How did you start in the Metal Gear franchise?

[murrdogg93]

I was very much a late arrival to what would become possibly my favorite game series of all time. I first heard about it when MGS 4 was new. But I didn't have a PS3. I eventually jumped in with MGS V on my PS4. Not knowing anything about the story, the second I saw a young Psycho Mantis, I knew I was in for a confusing but wild ride.

I very much enjoyed the game, even with its more passive story telling. I ended up going out of my way to get a PS3 to own the entire series& played through them all. I still revisit off & on when I have time.

[fgdj2000]

Welcome! Although you're now a 5 year Vet already.

I'm from Europe and first played the series back on the old PSX with Metal Gear Solid back in 1999. It was the first game (that wasn't a licensed game) that I truly cared about and played over and over. Played the major Kojima games as they were coming out and grew up on them (MGS2 in 2002 EU, MGS3 in 2005, MGS4 in 2008, MGS PW in 2010 and MGSV in 2014 and 2015) and caught up on the MSX games in 2008. Personally, I really enjoy the post-MGS4 games, although A.G. and Cerberus (the only other two active members here) disagree with me on their quality, particularly as entries in the Metal Gear continuity. I also enjoyed Death Stranding.

I'd be really interested in what it was like for you playing through MGSV as your first entry? Was the story relatively easy to follow or just confusing? Has your opinion changed on the game (since it's the most controversial in the series at least as far as this forum is concerned)?

Anyway, stay safe.

[murrdogg93]

The story within MGS V itself I didn't struggle to follow. I found out early on that I was starting in the middle of the timeline, essentially. I did a bit of research during my playthrough of MGS V to understand how we got to this point in the timeline.

Some people obviously don't like the tapes giving story instead of cutscenes, but I didn't mind. It allowed me to retain story while building up my base. I also enjoy the lengthy cutscenes style of the other games. I had a suspicion immediately about Venom Snake with the call me Ishmael line.

Even during Ground Zeroes, I had a suspicion that it might be a simulated version of the incident where the player is actually Venom Snake. Two things drew that to my attention. First, Kaz knew about Paz the whole time in Peace Walker, so him implying they both fell for her lie seemed inconsistent. Also when they introduced Snake on screen, it said he went by Big Boss, but he fully embraced being Big Boss by that point, so that also felt odd.

As far as my opinion of the game goes, I have played MGS 1-V & PW. MGS V is possibly my second favorite game of the series between its stellar gameplay & the story isn't bad, just told in a more passive fashion. It's a recollection of Venom's past as he reflects in Outer Heaven before facing Solid Snake in my opinion. I believe the gunfire in the background to be Solid Snake fighting other soldiers, before the final fight that happens in MG 1.

[A.G.]

Wow, a new member! Welcome!

I was first introduced to MGS1 in the summer of 1999. Been a fan ever since. Though, as evident by the MGF site, I don’t really count the games releases after MGS4 as canon. 😁

Have you played the MSX originals, MG1 and MG2? They were added as extras on MGS3.


BTW, just remembered that on March 5th the site will be 20 years old!

[Cerberus_0408]

I wonder why Snake vs Monkey was left out from MGS3 in the MGS HDC.

Also, no skateboarding in MGS2

[A.G.]

Likely legal rights.

[murrdogg93]

I consider MGS PW & MGS V as games mainly for people who support the idea of Outer Heaven. I like to think of the games as an ideological battle of Outer Heaven vs Philanthropy. A question of whether governments controlling soldiers is worse or if nuclear weapons expanding is worse.

I never played the MSX games because I miss the story heavy voice dialogue that is a bug part of the legacy in this series. Just doesn't feel right.

[A.G.]

I guess it depends on what version of Outer Heaven you look at. It changed over the years. In MG1-MG2 it was Big Boss’ way to keep perpetual war going. In MGS3-MGS4 it became more about The Boss’ will and means to oppose Zero. Then MPW-MGS5 changed all that again. After MSF and Diamond Dogs became a thing, Outer Heaven lost much of its original importance. Just one of many things Kojima watered down by making these “missing links”.

MG1 is tough to play though as it’s very simplistic. But MG2 is an absolute gem! It made the Metal gear formula.

[murrdogg93]

PW & MGS V still emphasizes the idea of never ending war, thus always giving soldiers a purpose. It was just worded differently when playing as Big Boss, as he believes he's the hero of his own story. He thinks he's fulfilling what The Boss couldn't, to make a path to never stop fighting. As he eventually believes she gave up when surrendering her life, instead of finding a way to survive.

Big Boss forsakes The Boss's will at the end of PW, starting his turn to the war monger he becomes. He only finally understands her will at the end of MGS 4.

[fgdj2000]

Funny, I always got a very pacifist message out of it. War is wrong and only causes pain and suffering and any attempt to either spread it as a means to bring the true nature of people out or to control it to create a "safe" battlefield result in failure. Only at the end of MGS4 true peace can be achieved by letting all that go.
But Kojima said a lot of things through the ever-expanding continuity. I still maintain it all holds up remarkably well considering a) he made it all up as he went along, without a great master-plan, and b) he kept adding increasingly complicated background histories with each entry. Anyway, I love all the games, even if I have issues with some of the decisions he made. I once replayed them all back to back just before the release of MGSV and it was an incredible experience, both from a story perspective, but also from a gameplay and technology perspective... basically a space-time journey through the history of video games from the 8bit Metroidvania-esque classics to the near-phhotorealistic (back then, although it still holds up pretty great today) open world freedom of MGSV.

Although recently I haven't had a lot of time for gaming, sadly, and would often prefer to check out something new, since I know the Metal Gear games quite like the back of my hand.

[murrdogg93]

It is supposed to have an anti war message to it. That's why Solid Snake is the hero of the series by the end of the timeline. Snake believes that there shouldn't be constant war. He especially disagrees with nukes being used. That's why Big Boss is an anti hero. He believes he's doing a good thing by using morally questionable means.

But look at MGS 3 for example. Many feel bad for Naked Snake killing someone who was sacrificed intentionally because of a mistake on the part of the government planning the operation. It gives a sense of understanding to the appeal of Outer Heaven as a concept. A mentality of if we're going to fight, we may as well fight on our own terms as soldiers, instead of risking being sacrificed for the government's benefit.

So it's almost like an ideological debate in that sense between Big Boss & Solid Snake as you play through their perspectives, many instances on their stories support why they believe in what they do.

But since Solid Snake is the hero of the series, Kojima supports his ideals as the creator.

[A.G.]

This is the main reason I disliked the story of MPW and MGS5. It told the wrong story of Big Boss. Looking at MG2 and MGS1, there are references to the lives he impacted. People he helped that didn’t have a choice in life. Schneider, Gray Fox, Sniper Wolf, Naomi. We got a great view into how he impacted Ocelot and Eva in MGS3. The “missing link” should’ve focused on showing how he connected to the other characters. That would’ve made his path that more complex given the positive impact he made while taking the questionable path.

[fgdj2000]

I for one appreciate that Kojima tried do something else and didn't just give us what we expected. I really like MGSV as my own personal Metal Gear adventure and thought the stronger focus on gameplay, quasi-silent protagonist and the "reveal" that the first final boss you killed was actually YOU, nicely bookended the series. I can forgive Kojima for convoluting the series' chronology even further, and the gut-punches in Chapter 2 make it worth it for me. Not to mention the incredible high-class gameplay and still pretty amazing visuals. 

[A.G.]

You’re not going to believe this, but I actually added MPW and Ground Zeroes to my annual schedule! 😁 I know, I know... crazy! But, I found a way. No cutscenes, no story, no bosses. Just sneaking around random missions. Basically treating it as Big Boss mercenary era. That way I can still enjoy the gameplay.

[fgdj2000]

Feb 24, 2021 21:37:10 GMT -5 A.G. said:

You’re not going to believe this, but I actually added MPW and Ground Zeroes to my annual schedule! 😁 I know, I know... crazy! But, I found a way. No cutscenes, no story, no bosses. Just sneaking around random missions. Basically treating it as Big Boss mercenary era. That way I can still enjoy the gameplay.

Haha, that's cool to hear. Why no MGSV TPP? Because it isn't actually Big Boss?

I really want replay the games again, soon. But I will probably go by release order. I'm also still enjoying booting up both The Phantom Pain and Death Stranding for 100% playthroughs, although I always loose motivation once there is no story. But I keep it as a "maybe someday" project and an excuse to boot them up every once in a while.