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History of Metal Gear (1987 - 2021) | Documentary

Nick930・147 minutes read

Metal Gear is a celebrated video game series created by Hideo Kojima and Konami, popularizing stealth action with rich storytelling and polished gameplay mechanics. The narrative revolves around legendary soldier Snake infiltrating enemy territory, emphasizing stealth, tactical gameplay, and innovative mechanics.

Insights

  • Metal Gear series, created by Hideo Kojima, features legendary soldier Snake infiltrating enemy territory with rich storytelling and stealth gameplay mechanics.
  • Konami established MSX division where Kojima's talent shone with Lost World platformer and innovative Metal Gear rejected initially due to stealth concerns.
  • Metal Gear's release in 1987 praised for stealth gameplay, innovative narrative, and potential for Western audiences, setting Kojima up for future success.
  • Metal Gear Solid franchise on PlayStation showcased cinematic presentation, iconic characters like Solid Snake, and innovative gameplay mechanics like stealth and combat.
  • Metal Gear Solid 2 introduced significant gameplay changes, smarter AI, and graphical enhancements, setting new industry standards.
  • Spin-off titles like Metal Gear Acid and Portable Ops adapted gameplay for handheld platforms, introducing new mechanics and recruitment systems.
  • Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance developed by PlatinumGames shifted focus to Raiden, offering satisfying hack-and-slash combat, intense action, and new gameplay elements.

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Recent questions

  • What is Metal Gear?

    Metal Gear is a third-person stealth action video game series created by Hideo Kojima and Konami, where players assume the role of a legendary soldier codenamed Snake tasked with infiltrating enemy territory. The series is known for its rich storytelling, polished gameplay mechanics, and style, popularizing stealth action in the video game industry.

  • Who created Metal Gear?

    Metal Gear was created by Hideo Kojima in collaboration with Konami. Kojima, fascinated by cinema and storytelling, began his career in video game development at Konami's MSX home computer division. His natural talent led to his role as lead designer for the side-scrolling platformer Lost World before embarking on the innovative Metal Gear project.

  • What is the gameplay of Metal Gear like?

    Metal Gear's gameplay emphasizes stealth, encouraging players to sneak past enemies, avoid detection, and utilize tools like infrared goggles, firearms, explosives, and rations for health replenishment. Players must navigate enemy patrol routes, use the environment to their advantage, and engage in strategic combat to progress through the narrative-driven missions.

  • How was Metal Gear received upon release?

    Upon its release in 1987, Metal Gear received praise for its innovative gameplay and narrative, positioning Hideo Kojima for future success. The game's unique blend of stealth action mechanics and engaging storytelling captivated players, leading to its recognition as a groundbreaking title in the video game industry.

  • What are some notable entries in the Metal Gear series?

    Some notable entries in the Metal Gear series include Metal Gear Solid for the Sony PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for the PlayStation 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for the PlayStation 2. These games introduced significant improvements to gameplay mechanics, storytelling, and visual presentation, solidifying the series' reputation for innovation and quality.

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Summary

00:00

Metal Gear: Stealth Action Legend by Kojima

  • Metal Gear is a third-person stealth action video game series created by Hideo Kojima and Konami, where players assume the role of a legendary soldier codenamed Snake tasked with infiltrating enemy territory.
  • The series is celebrated for its rich storytelling, polished gameplay mechanics, and style, popularizing stealth action in the video game industry and the age of triple-A games.
  • In the early 1980s, the arcade video game industry flourished, inspiring legendary game designers like Tekoro Fujiwara, Silas Warner, and Shigeru Miyamoto.
  • Konami, a Japanese entertainment company, established an MSX home computer division, where Hideo Kojima, fascinated by cinema and storytelling, began his career in video game development.
  • Kojima's first project with the MSX team was a sequel to Antarctic Adventure, impressing Konami with his natural talent, leading to his role as lead designer for a side-scrolling platformer called Lost World.
  • Kojima's initial design document for Metal Gear, focusing on stealth action, was rejected by Konami executives concerned about player perception, leading to the incorporation of an alert phase for player engagement.
  • Metal Gear's development involved a small team of programmers and artists working on the MSX2 hardware, creating a detection system, enemy patrol routes, pixelated environments, and a dynamic soundtrack.
  • Metal Gear's narrative revolves around rookie soldier Solid Snake infiltrating Outer Heaven to rescue Grey Fox and stop the nuclear-equipped bipedal weapon Metal Gear, featuring a revolutionary story and unique gameplay design.
  • Metal Gear's gameplay emphasizes stealth, encouraging players to sneak past enemies, avoid detection, and utilize tools like infrared goggles, a mine detector, firearms, explosives, and rations for health replenishment.
  • Upon Metal Gear's release in 1987, it received praise for its innovative gameplay and narrative, positioning Hideo Kojima for future success as he embarked on new projects while Konami recognized the game's potential for Western audiences.

15:57

"Metal Gear: From Port to Revolution"

  • A small Famicom development team in Tokyo was tasked with creating a port of a game within a tight three-month window.
  • The team retrofitted the game's visual and audio design to fit the Famicom's capabilities and redesigned the intro.
  • Due to time and hardware limitations, they had to tweak the climactic battle against TX-55 Metal Gear.
  • The resulting game failed to capture the magic of the original MSX2 release, leading Kojima to disown the port.
  • Western audiences, unfamiliar with Metal Gear, found the game's stealth action mechanics addictive, making it a hit.
  • Konami greenlit a follow-up, "Snake's Revenge," for the NES, focusing on action elements.
  • Kojima, unaware of this sequel, was surprised by a programmer's revelation and quickly designed a true sequel.
  • Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake was developed, introducing significant changes to the gameplay formula.
  • The game's narrative featured a major plot twist and more nuanced character development, setting a new standard for the series.
  • Metal Gear 2's gameplay included improvements like an on-screen radar, new stealth mechanics, and a variety of tools and gadgets.

30:51

Metal Gear Solid: Iconic Stealth Action Game

  • The nuclear warhead storage building and initial dock area were completed after three years of anticipation.
  • Konami Computer Entertainment Japan released Metal Gear Solid exclusively for the Sony PlayStation.
  • The game starts six years after Metal Gear 2, with Solid Snake called out of retirement to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.
  • The US government pressures Roy Campbell to assemble an infiltration team to rescue hostages on Shadow Moses Island.
  • Metal Gear Solid features a cinematic presentation with high-quality cutscenes and fully voiced characters.
  • David Hater's performance as Solid Snake added bitterness and contempt to the character, becoming iconic.
  • The game's musical score blends calm tension-building swells with suspenseful action pieces.
  • Gameplay includes sneaking past guards, hand-to-hand combat, and new combat mechanics like a three-hit combo attack.
  • Metal Gear Solid introduces new weapons like the PSG-1 sniper rifle and the chaff grenade for disabling electrical devices.
  • The game's success led to the creation of Metal Gear Solid Integral for Japanese audiences and a PC port with enhanced features.

46:04

Metal Gear Solid 2: Enhanced Graphics & Gameplay

  • Snake's appearance in the sequel Metal Gear Solid 2 on PlayStation featured significantly more polygons than in the previous game.
  • Development for Metal Gear Solid 2 focused on enhancing atmospheric elements like wind, heat, dampness, and cold through visual tricks.
  • The game world was designed to react dynamically to gunfire and explosions, enhancing player immersion.
  • The AI in Metal Gear Solid 2 was overhauled to create more intelligent and cooperative enemy soldiers.
  • Kojima and Fukushima distributed idea notebooks to the team to generate new gameplay mechanics, such as hiding in lockers and vaulting over ledges.
  • Metal Gear Solid 2 was revealed at E3 2000, showcasing groundbreaking graphics and gameplay mechanics.
  • The game was rendered at 60 frames per second, setting a new industry standard for AAA action titles.
  • To cater to a wider audience, a new character was introduced to the series, allowing players to control someone other than Snake.
  • Metal Gear Solid 2's release was impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks, leading to changes in the game's visuals and storyline.
  • Sons of Liberty, the sequel to Metal Gear Solid, was released exclusively for the PlayStation 2, featuring improved gameplay mechanics and a deep narrative exploring themes ahead of its time.

01:00:30

Metal Gear series expands with Snake Eater

  • A special bonus campaign called Snaketails was introduced to appeal to players disappointed with the main campaign's switch to Rider.
  • A skateboarding minigame exclusive to the PlayStation 2 was added to advertise Konami's Evolution Skateboarding.
  • Metal Gear Solid 2 was a significant achievement, enhancing gameplay systems, storytelling, and graphical presentation, contributing to the success of the Sony PlayStation 2.
  • Konami sought to expand the Metal Gear property after the success of Sons of Liberty, exploring new avenues like a potential spin-off or remake for Nintendo platforms.
  • Silicon Knights agreed to develop a top-to-bottom remake of the original Metal Gear Solid for the Nintendo GameCube, facing challenges like meeting a strict one-year deadline.
  • The Twin Snakes remake, released in spring 2004, maintained a practically identical story to the original game but featured enhanced graphical fidelity and re-recorded voice lines.
  • Gameplay in Twin Snakes incorporated new features from Sons of Liberty, allowing players to aim weapons in first-person and introducing smarter AI, though some balancing concerns arose.
  • Twin Snakes received positive reviews for its cleaner presentation, smooth 60fps performance, and incorporation of new gameplay features from Sons of Liberty.
  • Hideo Kojima decided to continue the Metal Gear series after the success of Sons of Liberty, focusing on a new direction with a different Snake, Big Boss, as the protagonist.
  • Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, released exclusively for the PlayStation 2, introduced a new setting in the 1960s during the Cold War, following Naked Snake on a mission involving the legendary Boss and a new love interest, Eva.

01:15:22

Metal Gear Series: Gameplay, Story, and Reception

  • To maintain optimal performance in the game, players should keep the stamina meter maxed out by consuming food like rations or hunting for food in the wild using weapons.
  • Snake Eater introduces the new camouflage index system, where players must choose outfits from their backpack to suit the environment for effective camouflage.
  • Gameplay mechanics in Snake Eater include the ability to grab and interrogate enemies, use a knife for instant kills, and treat injuries with a series of medical equipment.
  • Alongside medical tools, players have access to Cold War-appropriate gadgets and weaponry like binoculars, explosives, and a fake death pill for strategic advantages.
  • Snake Eater received critical acclaim for its visual direction, gameplay overhaul, and storytelling, exploring the origin of Big Boss and featuring beautifully edited cinematic sequences.
  • Despite positive reviews, Snake Eater faced lower sales attributed to a less aggressive marketing campaign and potential series fatigue from previous entries.
  • Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence introduced a fully controllable third-person camera and competitive multiplayer mode called Metal Gear Online, enhancing the gameplay experience.
  • Metal Gear Acid, released for the PSP, reimagines the stealth action experience as a turn-based strategy game with playing cards determining actions and objectives.
  • Metal Gear Acid 2, a direct sequel, features improved gameplay mechanics, simplified controls, and a self-shaded art style, receiving mostly positive reviews for its unique approach.
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops for the PSP follows Big Boss after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3, featuring a canonical narrative, comic book-style storytelling, and core Metal Gear Solid gameplay adapted for the handheld platform.

01:29:57

Metal Gear Portable Ops: Simplified, Strategic, Successful

  • Inventory screens have been simplified to a four-slot comma-row screen, limiting what Snake can bring on missions.
  • Game environments lack personality, with cookie-cutter locations and limited rendering capabilities due to the PSP.
  • Portable Ops introduces a recruitment system where players can kidnap soldiers and manage them in four distinct units.
  • Units include the sneaking unit (playable characters), spy unit (progress story), tech unit (develop weapons), and medical unit (regenerate health).
  • Stamina is crucial, as it affects mission success and cannot be easily replenished like in Snake Eater.
  • The game encourages players to experiment with different play styles and recruit soldiers efficiently.
  • Portable Ops includes a competitive multiplayer component and offers a genuine Metal Gear experience on the go.
  • The game was positively received, selling a quarter of a million copies in its first month, but was overshadowed by mainline titles.
  • A second version, Portable Ops Plus, focused on army management content and was aimed at veteran players.
  • Portable Ops set the stage for future Metal Gear entries, introducing new mechanics and recruitment systems.

01:44:49

Metal Gear Solid 4: Stealth and Combat

  • Players rely on Snake's sneaking skills and combat abilities to progress in the game.
  • Snake can now sneak in a crouched position, roll when prone, and perform a slow crawl for added stealth.
  • Shooting mechanics have been revamped, allowing players to aim over the shoulder like in traditional third-person shooters.
  • A gun launderer named Drebin offers a wide selection of weapons that players can purchase using Drebin points.
  • The stamina gauge has been replaced by the psych gauge, depleting based on stress levels rather than hunger.
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 focuses heavily on narrative immersion and modernizing stealth action mechanics.
  • Metal Gear Online, a multiplayer component, was inspired by popular first-person shooters like Call of Duty 4.
  • Spin-off mobile titles like Metal Gear Solid Mobile and Metal Gear Solid Touch were released for N-Gage and iOS, respectively.
  • Kojima Productions began working on Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, a prequel entry focusing on Snake's new organization, Cipher.
  • Peace Walker introduces a rich story, major characters, and gameplay improvements like interconnected level areas and a revamped army-building metagame.

02:00:01

Metal Gear Rising: Raiden's Cybernetic Revenge

  • Peace Walker initially faced poor sales, especially below Konami's expectations, due to a shift in audience preference towards mobile devices over dedicated portable gaming devices like the PSP.
  • Kojima Productions responded to Peace Walker's underperformance by releasing an HD version a year later for PS3 and Xbox 360, bundled with other Metal Gear Solid games, leading to a gradual sales recovery and high regard within the series.
  • Younger staff at Kojima Productions proposed a new project focusing on Raiden's story between MGS 2 and 4, despite initial reluctance from Kojima, who preferred Grey Fox's story.
  • Maneshi Kimura, a lead artist at Kojima Productions, directed the new game centered around Raiden, emphasizing his acrobatics and swordplay through a new animation rig and advanced technology.
  • PlatinumGames, a Japanese studio known for fast-paced action games, took over the development of the Raiden project from Kojima Productions due to technical challenges and lack of direction.
  • Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, developed by PlatinumGames, features Raiden as a cybernetic ninja seeking vengeance in a straightforward hack-and-slash action game with linear levels and intense combat encounters.
  • The gameplay of Metal Gear Rising revolves around fluid melee combat using Raiden's high-frequency blade, allowing players to execute precise combos and special finishers like "zendatsu" by exploiting weak points.
  • Players can unlock new weapons and upgrades for Raiden, including health enhancements and additional move sets, using in-game currency to enhance the combat experience.
  • Metal Gear Rising received positive reviews for its satisfying swordplay, epic boss battles, and intense action sequences, despite criticism for deviating from the traditional Metal Gear stealth gameplay.
  • Kojima Productions developed the Fox Engine, a versatile platform showcased in Metal Gear Rising, and teased a new project, Project Ogre, featuring open-ended environments and player choice, hinting at a new Metal Gear installment.

02:14:30

Metal Gear Solid 5: Evolution of Stealth

  • Kojima Productions replaced David Hayder with Kiefer Sutherland for Metal Gear Solid 5 due to improved facial capture technology.
  • The unveiling of Metal Gear Solid 5 during the franchise's 25th anniversary received positive feedback for its visuals and stealth action elements.
  • Confusion arose regarding the game's identity, with speculation about it being a prologue or part of the mainline saga.
  • Moby Dick Studios announced a game called The Phantom Pain, which was later revealed to be Metal Gear Solid 5's subtitle.
  • Ground Zeroes, released in 2014, is set in 1975 after the Peace Walker incident, focusing on Big Boss and his military force.
  • Big Boss infiltrates Camp Omega to rescue Paz and Chico, leading to a setup by Cipher resulting in a massive attack.
  • Ground Zeroes introduces a darker and more mature tone with extended audio tapes revealing brutal torture at Camp Omega.
  • Gameplay in Ground Zeroes enhances stealth action with new player abilities, control improvements, and environmental interactivity.
  • The game offers a larger playable space, redesigned inventory system, and a holographic iDroid device for mission information.
  • Ground Zeroes received praise for its modernized stealth action gameplay but faced criticism for its short length and pricing structure.

02:29:53

Metal Gear Solid 5: Tactical Gameplay Overview

  • The D-Walker is a customizable miniature piloted bipedal mech for transportation, equipped with powerful tools and gadgets.
  • D-Dog, a wolf cub, can be raised from a pup to become an ally who tags nearby units and neutralizes enemies with tactical gear.
  • Enemy designs in Metal Gear Solid 5 evolve as players progress, with outposts becoming more challenging, soldiers adapting with heavy armor and decoys, and operating on rotational schedules.
  • Players can exploit troop rotations, use environmental factors like sandstorms or rainstorms for cover, and fast forward time with Snake's phantom cigar tool to avoid detection.
  • The alert system in Metal Gear Solid 5 triggers enemy responses based on transmitted information, with reinforcements called in if the player is spotted, leading to heightened security at checkpoints.
  • Building and maintaining a personal private army is crucial, with the R&D team unlocking armaments and the intel team providing enemy locations and weather information on the iDroid.
  • The base management system includes an online invasion mode where players can infiltrate and defend mother bases, emphasizing the need for upgraded security.
  • Metal Gear Solid 5 offers a vast array of strategies, techniques, and items for replayability, receiving high praise for content, visuals, and performance initially.
  • Public opinion on Metal Gear Solid 5 shifted due to a lack of narrative structure, repeated missions, and the absence of a traditional Metal Gear Solid narrative, leading to mixed reviews.
  • Metal Gear Survive, a non-canon reimagining post-Phantom Pain, introduces survival mechanics, crafting, and cooperative gameplay in a zombie-infested world, receiving negative feedback and facing commercial failure.

02:45:20

Metal Gear games for sale, Patreon perks

  • Original Metal Gear games available for purchase include Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, used to record the video footage.
  • Special thanks to Patreon supporters for significant help in video creation, offering early access to projects, behind-the-scenes content, shout outs, and access to a private Discord for chatting and gaming.
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