September 2020 marked the 22nd anniversary of the release of Hideo Kojima’s legendary stealth masterpiece Metal Gear Solid (MGS1). And since then, rumours of ground-up Metal Gear Solid remake for the PS5 have been gathering pace. Yes, you read that right – r-e-m-a-k-e.
Ever since its debut in 1998, fans have been clamouring for MGS1 to be remade for more powerful modern consoles. And it actually happened in 2004 when The Twin Snakes arrived on GameCube. The game was received positively at the time, although its reputation has diminished in recent years. The Twin Snakes incorporated the best bits of MGS1 and combined them with the updated mechanics of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (MGS2).
Despite this, the inclusion of MGS2’s gameplay features eliminated some of the charm and challenge of the original – much to the dismay of fans. Likewise, its redone cutscenes were criticised for being unnecessarily over the top. In one such scene, protagonist Solid Snake does a backflip over a missile before bouncing off it on one foot. So, while the game didn’t flop by any stretch, it wasn’t a runaway success either.
The new remake rumours come from a number of reports over the last year which suggest Bluepoint Games are working on the project. And those stories have got us thinking. If this thing comes to fruition, what can Konami do to ensure it delivers a product that lives up to Metal Gear’s almighty three-decade legacy?
Here are six things we think the Metal Gear Solid remake absolutely must include (aside from the characters – obviously) to do its namesake justice…
Metal Gear Solid remake – Revamped gameplay
MGS1’s gameplay and mechanics were revolutionary in the late 90s and helped pave the way for the entire stealth genre. Nobody had played anything like it before. And the acclaim it received at launch from critics and gamers alike was testament to that.
But times have changed, and video game technology has made tremendous leaps forward over the last two-and a-bit decades. MGS1’s core gameplay loop has been greatly expanded on in the series’ subsequent titles, with 2015’s Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (MGSV) arguably perfecting the formula. While the bedrock of MGS1 is still evident in MGSV, it is tough to imagine anyone being happy with a like-for-like remake (with updated graphics only) after such gigantic advancements. Undoubtably, there are elements of MGSV that simply wouldn’t translate well into Metal Gear Solid remake. Base building, personnel management, Fulton recovery and companions spring to mind. But that isn’t to say that the refined, near-immaculate stealth mechanics present in the latest game wouldn’t fit. They’re an essential.
When you boil it down, it’s the linearity and simplicity of the original that needs to change. By incorporating open-world aspects, weapon customisation, outfit selection (à la Metal Gear Solid 3) and side mission variation akin to MGSV, Metal Gear Solid remake will be ready for modern audiences. Obviously, the scale of the open-world and breadth of mission variety can’t (and shouldn’t) be at the level of The Phantom Pain, but strides in this direction must be taken to bring MGS1 up to speed.
Story additions
Few games compare to Metal Gear’s vast and complex fictional universe, for better or worse. With 11 main series titles (Portable Ops’ inclusion is debatable – but I enjoyed it, so it counts), five Snakes, cyborg ninjas, vampires, revolver-spinning triple-agents, and a dude who conducts electricity(!!), it’s fair to say things have gotten pretty complicated.
MGS1 wasn’t exactly straightforward to begin with. And countless twists, turns, reveals and retcons mean its narrative doesn’t entirely gel with the rest of the series anymore. No – huge rewrites aren’t needed, and the story still holds up. But some subtle nods to later titles and foreshadowing of events that hadn’t even been conceived in 1998 would help fill some of the gaps. It’ll put smiles on the faces of longtime fans. And it’ll acclimatise new players to the series and story if further remakes are planned.
Metal Gear Solid remake – Remastered original soundtrack
MGS1 wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for its epic, cinematic score. Its orchestral yet synthetic tones feel cold, haunting, and occasionally erratic. They are perfectly suited to the frozen Shadow Moses island and its dark, isolated interiors.
Who can forget “Duel” blasting out while fist-fighting with Liquid Snake atop Metal Gear REX, or the sound of “REX’s Lair” filling the hanger while the ominous mech looms in the background? Gaming classics like “Intruder”, “Mantis Hymn” and the Metal Gear Solid main theme are beloved by fans, too. And contemporary remasters would be the icing on the cake for Metal Gear Solid Remake.
Original voice actors
Much like the soundtrack, the return of MGS1’s original voice cast is an absolute must. Would Solid Snake be Solid Snake if it weren’t for David Hayter? Fans were fuming when Hideo Kojima opted to replace Hayter with 24 star Kiefer Sutherland in MGSV. And while Sutherland did a fine job, his lines were limited (I guess the budget didn’t stretch that far?) and Snake lacked the incomparable gruffness that Hayter brought to the role.
Fans will buy Metal Gear Solid remake expecting to hear the voices of Cam Clarke, Debi Mae West, Christopher Randolph, Paul Eiding and the rest. Remember the uproar when Silent Hill HD Collection featured alternate voice acting for Silent Hill 2 and a complete re-dub for Silent Hill 3? Please don’t repeat these mistakes, Konami.
Metal Gear Solid remake – Surprises
I know – ‘surprises’ is vague. But Metal Gear Solid remake needs to have something to keep players on their toes. If scenes are recreated frame for frame, what’s the point? Throw in some fresh dialogue, have characters behave a bit differently and reference key story beats from the later titles that are missing in MGS1.
New mechanics would go a long way, too. Relying heavily on previously established gameplay elements will prevent Metal Gear Solid remake from standing on its own. It needs to feel like a new game and mixing things up and defying expectations is central to achieving this.
VR Missions
Diving into VR missions for some momentary reprieve from the campaign was great fun back in the day. It gave players the chance to develop their sneaking skills in a variety of missions set in ‘virtual’ environments.
In series lore, VR is used to train soldiers (including Snake and Raiden). And this was your chance to experience it for yourself. Often frustrating and always challenging, beating every VR mission felt like quite the achievement. And even though some wouldn’t consider it an essential for the remake, I think it was a key part of the original’s charm and would be a neat addition – if only to make Metal Gear Solid remake feel more like home.
Do you believe the rumours? What would you like to see in a Metal Gear Solid remake? Let us know in the comment section below! And don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
