Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid is a stealth-action video franchise written and directed by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami. The Metal Gear Solid franchise is a subset of the Metal Gear franchise, which was also created by Kojima and published by Konami. The franchise, which is often renowned for its writing and exploration of various world-critical themes, saw its first entry in Metal Gear Solid, released in 1998 for the Playstation. Its final installment, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, released in 2015 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One systems. Beyond praise for the series' gameplay elements, consistent praise has been leveled at the compelling, relevant, and subversive nature of much of Kojima's writing. Prominent themes in some of the series' entries include genetics, the control of information and identity, war and conflict, and cycles of violence. In the games, the player typically takes control of various iterations of an operative named Snake, completing special missions. As time goes on, more critics have described Kojima's writing and handling of some of the themes in the games were described as prophetic to the modern day position of society and the flow of information.

Relevant Plot Summary

Notably, the chronology of the Metal Gear Solid timeline is not completely in-line with the order that the games were released.

The Big Boss Era: Snake Eater, Peace Walker, and Phantom Pain

The chronologically earliest entry in the franchise is Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The player takes control of Naked Snake (later Big Boss), who in 1963/64 has infiltrated the wilderness of the Soviet Union to rescue a Russian defector scientist as well as halt the development of a new cutting edge Soviet weapon. Snake is remotely assisted on the mission by a group of colleagues, including a man named Zero. Following the mission, Snake (now Big Boss), Zero, and their other colleagues form a group known as the Patriots. The goal of the Patriots was to uphold the will of Big Boss's and Zero's idol, The Boss.

The Patriots grew more popular and prominent, with Big Boss becoming the group's mascot. However, a rift began between Big Boss and Zero. Zero worried about losing Big Boss's influence, and then created three clones using Big Boss's genetic material: Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake. Big Boss, dillusioned by this, left the Patriots.

At this point, Big Boss engages in numerous exploits worldwide, portayed in the events of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. He aims to build an army without a nation. Meanwhile, Zero is growing old, and creates a cluster of artifical intelligences' to carry on his bidding after his passing, as he did not trust the next generation with his or The Boss's will.