Big Boss (Metal Gear)
In the 1987 game Metal Gear, a soldier named Solid Snake receives radio instructions from his commanding officer. The voice on the other end guides him through a mission to destroy a bipedal nuclear tank called TX-55. When Snake reaches the final confrontation, the man who gave orders turns out to be the enemy leader himself. This character calls himself Big Boss and commands a mercenary nation known as Outer Heaven in South Africa. After Snake destroys the weapon, Big Boss vows revenge before being defeated. The twist revealed that the friendly commander was actually the primary antagonist all along. Later games would retcon this death, claiming the Big Boss killed by Snake was merely a body double named Venom Snake.
Set in 1964, the story follows a rookie operator codenamed Naked Snake inside a CIA unit called FOX. His mission takes him into the Soviet Union to stop Colonel Volgin and rescue researcher Nikolai Sokolov. He must also kill his mentor, The Boss, to prevent a nuclear war. During the operation, he learns that the United States government orchestrated The Boss' defection as a ruse. Washington needed to retrieve Philosopher's Legacy while destroying the Shagohod prototype. The authorities decided they had to eliminate The Boss to prove their innocence after an American missile hit a research facility. Naked Snake completes his mission but discovers the entire event was a setup by his own country. He rejects the Big Boss title awarded for these actions and eventually retires from active service.
A physician named Venom Snake serves as a medic for Big Boss until a helicopter explosion destroys Mother Base. The accident leaves him with shrapnel injuries and a large piece of debris embedded in his cerebral cortex. While unconscious for nine years, Cipher subjects him to subconscious brainwashing and facial reconstruction. They turn him into a body double designed to draw attention away from the true Big Boss. This new identity leads a mercenary unit called Diamond Dogs near Seychelles. He fights Skull Face and White Mamba before being revealed as Outer Heaven's leader who died fighting Solid Snake. The original Big Boss awakens from a coma in Cyprus during 1984 to work on developing true Outer Heaven.
Hideo Kojima created Big Boss with visual inspiration drawn from actor Sean Connery for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Yoji Shinkawa later replaced that design when ports of the game were re-released. During production of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kojima asked Shinkawa to make Naked Snake look similar to Solid Snake. The artist made adjustments so the rookie character appeared more naive than the veteran protagonist. Shinkawa stated he had no difficulties designing Naked Snake as essentially a revised version of Solid Snake. The love scene between Naked Snake and EVA drew inspiration from the first Pink Panther movie. Kojima and Shinkawa watched the film but noted it might have differed from the original version. Game trailers did not state Naked Snake was Big Boss until the ending revealed his true identity.
Akio Otsuka voiced Naked Snake in the Japanese version while David Hayter handled the English translation. Hayter previously voiced Solid Snake but had to re-audition to secure the role of Naked Snake. Kurt Russell declined an offer to voice the character before Hayter took the part. Both actors returned to provide voices for Portable Ops and Peace Walker. Richard Doyle voiced the elderly Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid 4 alongside Chikao Otsuka who played Akio's real-life father. On the 6th of June 2013, Konami announced Kiefer Sutherland would replace Hayter for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Avi Arad suggested Sutherland to Kojima who wanted someone capable of conveying subtle facial movements and tone rather than words. Sutherland provided both vocal performance and facial capture for the character across Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.
Game publications described Big Boss as one of the best video game villains ever created. Jesse Schedeen called him one of the most important characters from the franchise despite not always appearing in person. Ken Gagne named Big Boss among the most creative villains due to his betrayal of Solid Snake. Various gaming sites placed his character on lists of worst fathers because of his poor relationship with his son. VG247 noted that while Big Boss looked identical to Solid Snake, he was more vulnerable and driven by personal ideals. Critics compared his villainous turn to Darth Vader. Benjamin Turner of GameSpy found the revelation of Naked Snake's identity to be the single coolest thing Hideo Kojima could have done in MGS3. Dave Meikleham ranked his relationship with EVA as a top list of disastrous game romances ruined by their different roles in the story.
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Common questions
Who is Big Boss in the Metal Gear series?
Big Boss is a fictional character and primary antagonist who commands a mercenary nation known as Outer Heaven. He serves as the enemy leader who gives radio instructions to Solid Snake before revealing himself during their final confrontation.
When did Naked Snake become Big Boss after his mission in 1964?
Naked Snake completes his mission in 1964 but rejects the Big Boss title awarded for these actions and eventually retires from active service. The original Big Boss awakens from a coma in Cyprus during 1984 to work on developing true Outer Heaven.
Where was Venom Snake sent to lead Diamond Dogs after his brainwashing?
Venom Snake leads a mercenary unit called Diamond Dogs near Seychelles while fighting Skull Face and White Mamba. This new identity draws attention away from the true Big Boss who remains hidden until awakening in 1984.
Why did Hideo Kojima create Big Boss with visual inspiration from Sean Connery?
Hideo Kojima created Big Boss with visual inspiration drawn from actor Sean Connery for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Yoji Shinkawa later replaced that design when ports of the game were re-released.
Who voiced Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain starting on the 6th of June 2013?
Kiefer Sutherland replaced David Hayter as the voice of Big Boss for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain announced on the 6th of June 2013. Sutherland provided both vocal performance and facial capture for the character across Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.