Metal Gear (0)

Overview

Metal Gear is an espionage top-down action-adventure game developed and published by for the (in Japan and Europe) in 1987. It is known as the first game to promote tactics over run-and-gun gameplay. It is the first game in the series of action-adventure games.

Set in 1995 , players control a rookie operative (codenamed ) in an elite United States unit called , as he infiltrates a fortified militaristic compound (known as ) to both rescue top agent and destroy a new, mysterious superweapon known as . He must use a variety of weapons (such as a , a , and ) and gadgets (such as , , and a disguise) to progress through the compound, rescuing members of the nearby along the way. Throughout the game, Snake can gain assistance with his portable , in which he communicates with his commander () and key members of the resistance.

While the original game was never released in North America, the game was later ported to to the (which was released worldwide in 1987-1988). This port includes an updated level design, including a brand new outdoor prologue segment. It was also ported to computers and the in 1990, and to mobile phones in 2004 (2008 in North America).

An updated version of the original game (alongside the official sequel, ) was included as a bonus in for the (with a re-translated English script, a new difficulty setting, and an unlockable ). This version was also included in the Metal Gear Solid 3 part of for the and .

Gameplay

Metal Gear is considered to be one of the very first games, and the gameplay reflects that. The game was played from a where the player had direct control over Snake. The emphasis of the game was on moving through the environment without being detected by the enemies rather than focusing on combat. This is reflected in the weapons that Snake uses, which tend to be , and are used to clear obstacles such as hollow walls or electrified floors. The only time that the player is forced to fight enemies is if they are spotted, or in order to defeat the game's .

The player can also pick up and interact with objects in the levels. This comes in the form of obtaining or rations from defeated enemies, and colored used to open locked doors. The game also has a , where if Snake rescues , he gains a rank, which increases his maximum health, and carry capacity. For every 5 hostages the play rescues, they gain a rank, but they will lose a level if they allow a hostage to die.

Metal Gear is also known for pioneering the concept of an ' '. When the player is spotted, the game switches to Alert Mode, where the player must try to escape or kill those that have seen them. If the player is seen and a single appears , then the game enters into a level 1 alert. In this mode, the player can escape the alert by simply moving to a different screen, or by killing the enemies in that screen. However if the player is spotted and two !! appear over an enemies head, then the game enters into a level 2 alert and not only will enemies in the screen attack the player, but off screen reinforcements will attack as well. In this mode, simply moving to an adjacent screen will not suffice; they can only end the alert by killing all incoming enemies, or by leaving the building they are in and going outside, or by moving up or down a floor in the building.

Version Differences

This game was originally released on the , and this original version has fairly significant differences to the release. The NES release was produced without any involvement from series creator . Kojima has openly said that he is unhappy with the Metal Gear released on the NES in the US and has said it is "complete garbage". The game was also released on the and the in the early 1990s. These versions were based on the NES version, rather than the MSX2 original.

Specific Differences (in the NES version from the MSX)

• The starting area in the NES version features a jungle instead of swimming directly into Building 1 like in the MSX version.
• A lot of the music has been changed in the NES version including: Battle Theme, Intro, and Main Themes. Also, even some of the themes that were not completely changed were altered in some way (sped up or slowed down).
• Basement layouts were changed or switched around.
• Schneider's frequency was changed to 120.26 from 120.16.
• The parachute was removed and replaced by the iron glove (which is considered by many to be useless).
• The rocket rangers on the rooftop of building 1 and 2 do not have the ability to fly.
• The hind D boss battle was removed and replaced by a pair of snipers - twin shot.
• The trucks in the NES version are usually facing south instead of north.
• The most notable difference is that players no longer fight Metal Gear at the end, but instead destroy a supercomputer which controls Metal Gears functions.

Story

Set in 1995, Metal Gear takes place after the event of , , and , and before the events of . The player controls a rookie soldier codenamed , the newest Member. Snake's mission is to infiltrate , and militaristic state founded by a " ". The objective is to sneak in and destroy , a new and mysterious weapon of mass destruction being constructed deep within Outer Heaven.

In response to this threat, FOXHOUND sends one of their top agents to infiltrate Outer Haven and assess the situation, and deal with the threat posed by Metal Gear. However, after a few days, contact with him was lost, and the last message he sent was a mysterious transmission that simply read: "METAL GEAR...". The leader of FOXHOUND, , sends in Solid Snake to rescue Gray Fox, and complete Gray Fox's original objective, "Operation: Intrude N313"

When Snake arrives in Outer Heaven, he meets local resistance members Kyle Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer, who agree to help him on his mission. Solid Snake begins his mission, and with his skills, and only using equipment procured on his mission, he manages to rescue Gray Fox. Upon rescuing him, Snake learns that Metal Gear is the codename for a walking bipedal tank armed with nuclear weapons. Outer Heaven plans to use this mobile nuclear platform to dominate the world, and install itself as the new world superpower.

In order to learn how to stop Metal Gear, Snake seeks out and rescues Dr. Drago Pettrovich, the lead engineer of Metal Gear, as well as his daughter Ellen. Dr. Pettrovich informs Snake how to destroy Metal Gear. Armed with this knowledge Snake sneaks and fights his way through Outer Heaven to get to Metal Gear. However, Snake begins to notice that the enemy is able to track his movements with uncanny precision, and he wonders how he is being tracked so accurately.

Never the less, Snake is able to make his way to the core of the base where Metal Gear is housed, and is able to neutralize it before it is completed. Having completed his mission, Snake begins his escape from the complex, however on his way out he is confronted by Big Boss who reveals himself to be the "legendary mercenary" and leader of Outer Heaven. He explains to Snake that he used his position as leader of FOXHOUND to steal military intelligence and build up his own mercenary forces, which are culminated as Outer Heaven, and the Metal Gear program. He had expected Snake to fail in his mission, since he was still just a rookie, and when he did not, he began to inform his soldiers of Snake's position, which explained why Snake was being tracked so precisely. Big Boss then starts a self-destruct sequence for the compound, stating that he won't die alone, and that Solid Snake will come with him. After a desperate battle, Snake manages to defeat Big Boss and make his escape of the compound; fleeing the base as it explodes behind him. However, after the credits of the gameplay, a message from Big Boss is displayed, saying that he will meet Snake again.

Trivia

• A still image of from the movie The Terminator was used to create the cover art of the game.
• "I feel asleep!" is a famous misspelling from the Nintendo version of the game that a sleeping soldier will say when they wake up.