Summary
Metal Gearcreator Hideo Kojima has shared his thoughts on a key feature present in the originalMetal Geargame, calling it “the biggest invention” of his debut directorial work.Metal Gearfirst came out on MSX2 in 1987 and went on to spawn several acclaimed sequels and spin-offs, transforming into a major IP for developer Konami.
Often considered as the pioneer of the stealth game genre, the inauguralMetal Geartitle holds a coveted spot in the industry’s history. It is credited with effectively popularizing stealth at a time when direct combat was the main focus of many games. Moreover, theMetal Gearseries is recognized for its engaging narrativeand story themes, such as information warfare, perceived as relevant to the real world. The Konami-owned franchise completed its 37th anniversary on July 13, the day of the first game’s Japanese launch.
Talking about theoriginalMetal Geargameon the special day, veteran game director Hideo Kojima drew attention to its in-game radio transceiver and the role of the same in storytelling. He opined that this was the most innovative aspect of a game that was “packed with things that were ahead of its time.” The Kojima Productions head emphasized the interactive nature of the transceiver, which allowed the player to not just receive calls but also make calls of his own.
Kojima Talks About the First Metal Gear
Underlining how a game “moves along with the player” and how it’s possible for the player’s feelings to get “detached” when events happen in the background, Kojima noted that the transceiver inMetal Gearovercame this issue by “depicting” the player’s present situation in addition to shining a light on the situation of other characters or on other events. He added that this function allowed moments concerning “the identity of the BOSS [sic], the betrayal of a character, death of a team member and so on” to be depicted at the same time. Acknowledging the Transciever Mode’s role in more routine tasks, theDeath Strandingdirector said that it also enabled players to understand the rules of the game and helped them get familiar with the gameplay. Further, he highlighted the prevalence of transceivers in “most of today’sshooter games.”
With theMetal Gearfranchise turning 37, fans eagerly await the arrival of the next game, which is set to re-introduce a popular entry in the series.Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eateris the remakeof 2004’sMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaterand is rumored to be rolling out in 2025. Going by the trailer and screenshots of the remake released till now, it looks like the franchise is finally ready to make a serious comeback.
Metal Gear
The Metal Gear series was originally produced by Konami and features an iconic set of characters like Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, Sniper Wolf, Psycho Mantis, Raiden, and more. The franchise has seen a variety of spin-offs but the main series is a third-and-first-person stealth game that has players using a variety of characters across many complex and action-packed storylines.
