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{{short description|Fictional character from the Metal Gear series}} |
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{{For|other meanings|Big Boss (disambiguation){{!}}Big Boss}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} |
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{{Infobox VG character |
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Big Boss (''Metal Gear'')}} |
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{{Infobox character |
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|image=[[Image:Big Boss (Metal Gear).jpg|120px]] |
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| name = Naked Snake<br>{{small|Big Boss}} |
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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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| first = ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'' |
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|series=[[Metal Gear |
| series = [[Metal Gear]] |
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| image = Big Boss MGS4 Screenshot.png |
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|creator=[[Hideo Kojima]] |
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| caption = Big Boss as he appears in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' (2008) |
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|artist= [[Yoji Shinkawa]] (character design) |
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| creator = [[Hideo Kojima]] |
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|voiceactor=[[David Hayter]] (MGS3, MPO, PW)<br />[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (MGS4) |
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| designer = [[Yoji Shinkawa]] |
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|japanactor=[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (MGS3, MPO, PW)<br />[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (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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|motionactor=[[Mizuho Yoshida (actor)|Mizuho Yoshida]] (MGS3)<br />[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (MGS4) |
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|[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'') |
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|inuniverse={{Metal Gear character |
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|[[Kiefer Sutherland]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'')}} |
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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? / '''Naked 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? / '''Naked 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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{{Collapsible list|title=[[Japanese language|Japanese]]| |
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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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|[[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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|nationality=[[United States|American]] |
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|[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')}} |
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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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| 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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}} |
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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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'''Big Boss''' was the codename of the legendary soldier who founded the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Special Forces Unit, [[FOXHOUND]]. He was also the founder and commander of [[Militaires Sans Frontieres]], the "military without borders," which led to the creation of [[Outer Heaven (nation)|Outer Heaven]] in South Africa. Big Boss later helped the small nation of [[Zanzibar Land]] achieve independence in Central Asia, becoming its head of state. Big Boss was considered by many to be "The Greatest Warrior of the 20th Century" and a brilliant military leader and was hailed as a war hero by admirers and feared as a tyrant by his enemies. As a result of the [[Les Enfants Terribles]] project, he was the genetic father of [[Solid Snake]] (his subordinate and later nemesis), [[Liquid Snake]] and [[Solidus Snake]]. |
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==Creation and design== |
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Prior to earning the [[Boss|codename]] of Big Boss, he served as a field operative for the [[CIA]] black ops unit [[FOX]] (Force Operation X) which was founded by [[Zero]] and the apprentice of [[The Boss]] under the codename of '''Naked Snake''' during the [[Cold War]]. |
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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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==Biography == |
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===Early years=== |
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Born in 1935, John was more commonly known as Jack during his early years. Jack's military career dated back to the 1950s, when he participated in the Korean War as a teenager and joined the [[Green Berets]]. During his tenure, he became The Boss's apprentice. In 1954, Jack was involved in the [[wikipedia:Bikini Atoll|Bikini Atoll]] [[Wikipedia:Castle Bravo|testing]] of the first airborne detonation of a hydrogen bomb. However, unlike most of his friends who were present during the testing who had gotten at least [[Wikipedia:Leukemia|leukemia]] or [[Wikipedia:Thyroid Cancer|thyroid cancer]], or worse died from the radiation, he had not developed any symptoms at all. However, he did admit that he would eventually start showing symptoms sooner or later.<ref>Naked Snake, during a [[Metal Gear Solid 3 radio conversations|radio conversation]] with Para-Medic, reveals this.</ref> This was later confirmed when it is revealed that his exposure to radiation resulted in him becoming sterile and unable to reproduce naturally. During Jack's time under the tutelage of The Boss, she taught him everything about combat, weaponry, survival, espionage, destruction, psychology and foreign languages like Russian. They also developed [[CQC]] together. The Boss and Jack went their separate ways on June 12, 1959. |
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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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In 1961, Jack carried out [[wikipedia:Civilian Irregular Defense Group|covert operations]] alongside [[Python]] during the early stages of [[Wikipedia:Vietnam War|Vietnam War]], before America officially participated. He later stated that Python was one of the few soldiers he could completely rely on in battle. The two were involved in a mission together, where Python was shot and presumed to have been killed. At some point between 1962 and 1964, he ended up joining the FOX unit. |
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== |
==Appearances== |
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===Naked Snake=== |
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In August 24th 1964, Jack took part in the [[Virtuous Mission]] as a member of the [[CIA]]'s FOX unit, in which he was to rescue a defecting Soviet scientist ([[Nikolai Stephanovich Sokolov]]). It was during this mission that he was given the codename Naked Snake in honor of The Boss's former unit, the [[Cobra Unit]]. It was also during this mission that he participated in the world's first [[Wikipedia:HALO jump|High Altitude-Low Opening (HALO) jump]]. However, this mission failed, due to the defection of The Boss. As a result of the events that followed the failure, he was also imprisoned by the [[United States Federal Government|U.S. Government]] while in intensive care, with the government considering executing Snake because they thought he might have had involvement in The Boss's defection. |
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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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A week later, the government decided to pardon Snake of any involvement in The Boss's defection, under one condition: the FOX unit and Snake were to participate in [[Operation Snake Eater]], in which the objective was to eliminate The Boss and her new Soviet ally, [[Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin|Colonel Volgin]], rescue Sokolov and destroy the [[Shagohod]]. It was during this mission that Snake came across the prototype designs for [[Metal Gear REX]] from [[Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin]], who was sending them to [[Huey Emmerich|a colleague]] in America. |
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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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During this mission, Snake had to fight off members of The Boss's former unit, the Cobra Unit. He also attempted to disguise himself as [[Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov|Major Raikov]] and knock out the real Raikov to infiltrate the production facility of Groznyj Grad, rescue Sokolov and find out how to destroy the Shagohod. However, the rescue attempt backfired when Volgin, being Raikov's lover, saw through his disguise easily and resulted in his capture. Snake had his right eye accidentally damaged by [[Revolver Ocelot|Major Ocelot]]'s [[Colt Single Action Army]], while in captivity for torture, in order to save [[EVA]]'s life. However, he succeeded in completing the mission, and killed The Boss. For this, he was awarded the codename Big Boss and the [[wikipedia:Distinguished Service Cross|Distinguished Service Cross]] by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. |
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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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Big Boss, however, was heavily affected by the events of Operation Snake Eater. He had been forced to kill The Boss (his old mentor) and discovered that the whole operation (including The Boss's supposed defection) was a ruse set up by his government, to avoid taking the blame for a nuclear attack, while secretly getting their hands on the [[Philosophers' Legacy]]. Big Boss lost sight of what he was fighting for, and with it, his patriotism for his country. Because of this, he decided to retire from FOX. He was mentally discouraged and alone. Unbeknownst to him, his disposing of Colonel Volgin had also made him a hero to the people of the Soviet Union. |
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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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===Post-Snake Eater=== |
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Although he attempted to retire from the battlefield and make a peaceful living as an instructor or a hunting guide, he ended up returning to the battlefield.<ref>Big Boss, in a [[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops radio conversations#What Snake did after Operation Snake Eater|radio conversation]] with Para-Medic, explains this</ref> In 1966, Big Boss encountered a war orphan dubbed [[Gray Fox|Frank Jaeger]] during his time in the [[Wikipedia:Mozambican War of Independence|Mozambican War of Independence]]. After defeating him in battle and nursing him back to health,<ref>'''Null''': "I remember now... Big Boss... Even then, you were the one who stopped me. I was raised by adults to be a tool of war. But you defeated me. Watched over me." ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' (2006).</ref> he rescued the child and escorted him to a rehab facility where he could be taken care of. During this time, he also attempted to find EVA, but he wasn't able to find a trace of her for years.<ref>Snake [[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops radio conversations#Snake's special person|explains]] this to Roy Campbell in a radio conversation.</ref> |
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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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Although he had been labeled Big Boss and became a legend in the [[Wikipedia:Black operation|Black ops]] world due to his exploits, he continued to refer to himself as Naked Snake, as he did not yet feel that he had surpassed The Boss's skill. On November [[1970s|1970]], the FOX unit was considered rogue after its members organized [[San Hieronymo Takeover|a revolt and took over a Soviet base]] in South America, on the [[San Hieronymo Peninsula]]. Big Boss was captured by FOX and taken to the peninsula, where he was imprisoned and interrogated. |
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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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He met fellow prisoner [[Roy Campbell]], a member of the [[Green Berets]] who had originally been sent to take care of FOX. After Big Boss contacted [[Para-Medic]], she told him that both him and Major Zero have been charged with treason by the Pentagon, since the Pentagon suspected that they were the masterminds behind the revolt. The Big Boss and Roy Campbell managed to escape and went on to persuade former [[Red Army]] soldiers, along with disillusioned FOX operatives, to join forces with them and rise up against the renegade members (forming the early beginnings of what would become FOXHOUND), as they weren't going to expect any help from America due to both America and the Soviet Union being reluctant to get involved due to the risk of exposing to the other country some secrets (such as the creation of a weapon based on Soviet blueprints and a Soviet Missile Base, respectively). Para-Medic and [[Donald Anderson|Sigint]] also helped in defeating FOX and clearing their names, as well as [[Zero|Major Zero]]'s (since they were all partially blamed for the uprising). |
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====Other video games and media==== |
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During this time, Big Boss met [[Gray Fox|Null]] (Frank Jaeger) and the two fought on a number of separate occasions. He also met Python once again, who had not died during the Vietnam War, but was kept alive by the CIA and trained as an "anti-Snake" because of his knowledge of Big Boss's fighting style. Despite Python knowing this information, he was defeated. He also learned near the end of the mission from [[Cunningham]], who initially seemed like he was trying to get the other half of the Legacy from Snake, that his actual mission from the [[United States Department of Defense]] was to force [[Gene]] to launch Metal Gear to tarnish the CIA's reputation, and to do that, they had Snake recruit many people in Gene's army into resisting Gene. However, Snake fought and killed Cunningham so he can destroy Metal Gear. Big Boss then went on to kill the renegade FOX unit's leader, Gene, although not before learning that, contrary to what was told to him, The Boss's death was actually planned from the very beginning by "[[Hot Coldman|a single deviously-cunning strategist]]." |
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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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===Venom Snake=== |
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Afterwards, with the help of the Red Army soldiers he had recruited, destroyed Gene's [[ICBMG|nuclear missile]] that FOX was threatening to launch into the United States. Gene left Big Boss with a large cache of funds and supplies that he intended to use in the creation of [[Army's Heaven]]. The official press, however, had changed it to his going to San Hieronymo to take down the base. After the incident, Big Boss officially formed FOXHOUND, to carry on the tradition of the FOX unit and to give a home to the soldiers he had recruited during the San Hieronymo Incident. Also, he had received another medal for his service. |
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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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===[[The Patriots]] and [[Les Enfants Terribles (event)|Les Enfants Terribles]]=== |
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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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After San Hieronymo, Ocelot and [[Zero]] extended an invitation to Big Boss to join them in the formation of a new organization known as "[[the Patriots]]." This organization was to be set up in honor of The Boss's last wish. Big Boss, who knew her better than anyone else, was chosen by Zero to be an icon and hero to the world (although he was also chosen in part to get Ocelot to help him with [[Genome Soldiers|a project]]). Some time after Big Boss joined the Patriots, he participated in a rescue mission in 1971 in Hanoi to rescue EVA and recruited her into The Patriots. Zero started spreading stories about him. Some of these tales were true, some exaggerated, and others were outright lies. Big Boss later became infuriated with Zero's lust for power, and was sick of playing the role of a puppet. |
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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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Afraid of losing Big Boss, Zero planned to finish up a secret project called the [[Les Enfants Terribles (event)|Les Enfants Terribles]] project. In 1972, while Big Boss fell into a coma from being gravely wounded from a battle, Zero brought his unconscious body to a lab where his genes were extracted to make genetically enhanced soldiers. Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake were produced in this program, and were known as the "Sons of Big Boss." However, Big Boss eventually found out about the project. This was the final straw between the two, and Big Boss left the Patriots with a determination to oppose them. He left the United States and FOXHOUND, drifting from country to country as a lone soldier. |
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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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Big Boss returned to Vietnam as a mercenary to participate in [[wikipedia:Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol|Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP)]], and later served alongside [[wikipedia:Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group|SOG (Studies and Observation Group)]], [[wikipedia:5th Special Forces Group (United States)|Green Berets]], [[wikipedia:75th Ranger Infantry Regiment (Airborne)|U.S. Army Rangers]] and the [[Miscellaneous Groups|Wild Geese]]. Afterwards, he established his own guerrilla group known as [[Militaires Sans Frontieres]]. Sometime in late 1972, Big Boss met [[Kazuhira Miller]], who became MSF's second in command. |
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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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{{PeaceWalker}} |
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On November 4, 1974, Big Boss stationed the Militaires Sans Frontieres in the Barranquilla Coast of Colombia, where he was approached by [[Ramón Gálvez Mena]] and [[Paz Ortega Andrade]] from [[Costa Rica]], a "[[wikipedia:Military of Costa Rica|Nation without a Military]]." Since the [[wikipedia:Cuban Missile Crisis|Cuban Missile Crisis]], Latin America had become a key to maintaining the power balance between East and West, though Costa Rica had miraculously managed to maintain its peace and neutrality. However, in various regions of the country, a mysterious armed force seemed to be engaged in specific activities, claiming to be an [[Peace Sentinels|"international police force"]] hired by the Costa Rican Development Agency (known as CODESA). However, Gálvez doubted this was the case as they were shipping in a lot of advanced equipment. He also told Snake that he believed that the armed force was actually employed by "[[CIA|la cia]]." |
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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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When Gálvez attempted to hire Big Boss and the Militaires Sans Frontieres to hold back the invasion, Big Boss was reluctant, as he did not want his unit to become a "dogs of war" group, and suggested that Gálvez try to get a negotiator whom he knew to the Costa Rican government to settle the dispute. Big Boss eventually agreed when Gálvez revealed that he knew who Big Boss really was, as well as learning from a Sony Walkman bird recording from Paz's [[Cécile Cosina Caminades|missing friend]] that The Boss had apparently survived their fight at Rokovo Berej. |
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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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Six days later, to preserve peace in the region, the Militaires Sans Frontieres moved into action. After infiltrating the shipping facility in question, he learned from interrogating a radioman that cargo was going to a facility in Mount Irazu. He and Miller also suspected from the unusual amount of film badges and the fact that the radioman referred to the cargo as "spears" that the CIA was apparently bringing nukes into Costa Rica. He later enlisted the help of a FSLN unit led by [[Amanda Valenciano Libre]] to find out more information about the situation in Costa Rica and the cargo route while under the cover job of a Colombian Ornithologist. He later got Amanda to [[Mother Base]] after being injured while trying to save [[Chico|Chico Libre]]. |
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==References== |
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Big Boss later saved Chico from the prison and learned the exact route of the cargo from the coast to Mount Irazu. After finding the exact truck in the parking garage of the underground base, he discovered they already taken out the cargo, and encountered [[Pupa]] after overhearing an argument between [[Huey Emmerich|Dr. Huey Emmerich]] and [[Hot Coldman]]. Big Boss then learned about the Peace Walker project, as well as an AI facility in a Mayan Pyramid, and recruited Huey to the Militaires Sans Frontieres. Afterwards, he managed to help out [[Cécile Cosina Caminades]], the missing friend of Paz, as well as learning the disturbing truth that "The Boss" was actually [[The Boss's AI|an AI programmed in her image]], known as the Mammal Pod. |
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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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He later encountered [[Strangelove]], who hated Big Boss due to killing The Boss. He then took out [[Chrysalis]] after failing to shut down Mammal Pod. He then traveled to an underground base, disguised as a mining facility, and took out [[Cocoon]]. Unfortunately, while talking to [[The Boss's AI]], he ended up captured by the [[Peace Sentinels]]. He attempted to stop [[Peace Walker (Basilisk)|Peace Walker]] from reaching Nicaragua, but ultimately failed and had to euthanize The Boss's horse, who was mortally wounded from tumbling off the natural border, and was also forced to relive the painful and tragic memory of him killing The Boss 10 years prior, during [[Operation Snake Eater]]. |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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{{reflist|group=N}} |
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{{Commons category|Big Boss (Metal Gear)}} |
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He eventually traced Paz, who had been captured by Coldman earlier, as well as Peace Walker, at a United States missile base, and noticed that the personnel were of Soviet origin. He also learned Peace Walker's true capabilities, and that Gálvez (who was really [[KGB]] agent [[Vladimir Zadornov]]) was actually using Snake so that the Soviet Union could conquer Central America with ease. He was then forced to stop Peace Walker from not only firing at Cuba, but also causing a nuclear war after Coldman activated the launch sequence. After the end of the fiasco, Snake decided to formally identify himself as Big Boss after feeling betrayed by The Boss putting down her gun, which he viewed as betraying herself as a soldier. Big Boss also, under Kaz, Huey, and Strangelove's suggestion, commissioned the creation of [[Metal Gear ZEKE]] using parts salvaged from the AI weapons. |
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While ZEKE was nearing completion, Big Boss had to capture Vladimir Zadornov six times in Costa Rica, having escaped from his cell. After it was completed, he went to the shooting gallery aboard Mother Base only to find Vladimir waiting for him, and he was forced to shoot Vladimir in self defense. However, he deduced with Kaz from Vladimir's final words that he had an accomplice onboard the Mother Base. Before they could think of what this could mean, Big Boss received word that ZEKE was hijacked, and rushed to the ZEKE deck to confront the hijacker. |
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To his shock, he learned that the hijacker was Paz (who was actually [[Cipher]] agent [[Paz Ortega Andrade|Pacifica Ocean]]) and the entire mission was planned by Cipher in order for him to rejoin them. After refusing to rejoin Zero, he was forced to fight and defeat ZEKE, as Paz was going to launch a nuke towards the East Coast to frame the MSF as being an extremist cult. He later learned that Kaz was also involved with Cipher as a businessman, working with Cipher solely to expand MSF. However, he forgave Kaz when he apologized, and told him to "assemble the men" as they were going to be hunted down. In time, they would come to be known as the founders of "[[Outer Heaven (nation)|Outer Heaven]]." |
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===Later career=== |
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By the early 1980s, Big Boss had completed more than 70 missions, and went on to participate in several regional conflicts and ethnic liberation wars. He fought in the [[Wikipedia:Mozambican Civil War|Mozambican Civil War]], during which point he rescued [[Gray Fox]] (Frank Jaegar) for the third time, this time from a FRELIMO POW camp (as Gray Fox was a RENAMO operative during that point). |
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After taking part in the [[wikipedia:Rhodesian Bush War|Rhodesian Civil War]], Big Boss took Frank Jaegar and [[Naomi Hunter]] to the United States after the end of that war in 1980. Afterwards, Frank and Big Boss returned to Africa to continue fighting, leaving Naomi behind in America. |
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Big Boss achieved near-mythical status due to his extraordinary military career, earning him the "Legendary Soldier" moniker. He was heralded as a true hero and made the front covers of popular magazines in many countries. |
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Afterwards, he served as a combat instructor and worked to reintegrate former child soldiers into society, often by training them to become elite soldiers. One of them was [[Sniper Wolf|a young Kurdish girl]] whom he trained as a sniper. |
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===Creating [[Outer Heaven]]=== |
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Using Gene's large cache of funds and resources, along with the funds he amassed as a mercenary, Big Boss began to bring about his vision of [[Outer Heaven (nation)|Outer Heaven]]. He created [[Outer Heaven (fortress)|a military fortress]] to use as the main base of his personal mercenary dispatch company, the group formerly known as MSF, deep in South Africa. In the early 1990s, he returned to the U.S. to once again take command of FOXHOUND, the special forces unit he had founded almost two decades earlier. While serving as FOXHOUND commander, he planned on secretly building up his mercenary company into a larger military establishment. |
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Big Boss then kidnapped Russian scientist [[Drago Pettrovich Madnar|Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar]] and his [[Ellen Madnar|daughter]], forcing him to develop Metal Gear TX-55, based on Granin's [[Metal Gear (weapon)|designs]]. It was a weapon system designed to give Outer Heaven military supremacy over the West, and thus giving Big Boss the power he needed to confront Zero and The Patriots. |
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At some point before 1995, he taught Solid Snake the techniques of CQC as well as the importance of having the will to survive on the battlefield.<ref>'''Solid Snake''': "Never give up. Fight until the end. Always believe that you will succeed, even when the odds are against you. Those are your words." ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' (1990).</ref> |
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In 1995, when FOXHOUND was commissioned by the U.S. to infiltrate Outer Heaven and destroy Metal Gear, Big Boss first sent in his most trusted soldier, Gray Fox, in a mission codenamed Operation Intrude N312; once Gray Fox was captured, Big Boss had briefed Solid Snake, FOXHOUND's least experienced member, on the events of N312, and supplied him with a classified chart detailing how Gray Fox infiltrated Outer Heaven before FOXHOUND lost contact with him. He then sent in Solid Snake in the follow-up mission codenamed [[Outer Heaven Uprising|Operation Intrude N313]]. Upon Snake's arrival in the general vicinity, Big Boss, through Solid Snake's wireless radio, wished him luck and warned him that what Solid Snake will experience is nothing like he had ever experienced before in his service in the Gulf War.<ref>''Metal Gear - User's Manual'', Konami Corporation (1987).</ref> Secretly, however, Big Boss figured that there was no way that a rookie like Solid Snake could fulfill such a mission, that his efforts would delay further action by the West and buy Big Boss enough time to complete Metal Gear's development. |
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However, much to Big Boss's surprise, Solid Snake succeeded in infiltrating Outer Heaven and was planning to destroy Metal Gear itself. Faced with the failure of his plans, Big Boss attempted to get Solid Snake to delay the mission, including setting up ambushes, luring him into a room in Building 3's ground floor that had a pit-trap, and even telling Solid Snake to abort the mission. When Metal Gear TX-55 ended up being destroyed, Big Boss confronted Solid Snake in the heart of Outer Heaven, and revealed his identity as Outer Heaven's mastermind. He then told him the truth behind his mission. After Big Boss activated the base's self-destruct countdown, the two of them engaged in one-on-one combat, with Big Boss dodging between crates and firing at Snake with a pistol. Even in his advanced age, Big Boss proved fast and dangerous, but Solid Snake eventually managed to defeat him. |
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However, Big Boss managed to survive and escape Outer Heaven. After NATO had conducted an air raid to bomb all of the refugees and war orphans within the area (regardless of their ties to Outer Heaven or not), he managed to save many of the refugees, war orphans, Outer Heaven mercenaries and Resistance members (whom he forgave). He later fled with the survivors to the Middle East.<ref name="MG2 manual"/> |
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{{SolidSnake}} |
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In 1997, Big Boss and his followers had participated in the [[Mercenary War]] and helped give a fledgling nation on the border of the former USSR, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, [[Zanzibar Land]], formerly known as the Zanzibar Province of the Soviet Union, its independence. After Zanzibar Land's independence was granted, they elected him to be the President of the new country. Recruiting war orphans from across the Third World and raising them as soldiers, Big Boss hoped to create a nation by and for soldiers, where soldiers were honored and not treated as political tools. Big Boss also recruited Gray Fox to his cause, and to ensure Zanzibar Land's success, he once again commissioned the creation of [[Metal Gear D]], a more advanced Metal Gear prototype. This time, Dr. Madnar developed the new model of his own free will, after being branded a madman in the US. Dr. Madnar also provided Big Boss with cybernetic body parts to compensate for the injuries he received in Outer Heaven. |
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In 1999, Solid Snake once again managed to infiltrate [[Zanzibar Fortress|the enemy nation's stronghold]] and destroy Metal Gear. Snake eventually defeated Gray Fox, hand-to-hand, in the middle of a minefield. Injured and unarmed, Snake was once again confronted by a machinegun-wielding Big Boss. Having spent his entire life on the battlefield, Big Boss could not conceive of a world without war. Big Boss paraphrased [[The Boss|his mentor]]'s final words to Solid Snake before challenging his son to one final battle. |
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{{quote|Whoever wins, our battle does not end. The loser is free from the battlefield, but the winner must remain there and the survivor must live his life as a warrior until he dies.|Big Boss to Solid Snake, in Zanzibar Land}} |
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Snake managed to cobble together a makeshift [[flamethrower]] which consisted of a can of lacquer spray and a [[Items|cigarette lighter]]. He used it to incinerate Big Boss, although not before Big Boss revealed to Snake that he was, in fact, his father. |
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After Zanzibar Land, Big Boss's body was recovered by the Patriots. Despite suffering major injuries, he was still alive. He was then injected with [[Nanomachines|nanomachines]] by Zero in order to artificially induce a cryogenic coma, preserving him as an icon for the organization and (in Zero's view) an irreplaceable friend. Big Boss's genome was then used to identify the so-called "soldier genes," for the [[Next-Generation Special Forces]] via gene therapy. |
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Big Boss's body was said to be in cold storage to preserve his remains. A grave was laid next to The Boss's grave, which read: "''A Hero Forever Loyal to the Flames of War, Rests in Outer Heaven. 193X - 1999''." This was in order to reaffirm Zero's lore that Big Boss was indeed dead. |
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{{MetalGearSolid}} |
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In 2005, the now renegade FOXHOUND ([[Revolver Ocelot]], [[Psycho Mantis]], [[Sniper Wolf]], [[Vulcan Raven]], [[Decoy Octopus]], and the [[Genome Army]]) led by Liquid Snake incited [[Shadow Moses Incident|an insurrection]] on [[Shadow Moses Island|Shadow Moses]] and demanded the Pentagon (the Patriots) hand over Big Boss's "remains" and one billion dollars or they'd launch a nuclear weapon via [[Metal Gear REX]]. A fatally wounded Sniper Wolf told Solid Snake how Big Boss inspired her. However, Liquid expressed extreme hatred to Snake when he described their father. Atop the damaged REX, Liquid revealed to Snake his plans: recreating Big Boss's dream of Outer Heaven in order to surpass Big Boss. |
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{{SonsofLiberty}} |
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In 2009, Solidus Snake compared his and [[Raiden]]'s relationship to that of Big Boss and the Twin Snakes (Solid Snake and Liquid Snake). |
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===Post-Manhattan Incident=== |
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Prior to 2014, Big Boss's DNA and biometric data was used for the Patriots' ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to their AIs (also an earlier version of the Patriots' [[SOP]] system). The organization also declassified documents relating to Big Boss's exploits during the 1960s, which contributed to a resurgence in his popularity to the public, and various soldiers began to adopt some of his CQC techniques (although not to the extent of how Big Boss used it). Big Boss's body was later recovered by EVA and Raiden. |
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{{GunsofthePatriots}} |
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By 2014, Big Boss was rebuilt by EVA and [[Paradise Lost|her rebel group]] using body parts of his sons, Liquid and Solidus. When they were finished, Big Boss was restored to his former appearance. In 2014, when [[GW]] was properly destroyed, it led the way open into [[JD]], which, in turn, revealed the location of Zero. Big Boss, now fully revived, proceeded to find him. |
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After [[Solid Snake|Old Snake]] (Solid Snake) had attempted suicide in Arlington National Cemetery, Big Boss emerged from behind with Zero; telling his son that there was no hatred between them. Despite his advanced age, Big Boss was still a formidable fighter and was able to disarm Snake with ease then embrace him in a fatherly hug. |
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Big Boss told Snake about the history of the Patriots and the struggle between Zero and himself. He also told Snake that Ocelot had used hypnotherapy and nanomachines as part of his plan to become [[Liquid Ocelot|Liquid Snake's doppelganger]]. Big Boss was informed of the switch from a video that Naomi had left him when he awoke. As Zero was sitting in his wheelchair in a vegetative state, Big Boss commented that, although there was bad blood between him and Zero, all he felt now was "a deep sense of longing, and pity." He pondered on whether Zero hated or feared him. Big Boss then switched off Zero's air supply machine, killing him and finally ending their conflict. Soon after that, Big Boss started to feel the effects of the new [[FOXDIE]] virus that was injected into Snake. While in pain, he requested Snake to take him over to The Boss's grave. He stood and saluted, echoing to his salute 50 years beforehand. He said that ever since he killed The Boss, he "was already dead."<ref>''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'': '''Big Boss''': "Ever since the day I killed The Boss, I was already dead."</ref> Sharing one final [[Cigar|smoke]], Big Boss finally made peace with his last-living son, and, as a last request, pleaded with Snake to spend his final days in peace and not waste them fighting, and both agreed. Moments later, Big Boss, the greatest soldier who ever lived, passed away at the grave of the woman whose life and death had made him into the person he was. |
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{{quote|This is good... Isn't it?|Big Boss's last words.}} |
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==Legacy== |
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Big Boss's influence on the world could be compared only to The Boss. He inherited her dream of a unified world free from the short-sighted ambitions of nations, soured by the senselessness he perceived in her death. Though he stated during the Virtuous Mission that he would die in the service of his country if that was necessary, the death of The Boss showed him there was no purpose in doing so. This realization led him to create Outer Heaven; a nation where, in his words, "every soldier will have his place, and where they will answer to no government." This ideal would persist decades into the twenty-first century. |
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He thus spent many of his later years in conflict with the Patriots, individuals who followed a different interpretation of The Boss's will - that of a world ruthlessly unified by the age-old methods of intrigue and espionage. Lacking their economic resources and popular support, Big Boss believed there was no way that he could change the world, even if he was the world's greatest soldier. However, he still chose to fight for what he believed in. This determination earned him many admirers and followers, even long after his "death." Over and over again the standard of "Outer Heaven" would be raised in defense of those who suffered due to the machinations of the Patriots. |
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Big Boss also never wanted or saw Solid Snake as his son but confessed that he had always respected him as a soldier and a man, yet he believed that unlike Liquid or Solidus, Solid Snake always fought for more than himself, as The Boss always did. As a last chance to prevent him from making any more terrible mistakes, Big Boss told his son to spend the rest of his life not as a soldier, but as a man. Spending his entire life fighting and experiencing sorrow, Big Boss made it clear that no one needs to die for another person's cause. People must believe in themselves and fight for what they feel is right, for in the end they alone can judge their own deeds. |
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==Trivia== |
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* Prior to the Virtuous Mission, Naked Snake had previously been awarded the Army Achievement Ribbon, the Good Conduct Ribbon, and the Distinguished Service Cross Ribbon, along with several others. He wore these during the award ceremony in which he was bestowed both the Distinguished Service Cross Medal and his title of Big Boss by President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
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* One of Big Boss's names, Jack, was also the acronym for the Joint Advisory Commission, Korea, the organization which first used the Fulton surface-to-air recovery system, during the Korean War. This fact was remarked upon by Major Zero, during the Virtuous Mission, as Snake had been ordered to use the system himself. |
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*Big Boss's rivalry with Ocelot throughout Operation Snake Eater is somewhat akin to that of siblings. Gene also referred to himself and Big Boss as being "like brothers" during the San Hieronymo Takeover. These relationships mirror the one between Solid Snake and Liquid Snake. |
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* Big Boss intended to become an instructor after the events of Operation Snake Eater.<ref>''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', Kojima Productions (2006). <br>Big Boss reveals this to Para-Medic in a radio conversation, after she has been recruited.</ref> In his later years, he eventually served as a combat instructor, working to reintegrate former child soldiers into society..<ref>''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database'', Kojima Productions (2008).</ref> However, he eventually came to believe that soldiers on the battlefield could never be reintegrated into society. |
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* In the early 1970s, Big Boss received a snake-shaped scar across his chest, similar to that of his mentor, The Boss. Although its appearance suggested that it was self-inflicted, the scar was actually fake, and was used to store a jigsaw on himself in case he needed it in an emergency situation. Nevertheless, the shape and placement of the scar served as a visual testament to Big Boss's passion, and even obsession, with The Boss. |
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* During the Peace Walker Incident, Big Boss was remarked upon by several Sandinistas as resembling [[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|El Che]]. |
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* In a conversation with Huey Emmerich, Big Boss was asked if he would ever fight a [[Solid Snake|clone]] of himself, to which he answered "I wouldn't want to do that, no telling who'd survive." Huey used this question as a metaphor for nuclear deterrence. |
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* Big Boss once allowed [[Chico]] to sell a photograph of Chrysalis to gain funding for MSF because he thought Chico wouldn't have gotten far enough in selling them anyways. This ultimately proved to be a mistake, as not only did Chico manage to sell photographs to a magazine publisher, but also resulted in the Prime Minister of Grenada, Sir Eric Gairy, requesting for the UN to establish an agency to study the UFO problem and nearly got Gairy into trouble with the CIA and nearly caused the situation to go red. |
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* Despite removing The Boss's bandana from his head after Peace Walker sacrifices itself, he somehow manages to retrieve it and wear it again when attempting to stop ZEKE's hijacking. He stopped wearing it for good by the time of the Outer Heaven Uprising. |
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* During his days as a CIA agent and mercenary, Big Boss indicated that he held several beliefs in myths and the supernatural, in conversations with his comrades: |
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** He stated that thinking about vampires [[Guy Savage|gave him nightmares]], in a radio conversation with Para-Medic regarding vampire bats. For this reason, he would rather she didn't utter the name "Dracula" when speaking to him (as she was quite the movie buff). |
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** His fear of vampires was noted by a random female soldier in Militaires Sans Frontieres during the Peace Walker Incident. |
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** During a conversation with Huey Emmerich, Big Boss revealed that he believed in Santa Claus, going so far as to argue for his existence. The conversation in question related to NORAD, and was in reference to an annual event called [[Wikipedia:NORAD tracks Santa|"NORAD tracks Santa"]].[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6mVUDB6Fw&NR=1] |
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* After reassuming command of FOXHOUND in the 1990s, Big Boss was responsible for the wild and instinctive strategies utilized by the unit during operations, which often appeared to be planned with little caution and detail.<ref name="MG2 manual"/> This somewhat alluded to his true motivations in preventing FOXHOUND from interfering with his plans for Outer Heaven. |
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* Despite his dream of wanting to create a world in which soldiers were honored and not treated as political tools, [[Kyle Schneider]] implied that Big Boss wanted Solid Snake to succeed in his mission of rescuing Kio Marv from Zanzibar Land.<ref>''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'', Konami Corporation (1990). <br>'''Kyle Schneider/Black Ninja''': Snake, you'll understand soon... what a wonderful man [Big Boss] is... Snake... I owe you a debt. There's no hate between us. I'll tell you where Dr. Marv is. It's what he would want me to do...</ref> |
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* According to some of the children in Zanzibar Land, Big Boss "doesn't like adults," referring to his hate for the world's politicians and, by extension, the Patriots.<ref name="one-eyed"/> |
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* Naked Snake was able to defeat The Fury and his flamethrower relatively unscathed. However, later in life as Big Boss, he was defeated by his own son Solid Snake who piece together a makeshift flamethrower, using a lighter and aerosol can. |
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* Big Boss was fluent in Russian and French. |
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==Unconfirmed history== |
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Big Boss was born of Japanese-American descent, in Hawaii. The entire American side of his family perished during the [[Wikipedia:Attack on Pearl Harbor|Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor]], while his Japanese relatives were locked up in internment camps. Big Boss's loss of patriotism for America was contributed to by the prejudice he endured, due to his being of Japanese descent. He participated as a mercenary for France in the [[wikipedia:Congo Crisis|Congo Crisis]], during the 1960s, later serving in wars in Asia, Africa, and the Middle/Far East.<ref name="MGSOMH">''Metal Gear Solid Official Mission Handbook'', Millennium Books (1998).</ref> |
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==Behind the scenes== |
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{{nihongo|'''Big Boss'''|ビッグ・ボス|Biggu Bosu}} is a recurring character in the ''Metal Gear'' series. He is first introduced in the original ''[[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 along with his other clone sons, Liquid and Solidus. |
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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 Naked Snake (ネイキッド・スネーク, Neikiddo Sunēku?), the partial namesake of Solid Snake and his brothers. |
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As Naked Snake, the character is voiced by Akio Ōtsuka in Japanese and David Hayter in English. In his appearance in ''Metal Gear Solid 4'', Big Boss was voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka (Akio Ōtsuka's father) in the Japanese version and Richard Doyle in the English version. |
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===''Metal Gear'' series=== |
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The Japanese MSX2 manual of ''Metal Gear'' displays Big Boss's eyepatch on his left eye, although his in-game character model displays it on his right. The eyepatch itself may have been influenced by the appearance of Snake Plissken in the film ''Escape From New York'', much like Solid Snake was. The same manual also describes Big Boss as having been a previous member of [[SAS]] and [[Miscellaneous Groups#GSG 9|GSG 9]]. However, this information was disregarded in the MSX2 manual for ''Metal Gear 2'', and later ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', and the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database'', so it is assumed to no longer be canon. |
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In the instruction manuals for the NES version of ''Metal Gear'' and its sequel, ''Snake's Revenge'', Big Boss was identified as Commander South, Colonel Vermon CaTaffy, and Higharolla Kockamamie for his roles as Solid Snake's Commanding Officer, the Commanding Officer of Outer Heaven, and his role as the enemy leader in ''Snake's Revenge'', respectively. The names are a reference to Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, respectively. |
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Big Boss's appearance in the MSX2 version of ''Metal Gear 2'' was modeled after actor [[wikipedia:Sean Connery|Sean Connery]].<ref>http://muni_shinobu.webs.com/mg/mg2_production.html</ref> Like other characters, this image was updated during later releases of the game to reflect his look in official artwork of ''Metal Gear Solid'', which was also carried over to his appearance in ''Metal Gear Solid 4''. In the original manual, Big Boss was stated to have lost his eye on the battlefield, during the late 1980s, which caused him to retire from active duty. During this time, he began to focus on military education and training. This information was later retconned in ''Metal Gear Solid 3''. It was also stated that he had been nominated as FOXHOUND's international planning commander in the '90s, rather than having simply reassumed command, and that he became transformed by greed and dreams of absolute power, which resulted in his creation of Outer Heaven. One of the mercenary units that he was said to have fought with, after serving in Vietnam, was the Wild Geese, a reference to the [[wikipedia:The Thin White Line (novel)|novel]] and [[wikipedia:The Wild Geese|1978 war film]] of the same name, about a mercenary group participating in African conflicts. The novel itself was named after a [[wikipedia:Flight of the Wild Geese|17th-century Irish mercenary army]]. |
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===''Metal Gear Solid'' series=== |
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In the ''[[Metal Gear Solid#Strategy Guide|Metal Gear Solid Official Mission Handbook]]'', it is stated that Big Boss's first taste of battle was during World War II, where he served in his teens and was drafted into the [[Wikipedia:442nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|442nd Infantry Regiment]], where he participated in freeing French towns from Nazi control in 1944.<ref name="MGSOMH"/> However, the release of ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'' established that Big Boss was too young to have done so, having been born in 1935. The guide also stated that he fought in the Congo Crisis from 1961 to 1968, which is contradicted by his membership of FOX in the early '60s. |
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In the non-canonical ''Metal Gear: Ghost Babel'', Big Boss did not survive his fight with Snake in Outer Heaven. It was stated that Big Boss was originally under orders by the US Government to form Outer Heaven as part of Project Babel, but he broke ties with the project, resulting in Operation Intrude N313. |
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Prior to the release of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', Big Boss was originally to have learned the art of warfare from [[Dead Cell]] strategic master [[Old Boy]], in Hideo Kojima's ''Grand Game Plan'' for ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]''. In the game itself, Big Boss appears opposite both Solid Snake and Liquid Snake in a cutscene, during Solidus Snake's explanation to Raiden of the similarities of their connection to the one shared by the Twin Snakes and Big Boss. |
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Naked Snake in the Olive Drab uniform is very similar looking to the appearance of [[Iroquois Pliskin]]. In early testing versions of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', Pliskin's model served as a placeholder for Naked Snake, as can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGNpU1tKlxI here]. |
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During the game, Snake mentions that [[fourth wall|he can't smell]], in a radio conversation with The Boss; it is actually the player that cannot use their sense of smell to help play the game. |
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A conversation with Zero, regarding Big Boss's brothers (or lack thereof), is a subtle reference to the three future clones: Solid, Liquid, and Solidus. The conversation originated when Zero noted the coincidence that Major Raikov technically had the same name as Naked Snake ("Ivan" is the Russian version of "John" or "Jack"), and that common Russian folklore had the youngest in the family, usually named "Ivan," treated badly by the family, and yet he often ends up better off than his elder brothers. |
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Before commencing the first "HALO Jump" into Tselinoyarsk, Naked Snake stamped out a cigar that was almost blown out of the cargo. According to the director's commentary for ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', this was done as a response to Solid Snake throwing away a cigarette into the Hudson Bay during the Tanker chapter in ''Metal Gear Solid 2'', of which a lot of angry reactions were made to it. The director's commentary, as well as Para-Medic's conversation about Snake's mask, reveal that portions of his mask were based on the film ''The Fly'', and was done both to give it a feel of the time period, the 1960s, as well as a homage to Raiden. His curling up and spinning after jumping off the plane before going into position was also intended to be an homage to ''Mask Rider''. |
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When ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' was in development, Kojima intended that Naked Snake be given a more human feel (having feelings and pain) to directly contrast him to his "son," Solid Snake. |
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When learning about El Dorado and the possible real-life version from Para-Medic (if she is recruited in ''Portable Ops''), Big Boss, when hearing about golden knives, expressed intrigue in them namely because he could use it to distract the enemy so he could CQC them, to Para-Medic's annoyance. ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'', in a briefing tape with Paz, had a similar conversation in regards to the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica, where Big Boss expressed some interest in the stone spheres namely in regards to them being good for setting a trap, to Paz's shock. |
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In ''Metal Gear Solid 4'', Big Boss's gravestone revealed that he was born sometime in the 1930s (confirmed to be 1935 in ''Peace Walker''), retconning him to be at least a decade younger than stated in previous games.<ref>Big Boss was stated to have "died" in his 70s in 1999, according to his official character biography for ''Metal Gear Solid''. Also, "Liquid Snake" claimed in ''Metal Gear Solid 2'' that Big Boss was in his late fifties at the time of the Les Enfants Terribles project.</ref> In the Japanese version, Big Boss is voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka, the real-life father of Akio Ōtsuka, who plays Solid Snake (and in the case of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', and ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'', Naked Snake/Big Boss himself). According to ''Outcast Podcast'' and ''Famitsu'', this was intended as Akio Ōtsuka and Chikao Ōtsuka had fallen out years before so [[Hideo Kojima]] had arranged for Chikao Ōtsuka to play the role of Big Boss so they could work together. ''MGS4''<nowiki></nowiki>'s [[Virtual Range]] features targets named "John Doe," one of Big Boss's aliases, and later the name of the Patriots' core AI. |
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Big Boss's snake-shaped scar in ''Peace Walker'' resembles the tattoo of ''Escape From New York'' protagonist [[Wikipedia:Snake Plissken|Snake Plissken]]. The game is also the first to define Big Boss's age, being 39 years old at at the time of the 1974 Peace Walker Incident. This was mentioned by KGB agent Vladimir Zadornov, when he remarked upon the irony of Big Boss being dead at the same age as Che Guevara, before attempting to execute him.<ref>''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'', Kojima Productions (2010). <br>'''Vladimir Zadornov''': Dead at age 39. Just like El Che.</ref> In briefing tapes relating to the non-canon Monster Hunter missions, Big Boss was revealed to have the ability to speak cat language, and, although shocked that he could actually understand what Trenya was saying, he implies that he may have learned how to speak the language from "picking up the local lingo."<ref>''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', Kojima Productions (2010)<br>Briefing tapes: Chico: The Legend of Isla del Monstrua: Trenya: '''Snake:''' I'm still having trouble believing it. I never thought I'd be talking to an animal one day. What a world. // '''Chico:''' Amazing you could understand its language. // '''Snake:''' Picking up the local lingo is one of the basics of intelligence work.</ref> |
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===Naming controversy=== |
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Much controversy and debate surrounds Big Boss's real name. When ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|Metal Gear Solid 3]]'' was released, players safely assumed his real name was Jack, as The Boss and Zero called him by this name on several occasions. |
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However, early on in the game, Big Boss is asked by Para-Medic what his real name is, to which he responds "John Doe" with Para-Medic replying "and they call you Jack for short?" Due to slightly tongue-in-cheek nature of the conversation, as well as Para-Medic jokingly responding that her real name is Jane Doe, most initially thought it was nothing more than a joke. However, at the end of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', Big Boss also tells Ocelot that his name is John, and in Japan, a ''Limited Edition'' release of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' included a book called ''R'' which stated Big Boss's real name was John Doe. The master Patriot AI, which is accessed via Big Boss's biometric data, is also named [[JD|John Doe]] (although it is to be noted that it is also possible that JD was named as such as a reference to the fact that the last leaders of The Patriots were "no one" (IE, AIs)). In ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', when Snake tells Galvez that Big Boss is just a codename the CIA made up, Galvez then asks if he would prefer it if he called him John. |
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To further add to the confusion, the ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4 Database]]'' listed Big Boss's name as simply "John." However, both names can be applicable as the name "Jack" in English is the diminutive form of the name "John." |
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[[Hideo Kojima]] was asked in session 08 of the ''Kojima Productions Report Podcast'' which helped celebrate the North American release of ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'' whether Big Boss' real name was Jack or John. Kojima answered by saying that it could be both since both names can be applicable as the name "Jack" in English is the diminutive form of the name "John." |
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==Other appearances== |
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===''Snake's Revenge''=== |
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Big Boss also appears as the second-to-last boss in the NES sequel to the original ''Metal Gear'', ''[[Snake's Revenge]]''. He guards the final fortress where [[Metal Gear 2 (weapon)|Metal Gear 2]] is located. Big Boss reveals that he survived his injuries from Outer Heaven through surgeries that turned him into a cyborg. At first, he fights with a machine gun, but after being shot several times, he then transforms into a giant RoboCop-like robot, and proceeds to chase Solid Snake around while firing napalm shells at him. However, Snake lures him out of the command room and places mines on his feet, which ultimately destroys him. Despite his death in this game, Metal Gear 2 was still activated. |
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In ''Metal Gear 2'', when the player calls [[George Kasler]] during the final battle, he mentions a rumor about Big Boss receiving cybernetic "snatcher" organs from Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar after losing his limbs, right ear, and right eye (which was already missing in the original game) in battle. While some fans interpret this as a jab directed at ''Snake's Revenge'', it was actually a reference to Kojima's previous game, ''[[Snatcher]]''. Dr. Petrovich [sic] appears in ''Snatcher'' as the founder of the Snatcher Project. Strangely, this reference was counted as canon by the ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4 Database]]''. |
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===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''=== |
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Big Boss appears (as Naked Snake) in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as both a trophy and sticker. His trophy description is as follows: |
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<blockquote>''As a member of the special-forces unit FOX, Naked Snake assassinated The Boss and ruined the Shagohod, a Soviet nuclear weapon. Years later, he was used to plant the seeds of Les Enfants Terribles, a project designed to create cloned super soldiers. The three Snakes - Liquid, Solid, and Solidus - were thus born. He would then embrace his name, Big Boss, and duel Solid Snake.''</blockquote> |
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His appearance as a sticker grants the highest possible Flinch Resistance of +160 in the Subspace Emissary Adventure Mode. |
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During a [[Codec]] conversation about [[w:c:ssb:Toon Link|Toon Link]], Solid Snake mentions to [[Mei Ling]] that "there's been more than one Snake." He is referring to his father, Big Boss, his two brothers, Liquid Snake and Solidus Snake. |
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Also, several of Naked Snake's camouflage uniforms appear as alternate costume options for Solid Snake, and Solid Snake himself also has certain characteristics that originally belonged to Naked Snake (such as the green bandana and the beard). |
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===''Metal Gear Solid'' novelization=== |
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While Big Boss never physically appeared in ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'', he did appear in the novelization by [[Raymond Benson]] as part of Psycho Mantis's forcing himself into Solid Snake's mind where he along with [[Meryl Silverburgh]] and [[Otacon]] were trapped in the funhouse mirrors. While he was ultimately resigned to his fate, he does beg Snake to input the detonation codes, as otherwise the Sons of Big Boss would kill him. |
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===''Monster Hunter Freedom 3''=== |
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In the PSP game ''Monster Hunter Freedom 3'', male players can receive a Big Boss outfit in a special quest. Female players receive [[The Boss]] outfit, while Felyne comrades get a [[Solid Snake]] outfit. |
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==Reception== |
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{{expand section|date=January 2011}} |
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[[IGN]] ranked Big Boss number 32 on their list of "Top 100 Video Game Villains".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html |title=Top 100 Videogame Villains |publisher=ign.com |author=IGN editors |date=2010-07-04 |accessdate=2006-10-20}}</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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==References== |
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Revision as of 10:35, 18 May 2024
Naked Snake Big Boss | |
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Metal Gear character | |
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
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.
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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.
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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."
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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...
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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.
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