Playing Metal Gear Solid for the first time
First of all I don't just mean the first 3D game, I went and played that... then finished the entire series in the span of 6 months because it's so damn good.
Here I'll try to summarize the ideas of each game and some of what makes them great.
Metal Gear Solid
At its heart, Metal Gear Solid is a rom-com set to the playbook of Cold War era tropes. It does a fantastic job of introducing you to the characters and slowly dripping out new abilities by way of weapons and items. The cast is unforgettable, with full voice acting all the way from start to finish.
By far the most impressive thing about this game is it's sheer technical prowess, everything from the controls, to models, to the way the camera is used is way ahead of its time and without a doubt the most impressive title on the console. It also breaks the fourth wall several times, from having you look for a radio frequency on the back of the CD case, plugging your controller into port 2 so that Mantis "can't guess your next move" 😂, to straight up telling you to take a piss before a long cutscene is about to start.
The main theme here is genes, and the desire to create the perfect soldier. As you play through and are told more about the MG lore you start to realize just how much of a cluster fuck Kojima is cooking up.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Instead of a love story, this time we're introduced to the idea of misinformation and total information control.
Again the devs were on something when working on this one as the first thing you notice is just how absolutely gorgeous the graphics are, AND that they're locked at 60fps the whole way through.
The theme here is memes, that is, the essence of a person or culture.
And while the opening chapter seems like things are progressing as normal everything gets flipped on its head as your perception of what's really going on becomes more and more uncertain as the story progresses. As the game wraps up and you face the final boss, the true reality of the situation is revealed and you're left to wonder whose side you're really on.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
It's 1964 and you're Snake... wait what? Don't worry, there are another 3 games to explain wtf is going on. The theme now is "scene", or the perception of and the reality of right and wrong, hence the mission name "virtuous mission".
This one brings in a whole new set of mechanics, most notably a stamina system as you're now deployed to a remote part of the USSR with nothing but the clothes on your back and your trusty tranq pistol. You now have to hunt for local flora and fauna to replenish your stamina and acquire weapons as you go. Oh, and now suppressors have durability so you can't just pistol snipe your way through every area.
The story is absolutely 10/10 in this one and you get to meet young Ocelot; who turns out to be a furry that meows at you. The plot sets up the origin of the series and reveals the background of The Boss and what it means to be a true patriot.
If this is your first time playing DO NOT get Delta, part of what really sets up the atmosphere in this game is the guards having eagle vision and you not being able to see shit because of how bad the graphics are, 4k makes the game too easy.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
The theme is sense. What if all of your senses were to lie to you?
Guns of the Patriots attempts to wrap up every thread in the series with some of the longest cutscenes in any game. It's basically a movie with a game you can play in between.
Sounds shitty? Well, the gameplay just happens to be some of the best in the series, with missions taking place in large (but well closed in) war zones with fighting happening all around you. Later on the levels become more linear again so there's a good amount of variation to what you can do. The story follows shortly after the events of MGS2, with a new take on misinformation, now not just information control, but direct control of individuals via nano machines.
After defeating bosses they will try to make a final stand and grab you, if you run around the room for 5 minutes the game is like ok, lets do a photo shoot. Now whip out your camera and start snapping pics of some gorgeous babes.
It's probably the most under appreciated game in the series due to being stuck on the PS3 for years as it has been very difficult to emulate (until now).
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Peace Walker covers the topic of peace and what the true cost of achieving it is.
Unlike all of the previous titles this was initially a PSP exclusive, much of the mechanics of MGS4 have been carried over but the game is clearly intended to be played in short bursts, with loads of side content and the ability to go back and replay any of the missions as you see fit. But that doesn't stop it from still being a fully fledged MGS title, and is arguably the most polished of any PSP game.
The story takes place after the events of MGS3, Snake is doing his own thing now with the sole determination to rid the world of Metal Gear's.
Metal Gear Solid V
Ground Zeros
Ground Zeros is a very short demo (only 2 hours if you stick to the main mission) released prior to TTP that bridges the period between Peace Walker and TTP, it shares all of the gameplay mechanics of TTP so it's quite fun to play in its own right but you can absolutely skip it and just watch a recap to fill in any plot details.
The Phantom Pain
TTP is unsurpassed in the stealth action genre, absolutely nothing else comes close when it comes to the quality of the gameplay. Unfortunately it is unfinished, you'll get halfway through the story and the content just stops. There is a complete story despite the cut content but it can be very annoying to actually finish chapter 2 given how strong the presentation of the first chapter is.
It adds more back story to the characters of the first 4 games. The theme for this one is revenge and it certainly shows as it's by far the most darkly themed title in the series. The strongest point in the game actually comes right towards the end and you can accidentally skip it entirely:
Early on you will encounter a character named The Quiet, after being ambushed and defeating her you then have the option of executing her or bringing her back to Mother Base to work for you. Letting her live adds a lot to the gameplay and really drives home the overall theme of the game.
No genes, no memes...
The MGS series is well known for its complex and highly intertwined story of war, information control and philosophy. But even if you aren't super invested in the lore, each title has excellent gameplay mechanics that keep them interesting even decades later, so it's well worth investing the time to at least try out the series.
I mentioned these terms throughout this post: gene, meme, scene, sense, peace and revenge.
These are the single word ideas that Kojima used as the basis for each title in the series, with the idea that each one would explore a given topic and let the player draw their own conclusions. This is in contrast to most games and even most media where we expect a simple linear progression of the same main thread.
Understanding this is key to appreciating each game in its own right.
Versions and emulation
All of the games can now be emulated or have HD releases for modern consoles. The first 3 games should absolutely be played on a CRT with original hardware if that's an option to you, especially the first game as it looks best at true 240p, that said emulation is perfect for 1 and 2. Snake Eater and Guns of the Patriots have minor graphical issues if emulating the original, so best to stick with original hardware, or in the case of Snake Eater there is both HD and Delta.
All of the more modern titles run perfectly.
Published on April 20, 2026