Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)

• 1. Stealth Mechanics And Gameplay Design

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  Konami released Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation in 1998. The game directed by Hideo Kojima required players to navigate a nuclear weapons facility without being detected by enemies. When Snake moved into an enemy's field of vision, he triggered alert mode that drew other guards toward him. Players had to hide until evasion mode began and the counter reached zero before returning to infiltration mode. The radar system stopped working during these high-tension moments. Developers used an overhead perspective similar to original 2D games while switching to first-person views when crawling under tight spaces or using binoculars. An on-screen radar provided locations of nearby enemies and their fields of vision throughout missions. Snake could crawl under objects, use boxes as cover, duck behind walls, or make noise to distract opponents. The emphasis on stealth promoted less violent gameplay since fights against large groups often caused severe damage to Snake.

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• 2. Cinematic Presentation And Narrative Structure

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  Snake entered the facility via an air vent and located the first hostage DARPA Chief Donald Anderson. Anderson revealed that Metal Gear REX could be deactivated with a secret detonation override code but died of a heart attack shortly after speaking. Colonel Campbell's niece Meryl Silverburgh helped Snake escape from her neighboring cell where she was held hostage. Over Codec radio communications, Meryl agreed to meet in the warhead disposal area if Snake contacted Metal Gear designer Dr Hal Otacon Emmerich. A mysterious cyborg ninja appeared and cut off Revolver Ocelot's right hand during their gunfight. Baker briefed Snake on the Metal Gear project before dying of another sudden heart attack. The ninja reappeared again and Snake realized it was his former ally Gray Fox believed dead. Devastated over learning REX's true intentions, Otacon agreed to aid Snake remotely using special camouflage to procure information and supplies. Sniper Wolf wounded Meryl and captured Snake while ambushes continued throughout Shadow Moses island operations.

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• 3. Development History And Production Challenges

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  Director Hideo Kojima originally planned his third Metal Gear game in 1994 for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer platform. Development began in 1995 but halted briefly due to the Great Hanshin earthquake causing major damage to the studio. When work resumed, the project moved to the PlayStation platform instead. A staff of twenty people developed the entire game despite its scope as a major title. Initially only one programmer worked on the game's code until September 1996 when team size expanded to full strength. Developers aimed for accuracy and realism while making gameplay enjoyable and tense through extensive research. The Huntington Beach SWAT team educated creators with demonstrations of vehicles weapons and explosives. Weapons expert Motosada Mori served as technical adviser during visits to Fort Irwin and firing sessions at Stembridge Gun Rentals. Kojima stated that if players weren't tricked into believing the world was real then there was no point in making the game. Adjustments were made to every detail including individually designed desks throughout facilities. Characters and mecha designs came from artist Yoji Shinkawa based on Kojima's concepts using plastic models and clay sculptures before final polygonal art creation.

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• 4. Character Roster And Plot Twists

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  Liquid Snake leader of terrorist splinter cell FOXHOUND revealed he had been impersonating Snake's advisor Master Miller throughout operations. Liquid confirmed Snake's suspicion that they were twin brothers born from the Les Enfants Terribles project initiated by government in 1970s. The program cloned Big Boss to create genetic counterparts for military purposes. Liquid also revealed the government's true reason for sending Snake: he unknowingly carried a weaponized FOXDIE virus causing cardiac arrest in FOXHOUND members upon contact. This allowed the government to retrieve Metal Gear REX undamaged after eliminating threats. Gray Fox appeared during battle with Liquid revealing himself as Deepthroat who destroyed REX's radome before being crushed to death by the mech itself. Ocelot called the US President identifying him as secret third clone of Big Boss while claiming double agent status. Naomi Hunter injected Snake with FOXDIE virus telling him he had indeterminate time before it killed him. Colonel Campbell briefly ousted from command called off nuclear strike destroying evidence and registered Snake as killed in action to stop US government searching further.

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• 5. Commercial Success And Critical Reception

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  Metal Gear Solid received universal acclaim according to review aggregator website Metacritic. PlayStation Official Magazine UK called it best game ever made unputdownable and unforgettable. IGN opined it came closer to perfection than any other game in PlayStation's action genre calling it beautiful engrossing and innovative in every conceivable category. Computer and Video Games compared playing it to experiencing big budget action blockbuster only better. Arcade magazine praised introducing brand new genre sneak-em-up heralding tidal wave of similar titles. GamePro called it season's top offering but criticized frame rate occasionally stalling eye-catching graphics. GameSpot critical how easy avoiding detection was alongside short length calling more work of art than actual game. Next Generation reviewed giving five stars stating no player should miss this best reason yet owning PlayStation. The game received Excellence Award for Interactive Art at 1998 Japan Media Arts Festival. Academy of Interactive Arts Sciences nominated Metal Gear Solid for multiple awards including Game of Year Console Game of Year Console Action Game of Year plus outstanding achievements in Interactive Design Software Engineering Character Story Development during second annual ceremony.

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