Metal Gear Solid: The Boss, The Alpha and The Omega

 The Metal Gear brainworms, or nanomachines if you will, have persisted. This has all culminated from the fact that I have finished the main story for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. A game that I never want to play again. The issues far outweigh any joy for me. It lacks that fun videogame feel that I loved in previous titles. The limited loadout in the most expansive title just didn't work for me. MGS: Peace Walker could get away with this because that's a PSP game at its core, and not an over-budget console title. Not to mention, the story beats just didn't work for me. Skull Face was a terrible villain, and then the game fell even flatter in his absence. 

While I think the problem starts with MGS4, I find MGSV to be a big nothing burger of a game. None of the character conflicts really matter, and none of the new characters are of any worth. This was a prequel game, and the knowledge of the future just negated any hope for a future appearance from any newbies. But I think the greatest sin from MGSV has to be Venom Snake. This poor bastard was never gonna matter. Kiefer Sutherland was never going to lodge him into the hearts of fans. To me, Venom Snake felt like one last way to hit Metal Gear 1 and 2 with another retcon while on the way out. No real reason to exist, but to justify the game itself.

Alas, this is not the reason for the season. I could rant on and on about my disdain for some of the writing in the post MGS3 era. Yet, I want to talk about the persisting element that I have enjoyed since my first experience. And that element is The Boss (Played by Lori Alan in English and Kikuko Inoue in Japanese). The best character to ever come out of Metal Gear in my opinion, and the best part of Big Boss. 

There's the presence that she exudes, the performance from Lori Alan, and the conflict that she brings towards Big Boss's character that stand out the most to me. And this list could go on and on as the details are numerous despite the character's short screen time. But that didn't stop me from wanting solo title featuring The Boss herself as the protagonist. Like, I know that the Snakes are iconic and the face of Metal Gear. But pivoting to The Boss would've been far better than getting a bunch of Big Boss stories rehabilitating his character. 

Like, even with MGS: Peace Walker being about the approaching threat of Nuclear Winter. One of the core elements ended up involving The Boss once again, and showcasing how her death impacted Big Boss as a person. Getting to see his most beloved again, even after he had killed her himself, was such a strong motivator. And this aspect gave more depth to Big Boss as his grief had this tinge of guilt. The quote sequence in MGS3 where The Boss asks, "What's it going to be? Loyalty to your country, or loyalty to me? Your country, or your old mentor? The mission , or your beliefs? Your duty to your unit? Or your personal feelings?", sticks out to me as one of the most salient. 

It made as much sense in MGS3 as it did in MGS: Peace Walker. Big Boss became obsessed with his mentor just like how Strangelove did in her pursuit of love. And it's not until the end of this second life that Big Boss was able to move past his guilt and grief. I've talked a lot about The Boss's connection to Big Boss, but now I just want to go into that loyalty aspect. 

This was The Boss's strongest characteristic. That laser focus not only on her mission, but on her desires. She vowed to get the Philosopher's Legacy into the hands of her benefactors. And she was able to accomplish this while also mentoring Big Boss for the last time. To mold him into the solider that could surpass The Boss. In the end, The Boss was able to not only have loyalty to her mission, but also her personal feelings. The "Mother of the Special Forces" was able to nurture one last child. Just as she had done with the Cobras, she was able to do with Big Boss. 

This Motherly Nature also showed up in how she addressed Big Boss. He was not Snake, he was Jack. And I really like that about their relationship. It made the confrontations more personal. She's not speaking to the soldier, she's speaking to the person. It's how she was able to burrow herself inside the mind of Big Boss. Pulling the trigger became a question as opposed to being the answer. A stark contrast from how Operation Snake Eater had worked up to that point. 

This dilemma became a point of contention  once again in MGS: Peace Walker with the AI Pod whose voice was based on The Boss. Despite the AI Pod not actually being The Boss, the Pod still captured her form in a way. It even sacrificed the titular Peace Walker Mech. A decision that the actual Boss would've done. The Boss's goal was always to prevent war, not perpetuate it. 

While I can respect this ideal from The Boss, it was never realistic. Even in a game, this option seemed ridiculous. Yet that also played into The Boss's ideal world. To entrust the future with the decision. Loyal to herself to the end.

Ultimately, The Boss is the beginning and the end, The Alpha and The Omega. Obviously, I think the writing for the character itself was superb. But Lori Alan put on an all timer of a performance. To keep a rather consistent tone of voice, while going through a myriad of emotions and subjects was insane to me. It's one of those things that defines the character. Lori Alan made it unimaginable to hear anyone else as The Boss. Truly unmatched in delivery and execution.

This concludes my ramblings on The Boss. A character that represents the peak of a historic series. One where every storyline involving her was that much better because she was in it. It's when they deviate from her, that you get these messier events. Her codename was The Joy. Loyalty to no one but herself. And content with the decisions made.   

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.