Metal Gear is a stealth actionvideo game series created by Hideo Kojima and developed and published by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on July 12, 1987, with Metal Gear[1] and is one of Konami's best-selling franchises, with over 26.5 million units sold.[2] The games take place in a semi-fictional universe with stories that involve a special forces agent (Solid Snake in most games) who is forced to destroy the latest incarnation of the superweaponMetal Gear, as well as having to rescue various hostages and neutralize certain renegade units in the process. Metal Gear titles have been released on numerous video game consoles, handheld game consoles, and personal computer platforms. Related novels, comics, and other dramatizations have also been released. A few of the series' main characters have also appeared in other Konami games.[3]
The first game was followed by a heavily modified port for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), developed without Kojima's involvement.[4] This game earned enough popularity to garner a sequel, again without Kojima's involvement, released outside Japan.[5][6] The development of this game inspired Kojima to make an official sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.[5] As the series moved into three-dimensional graphics, Kojima decided to title the next game in the series Metal Gear Solid instead of Metal Gear 3;[7] the "Solid" title has been used for all 3D action Metal Gear games since. Several non-action games have also been released, including the Metal Gear Acid games, which have a card-based system of gameplay.
Official sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3 written and directed by Hideo Kojima. It debuted on the PlayStation Portable, similarly to the earlier spinoff Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops,[30] but was later ported to home consoles via its HD Edition.
An English-language version of the VR disc from Metal Gear Solid: Integral[38]
Released in Europe as Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions, where it was released as a "data disc" that required a copy of the original (PAL region) release of Metal Gear Solid.[36]
Release years by system: 2011 – PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 2012 – PlayStation Vita
Notes:
A compilation of remastered HD Edition-branded ports of previously released Metal Gear Solid games. It includes Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on all three platforms, plus Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.[47]
Release years by system: 2007 – PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Notes:
A limited edition box set released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original Metal Gear.
Contains Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (first disc only), a special disc containing Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops on an exclusive UMD case.
Also contains the Metal Gear Saga DVD Video.
The four games in the set were also re-released individually on the same date with anniversary-themed packaging and corresponding bonus content.
2-disc set containing the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Included vouchers for Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions from the PlayStation Store.
Release years by system: 2016 – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows[56]
Notes:
Includes both Metal Gear Solid V releases, Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain, in one bundle, alongside all previously released downloadable content for both games already included.
Vol. 1 includes Metal Gear (MSX and NES), Snake's Revenge, Metal Gear 2, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 alongside games guides, a sound selection of music from the series, and the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée as bonuses.
The NES version features several changes from the MSX2 original,[62] and it is not considered part of the Metal Gear canon by series creator Hideo Kojima[4]
The Japanese release of the GameCube title Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes included an emulated version of the Famicom/NES edition.
Release years by system: 1990 – Nintendo Entertainment System
Notes:
A sequel to the NES version of Metal Gear developed for the western market without the involvement of Hideo Kojima. It is non-canon to the mainline Metal Gear series.
Released as a component of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.[45]
The servers for the Japanese version were discontinued on December 25, 2006. Hideo Kojima himself made an appearance as a player character during the final farewell event.[73]
The servers for the U.S. and European versions followed suit by being discontinued a few months later on April 2, 2007.[74]
A stand-alone version was released in Japan, bundled with a strategy guide by Enterbrain.[75]
A spinoff of the series set after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Originally promoted as the first mainline installment in the series released on a portable platform,[86] it was developed by a different director and writer, with Kojima acting only as producer. As a result, it was later "demoted" to a side-work following the release of Peace Walker.[87]
Originally broadcast as segments in the Konami-sponsored CLUB db radio show from October 24, 1998 to January 9, 1999. It was later collected into a two volume CD series.
A web audio drama based on an Easter egg featured in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel; originally written by Shuyo Murata and broadcast online on Hidechan Radio.[130]
Features a five-part audio drama written by Hideo Kojima titled "Encounter", which depicts the first meeting between Snake (voiced by Akio Ohtsuka) and Kazuhira Miller (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita)
Other content include cover renditions of "Showa Blues" and "Minato no Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka" performed by Ohtsuka and Sugita respectively, five additional drama episodes, and music tracks not included in the Peace Walker soundtrack album.
The "Encounter" portion of the album is included in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes with the option to listen to them with English subtitles.
^Harris, Craig (June 14, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2009. Eight members fill Konami's team of racers. You've got Dracula from Castlevania, and Goemon from Mystical Ninja, as well as the Ninja from Metal Gear Solid....
^ abKojima, Hideo (Presenter) (March 25, 2009). GDC 2009: Hideo Kojima Keynote Address Part 1(Flash Video) (Presentation). GameSpot. Event occurs at 27:02. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2009. Kojima: You may know the NES version of Metal Gear but that's a crap game because I didn't participate on that game.
^Hogdson, David. Metal Gear Solid: Official Mission Handbook. Kojima: "Metal Gear" is as it is, and "Solid" has a deep meaning. Let me explain. This time Metal Gear is displayed in full polygonal form, and I used "Solid" to describe the cubic structure. also, the "Solid" means to the third power mathematically. Also, most of the people don't know that there is a Metal Gear 1 and 2 for the MSX, and I wanted it to be the sequel for those. And, of course, Solid from Solid Snake.
^"Nintendo NES Metal Gear". GameAntique.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2009. (Video and images of the PAL NES version of Metal Gear with copyright dated 1989.)
^ ab"Metal Gear Online". METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN - Official Site. Konami Digital Entertainment. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
^"HEAVENS DIVIDE / 恋の抑止力" (in Japanese). Konami Digital Entertainment. April 7, 2010. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.