On the long list of the best video game series of all time,Metal Gear Solidcomfortably ranks among the most notable.
The franchise conceived byHideo Kojimahas been transcendental for the video game industry in every sense, always offering us installments that pushed gaming further forward.
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From the firstMetal Geargames to even its spin-offs, the IP has experienced all kinds of successes and failures, but it has never ceased to beamong the most important and recognized in the medium’s history.
Therefore, it’s time to pay tribute to one of the most outstanding series that video games have ever seen, doing so through a list ofeveryMetal Gear Solidgame,ranked.
8Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes
A Great and Inexplicable Product
Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes
Even thoughMetal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroesis a remarkable experience, I can’t help but wonder how inexplicable its existence as a standalone product is.
Comparing it to any other game in the series, even if it can be superior, is unnecessary givenit’s a different kind of product,not a game in and of itself.
Ground Zeroesserves as an introduction toMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, which is why, without the latter, it’s individually meaningless and worthless to a certain extent.
Although it showcases the most outstanding graphics,animations, and gameplay the franchise has ever seen, it’s only an introductory mission,making it extremely difficult to weigh it above entire campaigns.
After considering what I would think ifMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’s Virtuous Mission had been released as a standalone game, I can’t help but categorizeGround Zeroesas a great introduction but a terrible purchase on its own.
7Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Weird but Valuable
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Unlike the previous entry,Metal Gear Solid: Portable Opsis a complete title that truly brought with it many new and entertaining ideas.
Aside from the debate about whether it’s canon or not,the story remains as compelling as the series has accustomed us to, with a great adaptation to the PSP’s strengths.
It may languish compared to the series' main installments, but it has enough charisma and entertainment to be considered one of the best games on the handheld console.
Furthermore, in terms of music, characters, and lore,Portable Opsholds up well, making it a highly underrated video game.
Considering it introduced the concept ofrecruiting soldiers, which is vital to Big Boss’s story, it’s easy to see both its impact and quality.
6Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
An Underrated Experience
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
WhilePortable Opsis indeed underrated, the case withMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walkeris even more noticeable.
This title’s contribution to the franchise in terms of narrative, gameplay, and audiovisual content is truly sensational, but it flew under the radar of most gamers due to its exclusive release on PSP.
By building on the foundation laid by its spiritual predecessor, it offers a refined and accessible experience,whose story and cinematics are on par with those of the main games.
Although I’m not a fan of its bosses, as I remember them more with fear than with affection,Peace Walkeris completely magical and deserves much more recognition,especially for the quality with which it delves into Big Boss’s story.
5Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Settling Outstanding Debts
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Aside from the fact thatMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Paintakes years to get going, it’s one of its generation’s most remarkable video games.
Even with the shortcomings resulting from its development issues, leading to a questionable mission structure and an oddly focused ending, the latest game in the series is a phenomenal conclusion.
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With the most fluid, deep, and satisfying gameplay, the most stunning graphics, and the most expansive and breathtaking level design,The Phantom Paintruly isMetal Gear Solid’spinnacle in many ways.
It lacks its direct predecessors' transcendence, but that doesn’t detract from the magnificently executed experience every fan of the series needs to close this wonderful cycle.
4Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
An Unforgettable Ending
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriotsis a title with many questionable decisions. However, it’s impossible to deny it’s amongthe best PlayStation 3 games, which speaks volumes about its quality.
Hideo Kojima’s creation’s true chronological conclusion is riddled with moments where you have to roll your eyes and take a deep breath, butthe way it concludes one of the greatest stories of all time is unparalleled.
The sensationsGuns of the Patriotsgenerates are beyond the reach of the rest of the series, capable of making you feel excitement, anticipation, and intrigue with every step you take. It also hasa lot of fan service and endless cinematics, but that’s part of its appeal.
Aside from the graphical and gameplay improvements it offers, which also add value to the experience, this journey’s magic lies in elementsyou’ll only understand and appreciate once you reach it after so many iconic adventures with Solid Snake.
3Metal Gear Solid
Redefining Video Games
Metal Gear Solid
Many titles helped define modern video games' standards, but few withMetal Gear Solid’s stature and timelessness.
The series' revolution came with an installment that introduced three dimensions, unprecedented cinematography, memorablebosses, and a story and characters as incredible as possible.
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Metal Gear Solidsubverts hero tropes, humanizes antagonists, and offers a critique of mindless war action,positioning itself light years ahead of virtually everything else that existed at the timeandshowcasing the medium’s communicative power.
To say contemporary video games would be significantly different without this work wouldn’t be an exaggeration, as the way it impacted narrative and design forms is still studied today.
Thus, it’s a true masterpiece all players should try at least once, if only to understand why it is among the greatest andto discover at what historical point games began to take their maturity and scope more seriously.
2Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Pinnacle of Storytelling
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
If we consider all the characteristics that have made the franchise one of the most important and charismatic of all time, it’s hard not to find its finest expression inMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
It’s practically impossible to think of any element out of place during Big Boss’s first journey. The game excels in everything it sets out to do, presenting anattention to detailthat’s almost unfathomable.
From the innovative gameplay systems that involve survival elements, the iconicboss fightsbrimming with personality and inventiveness, the masterful story with its tremendous characters, and its iconic soundtrack, everything inSnake Eateris flawless.
Plus, its anti-war critique, the ideological reflections it proposes, and its ability to deceive the player and keep them on edge have made it a timeless title with commendable ease.
Therefore,the majority of players tend to agree that it’s the bestMetal Gear Solid. The power of its plot twists, its cinematography, and its pace are unstoppable, so it’s completely logical that such a consensus exists.
1Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
A Transcendental Masterpiece
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
However, the one thingSnake Eaterlacks is precisely whatMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertyhas in abundance, which is its ability to transcend the medium.
While the former is a perfect video game, the latter goes beyond meeting expectations, offering entertainment, and delivering a compelling story because its goal is tobreak the common standards we use to evaluate interactive experiences.
The depth with which Hideo Kojima paints a snapshot of our times, depicting political, social, cultural, and technological elements with an almost academic and fortune-telling precision, has never been replicated.
The substantial improvement in graphics, gameplay, level design, and cinematography from the firstMetal Gear Solidis, surprisingly, only the tip of the iceberg, asSons of Libertyis more than just a wonderful sequel.
WhileSnake Eater’s story is more polished and engaging,Guns of the Patriots' innovation is more noticeable, andThe Phantom Pain’s gameplay is more sophisticated,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertyis a daring masterpiece that can’t be limited to one of these sections.
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