- 4 months ago
From hidden easter eggs to secret development stories, the legendary stealth series has more mysteries than a Shadow Moses facility! Join us as we unveil surprising facts about Hideo Kojima's masterpiece franchise. Did you know about the abandoned features, bizarre crossovers, and fourth-wall breaking moments that define Metal Gear Solid's legacy?
Category
đźïž
GamingTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're going straight to the bottom of the iceberg. These
00:17are 20 things you didn't know about the Metal Gear series. Development secrets, content history,
00:22unused storylines. Let's see what was hiding in the shadows of Metal Gear.
00:26Big Boss Believes in Santa Claus, Metal Gear Solid, Peace Walker.
00:30Snake, how much do you know about the US Homeland Air Defense Network?
00:35I don't know much about what goes on up in the sky.
00:37This entry in the series admittedly gets a little wackier than the previous games. It doesn't hold
00:41nearly the emotional stakes of MGS4, but it's still canon. So if Big Boss believes in Santa Claus here,
00:47he believes in him everywhere. After Huey laughs off Big Boss's comment about NORAD tracking Santa,
00:52Big Boss continues to insist that Old Saint Nick is indeed real and that he used to bring him
00:57presents. It is oddly sweet from a man whose eyeball was cut out by Russian terrorists.
01:01What I do know is that NORAD tracks Santa Claus on its radar.
01:05Nice one. I didn't know you were a comedian too.
01:09Huh? No, I'm serious. It's true. NORAD tracks his...
01:15Listen to me. Every December they set up a hotline and...
01:21Mark 2 was planned for MGS1, Metal Gear Solid.
01:25It's me, Snake.
01:32Snake, it's me.
01:34Huh? Otacon.
01:37The Metal Gear Mark 2 was a funny little addition to MGS4. That contextualized Otacon always being
01:42by your side and giving you a fun little gadget to play with if you don't want to just run a gun.
01:46Interestingly, Snake was originally intended to use the Mark 2 throughout Shadow Moses,
01:51and it even appeared in his inventory during the Metal Gear Solid E3 1997 demo.
01:56Wow. Think back then.
01:58Considering the original game's top-down layout, the Mark 2 might have been even more valuable than
02:02it was in MGS4, and by the time we got to MGS4, it would have been like the Mark 37.
02:07But this gear's not a weapon. It's a remote mobile terminal designed to provide you with operational
02:12support.
02:13Ocelot is the boss's son, Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater.
02:20You're here at last. Looks like the boss's info was right.
02:24Revolver Ocelot is undeniably the most iconic character in the whole series, appearing in
02:29almost all of the mainline entries. He takes center stage in Metal Gear Solid 4 where he directly
02:33opposes the will of the boss, a heartbreak that deepens with the revelation that Ocelot is in fact
02:39the boss's son. In MGS3, the boss briefly mentions giving birth during battle, and Eva tells Snake
02:45about Ocelot, stating,
02:46All I heard was that his mother was supposedly shot in the gut during battle, and that he was
02:50born right there. It's subtle, but it's still canon.
02:53Or should I say, Snake, you're a wonderful man.
02:59Chico was meant to come back, Metal Gear Solid 5, The Phantom Pain.
03:03Chico. Chico.
03:05First introduced in Peace Walker and swiftly written out in Grand Zeros, Chico never quite
03:10received the character development that seemed intended for him. Along with Paz, he became the
03:15emotional core of Grand Zeros, and then all but vanished from the main game. That is, unless you
03:20dig into the art of Metal Gear Solid 5. The art book features a concept page showing what Chico
03:25might have looked like had he survived, wearing a long red coat and carrying various melee weapons.
03:30It's so cool that it feels like a very missed opportunity.
03:35David Hayter was almost replaced in MGS3, Metal Gear Solid 3, Snake Eater.
03:42Major, I've spotted two enemy soldiers.
03:47They're probably KGB troops sent to guard Sokolov.
03:52AK-47s and grenades.
03:54The decision to replace David Hayter with Kiefer Sutherland in Metal Gear Solid 5 Grand Zero
03:58sparked pretty major controversy. Hayter's seemingly abrupt departure caught many off guard,
04:04but the truth is, Kojima had been considering a change as far back as Metal Gear Solid 3,
04:08Snake Eater, and the assault between the two of them has become more and more a topic of public
04:12conversation, especially with Hayter. Back in MGS3, Kojima had hoped Kurt Russell would voice Big
04:18Boss and reportedly had a Konami producer approach him with the offer. I love Kojima, but it does seem
04:23like he treats Hayter like garbage, which makes me sad.
04:26I have a message from him.
04:28What is it?
04:30He said to tell you sorry for being so late.
04:33MGS4 Barber Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots.
04:37Character customization is a staple of modern gaming, and originally players were going to
04:41have the option to customize Snake's facial hair in MGS4 using a razor found in-game.
04:46Kojima revealed that he had wanted to implement facial hair growth as early as Metal Gear Solid 2,
04:50but the PlayStation 2's hardware limitations held the idea back. With the PlayStation 3, however,
04:55the technology was finally up to par, and Kojima even showed four potential facial hair styles
05:00for Old Snake, including a full beard that closely resembles an older Big Boss.
05:05At least we got growing hair by the time Red Dead 2 rolled around.
05:09MGS2 almost didn't happen Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty.
05:14The terrorists call themselves Sons of Liberty.
05:18Sons of Liberty?
05:19The name of their leader is Solid Snake.
05:27Kojima's original concept for a Metal Gear Solid sequel was surprisingly straightforward.
05:31Snake would travel to the Middle East to destroy another Metal Gear.
05:34Kojima eventually scrapped the idea because war in the Middle East became a reality and felt a bit
05:39close to home. His next draft was closer to the game that we got. None of the events of the
05:43Big Shell would have actually happened. Raiden's entire mission in the plant chapter was envisioned
05:48as a fully fabricated simulation. MGS2 already challenges the player's perception of reality,
05:53but this early version would have discarded all ambiguity in favor of the twist being reality,
05:58not just a fan theory.
05:59I was part of the army's Force 21 trials. Force 21? That's about tactical IT deployment, right?
06:08Any field experience? No, not really. So this is your first.
06:13Lost members of Dead Cell, Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty.
06:16You're right on time, I see. I like a punctual man.
06:21Is he Dead Cell? I am Fat Man. I am the greatest that humanity has to offer.
06:29Almost all Metal Gear games have a collection of supernatural freaks, as Ocelot so kindly calls
06:34them, to give our protagonists a few bosses to face leading up to the endgame boss. MGS1 had Foxhound,
06:40MGS3 had the Cobra unit, and MGS2 had Dead Cell. However, two additional members of Dead Cell were
06:47originally planned, but ultimately cut from MGS2. One was Chinaman, a martial arts-themed character
06:53who had a dragon tattoo that could come to life. And the other was Oldboy, an elderly figure who
06:58was meant to be a mentor to Big Boss. Crazy that Kojima nearly got away with a character called
07:02Chinaman.
07:03The old man is dead. The world is a different place now.
07:07Join your union's Metal Gear Solid.
07:09I have two mission objectives. First, you're to rescue DARPA chief Donald Anderson.
07:15In the late 90s, voice acting in games was still relatively new, and many actors were unsure about
07:20how to fit within union guidelines with this work. At the time, the Screen Actors Guild hadn't
07:25established clear rules for video game work, leading many actors to use pseudonyms to avoid
07:30potential conflicts. This was the case for much of the Metal Gear Solid cast,
07:33who were credited under aliases. Apart from David Hayter, Doug Stone, and Scott Dolph,
07:39most of the cast were not who they said they were, with Hayter even using a pseudonym for
07:43the tech demo.
07:43You'll be through here. I know it. I'm going to swat down a couple of bothersome flags.
07:51Sniper Wolf Concept Art Metal Gear Solid
07:53It's hard to miss when you're this close.
07:58That's your weapon over here. Slowly.
08:02Oh my word. I gotta lie down.
08:04The concept art books of Metal Gear Solid 1 through 4 showcase stunning concept art and illustrations,
08:10primarily by Yoji Shinkawa, but also include surprisingly explicit images of Sniper Wolf.
08:16I'm going to check the analytics of this video to see just how many people paused here to go and
08:20Google this. Depicted wearing nothing but an open jacket and a single boot, the image was pretty full
08:26on, considering the tone of the rest of the game. But not surprising, considering Yoji and Kojima were mates.
08:32Please.
08:36Just finish me quick.
08:38We figured out the twist, Metal Gear Solid 5, The Phantom Pain.
08:42Spoiler alert. Venom Snake from MGS5 is not big boss, and some players were able to unravel Venom Snake's true identity
09:01by paying attention to Kojima's music choices in trailers and noticing the character's subtle new traits.
09:07With most other developers, Snake's new ponytail and vaping habit might have just been seen as a
09:12shift in direction for the character. But with Kojima, every detail carries weight.
09:17While his choice of smoke might not have been enough to clue in most players, Kojima's musical selection
09:22definitely played a significant role, picking songs about fractured identities, clearly on purpose.
09:28Here.
09:33That's your name, as of today.
09:35MGS3 was meant to be a PS3 title, MGS3, Snake Eater.
09:44Metal Gear Solid 3 pushed the limits of the PS2's hardware, often feeling like a new generation
09:49experience within that gen. And this makes sense, as Konami initially intended for Snake Eater
09:53to be a flagship title for the PlayStation 3. Due to frequent delays, the PS3's release was pushed back
10:00and back and back for years. Faced with the prospect of more weighting, the team shifted development
10:05back to the PlayStation 2. In hindsight, this was likely a blessing, especially considering how
10:10notoriously difficult the PS3's early hardware was to work with.
10:14To thank you for your compliment.
10:16What compliment?
10:19My shoes.
10:21Metal Gear Rising saved. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance.
10:24Originally, Metal Gear Rising was a spin-off from Kojima Productions, titled Metal Gear Solid
10:41Rising. Rather than taking place after Metal Gear Solid 4, the game was meant to bridge the
10:46gap between MGS2 and MGS4, focusing on how Raiden rescued Sunny from the Patriots. Kojima entrusted his
10:52team to lead the project, but when he returned months later, he was disappointed with the
10:56progress and ultimately cancelled it. Ouch. Fortunately, Platinum Games stepped in to finish
11:02the game, leading to a major refocus. That being said, I'd have loved to have seen that idea play out.
11:07Game. Only all muscled up and less predictable.
11:12But it makes you wonder, where'd Desperado find these guys?
11:17I'm not complaining. They're like walking vending machines.
11:219-11 affected MGS2. Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty.
11:30It's fairly common practice that horrific real-world events change films and TV and games
11:35that were being created well before these real-world events, to save audiences connecting their work
11:40with real-world events. Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty required alterations before its launch
11:45for this exact reason. The original ending featured Arsenal Gear crashing into Manhattan
11:50and destroying several buildings, with the final battle between Raiden and Solidus ending with Raiden
11:55draping the American flag over Solidus' body. The 9-11 attacks felt a little bit too similar,
12:01and it was ultimately cut.
12:02The fear was one of Raiden's OG designs, Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty.
12:15In many ways, Raiden's design is a brilliant choice, as it adds another layer of discomfort
12:23to Metal Gear Solid 2 further unsettling the player.
12:26In another way, f*** Raiden. Regardless of how you feel about whiny whiny Raiden,
12:31his design wasn't always what we ended up seeing. Early concept art for Sons of Liberty reveals that
12:36Snake Eater's The Fear was considered as one of Raiden's preliminary designs.
12:40Yes, the most erratic and disturbed member of the Cobras was almost the protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2.
12:46Imagine that. Ugh.
12:48Soon, the most exquisite pain will engulf your entire body.
12:52Your limbs will be paralysed. Your lungs cease to draw breath.
12:57Eventually, your heart will stop beating.
13:00Ah, but what fun with that.
13:03Kojima strikes again. Metal Gear Solid 4, Guns of the Patriots.
13:10I am an octopus.
13:15An eight-legged beast.
13:18MGS4 introduced the Beauty and the Beast unit as its group of antagonists.
13:22Dressed in black and grey armor, the B&B core consists of four women, each suffering from PTSD.
13:28And after beating them, the women shed their armor to reveal their beauty,
13:32slowly advancing towards Snake in nothing but skin-tight suits covered in slime.
13:36The design is already unnecessarily erotic, which is even harder to digest
13:40when they're clearly having mental breakdowns,
13:42but Kojima initially intended to push their sexuality further
13:45by having the beauty's approach Snake completely nude.
13:49Come on, Hideo.
13:50You naughty boy.
13:59Skateboarding minigame, Metal Gear Solid 2, Sunset.
14:01In addition to new VR missions and an alternate non-canon story mode
14:10where Solid Snake replaces Raiden on the plant,
14:12MGS2's substance included a Tony Hawk-style skateboarding mode.
14:16Players could choose either Snake or Raiden
14:18to skate around Big Shell, performing tricks and destroying cyphers.
14:21I know what you're thinking.
14:23Matt, that sounds totally bodacious.
14:25And you're right.
14:26What is even going on in this game?
14:34Snake's Dream Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater
14:36In MGS3, after suffering through the torture sequence,
14:46the player will end up in a small jail cell.
14:49If the player saves, quits, and reloads the game immediately,
14:52they're treated to a bloody hack-and-slash minigame
14:54called Guy Savage.
14:56The inclusion of this strange minigame remained a mystery for years,
14:59with Kojima refusing to comment on it
15:00until he revealed it was a preview for a cancelled Konami title.
15:04The minigame is exclusive to the PS2 version,
15:07and it's such a crazy weird inclusion
15:08that many players still don't know it exists.
15:15Raiden's reveal was protected Metal Gear Solid 2, Sons of Liberty.
15:19I've drawn this point into the ground,
15:26but when Metal Gear Solid 2 debuted in 2001,
15:28there was little reason to suspect Snake would be replaced.
15:31Raiden made brief appearances in TV spots and trailers,
15:34but the focus was always on Solid Snake.
15:37He was the one players controlled in all of the scenes
15:39and the star of every showcased cutscene.
15:41On top of this, Kojima had shown footage of the plant section
15:44with Snake's model swapped out for Raiden's.
15:47It's a sneaky move, and it really rubbed people the wrong way.
15:50Snake and Otacon were supposed to die.
16:16Metal Gear Solid 4, Guns of the Patriots.
16:23At the end of MGS4,
16:26and in the longest sequence of cutscenes in history,
16:30Snake decides to live out his remaining months in peace.
16:33It's an unexpected and beautiful conclusion to Solid Snake's story.
16:36However, Kojima originally envisioned a much, much darker ending,
16:41with Snake and Otacon surrendering themselves to the UN
16:44for their role in Metal Gear terrorism,
16:46and being sentenced to execution.
16:48Kojima's team found this conclusion too bleak
16:51and reportedly refused to continue working unless he revised it.
16:55Imagine that, someone telling Kojima this is a bit much.
16:58Well done, team.
16:59I wish someone had stood up to him
17:00when it came to Princess Beach in Death Stranding.
17:13Did you enjoy this video?
17:14Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
17:16and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
17:18to get notified of our latest videos.
17:21We'll see you next time.
Be the first to comment