History VideoGame / MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater

! Due to the nature of being the chronological prequel to the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series, spoilers from ''VideoGame/MetalGear1'' to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' will be unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!

** Played with. After a cutscene, Ocelot is unconscious, and you're able to shoot him... but doing so gives you a NonstandardGameOver due to creating a 'time paradox'.
** Mostly averted with the Stealth Camo item. In previous games it would have no effect on bosses, in this game your camo index is set to 95% instead of the usual 100% during a boss fight, and as this would imply it does make it much harder for bosses to spot you. Whether this makes any real difference depends on the specific boss fight mechanics and arena. With The End's fight in particular it allows you to wander around with impunity, but there are several other battles where it makes it much easier to get a drop on your opponent.

* CoupDeGraceCutscene: [[spoiler:The player is forced to pull the trigger on The Boss.]] Although it will still happen automatically if the player waits for too long.

* CrosshairAware: During the sniper battle with The End, occasionally there's a short period where you're looking at Snake through The End's scope, just before he fires. This doesn't happen very often, but when it does it's a serious ''Oh, crap!'' moment.
* {{Crossover}}: With, of all things, ''Ape Escape''. Solid Snake would return the favor by appearing in ''Ape Escape 3'', which was released at around the same time. In the HD port, however, the ''Snake vs. Monkey'' minigame was removed.

* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption: How the final battle ends. [[spoiler:After you defeat the Boss, you, the player, have to shoot your mentor; the story will not proceed until you pull the trigger]].

** The End can be defeated by not playing the game for two weeks or just simply changing the clock. If you're particularly sharp with a sniper rifle, you can take him out ''after a cutscene'' much earlier in the game and have his boss room occupied with [[EliteMooks Ocelot Soldiers]] instead.
** When escorting EVA in the end, who is slow and keeps trying to stand her ground against enemy soldiers, rather than trying to coax her along you can just tranquilise her (which also stops her accelerated stamina drain) then drag her to your destination like a caveman.
* CynicismCatalyst: [[spoiler:Big Boss]] slipping into [[AntiVillain Anti Villainy]] started out when he found out the extent of [[spoiler:[[TheParagon The Boss]] "[[SilentScapegoat betrayal]]"]] come the end of the game.
* DamnYouMuscleMemory: In the original version of the game, the circle button is used to confirm decisions and the X button to cancel. This is ''reversed'' in the HD rerelease.

* DatelessGrave: The Boss' gravestone reads "192X-1964".
* DeadAllAlong: Naked Snake (Future Big Boss) frequently sees a mysterious man who only appears while it's raining. At one point in the game Snake drowns, and in this state of "almost death" meets that man in a dream, at which point he introduces himself as The Sorrow. It's only after the "battle" with him that Snake learns the truth: The Sorrow was the lover of The Boss - Snake's mentor and mother figure - and was also killed by her willingly so when their respective missions forced them to clash.
* DeathByIrony: Volgin, the game's PsychoElectro, gets killed by lightning. Naked Snake lampshades the irony of the situation. For an extra dose of Irony, the entire game Volgin used the phrase "Kuwabara Kuwabara" (A Japanese saying that was believed to ward off lightning) every time it rained. Right before his death, he hears thunder go off and instead of saying the phrase, taunts the storm with "[[TemptingFate Who's afraid of a little thunder?]]"

* {{Deconstruction}}: The game plays most of the standard Bond movie tropes straight, but the game's twenty minute epilogue manages to completely brutalize how those films usually end. Sure, Snake is a bit sad he had to [[spoiler:kill his mentor and maternal figure]], but he still managed to save the world, destroy the Shagohod, and get the girl, right? [[spoiler:Turns out EVA is a Chinese spy who only didn't kill Snake because she made a promise to The Boss not to. The Boss was actually a FakeDefector who was the United States' FallGuy. Snake was used to dispose of her and secure the Philosophers' Legacy for the U.S. The entire event inspires Snake's StartOfDarkness]].

* DemographicDissonantCrossover: The Snake Vs. Monkey minigame, which crosses over [[VideoGame/ApeEscape an E-rated franchise]] with an M-rated franchise.

* DescriptionPorn: Snake does this when EVA hands him the M1911, to the point that he's completely ignores EVA unzipping her jacket to show off her cleavage moments ago (players, however, can get a good look for themselves by pressing the first-person button). He also does this a few times if the player calls Sigint after they get a new gun or camo, or if they're near a vehicle or similarly technical object.
* DesignItYourselfEquipment: Big Boss' custom .45, the Patriot rifle used by The Boss (the FinalBoss of the game), and the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle used by The End during his boss battle.

* MessianicArchetype: [[LadyOfWar The Boss]] has certain elements of this. [[spoiler:Her death, in which she sacrificed everything for her country, is what set in motion the events of the entire series from Big Boss' FaceHeelTurn to the formation of the Patriots. Plus there's her dying in a white sneaking suit in a field of white flowers that are stained red with her blood. And all this is before we get to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''…]]

--->'''Snake:''' I need you.\\
'''EVA:''' ... Say that for me one more time.\\
'''Snake:''' I need you. I can't pilot the WIG all by myself.

** As a result of [[spoiler:The Boss having to kill The Sorrow]], she never smiles throughout the events of ''Metal Gear Solid 3''.[[note]]Except for a warm-and-sad one after sharing with Snake her loss and her vision of a kinder, gentler world.[[/note]] Conversely, The Sorrow always wears a sinister grin whenever he appears, [[ArtifactTitle which essentially makes their original titles into misnomers.]]

* NoFairCheating: If you input '[[KonamiCode UUDDLRLRBA]]' as your name on the terminal, the game mocks you. The only other time you can use the Konami Code is on your Ranking screen - where it performs no function other than to make Snake get annoyed at you for trying to cheat after the game is already over. Also, during the MindScrew sequence in Arsenal Gear, one of the NoFourthWall insane rants is the Colonel accusing you of using a cheating device, regardless of whether you're actually doing that or not.

** As a result of [[spoiler:The Boss having to kill The Sorrow]], The Joy never smiles throughout the events of ''Metal Gear Solid 3''.[[note]]Except for a warm-and-sad one after sharing with Snake her loss and her vision of a kinder, gentler world.[[/note]] Conversely, The Sorrow always wears a sinister grin whenever he appears, [[ArtifactTitle which essentially makes their original titles into misnomers.]]

* NotActuallyCosmeticAward: The Brown Facepaint and Green Facepaint, one of which can be "awarded" based on a question you answer at the beginning of the game, have the secondary ([[GuideDangIt and unmentioned]]) ability of giving you unlimited O2 and Grip.

* NecessaryEvil: In order to save the world, The Joy has to be perceived as a traitor and die by Naked Snake's hands. This causes some nasty emotional trauma to him, and differences in interpretation of her will ultimately made things worse for the next half-century.

With its far less convoluted story, fans viewed ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' as a return to form. It featured another main character switcheroo, but this time, Kojima Productions eased the pain by replacing Solid Snake with the man he was cloned from, Naked Snake. Since it takes place in the defining years of the Cold War, the plot line embraces every spy movie trope in the book -- which includes a ''Film/JamesBond''-esque musical intro sequence. Toss in a truly {{bittersweet|Ending}} TwistEnding, four memorable main characters, an amazing sense of level progression, as well as a number of tense and memorable boss fights, and it doesn't take much effort to see why many fans, gamers, and critics alike still think of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' as one of the best games, if not ''the'' best, on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2.

Konami released an ''[[UpdatedRerelease HD Edition]]'' of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, and UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita as part of the ''Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection''; it also released a port for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS titled ''Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D'' in February 2012. The ''HD Edition'' version was later released as part of the ''[[CompilationRerelease Master Collection]]'' on October 24, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, and UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS.

* ContractualBossImmunity: Played with. After a cutscene, Ocelot is unconscious, and you're able to shoot him... but doing so gives you a NonstandardGameOver due to creating a 'time paradox'.

* DiscontinuityNod: The game introduces a minor character named Ivan Raidenovich Raikov, who was put into the game specifically to make fun of Raiden (the controversial mai character of the game's predecessor). At one point, Naked Snake (Solid Snake's predecessor) must disguise himself as Raikov. With his uniform and mask on, his commander tells him he looks so much like Raikov that 'you're starting to irritate me already.' Upset, Snake responds, "But [[{{Bishonen}} this look]] should [[MrFanservice make me more popular]]!"

* PointOfNoReturn: There are certain circumstances in the game that result in you being unable to backtrack to earlier areas. Once you’re thrown in the cavern after the Ocelot battle you can’t return to the previous jungle areas, and the cave itself has a steep slope that prevents you from backtracking it as well. You’re also sealed off once you reach Groznyj Grad, preventing you from going back to the mountain areas.

** ''Snake Eater'' also has a tracking device get planted on you during the torture segment. Not removing it in the cure screen causes [[EliteMooks Ocelot Soldiers]] to show up while escaping along the riverside, but leads to a [[EasterEgg bonus scene]].
* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: The nightmare minigame is a tech demo for an original game that was being developed by the ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders'' team titled ''Guy Savage''. However, ''Guy Savage'' was canceled and the minigame was removed in the ''HD Edition'' version of ''[=MGS3=]'' along with the cutscene and codec conversation referencing it.

* OnlyOneSaveFile: The 3DS version only has one save file, and there's no option to store additional files through an SD card.

* FixedCamera: ''Snake Eater'' featured this in keeping with the previous games in the series, but it was very poorly received and criticized for being unsuited to the sprawling, open-ended jungle environments. This prompted its revision in ''Subsistence'' to an AlwaysOverTheShoulder camera more typical for the third person genre. This is the only camera option available in the 3DS remake.

* FixedCamera: ''Snake Eater'' featured this in keeping with the previous games in the series, but it was very poorly received and criticized for being unsuited to the sprawling, open-ended jungle environments. This prompted its revision in ''Subsistence'' to an over-the-shoulder camera more typical for the third person genre. This is the only camera option available in the 3DS remake.

* TemporalParadox: Killing EVA or Ocelot causes a [[NonStandardGameOver Time Paradox]]. The standard Game Over screen also shifts to "Time Paradox" if the player wait a while. This is because Naked Snake is Big Boss. The ''HD Collection'' has an trophy/achievement for killing Ocelot (thus killing the man behind almost everything in the series) called "[[JustEatGilligan Problem Solved, Series Over]]".

** In an optional cutscene,[[note]]You have to keep the transmitter inside your body by the time you encounter EVA in Tikhogornyj to view it[[/note]] EVA will inspect Snake's body in order to remove a transmitter. Every now and then, in a manner somewhat similar to the ''Film/AustinPowers'' franchise, it cuts to EVA and Snake's shadows on the wall doing things that make it look like they're... ''wrestling.''

* SavedByCanon: You get a NonStandardGameOver if you kill Ocelot at any point, due to creating a TimeParadox if you do so, as he's involved in the plot in the future. Weirdly, this also applies to EVA, as killing her will also cause a paradox, yet this is the first time we've met her. ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' reveals why: [[spoiler:She's the surrogate mother of Solid and Liquid.]]

* TriumphantReprise: The theme to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'' was replaced with a different track in this game. Absent a muzak version in a cutscene, it stays out of the game until the ending, in which it plays twice over two minutes: a [[SofterAndSlowerCover subdued version]] over [[spoiler:a very sad Snake receiving the title of Big Boss]], and then, ninety seconds later, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr8WslV4cEw#t=3m21 a fully orchestrated version]] over the revelation to the player that [[spoiler:the Boss was sent on a suicide mission that was to end with Snake killing her]]. It ends up being both triumphant and tragic in the same breath.

--->This way of reloading is a [[JustForPun revolution]]!\\

* MedalsForEveryone: As aforementioned, Snake and his support team show up at a ceremony where [[spoiler:Snake is given the Distinguished Service Cross and the title of Big Boss]]. The drama comes from the fact that [[spoiler:Snake is being rewarded for successfully completing Operation Snake Eater after he learns the truth about the mission really was. He ends up walking out in disgust after shaking hands with the President, despite the fact that everyone there is applauding him and other people want to congratulate him]].

* LastLousyPoint: The 64 Kerotan frog toys distributed throughout the game (Yoshi plush dolls in the 3DS version) aren't all that bad, set against the standard of other games on this page. There's a camouflage available that lets you hear Kerotans in a room or screen you haven't shot yet, so you know to keep looking for them. The real problem is the Kerotans [[spoiler:you need to shoot during the bike chase scene]]. You only get about a second to line up a proper shot, and seldom have the time after making a shot to listen for the sound they make to confirm that you even got it. Save-scumming is the only safe option. Failing to get the Kerotan Rank after being completely sure you got all the Kerotans in [[spoiler:the bike scene]] is, to say the least, highly distressing.

** The on-rails action against the [[spoiler:Shagohod]], where you do get unlimited ammo of whatever weapons you had at the moment. The explanation is that the sidecar of the motorcycle that you're riding in has lots of ammunition in it. Which gets more than a little ridiculous when you start using the RPG and quick reload (equipping and unequipping weaponry, a bit of bizarre MGS-logic).
** Taken to the extreme with the unlockable "Infinity" face-paint, which, as its name suggests, gives Snake infinite ammo for as long as he has it applied. One camo pattern for his uniform unlocked by beating the game once does the same for his battery-powered items.

** Volgin's electricity color was changed to white (for whatever reason).

* ButterflyOfDoom: Used for a joke; there's a point in the game where you can kill the young version of future turncoat agent Ocelot. Doing so ends the game instantly, with the game telling you that you created a time paradox. If you do this in the HD Rerelease you also get a trophy stating that all the problems in the series are solved, thus it's over. You still get a Game Over though.

* CanonCharacterAllAlong: Naked Snake initially seems like an {{Expy}} of Solid Snake. [[spoiler:But then at the end of the game, he is awarded the title of "Big Boss" meaning that he is the man Solid Snake was cloned from as well as the BigBad of previous installments of the franchise.]]

** Two of the Cobras, The Pain and The Fear, are voiced by Creator/GreggBerger and Creator/MichaelBell, respectively. They previously voiced many characters on ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'', whose main antagonists were a terrorist group called Cobra. While Colonel Volgin isn't a member of the Cobras, he's also voiced by another ''G.I. Joe'' veteran, Neil Ross.

*** [[spoiler:When she meets Snake, she doesn't give the password because she doesn't know it. When Snake questions her about her NSA background, she says she defected four years ago. Problem is, the actual code breakers defected ''two'' years prior.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: It's The Boss' [[HeroicSacrifice death]] that finally push the formation of Patriots and Naked Snake's [[spoiler:aka. Big Boss']] StartOfDarkness. [[LesserOfTwoEvils Probably still better than the alternative of nuclear MAD between Russia and the US, though.]]

%%* NoFourthWall: It's a ''Metal Gear'' game. (AND? PLEASE ADD CONTEXT)

* ParadiegeticGameplay: You can "kill" the End by saving the game and then waiting for one real-life week (or, more commonly, fiddling with your system's date). When you load your game, the End will be dead from old age.
* PatrioticFervor: The Boss, despite all that's happened to her in service of the US Government, remains loyal to America. Both out of genuine love of country and a desire to bring the divided world together.

* OperationBlank: Part spoof and part ShoutOut, the first mission is code-named "Virtuous Mission." Anyone who had been annoyed by [[TheScrappy Raiden]] in the previous game must've been glad to know that it was not, as Snake joked, "Virtual Mission". The second mission fits as well, being code-named "Operation [[TitleDrop Snake Eater]]."

* EasierTHanEasy: The game notches this up a bit by giving the player the EZ Gun, which drastically increases your camouflage level, has infinite ammo and a laser sight (which is otherwise exclusive to one gun you find in the last thirty minutes), and the silencer doesn't wear out. The EZ Gun is available on higher difficulties as a NewGamePlus bonus.

** A ''lot'' of areas, as well as the battle with The Pain, can be made much easier by answering "I like [=MGS3=]" at the beginning of the game which gives you the brown face paint that gives you unlimited oxygen (not that the game bothers to tell you this). Most enemies can't see you underwater, no enemies can follow you into the water (save for crocodiles, but they're rare), and The Pain is completely unable to harm you when you're submerged, giving you a handy safe space in a lot of areas.

* EmbeddedPrecursor: The second disc of ''Subsistence'' includes updated versions of the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear1'' and ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake'', which were originally released for the [=MSX2=] and never released outside Japan in their original form before then (only the first game had an infamous NES port). Both games are included in the ''HD Edition'' of ''[=MGS3=]'' released for the [=PS3=], Xbox 360 and Vita, where they're selectable via the main menu.

* HundredPercentCompletion: There are two special items for the completionist in you. The first is the Infinity Facepaint, only awarded to those who finish the game with a perfect score or capture a small invisible animal and keep it alive until you finish the game. The other is the Stealth Camo, only rewarded to those who go through the whole game without killing anyone or being spotted or to those who can find 64 tiny, really well-hidden green frogs (or [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Yoshi]] dolls in the 3DS remake) scattered around the game. There's also various camouflage uniforms that can only be unlocked by non-lethally defeating most of the bosses.

With its far less convoluted story, fans viewed ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' as a return to form. It featured another main character switcheroo, but this time, Kojima Productions eased the pain by replacing Solid Snake with the man he was cloned from, Naked Snake. Since it takes place in the defining years of the Cold War, the plot line embraces every spy movie trope in the book -- which includes a ''Film/JamesBond''-esque musical intro sequence. Toss in a truly [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] TwistEnding, four memorable main characters, an amazing sense of level progression, as well as a number of tense and memorable boss fights, and it doesn't take much effort to see why many fans, gamers, and critics alike still think of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' as one of the best games, if not ''the'' best, on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2.

In May 2023, Konami announced a full [[VideoGameRemake remake]] titled ''Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater''[[note]]Read as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater[[/note]] for the [=PlayStation=] 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows. It is planned to retain the story and level design of the original game while being rebuilt and upgraded with UsefulNotes/UnrealEngine 5.

** The Boss' first call to Snake at the start of the Virtuous Mission lays out ''much'' of the game's and (series) plot. How leaders change and are replaced [[spoiler:foreshadowing the Patriots]], how enemies and allies are relative terms and can change over time [[spoiler:foreshadowing her own allegiances through the game, as well as Eva and Ocelot's own allegiances, and even Big Boss' future conflict with Zero]]. Soldiers being political tools with no say in right or wrong [[spoiler:foreshadows her ultimate sacrifice for her country]]. She also mentions that Snake's duty to follow order will clash with his own belief in what right and he'll come to regret what he'll have to do [[spoiler:such as killing her]].

*** [[spoiler: When she meets Snake, she doesn't give the answer to the password challenge, because she doesn't know it. When Snake questions her about her NSA background, she says she defected ''four'' years ago. Problem is, the actual code breakers defected ''two'' years prior.]]
*** [[spoiler: Her pistol and bike are both Chinese built. In addition, her use of the "broomhandle" shooting technique (holding the gun sideways and letting the recoil move the gun in a sweeping motion) is a Chinese technique.]]
*** [[spoiler: All this comes together when EVA reveals in the ending she's a Chinese agent after the Philosopher's Legacy.]]
** In the same scene where Snake first meets EVA, [[spoiler:the former's supposed to be meeting an agent named "ADAM" who never shows up, but Ocelot and his men zero in on the player's hiding place without warning. Guess who ''Ocelot'' really is? For bonus points, during your final encounter with him, he introduces himself as ''Adamska''. And then there's his love of American revolvers, a shooting style right out of a western and taking the name of an American wildcat. Guess who has ''his'' real loyalties? Another tell is during the scene where Volgin is frying Snake with his electric torture there's a quick shot of Ocelot starting to reach for one of his guns and then stopping himself. As if he's debating whether he should break his cover and rescue Snake or let things play out.]]
** The Boss when Naked Snake asks her the reason why she defected to the Soviet Union: [[spoiler:''[[GoodAllAlong "I didn't."]]'' The one time in the whole game where she is being completely honest and level with him.]]

** After Snake has his eye shot out, if you go into first-person mode, the far-right of the screen is darkened and your depth perception is off, forcing you to relearn how to aim. This goes even further in the 3DS version, which forcibly disables the 3D option in first-person view, regardless of your settings.

** Prior to her boss fight, The Boss engages Snake in CQC 3 different times; while he still loses each encounter, he does progress further in mastering CQC. Come the actual boss fight itself, and the player can defeat The Boss purely through CQC by countering any of her grabs and then throwing her in turn.

** Snake is airdropped into the mission and told by Major Zero that the enemy may be listening to their communications first thing. Zero then gives a detailed briefing, including explicitly stating who Snake is working for, where he is, and what he's doing, over these same comms.

* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: Volgin orders The Boss to [[spoiler:cut out Snake's eyes]] to prove her loyalty. The scene is especially tense since [[spoiler:[[ForegoneConclusion we know for a fact that Big Boss lost an eye at some point]], so the framing of the moment suggests to us that we're about to find out why. Fortunately, [[BaitAndSwitch someone stops The Boss from committing the act]]. ''Un''fortunately, [[ShaggyDogStory Snake loses his eye from a completely unrelated means in the same scene]].]]

* ImpairmentShot: Seen once Naked Snake (Big Boss) is shot in the eye; from then on, if you enter first-person view that side of the screen is blacked out.

** Raikov's name "Raidenovitch" can be read in Japanese as "Raiden no Bitch," meaning "Thunderbolt's Bitch." The impossible-to-translate pun seems basically the only reason for Volgin's once-off nickname. While it means "Son of Raiden" in Russian, it hardly helps since Raiden wasn't even alive yet in the '60s. However, Raikov clearly is a spiritual successor to him, at least, chronologically in real life.

* MagicMushroom: "These Glowing Mushrooms recharged my batteries!" Worth noting is that after Naked Snake mentions this, Para-Medic consults with one of the other MissionControl agents over ''how the hell that's even possible''.

** Raikov's name "Raidenovitch" can be read in Japanese as "Raiden no Bitch," meaning "Thunderbolt's Bitch." The impossible-to-translate pun seems basically the only reason for Volgin's once-off nickname. While it means "Son of Raiden" in Russian, it hardly helps since that implies nothing since Raiden wasn't alive in the '60s, let alone parent someone. However, Raikov clearly is a spiritual successor to him, at least, chronologically in real life.

** Raikov's name "Raidenovitch" can be read in Japanese as "Raiden No Bitch," meaning "Thunderbolt's Bitch." The impossible-to-translate pun seems basically the only reason for Volgin's once-off nickname. While it means "Son of Raiden" in Russian, it hardly helps since that implies nothing (since Raiden wasn't alive in the '60s, let alone parent someone) ...although Raikov clearly is a SpiritualSuccessor to him (at least, chronologically in real life).

* MedalsForEveryone: As aforementioned, Snake and his support team show up at a ceremony where [[spoiler:Snake is given the Distinguished Service Medal and the title of Big Boss]]. The drama comes from the fact that [[spoiler:Snake is being rewarded for successfully completing Operation Snake Eater after he learns the truth about the mission really was. He ends up walking out in disgust after shaking hands with the President, despite the fact that everyone there is applauding him and other people want to congratulate him]].

* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: The main hero, Naked Snake, is sent on a mission to assassinate his mentor, The Boss, who had defected to the Soviet Union. He joins forces with the typical BondGirl Eva, defeats both his fallen mentor and the BigBad, alongside his WeaponOfMassDestruction, and is hailed as a hero. All's well that ends well right? [[spoiler:Nope. Turns out in the big reveal, The Boss was actually a ''FakeDefector'' who had been implicated by the U.S. government as a scapegoat for them to retrieve a huge sum of money, Eva is actually a Chinese spy who had been manipulating Snake's emotions, and the entire operation was just a way for the government to save face, with The Boss, an agent who was like a mother to Snake, and who loved her country, forever known after this as a traitor of the worst kind, when the truth was the exact opposite.]] Both Snake and the player find out about this at the same time, which greatly contributes to the depressing tone the game ends on. No surprise then [[spoiler:that Snake later becomes [[FaceHeelTurn Big Boss]]]].
* MobileShrubbery: Naked Snake can have several different camouflage patterns of boxes and they still fool guards... except when they notice a box moving. Of course, none of the Comm Officers believe them.
* MoeGreeneSpecial: The Sorrow's broken lens and the blood leaking from the eye behind it heavily imply this trope. [[spoiler:Seeing as his assassin was his lover The Boss, her method of execution was probably meant to be as quick and painless as possible in addition to professional.]]

** Naked Snake managed to cock-block ''himself''. EVA moved in to kiss him and was suggesting a little more when he out of the blue decided to offer her a roasted snake, while moving his head away from her.[[note]]It makes a little more sense when it's revealed in Peace Walker that he's in love with Kaz, making him AmbiguouslyGay, until chronologically later titles made it clear that he's not much of a lover at all.[[/note]]
** Later on, he declares his love for her!... except he doesn't:

* AceCustom: The [=M1911A1=] that EVA gives Snake when they meet up the first time is a model that has been extensively customized by an expert gunsmith. [[NotDistractedByTheSexy Snake even ignores EVA's obvious enticement]] to [[DescriptionPorn geek out over all the ways]] it has been fine-tuned and adapted from the stock model, saying that he has never before used [[CoolGuns a weapon as fine]].

** Both The Pain and The Fury's camouflage. The former's makes bees follow you harmlessly and attack guards instead, and the latter reduces explosion damage and grants immunity to catching flame. The problem isn't that neither of these abilities are so esoteric you'll never bother to use them (why attack with bees when you have ''guns'' and there are few opportunities to benefit from the fire resistances), but that they tend to give poor camouflage indexes, often ''negative'' values, which will greatly hinder you. Ironically The Fury's camo is actually quite useful against The Fury himself, but that means you'll still have to beat him once without it and carry it over into a NewGamePlus.
** The ''Nine National Facepaints'', rewarded to the player for getting all 27 ranks in ''Snake Eater 3D''. Not only do they all grant poor camouflage indexes, but they grant absolutely no abilities whatsoever. Compared to the much easier to acquire green and brown facepaints that grant unlimited grip or oxygen (respectively), such a difficult to acquire prize being only a CosmeticAward is a fantastic fail.

** The Crocodile Cap. While it seems entirely useless at first glance, it's surprisingly helpful in a number of ways if used correctly. The most notable instance is when Snake has to venture past a straight one-way route through the Ponizovje mangrove swamp that's patrolled by enemy soldiers on [[AirborneMook flying platforms]], if Snake dons the Croc Cap and stays underwater whilst wearing said cap, the soldiers on the aerial platforms will just think Snake is a crocodile swimming in the water and not be alerted, turning an otherwise-annoying section into a cake walk. Just don't wear it when nearby other '''actual''' crocodiles though, as they won't [[BerserkButton take it too well...]]

* MedalsForEveryone: The ending of the game plays this for added drama. Naked Snake and his support team are all lined up at a ceremony where Snake is being given what looks like the Distinguished Service Cross. The drama comes from the fact that Snake is being rewarded for [[spoiler:killing the woman he loved most, which was, perhaps, all for naught anyway as the voice over says during the scene]]. He even ends up walking out immediately after shaking hands with the President, despite the fact that everyone there is applauding him and other people want to congratulate him. The disgust on his face is ''priceless''.