The basis for the excellent Metal Gear Solid and its sequels found on the PlayStation and the PC comes from the one that started it all-Metal Gear.
Set in 1995 (but made in 1987), the plot centers around a fictional military fortress known as Outer Heaven, home to some of the world’s best mercenaries. But things begin to happen in Outer Heaven. The mercenaries start revolting against the outside world. They take hostage a scientist called Dr. Pettrovich Madnar, developer of a nuclear walking battle tank.
The top-secret FOX-HOUND government service send in their best agent, Grey Fox.
He discovers the true plot behind the revolt in Outer Heaven, but before he can report back he is captured by the enemy, his last message being “Metal Gear…”
This is where play begins. You control a new agent to FOX-HOUND, Solid Snake. A young, fresh addition to the group, he is assigned by the commanding officer of FOX-HOUND, Big Boss, to rescue Grey Fox and discover the meaning behind Fox’s last message.
The game-play is excellent. You must sneak behind anything that will help you to evade detection, avoid guards and laser-shooting cameras, and take on Outer Heaven’s best mercenaries. If you are discovered the game goes into alert mode, and you must evade the guards until they stop searching and
go back to a normal patrol route. You are aided via a transceiver by Big Boss and others, and the music helps to establish a sneaking mood to the game.
There are no less than four weapons in the game. You begin unarmed but soon acquire a pistol, remote-controlled missiles (possibly one of the best weapons at the time of production), a sub-machine gun (that may or may not be available in the game) and a grenade launcher among other weapons. All of these weapons are extremely useful and offer excellent firepower during alert phases or as danger weapons. The gadgets you acquire during the mission are also quite good, from a compass to infrared goggles and also including the ever important rations that save your life when things get really bad.
Via evasion, avoidance, destruction and elimination, you must stop the revolt. Metal Gear must be one of the few games that really involve the player in the game, in particular later in the game when messages are directed at the player.
The graphics and sound for the game are excellent for 1987. Hideo Kojima does a great job controlling the pace of the game and you get really involved. This game really shows why the Metal Gear series has excelled over the years, and as a result is an excellent reason to buy a MSX, NES or download the game.
