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Everything You Wanted To Know About MGS
Everything You Wanted To Know About MGS
- Nov 12, 2006 8:58 pm PTE V E R Y T H I N G : Y O U : W A N T : T O : K N O W : A B O U T
.||=| METAL GEAR SOLID |_ [4] _| GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS |=||.
Welcome to the GameFAQs Metal Gear Solid 4 community’s one-stop final source of all that is MGS and MGS4. Herein we address many of the most-asked, and most trying questions and conundrums on the minds of the MGS community. If you have any inquiries regarding the series, we ask that you first peruse this handy guide, as we’ve been careful to address all the big issues. Remember, though, if you’re new to the series at all, in addressing these big issues we reveal huge, critical spoilers. You’ve been warned. We hope you enjoy your stay. We are your guardians, after a…
~*best viewed in fifty post per page format*~
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Staff: The Killer7
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OnslaughtX (Scott Michaels) - Head Producer, Head Writer
LionHart627 (Lestat Gray) - Head Producer, Head Writer
Genji Masamune (Jerel Smith) - Head Editor, Writer / Redactor
AuFox80 / infoman80 (Edward Kang) - Writer, Advisor / Redactor
AC Kid (Edwin Lewis) - Writer, Advisor
Ultima1 (Grant Dempsey) - Writer, Advisor
Klimtog (Gotmilk) - Clown
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Special Thanks:
~*some portions of chapters written and/or researched by Shockley Haynes (James Clinton Howell)*~
~*achilles wrote something too!*~- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 8:59 pm PT---------------------------
Table of Contents
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How To Use:
To quick-jump to a specific chapter, simply press ctrl + F, or choose “edit” from the browser menu and click the find function. Next to each chapter, you’ll notice a code made up of four letters or numbers. Type that code into the search field to zip right to the desired chapter. You may need to search twice if it finds the code in the Table of Contents first.
[01] : [Question and Answer] : [1QNA]
[02] : [Welcome to Metal Gear Solid 4] : [2MGS]
- - - - -[2A] : [Intro]
- - - - -[2B] : [World]
- - - - - - -[Ba] : [PMC]
- - - - - - -[Bb] : [Gekkou]
- - - - -[2C] : [Theme]
[03] : [The Cast of Metal Gear Solid 4] : [3CST]
- - - - -[3A] : [Old Snake]
- - - - - - -[Aa] : [SOLID SNAKE - IS = OLD SNAKE]
- - - - - - -[Ab] : [Is 'Old Snake' His Actual Codename?]
- - - - - - -[Ac] : [Why Would They Do This?]
- - - - - - -[Ad] : [DR. SNAKICIDE]
- - - - - - -[Ae] : [Is Solid Snake Really Weaker Than Raiden?]
- - - - - - -[Af] : [REBRIEFING]
- - - - - - -[Ag] : [Solid Eye System]
- - - - - - -[Ah] : [Octo-Cam]
- - - - - - -[Ai] : [Young Snake]
- - - - -[3B] : [Liquid / Ocelot]
- - - - - - -[Ba] : [Ocelot’s Birth]
- - - - - - -[Bb] : [Ocelot’s Timeline]
- - - - - - -[Bc] : [Ocelot’s Names]
- - - - - - -[Bd] : [Liquid’s Arm]
- - - - - - -[Be] : [Liquid Ocelot]
- - - - -[3C] : [Raiden]
- - - - - - -[Ca] : [Raiden's Return!]
- - - - - - -[Cb] : [Raiden's Suit]
- - - - -[3D] : [Otacon]
- - - - - - -[Da] : [Hal Emmerich]
- - - - - - -[Db] : [Ota-Damashii]
- - - - - - -[Dc] : [Metal Gear Mark II]
- - - - -[3E] : [Colonel]
- - - - -[3F] : [Meryl]
- - - - -[3G] : [Naomi]
- - - - -[3H] : [Vamp / Etc.]
- - - - - - -[Ha] : [Vamp's Alive?]
- - - - - - -[Hb] : [Vamp...ire?]
- - - - - - -[Hc] : [The Rest of Metal Gear Solid 4]
[04] : [The Legacy of Metal Gear Solid] : [4LGC]
- - - - -[4A] : [Genetic Legacy]
- - - - - - -[Aa] : [The Sons of Big Boss]
- - - - - - -[Ab] : [Solidus Snake]
- - - - - - -[Ac] : [FOXDIE]
- - - - - - -[Ad] : [Snake’s Hair]
- - - - -[4B] : [Memetic Legacy]
- - - - - - -[Ba] : [Who Are the Philosophers?]
- - - - - - -[Bb] : [What is the Philosophers’ Legacy?]
- - - - - - -[Bc] : [Who Has the Philosophers’ Legacy at the End of MGS3?]
- - - - - - -[Bd] : [Who Are the Patriots?]
- - - - - - -[Be] : [What Happened at the End of MGS2?]
- - - - - - -[Bf] : [What is the S3 Plan?]
- - - - - - -[Bg] : [What About Solid Snake Simulation?]
- - - - -[4C] : [Scenic Legacy]
- - - - - - -[Ca] : [Big Boss]
- - - - - - -[Cb] : [The Boss]
- - - - - - -[Cc] : [Close Quarters Combat]
- - - - - - -[Cd] : [The Death of...]
- - - - - - -[Ce] : [The Future of...]
[05] : [The Substance of Metal Gear Solid] : [5SUB]
- - - - -[5A] : [The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2]
- - - - -[5B] : [In The Darkness of Shadow Moses]
- - - - -[5C] : [The Transcript of Metal Gear Solid 4 (E306)]
[06] : [The Subsistence of Metal Gear Solid] :[6SIS]
- - - - -[6A] : [Interviews / Media]
- - - - -[6B] : [HIDEOBLOG]
- - - - -[6C] : [In Closing]- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:00 pm PT---------------------------
[01] : [Question and Answer] : [1QNA]
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Here, you'll find a quick rundown of the most commonly asked questions present on the board. Use the Table of Contents codes to read more about the related subject.
Question 1: Didn't Meryl die in MGS1? [3CST]
No, she did not. The canon ending to Metal Gear Solid, according to Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid 2, is the Meryl ending, where Meryl escapes with Snake and Snake asks the Colonel to send someone back to get Otacon.
Question 2: What's the deal with the new Metal Gears? [2MGS]
They're called Gekkou. They are in fact, not Metal Gears, but Metal Gear derivatives. They have heads similar to that of Metal Gear REX, and their legs are fully organic. They're run by an AI system. For more information of the Gekkous, refer to the Gekkou sub-section in the Welcome to MGS4 section.
Question 3: Why does Snake look so old in the trailer? [4LGC]
Solid Snake suffers from accelerated aging, a side effect of the cloning technology that was used to make him and his brothers in the 70s. For a more in-depth explanation, refer to the Old Snake section in the Cast of MGS4 section.
Question 4: Who are all the characters returning?
Naomi Hunter, Roy Campbell, Hal Emmerich, Liquid Ocelot (Liquid Snake and Revolver Ocelot), Meryl Silverburgh, Vamp, Raiden and Solid Snake have all be confirmed to be returning. Kojima has also said he wants to bring back as many characters as possible from the whole series.
Question 5: Why is Raiden wearing high heels? [3CST]
He's not. He's wearing one interconnected suit meant to maximize the potential of each part of his body individually, enhancing the whole. The contour of the foot part adds versatility to his actions. As you can see, he was even able to wield his sword using the suit-muscle and shape of the heel extension to grip
the hilt. For more, refer to the Raiden section in the Cast of MGS4 section.
Question 6: Are The Boss and The Sorrow really Ocelot's parents?
Yes. After the battle with Ocelot in MGS3, a radio conversation with EVA explains some of Ocelot's history. The specifics of his birth match up with what The Boss says concerning her child, and her snake-shaped scar. Hideo Kojima's also commented on The Boss and The Sorrow's child. When asked about it, he responded saying "He's in the game" and made a revolver-twirling motion with his hands. For more about Ocelot, refer to the Liquid / Ocelot section in the Cast of MGS4 section.
Question 7: Why do the Cobras explode?
Sigint answers this in MGS3, revealing that each Cobra Unit member had a microbomb placed on them if they die in battle, to prevent their remains from being recovered.
Question 8: Will MGS4 be on other platforms?
No. Kojima's confirmed that MGS4 is exclusive to the PS3, and has stated that if he did work on other systems, such as the Wii or 360, he'd want to do new titles, not just port a game to it.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:00 pm PTQuestion 9: Why do people say there are 7s in the trailer?
People speculate that the 7s in the title (the two Ls in Metal and Solid, and the 4 all turned upside down) have hidden meaning, whether in the game, or on it's release date. 7/7/07 is the 20th anniversary of the Metal Gear series, so this is possible.
Question 10: Didn't Otacon say the Patriots died 100 years ago? [4LGC]
At the end of MGS2, Otacon said that the list of names on the disk he analyzed died about 100 years ago. MGS3 revealed that those names were actually the names of the original Philosophers, the last of who died in the 1930s. The Patriots are human, and are alive, for each time a member dies, a new one takes his place. For a more extensive look at the Patriots and the Philosophers, refer to the Legacy of MGS section.
Question 11: Are the MGS4 trailers in real-time?
Yes, they are. In each MGS installment the series has used real-time graphics for its cutscenes, and MGS4 is no exception. Kojima even used a controller to manipulate the camera angles, models and such during the TGS 2005 trailer to prove it was real-time.
Question 12: Who's the main character? Who do we play as, Snake or Raiden?
Solid Snake is the main character of MGS4, and shortly after E3, Kojima confirmed that Solid Snake will be the only character you play as during MGS4.
Question 13: Is it true Snake is in the next Super Smash Bros.?
Yes, Solid Snake has been confirmed to be in the next Smash Bros. installment, Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Question 14: How old is Snake? When does MGS4 take place?
Hideo Kojima has confirmed Solid Snake is 43 years old in MGS4, which would put the game's date at 2015-2016 (as Snake was born in 1972, which MGS3 revealed).
Question 15: What does "onus" mean?
It refers to being in a situation of responsibility, burden, or obligation. Otacon is saying the blame (for what exactly, we don't yet know) or responsibility lies on themselves. He's most likely referring to at least the whole of Philanthropy, if not all the protagonists in general.
Question 16: Where does the game take place?
The game begins in the Middle East, the location you see in the TGS 2005 and E3 2006 trailers, then spreads out onto battlefields all across the world.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:02 pm PT---------------------------
[02] : [Welcome to Metal Gear Solid 4] : [2MGS]
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INTRO
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It's been eight years since Metal Gear Solid hit America, starting an international chain of success that made it one of the most venerable and respected series in the world. For many of us, it's hard to imagine that it could all finally be coming to an end.
Metal Gear Solid 4. Snake has finally come full circle. Like the Uroboros, the serpent swallowing its own tail, the Snake legacy has swallowed its own tale. The Big Boss Saga (MGS3, MG, MG2), the bridge (MPO), and the
Solid Snake Saga (MGS, MGS2, MGS4). "Saga" is definitely the correct term to use here. We've witnessed an epic. No one should resent the idea of Solid Snake's story coming to an end, as it's been quite a story to behold. To end
on just as strong a note as when you started--if not stronger--is such a rare opportunity that it honestly can't be passed up. Kojima, even with all his quirks, even with all his highs and lows, still managed to keep a level
of integrity with this series that's rarely achieved. Of course, even if Snake does die in this game, he certainly won't be gone. His legacy will be passed on to us, to the videogame industry, and to the game's world itself.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves though! We've still got at least a year and about three trailers before we even touch the game. As many of us have come to know, waiting for MGS games is almost as fun as playing them ends up being. So,
instead of twiddling our thumbs, let's get into everything we need to know to keep our brains running at full speed while we wait. Some stories can't be told by words. We beg to differ!
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WORLD
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War has changed.
Six years have passed since the Manhattan Incident, and the world refused to stand still. The digitalization of the Human Experience continues to grow increasingly prevalent. Nanomachines control the battlefield. Nanomachines
control the soldiers on the battlefield. Nanomachines control the guns that the soldiers carry on the battlefield. For every layer of flesh is a layer of steel. AI dictates the actions of human soldiers. Organic legs dictate the mobility of robotic weapons. In this new war, the line between the weapon and the man wielding the weapon becomes blurred. Even the cause of war is dictated by the outcome of calculators and trust funds, rather than passion and ideals. The pull of a trigger is a remote bank transaction, and the soldier is the PIN number.
The Boss taught us that the times dictate the enemy. What does it say about the times when there are no sides, and yet still there is war? In a world without ideals, who are the patriots?- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:02 pm PT------------
PMC
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PMC stands for private military company (or private military contractor), mercenary organizations which supply personnel and equipment to their clients (in exchange, of course, for money). It is important to note that this is far from a fictional concept invented for MGS4; PMCs do exist and function in reality. Not only that, they are indeed gradually increasing in presence and their involvement in actual combat is growing, as Hideo Kojima's predictions regarding the future of warfare reflect. For more information about PMCs in reality, please take a look at this article: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/mercenary.htm
MGS4's setting is built upon Hideo Kojima's "substitution of war" concept, which itself revolves largely around PMCs. After the incident on the Big Shell (and Arsenal Gear's crash into Manhattan), the demand for mercenaries increased around the world as restrictions on foreign military intervention were lifted. War began to change. Countries no longer rely on their own armed forces. Battles are increasingly fought between third parties (PMCs) and automated technology representing the warring groups involved, rather than between those conflicting entities themselves.
In the world of MGS4, PMCs support the increased application of nanomachine technology on the battlefield. Even human beings in their employ are set with "control systems" which prevent their ability to point a gun at their company's client, and nanomachines within their bodies enhance their physical functions and control their psychological reactions in combat.
Outer Heaven is the name of the dominant PMC -- and parent company to many others, notably including the largest five -- in the world of MGS4. At its head is the familiar character Liquid Snake (now "Liquid Ocelot"
, still as intent on achieving Big Boss' dream world as ever. Because mercenaries fight for the sake of their careers and PMCs' clients are determined by business prospects, rather than ideological support or personal loyalties, war as it once occurred is gone. In a world without patriots and driven quite literally by business transactions, countries face less direct potential loss on the battlefield and war can afford to become constant. The value the world places on the soldier increases, and warriors are given a consistent place and role to adhere to. Big Boss' dream is achieved through the high-profile existence of PMCs.------------
PMC
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PMC stands for private military company (or private military contractor), mercenary organizations which supply personnel and equipment to their clients (in exchange, of course, for money). It is important to note that this is far from a fictional concept invented for MGS4; PMCs do exist and function in reality. Not only that, they are indeed gradually increasing in presence and their involvement in actual combat is growing, as Hideo Kojima's predictions regarding the future of warfare reflect. For more information about PMCs in reality, please take a look at this article: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/mercenary.htm
MGS4's setting is built upon Hideo Kojima's "substitution of war" concept, which itself revolves largely around PMCs. After the incident on the Big Shell (and Arsenal Gear's crash into Manhattan), the demand for mercenaries increased around the world as restrictions on foreign military intervention were lifted. War began to change. Countries no longer rely on their own armed forces. Battles are increasingly fought between third parties (PMCs) and automated technology representing the warring groups involved, rather than between those conflicting entities themselves.
In the world of MGS4, PMCs support the increased application of nanomachine technology on the battlefield. Even human beings in their employ are set with "control systems" which prevent their ability to point a gun at their company's client, and nanomachines within their bodies enhance their physical functions and control their psychological reactions in combat.
Outer Heaven is the name of the dominant PMC -- and parent company to many others, notably including the largest five -- in the world of MGS4. At its head is the familiar character Liquid Snake (now "Liquid Ocelot"), still as intent on achieving Big Boss' dream world as ever. Because mercenaries fight for the sake of their careers and PMCs' clients are determined by business prospects, rather than ideological support or personal loyalties, war as it once occurred is gone. In a world without patriots and driven quite literally by business transactions, countries face less direct potential loss on the battlefield and war can afford to become constant. The value the world places on the soldier increases, and warriors are given a consistent place and role to adhere to. Big Boss' dream is achieved through the high-profile existence of PMCs.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:03 pm PT------------
Gekkou
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Time and time again the Snake legacy steps up, goes toe to toe with a mechanical monster...and survives. Thusfar, despite several evolutions over the years, the general idea of all Metal Gears have been to be large metal beast-tanks with the capability of (and intention to be used for) launching nuclear weapons from virtually any terrain. Despite the terror and threat of the prospect of such a weapon, each one is systematically taken down by one man and his weapons. As unthinkable as this sounds, there's a reason for it. Metal Gears are heavy artillery designed to defend themselves and function among the ranks of heavy artillery. As it turns out, bigger isn't always better. You could say a missile beats an ant, but if that ant simply scurries into a hole in the dirt before the explosion, you haven't done a thing. For the purposes of this analogy, Snake would be the ant scurrying in the dirt between railguns and machinegun fire. Snake is simply under their radar.
Granin saw Sokolov's Shagohod as backwards thinking. This world wasn't made for weapons that needed miles of airstrip just to have tactical function. The true might of a new age of weapon would be proven with versatility. It's hard to intimidate or put pressure on an enemy when from the very beginning the design of the weapon alone gives them the advantage. Granin knew that crawling on the ground just wasn't going to cut it in this new age of war. Here's what Granin had to say about his vision of the future of military dominance under the reign of his new weapon:
"Yes, a walking tank - a robot! Are you familiar with the theory of the
missing link between apes and humans? Well, this technology will be the
missing link between infantry and artillery. A kind of metal gear, if you
will. And this magnificent metal gear will make a revolutionary step forward
in weapons development."
Thinking with that analogy, it could also be said that the Shagohod was the first amphibious creature crawling onto shore, dragging itself across the sand. REX is the metal gear between two cogs, and whatever comes next must be the upright, calculating king of the food chain. If the PMC is the new face of war, then what is the new face of terror?
Metal Gear Solid 4 presents the "Gekkou". Note that it is not called "Metal Gear Gekkou" as it is not a Metal Gear despite all appearances. Its name, in Japanese, is made up of two characters meaning "moon", and "light," respectively. Obviously this translates directly to "moonlight". This is actually a bit special. There have been little to no instances in the series where Japanese pronouns have been used, and in the event that they were, they weren't kept in the localization. The most relevant exception to this rule so far has been Raiden, whose name was partly used to dehumanize him and relate him more to that of a weapon. Funny in a way then that the Gekkou would carry on this theme. So far we haven't been given any insight into the reason for
the name chosen for them. It may remain that way until the game comes out.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:04 pm PTUntil then, the most immediately striking thing you'll notice about the Gekkou is that only part of them appears to be mechanical. In fact, this is true. While their "torsos" are mechanical, as any Metal Gear is expected to be, their legs are entirely organic. They have real flesh and bleed real blood. Do not mistake this for the technology that was touched on in Metal Gear Solid 2. RAY had a state-of-the-art ceramic-titanium alloy with a self-repair system that housed a special nanopaste near the surface of the outer layer of the armor. When the RAY would receive damage the system would navigate the nanopaste to the wound, immediately sealing it. This system was entirely technological in design. You can see for yourself in the media section that live flesh goes all the way down to the bone structure of the leg. The bone itself seems to either be mechanically reinforced--or mechanical itself--but the organic features exist
around this structure as would a living creature.
Some people may doubt the reasoning behind this design structure. While doubting, they may want to take a moment to think about how far REX could jump. How fast REX could run. How many cigarettes it was able to gently pick up and throw without disturbing a thing around it. There's a certain about of flexibility, versatility, sensitivity and maneuverability that simply isn't possible with the previous design methods. It can distribute power, weight, and speed in ways otherwise unheard of. Its advantages aren't even limited to that of human muscle either, they get the best of all worlds. They can jump like frogs and charge like bulls, all with the finely calculated accuracy of modern technology in Artificial Intelligence. The ultimate hunter. On top of all this versatility, they even carry the trademark Metal Gear feature of being able to fire nuclear weapons. Now when they say "from any terrain", they really mean it.
Surprisingly, one of the most frightening and unique qualities of the Gekkou is that they prey on more than just tangible aspects of the human condition. Not only are they efficient killing machines in skirmish warfare on physical terms, but they also influence the battlefield with psychological strategy. They're designed to take advantage of any weakness you happen to leave open, whether that be your guard or your mental state. When you hear them approaching, instead of hearing a deadly weapon, their feet are such that when they run and walk
along the ground it sounds like the clopping of a horse's hooves. When they begin to close in on their enemy they reproduce the chirping sound of the cicada, and their battlecry is that of a cow's mooing. Now, while these sounds are mostly delegated to rural areas, the effect should have some effect on just about anyone. Certainly the sounds of a farm are more calming than that of tank treads, creaking metal, and gunfire.
Of course, while the effect is notable, certainly you'd learn your lesson soon enough. Psychological warfare isn't limited to just Snake though. The battlefield has become a deeper experience for all its inhabitants. Once the player overcomes their own weaknesses they can learn to use them to their own advantage. Using the calming techniques of the Gekkou against other soldiers populating the area is one of most likely many potential ways to get the upper hand in an infiltration or attack situation.
To stay alive, you'll have to maintain balance between threats both man and metal. The gap between the two seem to keep getting smaller. The Cyborg Ninja and Arsenal Tengu were experiments on artificial inflation of human ability through mechanisms and technology. Metal Gear REX became Metal Gear RAY, an amphibious anti-Metal Gear that used a natural resource of the Earth as a devastating weapon. Among the chain of evolution then, the Gekkou is the metal gear between Tengu and RAY, and proves to be the most intelligently balanced threat yet. Will Snake survive though the moonlight to see the next day?- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:06 pm PT---------------------------
THEME
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Each Metal Gear Solid game has had one overlying theme and several underlying ones. Each overlying theme involves the content and context surrounding both the characters in the story and the players experiencing the story themselves. Thusfar the overlying themes have been [M]-Meme-MGS2, [G]-Gene-MGS1, and [S]-Scene-MGS3. The overlying theme of MGS4 has been announced to be "Sense", but many underlying themes have been presented as well, such as "No Place To Hide" and "psychological warfare". Those will all be touched on below, but we'll begin with the overlying concept of "Sense". After that, we'll proceed to attempt to wrap the rest of the ideas up into a broader view of what "Sense" hopes to accomplish.
The Kojima Productions English website for Metal Gear Solid 4 concludes with the conceit that "[the] secret behind winning the warfare of the next-gen is not found in any 'place' but rather in 'Sense'". On the Japanese version of the same page the words "place" and "Sense" are written in English. As is true of any writer who revels in wordplay, Mr. Kojima values a word's nuance and meaning when he selects it to communicate an idea. We find the Sense idea consistently written in English when among Japanese text. When we see the word appear in Mr. Kojima's personal writing, we may assume that he alludes to the personal experiences that he brings to establish the theme of Metal Gear Solid 4.
The subject of our attention here is a bit more complicated. Mr. Kojima chose both the words ishi (will) and Sense to convey his idea. He also indicated that he failed to communicate the ishi-Sense idea to both his development staff and his audience.
What does this mean? Only the full revelation of Metal Gear Solid 4's experience will unlock the secrets here, but Mr. Kojima has left some breadcrumbs for us to follow as we conjecture.
We might strike out the development methods as representative of the ishi-Sense idea since these methods are contingent upon the circumstances of console technology for their form. We might also strike out the gameplay of MGS as representative of the ishi-Sense idea since the MGS gameplay has failed to convey ishi-Sense despite its sophistication into Metal Gear Solid 3's CQC-Stealth action.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:06 pm PTThe ishi-Sense idea exists as a composite of essential identity and the volition of willpower. One might relate it to psychologist Abraham Maslow's idea of self-actualization in which a person experiences both solidarity and individuation at the same time. Mr. Kojima seems to regard his fans' appreciation for the MGS games as indicators that he has failed to express the most important aspect of what MGS means; he also seems to regard his development staff's perception of what MGS means as somewhat incorrect. Examples of misunderstandings from both camps may include many fans' infatuation with Snake as a "Badass-with-a-Beard" and development staff members' perceptions that MGS stands as the first example of what game technology can accomplish in its finest moments.
We will need to wait and see. Chances are it's something we've been in the presence of all along but never noticed until superfices were removed.
The beautiful and simple images described on Kojima Productions' second Metal Gear Solid 4 page dramatize the abstractions that seem implied through ishi-Sense.
"For instance, when the wind blows, there is a gradual shift in the configuration of the sand. When trees are burned to the ground, new seeds in the scorched earth sprout and bloom into flowers." [KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS]
The alteration of the sand's pattern under the wind does not change its essential nature as sand. Its permanent essence as sand does not prevent it from changing under the wind. The razing of a forest does not change its essential nature as a forest: it will return as new saplings. The forest's permanent nature likewise does not prevent its destruction. The will and motion of the sand is to change according to the wind, and its will takes this form because of the essential identity of the sand: its Sense. As well, the will of the forest is to die in order that new flowers may bloom, and its essential identity as a rejuvenating force dictates that it must be destroyed.
These complementary contradictions suggest that Metal Gear Solid 4 will be the most thematically ambitious game in the MGS series.
In the following HIDEOBLOG excerpt, Kojima speaks about an elusive element that he believes contributes to the characterization of MGS he calls the "Metal Tune".- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:07 pm PT"I am playing Metal Gear 2 and I really think that Metal Gear has not really changed much. Metal Gear was created eighteen years ago; Metal Gear 2 was created fifteen years ago. I don't know if this is good or bad. I only mean the gameplay and Metal Gear elements haven't changed much from 2D to 3D."
The following focuses on the translation of the last lines featured in both the Japanese and English translations portrayed above. "Metal Gear elements" is the final translation of the phrase "Metaru Bushi" in the Japanese text. A more literal translation of "Metaru Bushi" would read "Metal Tune."
"Tune" might be considered a noun that describes the quality of identity in musical terms. From an anthropological perspective, music historically serves as a metaphor for soulful essence. The word "Metal" inflects "Tune" to describe the particular quality of the identity. The phrase "Metal Tune" might be intuitively constructed to mean "the metallic musical spirit of the game series including all things idiosyncratic to the Metal Gear mythos."
Concrete examples of elements that describe the soul of the Metal Gear games are the main character's betrayal by a commanding officer, a supporting agent who aids the main character from within the enemy's ranks, the cardboard box, and (of course) sneaking. Nuances exist in the original text that cannot be conveyed elegantly in English while also retaining Mr. Kojima's casual mention of the "Metaru Bushi" idea. Fuller appreciation of "Metaru Bushi" connects Mr.
Kojima's remarks about Metal Gear elements to the soulful concept of SENSE that will serve as the theme of Metal Gear Solid 4.
Of course, like the last few themes, SENSE will attempt to burrow all the way down to the gameplay to take its full effect. Throughout the experiences of both the player and the story's characters, Kojima wishes to express certain realities of the significance of the psychological impact of war and the battlefields on which the war takes place. All your choices and experiences will have an effect on Snake throughout the course of the story. Even Snake's
injuries in battle are supposed to weigh on his mental state.
Looking back to MGS3's underlying themes of persistence in the jungle, we'll see the SURVIVAL VIEWER. This system lets you tend to wounds gained in various circumstances in battle or by any other threat. In the original plan, all scars were supposed to remain on Snake throughout the entirety of the game so that by the end you'd be able to see a personal war record of your experiences in the jungle. Unfortunately, this was cut due to technical limitations of the PS2, but the beginnings of this idea are set to come back in full force in MGS4. Mr. Kojima assures us that it will be more than just aesthetic this time around. As previously stated, your experience in battles will have a permanent effect on who Snake becomes over the course of the game.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:09 pm PTIt should be emphasized once more that Kojima wishes MGS4's world--its battlefield--to be a living, breathing, thing. Snake isn't the only person touched by psychological influence. Everyone Snake encounters will be subject to that same potential influence. Much of MGS4's gameplay design revolves around the increased complexity in the relationship between Solid Snake and the soldiers he encounters. Unlike in previous games in the series, this time Solid Snake's mission doesn't focus on eliminating a single enemy group or take place in a single location. It has the potential to spread across several, as now he is infiltrating something much more general in concept; The warzone. On this battlefield, Solid Snake is an intruder, a third (or fourth or fifth) party to the conflict, with his own goals. The other groups are preoccupied with fighting each other, and, because of this, rather than inherently hostile, each holds the potential to become either ally or enemy to the player over the course of the player's own mission. Each soldier begins neutral to Solid Snake, and his (the player's) actions in the warzone are what determine their behavior toward him from there.
To emphasize these aspects of the gameplay design, Hideo Kojima has chosen to refer to MGS4's soldiers not as "enemies", but as "Mr. Soldier". One of the ways Hideo Kojima intends to emphasize the individuality of these soldiers is by personalizing their uniforms and gear. More significantly, each soldier's psyche and emotions largely impact gameplay as well, in accordance with the game's overall theme of SENSE. Soldiers' reactions to Solid Snake will differ, depending both on the particular soldier being approached and on how the player approaches them. Should Solid Snake approach a soldier threateningly (such as with his gun aimed), that soldier may react with more fear or immediate hostility than they would have otherwise, and, "He who controls fear will control the battlefield," says Hideo Kojima.
Fear, SENSE, and psychology culminate in the final currently known theme of MGS4: "NO PLACE TO HIDE". This idea was one of the first things we learned of when MGS4 was announced. Many people had knee-jerk reactions to this phrase. Metal Gear Solid has always been about stealth, and "NO PLACE TO HIDE" sounds like "every place to fire your weapon". No worries, though. We've been assured that the emphasis on stealth has not been lost. Like the rest of the ideas in MGS4, it's about how you feel and experience them. "NO PLACE TO HIDE" is about feeling like there's no place to hide. You'll find yourself in an environment and think "How will I hide here!?". All this means is that instead of basic boxes and walls and other aspects of the environment built with 90 degree angles, you'll be in real world situations that will require your
highest attention and skill to remain hidden in. MGS4 wants to truly challenge the concept of stealth on every front.
A somewhat lesser application of "NO PLACE TO HIDE" refers back to MGS4's living world. In the ideal situation, the physics of MGS4 will be able to bring the nature of all physical objects to realistic standards. That means trees grow, die, rot, and fall over. What this also means is that everything should have the same potential for wear and destruction. In this sense, "NO PLACE TO HIDE" would refer to the ability for even the environment you rely on for your stealth to be entirely temporary, as it is completely destructible. Stay in one place too long, and it could become unsafe just as fast as it became safe. Come back to that same place later and it may not even be there anymore. In this situation, where to hide and where not to hide is completely in the responsibility of the player's immediate instincts.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:11 pm PT---------------------------
[03] : [The Cast of Metal Gear Solid 4] : [3CST]
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Old Snake
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First and foremost, it should be reassured that he is indeed Solid Snake. This has been officially confirmed and stated numerous times since the presentation of the Tokyo Game Show trailer last year. In this section, though, we'll go a little deeper into who he is now and why he appears so much older than he has before (both according to the series' plot and the intent of the series' creator).
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SOLID SNAKE - IS = OLD SNAKE?
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As you may have noticed from the equation above, "Old Snake" is what you get when you remove the letters I and S from "Solid Snake". Those letters also form the word "is" themselves. Think about the saying: "I think, therefore I am." From another perspective, the equation could be considered: SOLID SNAKE - EXISTENCE = OLD SNAKE. What could it mean? Death, or maybe merely a reference to his reduced usefulness on the battlefield and his feelings that "our war is over"?
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Is "Old Snake" going to be his actual codename from now on?
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We don't know. All in-universe references to the character, in the trailer, were merely "Snake" as usual (well, and one "Brother". However, Hideo Kojima has continually referred to him as "Old Snake" in recent interviews and it has been presented as more significant than the usual wordplay of MGS trailers. Considering the character's psychological position, it is very possible that, in a twist of dark humor and self-deprecation, he may have indeed labeled himself "Old Snake".
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Why would they do this to such a badass character?
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Hideo Kojima has spoken frequently of his intentions with "Old Snake", with the character's new design.
The most important of them being the growing significance of age in Hideo Kojima's own life. The well-known game designer himself is forty-three now and he feels very conscious of this. In an early entry in his textual blog (HIDEOBLOG -- link below [6SIS]), he was dismayed by the difficulty he encountered in demonstrating a handstand for his son, considering it a sign of getting out of shape due to age. He is thus incorporating his own feelings and experiences with aging into the character of "Old Snake". He realizes that his fans have aged over the years with each game as well, and intends to bring players closer to the character with the change.
The aged design also, according to Hideo Kojima, symbolizes Solid Snake's "failure to complete his mission" against nuclear proliferation and Metal Gear technology, parallel to his own feelings of failure in passing on the "sense" of MGS to the next generation. He has returned to the series to direct MGS4 in an effort to finally achieve this, just as Solid Snake himself has returned to the battlefield to accomplish one final mission for the world. Both at the age of forty-three, both determined to continue fighting their own wars in the face of self-perceived failure.
Solid Snake's physical appearance reflects his psychological development as well. He is as mentally and emotionally weary as he is physically. He is, in a sense, up against the world, and it's a losing battle. Even the very nature of war itself has changed, leaving him behind.---------------------------
[03] : [The Cast of Metal Gear Solid 4] : [3CST]
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Old Snake
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First and foremost, it should be reassured that he is indeed Solid Snake. This has been officially confirmed and stated numerous times since the presentation of the Tokyo Game Show trailer last year. In this section, though, we'll go a little deeper into who he is now and why he appears so much older than he has before (both according to the series' plot and the intent of the series' creator).
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SOLID SNAKE - IS = OLD SNAKE?
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As you may have noticed from the equation above, "Old Snake" is what you get when you remove the letters I and S from "Solid Snake". Those letters also form the word "is" themselves. Think about the saying: "I think, therefore I am." From another perspective, the equation could be considered: SOLID SNAKE - EXISTENCE = OLD SNAKE. What could it mean? Death, or maybe merely a reference to his reduced usefulness on the battlefield and his feelings that "our war is over"?
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Is "Old Snake" going to be his actual codename from now on?
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We don't know. All in-universe references to the character, in the trailer, were merely "Snake" as usual (well, and one "Brother"). However, Hideo Kojima has continually referred to him as "Old Snake" in recent interviews and it has been presented as more significant than the usual wordplay of MGS trailers. Considering the character's psychological position, it is very possible that, in a twist of dark humor and self-deprecation, he may have indeed labeled himself "Old Snake".
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Why would they do this to such a badass character?
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Hideo Kojima has spoken frequently of his intentions with "Old Snake", with the character's new design.
The most important of them being the growing significance of age in Hideo Kojima's own life. The well-known game designer himself is forty-three now and he feels very conscious of this. In an early entry in his textual blog (HIDEOBLOG -- link below [6SIS]), he was dismayed by the difficulty he encountered in demonstrating a handstand for his son, considering it a sign of getting out of shape due to age. He is thus incorporating his own feelings and experiences with aging into the character of "Old Snake". He realizes that his fans have aged over the years with each game as well, and intends to bring players closer to the character with the change.
The aged design also, according to Hideo Kojima, symbolizes Solid Snake's "failure to complete his mission" against nuclear proliferation and Metal Gear technology, parallel to his own feelings of failure in passing on the "sense" of MGS to the next generation. He has returned to the series to direct MGS4 in an effort to finally achieve this, just as Solid Snake himself has returned to the battlefield to accomplish one final mission for the world. Both at the age of forty-three, both determined to continue fighting their own wars in the face of self-perceived failure.
Solid Snake's physical appearance reflects his psychological development as well. He is as mentally and emotionally weary as he is physically. He is, in a sense, up against the world, and it's a losing battle. Even the very nature of war itself has changed, leaving him behind.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:11 pm PTYet another reason Hideo Kojima has expressed relates to his desire to dive into the new PlayStation 3 hardware's potential as fully as possible. He believes that an older character is a much more effective image through which to demonstrate the console's graphical power, because younger characters mean smoother skin, less complex and rough imagery, less challenging for his team to work with and present.
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DR. SNAKICIDE or: How Snake Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gun
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In easily the most controversial and memorable scene glimpsed in the recent trailer presented at 2006's E3, Solid Snake is seen sitting alone in a small ruined building, holding a pistol in his lap, contemplating, before finally loading a single bullet into the gun and placing it in his mouth, saying, in voiceover, "This is my final mission. Some stories can't be told by words. Some legends are meant to die." As mentioned, this has inspired much controversy among fans.
Yes, it does seem a bit out-of-character for the determined warrior Solid Snake, as we know him, to forfeit his own life. However, consider the aforementioned point regarding his psychological development: He is tired and quite possibly depressed. He is becoming old and obsolete as the times pass him by and he himself deteriorates. His war, according to him, is over, replaced now by one perhaps more hopeless, and difficult for him to adapt to. On top of it all, he is told he has only six months left to live anyway. It is not too difficult to believe that his feelings are truly driving him to consider committing suicide for his own sake. However, he does say, "I have to erase my genes, and wipe the MEME from the face of the earth," and, "Some bloodlines must come to an end," suggesting that finally putting an end to the legacy of Big Boss and the ever-lingering ideals of "Outer Heaven" may also be a motive.
We must also realize that we do not know whether or not he actually pulls the trigger. The sound effect played during the transition from the scene to the formation of the game's logo is not the noise of a gunshot. There is the possibility that he will lower the gun and change his mind or that another character will appear and convince him to stop or that some other interruption will occur that will prevent him from following through. It should also be mentioned that Hideo Kojima has said this scene indeed occurs toward the end of the game. Those worried (or hopeful) that this scene suggests the possibility of Solid Snake's death occurring early on and the player's control switching over to Raiden need not worry (or hope); it's not the plan.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:12 pm PTAnother point worth noting is the difference between America and Japan in common perspective on suicide. While in America, suicide is often perceived as sinful, cowardly, tragic, and simply a moral negative (thus inspiring wholly negative responses to this scene among many American fans), the act has, in Japan, cultural origins of a more positive light instead. It is considered a very real way to restore pride and honor for oneself and one's family name in the face of failure and shame. Consider, for instance, the old samurai act of seppuku, ritual suicide by disembowelment, which served as a means for samurai to maintain (or even build) status and reputation by avoiding falling into enemy hands or escaping shame.
It is also interesting to observe that, in this scene, the right side of Solid Snake's face is somehow damaged, with his eye visibly harmed and swollen and with what appears to be either blood, bruising, or burn scarring across his cheek, from the eye down.
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As old and weary as he is now...is Solid Snake really weaker than Raiden?
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Looking at things logically, yes. Solid Snake is old and past his prime, not to mention plagued with health concerns (such as the ever-looming threat of FOXDIE and the revelation that he has only six months left to live) and psychological weariness, while Raiden is not only still young, but equipped now with a Cyborg Ninja exoskeleton suit much like Gray Fox and Olga Gurlukovich's. It stands to reason that Raiden would be much more capable of taking on opponents head-on, such as Gekkou. Furthermore, considering the various purposes of Solid Snake's new design, his old age is surely bound to have a true impact on his fighting ability. However, strength alone is not always the only factor in combat, and Solid Snake has often been outclassed and surpassed in "raw power" anyway (particularly considering his superhuman enemies).
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REBRIEFING: NOT By Harry Gregson Williams
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In another prominent scene in the recent trailer, Solid Snake is witnessed saluting before a grave, an image highly reminiscent of the final scene of MGS3. However, to the frustration of fans' curiosity, the identity of the individual to whom the grave belongs goes unrevealed. This, naturally, has caused many to speculate. For the sake of addressing this issue in this FAQ, we shall list (and eliminate) some of the possibilities, with points supporting or opposing.
Unless Otacon is extraordinarily avoidant when it comes to coping with sorrow and trauma, possibilities directly related to him (such as Sniper Wolf and Emma Emmerich) can be safely eliminated, observing the manner in which he rather cheerfully approached Solid Snake at the grave and tore his attention away from it without sparing even a glance to it. Other characters can be safely eliminated by their relative lack of significance (such as Fortune) and thus the unlikelihood that MGS4 would present a scene in which Solid Snake honors their memory, comparative to other possibilities.
The three possibilities for whom the grave could belong to brought up on this board most frequently are Gray Fox, Big Boss, and The Boss.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:13 pm PTGray Fox is an obvious choice. More than once referred to as Solid Snake's best friend. His impact on Solid Snake's life was essentially equivalent to The Boss' on Big Boss', as mentor-turned-enemy. There isn't much more to say about this, no particular logical evidence against it. It will be him or it won't, plain and simple.
Big Boss is a more difficult one to imagine. When suggested, it has often been met with one big question. "Why would Solid Snake salute a man he hates?" Yes, he has displayed no affection for Big Boss and no agreement with his dream, but that doesn't necessarily prevent him from finding something about him to respect or sympathize with regardless. To keep things in perspective, we should remember that even Gray Fox was Solid Snake's enemy at Zanzibar Land (and fought for Big Boss, in fact), which didn't prevent Solid Snake from regarding him as a close friend.
The Boss has been a hard one for some to accept. First of all, it would essentially necessitate Solid Snake becoming aware of the events of MGS3, which would require either that Big Boss spoke of her to him during his days with FOXHOUND or that MGS3 itself was, as fans liked to theorize before the game's release, actually experienced by Solid Snake as well, through a VR simulation or memories stored in his genes. Against the possibility of it being her grave, it has mentioned that the graveyard in which Solid Snake salutes is smaller than the one in which The Boss' grave was located. This is, in fact, not actually true. As we can see in 2006's E3's trailer, the graves continue on past the one Solid Snake salutes in front of; it is merely a fence separating them.
Beyond these three characters, there is also the possibility that the grave, in fact, belongs to a character who isn't actually dead. Raiden, for instance. Because he is returning as the new "Cyborg Ninja", fans have theorized that he may have died (at least "officially" and as far as Solid Snake knew), like Gray Fox, leaving Solid Snake saluting a grave in his memory, unaware of his survival until encountering him at a later point in the game. Alternatively, it could actually be Solid Snake's very own grave, as he was declared dead after the incident on the U.S.S. Discovery in MGS2. "Why would he salute his own memory?" you ask? Perhaps another symptom of his self-deprecation and depression, believing himself fallen from grace, honoring the man he used to be. It would add a twist of tragic irony to his "Even the dead have ears." statement toward Otacon.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:14 pm PT------------
What is the Solid Eye System?
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The Solid Eye System is the eyepatch-like visual device Solid Snake is seen wearing over his left eye in the trailer presented at TGS of 2005. When active, it can display analytic and statistical data regarding the people and objects in its sight, along with certain features traditionally visible during usual gameplay: A small radar very reminiscent of the Soliton Radar and a display of the weapon currently held and its remaining ammunition. It is also capable of functioning as thermal or night vision goggles.
Fans have wondered about its lack of an appearance in the most recent trailer, concerned that it may reflect its removal from the game altogether, especially as word spread of the development team facing problems implementing it. However, Ryan Payton assures that they are intent on keeping it in the game and are doing all they can to ensure its inclusion. It must also be emphasized that, as it would appear to be merely a removable piece of equipment, it could be that Solid Snake quite simply does not put it on (or, for those who do prefer to think that it will indeed be the loss of an eye that inspires the Solid Eye System's origin, "quite simply does not lose that eye" until the point in the game that we see a glimpse of through the original trailer shown at 2005's TGS.
It is noteworthy that Solid Snake's appearance with the Solid Eye System equipped is, of course, highly reminiscent of both Big Boss and Solidus Snake, as they looked with their eyepatches after they each received damage to one eye. Closest to Solidus Snake, in fact, as the Solid Eye System is apparently worn over the left eye, rather than the right.
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What is the Octo-Cam?
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The Octo-Cam is the chameleon-like camouflage function of Solid Snake's new sneaking suit depicted in the trailer presented at E3 of 2006. Rather than merely bending light around the wearer, as the series' traditional "Stealth Camouflage" would do, this new technology (named after octopi) is capable of reproducing the visual appearance and texture of the wearer's surroundings, quite effectively blending in with no visible distortion. It will be a new stealth ability available to the player during gameplay, which Hideo Kojima expresses to have only been possible on the new PlayStation 3 hardware.
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Young Snake
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The end of the TGS 2006 trailer surprised everyone with a rather controversial ending. As Snake, hidden under mask and Solid Eye system, eludes a group of guards, he comes upon a statue. He poses, as if part of it, while the soldiers pass. As the camera pans up the character in close-up, we see not Old Snake, but the Solid Snake of younger years. He quickly lights up a cigarette before a pigeon defecates on his cheek, much to his annoyance. How is this possible? Well, there is no definitive answer of course, but popular theories are as follows.
- The game will take place in multiple timeframes.
- Snake will be cured of his accelerated aging, and actually become younger.
- It is yet another Snake clone.
- It is Kojima screwing with the fans, and won’t be in the game.
- It will be an optional camo for the face mask.
Which is right? Who’s to say? But the answer cannot come soon enough.
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Hey, Snaaake...I thought you quit!
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Nope. Just found a light.------------
What is the Solid Eye System?
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The Solid Eye System is the eyepatch-like visual device Solid Snake is seen wearing over his left eye in the trailer presented at TGS of 2005. When active, it can display analytic and statistical data regarding the people and objects in its sight, along with certain features traditionally visible during usual gameplay: A small radar very reminiscent of the Soliton Radar and a display of the weapon currently held and its remaining ammunition. It is also capable of functioning as thermal or night vision goggles.
Fans have wondered about its lack of an appearance in the most recent trailer, concerned that it may reflect its removal from the game altogether, especially as word spread of the development team facing problems implementing it. However, Ryan Payton assures that they are intent on keeping it in the game and are doing all they can to ensure its inclusion. It must also be emphasized that, as it would appear to be merely a removable piece of equipment, it could be that Solid Snake quite simply does not put it on (or, for those who do prefer to think that it will indeed be the loss of an eye that inspires the Solid Eye System's origin, "quite simply does not lose that eye") until the point in the game that we see a glimpse of through the original trailer shown at 2005's TGS.
It is noteworthy that Solid Snake's appearance with the Solid Eye System equipped is, of course, highly reminiscent of both Big Boss and Solidus Snake, as they looked with their eyepatches after they each received damage to one eye. Closest to Solidus Snake, in fact, as the Solid Eye System is apparently worn over the left eye, rather than the right.
------------
What is the Octo-Cam?
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The Octo-Cam is the chameleon-like camouflage function of Solid Snake's new sneaking suit depicted in the trailer presented at E3 of 2006. Rather than merely bending light around the wearer, as the series' traditional "Stealth Camouflage" would do, this new technology (named after octopi) is capable of reproducing the visual appearance and texture of the wearer's surroundings, quite effectively blending in with no visible distortion. It will be a new stealth ability available to the player during gameplay, which Hideo Kojima expresses to have only been possible on the new PlayStation 3 hardware.
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Young Snake
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The end of the TGS 2006 trailer surprised everyone with a rather controversial ending. As Snake, hidden under mask and Solid Eye system, eludes a group of guards, he comes upon a statue. He poses, as if part of it, while the soldiers pass. As the camera pans up the character in close-up, we see not Old Snake, but the Solid Snake of younger years. He quickly lights up a cigarette before a pigeon defecates on his cheek, much to his annoyance. How is this possible? Well, there is no definitive answer of course, but popular theories are as follows.
- The game will take place in multiple timeframes.
- Snake will be cured of his accelerated aging, and actually become younger.
- It is yet another Snake clone.
- It is Kojima screwing with the fans, and won’t be in the game.
- It will be an optional camo for the face mask.
Which is right? Who’s to say? But the answer cannot come soon enough.
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Hey, Snaaake...I thought you quit!
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Nope. Just found a light.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:15 pm PT---------------------------
Liquid / Ocelot
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The clang of spurs and the rattle of dogtags. The bang of a six-shooter and the bite of a Snake. Two of Solid Snake's most fearsome and resilient foes now share both body and mind.
How the hell...?
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Ocelot’s Birth
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Both surprisingly (because of how prominent of a character Ocelot is), and unsurprisingly (because of the way the information is presented), a little-known fact is that Ocelot is the son of The Boss and The Sorrow. In Metal Gear Solid 3, if you call EVA after defeating Ocelot in his boss battle, she reveals some information about Ocelot. According to her, Ocelot was born on the battlefield, where his mother was shot while giving birth. An emergency c-section was performed, and after Ocelot’s birth, his mother was stitched up and left with a snake-shaped scar. As we all should know, thanks to The Boss’ final speech, she gave birth on the battlefield during the Invasion of Normandy, in 1944. She was left with a snake-shaped scar after being stitched up.
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Ocelot’s Timeline
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Using all the facts we have, we’ve been able to put together a rough history of Revolver Ocelot:
1944 - The Boss gives birth on the battlefield in Normandy. She's shot, and has to have a c-section, leaving her with a snake-shaped scar. Her son is Ocelot, but soon after birth, he is taken from her by the Philosophers.
Between 1944 and 1962 - Ocelot is trained by the Philosophers to be their spy, then, while still at a young age, is sent to Russia. Here, he pretends to be a defecting NSA codebreaker, and then he infiltrates Volgin's ranks, pretending to be loyal to Volgin's cause.
1964 - The Boss is given her mission to get the Philosopher's Legacy. Volgin launches a nuke and screws the whole thing up. Snake is sent in to kill The Boss and Volgin, and get the Legacy. Ocelot, as ADAM, was supposed to help, but EVA arrived in Rassvet before Ocelot did.
After the credits of MGS3, Ocelot can be heard talking to head of the KGB. At this point, Ocelot is still playing his KGB role. Soon after hanging up, though, he places a second phone call to the Director of the CIA, John McCone. This reveals to us Ocelot’s real loyalty to America, and the fact that he was never truly loyal to "Mother Russia." He informs the DCI of the success of the mission, and states that with the Legacy, the Philosophers can be revived. By revived, Ocelot did not mean physically revived. As The Boss already stated by that point, the Philosophers did currently exist. What Ocelot meant was to re-establish their power in the U.S. This conversation also hints that John McCone was a member of the Philosophers, and probably a founder of the Patriots.
Between 1964 and 1970 - Ocelot appears to have (at least temporarily) joined forces with Big Boss for a special mission calling for the eradication of the FOX unit while simultaneously forming the FOXHOUND unit to that end.[South America] [Metal Gear Solid: Portable Operations]
Between 1971 and 1994 - Ocelot works in various places of the world, such as Afghanistan, Mozambique, Eritrea and Chad. He becomes known and feared as "Shalshaska" among the Mujahaddin guerillas.
Between 1994 and 1995 - Ocelot is a regular grunt alongside with Vulcan Raven in Outer Heaven. He was most likely placed there to spy on both the location, and Big Boss.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:16 pm PT2001 (estimated) - After Solid Snake’s retirement from FOXHOUND, and Liquid’s joining, Ocelot joins FOXHOUND under Liquid’s unit (due to his admiration of Big Boss). Ocelot is also an influence in Vulcan Raven joining the group.
2005 - Ocelot convinces Liquid Snake to launch a "revolution." A nuclear disposal base covering up for the development of Metal Gear REX is taken over by FOXHOUND and the Genome Soldiers. Ocelot, while actively keeping Liquid in check, is participating under orders from Solidus Snake, then known as George Sears. At this point, Ocelot is still keeping his Patriot contacts. Solidus Snake provides Ocelot with a FOXDIE vaccine before the unit takes over. During this "revolution," Ocelot’s hand is cut off by Gray Fox after an encounter with Solid Snake. He later tortures Snake and is the only FOXHOUND member to survive.
Between 2005 and 2007 - Ocelot has Liquid Snake’s arm surgically attached in Lyon, France.
2007 - Ocelot uses Sergei Gurlukovich and his GRU soldiers to take over a tanker in the Hudson River carrying Metal Gear RAY. He frames Solid Snake for the takeover, betrays Sergei and the GRU, destroys the tanker and steals Metal Gear RAY. It’s revealed here that Liquid Snake is able to take over, via the arm, when Solid Snake is near.
2009 - Ocelot runs things behind the scenes as Solidus believes the take over of the Big Shell is his own doing. Solidus kills the President, James Johnson, and Ocelot reveals both his true allegiance with the Patriots, and the true extent of their manipulation. Right before attempting to kill Solid Snake, Solidus Snake, and Raiden, Liquid Snake takes over yet again, and leaves, off to bury the Patriots for good. It’s generally accepted that Liquid Snake was able to take control for good from this point on.
MGS4 - In MGS4 concept art, Revolver Ocelot features many Liquid traits. Liquid’s hairstyle, Liquid’s trenchcoat, no shirt under the trenchcoat, Liquid’s dogtags, and no spurs on Ocelot’s boots, implying that Liquid indeed has full control of the body. The recent MGS4 trailer shows Ocelot lacking his trademark handlebar mustache (now it’s a much thinner, more plain one) and wearing shades. Liquid’s voice speaking through Ocelot reinforces all of this.
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Ocelot’s Names
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When you think of "legends" in the Metal Gear Solid universe, Big Boss and Solid Snake seem to be the quickest names to pop up. Ocelot's proven to have quite a legacy of his own, though. He's been known by several names such as General Ivan, Crazy Ivan, Shalashaska, Adamska...
The two "Ivan" nicknames can be summed up as being racial slurs toward his perceived Russian background. Not only are these stereotypical, but they're also clearly misplaced, as we now know Ocelot's origins (or at least his loyalties) are far less tied to Mother Russia as was once believed. "Adamska" also seems to come back to his perceived Russian background somewhat. There's more than one controversy related to the cutscene in which he reveals this name to Jack (Naked Snake / Big Boss). The big question here is whether Ocelot was honestly revealing his name, giving a hint toward the fact that he was really the "ADAM" Snake was supposed to meet up with, or whether he was simply throwing Snake off of the trail altogether. There are no particularly conclusive answers to be found here, but there are a few things to note.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
- Nov 12, 2006 9:17 pm PTFirst, in truth, the suffix "-ska" is actually female in origin, opposite to "-ski". It seems very strange that a young boy born in Russia would be given a female name by their parents. At the most obscure, it could maybe be a nickname, but there's honestly no precedent for such a thing given in the plot at all. From just this fact, the idea that it's his real name seems to be excluded from the list of possibilities, leaving only the latter two options. This isn't entirely fair. The truth of the matter is that neither Hideo Kojima nor the remainder of his staff have any kind of real grasp on the Russian language. He has stated publicly both on the Kojima Productions Report (Number
, and in an interview, that the various locations in the game, and names like the Shagohod were actually pieced together roughly by splicing together various words from a Russian dictionary to get the desired general effect or meaning. What this means is that they could have given Ocelot the name Adamska earnestly, oblivious to the fact that it was a female name. This still puts us in a bit of a strange situation though. Would we call Snake "Mary", if he revealed his name to be so in a translation error? I don't think we would. At the same time, this would mean that he wasn't just hinting at the codename ADAM, and he certainly wasn't trying to deceive Snake, putting a very specific light on the nature of the cutscene.
On the name Shalashaska:
Ocelot: I've fought wars in Afghanistan, Mozambique, Eritrea, and Chad. Among the Mujahaddin guerrillas, I was known and feared as "Shalashaska". I was trained by the Russian GRU. I am not like one of those KGB slugs. To me, this isn't torture... It's a sport.
------------
Liquid’s Arm
------------
Another huge controversy rolls on through like a tumbleweed. One of the biggest shockers of MGS2. Yeah, Liquid Snake's back, but only long enough to tell us he lives inside an ARM before leaving to tend to his own business, with absolutely no follow up since. That is, until Metal Gear Solid 4. The issue here is...what in the hell is up with any of this? How does Liquid live in an arm? Does he live in an arm? Why an arm? Damn!
One less popular theory completely avoids the concept of Liquid Snake living in an arm altogether. There are two variations of this theory. The first is that Ocelot is simply playing everyone for a fool and acting like Liquid Snake for his own gain. What that gain would be, why, or how, we can't really gather. Maybe Liquid's position as head of the Outer Heaven corporation in Metal Gear Solid 4 could have been one such goal or possibility. At this point though, it seems fairly strange to think so much emphasis was placed on this concept just to have it all blown over by the idea that he's faking it. He puts on a huge show in front of both Solid and Solidus. Screaming, biting his arm in an attempt to keep the attacks under control, yelling out: "GET OUT OF MY MIND, LIQUID!" He even visibly takes some kind of pills to repress the attacks, and seems overall very troubled by the concept of Liquid taking control. Besides, how obscure of an idea it would be to try to pull off. Okay, yeah, if he's NOT faking it then it's an obscure plot point itself, but still.First, in truth, the suffix "-ska" is actually female in origin, opposite to "-ski". It seems very strange that a young boy born in Russia would be given a female name by their parents. At the most obscure, it could maybe be a nickname, but there's honestly no precedent for such a thing given in the plot at all. From just this fact, the idea that it's his real name seems to be excluded from the list of possibilities, leaving only the latter two options. This isn't entirely fair. The truth of the matter is that neither Hideo Kojima nor the remainder of his staff have any kind of real grasp on the Russian language. He has stated publicly both on the Kojima Productions Report (Number 8), and in an interview, that the various locations in the game, and names like the Shagohod were actually pieced together roughly by splicing together various words from a Russian dictionary to get the desired general effect or meaning. What this means is that they could have given Ocelot the name Adamska earnestly, oblivious to the fact that it was a female name. This still puts us in a bit of a strange situation though. Would we call Snake "Mary", if he revealed his name to be so in a translation error? I don't think we would. At the same time, this would mean that he wasn't just hinting at the codename ADAM, and he certainly wasn't trying to deceive Snake, putting a very specific light on the nature of the cutscene.
On the name Shalashaska:
Ocelot: I've fought wars in Afghanistan, Mozambique, Eritrea, and Chad. Among the Mujahaddin guerrillas, I was known and feared as "Shalashaska". I was trained by the Russian GRU. I am not like one of those KGB slugs. To me, this isn't torture... It's a sport.
------------
Liquid’s Arm
------------
Another huge controversy rolls on through like a tumbleweed. One of the biggest shockers of MGS2. Yeah, Liquid Snake's back, but only long enough to tell us he lives inside an ARM before leaving to tend to his own business, with absolutely no follow up since. That is, until Metal Gear Solid 4. The issue here is...what in the hell is up with any of this? How does Liquid live in an arm? Does he live in an arm? Why an arm? Damn!
One less popular theory completely avoids the concept of Liquid Snake living in an arm altogether. There are two variations of this theory. The first is that Ocelot is simply playing everyone for a fool and acting like Liquid Snake for his own gain. What that gain would be, why, or how, we can't really gather. Maybe Liquid's position as head of the Outer Heaven corporation in Metal Gear Solid 4 could have been one such goal or possibility. At this point though, it seems fairly strange to think so much emphasis was placed on this concept just to have it all blown over by the idea that he's faking it. He puts on a huge show in front of both Solid and Solidus. Screaming, biting his arm in an attempt to keep the attacks under control, yelling out: "GET OUT OF MY MIND, LIQUID!" He even visibly takes some kind of pills to repress the attacks, and seems overall very troubled by the concept of Liquid taking control. Besides, how obscure of an idea it would be to try to pull off. Okay, yeah, if he's NOT faking it then it's an obscure plot point itself, but still.- Please wait. Quick reply will be available shortly.
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- Konami
- Kojima Productions
- Modern Action Adventure
- Release: Jun 12, 2008 »
- ESRB: Mature
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