>
[edit] References
<references />
[edit] External links
- Metal Gear Solid official site (Japanese)
- Metal Gear Solid at GameFAQs
- Metal Gear Solid at MobyGames
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