Summary
Espionage fans look atMetal Gearfor some of the most dramatic forms of action storytelling in a stealth franchise, mainly courtesy of Hideo Kojima’s direction and compelling cast members such asSolid Snake. While players have seen Solid Snake constantly save the day by disabling various Metal Gears threatening to shift the balance of global powers, theMetal Gear Solidprotagonist is undoubtedly far from perfect.
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As expected from Kojima’s acclaimed series, Solid Snake has had his fair share of questionable decisions that he’s made to achieve his objectives. While most of theMetal Geargames certainly made Solid Snake out to be the hero of his story, hardcore fans may want to explore the full depth of his morality to appreciate his characterization. What are the worst things Solid Snake has done, and what led him to decide on these actions?
6Letting The Patriots Use Him
One of the biggest arguments for Solid Snake’s innocence is that the Patriots orchestrated much of his actions. This should mean that Solid Snake’s missions that interrupted the self-perceived “good” intentions of targets such as Big Boss were not done out of his own free will but rather due to the programming of the Patriots, who wanted to take control of the world even when Zero put the AI Network in place.
While Solid Snake was technically under the pretense of following orders, what doesn’t help the argument is his apparent possession of 180 IQ. Fans may immediately see proof of this advanced intelligence with Solid Snake overcoming seemingly impossible situations in missions. Not being able to recognize the Patriots’ deception much sooner may have inadvertently put millions of lives at risk.
5Not Preparing For Sons Of The Patriots
Nanomachines and AI would eventually become a prevalent theme in laterMetal Gear Solidgames, with the story ofMGS 4: Sons of the Patriotsrevealing much of the world relying on AT Corp’s battlefield-control system. However, Solid Snake’s recent mission to assassinate Liquid Ocelot had the latter “disable” the same infrastructure, jeopardizing the lives of thousands of military personnel who, like Solid Snake, hadtech such as nanomachinesin their bodies.
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This incident would eventually reveal the AT Corp’s tech as the Patriots-sanctioned Sons of the Patriots system, which Solid Snake eventually shuts down alongside what’s left of the shadow organization. However, one might think Solid Snake and his team would’ve averted a worldwide military catastrophe had they kept tabs on AT Corp in the first place. Solid Snake had the opportunity to ask questions about the integrity of the said system during his briefing, just as it was careless of other world governments not to ask for fail-safes in instances where said system could’ve been hijacked, just like inMGS 4.
4Not Taking The Shot Against Liquid Ocelot
One of the most crucial close calls inMetal Gear Solidhistory wasLiquid Ocelot’s swan song inGuns of the Patriots. When Solid Snake stopped Liquid’s plans while shutting down the Patriots’ AI network, it was revealed that this was Liquid’s true plan: have Solid Snake shut down the Patriots entirely.
Solid Snake taking the time to aim and being dramatic about his reunion with the presumed-dead Liquid may have jeopardized the whole world had he failed. It was lucky Liquid Ocelot wanted to shut down the Patriots as well, as no one could predict what an unstable Liquid could do with the Patriots’ power. This uncertainty was too risky for Solid Snake to be indecisive about pulling the trigger back then.
3Abandoning CQC
Despite being developed by The Boss and Big Boss, Solid Snake also knew how to use Close Quarters Combat or CQC. The Boss initially developed CQC to incapacitate and interrogate officers, with Big Boss refining the technique on his own during the former’s presumed death. After his student, Solid Snake, realizedBig Boss was the true leader of Outer Heaven in the events ofMetal Gear, Solid Snake largely abandoned practicing the technique for years due to its association with his squad’s traitor.
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Although largely reserved and more mission-oriented than his philosophical predecessors, Solid Snake’s abandonment of CQC seemed unnecessary. Not only was the abandonment a surprising contrast to his goal-oriented personality, but refusing to use an effective battlefield interrogation tactic may have put him and his team in more danger. Not to mention, the games encourage non-lethal engagement, refusing to use CQC in favor of kills may put Solid Snake’s morality under scrutiny.
2Not Training A Successor
While fans might argue that Raiden or Jack is technically Solid Snake’s successor throughout the events ofMetal Gear Solid,the cybernetic super-assassinhas shown an initial reluctance in continuing life in the military. In fact, Raiden’s initial application to join Maverick Security Consulting was that of a non-combat role, with some convincing needed to have him forego his civilian identity and get back in a cyborg suit.
After he defeats former US Senator Steven Armstrong in the events ofRevengeance, Raiden decides against joining the Mavericks to “wage his own war.” Despite MSC’s preference to uphold deterrence in conflict-ridden nations, their status as a young corporation and the absence of a figure like Raiden has left the world a rather perilous place. It’s only a matter of time before a military force tries to abuse the lack of both Raiden and Solid Snake. While what happens to the world is none of Solid Snake’s business anymore, his outlook on innocents and civilians being put out of harm’s way during war could’ve been passed onto a similarly-skilled successor.
1Retiring As A Soldier
While it’s true that it’s not in any other person’s place to demand what a freelancer like Solid Snake should do, retiring at the end ofMetal Gear Solid 4may still be against the world’s best interests. Granted, the move to retire was a poetic finish after heaccompanied Big Boss in his final moments on the grave of his mentor, The Boss. Not to mention, there’s not much to do even if he doesn’t retire, as Solid Snake’s genetic makeup will likely kill him with the effects of advanced aging.
However, Solid Snake was the only one who fully understood what his two predecessors had truly meant with their ideologies. Despite having to stop Big Boss, Solid Snake understood that Big Boss only wanted soldiers to be treated more than weapons of war. Likewise, The Boss wanted “one world without borders,” hinting at Earth without the need for war. Instead of retiring, Solid Snake could’ve used what little time he had left to push for legislation and other efforts to make these ideals happen, potentially securing the safety of millions in the future.
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