Metal Gear

Metal Gear is a stealth action video game designed by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami in 1987. It debuted on the MSX2, a computer platform prominent in Japan and Europe. Its defining objective was not simply to destroy opponents, but to infiltrate enemy territory while remaining unseen. Kojima has linked that approach partly to the MSX2's difficulty handling numerous active projectiles and enemies on screen. The player controls Solid Snake, a rookie member of FOXHOUND, sent into the state called Outer Heaven. Snake's assignment begins with finding the agent Gray Fox and determining what weapon Outer Heaven is developing.

Gray Fox's intelligence identifies Metal Gear, a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from terrain inaccessible to conventional launch systems. Snake rescues Fox, contacts resistance figures, and penetrates the facility through keycards, radio calls, and equipment such as a gas mask, mine detector, and remote controlled missiles. He encounters bosses including Shotmaker, Machinegun Kid, Fire Trooper, Dirty Duck, and Bloody Brad. Snake also meets Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar, Metal Gear's designer, and Madnar's daughter Ellen. After learning how to destroy the machine, Snake confronts TX 55 Metal Gear and discovers that Big Boss has been directing Outer Heaven.

The original MSX2 release did not present Big Boss's betrayal as a twist: he repeatedly communicates with Snake by radio, gives misleading orders as the operation advances, and finally tries to halt him. Snake escapes after defeating Big Boss and Outer Heaven begins to self destruct. Konami produced adaptations and ports, but they were not identical. The 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System version altered areas, omitted the Metal Gear battle, and changed the story. A separate 1990 MSX2 sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, returned Kojima to the series and continued Snake's story, establishing elements later revisited by Metal Gear Solid.

Metal Gear's importance lies in its role as the starting point for one of Konami's series and for Kojima's characters, themes, and fiction. However, its 1987 structure remains distinct from the cinematic style of the 1998 PlayStation game Metal Gear Solid. The MSX2 game uses an overhead view, separate areas, prisoner rescues, and a transceiver frequency system. Players obtain information from Schneider and Jennifer, while guards can trigger alerts when Snake is spotted. The game was followed by Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake on MSX2, then later by Metal Gear Solid, which reintroduced Solid Snake to a international audience.