20 Years of Metal Gear
Metal Gear is regarded by many as the greatest, but most complicated Saga's ever created, with the thousands of twists and the desires to push a systems capabilities to their limit.
It all began in the mid 80's after Kojima helped create Penguin Adventure 2, Kojima is a great fan of the idea of hide and seek. From this idea he looked to the cinema for insparation such as 007, Rambo, Space Oddsey and many more, from this he created the idea of a man called Solid Snake, a highly specialised soldier who was a master of stealth infiltration and combat techniques.
From this basis came the idea of sneaking into a location unseen and the idea of the now infamous plot twists involving the enemies and Snake's fellow colleagues.
Fortunately for Kojima, Konami liked his stealth ideas and Metal Gear was born. Introducing the idea of stealth Metal Gear also proved the idea of 16 band sound, which was unheard of! (2 band the norm) Seeing the sucess of the game Konami handed the game over to their NES devision, unfortunately for us their conversion wasn't loyal to the MSX original changing the characters, movement through the game and even removing Metal Gear! for what they thought would be better for the US market.
The end result was a game losely based on the original version but with a story which lacked Kojima's twists and a stupid Cornel you have to kill. Moving on the team also create Snakes Revenge for the NES, Commador 64 and Tiger handheld which is easily regarded as the dog of the series. But thanks to this mishap Kojima was pushed into creating Metal Gear 2 : Solid Snake in response, although it was only released in Japan its regarded as one of the best games of its time, continuing on with the legendary twists involving Big Boss and Frank Jaeger.
After this came the rift... Kojima went on to create 2 detective games called Snatcher and Policenauts both with the plot and game style Kojima is known for, then Kojima assisted with a dating simulation series translated meaning "Lets Date", supplying his Policenauts engine to the special Soccer and Guitar editions.
Collaborating with Yoji Shinkawa, Kojima began work on the 3rd instalment Metal Gear Solid (Originaly Metal Gear 3), this edition brought stealth games to the masses and made Metal Gear a household name. Because of this huge success Kojima was promoted to a Director in Konami and the now famous amounts of merchendice was born from the demand of fans.
With the turn of the century the PS2 was born and Kojima was free once more to create a even more realistic vision of his Stealth ideal, over the next 2 years the game was developed with meticulous detail and the world was watching in aww at how advanced everything was compared to what was available back at E3 2000.
With Metal Gear Solid 2's release it was hailed by many as the best PS2 game ever made, with the Hollywood score thanks to Harry-Gregson-Williams and the skills of Kojima's team to make a highly realistic game with the twist of Raiden,which to this day is loved and hated in equal measure.
By 2003 The Playstation 2's limits had been realised and the Konami team began work on Metal Gear Solid 3 with what Kojima had surgested of "Back to the Origin" and "Set in the Jungle" Kojima went off working on Boktai. However the team were strugling with the project and had little or no idea of how to go about a story or timeline.
So Kojima was pulled back into putting in his ideas. by E3 2003 the idea of going back to look at Big Boss, had been decided to try to recreate an actual living world with plants and animals where you had to eat! At this point the story was still in its infency and the final model of Snake was yet to be created with most content still from MGS2.
Over the next year the script was drawn up, with the characters to be included all perfect for what was being planned, Kojima was very careful not to say it was Big Boss, but the hints where everywhere from the press kit to the events in the trailers.
By E3 2004 Kojima was ready to reveal some of the the cast to feature the biggest pull was letting people see and play the first chapter (Virtuous Mission) and boy did that bulk up the anticipation, one was even stolen! (Location still unknown)
At this point a leak appeared! an actor hiring company called the ShowBiz leaked a short script confirming a few things and a character profile! By this point the story was starting to secretly reveal itself, which made many including myself very excited.
By the GGC & TGS trailers of 2004 the game was practically complete and the result was a game so real that many complained that it was to hard!
With its release it was hailed a trumph and the now huge following got a very satisfying meal.
Now Kojima steps down for the next in the Saga Metal Gear Solid 4.
However he decides to take the helm for MGS4 after thousands of fans swayed demanded his input (For the 3rd time...) Also introduced are the add on to MGS3, Subsistance and a sequal to Metal Gear Ac!d. Finally revealing the new name of Kojima's department as a result of Konami's reorganization... Kojima Productions, with Kojima the head the goal of QUALITY over Quantity.
Metal Gear Aniversary Packages
To be released on 27/07/2007 (Was originally due for release for the 20th Anniversary) all the cannon Metal gear games to date are having special releases of 20th Anniversary versions in Japan. Konami is currently considering American and European versions also.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2 inc The Document of
Metal Gear Solid 3 inc Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2 : Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid : Portable Ops
Each version comes in a special sleeve and comes complete with a special commemerative booklet.
For those that are collectors Konami are releasing a special complete package of the Cannon games in one big boxset for $60. Coming is a Silver case it contains ALL the above plus a Special collectors booklet, premium version of MPO and Metal Gear Saga : Volume 2 - 20th Anniversary edition!
Information is short on this version but it is a remake of Vol1 made for the Japanese audience, rumours surgest newer trailers, content and longer reviews of each game will be included.
Metal Gear Saga : Volume 2 - 20th Anniversary Edition - Openning
Translation (Domo to Osiris of Junker HQ for this)
I came across him in a town in the Middle East.
However prosperous it once had been, the town was now engulfed in war.
It was a pointless conflict between PMC mercenaries and local militia fighters.
War had since become a commodity in a marketplace governed by immense capital.
Amid this stood a man who fought alone and for himself.
An aged warhorse.
Solid Snake.
Formerly known as a hero who saved the world, he was now labeled a criminal who'd brought it to ruin.
Though tired of battle, he returned to the fight.
His aim was to put an end to his cursed blood.
To him, this was his atonement.
Solid Snake, senescent soldier.
What secrets lie in that blood?
