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{{short description|Fictional character from the Metal Gear series}} |
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{{General CVG character |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} |
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|name= Big Boss (a.k.a. Naked Snake) |
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Big Boss (''Metal Gear'')}} |
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{{Infobox character |
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|caption=Big Boss was illustrated in ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' by [[Yoji Shinkawa]]. Although the character never actually appeared in the game, this illustration is used in the instruction manual and other official publications. |
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| name = Naked Snake<br>{{small|Big Boss}} |
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|firstgame=''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' |
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| first = ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'' |
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| series = [[Metal Gear]] |
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| image = Big Boss MGS4 Screenshot.png |
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|artist= [[Yoji Shinkawa]] (character design) |
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| caption = Big Boss as he appears in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' (2008) |
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|voiceactor=[[David Hayter]] (MGS3, MPO, PW)<br />[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (MGS4) |
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| creator = [[Hideo Kojima]] |
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|japanactor=[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (MGS3, MPO, PW)<br />[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (MGS4) |
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| designer = [[Yoji Shinkawa]] |
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|motionactor=[[Mizuho Yoshida (actor)|Mizuho Yoshida]] (MGS3)<br />[[Akio Ohtsuka]] (MGS4) |
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| voice = {{Collapsible list|title=[[English language|English]]|[[David Hayter]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'' and ''[[Super Bomberman R]]'') |
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|inuniverse={{Metal Gear character |
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|[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'') |
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|realname= John<ref name=johnandadam>{{cite video game|title=[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]|developer=[[Konami|KCEJ]]|quote='''Ocelot''': What's your name?/'''Snake''': Snake./'''Ocelot''': No, not that name. You're not a snake, and I'm not an Ocelot. We're men, with names... My name is Adamska. What's yours?/'''Snake''': John./'''Ocelot''': Very well, John.... Plain name, but I won't forget it.}}</ref><ref name=mgs4database>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Database|developer=Kojima Productions}}</ref> |
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|[[Kiefer Sutherland]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'')}} |
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|aliases=Jack (nickname)<ref name=nickname>{{cite web|url=http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mgs3/english/chara_snake.html|title=Metal Gear Solid 3 - Naked Snake|quote=Member of special forces unit "FOX". Nickname "Jack".}}</ref>, Naked Snake (''MGS3''), One Eyed Man (''MG2''), [[Saladin]] (''MGS''), |
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{{Collapsible list|title=[[Japanese language|Japanese]]| |
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|nationality=[[United States|American]] |
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|[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'', ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'', ''Metal Gear Solid V'' and ''Super Bomberman R'') |
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|affiliations=[[Special Forces (United States Army)|Green Berets]] (Pre-MGS3), [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#FOX unit|FOX]] (MGS3), [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]] (MPO, MG), [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|The Patriots]] (post-MPO/pre-PW), Militaires Sans Frontières (MGS: PW), Outer Heaven (MG), Zanzibar Land (MG2). |
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|[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')}} |
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}} }} |
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| motion_actor = {{Collapsible list|title=Various|[[Mizuho Yoshida]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'')|[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')|[[Miou Tanaka]] (''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')|Erik Brown (''Metal Gear Solid V'')|[[Kiefer Sutherland]] (''Metal Gear Solid V'' [facial only])}} |
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}} |
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{{nihongo|'''Big Boss'''|ビッグ・ボス|Biggu Bosu|lead=yes}} is a [[Character (arts)|fictional character]] from the ''[[Metal Gear]]'' series created by [[Hideo Kojima]] and developed and published by [[Konami]]. He was first introduced in the 1987 ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' game as the commanding officer and father of [[Solid Snake]], featuring in a twist as the game's main antagonist. He is later featured in the prequel games (starting with ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'') as {{nihongo|'''Naked Snake'''|ネイキッド・スネーク|Neikiddo Sunēku}}, an American [[Special Forces (United States)|Special Forces]] Operator and decorated war hero. Political manipulations cause him to be disillusioned when facing his own [[The Boss (Metal Gear)|mentor]], and he gradually develops his own [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|private mercenary company]] while growing into the original Big Boss persona and being referred to as simply {{nihongo|'''Snake'''|スネーク|Sunēku}}. |
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The concept of Naked Snake was an attempt to distance him from Solid Snake, despite both being physically similar through their characterizations. He has been voiced by [[Akio Ōtsuka]] and [[Chikao Ōtsuka]] in the Japanese version, and by [[David Hayter]], [[Kiefer Sutherland]] and [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] in the English translation. Critical reception to Big Boss has been positive, due to his role as a villain and his enmity with Solid Snake. His younger persona has been praised as likeable, with critics generally enjoying the execution of his [[Character arc|character development]] in the series designed to shape him into a villainous icon. |
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{{nihongo|'''Big Boss'''|ビッグ・ボス}} is a recurring [[Character (arts)|fictional character]] from [[Konami]]'s ''[[Metal Gear (series)|Metal Gear]]'' video game franchise. He is first introduced in the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' as the commanding officer of protagonist [[Solid Snake]], only to be revealed as the leader of the enemy forces as well, a role he would resume in ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]''. Big Boss would play a key role in the [[backstory]] of the series beginning with the first ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'', where he is revealed to be the genetic father of Solid Snake and along with his other clone sons, [[Liquid Snake|Liquid]] and [[Solidus Snake|Solidus]]. |
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==Creation and design== |
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In addition to his role in the sequels, Big Boss also appears as the protagonist in a series of prequels set before the events of the original ''Metal Gear'' (beginning with ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', followed by ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]''), where he is depicted as an American covert operative codenamed {{nihongo|'''Naked Snake'''|ネイキッド・スネーク}}, the partial namesake of Solid Snake and his brothers. |
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In ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'', Big Boss's visual appearance was inspired by actor [[Sean Connery]], but for the ports of the game's re-released version, the original design was replaced by [[Yoji Shinkawa]]'s design.<ref>{{cite web |author=Parish, Jeremy |title=Gear Up! A Metal Gear Retrospective |url=http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-retrospective?pager.offset=2&cId= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610180934/http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-retrospective?pager.offset=2&cId= |archive-date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2012 |publisher=1UP.com}}</ref> During the making of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', [[Hideo Kojima]] asked Shinkawa to make Naked Snake similar to Solid Snake, but with the differences that unlike Solid Snake, Naked Snake was a rookie and thus acted more naive. Shinkawa stated having no difficulties in designing Naked Snake as basically a revised version of Solid Snake. As a result, Naked Snake is virtually identical to Solid Snake from the previous ''Metal Gear Solid'' games in terms of appearance.<ref>{{cite web |author=Payton, Ryan |title=The KP Report Session 027 |url=http://mp.i-revo.jp/user.php/kp-ryan/entry/52.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703183506/http://mp.i-revo.jp/user.php/kp-ryan/entry/52.html |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |access-date=February 17, 2012 |work=Kojima Productions Report |publisher=mp.i.revo}}</ref> The love scene between Naked Snake and EVA was inspired by the first ''[[Pink Panther]]''. Kojima and Shinkawa watched the movie but the former stated it might have come different from the original version.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 1, 2004 |title=THE SNAKE EATER INTERVIEW |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/the-snake-eater-interview?page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103191232/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/the-snake-eater-interview?page=3 |archive-date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2018 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> Since the game's trailers did not state that Naked Snake was Big Boss, Kojima often gave vague answers to the character's true identity.<ref>{{cite web |author=C. Perry, Douglass |date=May 15, 2003 |title=E3 2003: Hideo Kojima Interview |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/402/402879p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208070916/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/402/402879p1.html |archive-date=December 8, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2012 |publisher=IGN}}</ref> Although the ending of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' reveals Naked Snake was given the Big Boss title, Kojima stated "he's not really the Big Boss yet". With ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', he wanted to explain how Naked Snake turned into the man who appeared in the original ''Metal Gear'' games as Solid Snake's enemy.<ref>{{cite web |author=Totilo, Stephen |date=September 25, 2009 |title=Hideo Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker And How You Can Help Him |url=http://m.kotaku.com/5367724/hideo-kojima-talks-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-and-how-you-can-help-him |access-date=March 26, 2012 |publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> |
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Naked Snake as portrayed in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' shares the same voice actor as Solid Snake did in the first two ''Metal Gear Solid'' games, being voiced by [[Akio Otsuka]] in the Japanese version and [[David Hayter]] in the English version. Both actors would return to provide the character's voice in ''Portable Ops'' and ''Peace Walker''. The elderly version of Big Boss who appears in ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' was voiced by [[Chikao Otsuka]] (Akio Otsuka's real-life father) in Japanese and by [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] in English. Originally, Naked Snake was planned to have been voiced by [[Kurt Russell]] due to Kojima's request but the actor refused.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 26, 2016 |title=Solid Snake's longtime voice says Konami had tried to push him out before Metal Gear Solid 5 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/3/26/11309190/david-hayter-solid-snake-metal-gear-solid-3-5-snake-eater-phantom-pain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407211642/https://www.polygon.com/2016/3/26/11309190/david-hayter-solid-snake-metal-gear-solid-3-5-snake-eater-phantom-pain |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |website=Polygon}}</ref> |
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As Naked Snake, the character is voiced by [[Akio Ōtsuka]] in [[Japanese (language)|Japanese]] and [[David Hayter]] in [[English (language)|English]]. In his appearance in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'', Big Boss was voiced by [[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (Akio Ōtsuka's father) in the Japanese version and [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] in the English version. |
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On June 6, 2013, during Konami's third annual pre-[[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] show, it was announced that [[Kiefer Sutherland]] would be replacing Hayter as the character in ''Metal Gear Solid V''; Akio Otsuka was unaffected by this casting change and continued to portrayed the character in the Japanese dub. Sutherland plays the original Big Boss (who serves as the playable character in the stand-alone prologue ''Ground Zeroes''), as well as Venom Snake (a new version of the character who serves as the protagonist in the main game ''The Phantom Pain''). In addition to the voice, Sutherland also provided facial capture for the character.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=May 30, 2013 |title=Metal Gear Solid V clip teases Snake's new voice actor |url=http://gematsu.com/2013/05/metal-gear-solid-v-clip-teases-snakes-new-voice-actor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222100/http://gematsu.com/2013/05/metal-gear-solid-v-clip-teases-snakes-new-voice-actor |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=June 3, 2013 |publisher=Gematsu}}</ref><ref name="vg247">{{cite web |last=Staff |date=June 6, 2013 |title=Konami's pre-E3 stream: Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5 |url=http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/06/metal-gear-solid-5-castlevania-los-2-pes-2014-to-feature-in-konamis-pre-e3-stream-tonight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608045129/http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/06/metal-gear-solid-5-castlevania-los-2-pes-2014-to-feature-in-konamis-pre-e3-stream-tonight/ |archive-date=June 8, 2013 |access-date=June 6, 2013 |publisher=VG24/7}}</ref> Sutherland was assigned the role after a suggestion to Kojima from Hollywood producer and director [[Avi Arad]]; Kojima's reason was to "have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words", and that he "needed someone who could genuinely convey both the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40s".<ref>{{cite web |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=June 6, 2013 |title=Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V |url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/06/kiefer-sutherland-playing-snake-in-metal-gear-solid-v |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007063143/http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/06/kiefer-sutherland-playing-snake-in-metal-gear-solid-v |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |access-date=June 7, 2013 |publisher=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kojima on Ground Zeroes |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/kojima-on-ground-zeroes/1600-673/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118185249/http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/kojima-on-ground-zeroes/1600-673/ |archive-date=November 18, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013 |publisher=Giant Bomb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Hideo Kojima on darker themes and phantom cigars |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/467996/interviews/interview-hideo-kojima-on-darker-themes-and-phantom-cigars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817122624/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/467996/interviews/interview-hideo-kojima-on-darker-themes-and-phantom-cigars/ |archive-date=August 17, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014 |publisher=Computer and Video Games}}</ref> |
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==Fictional history== |
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{{fixbunching|begin}} |
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{{Metal Gear chronology}} |
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{{fixbunching|end}} |
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===''Metal Gear''=== |
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==Appearances== |
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Big Boss first appears in the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' as the leader of the Special Forces Unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]] and [[Solid Snake]]'s commanding officer. He is depicted as an elderly mercenary with white hair and a beard, an [[eyepatch]] over his right eye. He initially acts as a radio contact who provides Snake with information about mission objectives, as well as weapons and equipment.<ref name=mg1manual>{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/mg1remi/mg1reme.htm|title = ''Metal Gear'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|accessdate=|author=|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors =|date=|year=1987|month=|work=|publisher=Konami|pages=|language=Japanese|archiveurl=|archiveda}}</ref><ref name=mg2manual>{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/Setting.htm|title=''Metal Gear 2'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|accessdate=|author=|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|date=|year =1990|month=|work=|publisher=Konami|pages=|language=Japanese|archiveurl=|archiveda}}</ref> |
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===Naked Snake=== |
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====Main video games==== |
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Big Boss is introduced in the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' game as the Special Forces Unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]]'s leader and [[Solid Snake]]'s commanding officer. He initially acts as a radio contact who provides Snake with information about mission objectives involving [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|Outer Heaven]], a mercenary nation in [[South Africa]].<ref name="mg1manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/mg1remi/mg1reme.htm|title=''Metal Gear'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|year=1987|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818123628/http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/mg1remi/mg1reme.htm|archive-date=August 18, 2006}}</ref><ref name="mg2manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/Setting.htm|title=''Metal Gear 2'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|year=1990|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907002228/http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/Setting.htm|archive-date=September 7, 2006}}</ref> After Snake destroys the [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear|TX-55 Metal Gear]], the villain confronts Snake, acting as a twist villain. The leader is defeated and Outer Heaven is destroyed,{{efn|''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'' [[Retroactive continuity|establishes]] that this individual is [[Venom Snake]] and not the original Big Boss.}}<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss''': Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commandant of Foxhound. And in charge of this fortress, Outer Heaven.}}</ref> but Big Boss vows revenge.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Metal Gear |developer=Konami |platform=PS2 |quote=... can you hear me? Solid Snake... I'm not dead... Someday, I'll get even with you. Someday... We will meet again. |level=post-credits message}}</ref> He reappears in the game's sequel ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'', where Big Boss has taken control of Zanzibar Land, a fortified nation in [[Central Asia]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake''': Big... Boss?! / '''Dr. Madnar''': The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!}}</ref> Snake confronts Big Boss once again while escaping from Zanzibar Land's detention camp, with Snake incinerating Big Boss.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss''': Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!}}</ref> |
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{{Metal Gear chronology}} |
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However, near the end of the game as Snake approaches the final base where [[Metal Gear (weapon)#TX-55 Metal Gear|Metal Gear]] is stored, Big Boss begins to give misleading advice to the player, eventually asking Snake to abort his mission. After Metal Gear is destroyed, Big Boss exposes himself as the leader of the Outer Heaven militia at the base's escape route and confronts Snake in a final battle with the base self-destruct mechanism counting down. After the ending credits, a message from Big Boss is displayed stating that he and Snake will encounter each other again. |
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Despite his apparent death, Big Boss features prominently in ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]'' where his DNA was revealed to have been used to create genetically-altered clones as part of the secret "Les Enfants Terribles" government project, with Solid Snake, [[Liquid Snake]],<ref name="clones">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|year=1998|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Liquid Snake''': There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. / '''Solid Snake''': Created? / '''Liquid Snake''': Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970s. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world...}}</ref> and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Solidus Snake|Solidus Snake]]<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solidus Snake''': ...I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself...}}</ref> |
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===''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake''=== |
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In ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'', Big Boss is revealed to have survived his battle with Snake in Outer Heaven (reportedly after receiving cybernetic "[[Snatcher]]" implants after losing most of his body according to a rumor mentioned by George Kasler in the game), and has since taken control of another fortified nation in [[Central Asia]] - Zanzibar Land. This time, he establishes a military force along with his trusted lieutenant, [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Gray Fox|Gray Fox]], and commissions the development of a new Metal Gear model, [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear D|Metal Gear D]]. After Snake destroys Metal Gear D and defeats Gray Fox, he confronts Big Boss once again while escaping from the Zanzibar Land detention camp. With all of Snake's weapons lost during the prior fight with Fox, the player is forced to resort to a more clever way of fighting Big Boss by collecting a lighter and an aerosol can which Snake can combine to make a flamethrower. |
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The [[prequel]] ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', set in 1964, depicts a younger incarnation of the character, under the codename of Naked Snake,<ref name="mgspw_naked_uniform">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker|year=2010|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Miller''': Naked... That's exactly what you are with this uniform. The pants are the same as the jungle fatigues. Obviously, since you're exposing your bare skin, your defense and camo index are going to be low. On the plus side, it's so light you can move around quicker. / '''Naked Snake''': Good for showing off muscles, too. / '''Miller''': Hey, Snake. I heard they gave you your old code name because you used to run around with your shirt off. Is that true? / '''Naked Snake''': Don't believe everything you hear. They called me "Naked" because I went in without gear or food. I had to procure everything on site.}}</ref> as a member of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] special forces unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOX|FOX]] headed by Major [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Zero|Zero]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Zero''': Do you copy? You're already in enemy territory, and somebody might be listening in. From here on out, we'll be using codenames to refer to each other. Your codename for this mission will be Naked Snake. I'll be referring to you as Snake from now on. You are not to mention your real name.}}</ref> Snake is sent on assignment in the [[Soviet Union]] to thwart the uprising of [[GRU (Russian Federation)|GRU]] colonel [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Volgin|Volgin]], rescue weapons researcher [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Sokolov|Nikolai Sokolov]], destroy the [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Shagohod|Shagohod]] prototype, and kill [[The Boss (Metal Gear)|The Boss]] to avert a nuclear war while having a rivalry with [[Revolver Ocelot|Ocelot]] and receiving assistance from fellow spy [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#EVA|EVA]]. Snake completes his mission and kills The Boss, but learns that the defection was orchestrated by the US government and who had ordered his mentor's death to prevent war.<ref>'''EVA''': The Boss' defection was a ruse set up by the U.S. government. It was all a big drama staged by Washington so they could get their hands on the Philosopher's Legacy. And The Boss was the star of the show. They planned it so that they could get the Legacy that Colonel Volgin inherited...and destroy the Shagohod at the same time. (''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'') Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005</ref><ref>'''EVA''': (...) Everything was going according to plan, but then something happened that no one could have predicted. Colonel Volgin fired an American-made nuclear warhead at Sokolov's research facility. Khrushchev demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that it wasn't involved. (...) The authorities in Washington knew that in order to prove its innocence they'd have to get rid of The Boss...and that one of their own would have to do the job. (...) That was the mission she was given. (...) She sacrificed her life and her honor for her native land. (''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'') Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005</ref> The political motives behind the operation do not sit well with him, especially after he is awarded the "Big Boss" title for his actions which he initially rejects, and prompts him to retire from active service.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Mr. President''': You are above even The Boss. I hereby award you the title of Big Boss.}}</ref> |
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===''Metal Gear Solid''=== |
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Despite his apparent death, Big Boss's presence figures prominently in ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' and its subsequent sequels, where Solid Snake is revealed to be a genetically-altered clone of Big Boss created from a secret government project known as ''Les Enfants Terribles'' (The Terrible Children) along with another clone, his twin brother [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Liquid Snake|Liquid Snake]]. Liquid Snake, who became the leader of Foxhound following Solid Snake's retirement, mistakenly believes that his brother received their father's superior "soldier genes" and harbors a strong resentment towards Solid Snake. In the end, it is revealed that Liquid, rather than Solid, was the "superior" clone after all.<ref name=MGSpostcred>{{cite video game|title=[[Metal Gear Solid]]|developer=[[Konami|KCEJ]]|quote='''Ocelot''':Yes. The inferior one was the winner after all. ...That's right. Until the very end, Liquid thought he was the inferior one.}}</ref> The ending of ''Metal Gear Solid'' also reveals the existence of [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Solidus Snake|Solidus Snake]], a third clone who is an exact genetic duplicate of Big Boss<ref name=MGS4postcred>{{cite video game|title=[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]|developer=[[Konami|KCEJ]]|quote='''Big Boss''': He was a perfect clone. Zero, and the proxy AIs that came after him, were convinced that Solidus was me}}</ref>, that served as the U.S. President during the events of ''Metal Gear Solid'' and later returns as the antagonist of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]''. The Genome Army that Snake faces in ''Metal Gear Solid'' are also genetically altered soldiers who were implanted with Big Boss's genes after his body was recovered.<ref name=Genomeex>{{cite video game|title=[[Metal Gear Solid]]|developer=[[KCEJ|Konami]]|quote='''Liquid''': The Genome Soldiers. They too are his progeny, carrying on his genetic legacy. But they're different. They're digital. With the completion of the Human Genome project the mysteries of humanity were laid bare...'''Liquid''': Thanks to father's DNA, they were able to identify more than sixty 'soldier genes' responsible for everything from strategic thinking... to the proverbial 'killer instinct'. Those 'soldier genes' were transplanted, into the membrane of Next Generation Special Forces. That's how they became the Genome Soldiers. That's right... The Genome Soldiers that you've been killing are our brothers, with the same genes as ours.}}</ref> |
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Big Boss's remains are part of the terrorists' demands in ''Metal Gear Solid''.<ref name=demands>{{cite video game|title=[[Metal Gear Solid]]|developer=[[Konami|KCJ]]|quote='''Liquid''': No. We still have to get our hands on Big Boss's DNA. '''Wolf''': Have they given in to our demands yet?}}</ref> |
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In ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'' (dubious canonicity and not considered part of the timeline), he is still under his former codename, believing that he has yet to surpass The Boss as a warrior. Having spent six years wandering the globe, Snake finds himself involved in an armed uprising caused by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Gene|Gene]]'s rogue FOX unit in the San Hieronymo peninsula in [[Colombia]] and learns that he has been convicted for instigating the revolt. Hoping to clear his name, Snake forms his own team of specialists, [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]], by recruiting both old allies and defecting enemy soldiers to his cause. He faces not only the members of the FOX unit, but also Metal Gear's [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Intercontinental Ballistic Metal Gear|first prototype]]. After he learns that The Boss's death had been planned all along, Snake eventually defeats Gene and obtains the funds for Army's Heaven.<ref>''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', Kojima Productions (2006)<br />'''Gene''': So... You never knew. Six years ago, during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin launched an American nuclear missile at Sokolov's research lab. This caused a change in plans, and the U.S. government had to assassinate its own operative, The Boss, to prove its innocence. And you were the assassin, Snake. / ''(Naked Snake is speechless)'' / '''Gene''': Do you really think Volgin committed that terrible crime of his own will? / '''Naked Snake''': What? / '''Gene''': It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss' death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, Snake! It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist. / '''Naked Snake''': You're saying it was all a setup? By who!? / '''Gene''': The Boss gave up her life, even if someone else willed it. She sacrificed her own life for her calling. It was a noble act. / '''Naked Snake''': Answer me! Who set it up?!</ref> |
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===''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater''=== |
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[[Image:Naked Snake.jpg|thumb|right|The young Big Boss goes by the codename of Naked Snake in ''Metal Gear Solid 3]]'' |
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''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', a [[prequel]] to the previous games set three decades prior to the events of the original ''Metal Gear'' in 1964, introduces a young Big Boss as a former [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Green Beret]] under the codename "[[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#Naked Snake|Naked Snake]]" (the player's character in the game). Since Solid Snake is Big Boss's clone, Naked Snake is virtually identical to Solid Snake from the previous ''Metal Gear Solid'' games in terms of appearance, wearing a similar bandanna during Operation: Snake Eater (which he snatched off from [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#The Boss|The Boss]] during his battle with her at the end of the Virtuous Mission) and is even voiced by the same voice actor as Solid Snake in the Japanese and English versions. He loses his right eye from a muzzle flash burn caused by a young [[Ocelot (Metal Gear)|Ocelot]] and begins to wear his characteristic [[eye patch]] late in the game. His primary outfit is a [[Battle Dress Uniform|battle dress uniform]] with changeable camouflage patterns, although he also eventually obtains a Soviet prototype of Solid Snake's sneaking suit from ''Metal Gear Solid'' as well. |
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''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'', set years after ''Metal Gear Solid'' and ''Metal Gear Solid 2'', reveals that Big Boss and Zero were divided over how to realize The Boss's final will: a world where soldiers are free to choose their own fights on their own terms, and not at the whim of a government. Big Boss initially sided with Zero before being discouraged Zero interpreting the will as imposing order and control over the world. Big Boss further despises his role as a figurehead since Zero's vision places no value on loyalty to ideals and people, which The Boss treasured above all else. Big Boss ultimately leaves when he learns that his own DNA was used for the "Les Enfants Terribles" project. He later stages the coup d'état with Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land against Zero's organization.<ref name="lesenfants">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|year=2008|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Mama''': "Give birth to Big Boss." To realize this, I asked to serve as the surrogate mother... And was more than happy to carry you in my womb. I loved him. Nine months later, I gave birth to two Big Bosses... [[Solid Snake|You]], and [Liquid Snake]. [...] Determined to oppose Zero and his plans, Big Boss broke away from the Patriots.}}</ref> Big Boss survived Zanzibar Land and was placed in an artificially induced coma with his genetic code used for an ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to the [[Artificial intelligence|AIs]] that make up [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|the Patriots]]. His body is recovered and reconstructed using parts from the bodies of both Liquid and Solidus, and he awakens from his coma after the fall of the Patriots' AIs. Big Boss appears before Old Snake with the elderly catatonic Zero to reveal the truth about the Patriots, before shutting off Zero's [[life support]] system, killing the latter. He comes to terms with his feelings regarding The Boss, and reconciles with his son before dying from exposure to the new strain of [[FOXDIE]] virus.<ref>{{cite video game |title=[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]] |developer=[[Kojima Productions]] |publisher=[[Konami]] |date=<!--INCOMPLETE-->2008 |platform=[[PlayStation 3]] |quote='''Big Boss''': Ever since the day [[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|I killed The Boss... with my own two hands...]] I... was already dead.}}</ref> |
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In the prologue sequence of the game, the Virtuous Mission, Naked Snake, a member of the newly-formed special forces unit [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#FOX unit|FOX]] (a precursor to [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]] founded by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Major Zero|Major Zero]]), is given orders to infiltrate the fictionalized Soviet region of Tselinoyarsk and extract a defecting Soviet scientist named [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#Sokolov|Nikolai Stephanovich Sokolov]]. After rescuing Sokolov, he is confronted by his mentor, [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#The Boss|The Boss]], who defects to the Soviet Union and defeats Snake, before her new host, [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#Volgin|Colonel Volgin]], deploys a nuclear weapon on a nearby research facility and leads the United States and Russia to the brink of war. In retribution for the attack and The Boss' defection, the United States sends Snake back to Russia on a second mission codenamed "Operation: Snake Eater," which comprises the remainder of the story. Snake's objective this time is to assassinate The Boss, as well as the Cobra Unit (The Boss's Comrades) and her new benefactor, Volgin, rescue Sokolov once again, and destroy the secret Soviet weapon [[Metal Gear (weapon)#The Shagohod|Shagohod]]. In the end, Snake fulfills his mission and is awarded the title of Big Boss and the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] by [[Lyndon B. Johnson|President Johnson]], only to learn the true nature of The Boss' defection from a recorded confession left by [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#EVA/Tatyana|EVA]], a female spy he worked and became intimate with during the story. The Boss was deep undercover to retrieve the Philosopher's Legacy before Colonel Volgin does, but was ordered to become a scapegoat after she was blamed for Volgin's nuclear attack on Sokolov's research facility. In the final scene, he goes to the The Boss's unmarked grave, leaves her gun and flowers, salutes and sheds a single tear. |
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In ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', set after ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' and ''Portable Ops'', Naked Snake establishes the mercenary force Militaires Sans Frontières with [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Master Miller|Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller]]. He intends to use MSF to live out The Boss's final will. Student [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Paz|Paz Ortega Andrade]] and Professor [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Zadornov|Vladimir Zadornov]] seek to hire MSF to remove [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Hot Coldman|Coldman]]'s CIA Peace Sentinel unit that has established bases in [[Costa Rica]]. Snake reluctantly accepts the mission, to which the MSF takes over an offshore research platform in the Caribbean as a "Mother Base" in a bid to expand the group's capabilities. Snake comes to learn about the true purpose of Coldman's [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Peace Walker|Peace Walker]] prototypes and accepts his Big Boss identity.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker|year=2010|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Naked Snake''': I won't make the same choice as her. My future's going to be different. / '''Miller''': Then... / '''Naked Snake''': Yeah, that's right. From now on, call me Big Boss.}}</ref> Big Boss has [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Huey|Huey Emmerich]] create [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear ZEKE|Metal Gear ZEKE]] as a weapon to defend his interests before Zadornov makes several escape attempts and is killed in self-defense while Paz takes control of ZEKE which Big Boss defeats and continues his operations with MSF. ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes]]'', set in 1975, sees Big Boss sent to rescue Paz and ally [[Chico (Metal Gear)|Chico]] from a U.S. Naval prison facility in Cuba, believing that Paz can be converted to MSF's cause to reveal more about Cipher (a precursor to the Patriots). However, the [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#XOF|XOF]] paramilitary force led by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Skull Face|Skull Face]] attacks the Mother Base, resulting in injuries which put Big Boss in a coma. ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'', set in 1984, shows Big Boss awaken in [[Cyprus]]. Venom Snake acts as his doppelgänger/phantom (see below) for his operations while Big Boss works elsewhere on the true Outer Heaven's development.<ref name="tpp_doublethink">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain|developer=Kojima Productions|quote='''Ocelot''': We've been busy over the last nine years. His altered state of consciousness has helped us implant powerful suggestions through induced hypnogogia. He's experienced all your missions on record, and shares all your knowledge and experience. To make him believe that he is the one true Big Boss. No one around him will doubt that he's the Big Boss they know. So is he the real Big Boss or a stand-in? What does that mean to him? Nothing. The human brain is capable of many illusions. Of pain, of the future. What happens from here depends on his skill. But you can vouch for that. / '''Big Boss''': "He was always the best man we had. But..." / '''Ocelot''': "Nine years ago in that helicopter, he threw himself between you and the blast. In that moment, the man you knew died. He died protecting you. And now, by becoming you, he protects you again. This is just a detour in his journey to Hell. And don't forget it's what he wanted. He's in his Dog Days now. It's not just him. We'll be putting the people in this hospital in the line of fire. They'll be your shield, and a necessary diversion. To buy us some time."|level=Truth Records - Doublethink}}</ref><ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-metal-gear-solid-v-coming-to-xbox-one|title=E3 2013: Metal Gear Solid V Coming To Xbox One - IGN|date=June 10, 2013|publisher=ign.com|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413193811/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-metal-gear-solid-v-coming-to-xbox-one|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''=== |
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Set six years after the events of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'' features Naked Snake once again as the main character. In this game, Naked Snake wears a new version of the sneaking suit he wore in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' dubbed the "Close Quarter Combat Enhancer", which serves as the uniform of the FOX unit. Although already awarded the title of Big Boss, he prefers to be addressed by his former codename, believing that he has yet to surpass The Boss as a warrior. Snake finds himself involved in an armed uprising caused by the FOX unit (now led by [[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops#Characters|Gene]]) in the fictional San Hieronymo peninsula in [[Colombia]] and learns that he has been convicted for instigating the revolt. Hoping to clear his name, Snake forms his own team of specialists by recruiting both old allies and defecting enemy soldiers to his cause, one of whom happens to be [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Roy Campbell|Roy Campbell]]. He faces not only the members of the FOX unit, but also the first built Metal Gear prototype known as the [[Metal Gear (weapon)#ICBMG and RAXA|ICBMG]]. He defeats Gene and obtains the fund for "Army's Heaven", a precursor to Big Boss's own Outer Heaven. |
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====Other video games and media==== |
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===''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots''=== |
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Big Boss appears in ''[[Snake's Revenge]]'' (a sequel to the original ''Metal Gear'' for the NES released for the western market in 1990 and developed without Kojima's involvement) as the leader of the enemy organization. Having survived the injuries he sustained in the original game as a cyborg, he fights Solid Snake as a boss prior to reaching the new Metal Gear prototype and has two forms: his human form and a fire-breathing cyborg form.{{cn|date=April 2024}} Naked Snake also appears as a playable character in ''[[Super Bomberman R]]''.{{cn|date=April 2024}} Big Boss was stated to be an inspiration for characters in the 2020 film ''[[Monster Hunter (film)|Monster Hunter]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-monster-hunter-movie-was-inspired-by-a-metal-gear-s-1845806302|title=The ''Monster Hunter'' Movie Was Inspired By A ''Metal Gear Solid'' Collab|first=Brian|last=Ashcroft|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=December 4, 2020|work=[[Kotaku]]|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204110400/https://kotaku.com/the-monster-hunter-movie-was-inspired-by-a-metal-gear-s-1845806302|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Following up on the cliffhanger ending of ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' reveals that Big Boss and his former commanding officer [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Major Zero|Zero]], were the founding members of [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|The Patriots]]. A fallout between Zero and Big Boss occurred due to each of them interpreting [[List of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater characters#The Boss|The Boss]]'s will differently. Zero took the concept to mean control of the entire world by a group, to ensure unification. Big Boss believed that The Boss wanted a world where soldiers were not used as tools by the government. This caused Zero to initiate the ''Les Enfants Terribles'' project. This led Big Boss to break away from Zero and plot a coup d'état against him, causing the events of Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land. Big Boss is revealed to have survived his defeat in Zanzibar Land, but is placed in an artificially induced cryogenic coma, with his genetic code used for the Sons of the Patriots ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to the [[Artificial intelligence|AIs]] that make up The Patriots. His body is thought to be recovered and preserved by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#EVA|EVA]] (now known as Big Mama), but it turns out to be [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Solidus Snake|Solidus Snake]]'s remains. After the fall of one of the five AIs his body is reconstructed using parts from the bodies of both Liquid and Solidus and he awakens from his coma. |
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===Venom Snake=== |
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Following the voice casting credits at the ending, Big Boss appears before Solid Snake along with a now-catatonic Zero as a final twist in the story. After revealing the truth about Zero and the Patriots, as well as Ocelot's "[[Spirit possession|possession]]" by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Liquid Snake|Liquid]], Big Boss shuts down Zero's [[life support]] system. It is shown that his killing of the Boss has still had a profound effect on him, even remarking that the day she died was the day he died as well.<ref>'''Big Boss:''' The day I killed The Boss... with my own two hands... I... was already dead. (Konami, ''Metal Gear Solid 4'', 2008)</ref> He then reconciles with his clone/son before dying from exposure to the FOXDIE virus implanted in Snake. |
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[[File:Venom Snake.webp|right|thumb|Venom Snake, a doppelganger of Big Boss, as he appears in ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]''.]] |
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[[Venom Snake]], also known as Punished Snake, is a body double of Big Boss seen in ''Metal Gear Solid V''. He lost his left arm while his body has fragments of bones, teeth and a large piece of [[Shrapnel (fragment)|shrapnel]] lodged within his cerebral cortex.<ref name="tpp_ep46">{{cite video game |title=Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain |developer=Kojima Productions |quote='''Miller''': "How he's doing?" '''Doctor''': "He's stabilized, but we took too long. He's in a coma." '''Miller''': "What about him?" (nods towards the viewer) '''Doctor''': "He took some shrapnel... to the head... |level=Episode 46}}</ref> While in a coma for nine years, he's subjected to subconscious brainwashing and facial reconstruction as a mental doppelgänger who awakens in 1984 to draw attention away from Big Boss and get revenge for fallen comrades.<ref name="tpp_doublethink" /> Snake takes command of the mercenary unit Diamond Dogs with a "Mother Base" near [[Seychelles]] and engages in missions in [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-controlled [[Afghanistan]] and the [[People's Republic of Angola|Angola]]-[[Zaire]] border of [[Central Africa]] to recruit several companions against Cipher's remnants before facing off with Skull Face and the White Mamba. He would ultimately die fighting in Outer Heaven.<ref name="tpp_timeline">{{cite video game |title=Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain |developer=Kojima Productions |quote=1995 – While commanding special forces unit FOXHOUND from a position in the U.S. military, Big Boss establishes the fortified military nation 'Outer Heaven' in South Africa. The Outer Heaven Uprising occurs, but it is quashed by Solid Snake, who kills Big Boss' phantom. |level=Episode 46}}</ref><ref name="USG Story">{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-v-story-guide-what-happened-and-how-it-connects-to-the-rest-of-the-series |title=Metal Gear Solid V Story Guide: What Happened and How it Connects to the Rest of the Series |last=Bailey |first=Kat |work=US Gamer |date=9 September 2015 |access-date=14 March 2016 |archive-date=14 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314221053/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-v-story-guide-what-happened-and-how-it-connects-to-the-rest-of-the-series |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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==Reception== |
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===''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker''=== |
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Big Boss has been well-received. Game publications described Big Boss as one of the best video game villains.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jesse Lennox|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/best-video-game-villains/|title=The best video game villains of all time|website=[[Digital Trends]]|date=December 22, 2023|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419104450/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/best-video-game-villains/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html |title=Top 100 Videogame Villains |website=IGN |author=''IGN'' staff |date=July 4, 2010 |access-date=October 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309045526/http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html |archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/heroes-in-video-games/|title=The 25 best heroes in games of all-time|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|author=Rachel Weber |date=March 5, 2023|access-date=April 21, 2024 }}</ref> Jesse Schedeen of ''[[IGN]]'' found the character one of the most important characters from the franchise to the point his "influence is felt in every ''Metal Gear'' game, even if he isn't always present in the flesh".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/106/1060066p1.html |title=Boss of the Day: ''Metal Gear''{{'}}s Big Boss |website=IGN |last=Scheeden |first=Jeese |date=January 11, 2010 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204045355/http://stars.ign.com/articles/106/1060066p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ken Gagne of ''[[Computerworld]]'' named Big Boss as one of the most creative villains in video games, citing the complexity and importance of his betrayal of Solid Snake in the original game.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gagne |first=Ken |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2541492/you-can-run--but-you-ll-only-die-tired--gaming-s--baddest--villains.html |title=You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207002607/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9022399&pageNumber=3 |date=December 7, 2008 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |website=[[Computerworld]] |access-date=August 20, 2022}}</ref> Naked Snake's transition to Big Boss was praised, especially in conjunction with his character development throughout the series.<ref>{{cite web |title=9 Video Game Heroes Who Turned Evil In The Sequel |date=May 2, 2016 |url=http://whatculture.com/gaming/9-video-game-heroes-who-turned-evil-in-the-sequel?page=7 |website=What Culture |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214317/http://whatculture.com/gaming/9-video-game-heroes-who-turned-evil-in-the-sequel?page=7 |url-status=live }}</ref> Various gaming sites such as ''[[1UP.com]]'', ''[[Game Informer]]'' and ''[[Kotaku]]'' placed his character as one of the worst fathers in video games due to his poor relationship with Solid Snake and the attempts to murder his own son.<ref>{{cite web |title=Father Knows Best: The Best and Worst Fathers in Video Games |website=Kotaku |url=http://m.kotaku.com/5297186/father-knows-best-the-best-and-worst-fathers-in-video-games |date=June 21, 2009 |last=Glasser |first=AJ |access-date=August 17, 2011 |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704152751/http://kotaku.com/5297186/father-knows-best-the-best-and-worst-fathers-in-video-games |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Gaming's Crappiest Fathers |magazine=Game Informer |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/09/09/gamings-crappiest-dads.aspx |date=September 9, 2010 |last=Sharkey |first=Scott |access-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819120712/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/09/09/gamings-crappiest-dads.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top 5 Crappiest Videogame Dads |website=1UP.com |url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-crappiest-videogame-dads |date=September 9, 2010 |last=Ryckert |first=Dan |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601230558/http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-crappiest-videogame-dads |archive-date=June 1, 2012}}</ref> |
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Big Boss' past serves again as the scenario in the PlayStation Portable game ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]''. Set in 1974, four years after the events of ''Portable Ops]'', Snake has established his new group, the ''Militaires Sans Frontières'' ("Soldiers Without Borders") or MSF, on Colombia's Barranquilla Coast with his new partner Kazuhira Miller (the same character as McDonnell Miller from previous installments). |
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''[[VG247]]'' writer Jeremy Parish discussed similarities and differences between Big Boss and Solid Snake as both are portrayed as protagonists with their own storylines despite being both nearly identical in their respective youth. Parish noticed Big Boss's portrayal as an enemy despite Solid Snake being his underling left a major impact on his son's characterization, especially when Kojima retconned their similarities by making Solid Snake a clone of Big Boss. When Kojima started addressing Big Boss's identity as Naked Snake, the writer noticed Big Boss was far more vulnerable despite his similarities with Solid Snake in previous games, most notably because of his passion for his mother figure, The Boss. The death of The Boss leaves Big Boss with major trauma, which would explore his transformation from a young hero into an older villain. The Boss's last words also became more impactful where Big Boss repeats the words in the end of ''Metal Gear 2''. While Solid Snake was meant to be the final hero in ''Metal Gear Solid 4'', Big Boss's sudden return in the mid-credits scenes and his interaction with his son made him "steal the spotlight". This scene is further enforced in following games which further explore the transformation from Naked Snake into the villain Big Boss, which Parish compared to the [[Darth Vader]], a ''[[Star Wars]]'' villain who became more important than the hero [[Luke Skywalker]] when the movie writers decided to explored more of the former's youth and his corruption until his transformation into Luke's enemy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/the-two-snakes-whos-the-real-hero-of-the-metal-gear-saga|website=Vg247|access-date=April 13, 2024|author=Parish, Jeremy|title=The Two Snakes: Who's the Real Hero of the Metal Gear Saga?|date=6 March 2014|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207183732/https://www.vg247.com/the-two-snakes-whos-the-real-hero-of-the-metal-gear-saga|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The story begins when two representatives of the Costa Rican government, Paz and Gálvez, seek to hire MSF to liberate Costa Rica of the "Peace Sentinels", a CIA-backed military force that has established bases in the country. Snake accepts the mission after Gálvez hands him an audio cassette with a recording between two women, one of which he recognizes as The Boss' voice. Following Miller's advice, the MSF takes over an offshore research platform in the Caribbean as their base of operations in a bid to expand the group's capabilities. Over the course of the story, Snake comes to learn about the true purpose of the MSF's campaign against the Peace Sentinels and gradually lets go of his guilt for killing The Boss, finally accepting the title of Big Boss. |
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The inclusion of Naked Snake's role in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' has also received praise from critics.<ref name="cnet">{{cite web |last=Ramsay |first=Randolph |year=2005 |title=''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'' Review |url=http://www.cnet.com.au/games/ps2/0,39029672,40054224,00.htm |work=C NET Australia |access-date=August 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829063134/http://www.cnet.com.au/games/ps2/0%2C39029672%2C40054224%2C00.htm |archive-date=August 29, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Prior to the game's release, Naked Snake was often called 'Solid Snake' or simply 'Snake' by critics due to his resemblance with Solid Snake, although some still were not sure about his true identity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/1027/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-preview/ |title=''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'' Preview |date=February 29, 2004 |website=PALGN |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016023240/http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/1027/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-preview/|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/metalgearsolid3/preview_6091542.html |title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Updated Impressions |date=March 16, 2004 |last=Torres |first=Ricardo |website=GameSpot |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=March 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319141728/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/metalgearsolid3/preview_6091542.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benjamin Turner of ''[[GameSpy]]'' further noted that various fans started making theories about Naked Snake's identity before the game's release, as while they thought it was Solid Snake, the setting from the game made it impossible for Solid Snake to be the game's main protagonist due to their difference of years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p3.html |title=''Metal Gear Solid 3'' -- Everything We Know |last=Turner |first=Benjamin |website=GameSpy |page=3 |date=July 20, 2004 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=October 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027063933/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Finding the revelation of Naked Snake's identity was considered by Benjamin Turner of ''GameSpy'' as "the single coolest thing Kojima could have done in ''MGS3''" because of [Naked Snake's] differences from [Solid Snake] in regards to their personality as well as because it made fans wonder how Naked Snake would become the series antagonist Big Boss.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p4.html |title=''Metal Gear Solid 3'' -- Everything We Know |last=Turner |first=Benjamin |website=GameSpy |page=4 |date=July 20, 2004 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=October 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027063938/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the similarities between Naked Snake and Solid Snake, Rich Stanton of ''[[Eurogamer]]'' praised how different they are from each other in terms of experience, particularly highlighting how Naked Snake looks after The Boss despite the game placing them as enemies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-30-metal-gear-solid-3-from-russia-with-love |title=''Metal Gear Solid 3'': From Russia with love |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=August 30, 2015 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407212333/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-30-metal-gear-solid-3-from-russia-with-love |url-status=live }}</ref> Dave Meikleham of ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' placed his relationship with EVA in his top list of disastrous game romances due to how it was ruined by the two's different roles in the story.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Top 7… disastrous game romances |website=[[GamesRadar+]]|last=Meikleham |first=Dave |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/the-top-7-disastrous-game-romances/a-2011021895331912082/g-2005138888000000020742 |date=February 21, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314144020/http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/the-top-7-disastrous-game-romances/a-2011021895331912082/g-2005138888000000020742/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]]'' editor Nick Jones described Naked Snake's final fight against The Boss as the second best moment from the franchise, citing the emotional focus on their characters,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Metal Gear Solid'' – My Top Five Moments |website=Play |last=Jones |first=Nick |url=http://www.play-mag.co.uk/editors-blog/metal-gear-solid-%e2%80%93-my-top-five-moments/ |access-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928184333/http://www.play-mag.co.uk/editors-blog/metal-gear-solid-%E2%80%93-my-top-five-moments/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while the portrayal of the character in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' has been highlighted for making him a likeable and enjoyable character that made subsequent game appearances as a leader believable within the context of the world as a result.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=DualShockers |date=2016-02-14 |title=Who Is Your Video Game Valentine? DualShockers' Favorite Characters of All Time |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/whos-your-video-game-valentine-dualshockers-favorite-characters-of-all-time/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=DualShockers |language=en |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705181806/https://www.dualshockers.com/whos-your-video-game-valentine-dualshockers-favorite-characters-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Miscellaneous== |
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===NES games=== |
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When ''[[Metal Gear]]'' was released for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] in North America and Europe, the plot within the actual game itself remained unchanged. However, the instruction manual features a different version of the story that strays from the canonical version and gives a more satirical depiction of the game (as with most of Konami's American manuals at the time). The leader of Outer Heaven is mentioned to be a so-called "Vermon CaTaffy", a play on [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]], who is described in the manual as a "once tranquil shepherd boy who turned to terrorism". Big Boss is never mentioned by name in the manual either: instead a character called "Commander South" (a play on Lieutenant Colonel [[Oliver North]]) is described as Snake's commanding officer. |
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Joe Dodson, writing for ''[[Game Revolution]]'', disliked Big Boss's character in ''Portable Ops'' due to his process of kidnapping and indoctrinating enemy soldiers through "confusing rants" about the idea of loyalty.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/37782-mgs-portable-ops-review |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' Review |last=Dodson |first=Joe |website=[[Game Revolution]] |date=December 21, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407234028/https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/37782-mgs-portable-ops-review |url-status=live }}</ref> Rob Fahey of ''Eurogamer'' found that Snake remained likeable due to carrying over traits shown in ''Snake Eater,'' and praised Hayter's performance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review?page=2 |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' • Page 2 |last=Fahey |first=Rob |website=Eurogamer |date=January 17, 2007 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407232525/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review%3Fpage%3D2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Charles Herold of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described him as a tragic character based on the events shown in ''Snake Eater'', and with ''Portable Ops'' had been forced to face a new conflict despite retirement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/technology/a-lone-warrior-takes-partners-to-save-the-world.html |title=''Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops'' bundle delivers Snake, Snake, Snaaaaake |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 14, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |last=Herold |first=Charles |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407232526/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/technology/a-lone-warrior-takes-partners-to-save-the-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Greg Kasavin of ''[[GameSpot]]'' praised the handling of the character in ''Portable Ops'' due to his interactions with his former partners from the FOX unit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review/1900-6162832/ |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' Review |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=December 6, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407232526/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review/1900-6162832/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jeff Haynes of ''IGN'' noted how the game presented major plot twists and exposition that would affect his characterization and lay the groundwork for important items shown later in the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/05/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review-2 |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' Review |last=Haynes |first=Jeff |website=IGN |date=December 4, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407233205/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/05/metal-gear-solid-portable-ops-review-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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''[[Snake's Revenge]]'', a non-canonical [[sequel]] to the NES version of ''Metal Gear'' released only in North America and Europe, features Big Boss as the final boss before the player's confrontation with "Metal Gear 2". He attacks Snake as a regular man, before transforming into a tall cyborg after sustaining damage. Like in the first NES game, the game's manual names a character other than Big Boss as the main antagonist: in this case, the apparent villain is "Higharolla Kockamamie" (a parody of [[Ruhollah Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]]). |
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Oli Welsh of ''Eurogamer'' criticized Big Boss's characterization in ''Peace Walker'' as confusing in the wider context of the series, with mixed comments being given to Hayter's performance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-review?page=2 |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'' • Page 2 |last=Welsh |first=Oli |website=Eurogamer |date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407215842/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-review%3Fpage%3D2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jonathan Holmes of ''[[Destructoid]]'' enjoyed how ''Peace Walker'' further developed Big Boss's character from ''Portable Ops'' by completing his journey from lone soldier to leader and cementing him as the series icon he would become.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-177475.phtml |title=Review: ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'' |last=Holmes |first=Jonathan |website=Destructoid |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919230644/http://www.destructoid.com/review-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-177475.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Greg Miller of ''IGN'' also found the game's story was one of the most enjoyable and least-convoluted by focusing purely on Big Boss's emotions and his quest to discover more about his fallen mentor, The Boss,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/08/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-limited-edition-review |title=''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Limited Edition'' Review |last=Miller |first=Greg |website=IGN |date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407215846/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/06/08/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-limited-edition-review |url-status=live }}</ref> similar sentiments of which were shared by Randy Nelson of ''[[Engadget]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-06-11-review-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker.html |title=Review: ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'' |last=Nelson |first=Randy |website=Engadget |date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407215843/https://www.engadget.com/2010-06-11-review-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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===Backstory=== |
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[[Image:MG1 Boss.jpg|thumb|Drawing of Big Boss from the Japanese instruction manual for ''Metal Gear''. Note that his eye patch is over his left eye instead of his usual right like later depictions.]] |
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[[Jason Schreier]] of ''Kotaku'' disliked the plot twist in ''The Phantom Pain'' which revealed that the player character, Venom Snake, was not Big Boss, feeling it cheapened the emotional crux of the story and that it failed to explain Big Boss's motivations for becoming a villain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/why-metal-gear-solid-vs-ending-was-so-disappointing-1729833383 |title=Why ''Metal Gear Solid V'''s Ending Is So Disappointing |last=Schreier |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Schreier |website=Kotaku |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703032311/https://kotaku.com/why-metal-gear-solid-vs-ending-was-so-disappointing-1729833383 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''GamesRadar+'' writer David Roberts felt similarly, citing that the reveal was a "strange" ending and "a bizarre bit of fridge logic that makes less and less sense the more I think about it," believing it to make the ending of the game feel hollow. However, he felt that the customization aspect of Venom Snake was a positive aspect to the game.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author1=David Roberts |date=2015-09-09 |title=Metal Gear Solid 5 is the best and most disappointing game of the year |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/metal-gear-solid-5-best-and-most-disappointing-game-year/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=[[GamesRadar+]]|language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429172946/https://www.gamesradar.com/metal-gear-solid-5-best-and-most-disappointing-game-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Conversely, it has been praised for its logic in the grander scheme of the series' timeline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-18 |title=So, let's talk about Metal Gear Solid V's ending |url=https://www.destructoid.com/so-lets-talk-about-metal-gear-solid-vs-ending/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430123040/https://www.destructoid.com/so-lets-talk-about-metal-gear-solid-vs-ending/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Samuel Roberts of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' in particular highlighted the scene revealing Venom Snake's true identity, stating the epilogue left the player with "no backstory other than the one [they]'ve just created" which removed the character's identity of Big Boss, reflecting the player's own unique experience and being "a perfect thematic match for [the] game".<ref>{{Cite news |author1=Samuel Roberts |date=2015-11-26 |title=Why MGS5's ending is one perfect moment in a bad story |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/why-mgs5s-ending-is-one-perfect-moment-in-a-bad-story/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |work=PC Gamer |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429224419/https://www.pcgamer.com/why-mgs5s-ending-is-one-perfect-moment-in-a-bad-story/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The repetitive nature of the quest system in the game was highlighted as helping to show Big Boss's own lack of heroism in the game, with ''[[Vice News|VICE]]'' writer Cameron Kunzelman stating that it helped show how Big Boss was merely doing work, and wasn't going above and beyond as a hero like many perceive him as.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunzelman |first=Cameron |date=2018-07-20 |title=Metal Gear Solid Has Always Been About The Busywork of War |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvmk7b/metal-gear-solid-v-war-busywork |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=[[Vice News|Vice]]|language=en |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306135731/https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvmk7b/metal-gear-solid-v-war-busywork |url-status=live }}</ref> Sutherland was praised for his performance,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Juba |first=Joe |date=2015-09-01 |title=Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Review - A Legend Worth Waiting For |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/metal_gear_solid_v_the_phantom_pain/b/playstation4/archive/2015/09/01/metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain-review-game-informer.aspx |access-date=2024-04-15 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026072512/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/metal_gear_solid_v_the_phantom_pain/b/playstation4/archive/2015/09/01/metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain-review-game-informer.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-25 |title=Why Kiefer Sutherland is the Snake Metal Gear Solid V deserves |url=https://www.avclub.com/why-kiefer-sutherland-is-the-snake-metal-gear-solid-v-d-1798284696 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414170125/https://www.avclub.com/why-kiefer-sutherland-is-the-snake-metal-gear-solid-v-d-1798284696 |url-status=live }}</ref> though the character of Venom Snake was criticized for his lack of dialogue in game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-04 |title=Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: The Kotaku Review |url=https://kotaku.com/metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain-the-kotaku-review-1728728287 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Kotaku |language=en |archive-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101103435/https://kotaku.com/metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain-the-kotaku-review-1728728287 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2015-08-27 |title=Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain review: future legend |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/8/27/9207599/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain-review-ps4-xbox-one-PC |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=January 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130203039/https://www.polygon.com/2015/8/27/9207599/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain-review-ps4-xbox-one-PC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingenito |first=Vince |date=2015-08-24 |title=Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/24/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain-review |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512034148/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/08/24/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain-review |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Much of Big Boss's established background story has been revised through the course of the ''Metal Gear'' series. In the ''Metal Gear Solid 4: Database'', most of what the games mentioned to Big Boss's past was revealed in a detailed timeline, along with the Hydrogen Bomb he was exposed to in a Japanese boat; name of the same boat [[Godzilla]] appeared under in the late Godzilla movies. In the original ''Metal Gear'', Big Boss is characterized as having served in the Green Berets, [[Special Air Service|SAS]], and [[GSG 9]] prior to serving as the commander of FOXHOUND.<ref name=mg1manual /><ref name=mg1site>{{cite web|url=http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mg/chara.html|title=Metal Gear — Character Profiles|language=Japanese}}</ref> The character portrait in the Japanese manual for the original MSX2 game depicts Big Boss wearing his eye patch over his left eye. However, the character's sprite in the game depicts the eye patch over his right eye. All subsequent depictions of Big Boss features the eye patch on his right eye. Big Boss's military career is further fleshed out in ''Metal Gear 2''. He is revealed to had served the [[Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol|LRRP]] during the [[Vietnam War]], followed by [[Special Operations Group|SOG]] and the [[Wild Geese]], before losing his eye in the 1980s and becoming FOXHOUND's commander in the 1990s.<ref name=mg2manual /><ref name=mg2site>{{cite web|url=http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mg2/chara.html|title=Metal Gear 2 - Character Profiles|language=Japanese}}</ref> According to ''Metal Gear Solid'' and ''Metal Gear Solid 2'', Big Boss was in his seventies during the events of ''Metal Gear 2'' and his clones were created back when he was in his fifties during the 1970s, the exact year is specified 1972 in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3]]''. Big Boss would have been in his 30s at the time. |
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==References== |
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Much of Big Boss's established past would be revised in ''Metal Gear Solid 3''. Big Boss is 29 in the game, which is set in 1964, making Big Boss a decade younger than previously stated. He loses his eye during the course of ''Snake Eater'' to Ocelot, contradicting earlier statements of Big Boss having lost his eye during the 1980s. Additionally, the end of the game alludes to Big Boss forming FOXHOUND in 1971 (an event later depicted in ''Portable Ops''), contradicting FOXHOUND's formation during the 1990s in earlier games. It should be noted, however, that the official strategy guide: ''Metal Gear Solid: Official Missions Handbook'' stated that Big Boss had participated in World War II by lying about his age, which implies that Big Boss was below 18 or 21 years old during World War II, and thus implying that, contrary to what Liquid stated, Big Boss was not in his fifties when the Les Enfants Terribles Project occurred.<ref>Metal Gear Solid: Official Missions Handbook.</ref> |
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=== Notes === |
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{{Notelist}} |
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{{Reflist|group=note}} |
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=== Footnotes === |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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[[IGN]] ranked Big Boss number 32 on their list of "Top 100 Video Game Villains". <ref>{{cite web |url=http:http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html |title=Top 100 Videogame Villains |publisher=ign.com |author=IGN editors |date=2010-07-04 |accessdate=2010-06}}</ref> ''[[Computerworld]]'' named Big Boss as one of the most creative "badass villains" in video games, citing the complexity of his betrayal of Solid Snake, fueled by Snake being his genetic heir.<ref>Gagne, Ken. [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9022399&pageNumber=3 You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains]. ''[[Computerworld]]''. Retrieved on 2008-09-16</ref> |
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{{reflist|group=N}} |
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{{Commons category|Big Boss (Metal Gear)}} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Metal Gear}} |
{{Metal Gear}} |
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{{Kiefer Sutherland}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Characters designed by Yoji Shinkawa]] |
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[[Category:Cryonically preserved characters in video games]] |
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Revision as of 10:35, 18 May 2024
Naked Snake Big Boss | |
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Metal Gear character | |
![]() Big Boss as he appears in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) | |
First appearance | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Designed by | Yoji Shinkawa |
Voiced by |
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Motion capture | Various
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Big Boss (Japanese: ビッグ・ボス, Hepburn: Biggu Bosu) is a fictional character from the Metal Gear series created by Hideo Kojima and developed and published by Konami. He was first introduced in the 1987 Metal Gear game as the commanding officer and father of Solid Snake, featuring in a twist as the game's main antagonist. He is later featured in the prequel games (starting with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) as Naked Snake (ネイキッド・スネーク, Neikiddo Sunēku), an American Special Forces Operator and decorated war hero. Political manipulations cause him to be disillusioned when facing his own mentor, and he gradually develops his own private mercenary company while growing into the original Big Boss persona and being referred to as simply Snake (スネーク, Sunēku).
The concept of Naked Snake was an attempt to distance him from Solid Snake, despite both being physically similar through their characterizations. He has been voiced by Akio Ōtsuka and Chikao Ōtsuka in the Japanese version, and by David Hayter, Kiefer Sutherland and Richard Doyle in the English translation. Critical reception to Big Boss has been positive, due to his role as a villain and his enmity with Solid Snake. His younger persona has been praised as likeable, with critics generally enjoying the execution of his character development in the series designed to shape him into a villainous icon.
Creation and design
In Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Big Boss's visual appearance was inspired by actor Sean Connery, but for the ports of the game's re-released version, the original design was replaced by Yoji Shinkawa's design.[1] During the making of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima asked Shinkawa to make Naked Snake similar to Solid Snake, but with the differences that unlike Solid Snake, Naked Snake was a rookie and thus acted more naive. Shinkawa stated having no difficulties in designing Naked Snake as basically a revised version of Solid Snake. As a result, Naked Snake is virtually identical to Solid Snake from the previous Metal Gear Solid games in terms of appearance.[2] The love scene between Naked Snake and EVA was inspired by the first Pink Panther. Kojima and Shinkawa watched the movie but the former stated it might have come different from the original version.[3] Since the game's trailers did not state that Naked Snake was Big Boss, Kojima often gave vague answers to the character's true identity.[4] Although the ending of Metal Gear Solid 3 reveals Naked Snake was given the Big Boss title, Kojima stated "he's not really the Big Boss yet". With Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, he wanted to explain how Naked Snake turned into the man who appeared in the original Metal Gear games as Solid Snake's enemy.[5]
Naked Snake as portrayed in Metal Gear Solid 3 shares the same voice actor as Solid Snake did in the first two Metal Gear Solid games, being voiced by Akio Otsuka in the Japanese version and David Hayter in the English version. Both actors would return to provide the character's voice in Portable Ops and Peace Walker. The elderly version of Big Boss who appears in Metal Gear Solid 4 was voiced by Chikao Otsuka (Akio Otsuka's real-life father) in Japanese and by Richard Doyle in English. Originally, Naked Snake was planned to have been voiced by Kurt Russell due to Kojima's request but the actor refused.[6]
On June 6, 2013, during Konami's third annual pre-E3 show, it was announced that Kiefer Sutherland would be replacing Hayter as the character in Metal Gear Solid V; Akio Otsuka was unaffected by this casting change and continued to portrayed the character in the Japanese dub. Sutherland plays the original Big Boss (who serves as the playable character in the stand-alone prologue Ground Zeroes), as well as Venom Snake (a new version of the character who serves as the protagonist in the main game The Phantom Pain). In addition to the voice, Sutherland also provided facial capture for the character.[7][8] Sutherland was assigned the role after a suggestion to Kojima from Hollywood producer and director Avi Arad; Kojima's reason was to "have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words", and that he "needed someone who could genuinely convey both the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40s".[9][10][11]
Appearances
Naked Snake
Main video games
Big Boss is introduced in the original Metal Gear game as the Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND's leader and Solid Snake's commanding officer. He initially acts as a radio contact who provides Snake with information about mission objectives involving Outer Heaven, a mercenary nation in South Africa.[12][13] After Snake destroys the TX-55 Metal Gear, the villain confronts Snake, acting as a twist villain. The leader is defeated and Outer Heaven is destroyed,[a][14] but Big Boss vows revenge.[15] He reappears in the game's sequel Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, where Big Boss has taken control of Zanzibar Land, a fortified nation in Central Asia.[16] Snake confronts Big Boss once again while escaping from Zanzibar Land's detention camp, with Snake incinerating Big Boss.[17]
Fictional chronology in Metal Gear |
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Despite his apparent death, Big Boss features prominently in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty where his DNA was revealed to have been used to create genetically-altered clones as part of the secret "Les Enfants Terribles" government project, with Solid Snake, Liquid Snake,[18] and Solidus Snake[19]
The prequel Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, set in 1964, depicts a younger incarnation of the character, under the codename of Naked Snake,[20] as a member of the CIA special forces unit FOX headed by Major Zero.[21] Snake is sent on assignment in the Soviet Union to thwart the uprising of GRU colonel Volgin, rescue weapons researcher Nikolai Sokolov, destroy the Shagohod prototype, and kill The Boss to avert a nuclear war while having a rivalry with Ocelot and receiving assistance from fellow spy EVA. Snake completes his mission and kills The Boss, but learns that the defection was orchestrated by the US government and who had ordered his mentor's death to prevent war.[22][23] The political motives behind the operation do not sit well with him, especially after he is awarded the "Big Boss" title for his actions which he initially rejects, and prompts him to retire from active service.[24]
In Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (dubious canonicity and not considered part of the timeline), he is still under his former codename, believing that he has yet to surpass The Boss as a warrior. Having spent six years wandering the globe, Snake finds himself involved in an armed uprising caused by Gene's rogue FOX unit in the San Hieronymo peninsula in Colombia and learns that he has been convicted for instigating the revolt. Hoping to clear his name, Snake forms his own team of specialists, FOXHOUND, by recruiting both old allies and defecting enemy soldiers to his cause. He faces not only the members of the FOX unit, but also Metal Gear's first prototype. After he learns that The Boss's death had been planned all along, Snake eventually defeats Gene and obtains the funds for Army's Heaven.[25]
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, set years after Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2, reveals that Big Boss and Zero were divided over how to realize The Boss's final will: a world where soldiers are free to choose their own fights on their own terms, and not at the whim of a government. Big Boss initially sided with Zero before being discouraged Zero interpreting the will as imposing order and control over the world. Big Boss further despises his role as a figurehead since Zero's vision places no value on loyalty to ideals and people, which The Boss treasured above all else. Big Boss ultimately leaves when he learns that his own DNA was used for the "Les Enfants Terribles" project. He later stages the coup d'état with Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land against Zero's organization.[26] Big Boss survived Zanzibar Land and was placed in an artificially induced coma with his genetic code used for an ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to the AIs that make up the Patriots. His body is recovered and reconstructed using parts from the bodies of both Liquid and Solidus, and he awakens from his coma after the fall of the Patriots' AIs. Big Boss appears before Old Snake with the elderly catatonic Zero to reveal the truth about the Patriots, before shutting off Zero's life support system, killing the latter. He comes to terms with his feelings regarding The Boss, and reconciles with his son before dying from exposure to the new strain of FOXDIE virus.[27]
In Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, set after Metal Gear Solid 3 and Portable Ops, Naked Snake establishes the mercenary force Militaires Sans Frontières with Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller. He intends to use MSF to live out The Boss's final will. Student Paz Ortega Andrade and Professor Vladimir Zadornov seek to hire MSF to remove Coldman's CIA Peace Sentinel unit that has established bases in Costa Rica. Snake reluctantly accepts the mission, to which the MSF takes over an offshore research platform in the Caribbean as a "Mother Base" in a bid to expand the group's capabilities. Snake comes to learn about the true purpose of Coldman's Peace Walker prototypes and accepts his Big Boss identity.[28] Big Boss has Huey Emmerich create Metal Gear ZEKE as a weapon to defend his interests before Zadornov makes several escape attempts and is killed in self-defense while Paz takes control of ZEKE which Big Boss defeats and continues his operations with MSF. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, set in 1975, sees Big Boss sent to rescue Paz and ally Chico from a U.S. Naval prison facility in Cuba, believing that Paz can be converted to MSF's cause to reveal more about Cipher (a precursor to the Patriots). However, the XOF paramilitary force led by Skull Face attacks the Mother Base, resulting in injuries which put Big Boss in a coma. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, set in 1984, shows Big Boss awaken in Cyprus. Venom Snake acts as his doppelgänger/phantom (see below) for his operations while Big Boss works elsewhere on the true Outer Heaven's development.[29][30]
Other video games and media
Big Boss appears in Snake's Revenge (a sequel to the original Metal Gear for the NES released for the western market in 1990 and developed without Kojima's involvement) as the leader of the enemy organization. Having survived the injuries he sustained in the original game as a cyborg, he fights Solid Snake as a boss prior to reaching the new Metal Gear prototype and has two forms: his human form and a fire-breathing cyborg form.[citation needed] Naked Snake also appears as a playable character in Super Bomberman R.[citation needed] Big Boss was stated to be an inspiration for characters in the 2020 film Monster Hunter.[31]
Venom Snake
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Venom_Snake.webp/211px-Venom_Snake.webp.png)
Venom Snake, also known as Punished Snake, is a body double of Big Boss seen in Metal Gear Solid V. He lost his left arm while his body has fragments of bones, teeth and a large piece of shrapnel lodged within his cerebral cortex.[32] While in a coma for nine years, he's subjected to subconscious brainwashing and facial reconstruction as a mental doppelgänger who awakens in 1984 to draw attention away from Big Boss and get revenge for fallen comrades.[29] Snake takes command of the mercenary unit Diamond Dogs with a "Mother Base" near Seychelles and engages in missions in Soviet-controlled Afghanistan and the Angola-Zaire border of Central Africa to recruit several companions against Cipher's remnants before facing off with Skull Face and the White Mamba. He would ultimately die fighting in Outer Heaven.[33][34]
Reception
Big Boss has been well-received. Game publications described Big Boss as one of the best video game villains.[35][36][37] Jesse Schedeen of IGN found the character one of the most important characters from the franchise to the point his "influence is felt in every Metal Gear game, even if he isn't always present in the flesh".[38] Ken Gagne of Computerworld named Big Boss as one of the most creative villains in video games, citing the complexity and importance of his betrayal of Solid Snake in the original game.[39] Naked Snake's transition to Big Boss was praised, especially in conjunction with his character development throughout the series.[40] Various gaming sites such as 1UP.com, Game Informer and Kotaku placed his character as one of the worst fathers in video games due to his poor relationship with Solid Snake and the attempts to murder his own son.[41][42][43]
VG247 writer Jeremy Parish discussed similarities and differences between Big Boss and Solid Snake as both are portrayed as protagonists with their own storylines despite being both nearly identical in their respective youth. Parish noticed Big Boss's portrayal as an enemy despite Solid Snake being his underling left a major impact on his son's characterization, especially when Kojima retconned their similarities by making Solid Snake a clone of Big Boss. When Kojima started addressing Big Boss's identity as Naked Snake, the writer noticed Big Boss was far more vulnerable despite his similarities with Solid Snake in previous games, most notably because of his passion for his mother figure, The Boss. The death of The Boss leaves Big Boss with major trauma, which would explore his transformation from a young hero into an older villain. The Boss's last words also became more impactful where Big Boss repeats the words in the end of Metal Gear 2. While Solid Snake was meant to be the final hero in Metal Gear Solid 4, Big Boss's sudden return in the mid-credits scenes and his interaction with his son made him "steal the spotlight". This scene is further enforced in following games which further explore the transformation from Naked Snake into the villain Big Boss, which Parish compared to the Darth Vader, a Star Wars villain who became more important than the hero Luke Skywalker when the movie writers decided to explored more of the former's youth and his corruption until his transformation into Luke's enemy.[44]
The inclusion of Naked Snake's role in Metal Gear Solid 3 has also received praise from critics.[45] Prior to the game's release, Naked Snake was often called 'Solid Snake' or simply 'Snake' by critics due to his resemblance with Solid Snake, although some still were not sure about his true identity.[46][47] Benjamin Turner of GameSpy further noted that various fans started making theories about Naked Snake's identity before the game's release, as while they thought it was Solid Snake, the setting from the game made it impossible for Solid Snake to be the game's main protagonist due to their difference of years.[48] Finding the revelation of Naked Snake's identity was considered by Benjamin Turner of GameSpy as "the single coolest thing Kojima could have done in MGS3" because of [Naked Snake's] differences from [Solid Snake] in regards to their personality as well as because it made fans wonder how Naked Snake would become the series antagonist Big Boss.[49] Despite the similarities between Naked Snake and Solid Snake, Rich Stanton of Eurogamer praised how different they are from each other in terms of experience, particularly highlighting how Naked Snake looks after The Boss despite the game placing them as enemies.[50] Dave Meikleham of GamesRadar+ placed his relationship with EVA in his top list of disastrous game romances due to how it was ruined by the two's different roles in the story.[51] Play editor Nick Jones described Naked Snake's final fight against The Boss as the second best moment from the franchise, citing the emotional focus on their characters,[52] while the portrayal of the character in Metal Gear Solid 3 has been highlighted for making him a likeable and enjoyable character that made subsequent game appearances as a leader believable within the context of the world as a result.[53]
Joe Dodson, writing for Game Revolution, disliked Big Boss's character in Portable Ops due to his process of kidnapping and indoctrinating enemy soldiers through "confusing rants" about the idea of loyalty.[54] Rob Fahey of Eurogamer found that Snake remained likeable due to carrying over traits shown in Snake Eater, and praised Hayter's performance.[55] Charles Herold of The New York Times described him as a tragic character based on the events shown in Snake Eater, and with Portable Ops had been forced to face a new conflict despite retirement.[56] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the handling of the character in Portable Ops due to his interactions with his former partners from the FOX unit.[57] Jeff Haynes of IGN noted how the game presented major plot twists and exposition that would affect his characterization and lay the groundwork for important items shown later in the series.[58]
Oli Welsh of Eurogamer criticized Big Boss's characterization in Peace Walker as confusing in the wider context of the series, with mixed comments being given to Hayter's performance.[59] Jonathan Holmes of Destructoid enjoyed how Peace Walker further developed Big Boss's character from Portable Ops by completing his journey from lone soldier to leader and cementing him as the series icon he would become.[60] Greg Miller of IGN also found the game's story was one of the most enjoyable and least-convoluted by focusing purely on Big Boss's emotions and his quest to discover more about his fallen mentor, The Boss,[61] similar sentiments of which were shared by Randy Nelson of Engadget.[62]
Jason Schreier of Kotaku disliked the plot twist in The Phantom Pain which revealed that the player character, Venom Snake, was not Big Boss, feeling it cheapened the emotional crux of the story and that it failed to explain Big Boss's motivations for becoming a villain.[63] GamesRadar+ writer David Roberts felt similarly, citing that the reveal was a "strange" ending and "a bizarre bit of fridge logic that makes less and less sense the more I think about it," believing it to make the ending of the game feel hollow. However, he felt that the customization aspect of Venom Snake was a positive aspect to the game.[64] Conversely, it has been praised for its logic in the grander scheme of the series' timeline.[65] Samuel Roberts of PC Gamer in particular highlighted the scene revealing Venom Snake's true identity, stating the epilogue left the player with "no backstory other than the one [they]'ve just created" which removed the character's identity of Big Boss, reflecting the player's own unique experience and being "a perfect thematic match for [the] game".[66] The repetitive nature of the quest system in the game was highlighted as helping to show Big Boss's own lack of heroism in the game, with VICE writer Cameron Kunzelman stating that it helped show how Big Boss was merely doing work, and wasn't going above and beyond as a hero like many perceive him as.[67] Sutherland was praised for his performance,[64][68][69] though the character of Venom Snake was criticized for his lack of dialogue in game.[70][71][72]
References
Notes
- ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain establishes that this individual is Venom Snake and not the original Big Boss.
Footnotes
- ^ Parish, Jeremy. "Gear Up! A Metal Gear Retrospective". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ^ Payton, Ryan. "The KP Report Session 027". Kojima Productions Report. mp.i.revo. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- ^ "THE SNAKE EATER INTERVIEW". IGN. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ C. Perry, Douglass (May 15, 2003). "E3 2003: Hideo Kojima Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (September 25, 2009). "Hideo Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker And How You Can Help Him". Kotaku. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
- ^ "Solid Snake's longtime voice says Konami had tried to push him out before Metal Gear Solid 5". Polygon. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (May 30, 2013). "Metal Gear Solid V clip teases Snake's new voice actor". Gematsu. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Staff (June 6, 2013). "Konami's pre-E3 stream: Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5". VG24/7. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (June 6, 2013). "Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V". IGN. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
- ^ "Kojima on Ground Zeroes". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Interview: Hideo Kojima on darker themes and phantom cigars". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
- ^ "Metal Gear MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1987. Archived from the original on August 18, 2006.
- ^ "Metal Gear 2 MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1990. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006.
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear. Konami.
Big Boss: Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commandant of Foxhound. And in charge of this fortress, Outer Heaven.
- ^ Konami. Metal Gear (PS2). Level/area: post-credits message.
... can you hear me? Solid Snake... I'm not dead... Someday, I'll get even with you. Someday... We will meet again.
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Konami.
Solid Snake: Big... Boss?! / Dr. Madnar: The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Konami.
Big Boss: Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid. Konami.
Liquid Snake: There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. / Solid Snake: Created? / Liquid Snake: Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970s. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world...
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami.
Solidus Snake: ...I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself...
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Konami.
Miller: Naked... That's exactly what you are with this uniform. The pants are the same as the jungle fatigues. Obviously, since you're exposing your bare skin, your defense and camo index are going to be low. On the plus side, it's so light you can move around quicker. / Naked Snake: Good for showing off muscles, too. / Miller: Hey, Snake. I heard they gave you your old code name because you used to run around with your shirt off. Is that true? / Naked Snake: Don't believe everything you hear. They called me "Naked" because I went in without gear or food. I had to procure everything on site.
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Konami.
Zero: Do you copy? You're already in enemy territory, and somebody might be listening in. From here on out, we'll be using codenames to refer to each other. Your codename for this mission will be Naked Snake. I'll be referring to you as Snake from now on. You are not to mention your real name.
- ^ EVA: The Boss' defection was a ruse set up by the U.S. government. It was all a big drama staged by Washington so they could get their hands on the Philosopher's Legacy. And The Boss was the star of the show. They planned it so that they could get the Legacy that Colonel Volgin inherited...and destroy the Shagohod at the same time. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005
- ^ EVA: (...) Everything was going according to plan, but then something happened that no one could have predicted. Colonel Volgin fired an American-made nuclear warhead at Sokolov's research facility. Khrushchev demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that it wasn't involved. (...) The authorities in Washington knew that in order to prove its innocence they'd have to get rid of The Boss...and that one of their own would have to do the job. (...) That was the mission she was given. (...) She sacrificed her life and her honor for her native land. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Konami.
Mr. President: You are above even The Boss. I hereby award you the title of Big Boss.
- ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006)
Gene: So... You never knew. Six years ago, during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin launched an American nuclear missile at Sokolov's research lab. This caused a change in plans, and the U.S. government had to assassinate its own operative, The Boss, to prove its innocence. And you were the assassin, Snake. / (Naked Snake is speechless) / Gene: Do you really think Volgin committed that terrible crime of his own will? / Naked Snake: What? / Gene: It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss' death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, Snake! It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist. / Naked Snake: You're saying it was all a setup? By who!? / Gene: The Boss gave up her life, even if someone else willed it. She sacrificed her own life for her calling. It was a noble act. / Naked Snake: Answer me! Who set it up?! - ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Konami.
Big Mama: "Give birth to Big Boss." To realize this, I asked to serve as the surrogate mother... And was more than happy to carry you in my womb. I loved him. Nine months later, I gave birth to two Big Bosses... You, and [Liquid Snake]. [...] Determined to oppose Zero and his plans, Big Boss broke away from the Patriots.
- ^ Kojima Productions (2008). Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3). Konami.
Big Boss: Ever since the day I killed The Boss... with my own two hands... I... was already dead.
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Konami.
Naked Snake: I won't make the same choice as her. My future's going to be different. / Miller: Then... / Naked Snake: Yeah, that's right. From now on, call me Big Boss.
- ^ a b Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Level/area: Truth Records - Doublethink.
Ocelot: We've been busy over the last nine years. His altered state of consciousness has helped us implant powerful suggestions through induced hypnogogia. He's experienced all your missions on record, and shares all your knowledge and experience. To make him believe that he is the one true Big Boss. No one around him will doubt that he's the Big Boss they know. So is he the real Big Boss or a stand-in? What does that mean to him? Nothing. The human brain is capable of many illusions. Of pain, of the future. What happens from here depends on his skill. But you can vouch for that. / Big Boss: "He was always the best man we had. But..." / Ocelot: "Nine years ago in that helicopter, he threw himself between you and the blast. In that moment, the man you knew died. He died protecting you. And now, by becoming you, he protects you again. This is just a detour in his journey to Hell. And don't forget it's what he wanted. He's in his Dog Days now. It's not just him. We'll be putting the people in this hospital in the line of fire. They'll be your shield, and a necessary diversion. To buy us some time."
- ^ "E3 2013: Metal Gear Solid V Coming To Xbox One - IGN". ign.com. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Ashcroft, Brian (December 4, 2020). "The Monster Hunter Movie Was Inspired By A Metal Gear Solid Collab". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Level/area: Episode 46.
Miller: "How he's doing?" Doctor: "He's stabilized, but we took too long. He's in a coma." Miller: "What about him?" (nods towards the viewer) Doctor: "He took some shrapnel... to the head...
- ^ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Level/area: Episode 46.
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