The modern-day reaction for most people who hear the name Metal Gear Solid is typically that of fury and sorrow. The last entry from the mainline series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Metal Gear Survive happened in a different reality), is infamous for both its unfinished story and being the last game before Hideo Kojima’s controversial exit from Konami. In recent years, however, fans have had their hopes reignited as Konami has finally begun to make motion with the dormant franchise. Planned for release later this month (August 28), Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a direct remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Arguably the most popular in the series, new and returning players will get to play as Naked Snake as he completes “The Virtuous Mission.” In celebration, take a look back at past entries in the series and how each individual game not only changed the series but also had a lasting impact. For the purposes of this article, only mainline entries will be discussed, so Metal Gear Rising Revengeance and the MSX (Metal Gear 1 and Metal Gear 2) games will not be discussed. In addition, since Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes are relatively recent and technically, P.P. was never finished, so they will also be omitted.

Metal Gear Solid (1998)

While Metal Gear as a game franchise already existed, this particular entry is not only what put the series on the map but also gave most people their first dose of Hideo Kojima. A proper “otaku” and film nerd of the highest degree, Kojima has (and continues with his Death Stranding game series) to defy player expectations. Literally, every game in this franchise will go out of its way to mess with the player, and it all started with this entry. The infamous Psycho Mantis boss fight pitted players against a crazed terrorist with psychic powers. This psychic was so powerful, in fact, that he could even “move” the player’s controller (a clever use of the DualShock’s vibration feature). This game also introduced one of the most ludicrous storylines to exist, which could even rival the craziest telenovela; yet, it still manages to touch upon deep and meaningful themes, such as legacy, war, and even fear.

How well this game holds up is a difficult question to answer. It certainly remains a great example of creativity, especially considering its focus on stealth instead of straight-up action or platforming like many of the other games from the same generation. In spite of this, the gameplay suffers from the same problem as the classic Resident Evil Games. The controls feel so archaic that just getting used to them is a boss battle in and of itself (introverted controls have never felt good). Separate from that, there aren’t too many tactics to employ in order to remain undetected. The only way to even enter stealth mode was by going prone, which meant literally crawling through levels at a snail’s pace. The infamous cardboard box was a genuine strategy, but new players are unlikely to know that they need different boxes depending on the area. At the time, the original Metal Gear Solid was a genuinely groundbreaking release that changed the face of gaming and brought out its true potential as a medium. Compared to later entries, however, it pales in comparison.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2002)

The second entry in this series continues the trend of throwing curveballs at the player, but this time around, those are never-ending. Players spend the first quarter of the game playing as the beloved Solid Snake, only to get blindsided when he allegedly dies in action. Players then continue their journey as a new character codenamed Raiden, who is the opposite of Snake in every way (Snake’s grizzled 6 o’clock shadow versus Raiden’s smooth and silky skin). Throughout their mission to save the president, players are forced to question reality as the truth frequently becomes diluted. 

Long believed to be the most controversial entry in the series (until MGS V: Phantom Pain), the sequel to an already legendary series was always going to be subject to unnecessary criticism. A large portion of said criticism stems from the change in protagonist. This was an utter crime considering how ahead of its time it was in terms of the ideas and philosophies it explored. The idea of truth existing as something constantly changing and prone to perversion by those in power (Snake’s supposed death and the player’s “mission”). The use of misinformation to fight wars and mislead masses with the aid of AI was unbelievable then, but a terrifying prediction come true now. Even the relationship between Jack and Rose (A Titanic reference, which further proves Kojima’s film obsession), which was considered an annoyance at the time of release, has become a direct mirror of the lack of intimacy and connection in today’s world.