Metal Gear Solid – 1998
In 1998, Metal Gear Solid had a big impact on the video game landscape. A masterpiece of stealth, action, and storytelling, the first 3D entry in the series was the culmination of Hideo Kojima’s love of film, and his understanding of perfectly balanced stealth gameplay. A landmark of storytelling in games, Metal Gear Solid centered on Solid Snake once again, as he was pulled out of retirement to infiltrate the nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island in Alaska.
The polygonal majesty of the PlayStation delivered us full 3D environments in sumptuous detail: footsteps in the snow, steam clouds billowing on people’s breath, and shell casings cascading to the floor. Snake’s mission brought him face to face with his twin brother Liquid Snake and, in doing so, touched on one of the series’ focal themes: cloning and identity. A party bag of tricks, Metal Gear Solid toyed with the medium by punching through the fourth wall: mission-critical information being on the game’s CD case was one thing, but the boss fight with Psycho Mantis will live on as one of gaming’s more devious and clever boss fights. The game had no equal at the time of its release, and in terms of tone, execution, and impact, it still doesn’t now.
