Metal Gear
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:''This article is about the 1987 video game. For the entire video game series, see [[Metal Gear (series)]]. For other uses, see [[Metal Gear (disambiguation)]].
{{Infobox VG
|title=<big>Metal Gear
|image=[[Image:Rc750j1f.jpg|250px]]
|caption =<small>The cover illustration depicts the [[protagonist]] [[Solid Snake]] prominently, with the [[Metal Gear (weapon)|titular mecha]] below him. [[Solid Snake]]'s pose was based on actor [[Michael Biehn]].</small>
|developer=[[Konami]]
|publisher=Konami<br />[[Ultra (company)|Ultra Games]] ([[North America]]n NES version)
|designer=[[Hideo Kojima]]
|series=[[Metal Gear (series)|Metal Gear]]
|engine=
|released='''MSX2'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP=[[July 12]] [[1987]]}}{{vgrelease|EU=September 1987}}'''NES'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP=[[December 22]], [[1987]]}}{{vgrelease|NA=June 1988}}{{vgrelease|EU=March 1989}}'''PC MS-DOS''' / '''Commodore 64'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA=June 1990}}{{vgrelease|EU=June 1990}}'''Mobile phone'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP=[[August 18]], [[2004]]}}<br />{{vgrelease|NA=2008}}</ref>
|genre=[[Stealth game|Stealth action]]
|modes=[[Single player]]
|ratings=
|platforms=[[MSX2]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Personal Computer|PC MS-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Mobile Phone]], [[PlayStation 2]]
|media=[[Cartridge (electronics)|Cartridge]] (MSX2, NES)<br />[[Floppy disk]] (PC, C64)<br />Download (mobile phone)
|requirements=
|input=Controller, keyboard
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Metal Gear'''''|メタルギア|Metaru Gia}} (commonly abbreviated '''''MG''''') is a [[stealth game]] designed by [[Hideo Kojima]].<ref>Jeremy Parish, “Metal Gear,” ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' 225 (January 2008): 93.</ref> ''Metal Gear'' was [[video game developer|developed]] and first [[video game publisher|published]] by [[Konami]] in [[1987 in video gaming|1987]] for the [[MSX|MSX2]] [[home computer]]. The game is considered to be the [[progenitor]] of the [[stealth game|stealth genre]], in which avoiding direct encounter with the enemy is emphasized over attacking openly.
The premise revolves around a special forces operative codenamed [[Solid Snake]] who goes into a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy [[Metal Gear (weapon)|Metal Gear]], a bipedal [[mecha|walking tank]] capable of launching [[nuclear weapon|nuclear missile]]s from anywhere in the world.
The MSX2 version was initially released only in [[Japan]] and the [[Netherlands]]. A heavily altered [[porting|port]] for the Japanese [[Nintendo Entertainment System#Regional differences|Family Computer]] and its western counterpart, the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], was released months afterwards. The original MSX2 version would be ported to [[mobile game|mobile phones]] in [[Japan]] in [[2004 in video gaming|2004]], followed by its inclusion in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater#Subsistence|Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]] in [[2006 in video gaming|2006]], which led to a more mainstream English localization of the original MSX2 game in [[North America]] and [[Europe]].
==Gameplay==
The player must navigate the main character (codenamed "Solid Snake") through various locations, while avoiding visual contact and direct confrontation with patrolling guards. If the player is seen, the game enters the "Alert Mode." In this situation, the player must hide the character in order to leave the mode. The method of escaping varies depending on the circumstances behind discovery:
*If a player is seen and only a single exclamation mark (<font color=red>'''!'''</font>) appears over an enemy's head, only the enemies in the player's present screen will attack and an escape can be made by moving to the adjacent screen.
*However, if two exclamation marks (<font color=red>'''!!'''</font>) appear over the enemy (or the player triggers an alarm by being spotted by a camera, infrared sensor or by using an unsilenced weapon), reinforcements from off-screen will appear as well. The player can only escape by eliminating all incoming enemies or by simply moving to a different floor.
[[Image:mgear.png|left|thumb|200px|The main character avoiding a visual encounter with enemy soldiers (MSX2 version).]]
At first, the player starts the game unarmed, but eventually gains access to a variety of firearms (starting with the [[Beretta 92|Beretta M92F]]) and explosives and working his way up to machine guns and guided rocket launchers. Ammo and supplies for each weapon are limited, but are easily replenished. Weapons can not only be used to kill enemies, but also to clear obstacles (such as hollow walls or electrified floors). Snake can also use his fists to punch and defeat patrolling enemies. Occasionally if the player defeats a guard with punches without alerting anyone, the defeated guard will yield a single unit of rations or an ammo box that can be picked up.
The enemy base consists of three different buildings, with multiple floors (including basement levels) within them. The player uses key cards and other items to unlock doors or explore new areas. Doors will only open to their corresponding key cards. [[Boss (video game)|Boss]]es also appear throughout the game to interfere with the player's progress.
Information can be obtained by rescuing hostages being held captive within the buildings. After rescuing five hostages, the player is given a [[level up|promotion]], increasing their "Rank" (up to 4 stars max), allowing for bigger ammo capacity and maximum health. However, if a hostage is killed, the player is demoted to the previous rank.
A transceiver is available for the player to communicate with their commanding officer ([[Big Boss]]) or one of the resistance members operating covertly within the fortress. Each of Snake's allies has an extensive knowledge on specific subjects. The transceiver system is completely room-oriented, as certain radio transmissions occur only in certain locations.
==Plot==
===Characters===
The player's character is Solid Snake, a rookie member of the fictional special forces group FOXHOUND sent on his first mission. He is assisted via radio by his commanding officer [[Big Boss (Metal Gear)|Big Boss]], who offers information about mission objectives and items; as well as a local Resistance movement comprised of Schneider, who provides the locations of important items; Diane, who provides information on how to defeat the game's bosses; and Jennifer, who assists Snake as an inside agent. Among the prisoners Snake rescues includes [[List of recurring Metal Gear characters#Gray Fox|Gray Fox]] (Grey Fox in the MSX2 version), a FOXHOUND agent who was captured during a previous mission; Dr. Pettrovich, the scientist who designed the Metal Gear weapon; and his daughter Ellen, who was kidnapped along with him.
The [[boss (video games)|bosses]] of the game includes Shotmaker (Shoot Gunner in the MSX2 version), a former [[Spetsnaz]] agent specializing in the riot gun; Machine Gun Kid, a former [[Special Air Service|SAS]] operative armed with a [[machine gun]]; Fire Trooper, a former [[GSG 9]] operative who uses a [[flamethrower]]; Dirty Duck (Coward Duck in the MSX2 version), a [[boomerang]] throwing terrorist who shields himself with hostages; Bloody Brad (Arnold in the MSX2 version), an android designed by Dr. Pettrovich; and the legendary mercenary who founded Outer Heaven, whose identity is unknown until the end of the game.
===Story===
{{Metal Gear Solid Story Order}}
In the year [[19XX]] (later established to be [[1995]] in ''Metal Gear Solid''), 200km north of Galzburg, [[South Africa]], lies Outer Heaven, a fortified state founded by a "legendary mercenary". Word had gotten out to the western world that deep within the Outer Heaven stronghold, a weapon of mass destruction is being constructed. Government officials order the high-tech Special Forces unit [[FOXHOUND]] to infiltrate the fortress, assess the situation and neutralize the threat. In his mission, FOXHOUND operative [[Gray Fox (Metal Gear)|Gray Fox]] infiltrated the Outer Heaven stronghold. Days later, contact with Gray Fox is lost and his last transmission simply reads "METAL GEAR..."
Operative [[Solid Snake]], FOXHOUND's newest recruit, is ordered by squad leader [[Big Boss (Metal Gear)|Big Boss]] to rescue Gray Fox and carry out his mission, "Operation: Intrude N313".
Upon insertion into Outer Heaven, Snake makes contact with local resistance members Kyle Schneider, Diane, and Jennifer. Using all of his skills and the equipment he procured on site, he manages to rescue Fox. He learns from Fox that Metal Gear is the codename of a nuclear warhead-equipped bipedal walking tank, which can engage and dominate in all forms of combat as well as launch its nuclear warheads from any location. Outer Heaven plans to use Metal Gear to impose itself as the new world superpower.
In order to destroy Metal Gear, and topple the Outer Heaven mercenaries, Snake rescues the lead engineer of Metal Gear, Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar, and his daughter, Ellen. Armed with information on how to destroy Metal Gear, his skill and indomitable spirit, Snake fights through the entire Outer Heaven force. He begins to notice that traps being set for him are too precise, and wonders how information on his activities is being tracked. Moreover, Schneider is ambushed by hostiles and is presumed dead after losing contact with Snake. The final hostage Snake rescues tells him that the mysterious "mercenary leader" of the entire base is none other than Snake's C.O., Big Boss, and that Outer Heaven is under his command.
[[Image:Big Boss MG1.png|200px|thumb|right|Big Boss reveals himself to Solid Snake in the game's final battle.]]
Upon breaching the core of the base, Snake is able to neutralize Metal Gear before it reaches completion. As he makes his way out of the compound's basement, he is confronted by Big Boss himself; the corrupt leader had been using his connections within the U.S. government to steal military intelligence, establish his own mercenary force, and fund his activities. It was his aim to have Outer Heaven become the world's most powerful nation, able to bring even the western nations to their knees. He had the rookie Snake sent in, hoping to have him captured and feed the U.S. government misinformation, but had quite obviously underestimated Snake's capabilities.
Having lost Metal Gear and much of his force, Big Boss starts the self-destruct sequence for the compound, and promises he will not die alone; Snake will join him. An underground battle ensues, and despite injury, Snake defeats Big Boss and escapes the Outer Heaven compound as it crumbles in flames behind him. After the ending credits, a message from Big Boss is displayed saying that he will meet Solid Snake again.
==Release history==
===MSX2===
''Metal Gear'' was originally released on the [[MSX|MSX2]] [[home computer]] in [[Japan]] on [[July 12]], [[1987]], with an English version released for the [[Europe]]an market sometime afterwards. Most of the radio messages were edited or removed in the English version, including Big Boss' comments on every item and weapon found by the player. According to a fan-translation project, only 56% of the original Japanese text was translated in the English version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/nekurahoka/|title=Nekura_Hoka's Metal Gear Code Site}}</ref> The translation contains many examples of [[Engrish]], such as consistently misspelling "destroy" as "destoroy". The Japanese manual contains exclusive content not found in the English manual, such as character profiles with illustrations, brief descriptions of the game's bosses, and the complete specifications of the Metal Gear tank.
===Nintendo Entertainment System===
[[Image:NES-ME-USA-REV-A.jpg|thumb|right|NES cover artwork of ''Metal Gear''.]]
[[Image:NES ME USA screenshot.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of the NES version. The outdoor area prior to entering the first base was not in the MSX2 version.]]
A graphically modified version for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family
Computer]] was released in Japan on [[December 22]] [[1987 in video gaming|1987]]. While the MSX2 version of this game was never released in the U.S., the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version came to North America in June [[1988 in video gaming|1988]] (published by Konami's [[Ultra Games]] division), followed by [[PAL region|PAL version]] in March [[1989]]. Konami produced this version without Kojima's direct involvement and several changes were made as a result. Kojima has been vocal about his disappointment at the quality of the NES version<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerstoday.com/world_tour/kojima/index.html|title=Hideo Kojima: Game Guru, Movie Maniac|author=Steven Kent|quote='''HK:''' I really don't like saying this, but it really wasn't up to my standards. The care that I put in the original wasn't there. It [the Famicom version] was a more difficult game. In the very beginning, when you go from the entrance into the fortress, for example, there are dogs there. In the Famicom version, the dogs just come after you and you get killed. It was too difficult to get into the fortress. The fun stealth element was not there, and the actual Metal Gear, the robot, doesn't appear in the game. }}</ref>, going as far to regard the game as "complete garbage".<ref>''Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1'', Konami, 2006</ref>
The biggest change to the game was in the overall level design. The game features a new opening sequence showing Solid Snake and three other soldiers (who are never seen nor mentioned in any other part of the game) skydiving into the jungles of Garzburgh. The game begins in a brief Jungle area added to this version and the player must reach a transport truck that takes Snake to the front entrance of Building 1. The player can also enter other transport trucks that takes Snake to the entrances of the other buildings, allowing the player to skip most of the game. The basement floor that connects Building 1 and 2 in the MSX2 version is turned into two separate (but interconnected) buildings, Building 4 and 5 respectively, that are only reachable by going through a maze first. The Metal Gear mecha in the end of the game is missing; instead the player destroys an immobile Super Computer guarded by four soldiers. The Hind D boss on the roof of Building 1 was also replaced by two armed turret gunners called Twin Shot. Other subtle changes includes the lack of the double exclamation mark alert, different background music, the removal of the Flying Army's ability to hover and the removal of Big Boss' message after the ending credits. Like the English localization of the MSX2 version, the English localization of the NES game contains numerous examples of grammatically-incorrect phrases, such as "Contact missing our Grey Fox"<ref>The first radio transmission in the game.</ref>, "The truck have started to move!"<ref>Whenever Snake enters a moving truck</ref>, and "I feel asleep!"<ref>Whenever an enemy soldier wakes up from his sleep.</ref>
Additionally, the English NES version's manual and packaging swayed from the game's official storyline. The game's main villain (whose identity is intentionally kept secret in the game) is mentioned to be "Col. Vermon CaTaffy", a mangled parody of Libyan dictator [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]]. Snake's commanding officer is referred as "Commander South." Moreover, Snake is mentioned as having participated in the [[Grenada]] invasion prior to joining FOXHOUND. This localized version of the game's story is only referenced in the packaging and manual for ''[[Snake's Revenge]]'' (which features a similar discrepancy between the manual and the game's version of the story) and is never referred in the ''Metal Gear Solid'' series.
The NES version of ''Metal Gear'' was the basis of two computer ports that were released in [[1990 in video gaming|1990]] for [[MS-DOS|PC MS-DOS]] and the [[Commodore 64]] in North America and Europe. The PC MS-DOS conversion was programmed by Charles Ernst, while the Commodore 64 conversion was handled by Unlimited Software Inc. The PC MS-DOS version contains many minor changes, such as a faster-depleting health bar. However, the Commodore 64 version is closer to the NES version, with only small musical and visual changes. A third computer conversion for the [[Commodore Amiga|Amiga]] is listed on the rear packaging of both computer versions, but was never released.
The Famicom version of ''Metal Gear'' is included in a bonus disc that was packaged with ''[[Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] in a special console bundle released only in Japan.
===Mobile phones and PlayStation 2===
A version of ''Metal Gear'' was released for [[mobile phone]]s in [[Japan]] on [[August 18]] [[2004]]. It could be downloaded on the [[i-Mode]], [[EZweb]] and [[Vodafone]] services. Although based on the MSX2 version, it includes several new features and changes.
This same version of the game was included as a component of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater#Subsistence|Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]]. The North American version included a retranslated [[English language|English]] script, as well as an optional [[Spanish language|Spanish]] script. In [[2008 in video gaming|2008]], Konami began offering the mobile phone version of ''Metal Gear'' to North American players via their Konami Mobile service. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.konamimobile.com/gamedetail.aspx?rkw=mgc|title=KONAMI MOBILE}}</ref> The re-released versions were programmed by [[Aspect Co., Ltd.]] under Konami's supervision.
New features include two difficulty settings ("Original" and "Easy"), an unlockable Boss Survival mode and an infinite bandana which provides the player with unlimited ammo when equipped (similar to the one featured in ''Metal Gear Solid''). Some of the boss characters were renamed as well. In the Japanese version, the script was changed to include [[kanji]] and [[hiragana]], in addition to [[katakana]] and [[romaji]]. The English version uses a completely new translation different from the early MSX2 and NES localizations. The North American version of ''Subsistence'' also includes a Spanish translation of the game.
==Reception==
The NES version of ''Metal Gear'' was rated the 104th best game made on a Nintendo System in ''[[Nintendo Power]]''<nowiki></nowiki>'s Top 200 Games list.<ref name="NP Top 200">{{Citation|year=February 2006| title=NP Top 200|periodical=Nintendo Power|volume=200|pages=58-66}}.</ref>
Its success led to the creation of two separately produced [[sequel]]s; the first one (''[[Snake's Revenge]]'') was produced specifically for the Western market for the NES and the other (''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'') was the canonical sequel developed by the original game's designer and released in Japan for the MSX2 in response to the former's creation. The latter was followed by the successful ''Metal Gear Solid'', which was in turn followed by numerous sequels and spinoffs (see [[Metal Gear (series)|''Metal Gear'' series]]).
The intro theme ("Operation Intrude N313"), main theme ("Theme of Tara") and game over theme ("Just Another Dead Soldier") from the MSX2 version were reused for the VR Training theme in ''Metal Gear Solid'', which in turn was reused in ''[[Metal Gear: Ghost Babel]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty#Substance|Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance]]''. "Theme of Tara" is one of the tunes that can be heard in the "Shadow Moses Island" stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' for the [[Wii]], as well as the music for beginning section of the Battleship Halberd Interrior stage of the game's Adventure mode, where Snake officially enters the storyline.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/metal-gear|name=''Metal Gear''}}
*[http://www.konami.jp/mobile/appli/metalgear/index.html Official Website for the Mobile Phone version (Japanese)]
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{{Metal Gear}}
[[Category:1987 video games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Metal Gear games]]
[[Category:Mobile phone games]]
[[Category:MSX games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
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