A Metal Gear primer

So let's say you're excited, interested, or even mildly curious about the pending release of Metal Gear Solid 4, but you never got around to playing some of the titles in the series. Heck, let's say you've never played any of the games, but all the ballyhoo about "OctoCamo," new reconnaissance toys, and movie-length cutscenes has you thinking it's finally time to jump into the Metal Gear universe. Let's also assume real life prevents you from running out and buying all six previous games and playing them non-stop before MGS4 comes out in 11 days.

Well, my friend, you have a problem. Of all the franchises that have attached a story to a video game, none have done so with more (and often maddening) intricacy than the Metal Gear games. What's what and who's who matter a lot in the world of Metal Gear, and while it's possible to enjoy the stealth and combat without knowing anything about the characters or story, Mr. Kojima really expects us to have been paying attention all these years, and MGS4 will undoubtedly reward those who have - at least those who are able to make sense of it all.

But don't worry, my friend, the Brainy Gamer is here to help. :-) I've assembled a modest Metal Gear primer intended to get you up to speed and fill in all those nasty gaps. Here's what you'll find:

1. A chronology of the series with brief blurbs on each game. The list is arranged in ascending order by the year in which each game is set, not by the release dates of the games.
2. A complete compilation of cutscenes for each game. Clicking play will initiate a playlist that automatically strings together all the movies in the order they occur in each game. Obviously, these are full of spoilers, but that's sort of the whole point in this case, isn't it? Watch these, and you'll understand the narrative arc of the series. Possibly. I mean, it depends how you define "understand."

So go to it, intrepid Metal Gear catcher-upper! Special thanks to Hcloud 13 who assembled the cutscene compilations on his YouTube channel. The game descriptions appear courtesy of the "MGS History" section of the official Metal Gear Solid 4 site.

Remember, MGS4 drops on June 12. Be like Snake and be prepared!

Update: Fans of the Metal Gear Solid games may also enjoy Chris Doucette's wonderful webcomic "The Last Days of FOXHOUND" which recently concluded after 5 years of creative and clever work. Gametrailers also has a 3-part Metal Gear Retrospective which will take you through MGS2.

Click here for the Metal Gear primer.

Comments

[David]

This is exactly what I need.

I attempted to play the first Metal Gear Solid's demo for the Playstation, but could not for the life of me actually make anything happen. I don't know if it was bad controls, or the kiosk's bad controller or directions, but needless to say I didn't finish it or any of the others.

Thank you, very much.

[Korey]

Thanks for putting all this together Michael. In the midst of the current media onslaught, I think I've realized that for me, MGS4 could be the PS3 system-seller that finally gets me to part with 5 or $600.

I think a lot of people with PS3s had a plan at some point of how and when to buy one. Due to my love of the Metal Gear series, mine is as follows:

1. Return to the U.S. from Japan and get a new job.
2. Play MGS3. I know, as much as I love the series, I never played the 3rd one.
3. Hopefully, wait for a PS3 price drop in the not-too-distant future.
4. If #3 doesn't work out, buy a PS3 anyway, and of course MGS4.

[Brinstar]

This is going to come in so handy. Thanks.

[The Renaissance Man]

There's a webcomic, called the last days of foxhound, that recaps a good measure of the backstory leading up to MGS 4. There's a real long section covering the Patriots and the story of Snake Eater. It's 500 pages long, and just closed out it's story cycle.

You can find it at www.gigaville.com

[L.B. Jeffries]

Man, I don't even own a PS3 and I'm excited about this game. This series has always been one of my favorites to watch other people play.

For those excited about getting their thinking caps on for this game, G. Williams over at Popmatters has another fantastic academic breakdowon of MGS3. Wish I'd written it myself...

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/multimedia/reviews/44156/metal-gear-solid-3/

[Ben Abraham]

Ooowwh... this means I now have TWO game systems I have to buy to catch up with everyone else... a Wii AND a PS3. D'oh.

Maybe by next-next gen when they're all $150 I'll actually get around to it and play all these awesome new releases. Heh.

[Manveer Heir]

Wait, SIX games? I've never played a Metal Gear Solid and I just got the "Essential Collection" so that I could play MGS4...

Now you are telling me that the earlier Metal Gear games matter too? I don't want to hear that...

[Nathaniel Edwards]

I've managed to play all of the actual Metal Gear Solid games, but not the Metal Gear ones, those have always been a bit out of my reach. It's my favorite series of games in the world just for its storyline. Now this multiplayer has me excited too, with Metal Gear Online.

[Daniel Primed]

Well done Michael, I am one of those rampid fans that investing tens of hours into the storyline.

@ Manveer Heir, unfortunately the second disc of MGS3 Subsistence was not included in the Essential Collection, this had the original 2 games on it. The original Metal Gear is okay but I think that Metal Gear 2 is one of the best in the series.

If anyone is interested here are some further readings on the series and its storyline:

Heavy Metal (plot speculation)
http://tinyurl.com/6qc6zx

Why MGS (PSone) is better than MGS: TTS (GCN)
http://tinyurl.com/5kq9ua

[Michael Abbott]

@David and Brinstar - Happy to be of service. :-)

@Korey and Ben - Believe me, I feel your hefty-PS3-pricetag pain. It took all my powers of persuasion to convince my wife that it was a necessary purchase for me. Thankfully, she's a fan of the blog so she saw the light. ;-) Seriously, it's a shame so many people will be left out in the cold for MGS4 purely because of cost issues. Maybe we should remember the early days of gaming when a lot of us shared our systems with friends or planned our purchases to complement what our friends owned. I recall discussing with some of my buddies which of us would get the SNES and which the Genesis so we could maximize our gaming options.

@Renaissance Man - Thanks for the Gigaville link. Very handy (and funny) resource. I'll add it to my post.

@L.B. - Thanks for the G. Williams reference over at PopMatters. *Terrific* piece on MGS3. I actually disagree with his notion that MGS2 is a superior game, but I base that mostly on control issues (and I played Subsistence). "She is the mentor of soldiers. She is the mother of war." Nice.

@Manveer - I agree with Daniel's recommendation of Metal Gear 2. Stick with the Solid games, but if you have a chance to play one of the regular MG games, #2 is the one to try. And just think, now that Kojima says MGS4 won't be the end of the line, so you may never catch up! ;-)

@Nathaniel - I'm very curious about Metal Gear Online. I'm not usually drawn to online multiplayer modes of single-player games, but I'm curious to see what Kojima comes up with. I've purposely been trying to ignore the early impressions posted by people who played the beta.

@Daniel - Thanks for the useful links. When I think of seriously avid Metal Gear fans, I think of two people: you and Leigh Alexander. :-) Your days of longing will soon end. Just try to hold on for 10 more days. ;-)

[Manveer Heir]

I hate games sometimes...

Series I need to catch up on very soon:
Devil May Cry (all)
Ratchet & Clank (all)
Grand Theft Auto (VC, SA, and IV)
Metal Gear (all)

I own all or most the games of each series too in preparation to play them, but I have no idea when the heck that is going to occur. This is what happens when you miss the majority of a few console generations (I was a stubborn PC gamer for too long)

If I were to play the FIRST Metal Gear game (and Metal Gear 2 afterwards), which version should I locate? I bet someone at work has the extra DVD that came with 3 (In fact, I just remembered one of the Tech programmers is a Metal Gear NUT)

Oh and any ideas how long the original Metal Gear games are in hours of gameplay? I don't want to start a 20 hour marathon unless I am ready

Oh and I got a PSP just recently (Still need to get a DS soon) so I'll have to get Portable Ops too for fun :P

[Manveer Heir]

Oh and does anyone know if the extra disc with MGS3 Subsistence works on the PS3? I have a 60 GB PS3 (one of the originals with full hardware compatibility, not the mixed compatibility or software emulation)

I would assume yes, but you never know.

[Daniel Primed]

@ Manveer Heir, I understand your situation, I am in a similiar predicament with a few major franchises myself.

I would recommend getting the Bonus disc with MGS3 Subsistence, the MSX originals are quite expensive I believe and plus Metal Gear 2 is only available in english translation on that disc. The disc also comes with some neat extras for MGS3 as well.

The original Metal Gear games are of significant length, 6-9hrs I guess. It also depends on if you use a walk through as well since it is easy to lose your way.

Sorry to steal your thunder Micheal. :(

[Manveer Heir]

Daniel,

Thanks for the info! I'll ask some coworkers tomorrow if they have MGS3 subsistence... I am 99% sure someone will have it and let me borrow it.

6-9 hours isn't bad. I remember some older games during that time were 20+ hours, and I'm not prepared for something like that just yet! I hope the games have a decent save or password system though... I'd hate to pull the ol' "Leave the system on forever".

Now the only question is when do I schedule in this set of games. I'm almost considering trying to play ALL the metal gears around the same time and blog about it, but that also frightens me. Decisions, decisions!

[Michael Abbott]

Hi Manveer. Daniel probably knows as much as anyone about this series, so I'll defer to his answer to your question. I do recall my play time was longer than 6-9 hours (more like 15 or so)...but I tend to be a very slow gamer.

As for the question of when to play, I suppose you could forgo sleep, couldn't you? ;-)

[Manveer Heir]

Michael, trying to play a game a week, work on a game, read blogs, and exercise already has forced me to forgo sleep... any less sleep and I may actually die :P

Ill fit all 6 Metal Gear games in, dont you worry!

[Manveer Heir]

Michael, trying to play a game a week, work on a game, read blogs, and exercise already has forced me to forgo sleep... any less sleep and I may actually die :P

Ill fit all 6 Metal Gear games in, dont you worry!

[Manveer Heir]

Michael, trying to play a game a week, work on a game, read blogs, and exercise already has forced me to forgo sleep... any less sleep and I may actually die :P

Ill fit all 6 Metal Gear games in, dont you worry!

[Manveer Heir]

Michael, trying to play a game a week, work on a game, read blogs, and exercise already has forced me to forgo sleep... any less sleep and I may actually die :P

Ill fit all 6 Metal Gear games in, dont you worry!

[Manveer Heir]

Wow, I fail at posting comments - sincere apologies