Throwback Thursday: Metal Gear Solid

On September 3rd 1998, the gaming world was changed forever and as far as memory serves, sometime in 1999 my young life was also changed forever, when into my hands fell the original Metal Gear Solid.

At the time, my young mind really couldn't comprehend the awesomeness that was MGS, but now looking back, I can say that the original is in my top 5 games, ever. The order of the top 5 changes all the time, but MGS is a constant in that list.

Metal Gear Solid has a deep, involving (albeit slightly confusing) story with great characters and character development. We care about what happens to these characters.

Solid Snake, the protagonist, who according to character designer, Yoji Shinkawa, has a physique based on Jeanne Claude Van Damme and a face based on Christopher Walken, has to infiltrate Shadow Moses island to thwart the threat of a walking nuclear weapon - Metal Gear REX, which is being manned by the twin brother of Solid Snake, Liquid Snake. The full arsenal of which will be unleashed if Liquid and his group aren't given the remains of legendary super soldier, Big Boss. That's a brief summary of the plot.

Metal Gear Solid features some of the best boss fights I can recall in any video game, but the best, and the one I always remember most vividly is the Psycho Mantis boss fight. Which actually holds the record for the most innovative use of a video game controller (in the 2008 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.) I won't go into too much details about it because I am sure you have all played it, but if you haven't, It's something that you have to experience and telling you about it really won't do it any justice.

Going back to characters - the character design in this game is incredible. Not only is Snake an amazing character but the game is full of them. Overflowing with them even, from the Alaskan shaman, Vulcan Raven to Revolver Ocelot, whose weapon of choice as you may have guessed from the name is a revolver, a Colt Single Action Army to be precise. Every member of FOXHOUND is a glorious foray into how to design a well rounded character. But my favourite character from Metal Gear Solid is Grey Fox - a cybernetically enhanced ninja, who is neither friend nor foe to Snake but opposes FOXHOUND. There is just something about how badass he is that makes him a stand out character for me.

I won't say anything about the ending(s) because you have all played MGS and if you haven't then, as with the Psycho Mantis boss fight, talking about it won't do it any justice. So if you haven't played Metal Gear Solid, go do it. Now, stop reading this, and go play Metal Gear Solid!