Metal Gear: It's All In The Codec

 With the release of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, I've felt compelled to continue my journey into the series. So, I have recently finished MGS 4: Guns of the Patriots and MGS: Peace Walker. And my thoughts are mixed. On the one hand, I like the gameplay of MGS4 for the most part but not the writing. Yet with Peace Walker, I was satisfied on most fronts with some minor issues. 

Like, the problem with MGS4 has nothing to do with the long cutscenes. The problem lies in the rewrites of previous game knowledge in order to make this game work. These new revelations even made other characters worse off. What makes this funnier, is that Peace Walker seems to largely ignore any information from that game. To be two years removed from each other and share little to no DNA is one of the best bits in the series. Peace Walker feels like the follow-up to MGS 3: Snake Eater, while MGS4 feels like the alternate reality that others want to ignore. 

But, I am not here to just shit on MGS4. I really wanted to talk about Codecs and how Metal Gear as a series breathes life into their characters through conversation. A gameplay element that seems to disappear from the post-MGS3 games. It's weird when you consider how one of the most notable aspects of the series are those calls. From Metal Gear to MGS3, there was a plethora of information to be learned from different casts across the games. So, I'm going to talk about some of my favorite characters throughout the series. 

To kick it off, I want to talk about Frank Jaeger, and his lover Gustava Heffner. While Gustava only appears in MG2, Frank appears in the first 3 games (MG1, MG2, MGS1), and persists for many titles post death in spirit. Frank is more commonly known as Gray Fox, but I feel like calling him Frank humanizes the character a bit more. While talking about the soldier and his feats can be exhilarating. It's the man in MG2 and MGS1 that I am most fond of. And all of that starts with Gustava. 

A Polish Olympian turned secret agent that made a huge impact on me during my playthrough. Gustava was a woman marred by tragedy, and struck down by her beloved Frank. But, it was this woman that helped Frank pass on peacefully after his duel with Snake at Zanzibar Land. It's Gustava's story that has me urging people to play the first two Metal Gear games. Because not only does she pair well with Frank's storyline on how he can only achieve purpose on the battlefield. This also adds to the tragedy that befalls Frank in MGS1.

A man that had passed on knowing that he would be reunited with the one he loved, was now ripped forcefully out of that paradise and made into a science project. A living-dead man that was looking to die once more. Outside of The Boss, Frank Jaeger stands out to me as the best character in the franchise. An unbeatable mercenary haunted by war so much, that he felt like he could never escape. It took his soul, his love, and his family. 

I would say that his "Biggest Fan" Calls over the Codec stand out to me the most. Snake's biggest fan would also be his best friend.. A tradition that I think survived with Otacon in the later games. Not to mention, the fitting use of the Fan revelation during his death scene in MG2. It's a calling card, and makes for a nice reference in MGS1. 

From one ninja to the next, I'm moving on to Raiden, and Rose. The MGS2 crew that gets way too much heat for just being a young couple. Raiden and Rose pair really nicely together, and in some ways can feel like the evolution of Frank and Gustava. A soldier and a secret agent ensnared by war, but this time they don't explode. The peak of Raiden and Rose is obviously in MGS2, as MGS4 seems to dislike anything that transpired at the Big Shell. I know getting MGS4 ported anywhere would be good for preservation, but the psychic damage that game gives is deadly. 

But that's not important. The important part for me was that Rose's genuine concern and de-stressing of Raiden made for an interesting change of pace. With Mei Ling, Roy Campbell, or even Big Boss, you get conversations here and there. However, you never get too much information on the person like you do with Rose. You get to know the ins and outs of their ongoing relationship. Whether that means the fun parts like discussing King Kong, or the not so fun parts like when Rose lashes out at Raiden over his living habits. You get the window into these two lives through their conversations. Both equally concerned for one another. 

This is one of the reasons why I tend to get annoyed when people dislike Rose for this aspect. It's almost like they forgot what series they were playing, or watching in some cases. Like yes, the characters in the Metal Gear games have conversations. If you hate that, then you can go to MGS4 where it felt like Codecs were bare bones. But that's neither here nor there. Rose cares about her husband and deserves better than what she's gotten.

From a lot of talking to more talking, the last slot goes to Para-Medic in MGS3. Easily my favorite conversation partner. Specifically because she talks about movies. So as a lover of film, it was really refreshing to see the amount that could be discussed. There's around thirty different films that can be talked about depending on how much you saved. Not only do you get an insight into what kind of films Para-Medic likes, you can also see a bit of a theme going on. A lot of monster and war films alongside other classics at the time. A fine list that you can go down and check off as you watch them. 

Not to mention, there's the James Bond discussion that has the Major chime in because Big Boss hates Bond. A fun little moment that gives a lot of personality to the characters involved, as well as the idea that the Major was listening the whole time but never said anything until Bond came up. While I really enjoy the movie conversations, Para-Medic also covers the various foods and medical aspects. Essentially, Para-Medic covers two or three different jobs that would've went to other characters in previous games. Quite the feat if you ask me. 

It's something that you don't really think about in the moment, but as you play through the games. You start to notice where the games differ in their deliveries of information. To compare Para-Medic to the other types, it was really funny to see how stern she was when dealing with health. Where Rose would be more sympathetic and concerned like Mei Ling, Para-Medic would be more steadfast in her messaging. But that's not to say she's like that all the time, just in certain situations. 

So, that's only a few of the characters and anecdotes that I like in the Metal Gear series. Genuinely, not many of them are unlikable or badly written. There's a consistency across the franchise that I think only falters in MGS4. Outside of that game, there's a certain level of quality and hyperbole that has been the standard. Maybe I'll make something about The Boss one of these days. Hoping that this can manifest a game about The Boss. Alas, Konami might just be too cowardly to do it.

Ultimately, I love the Codec. The conversations to be had are always a pleasure. They're the flavor and the secret ingredient needed for a successful Metal Gear title. It feels wrong to cut them down. The gamers can go back to their war games after they listened to a five minute conversation on Godzilla. The nanomachines made everyone talk so much I swear.

And remember to Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Venezuela and to Free Lebanon from the onslaught of their oppressors. Never stop talking about them. They think that we don't care, but we see everything. Never forget that. They are trying to suppress our voices because they matter, remember that. There may have been a ceasefire in Gaza, but Palestine still needs to be completely free.