Metal Gear (video game)

This article is about the 1987 video game,. For the entire video game series, see Metal Gear. For other uses, see Metal Gear (disambiguation).

Metal Gear
The cover illustration depicts the protagonist Solid Snake prominently, with the eponymous mecha below him. The illustration is in fact a reproduction of a picture of the character Kyle Reese from the 1984 film The Terminator, played by actor Michael Biehn.
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami Ultra Games (North American NES version)
Designer(s)	Hideo Kojima
Composer(s)	Iku Mizutani Shigehiro Takenouchi Motoaki Furukawa
Series	Metal Gear
Engine	8-bit
Platform(s)	MSX2, NES, PC MS-DOS, Commodore 64, Mobile Phone, PlayStation 2, Virtual Console, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release date(s)	MSX2 JP July 7, 1987 EU 1987 NES JP December 22, 1987 NA June 1988 EU 1988 PC MS-DOS NA August 30, 1990 EU 1990 Commodore 64 NA 1990 EU 1990 Mobile phone JP August 18, 2004 NA 2008 PlayStation 2 JP December 22, 2005 NA March 14, 2006 EU October 6, 2006 AUS October 13, 2006 Virtual Console JP December 8, 2009 (MSX) PlayStation 3 JP November 8, 2011 NA November 8, 2011 EU November 29, 2011 Xbox 360 JP November 8, 2011 NA November 8, 2011 EU November 29, 2011
Genre(s)	Stealth action
Mode(s)	Single player
Media/distribution	Cartridge (MSX2, NES) Floppy disk (PC MS-DOS, C64) Download (mobile phone) DVD (PS2, 360) Blu-ray Disc (PS3)

Metal Gear (メタルギア, Metaru Gia^?) is an overhead military action-adventure video game originally released in 1987 by Konami for the MSX2 computer standard in Japan and parts of Europe. Considered to be the progenitor of the stealth game genre, it was also the first video game designed by Hideo Kojima, who also directed many of the later Metal Gear sequels.^[1] A heavily altered port was produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System (without Kojima's involvement),^[2] along with a remade version based on the original MSX2 game that was released for the PlayStation 2 as a bonus game in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.

The game revolves around a special forces operative codenamed Solid Snake who goes into a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear, a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from anywhere in the world.

Gameplay

Solid Snake avoiding a visual encounter with enemy soldiers (MSX2 version).

The player must navigate the main character, a military operative codenamed Solid Snake, through various locations, while avoiding visual contact and direct confrontation with patrolling guards. If the player is seen, the game enters the "Alert Mode." In this situation, Snake must escape from enemy's sight in order to resume infiltration. The method of escaping varies depending on the circumstances behind discovery:

• If Snake is seen and only a single exclamation mark (!) appears over an enemy's head, only the enemies in the player's present screen will attack and Snake can escape by simply moving to an adjacent screen.
• However, if two exclamation marks (!!) appear over the enemy (or the player triggers an alarm by being spotted by a camera, infrared sensor or by using an unsilenced weapon), reinforcements from outside the screen will appear as well. Snake can only escape by eliminating all incoming enemies, going outdoors, or by simply moving to a different floor.

The player starts the game unarmed, but eventually gains access to a variety of firearms and explosives, starting with the Beretta M92F and working their way up to guided missiles and the RPG-7 rocket launcher. Ammo and supplies for each weapon are limited, but are easily replenished. Weapons can not only be used to kill enemies, but also to clear obstacles such as hollow walls or electrified floors. Snake can also use his fists to punch and defeat patrolling enemies. Occasionally if the player defeats a guard with punches without alerting anyone, the defeated guard will yield a single unit of rations or an ammo box that can be picked up. In addition to enemy guards, the player will also be confronted by mercenaries who will challenge the player to combat, serving as the boss characters.

The enemy base consists of three different buildings, with multiple floors (including basement levels) within them. The player uses key cards and other items to unlock doors or explore new areas. Each door will only open to its corresponding key cards. Information can be obtained by rescuing hostages being held captive within the buildings. After rescuing five hostages, the player's rank will increase by one star (with the maximum rank being four stars), allowing for carrying capacity and maximum health. However, if a hostage is killed, the player is demoted to the previous rank.

A transceiver is available for the player to communicate with their commanding officer (Big Boss) or one of the resistance members operating covertly near Outer Heaven (Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer). Each of Snake's allies specializes in a specific subject (i.e.: Big Boss provides information on weapons and items, Schneider knows the layout of the fortress, and Diane knows the weaknesses of most of the bosses). The player must keep track of their allies' frequency numbers in order to contact them. All of the radio messages are dependent on the rooms where the player is located.

Plot

Characters

See also: List of Metal Gear characters

The player's character is Solid Snake, a rookie member of the fictional special forces group FOXHOUND sent on his first mission. He is assisted via radio by his commanding officer Big Boss, who offers information about mission objectives and items; as well as a local Resistance movement composed of Schneider, who provides the locations of important items; Diane, who provides information on how to defeat enemy bosses; and Jennifer, who assists Snake as an inside agent. Among the prisoners Snake rescues includes Grey Fox (Gray Fox in the later versions), a FOXHOUND agent who was captured during a previous mission; Dr. Pettrovich (Dr. Pettrovich Madnar in later releases), the scientist who designed the Metal Gear weapon; and his daughter Ellen, who was kidnapped along with him.

The bosses includes Shoot Gunner (renamed Shotmaker in later versions), a former Spetsnaz agent specializing in the riot gun; Machine Gun Kid, a former SAS operative armed with a machine gun; Fire Trooper, a former GSG 9 operative who uses a flamethrower; Coward Duck (Dirty Duck in later releases), a boomerang throwing terrorist who shields himself with hostages; Arnold (Bloody Brad in later releases), an android designed by Dr. Pettrovich; and the legendary mercenary who founded Outer Heaven, whose true identity is unknown until the end.

Story

Metal Gear series fictional chronology
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Metal Gear Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake Metal Gear Solid (The Twin Snakes) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Metal Gear Solid: Rising Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

In 199X^[3], 200 km north of Galzburg, South Africa, lies Outer Heaven, a fortified state founded by a "legendary mercenary". Word had gotten out to the western world that deep within the Outer Heaven stronghold, a weapon of mass destruction is being constructed. Special Forces unit FOXHOUND sends Gray Fox, one of their top agents, to infiltrate the fortress, assess the situation and neutralize the threat. Days later, contact with Gray Fox is lost and his last transmission simply reads "METAL GEAR..." Operative Solid Snake, FOXHOUND's newest recruit, is ordered by squad leader Big Boss to rescue Gray Fox and carry out his mission, "Operation: Intrude N313".

Upon insertion into Outer Heaven, Snake makes contact with local resistance members Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer. Using all of his skills and the equipment he procured on site, he manages to rescue Fox. He learns from Fox that Metal Gear is the codename of a nuclear warhead-equipped bipedal walking tank, which can engage and dominate in all forms of combat as well as launch its nuclear warheads from any location. Outer Heaven plans to use Metal Gear to impose itself as the new world superpower.

In order to destroy Metal Gear, and topple the Outer Heaven mercenaries, Snake rescues the lead engineer of Metal Gear, Dr. Pettrovich, and his daughter, Ellen. Armed with information on how to destroy Metal Gear, his skill and indomitable spirit, Snake fights through the entire Outer Heaven force. He begins to notice that traps being set for him are too precise, and wonders how information on his activities is being tracked. Big Boss begins to act strangely, and eventually tells Snake to abort the mission (breaking the fourth wall by telling the player to turn off the console). Moreover, Schneider is ambushed by hostiles and is presumed dead after losing contact with Snake.

Upon breaching the core of the base, Snake is able to neutralize Metal Gear before it reaches completion. As he makes his way out of the compound's basement, he is confronted by the mercenary leader of Outer Heaven, who turns out to be Big Boss. The corrupt leader reveals that he had been using his connections to steal military intelligence, establish his own mercenary force, and fund his activities. It was his aim to have Outer Heaven become the world's greatest superpower, able to bring even the western nations to their knees. He had the rookie Snake sent in, hoping to have him captured and feed misinformation to authorities, but had quite obviously underestimated Snake's capabilities.

Having lost Metal Gear and much of his force, Big Boss seemingly starts the self-destruct sequence for the compound, and promises he will not die alone; Snake will join him. An underground battle ensues, and despite injury, Snake defeats Big Boss and escapes the Outer Heaven compound as it crumbles in flames behind him. After the end credits, a message from Big Boss is displayed saying that he will meet Solid Snake again.

Development and release

Kojima was asked to take over a project from a senior associate. Metal Gear was intended to be an action game that featured modern military combat. However, the MSX2's hardware limited the number of on-screen bullets and enemies, which Kojima felt impeded the combat aspect. Inspired by The Great Escape, he reversed the focus of the gameplay from shooting down the enemy to avoiding the capture.^[4]

MSX2

Metal Gear was originally released on the MSX2 home computer in Japan on July 12, 1987, with an official English version released for the European market on September 1987. Most of the radio messages were edited or removed in the English version, including Big Boss' comments on every item and weapon found by the player. According to a fan-translation project, only 56% of the original Japanese text was translated in the English version.^[5] The translation contains many examples of Engrish, such as consistently misspelling "destroy" as "destoroy". The Japanese version's manual contains exclusive content not found in the English manual, such as character profiles with illustrations,^[6][7] brief descriptions of the enemy bosses,^[8][9] and the complete specifications of the Metal Gear tank.^[10]

The MSX2 version of Metal Gear was released for the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on December 8, 2009.^[11]

Nintendo Entertainment System

The level designs were altered for the NES version, which includes an extensive outdoor sequence prior to reaching the first building.

A reprogrammed version for the Family Computer was released in Japan on December 22, 1987. While the MSX2 version of this game was never released in the U.S., the Nintendo Entertainment System version came to North America in June 1988 (published by Konami's Ultra Games division), followed by PAL version in Europe and Australia in March 1989. According to Kojima's account, the NES port was developed by another Konami team at Tokyo without his involvement, who were given the source code from the MSX2 version without the consent of Kojima or anyone who worked on the original MSX2 version. While the NES version was intended to be a port of the MSX2 game, many changes were also made to the game during the porting process.^[12][13] Hideo Kojima has been vocal about his disappointment at the changes made to the game in its NES port.^[2][14]

The biggest change to the game was in the overall level design. Instead of the underwater infiltration from the MSX2 game, the NES version features a different opening sequence showing Solid Snake and three other soldiers (who are never seen nor mentioned after the opening) parachuting into the middle of a jungle, where the player begins (instead of starting directly at the entrance of the first building). The player must reach a transport truck at the end of the first jungle area that takes Snake to the front entrance of Building 1. The player can also use other transport trucks that serve as shortcuts to the entrances of the other buildings, although the player cannot do much in those areas without the required equipment. The basement floor that connected Building 1 and 2 in the MSX2 version is turned into two separate (but still connected) buildings, Building 4 and 5 respectively, that are only reachable by going through two different jungle mazes located at the outdoor areas between Building 1 & 2 and Building 2 & 3 respectively. The Metal Gear robot before the final boss battle is missing; instead the player destroys an immobile Super Computer guarded by four soldiers.^[2][13] The Hind D boss on the roof of Building 1 was also replaced by two armed turret gunners called "Twin Shot". Other changes includes the lack of the second alert phase, different background music, the removal of the Flying Army's ability to hover and the removal of Big Boss' message after the end credits. Like the English localization of the MSX2 version, the English localization of the NES game contains numerous examples of grammatically-incorrect phrases, such as "Contact missing our Grey Fox",^[15] "The truck have started to move!",^[16] and "I feel asleep!!"^[17]

The English localization of the NES version's manual swayed from the game's actual storyline. The main villain (whose identity is not revealed until the end) is mentioned to be "Colonel Vermon CaTaffy", while Snake's commanding officer is renamed "Commander South".^[18] Additionally, Solid Snake's back-story is different, with the manual claiming that he participated in the Grenada invasion prior to joining FOXHOUND.^[19] It should be noted that these alterations to the plot only appear in the manual, but never in the game itself; moreover, the plot summary in the Japanese Famicom version's manual, along with Solid Snake's character profile, is identical to the MSX2 version's Japanese manual.^[20][21]

A bonus game disc featuring the Famicom version of Metal Gear was included in the Premium Package edition of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes released only in Japan.^[22]

PC MS-DOS and Commodore 64

The NES version of Metal Gear was the basis of two computer ports that were released in 1990 for PC MS-DOS and the Commodore 64 in North America and Europe. The PC MS-DOS conversion was programmed by Charles Ernst, while the Commodore 64 conversion was handled by Unlimited Software Inc. The PC MS-DOS version contains many minor changes, such as a faster-depleting health bar. However, the Commodore 64 version is closer to the NES version, with only small musical and visual changes. A third computer conversion for the Amiga is listed on the rear packaging of both computer versions, but was never released.

Mobile phones and PlayStation 2

A version of Metal Gear was released for mobile phones in Japan on August 18, 2004. It could be downloaded on the i-Mode, EZweb and Vodafone services. Although based on the MSX2 version, it includes several new features and changes. This same version was included as a component of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2. The North American version included a retranslated English script, as well as an optional Spanish script. In 2008, Konami began offering the mobile phone version of Metal Gear to North American players via their Konami Mobile service.^[23] The re-released versions were programmed by Aspect Co., Ltd. under Konami's supervision. It is also available for Nokia N-gage gaming platform.

New features include two difficulty settings ("Original" and "Easy"), an unlockable Boss Survival mode and an infinite bandana which provides the player with unlimited ammo when equipped (similar to the one featured in Metal Gear Solid). Some of the boss characters were renamed as well. In the Japanese version, the script was changed to include kanji and hiragana, in addition to katakana and romaji. The English version uses a completely new translation different from the early MSX2 and NES localizations.

HD Collection

It has been confirmed that Metal Gear, along with Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, will be included in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.[1]

Typos

The game is noted for a few typos in the dialogue that have led to various internet memes. While labeled as Engrish, they are merely spelling errors.

• "I feel asleep!!!"- While commonly believed to be a mistranslation of "I feel sleepy.", even by James Rolfe, upon further investigation, this should actually be "I fell asleep!!!". The guard claims he's "getting sleepy", followed by a trail of Zs. After saying the famous quote, if Snake walks by, he gets shot at. This indicates that the guard has just woken up, realizing that he fell asleep.
• "The truck have started to move."- While this is commonly argued that "have" should be "has", it is more likely that the word "truck" should be "trucks".
• "Locate our missing Gray Fox"- It should be noted that this is the first mention of Grey Fox in the series, and therefore not a spelling error. Also, grey and gray are both acceptable spellings.

Reception

The NES version of Metal Gear was rated the 104th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.^[24]

Its success led to the creation of two separately produced sequels; the first one, Snake's Revenge, was produced specifically for the NES in North America and Europe in 1990 and the other, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, was the sequel developed by the original game's designer and released in Japan for the MSX2 during the same year as a response to the former's creation. The latter was followed by Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation in 1998, which was in turn followed by numerous sequels and spinoffs (see Metal Gear series).

The intro theme ("Operation Intrude N313"), main theme ("Theme of Tara") and game over theme ("Just Another Dead Soldier") from the MSX2 version were reused for the VR Training theme in Metal Gear Solid, which in turn was reused in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. "Theme of Tara" is one of the tunes that can be heard in the "Shadow Moses Island" stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, the music for the beginning section of the Battleship Halberd Interior stage of the Adventure mode, where Snake officially enters the storyline, and can also be selected as music with an iPod item in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

References

1. ^ Jeremy Parish, “Metal Gear,” Electronic Gaming Monthly 225 (January 2008): 93.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Steven Kent. "Hideo Kojima: Game Guru, Movie Maniac". http://www.gamerstoday.com/world_tour/kojima/index.html. "HK: I really don't like saying this, but it really wasn't up to my standards. The care that I put in the original wasn't there. It [the Famicom version] was a more difficult game. In the very beginning, when you go from the entrance into the fortress, for example, there are dogs there. In the Famicom version, the dogs just come after you and you get killed. It was too difficult to get into the fortress. The fun stealth element was not there, and the actual Metal Gear, the robot, doesn't appear in the game." 
3. ^ Later established to be 1995 in Metal Gear Solid.
4. ^ Szczepaniak, John. "Before They Were Famouos". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (35): 74. 
5. ^ "Nekura_Hoka's Metal Gear Code Site". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027023857/http://geocities.com/nekurahoka/. 
6. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 10.
7. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 11.
8. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 15.
9. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 16.
10. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 17.
11. ^ "Wii バーチャルコンソール タイトル一覧" (in Japanese). http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/lineup.html. 
12. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan website staff. "Editorial about the Famicom version of Metal Gear" (in Japanese). http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mgs_tts/japanese/limited_0206.html. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Buchanan, Levi (2008-06-13). "Have You Really Played Metal Gear?". IGN. http://retro.ign.com/articles/881/881710p1.html. Retrieved March 31, 2009. 
14. ^ Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1. Konami. 2005. 
15. ^ Konami. Metal Gear. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: The first radio transmission at the start..
16. ^ Konami. Metal Gear. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Whenever Snake enters a moving truck..
17. ^ Konami. Metal Gear. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Whenever an enemy soldier wakes up from his sleep..
18. ^ Konami. Metal Gear. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 4.
19. ^ Konami. Metal Gear. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 5.
20. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). MSX2. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 04.
21. ^ Konami. Metal Gear (in Japanese). Family Computer. Level/area: Instruction Manual, page 4.
22. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Premium Package details" (in Japanese). http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mgs_tts/japanese/limited_0130.html. 
23. ^ "KONAMI MOBILE". http://www.konamimobile.com/gamedetail.aspx?rkw=mgc. 
24. ^ "NP Top 200", Nintendo Power 200: 58–66, February 2006 .

External links

• Official Metal Gear site at Konami (Japanese)
• Metal Gear Official website for the mobile phone version (Japanese)
• Metal Gear guide at StrategyWiki
• Metal Gear (NES) guide at StrategyWiki