Metal Gear Solid is one of the most revolutionary and beloved franchises to exist today. Its groundbreaking stealth gameplay has laid the foundation for other games with similar principles such as Splinter Cell or even Assassin’s Creed. In spite of its more humble beginnings, the series has changed so dramatically that it might be hard to tell what has actually changed and what has stayed the same. This is especially daunting for new players who have become more interested in the series.
Here are all of the changes from the franchise that has been made over the year, while also explaining some of the things that have stayed the same.
10 Changed: Different Themes
Metal Gear Solid is known for many things. Outside of the storytelling of the franchise, Hideo Kojima and his team put in a lot of emphasis when it comes to the many themes of the games. Although it had more of a general theme with the first two MSX titles, by the release of Metal Gear Solid, the franchise has garnered themes from genes to revenge. Allowing it to be diverse.
However, all of these themes while incredibly important in their own respective games, only further highlight the main important theme which will be explained later on this list. That being said, the addition of different themes really illustrates how complex the story starts to revolve around as Kojima and his team continue to evolve as creators. Something that always happens with time.
9 Same: War Is Bad
Throughout the Metal Gear franchise, everything is always situated around the concept of war. Whether the setting takes place during one, the concept of soldiers places in the modern age or the idea of a war economy. War is a theme that is both enticing to look at from a creative narrative standpoint but also as an overarching character almost. Within the franchise, it is established that war is bad and that the world is better off without it. Solid Snake establishing how there is nothing glorious about the fight and murder throughout the series only reinforces this.
8 Changed: New Gameplay Elements
Throughout the franchise’s lifespan, Metal Gear Solid has introduced many new elements that helped lay the groundwork for becoming the best that it can possibly be. Outside of introducing 3D into the franchise, things have become a bit more interesting with time such as a fully realized camera and even new base management elements. Something that was introduced in Peace Walker and then fully improved with Metal Gear Solid 5. All of these helped to highlight the series evolution.
7 Same: Tactical Espionage Action
However, in spite of the new gameplay and story elements that Kojima’s team continued to bring to the series. Metal Gear Solid at its core is all about tactical espionage action. To summarize this, it generally means that Metal Gear Solid is at its core a stealth game. The main elements and foundations laid down by the MSX games have completely ensured that Solid Snake and those that were created after him were stealth icons first and foremost. Even now with Metal Gear Solid 5, Venom Snake can still be played sneaking into different enemy camps.
6 Changed: Story Complexity
These are one of the things that changed from the franchise that is also one of the most unsurprising. When the original Metal Gear first came out, the general idea of the plot was simple. With Solid Snake stopping the Metal Gear. As the series continued to go on, the story started getting depth and eventually becoming incredibly complex. So complex that it became not only convoluted but filled with a ton of cutscenes. That being said, it is this complexity that made the franchise what it is today. While also laying the groundwork for Kojima’s writing style.
5 Same: The Threat Of Mechs
The Metal Gears are a bi-pedal walking battle-tanks that are considered the main threat of the show. Complete with the ability to hold a nuke or are giant mechas that destroy everything in front of them. These mechs have consistently been a threat across all forms of warfare and have even evolved into sub-categories like the Gekkos in Metal Gear Solid 4. Nonetheless, these mechs have become synonymous with the series almost as much as the characters that live in that universe.
4 Changed: Controversial Twists & Turns
This is by far one of the elements of Metal Gear Solid that has since been defined across all of the franchise. Arguably as early as Metal Gear Solid 2, the writing and themes have been thought around expectations. Which has resulted in the franchise turning and twisting in ways that not everyone would be a fan of. The most notable examples of these are the introduction of Raiden and Venom Snake. Both of whom were characters that fans didn’t wholely expect while also bringing in elements that have since been accepted.
3 Same: Bold Directions
Perhaps an important quality for any gaming franchise is the bold risks that some creators are willing to take with their properties. Even games with the likes of Mario has still done elements that have really taken the franchise into completely new and bold directions. Metal Gear Solid is definitely no exceptions with this. As mentioned before, the series has often gone through twists and turns in the story department. However, these bold directions have also applied towards gameplay such as the Psycho Mantis fight.
2 Changed: Evolution Of The Times
Somewhat of a commentary to the way the game series itself has evolved, one of the coolest elements that have been introduced to the franchise is the way the setting itself evolves. Perhaps going along with the themes of the story, the events that occur within the games are reflective of things that have happened in the lore of the universe. As a result, everything in gameplay has also changed in response to this.
A good example to prove this point is the Octocamo from Metal Gear Solid 4. By using this type of sneaking suit, it shows how the setting has completely changed. How Snake has to use new ways to sneak around rather than how it was handled in games earlier in the timeline. Another good example is the Cyborg Ninja’s and how they are slowly becoming more prevalent by the end of the timeline.
1 Same: Solid Snake
When it comes to the Metal Gear franchise, it doesn’t matter who ends up being the protagonist of the franchise, Solid Snake is one of the few things in Metal Gear Solid who fundamentally hasn’t changed. Despite the character development that he gets over the years, it’s his mentality and gameplay approach that has always stayed exactly the same. Not only that, but he has always stayed strong with his resolve.
Ever since his appearance in Metal Gear for the MSX, Solid Snake has consistently saved the world from any threat. Threats such as the Metal Gears, his father, his siblings and even the Patriot AI. He is one of the many characters that has refused to stay down. Even when his body is battered and bruised, he always tries his best so that the world can see another day.
NEXT: 9 Things Most Players Miss On Their First Play Through Of Metal Gear Solid
