Upon its release in 1998 on Sony’s PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid quickly became celebrated as one of the best video games of all time. Its impact is still felt today in how it raised the bar for storytelling in video games with a narrative told through carefully crafted cinematics.
It was recently re-released on PC for the first time in almost twenty years, along with the franchise’s debut entry and Metal Gear Solid 2, meaning many are about to experience it for the first time. While going through it, many are sure to miss out on several tiny gameplay details which showcase the game’s impressive depth.
9 All The Ways To Escape The Prison Cell
At about the halfway point, Solid Snake is captured and tortured. In between electric shock sessions, he is kept in a prison cell where the player has to find out how to escape. Several ways exist to escape captivity, though some are easier to figure out than others. Hide under the bed when the guard is away, break the ketchup bottle to look like blood, or wait for the Cyborg Ninja to break Snake out.
8 Planting C4 On Enemies’ Backs
What better way to toy with enemies than with remote-controlled explosives? Plant them on a guard’s patrol for a nasty surprise. Even more sinister, Snake can plant them on a guard’s back if they are stationary. This is easiest to do when a guard is using a urinal, since they stand still for an extended period of time. Maybe it is cruel, but these are terrorists Snake is dealing with.
7 Ghosts In The Photos
Photo modes are all the rage these days, especially with PlayStation 4 exclusives, but way back in 1998 Metal Gear Solid gave players a camera as an item with which to snap and save pictures. If one takes photos in certain areas, a strange figure will appear in the image. These ghosts are generally of the developers, and this was a creative way to fit themselves into the game.
6 Getting Through The Communications Tower Without Killing Anyone
Going through the communications towers is quite an ordeal, filled with a boss battle, a rope descending minigame, and a gauntlet of guards rushing towards the player as they climb numerous flights of stairs.
When dealing with the latter, one typically employs the FAMAS assault rifle. However, anyone looking to tackle things non-lethally is better served with a healthy supply of Stun Grenades. Running through and timing the throws will knock out any resistance, preventing Snake from taking damage and sparing the enemies’ lives.
5 The Busts In The Psycho Mantis Fight
The well-known trick to defeating Psycho Mantis involves putting the controller into the second port of the PlayStation. A second way to mess with him comes into play if the player dies several times. Colonel Campbell eventually calls the player and mentions something about the busts in the room. Afterward, the player can shoot the heads off them, causing the boss distress and making the fight easier.
4 Running Straight Through The Minefield
At one point Meryl helps Snake navigate a minefield by creating a safe path with her footsteps. Following her lead is relatively easy, but a simpler way exists of avoiding the Claymore Mines. Simply run straight from where Snake starts in the room and the player dodges all the explosives. One wonders if the developers intended this or if it simply turned out that way by accident.
3 Killing Sniper Wolf With The Nikita
The remote-controlled missiles with the Nikita are a fun toy with little usage after destroying the generator charging the electric floor before the Cyborg Ninja boss battle.
Those who hate sniping can use it during the second and final confrontation with Sniper Wolf. To the right of the playing field is a mound of snow the player can hide behind. Stay here and use Nikita missiles to eat at the boss’s health while staying out of her sights.
2 Parachute In The Snow Field
The Hind D is a particularly memorable boss fight. While in the snowfield, search the right side of the area to see a used parachute draping a tree. Calling Colonel Campbell during this moment initiates a conversation where the two wonder if Liquid survived the destruction of the helicopter. They conclude know one could have survived, but venturing a little further into the story proves them wrong.
1 Saving Meryl
The game has two endings based solely on how one reacts to Ocelot’s torture. Submit to Ocelot’s sadistic game and Snake finds Meryl dead during the end after fighting Liquid. Withstand the electric shocks by beating the button-mashing minigame and Meryl lives through the ordeal and escapes with Snake. One needs some particularly strong thumbs to best the torture, however. Survive at least two rounds of pain and escape to unlock this alternate ending.
