Metal Gear is a 1987 action-adventure stealth game developed and published by Konami for the MSX2. Originally released in Japan and parts of Europe in July 1987, it is the first mainline game in the Metal Gear series, the fifth chronologically, and the first video game developed by Hideo Kojima. Players control Solid Snake, an operative of the U.S. special forces unit FOXHOUND, who is sent on a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear, a bipedal mecha capable of launching nuclear missiles to anywhere in the world, as well as rescue a number of fellow agents who have been taken hostage by the enemy.
Initially envisioned as a pure action game, Metal Gear was reworked under Kojima to focus on avoiding enemies, contrary to the then-popular shoot 'em up genre, with an emphasis on evasion similar to Pac-Man (1980). Numerous weapons and items are used in the game, including a portable radio transceiver used to convey dialogue and the narrative. A port of the game was later released internationally for the Famicom/NES; this version was developed without Kojima's involvement and features many changes, including drastically altered level designs.
Metal Gear takes place in 1995, which is not defined in the Japanese MSX2 version of the game, and referred to the year as "19XX", the release of Metal Gear Solid established the date within its narrative. The game forms the first entry in an overarching plot concerning the character of Solid Snake, with the origins of the game's plot being later explored in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
The player's character is Solid Snake, a rookie member of the special forces group FOXHOUND sent on his first mission. He is assisted via radio by his commanding officer Big Boss, who offers information about mission objectives and items. Snake can also contact people in a local resistance movement composed of leader Schneider, a former architect who guides Snake through the layout of the fortress and knows the locations of key items; Diane, a former positive punk vocalist who provides information on enemy forces and mercinaries from her home; and Jennifer, who infiltrated Outer Heaven's medical staff to find her missing brother and assists Snake as an inside agent once he gains a high rank. Among the prisoners Snake rescues are Grey Fox, a FOXHOUND agent who was captured during a previous mission; Dr. Pettrovich , a robotic engineer who is working for Outer Heaven against his will; and the doctor's daughter, Elen, who was kidnapped by the enemy to coerce her father into developing Metal Gear.
The bosses include Shoot Gunner , a former Spetsnaz agent specializing in the riot gun; Machinegun Kid, a former SAS operative armed with a machine gun; Fire Trooper, a former GSG 9 operative who uses a flamethrower; Coward Duck (Dirty Duck in later releases), a boomerang throwing terrorist who shields himself with hostages; Arnold (Bloody Brad in later releases), two TX-11 class androids designed by Dr. Pettrovich; and the legendary mercenary who founded Outer Heaven, whose true identity is unknown until the end.
Metal Gear was re-released and is no longer abandonware. You can purchase the game from:
* We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.
1 thought on “Metal Gear”