Metal Gear Solid

Even before Hideo Kojima became a genius and released the most ambitious courier simulator in the world, he worked as a regular game designer at the Konami studio and was primarily involved in the creation of Metal Gear action games.

It was in the distant 1990s, projects were released on various "old-school" platforms like NES, MS-DOS and even MSX2, and were already initially focused on stealth passage. Moreover, they received such a specification due to the technical limitations of video cards of those times - the graphics subsystem simply could not display enough bullets on the screen for Metal Gear to be a classic action game. Then Hideo Kojima, inspired by the book "The Great Escape", came up with - the hero should not fight with opponents, but if possible avoid them.

The first three games of the Metal Gear series told about several heroes at once, and Solid Snake, who would later become the face of his own line of projects, was presented in them as just another character. But the audience loved him so much that Konami decided to devote her own action game to him. This is how Metal Gear Solid was born, and then a whole series.

The boxes have a huge history

Alternative year 2005, the fictional island of Shadow Moses somewhere near Alaska. A team of American special forces, in collaboration with professional reinforced soldiers, captured an entire nuclear arsenal, which was to be disposed of, and a giant combat robot, Metal Gear. The terrorists demand that the US White House hand over the remnants of the military commander Big Boss to them, otherwise they will strike Washington with a nuclear missile.

However, the Americans do not negotiate with terrorists, even if they simply demand a half-decayed corpse. And therefore, a soldier named Solid Snake arrives on Shadow Moses Island, who after three previous games decided to retire and live at least a little peacefully in Alaska.

Using boxes and other improvised shelters, Solid Snake infiltrates the captured base and learns from the local captive commanders that the Metal Gear project is in the very apotheosis of development. An even more advanced version of a giant combat robot is being created, which will be incredibly dangerous and powerful. Then he meets with the leader of the terrorists, "an old acquaintance" Liquid Snake, and finds out who he works for and why he needs the remains of Big Boss. And all this against the backdrop of an unfolding spy story in which no one can be trusted. With cyber ninjas, cloning super soldiers and giant war robots.

It is clear that from the first episode in Metal Gear Solid adhered to a certain degree of absurdity. But at the same time, he did not outweigh the comedy. Yes, there are cloned genetically modified soldiers - but why not? Yes, there is a giant combat robot - but do the Americans need to threaten a potential enemy overseas with something?

Simple Stealth in Metal Gear Solid

Immediately it is worth making a reservation that the original version of Metal Gear Solid was released in 1998. Therefore, the stealth mechanisms in it are elementary. So, the main character can hide from the views of opponents by simply taking out a cardboard box from the inventory and climbing into it (almost like a cat). And no one will have any questions about why this corrugated container is lying in the very center of a secret military base and, moreover, is moving from place to place.

Solid Snake can also climb into ventilation shafts and crawl along them, just like Bruce Willis in Die Hard. He is able to hide in the shadows near the walls and even peek around the corner in order to imperceptibly assess the situation. Patrolmen can be distracted by throwing a stone at a piece of iron.

In general, stealth, although elementary, is still used in games. For example, in the same A Plague Tale: Innocence, the main character also distracts opponents with a well-aimed throw of a stone at a piece of iron. But the maximum level of secrecy - to be covered with a cardboard box - has not yet been proposed.

Additional Gameplay Features of Metal Gear Solid

However, the gameplay is not limited to attempts to sneak past the patrolmen. Sometimes they even let you shoot.

First of all, the action is manifested in collisions with bosses. These opponents are distinguished not only by their large size and excellent health reserves. Each of them requires its own approach and tactics. In some cases, the battle can be avoided by resolving the issue peacefully. And sometimes it is required without fail.

Also, sometimes you need to solve various puzzles. As a rule, they are not too complicated, and there is always some clue nearby. However, some are ranked among the most "confusing" mysteries in video games - for example, trying to find out Meryl's radio frequency. The solution to this puzzle is worth looking for in the real world, or better - given that outside the 2020s - just google it.