As someone who has been gaming since the early 1980s, I have seen many ambitious projects; I know when a developer truly understands their vision, and Metal Gear Solid is Hideo Kojima demonstrating absolute mastery of game design and the simultaneous use of narrative.
MGS is a stealth game where stealth is the entire philosophy – stealth isn’t just an option. In MGS, you can fight – but fighting is failure. You can kill – but killing will compromise the experience. The optimal way to play is to sneak through the environment without ever being detected, and the game design supports that with each and every one of its systems.
While the story of MGS is absurd – a nuclear-armed cyborg with psychic powers, an experimental soldier with genetic modification, a spy with a convoluted past – Kojima fully commits to this absurdity and manages to pull off the impossible – he makes it work. The presentation (the cinematic elements), the voice acting, the cinematics – all of these serve the story in MGS.
In MGS, there is a total integration of the narrative and the game mechanics. What Metal Gear Solid Actually Does
In Metal Gear Solid, you’re playing as Snake – a special forces operative who is attempting to infiltrate a nuclear weapons facility called Shadow Moses to prevent a rogue unit from launching a nuclear missile. You’re being led through the game by your commanding officer via codec conversations. You’re running into soldiers who have different patrol patterns. You’re managing your equipment (you have a very small inventory). You’re solving environmental puzzles. You’re preparing for boss fights that require you to understand the systems within the game.
The stealth mechanics of MGS are conceptually straightforward, but the depth of the mechanical components of those stealth mechanics are much deeper. You are managing visibility based on the amount of light that exists in your environment and whether or not you have proper cover. You are listening to the communications of the guards via the codec. You are planning out your route through each environment. You are managing your equipment – your inventory is very small and will force you to make difficult choices about what to carry with you. Each decision you make will affect the outcome of the mission.
The game teaches you these mechanics through the gameplay – early levels are simple and easy to navigate, while later levels will require you to be able to master the combination of stealth mechanics and the ability to solve environmental puzzles.
Why Stealth Games Did Not Exist Prior to Metal Gear Solid
Hideo Kojima is the first developer to truly understand that stealth could be the primary mechanic of a game – prior to MGS, stealth games existed primarily as action games where you had the option to play quietly. MGS said “Stealth is the only viable option. Failure to remain stealthy results in failure.” To accomplish this, Kojima needed to design every system of the game to support that philosophy. Guard AI that would challenge your planning and preparation. Environmental puzzle design that encourages exploration and planning. Equipment that supported stealth over combat. A narrative that framed stealth as the correct method to complete the objectives of the mission. Every element of the game contributed to a single design goal.
The codec conversations are used for more than just providing information to the player – they also provide insight into the character development and world building of the game. The commanding officer of Snake guides him through the various challenges that he encounters throughout the game. He provides Snake with intelligence regarding his environment and the enemy forces he encounters.
The game utilizes audio in sophisticated ways to build atmosphere and convey relevant information to the player.
The Narrative Integration That Defined Modern Gaming Storytelling
One thing that stands out to me about MGS is the manner in which Kojima integrates the narrative and the gameplay. The narrative is not presented separately from the gameplay – it is an integral part of the gameplay.
There are times during the game where the game directly speaks to the player – fourth-wall breaking moments where the player is forced to question what is real and what is not. The final boss fight against Liquid Snake utilizes game mechanics that are references to the game itself.
For a game released in 1998, this was a revolutionary approach to integrating narrative and gameplay – prior to MGS, most games told their story through either cinematic cutscenes or text-based dialogue.
Using the game itself as a mechanism for telling the story through mechanics and direct communication with the player was a unique innovation for the time.
The voice acting in MGS is some of the best available for any game – the voice actor for Snake, David Hayter brings a sense of conviction to every performance. The supporting cast is equally impressive and the codec conversations between Snake and his commanding officer are written with a level of sophistication that allows the player to become invested in the characters despite hearing them entirely through audio.
Technical Achievements
Although the graphics of MGS are far from cutting-edge even for 1998, the art direction is incredibly strong. Each of the guards in the game has a distinct appearance that clearly defines their role in the environment. The environments themselves are detailed enough to create a solid atmosphere without relying on overly technical graphical effects. The animation is smooth and provides the player with clear information regarding the state of the characters.
The soundtrack for MGS, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, is incredibly strong. The theme music for the infiltration sequence effectively builds tension and creates a sense of urgency. The themes for each of the boss fights are memorable and distinctive. The credits theme is emotionally powerful and provides closure to the player.
The soundtrack of MGS is designed to support the experience of the game perfectly.
Does Metal Gear Solid Still Hold Up Today?
While the controls may feel somewhat stilted compared to modern standards of control, they are perfectly suited to the deliberate pacing that MGS creates. Moving slowly and intentionally through the environment is the key to success – rushing is failure. The design of the controls is specifically intended to promote slow, deliberate movement – fast-paced reflexive response will not help you succeed in MGS.
The story of MGS is, without a doubt, completely absurd – however, the commitment to that absurdity is so great that the player becomes completely immersed in the story. The gameplay is still enjoyable today. The stealth mechanics are still functional today. The boss fights are still creative and challenging. The replay value of MGS stems from the numerous approaches that can be taken to any particular objective.
The graphics of MGS are, obviously, dated. The character models are rough and simplistic compared to modern standards – however, the art direction of MGS is able to maintain the atmosphere of the game.
How MGS Changed Game Design
MGS demonstrated that stealth could be the core mechanic of a AAA game. It showed that narrative and gameplay could be totally integrated. It demonstrated that games could speak directly to the player and actually enhance the player’s experience, instead of detracting from it. Everything that followed MGS learned something new from it.
Dishonored learned to allow the player to have the freedom to explore the game world in whatever manner they choose. Splinter Cell built upon the stealth mechanics that were created in MGS and added an action component to them. Every stealth game since MGS has built on the foundation that MGS laid down. The ambition of game narratives increased due in large part to the fact that MGS showed that complex storytelling could be accomplished in a video game.
The Verdict
Metal Gear Solid is a game that is significant both in terms of its historical impact and as an experience in and of itself. The stealth design of MGS is innovative and engaging. The integration of the narrative and the gameplay of MGS is phenomenal. The boss fights of MGS are creative and challenging. The soundtrack of MGS is fantastic. The voice acting in MGS is top-notch. The development of the characters occurs entirely through the player’s interactions with them – there is no exposition.
This is a game where the technical limitations do not detract from the experience because the design philosophy is so strong. You are not playing MGS to see cutting edge graphics – you are playing MGS because the game design and narrative are so exceptional.
If you have not yet experienced MGS, please keep in mind that it is a game that is intended to be played slowly and deliberately. MGS is a stealth game – not an action game. Patience will be your greatest ally in MGS.
Rating: 10/10 – MGS is the game that defined stealth and narrative in a complete package.
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