History Recap / MetalGearSolid

This time it's FOXHOUND itself that has gone rogue: all six members -- Vulcan Raven, Sniper Wolf, Revolver Ocelot, Decoy Octopus, Psycho Mantis, and Liquid Snake -- have taken over Shadow Moses Island in the Alaskan archipelago, occupying it with the help of the Next-Gen Special Forces, soldiers who have undergone gene therapy. This seemingly unimportant dot of land is anything but: not only is it a nuclear weapons disposal facility, where warheads are dismantled, but it's also the place where DARPA is working with the (fictional) company [=ArmsTech=] to develop yet another Metal Gear, this one codenamed REX. Designed by Hal "Otacon" Emmerich, REX uses a railgun instead of ballistic missiles to deploy its warheads, which would fool conventional anti-missile systems that typically use a ballistic missile's exhaust plume for target-seeking purposes. (This is called a "stealth" warhead in-game, but the physics of such a claim might not hold up.)

Snake learns that the Secretary of Defense has sent bombers to wipe the island off the map as a TreacheryCoverUp. Snake mans the mounted gun of a Jeep; the driver depends on gameplay: if he lost the torture minigame, Meryl is found dead, and Otacon takes the wheel; if not, Meryl drives while Otacon stays behind to HoldTheLine. They are pursued by Liquid, who refuses to go down regardless of the punishment dealt him; only [=FoxDie=] itself is finally able to stop him. Naomi admits that she has no idea when [=FoxDie=] will kill Snake himself, so Snake decides to live out the rest of his life as best he can. Meryl and Otacon give Snake an InfinityPlusOneSword to use in any NewGamePlus runs: Meryl gives Snake her bandanna, which gives him BottomlessMagazines, while Otacon lends his InvisibilityCloak. While the game ostensibly makes you choose, Snake will actually wield both {{Joke Item}}s in the sequel.

''Metal Gear Solid'', released in 1998, takes place in 2005. It was released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and is the first title in the series to use 3D graphics -- the title is a {{pun}} on the fact that three-dimensional objects are typically known as "solids". It also employed voice acting for the first time in the series, and was held up for many years as one of the great pinnacles of the art form. It is also the first game in the franchise to receive an UpdatedRerelease, ''The Twin Snakes'', released by Creator/SiliconKnights in 2004, running the ''[=MGS2=]'' engine on UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube. It is considered the "canon" version of the game, with competely-rerecorded voice acting[[note]]the higher quality of the [=GCN=] audio hardware exposed recording flaws which the [=PS1=] could not reproduce, leading to an opportunity to {{retcon}} some other issues[[/note]] reprised by the entire original cast, and a few {{Continuity Nod}}s tossed in.

The Psycho Mantis BossFight deserves a bit of discussion because it is, arguably, the EstablishingCharacterMoment for the franchise as a whole (especially since, for non-Japanese players, [[NoExportForYou this was the first title OF said franchise]]). It enshrines PaintingTheMedium as a part of the game's approach: To "read your mind," Mantis accesses your UsefulNotes/PlayStation memory card and makes commentary on your play style (the number of times you've saved, the number of times you've had a GameOver, etc); he will also check for save data from other Creator/{{Konami}} titles and comment on them. He will prove his telekinesis by asking you -- The Player -- to put your [=DualShock=] controller on the ground and then "move" it with the power of his mind (IE the vibration shaker). During the actual fight, he will InterfaceScrew you by overlaying your screen with an error message, as though your (1998) CRT TV had shorted out and lost connection with the [=PS1=]. And, finally, he will refuse to be hit until your support crew realizes that his mind-reading only covers the first controller port: if you physically unplug your controller from the P1 slot and put it in the P2 slot instead, he cannot read your mind and you can finally damage him. It starts out {{Narm}}, but manages to graduate to NarmCharm through total commitment to the shtick; the game takes itself utterly seriously, even while engaging in the silliest shit you can imagine. And, once defeated, Mantis starts [[JustBetweenYouAndMe monologuing]]... but not over his EvilPlan, but {{deconstructing}} what it's like HearingVoices every second of your life and being able to MindControl everyone you meet, establishing himself as a BrokenAce tormented by his own powers. These elements -- {{Camp}}, {{Deconstruction}}, SympathyForTheDevil and BreakingTheFourthWall -- are the heart of the ''Metal Gear'' experience.

Snake learns that the Secretary of Defense has sent bombers to wipe the island off the map as a TreacheryCoverUp. Snake mans the mounted gun of a Jeep; the driver depends on gameplay: if he lost the torture minigame, Meryl is found dead, and Otacon takes the wheel; if not, Meryl drives while Otacon stays behind to HoldTheLine. They are pursued by Liquid, who refuses to go down regardless of the punishment dealt him; only [=FoxDie=] itself is finally able to stop him. Naomi admits that she has no idea when [=FoxDie=] will kill Snake himself, so Snake decides to live out the rest of his life as best he can. Meanwhile, Ocelot makes a telephone call to his superior and confirms that he managed to escape with the design data for Metal Gear REX. He works for a fellow named George Sears, who happens to be the [[ThereIsAnother third Les Enfantes Terribles clone]], not to mention the [[PresidentEvil 43rd and current President of the United States]].

The Psycho Mantis BossFight deserves a bit of discussion because it is, arguably, the EstablishingCharacterMoment for the franchise as a whole (especially since, for non-Japanese players, [[NoExportForYou this was the first title OF said franchise]]). It enshrines PaintingTheMedium as a part of the game's approach: To "read your mind," Mantis accesses your UsefulNotes/PlayStation memory card and makes commentary on your play style (the number of times you've saved, the number of times you've had a GameOver, etc); he will also check for save data from other Creator/{{Konami}} titles and comment on them. He will prove his telekinesis by asking you -- The Player -- to put your [=DualShock=] controller on the ground and then "move" it with the power of his mind (IE the vibration shaker). And, finally, he will refuse to be hit until your support crew realizes that his mind-reading only covers the first controller port: if you physically unplug your controller from the P1 slot and put it in the P2 slot instead, he cannot read your mind and you can finally damage him. It starts out {{Narm}}, but manages to graduate to NarmCharm through total commitment to the bit; the game takes itself utterly seriously, even while engaging in the silliest shit you can imagine (even back in '98). And, once defeated, Mantis starts [[JustBetweenYouAndMe monologuing]]... but not over his EvilPlan, but {{deconstructing}} what it's like HearingVoices every second of your life and being able to MindControl everyone you meet, establishing himself as a BrokenAce tormented by his own powers. These elements -- {{Camp}}, {{deconstruction}}, SympathyForTheDevil and BreakingTheFourthWall -- are the heart of the ''Metal Gear'' franchise.

The Psycho Mantis BossFight deserves a bit of discussion because it is, arguably, the EstablishingCharacterMoment for the franchise as a whole (especially since, for non-Japanese players, [[NoExportForYou this was the first title OF said franchise]]). It enshrines PaintingTheMedium as a part of the game's approach: To "read your mind," Mantis accesses your UsefulNotes/PlayStation memory card and makes commentary on your play style (the number of times you've saved, the number of times you've had a GameOver, etc); he will also check for save data from other Creator/Konami titles and make comments on them. He will prove his telekinesis by asking you -- The Player -- to put your [=DualShock=] controller on the ground and then "move" it with the power of his mind (IE the vibration shaker). And, finally, he will refuse to be hit until your support crew realizes that his mind-reading only covers the first controller port: if you physically unplug your controller from the P1 slot and put it in the P2 slot instead, he cannot read your mind and you can finally damage him. It starts out {{Narm}}, but manages to graduate to NarmCharm through total commitment to the bit; the game takes itself utterly seriously, even while engaging in the silliest shit you can imagine (even back in '98). And, once defeated, Mantis starts [[JustBetweenYouAndMe monologuing]]... but not over his EvilPlan, but {{deconstructing}} what it's like HearingVoices every second of your life and being able to MindControl everyone you meet, establishing himself as a BrokenAce tormented by his own powers. These elements -- {{Camp}}, {{deconstruction}}, SympathyForTheDevil and BreakingTheFourthWall -- are the heart of the ''Metal Gear'' franchise.

Snake makes contact with a number of people imprisoned on the base by the terrorists: DARPA head Donald Anderson, [=ArmsTech=] President Kenneth Baker, Otacon, and Meryl Silverburgh, a soldier who happens to be Campbell's niece. The four of them help Snake determine that, yes, the terrorists ''can'' launch a nuclear weapon. Otacon and Meryl go on to support Snake on-site, but both Anderson and Baker suffer fatal heart attacks just after speaking to Snake. Snake also faces most of FOXHOUND: Vulcan Raven, who attacks from the safety of a tank; Revolver Ocelot, whose duel with Snake is cut short when a cyborg ninja pops in and slices off his arm; Sniper Wolf, who attacks from long range; and Psycho Mantis, who takes BreakingTheFourthWall to an entirely new level; and the cyborg ninja, who challenges Snake to a FistFight. Snake realizes the ninja is none other than Gray Fox, resulting in confusion and horror from Naomi.

The Psycho Mantis BossFight deserves a bit of discussion because it is, arguably, the EstablishingCharacterMoment for the franchise as a whole (especially since, for non-Japanese players, [[NoExportForYou this was the first title OF said franchise]]. It enshrines PaintingTheMedium as a part of the game's approach: To "read your mind," Mantis accesses your UsefulNotes/PlayStation memory card and makes commentary on your play style (the number of times you've saved, the number of times you've had a GameOver, etc); he will also check for save data from other Creator/Konami titles and make comments on them. He will prove his telekinesis by asking you -- The Player -- to put your DualShock controller on the ground and then "move" it with the power of his mind (IE the vibration shaker). And, finally, he will refuse to be hit until your support crew realizes that his mind-reading only covers the first controller port: if you physically unplug your controller from the P1 slot and put it in the P2 slot instead, he cannot read your mind and you can finally damage him. It starts out {{Narm}}, but manages to graduate to NarmCharm through total commitment to the bit; the game takes itself utterly seriously, even while engaging in the silliest shit you can imagine (even back in '98). And, once defeated, Mantis starts [[JustBetweenYouAndMe monologuing]]... but not over his EvilPlan, but {{deconstructing}} what it's like HearingVoices every second of your life and being able to MindControl everyone you meet, establishing himself as a BrokenAce tormented by his own powers. These elements -- {{Camp}}, {{deconstruction}}, SympathyForTheDevil and BreakingTheFourthWall -- are the heart of the ''Metal Gear'' franchise.

Snake makes contact with a number of people imprisoned on the base by the terrorists: DARPA head Donald Anderson, [=ArmsTech=] President Kenneth Baker, Otacon, and Meryl Silverburgh, a soldier who happens to be Campbell's niece. The four of them help Snake determine that, yes, the terrorists ''can'' launch a nuclear weapon. Otacon and Meryl go on to support Snake on-site, but both Anderson and Baker suffer fatal heart attacks just after speaking to Snake. Snake also faces most of FOXHOUND: Vulcan Raven, who attacks from the safety of a tank; Revolver Ocelot, whose duel with Snake is cut short when a cyborg ninja pops in and slices off his arm; Sniper Wolf, who attacks from long range; and Psycho Mantis, who takes BreakingTheFourthWall to an entirely new level by using InterfaceScrew tactics, such as making the player believe their UsefulNotes/PlayStation has accidentally turned off, using its vibration mode to shake the controller, and refusing to be hit until the player plugs their controller into the second controller port. Snake is also required to fight the cyborg ninja. He realizes the ninja is none other than Gray Fox, resulting in confusion and horror from Naomi.

After a series of {{Side Quest}}s, misadventures and {{Boss Fight}}s, including a SniperDuel with Wolf which has Snake BackTracking to literally the first area of the game in order to find a SniperRifle, Meryl and Snake are taken prisoner. Snake is stripped naked and strapped to a torture bed, where he finally meets Liquid Snake, who claims to be Snake's twin (despite the fact that he is blond while Snake has brown hair). Ocelot also reveals that Snake never met Donald Anderson: the real one was killed during an overenthusiastic infusion of torture by Ocelot, and Decoy Octopus took his place (and died of the heart attack). Snake must endure a ButtonMashing minigame to resist Ocelot's electrocutions; he can surrender, but Ocelot promises that if he does, he (Ocelot) will kill Meryl.