Metal Gear, a name that reverberates with nostalgia for many gamers, is back under the limelight. With the impending release of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on October 24, it promises a revival of classics Like Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, to name a few. However, as GamesRadar+ has revealed, there’s a twist in the tale – a content warning. As each game in the collection unfurls, a consistent message surfaces: “This game contains expressions and themes which may be considered outdated… Player discretion is advised.”
With the seismic shifts in societal values since the debut of the first Metal Gear in 1987, what warrants this disclaimer? Are we treading on the shores of a significant societal conversation, or is it merely a precaution in the age of instant ‘cancel culture’?
Speculations abound, with many pointing to the portrayal of female characters and the frequent inclusion of smoking as elements of the series that may seem outmoded. Of course, the more skeptical and critical can’t help but point out that it’s because of the game’s lack of performance updates, revealed earlier this week.
Diving deeper, the Metal Gear Solid series hasn’t been a stranger to controversy. Be it the incestuous themes in Otacon’s backstory or the game’s frequent risque and comical tone. The instances where Snake flirts unabashedly, or Dr. Naomi’s offer for a “strip search” on mission completion, are provocative in their own right. Yet, they echo the ethos of the times they were birthed in and Kojima’s idiosyncratic storytelling approach. Such themes, coupled with product placements like Playboy, iPods, and even Monster energy drinks, establish Kojima’s penchant for surprising the player – a conscious decision to interject a touch of reality into his fictitious realms.
At its core, the inclusion of the disclaimer is a reflection of a more inclusive industry. Just as Warner Bros. prefaced some golden age Looney Tunes cartoons – often deemed racist in contemporary contexts – with warnings, Konami’s proactive approach is analogous. It embodies an acknowledgment that media, when consumed without context, can perpetuate outdated beliefs. By not altering the original content but emphasizing its historical context, the gaming giant seems to suggest that while art must be preserved, it should also be understood within its original milieu.
We can’t deny that this brings into question the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
While the Master Collection remains devout to its original narrative, would the remake maintain this fidelity or diverge to resonate more with modern sensibilities? The challenge for Konami is to strike a balance – how to remain true to the original while ensuring the game doesn’t perpetuate harmful stereotypes, especially without Kojima.
Furthermore, there’s a question of intentionality. Those familiar will reminisce about moments such as Snake’s transition from lusting after Eva to genuinely respecting her – a poignant character development underscored by Kojima’s brand of storytelling – but it’s easy to see how such content can be misconstrued out of context. It underscores the debate on whether art should adapt to evolving societal norms or remain a testament to the era it represents.
In the digital age, where outrage can be instantaneous and unforgiving, Konami’s is an acknowledgment that the media of yesteryears, consumed as is, can inadvertently normalize outdated beliefs. However, as one dives into the revived world of Metal Gear Solid, it’s essential to remember that the series is as much a product of its time as it is of Kojima’s imaginative brilliance.
The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, with its amalgamation of nostalgia and cautionary disclaimers, serves as a poignant reminder. A reminder that while art is timeless, interpretations are continually evolving, and therein lies the power and responsibility of both creators and consumers.
