Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
This is, along with the final iteration, Metal Gear Solid 4, is arguably the most universally acclaimed entrance in the MGS franchise. What is most interesting is that this is the main entry in the series with the least amount of copies sold. In fact, it sold nearly 2 million less than its predecessor, which is generally referred to as the least successful of the series.
Metal Gear Solid 3 depicts what is (as of now) the earliest plot points in the chronology of the MGS story. Very little can be said about the happenings in this story as it would ruin what is, in my opinion, one of the best endings in video game history. There have been few games that have driven me to physically react (Wii, PS Move and Kinect games aside), but when the true intentions of some of the characters were revealed just before the ending credits, I stood to my feet.
Kojima has a way of writing his stories backwards, it seems. It's really the only way he could possibly accomplish what he does within his narratives. At the end of each installation, he expertly explains to the players things that have been affecting the story since the beginning, unbeknownst to us.
Emotion was very prevalent in this game. The final half hour is so packed full of stress, pathos, confusion, revelation, and intrigue I hardly knew what to do with myself. MGS3 hosts one of the most beautiful and engaging boss fights I have ever had the pleasure to experience.
It speaks for itself as to why it's so important. The whole series is important mostly because it treats the audience like we actually have a brain in our heads. It presents ethical challenges to us constantly and wonderfully portrays the story of how this story of Metal Gear Solid really began.
It wasn't until I played the 4th installment that I was really able to reflect back on the series as a whole and wonder what its narrative is really trying to say...
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Fan service.
That's all that really needs to be said about this final main entry in the series. And I, as a now devout fan of MGS truly hope that is actually is the final entry. Kojima himself recently stated that Snake was supposed to die, and he only kept him alive because he thought that fan's outrage would be too violent.
Anyways, the game is absolutely packed full of anything a MGS fan would want to see. The return of key characters like Meryl, Naomi, Octacon is a given, but it was still awesome to see him again. We even saw the return of locations; a re-infiltration of the now nostalgic Shadow Moses island. And so it was easy for me to be satisfied with the growing narrative of MGS, even if was somewhat overwhelming. I had to check to summaries of the other games, as well as the lore in general to make sure I was following everything that was happening.
I think I got it... I think.
It wasn't until after...some...of the credits that Kojima really got me thinking. The story was wrapped up, and I was crying like a baby. The ending was so emotional, I almost want to delete the story that I used to start this blog up. It almost made up for the lack of emotion I felt throughout this generation. Almost.
But, just like any other final entry in a series, there were multiple endings to MGS4 (Return of the King, anyone?) Kojima threw in one more scene after an already perfectly executed ending. This scene changed most of what you know and have learned about the MGS world over the last 4 games. I wouldn't even consider it a "twist ending." No, it was more of a "lol, jk" ending. It made me think what, if anything Kojima and co. are taking seriously over there. Was this whole series just a sick joke? An experiment, perhaps, to see how many millions of fans they could capture with an absolutely bullshit story? A story so complex and layered that people just go along for the ride, claiming genius work, all the while having no idea what is going on.
I'd like to think its a mixture of yes and no. The self referencing, fourth wall breaking humor is unique to MGS, and is really what got me thinking about this. But I, along with many other people, do understand the story within MGS. Sure, what they are trying to say with the story is left up to interpretation, and sure I had to read many summaries and analyses online in order to get a full grasp of the narrative, but one thing is for certain: it works.
Metal Gear Solid took me on a ride. A ride that I really did enjoy and appreciate. Kojima has created an incredible world, one that I will forever claim to be the host to the best story video games have ever seen across multiple games.
The most important thing I gained from my adventure with Snake is inspiration. While I don't intend to adopt the quirky humor and at times too-deep storytelling into my own project, I hope I can create something that is as engrossing as these projects.
Here's hoping.
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