When you hear the words ‘Metal Gear’, it more than likely conjures up thoughts of the beloved Metal Gear Solid that released on the Sony PlayStation 1. This iconic game defined an era while remaining one of the most acclaimed gaming series in existence. However, it may come as a surprise to discover that in the NES era, Metal Gear was just as beloved as The Legend of Zelda.
The Metal Gear series began with the Japanese exclusive, MSX2 release of Metal Gear. This was followed by Snake’s Revenge- made in response to an American audience and not heavily influenced by original creator Hideo Kojima. However, the release of Snake’s Revenge pushed Kojima to create the following, ‘true’ version of the series- Metal Gear Solid.
These classic games would eventually make their way outside of Japan in 2006 with the game Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence- but had years of being overlooked by many fans, who determined that its plot had little relevance to the Metal Gear Solid storyline. But by no means does this make them any less worthwhile- in fact, Metal Gear and its sequel could very much be classed as among the best games of their era, with the same quality gameplay you’d expect from the Metal Gear Solid games.
Metal Gear is set 11 years after the game Metal Gear: Phantom Pain. Players take control of the FOXHOUND’s special forces operative Solid Snake and are tasked with infiltrating the military fortress Outer Heaven to rescue Gray Fox and take down the in-development Metal Gear weapon. While the mission may sound familiar to modern day Metal Gear fans, the game provides its own unique twist, much like adventure games like The Legend of Zelda. Metal Gear may come off as dated compared to later iterations, but with a little help from gaming guides, it can still be hugely enjoyable.
Metal Gear 2, however, is a great deal more modern. Set four years after the events of Outer Heaven, the game follows Snake as he infiltrates the military junta of Zanzibar Land in a bid to save scientist Dr. Marv who is being forced to create a microbe that will solve the world’s energy crisis. The game features impressive cinematics and storytelling style similar to the 80’s films, an element not present in the original. Improved boss fights, crawling mechanics and enhanced enemy AI also prove to be revolutionary elements you’d expect in today’s games.
While the original Metal Gear has seen an improved port on GOG, Metal Gear 2 is a little more difficult to get your hands on as it is available only on the currently delisted Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. If you’re a Metal Gear fan, however, you owe it to yourself to check out both of these classic games, regardless of their age, as they are equally as enjoyable as the more modern entries.
The company mentioned in this article is Konami. Konami is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. It is best known for creating the popular Metal Gear series and other beloved franchises such as Pro Evolution Soccer, Dance Dance Revolution and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Konami continues to make critically acclaimed titles, expand their franchises and many more.
The person mentioned in this article is Hideo Kojima. He is the creator behind the Metal Gear series and is considered one of gaming’s greatest pioneers. Kojima’s vision helped create the stealth-action genre and has seen incredible success in the Metal Gear series and beyond. His works are seen as some of the most influential ever created, receiving recognition from all parts of the gaming industry.
