Metal Gear Solid

Overview

Metal Gear Solid is a stealth-action game released for the Sony PlayStation in October of 1998. With a critically-acclaimed storyline, addictive gameplay and innovative use of the PlayStation hardware, MGS was an instant classic. The series has since come to be a primary series for the PlayStation consoles. The game is a direct sequel to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and features the legendary Solid Snake in his first 3D adventure as he infiltrates a nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island. Liquid Snake is in command of rogue special forces unit FOXHOUND as they attempt to acquire Metal Gear REX to launch a nuclear strike and it’s up to Snake to stop them. It features an immersive storyline, cinematic in-game cut scenes, superb voice acting and genre-defining gameplay. It has shipped more than 6 million copies to date and is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential games of all time. The game was later released on the PC as well.

Metal Gear Solid was remade for the Nintendo Gamecube by Silicon Knights in 2004, titled Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. The remake featured improved graphics, re-shot cutscenes, re-mastered audio, and added general gameplay improvements from Metal Gear Solid 2, such as a first-person view and ledge hanging. Most of the voice actors from the original game were brought in to re-record their dialog, excluding the voice actors for the Cyber Ninja and Mei Ling. It also added a number of new easter eggs to find throughout the game. The game is now available from the Japanese, US, and PAL PSNs, which allows play on both the PS3 and PSP. In Metal Gear Solid 4, players revisit the game in a flashback.

Gameplay

Despite the transition to 3D, the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid remains largely identical to that of its 2D predecessor Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Like its predecessor, Metal Gear Solid is a game which revolves around stealth, so Snake will spend most of his time avoiding enemy detection. Utilizing his ability to walk quietly, crawl, and press against walls, Snake can avoid attracting enemy attention. Snake can also take out enemies by grabbing them and knocking them out, or utilizing the variety of weapons in his arsenal to take them down. Unfortunately, making any sort of noise will alert other guards in Shadow Moses. If Snake is detected, the game will go into alert phase, bringing extra guards to the area as long as alert mode is active. In this mode, Snake must either fight or make flight, though most often, he must escape, as he is at a disadvantage. If Snake manages to sneak away, the game enters the evasion phase in which the guards will be actively searching for Snake, though they are not aware of his presence. If Snake can hide long enough, the game will go to normal sneaking mode. If Snake is found in evasion phase, the game will return to alert status. In both alert and evasion phases, Snake cannot use his Soliton radar.

Like in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, the Soliton radar becomes a handy tool for Snake, showing him enemy positions and their respective vision cones, therefore making it easier for him to avoid detection. In alert, evasion, and jamming phases, the radar becomes unusable. Snake has no radar in the harder difficulty levels of the game.

The player moves Snake around the environment using the D-pad or analog sticks, which are also used to look around when in first person mode. The first person mode is initiated by pressing the triangle button. To sneak around, Snake will often be crawling, initiated by pressing the X button. The X button also allows snake to crouch, which allows him to stay out of sight behind short boxes or other objects. Snake can press against walls as well, a technique often used for sneaking. By holding the X button and the shoot button, Snake can shoot while running. With his back to the wall, Snake can use the square button to knock on walls, which will attract enemy attention, possibly allowing Snake to sneak off in the other direction.

Snake's inventory is sorted into two menus on the left and right side of the screen. The right menu shows all weapons currently in Snake's inventory, while the left menu shows all other items Snake is carrying. The player uses the L2 button to bring up the item menu, and the R2 button to bring up the weapons. When the player brings up either menu, the game pauses, the inventory borders the screen, and it can be navigated with the D-pad. The L1 and R1 buttons are used from weapon and item quick changes. Snake is able to use many weapons throughout his mission, including pistols and claymores.

To access his codec, the player presses the select button. Often throughout the game, the codec will ring and a message will display, informing the player that they have received a call. Pressing the select button will answer the call. Whenever the player needs to save or consult any of the other characters, he can access the codec menu and then either choose from saved frequencies or search for a frequency manually. The codec is very important, both for saving and telling the story.

The circle and square buttons are used for combat. The square button is the weapon button, and when pressed, Snake will fire the equipped weapon. Without any weapons equipped, Snake can use the square button to throw or choke an enemy he has grabbed. The circle button will unleash Snake's devastating punch and kick combo. Snake will attack in the direction he is facing, which is altered using the D-pad or analog sticks.

One of the most memorable aspects of Metal Gear Solid is the unusual pieces of gameplay that go beyond stealth. The game introduces the torture event, which became a staple for later titles. While being tortured, the player has to press a button repeatedly to keep Snake alive (Also known as ''Button Mashing'' sequences). The game also has sequences borrowed from its predecessor Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, including ones that take Snake's equipment away, require Snake to rappel down a building, and other off-beat sequences. Snake will find his mission is much more difficult then simply avoiding enemy detection.

There is one known difference between the US and Japanese versions of MGS1 on the PSX. In the Japanese version, if you dial the codec frequency to 140.66 in the Snowfield, and two other locations, it plays a song. One song sounds like a laggy broken version of the theme from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. You can access this song from the Snowfield outside of the Hangar when you first encounter Vulcan Raven.

Plot Summary

A nuclear weapons storage facility, located on Shadow Moses Island, has been attacked and overtaken by a group of terrorists called " FOXHOUND". The terrorists have taken two hostages: DARPA Chief Donald Anderson and ArmsTech President Kenneth Baker. A lone solder is sent on an unarmed sneaking mission to rescue the ArmsTech President and the DARPA Chief. Also, he must find out if the terrorists have the ability to launch a nuclear weapon "and stop them if they do". Unknown to the public, Shadow Moses is also a storing facility for nuclear weapons. It was created to house the newest reincarnation of the infamous bipedal nuclear equipped battle-tank called Metal Gear REX. You play as Solid Snake, a hardened soldier who has had "a couple of run-ins" with the previous Metal Gear projects. Snake won't be alone though, as he is able to communicate with an extensive cast of support characters over his codec radio system. As Snake infiltrates the facility, he finds out twisted secrets about Shadow Moses, Metal Gear and even himself.

Memorable Moments

Where The Hell Did I Put That Case!?!

Okay, so you've just saved Baker from the old sadistic gunslinger and now what? Baker said something about Meryl's frequency being on the back of the CD case, but what does that mean? Okay, don't start backtracking just yet. Find the CD case for the game. You know, the box with the shiny red text on it that says "Metal Gear Solid", that's probably sitting right next to your PlayStation... because you had to take the disk out of it to play the game. Yeah, that one... now flip it over and look at it... See anything interesting? There should be a screenshot of the Codec when Snake is talking to Meryl... 140.15...

This particular moment was largely borrowed from the game's predecessor Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which featured a similarly fourth-wall-breaking moment that required the player to look at the game's packaging to find a new radio frequency.

Mantis

Metal Gear Solid really did a lot to break the fourth wall so that the player feels more immersed into the warped story-line.

This is seen all over the place throughout the game, especially in the Psycho Mantis boss fight. The Mantis fight really is a memorable experience as the designers used the PlayStation hardware in truly innovative ways to freak out gamers. During the beginning of the fight, Mantis will read your Memory Card for certain Konami games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and comment on them. He will also comment on your saving habits if you don't save much. Sony had just released the Dual Shock controller and Metal Gear Solid used it in full force, most memorably when Mantis tells you to, "Put your controller on the floor. Put it down as flat as you can." Then the controller would vibrate and wiggle around on the floor for a little bit. The fight is filled with a bunch of other little psych-outs, no pun intended, like pretending to change the channel on your TV to HIDEO 1, and making it impossible to aim at Mantis unless you switch your controller to "Port 2" so he can't read your mind.

Les Enfants Terribles

This game has one of the most twisted story-lines of all time, only surpassed by the all-out wackiness of it's sequel. Liquid Snake and Solid Snake were genetically created in a lab from the Big Boss's DNA. Big Boss was revered as the perfect soldier back in the day, but he defects and starts to work to destroy the Patriots. Liquid and Solid Snake are both products of the Les Enfants Terribles project. According to Liquid, Solid Snake received all of Big Boss's dominant genes, and that he got stuck with the recessive genes. The genome soldiers that had been guarding the base had been genetically conditioned, using the research born from Les Enfants Terribles project. Liquid wishes to surpass their father's dream of a world of war, where soldiers can have a purpose.

Life or Death

Metal Gear Solid has two different endings. The most common ending is that when you have finished fist-fighting with liquid on top of the destroyed Metal Gear REX, Snake runs over to Meryl only to find her dead. Snake says, "I gave into my fear! I gave into my pain! I sold your life to save my own... I'm a loser. I'm not the hero you thought I was! I'm nothing!!!" Then Otacon show's up and starts talking about how "Death is not Defeat" and stuff. Now Snake's little speech should have raised a red flag. He is referring directly to the torture chamber section of the game. If you hit the "Select" button during either of the torture sequences, then you are doomed to the "Hal and Dave" ending. Surviving Ocelot's electric shock torture is no joke though, especially on the original PlayStation version (it definitely seems a lot easier on The Twin Snakes).

First thing's first, you MUST save after fighting Sniper Wolf in the hallway. The game will not let you "Continue" if you die during this sequence, which means you will have to fight Wolf again. In the cutscene before the torture, Ocelot will explain that you must push the circle button repeatedly to regain your strength. You cannot use "AUTO-FIRE" or the game will not register the button presses. However, my friend and I were able to use a third-party controller with a "TURBO-FIRE" button, so if you have a controller that has any kind of "AUTO-FIRE" or "TURBO FIRE" it might not be a bad idea to give that a try (it will be A LOT easier than the alternative if it works). Okay, there are many techniques for hitting a button really fast. I've heard of people using spoons to slide it across the button or alternating your index and middle fingers to hit the button faster, but I have never been able to use any of these successfully. What I do is hold the controller with my left hand (like you would normally and place my thumb on the D-pad and index finger on the L1 button. I tense up the muscles in my right hand and forearm so that my hand shakes. Then I use my thumb to hit the button while my hand is shaking. Now don't go putting yourself into a seizure or anything, it's not my fault if you hurt yourself, you shouldn't have to tense up your muscles too much anyway. I'm just saying that this is how I beat this section of the game; I'm not saying that it's the right or wrong way. Once you've finished the first round of four progressively longer shocks, you will be sent back to your cell for a brief intermission. Then it's time for round two, which is going to be familiar territory by now. If you succeed, you will be rewarded with the real ending, along with a snazzy new Bandanna for the next play-through which when worn gives you infinite ammo. If you get the other ending you will get the Stealth Camouflage.

Ghosts

Once you complete a playthrough of Metal Gear Solid, you will be given a digital camera. You can use the camera on your next playthrough to take pictures. You can also see "ghosts" of the Metal Gear Solid development team, which are scattered through out the game. Most memorably, you can snap a picture of Hideo Kojima's ghost rising up from the steam of the guard's urine in the men's bathroom of the second base after the M1 Abrams tank battle.

Key Players

Bosses

• Revolver Ocelot
• M1 Abrams
• Gray Fox (Cyborg Ninja)
• Psycho Mantis
• Sniper Wolf (Communication Towers)
• Hind D
• Sniper Wolf (Snow Field)
• Vulcan Raven
• Metal Gear Rex
• Liquid Snake

Support Team Codec Number

• Colonel Roy Campbell 140.85
• Naomi Hunter 140.85
• Mei Ling 140.96
• Nastasha Romanenko 141.52
• Master Miller 141.80
• Meryl Silverburgh 140.15
• Hal Emmerich (Otacon) 141.12

Metal Gear Solid: Integral

Metal Gear Solid: Integral was released in Japan to give Japanese players access to several features that were developed for the International release of Metal Gear Solid, as well as several new features not found in any previous version. Integral's biggest new feature, a disc containing over 300 new VR Missions, was released as a standalone game in America as Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, and in Europe as Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions. The PC port of Metal Gear Solid is also based on this version, but removes the new hidden codec frequencies and connectivity between the game and Sony's PocketStation.

International Content

When Metal Gear Solid was originally released in Japan the game only contained one difficulty level, corresponding with the International release's Easy. Normal, Hard, and Extreme difficulties were added to subsequent versions of the game. The International versions also added a demo theater for watching cut scenes and codec conversations, and a tuxedo that Snake will wear on every third playthrough after players have reached both endings. Even the voice acting is brought over from the American release, replacing the Japanese voice over found in the original release.

New Features

The biggest addition to Integral is a "VR Disc" containing over 300 new VR Missions. While most of the missions have similar gameplay to the main game, some missions introduce new concepts such as missions where Snake has to solve mysteries, and three missions where players get to control the Cyborg Ninja character from the main game. Other new features include a Very Easy difficulty that gives Snake an MP5 sub-machine gun with infinite ammo, an option for alternate patrol routes for the guards, a mode where the game can be played completely in first person, Sneaking Suit Meryl and Red Cyborg Ninja costumes that replace the normal costumes to complement Snake's alternate tuxedo costume, new Codec frequencies that have staff commentary and remixed music from previous Metal Gear games, and a minigame for the PocketStation. Of all the additions exclusive to Integral, the replacement costumes for Meryl and the Cyborg Ninja are the only ones included in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.

PlayStation Traits

• 1 Player
• Memory card 1-15 blocks
• Analog controller compatible
• Vibration function

Original Soundtrack

• 1. Metal Gear Solid Main Theme - 2:42
• 2. Introduction - 0:57
• 3. Discovery - 5:05
• 4. Cavern - 3:11
• 5. Intruder 1 - 2:04
• 6. Encounter - 2:20
• 7. Intruder 2 - 1:55
• 8. Warhead Storage - 3:39
• 9. Intruder 3 - 2:55
• 10. Mantis' Hymn - 2:5611. Hind D - 1:58
• 12. Duel - 2:22
• 13. Enclosure - 2:14
• 14. Blast Furnace - 2:5815. Colosseo - 1:53
• 16. Rex's Lair - 3:05
• 17. Escape - 3:1118. End Title/The Best Is Yet to Come - 5:46
• 19. VR Training - 2:37
• 20. Metal Gear Solid Main Theme [1997 E3 Edit] - 5:23