Hoo boy, we're sure starting to feel old now...
35 years ago, on December 22nd, 1987, Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear launched on the NES (or Famicom) in Japan, kickstarting a rather scattered relationship between Kojima and Nintendo. The game itself was the first title in a series that would go on to thrive for a total of 28 years, ending with 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Metal Gear Survive doesn't count, of course), which itself was a prequel to Metal Gear, tying up loose ends (to a certain degree) and bringing the story full circle.
Of course, Nintendo fans don't have a great deal to look back on when it comes to Metal Gear, with only four titles from the series represented on various Nintendo platforms. This includes the aforementioned first game on the NES, Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for the GameCube, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D for the 3DS (which, at the time of writing, is still AWOL from the 3DS eShop).
However, in the absence of quantity, there's most certainly quality. While the first Metal Gear undoubtedly shows its age in 2022, the stealth gameplay is still remarkably fun and the twist ending around the role of Big Boss was a perfect precursor to the brilliant storytelling found in later titles. Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel, although officially non-canonical, was a fine representation of the series on the humble Game Boy Color, containing everything that Metal Gear fans know and love in perfect miniature form.
As a remake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is generally considered inferior to the original, if only for the misguided focus on over-the-top action that didn't really gel with the overall tone of the game. Nevertheless, the way it marries the characters and locations from Metal Gear Solid with the gameplay found in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty made for a refreshing experience--and it was one that Nintendo fans could call their own. Finally, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D was arguably the best version of a game that many consider to be the strongest in the series. Not only did it feature a wonderful use of the handheld's 3D features, but it also introduced the ability to move in a crouched stance, something that wasn't available in the original or the HD remaster and made for easier stealth takedowns.
Enough chatter from us, though! 35 years after the original Metal Gear launched on the NES, we'd love to know which Metal Gear game on Nintendo systems is your absolute favourite. Be sure to vote in the poll and leave a comment with your memories down below.
Comments 27
The birth of a Legend in both Snake and Kojima.
The NES original (Sort of, it was a heavily-altered port of a game on the MSX) will always have a special place in my heart.
It was the game where i got my in-game habit of collecting everything i can, purely for the satisfaction of a well-filled inventory screen...
Me silently waiting for metal gear 3ds back on the e shop…..
Snake? Snake!? SNNNNNAAAAAKKEEEEE!
Please. We need Metal Gear Twin Snakes for the Switch. Please, Konami.
Honestly Twin Snakes is the definitive way to play the first Metal Gear Solid, and the 3ds version of Snake Eater is the worst way to play the best mgs
It would be nice to see a Metal Gear compilation. Oh and a Zone of the Enders one too while we are at it.
Peace Walker is the best game in the MGS series that not enough people played. It's MGS's take on the Monster Hunter formula.
Random fact of the day: the NES cover is Michael Biehn/Kyle Reese in a future scene from The Terminator just colored in.
Fun Fact: Metal Gear for the NES was very successful back when it launched, so much, that it helped drive the sales of MGS for the PS1, many people remembered fondly the stealth mechanics of the game, very unique for its time. The best MG on Nintendo, would be The Twin Snakes, followed closely by Snake Eater 3D. TTS is just everything a great remake should have, and it's basically the only game in the entire series, where we see Snake do "super soldier" stuff. Snake Eater 3D is just the best way to play Snake Eater: Better gameplay, better graphics (they reworked textures and animations for this version), and it just plays wonderfully on the 3DS, the best game in the system, for me. The worst Metal Gear game, might be MGSV, or Peace Walker.
MGS Collection when? MGS GBC is arguably the best hands down. By the way y’all forgot about Snakes Revenge.
apparently not enough people played MGSGBC because that game is incredible.
@ParadoxFawkes
yeah, I thought they had it exactly backwards, too.
I'm glad to see some love for Twin Snakes. It's a personal favorite that I still play a few times a year. Would love to see a remaster on Switch.
I'm voting for the GBC because is so underrated... is an amazing game and one of the best on game boy period. I bought it in the day and it was an incredible experience. I can believe it has never been re-released
You feel old, but I feel asleep.
It's too bad Hideo Kojima had nothing to do with 75% of those games. For some reason the dude didn't contribute much when it comes to Nintendo's platforms. The only two titles he contribute to is Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater remake for 3DS and Ghost Babel on Game Boy Color. Twin Snakes, Snake's Revenge, and the NES Metal Gear all are not contribute by Kojima and he doesn't considered those canon to the main series either. Metal Gear was MIA during the 16-Bit era, kind of a miss opportunity too since that era would be perfect for a TEA game like Metal Gear.
It's a devious crime that Metal Gear games aren't on switch, FIVE YEARS into switch lifespan.
Such a lust for remakes! WHOOOOOOOO?!?
Seriously though, I found the 3DS game awkward to play even with ye olde Circle Pad Pro, and I thought Snake Eater was overrated to begin with. I wouldn't mind a Twin Snakes or Substance port on the Switch.
I saved up my grass cutting money and bought an NES and Metal Gear in September of 1988, after seeing the game advertised in G.I.Joe comics. That was the start of my love of gaming. At Christmas I got Zelda, Punch Out, Contra, Double Dragon, and Excitebike. I’d love to go back and experience those days for just a little bit. It was such a magical time.
@WoomyNNYes Yeah. You think Konami would have ported at least MGS 4 and 5 to the Switch.
@Olliemar28 @GameOtaku
I was thinking the same thing. I figured Snake's Revenge would at least get mentioned? It is technically a sequel to the NES version of Metal Gear.
We must have Twin Snakes on Switch along with MGS3, period!!!!!!
Unfortunately missed all Metal Gear games so I really hope we'll eventually see them on Switch or its successor!
@roboshort mgs4 is never leaving the ps3 unless they rebuild the game, and they haven't done that yet as an entire console generation has come and gone
I have a copy of the nes metal gear on my shelf with case and everything I really need to go try it out again.
@GamerGrandpa Yeah, but Kojima had nothing to do with it, it's not canon, and it was strongly influenced by American action movies, Snake looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger in it.
The true second "Metal gear"-game is "Metal gear: Solid snake", released for MSX, that was a bonus game (Along with the MSX-version of the original) with a few of the remakes, IIRC.
Also interesting to note is that GOG.com (A Steam-like website specializing in retro games) sells a PC-port of the original MSX "Metal gear".
@MysticX
You’re right. But it was a Metal Gear game on a nintendo console. Kojima didn’t have anything to do with the first NES either I believe.
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