Metal Gear
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games
DEVELOPER: Konami
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 22nd 1987 (JP), June 1988 (US), 1988 (EU)
In 1988, Metal Gear was simply a unique entry into the NES library, an action game that emphasized stealth and strategy over Contra-style theatrics. Western gamers didn’t know that the NES port didn’t compare to the more fully realized MSX2 original. They didn’t know that Metal Gear Solid would revolutionize storytelling and stealth mechanics in video games nine years later. And they didn’t know that Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear’s creator, is an auteur with a distinct, uncompromising vision on how he wants his stories told within video games.
Today, it’s hard to play NES Metal Gear without considering the series and its incredible influence over gaming. The memes (“SNAAAAAKE!!!”), the insane characters, changing your controller to the second slot in the Psycho Mantis fight, the Raiden fakeout, Old Man Snake and Ocelot fighting, MGS V’s janky, abridged ending. All of this information swirls around you while you control 8-bit Snake around the uppity dogs and sleeping guards. Quaint beginnings with a furious, incomprehensible future.
Unlike future Metal Gear iterations, the story here plays second fiddle to the gameplay on the NES. No 90-minute cutscenes, no ponderous discussions about some side-character’s cooking habits, just basic information relayed through the transceiver. Solid Snake is the main character, only at this point on the timeline, he’s a rookie agent in Foxhound taking orders from Big Boss. His mission is to find Gray Fox, uncover what the Metal Gear project is, and fight a bunch of bizarre bosses. Sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it? Spoiler alert for an almost 40-year-old game: turns out Big Boss was the villainous “Colonel Vermon CaTaffy” all along!
The gameplay consists of Snake wandering around and figuring out where to go while avoiding loopy guards and dopey Dobermans. You can slowly sneak around them, or you can make them taste fist (bullets later), but your health bar is small, and you only have one life. The dogs aren’t shy about biting, and the guards will shoot to kill. Wisdom and patience are key.
Unfortunately, sneaking around in two dimensions is as limiting as it sounds. You can move slowly past enemies’ line of sight, but sometimes they’ll still see you even if they’re not looking straight at you. What determines how they see Snake? Who knows. When they do spot you, they’ll call reinforcements, though leaving the screen will usually shut down the alert. Hiding behind crates is often the most effective way to avoid getting caught.
Metal Gear has items, lots and lots of items. In fact, the bulk of the game is spent looking for items, so you don’t die in future areas. Remote-controlled missiles are incredibly helpful against bosses. The infrared goggles help you see invisible lasers. Body armor, binoculars, mines, rations, the Iron Glove, a gas mask, every time you think you’re done finding items, five more appear and they’re all necessary, even if it’s just for one room or one boss encounter. Thank goodness the terrorists leave these very useful weapons and items just lying around, eh?
Then of course, there are the eight (!) card keys you have to find. Switching between them to get in various locked rooms is an enormous chore. Also, you can only have one item and one weapon equipped at a time, so if you need, say, the infrared goggles on, you’ll have to unequip the card key, then re-equip it before you enter another room. It’s the NES, there’s no getting around needing to press ‘Select’ to enter a menu screen, but it just makes you appreciate Metal Gear Solid’s handling of items with the L buttons all the more.
Boss fights are a highlight of most Metal Gear entries, but here, the bosses are essentially just stronger guards. They’ll often announce themselves (“I’m the Machinegun Kid!”), then start laying into you with their weapon of choice. Cover is usually (though not always) provided, and you just work with the weapons you have. And if you don’t have remote-controlled missiles or a grenade launcher, find them, use them, cherish them.
Let’s face facts: Metal Gear just isn’t that fun to play anymore. The stealth mechanics are rudimentary. There’s no map system, so figuring out where to go in the similar-looking buildings can be a challenge. Switching between key cards to other items back to key cards is annoying. And because there’s no over-the-top story to keep you invested and moving forward, all you’re left with is a myriad of items to collect, subpar bosses to fight, and POWs to rescue. None of this makes Metal Gear bad, per say, just poorly aged, especially in comparison to its cinematic and groundbreaking sequels.
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Even the 'good' version of this game is a bit of a crpytic, unenjoyable slog. Can't imagine how horrible this is to play, you have gamed for our sins.
I heard about Metal Gear for the NES back in the day but never played it. I certainly didn’t know about its origins. So MGS kind of came out the blue and I thought it was a sequel to the NES games.
I did read the Metal Gear Worlds of Power novel though. What a fun read, it came with tips for the game too!