Hideo Kojima’s Metallic Gear Strong sequence is without doubt one of the most beloved franchises in gaming. Which implies that we completely have to rank all Metallic Gear Strong video games, from worst to greatest.
As a sequence identified for a ridiculously convoluted plot, pachinko video games, and extremely bizarre moments, its entries are additionally usually memorable, touching, and confident. So let’s check out every mainline sport and rank them accordingly.
Do be warned that this text accommodates gentle spoilers for all of the video games, so proceed with warning in case you’re a more moderen participant.
7. Metallic Gear Strong: Transportable Ops
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
The PSP was an ideal handheld, and having the ability to play a correct Metallic Gear Strong sport on the go was like a godsend for followers of the sport. It was additionally the primary sport that actually centered on Bare Snake’s management qualities, and the way he grew to become the Large Boss everyone knows him as at this time.
Personally, I didn’t discover the story too partaking, although it did cowl a whole lot of very important plot factors in Large Boss’s historical past. The true shining level of Transportable Ops lies in its gameplay.
Transportable Ops had a heavy deal with increase your military, and having the ability to assign your troopers to particular departments primarily based on their particular person strengths. Whereas the story itself wasn’t fairly as spectacular or memorable sufficient for me to present it the next place on this listing, Transportable Ops undoubtedly achieved what it got down to do: ship a real tactical espionage motion expertise on a handheld, and allowed gamers to correctly step into the footwear of Large Boss for the primary time and construct your personal nation from the bottom up.
6. Metallic Gear Strong: Peace Walker
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
Additionally developed for the PSP, Peace Walker fastened all of the gameplay points that have been current in Transportable Ops. By introducing the Fulton Restoration System (oh sure), it was now a lot simpler to recruit enemy troopers and ship them to Mom Base. The introduction of Mom Base itself additionally additional emphasised the importance of Large Boss and his growing energy as you amassed extra assets in your headquarters.
To not point out, Peace Walker additionally allowed you to workforce up with your folks and sort out missions in a cooperative mode. Whereas a lot of the attraction of the Metallic Gear Strong video games has at all times got here from it being a solo stealth expertise, there have been few issues extra satisfying than coordinating stealth assaults with pals and taking down large tanks collectively.
Peace Walker not solely took the Transportable Ops components and refined it to a state of close to perfection, it additionally delivered a narrative that was infinitely extra satisfying than its predecessor. Characters like Paz, Chico, and Miller enriched the sport’s universe and the event of their character arcs within the story additionally helped to shed extra gentle on Large Boss’s character.
5. Metallic Gear Strong V: The Phantom Ache
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
Ah sure, The Phantom Ache. The sport that was meant to be Kojima’s farewell to the sequence and its legacy. It’s actually too unhealthy the sport fell utterly on its face the second we began the second chapter.
The Phantom Ache manages to crawl its method to the fifth spot on this listing by advantage of its wonderful gameplay. Now a totally open-world sport, MGSV permits gamers a plethora of choices when deciding to infiltrate an enemy outpost. You possibly can go in weapons blazing, or scout the bottom together with your trusty binoculars. You possibly can determine troopers with helpful ability units and use the Fulton Restoration System to kidnap them and produce them again to base. You possibly can even kidnap animals, which is all I’ve ever needed to do in a Metallic Gear Strong sport.
The Buddy system is fairly neat too, and actually helps to seize the sensation of working in a workforce to sneak into enemy territory. It’s basically Peace Walker, however on an extremely giant scale. The Phantom Ache significantly excels when it comes to gameplay.
The story is the place it actually falls brief. The narrative is sensible for essentially the most half, and the sport toys with fascinating ideas like language and nationality, however the pacing falls aside within the latter half of the sport. Plot threads are put collectively loosely, the story jumps haphazardly from one level to a different, leading to a conclusion that doesn’t really feel earned in any respect. The ending itself isn’t so unhealthy, however it might have been higher served with a neater execution and a transparent improvement arc that led to a climactic revelation.
Sorry, MGSV. You’re an superior stealth sport, however you’re type of a poor excuse for a Metallic Gear Strong sport.
4. Metallic Gear Strong 3: Snake Eater
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
As the primary correct sport that allowed gamers to take management of Large Boss, Snake Eater had loads to stay as much as. Earlier than the charismatic Large Boss was born, we had Bare Snake, the soldier who was prepared to do something for this nation. I suppose you would possibly name him a… patriot?
When it comes to gameplay and design, MGS3 was a slightly large departure from the primary two video games. By introducing the stamina bar, camouflage meters, and the power to catch your meals, Snake Eater did a stellar job of placing gamers right into a soldier’s footwear, and this added a completely new degree of depth to the gameplay and made it that rather more dynamic.
Although they aren’t fairly as memorable as those featured in MGS1, MGS3 additionally accommodates a number of the greatest boss fights within the sequence. The Sorrow and The Finish shortly come to thoughts every time the subject of most revolutionary online game bosses comes up, and for good purpose too. Snake Eater is a good instance of Kojima’s daring to take dangers in sport design decisions, and this sport is all the higher for it.
MGS3 additionally makes up for the marginally chilly and medical really feel of Sons of Liberty by focusing extra on Bare Snake and his interactions with different characters. With MGS3, we acquired to witness the delivery of the rivalry and friendship between Bare Snake and Ocelot, the romance between Bare Snake and EVA, and naturally, the unforgettable relationship between Bare Snake and The Boss.
The showdown with The Boss stays as certainly one of my favourite emotional moments in a online game, and MGS3 does such a improbable job of portraying Large Boss’s human aspect, making him a way more compelling character within the sequence.
3. Metallic Gear Strong 2: Sons of Liberty
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
Out of all of the MGS video games launched on house consoles and handhelds, Sons of Liberty might be essentially the most divisive entry of all of them. Nevertheless, that doesn’t negate the truth that it’s an important within the sequence. In spite of everything, that is the sport that exposed the existence of the Patriots – excuse me, I imply the La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo.
Like so many different followers of MGS1, I did really feel like I used to be cruelly punched within the intestine when it was revealed that Raiden was to be the primary star of the second sport, however I’ve additionally discovered that MGS2 is an acquired style that simply will get higher and higher with time.
After getting over the preliminary shock and outrage that Strong Snake was merely a supporting character in Raiden’s story, you’ll discover that MGS2 is chock stuffed with memorable moments – combating the Harrier jet, the insanely warped Codec calls with the colonel, ‘Fission Mailed’, Raiden doing bare somersaults far and wide, swimming with Emma… oh wait, not that final one.
Sons of Liberty additionally marked the start of the rivalry between Raiden and Vamp, in addition to set the stage for the occasions of MGS4. And if we need to transcend simply the story of the Metallic Gear Strong universe, MGS2 can also be a sport that was method forward of its time. Points like Web censorship and the memetic themes of human beings selecting to see solely what they need to see are all issues which might be nonetheless related in at this time’s society, and it’s nearly mind-blowing to suppose {that a} sport launched in 2001 might be so related at this time.
MGS2 additionally cleverly and deftly inserts popular culture and historic references into its characters’ names (Jack, Rose, Fatman) and occasions to additional help the anti-government themes that underscore the sport’s story. Whether or not you’re keen on or hate Raiden, there’s simply no getting round the truth that Sons of Liberty might be essentially the most smartly-written sport within the sequence, in addition to an important for the overarching plot.
It was powerful deciding between Snake Eater and Sons of Liberty for the third place on this listing. However finally, whereas Snake Eater was vastly superior when it comes to gameplay and possibly even memorability (although that is extremely debatable), I really feel that Sons of Liberty edges it out ever so barely due to its intelligent writing and eerily acquainted trendy setting. And in addition to, who might neglect that haunting ultimate Codec name proper on the finish of the sport?
2. Metallic Gear Strong
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
There’s a purpose why this sport holds such a particular place in so many followers’ hearts. For a PS1 sport, Metallic Gear Strong stood tall above the remainder of its ilk due to its surprisingly superior voice performing, cinematic cutscenes, compelling sport design decisions, and that beautiful ‘Encounter’ music monitor that by no means fails to set my coronary heart racing each time I get detected by an enemy soldier.
Whereas MGS3 does come fairly shut, I’ve to present it as much as MGS1 for having essentially the most memorable boss fights in your complete sequence. All the villains on this sport – Ocelot, Frank Jaeger, Vulcan Raven, Psycho Mantis, Sniper Wolf, Liquid Snake – had their very own tales and motives, and none of them ever felt tacked on or like they have been simply there for shock worth.
Previous to Metallic Gear Strong, I had by no means performed a online game wherein I used to be pressured to modify controller ports to forestall a boss from studying my button inputs and preempting me at each flip. MGS1 was by no means afraid to interrupt the fourth wall, and whereas some gamers would possibly see this as a break in immersion, I discovered that it solely drew me additional into the sport’s universe.
Sport design decisions apart, MGS1 additionally informed such a gripping story about betrayal, conspiracies, and friendship. Whereas the sport does get a bit of tacky at instances (“Do you suppose love can bloom on a battlefield?”), the primary sport within the MGS sequence has a whole lot of coronary heart and it’s troublesome to not get just a bit bit teary-eyed when the top credit start to roll, and ‘The Greatest is But to Come’ begins taking part in over the audio system.
1. Metallic Gear Strong 4: Weapons of the Patriots
All Metallic Gear Strong Video games Ranked
I like Metallic Gear Strong 4. I adore it with such a sizzling, fiery, burning ardour generally it even scares me a bit of. When it was first launched, I performed it by way of to the top, cried, had my dinner, went to mattress, after which cried some extra. Alright, I didn’t really cry that a lot, however hear me out.
Simply on the benefit of gameplay alone, MGS4 is already way more superior to all the opposite video games that have been beforehand launched, although that is to be anticipated, contemplating that it was the primary MGS entry on the PS3. Apart from just a few segments within the sport, MGS4 was designed to cater to each stealth lovers and haters alike. You could possibly play your complete sport as a tactical squad-based shooter, or you possibly can go old skool and sneak your method by way of all the degrees. The camouflage system was improved, and you possibly can customise your weapons any method you favored them.
Nevertheless, the true purpose why MGS4 deserves the highest spot on this listing is due to how splendidly it rounds up Strong Snake’s story. Because the chronological conclusion to the Metallic Gear saga, Weapons of the Patriots actually did proper by its followers by bringing again characters equivalent to Meryl, Mei Ling, and Naomi, and tying up unfastened ends and previous rivalries.
And when it comes to memorability, MGS4 simply steals the cake from each different entry within the sequence and eats it up. Returning to Shadow Moses, your complete split-screen sequence wherein Outdated Snake holds off the suicide Gekko whereas Raiden faces off with Vamp, and getting to manage the unique Metallic Gear REX are just some of the numerous badass moments followers acquired to witness in Weapons of the Patriots.
However most significantly, MGS4 ties up Snake’s story in a fashion that his character rightfully deserves. Having gone by way of a tough life wherein he was contaminated with FOXDIE, Snake finally finds redemption in stopping Liquid from taking on GW and in lastly assembly Large Boss proper earlier than he passes away himself.
With tons of throwbacks to the primary sport within the sequence, Weapons of the Patriots is a love letter and an exquisite sendoff to followers that had been rising up with Strong Snake for the reason that PS1 period. Whereas some followers could also be of the opinion that Strong Snake’s demise would’ve made a greater finish to MGS4, I personally discover it much more rewarding to see that even a personality as tormented as he’s was lastly capable of finding peace of thoughts and stay out the brief the rest of his life quietly and undisturbed, as he deserved.
MGS4 did proper by Strong Snake; his perseverance paid off ultimately, and his unbending will and relentless nature simply served to remind me of why I fell in love together with his character within the first place.
