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[Deadly Cyclone]

My friend is a huge Metal Gear fan (for obvious reasons, they are cool games), and thought I was a bit nuts in making the general statement that the plot of the games was seen as a bit confusing and crazy to a lot of people, even those whom have played every game in the series.

My first question is am I wrong in that fact? Is the plot of the Metal Gear (Solid or otherwise) games seen to be clear-cut and easy to follow?

Secondly, where's the best place to read up on the entire thing? Anyone here care to try and explain it in a concise manner?

I actually like the series and what I know of the story. I have only played 4, read about 1 (graphic novel), played a bit of Peace Walker, and heard my friend tell the story. To me it's a myriad of places, names, time periods, clones, and nanomachines. With MG Rising soon out (looks awesome) I am looking to beef up on my Metal Gear universe knowledge overall.

Also, is Rising considered canon? The plot summary mentions MGS4 and the game features a MGS4 character, so I thought it was. I'm being told it is not though.

Someone school me/Gaf.

 

[LiK]

the overall plot is pretty easy to follow. the way they present it will either confuse you or make you question your sanity. personally, i thought it made sense. MGS series is an anime basically.

 

[ThatChairMan]

Rising is canon. Anyone who says it isn't is just deluding themselves.

 

[MikeE21286]

I've played everything up until Peace Walker and I think the plot is pretty damn confusing.

Not Kingdom Hearts level stuff, but confusing.

 

[BadWolf]

The plot does make sense.

Honestly, play the games.

Just reading about them is doing a huge disservice to yourself.

 

[disappeared]

The general outline of the overarching narrative makes enough sense. Things only start getting complicated when you start digging.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

The plot does make sense.

Honestly, play the games.

Just reading about them is doing a huge disservice to yourself.

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

 

[HamPster PamPster]

Metal Gear story summary: Everyone spent decades worrying about giant war machines. Turns out tiny war machines are worse - who would have guessed!

 

[TwoDurans]

I tried explaining this franchise to my fiancee when she asked why I love it so much. I've found that it's easier to leave it fairly broad. Something like:

Two men are at odds over a disagreement on how to follow the greatest soldier of all time's master plan. Their war caused the collapse of society, and the next generation fights to try and fix things.

 

[Moosichu]

All the gaps have yet to be filled. But it makes sense.

 

[LiK]

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

play in order of release. do not play in order of the timeline. less impactful when certain things are revealed.

 

[BadWolf]

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

Playing in order of release is best.

 

[Retro_]

I think the actual plot of the individual games, even 2 to some extent, are really simple and easy to get into. Which is why so many people enjoy the games

It's how the games connect to each other and the collective lore and world that they form that is confusing and inconsistent, because not all of the details present in previous games are respected by the ones that follow.

 

[Shadow2222]

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

Play through it in the order it came out, and PLEASE give 1 and 2 another shot, as they are great games (also Peace Walker actually takes place after MGS3).

 

[Beckx]

The greatest achievement of MGS4 is making the end of MGS2 actually make sense. E.g.,

Spoiler

Liquid's arm didn't take over Ocelot's brain, it was just brainwashing.

I enjoy the story. The arc plot is full of crazy stuff, but that's part of the charm for me.

 

[Burt]

Just give up after MGS1. Actually, play MGS3 too, but leave it at that. The rest of it just turn the series into a stupid anime.

 

[G-Fex]

Just give up after MGS1. Actually, play MGS3 too, but leave it at that. The rest of it just turn the series into a stupid anime.

yeah. Just about everything turns into anime :\

 

[Alienous]

If it's still available, and if you have a PS3 (and the time) the MGS4 Database on the PS Store chronicles the series up to MGS4.

 

[RyanardoDaVinci]

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

Put in on the easiest difficulty and play 1 > 2 > 3 > PW.

 

[Retro_]

The greatest achievement of MGS4 is making the end of MGS2 actually make sense. E.g.,

Spoiler

Liquid's arm didn't take over Ocelot's brain, it was just brainwashing.

This is one of the biggest examples of what I'm talking about

 

[Jubern]

I tried explaining this franchise to my fiancee when she asked why I love it so much. I've found that it's easier to leave it fairly broad. Something like:

Two men are at odds over a disagreement on how to follow the greatest soldier of all time's master plan. Their war caused the collapse of society, and the next generation fights to try and fix things.

Holy shit that's actually a REALLY good way to summarize the entire series. I'm at a loss in those moments where I want to explain what's MGS's story to people who don't know anything about it.

 

[thesuperfunk]

MGS4 was the one that really sent my brain into meltdown.

 

[TwoDurans]

Holy shit that's actually a REALLY good way to summarize the entire series. I'm at a loss in those moments where I want to explain what's MGS's story to people who don't know anything about it.

Trust me, it's taken 20 years to craft that. I wish I'd have taken pictures of the people faces when I tried to explain Foxhound, FOXDIE, and Liquid Ocelot's Arm.

 

[FloatOn]

My friend is a huge Metal Gear fan (for obvious reasons, they are cool games), and thought I was a bit nuts in making the general statement that the plot of the games was seen as a bit confusing and crazy to a lot of people, even those whom have played every game in the series.

My first question is am I wrong in that fact? Is the plot of the Metal Gear (Solid or otherwise) games seen to be clear-cut and easy to follow?

Secondly, where's the best place to read up on the entire thing? Anyone here care to try and explain it in a concise manner?

I actually like the series and what I know of the story. I have only played 4, read about 1 (graphic novel), played a bit of Peace Walker, and heard my friend tell the story. To me it's a myriad of places, names, time periods, clones, and nanomachines. With MG Rising soon out (looks awesome) I am looking to beef up on my Metal Gear universe knowledge overall.

Also, is Rising considered canon? The plot summary mentions MGS4 and the game features a MGS4 character, so I thought it was. I'm being told it is not though.

Someone school me/Gaf.

you lost me there. I loved the first metal gear solid and I felt that it had a pretty coherent plot but when I tried MGS2 the whole thing just came undone. A vampire boss? Some fat fuck on roller blades? wut?

and then those youtube videos about nanomachines for MGS4 crack me up every time.

 

[Korigama]

Also, is Rising considered canon? The plot summary mentions MGS4 and the game features a MGS4 character, so I thought it was. I'm being told it is not though.

As stated in the OT for MGR, it is.

 

[LiK]

Just give up after MGS1. Actually, play MGS3 too, but leave it at that. The rest of it just turn the series into a stupid anime.

MGS1 was a pretty good anime too :O

 

[Jarnet87]

nanosomethings?

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

play in order of release. do not play in order of the timeline. less impactful when certain things are revealed.

Playing in order of release is best.

Alright. I feel dumb not being able to train my brain around the fixed camera in 2 though. I got spotted so quickly in the first ship level and then couldn't shoot anyone with the controls that I stopped playing and haven't tried again.

 

[Forkball]

MGS1: Gotta stop terrorists with robo-nuke. Also some weird virus that randomly kills you.
MGS2: Gotta stop terrorists in a big oil rig and rescue the president. Some weird avant garde storytelling happens at the end LALELULELO
MGS3: Gotta rescue scientists and stop retro robo nuke. More LALELULELO
MGS4: ???
Rising: Cyborg ninja fights Visual Kei psychopaths

 

[Retro_]

Holy shit that's actually a REALLY good way to summarize the entire series. I'm at a loss in those moments where I want to explain what's MGS's story to people who don't know anything about it.

but at the same time it's a horrible way to describe.....ANY of the individual games

as that conflict was literally nonexistent in the first 3 entries. Even in 4 you didn't get a real sense of it until the end. It's more of an explanation than a summary

So you'd end up really confusing someone by telling them this in an attempt to get them to pick up the games.

MGS1 was a pretty good anime too :O

and MGS3 was a bad one

 

[Beckx]

This is one of the biggest examples of what I'm talking about

Eh, I like the Ocelot arc plot (

Spoiler

mainly b/c I really liked Adam in MGS3

), but I hear you.

 

[DMeisterJ]

All the separate games plots are simple enough to understand. It's when you attempt to connect them where things get a bit murky.

 

[Ghazi]

What plot?

All you need to know is: nanomachines

 

[bernardobri]

you lost me there. I loved the first metal gear solid and I felt that it had a pretty coherent plot but when I tried MGS2 the whole thing just came undone. A vampire boss? Some fat fuck on roller blades? wut?

and then those youtube videos about nanomachines for MGS4 crack me up every time.

So let me get this straight.

You digested a mind-reader, a virus that kills people with certain DNA by using nano techonology, a dying shaman who dissapeared after being eaten by ravens, two perfect clones of a commatose character, an invisible camo, a bipedal tank capable of launching nukes and a mutilated man inside a cyborg skeleton...

And then you lost it at a fat guy wearing roller blades?

 

[Weltall Zero]

The biggest problem with the plot is that they've kept adding to it for a decade and a half (more if you consider the original MG1 and 2 for MSX). Keeping track of everything requires a bit of a good memory. Other than that, it's pretty easy to follow, except for the bits purposely designed to confound you (late MGS2, mostly, particularly because they lie to you over and over and when they tell you the truth it's so implausible sounding that you're likely to dismiss as another twist and lie).

 

[Amagon]

What plot?

All you need to know is: nanomachines

This man gets it.

 

[Beckx]

a mind-reader, a virus that kills people with certain DNA by using nano techonology, a dying shaman who dissapeared after being eaten by ravens, an (almost) perfect clone of the main character, an invisible camo, a bipedal tank capable of launching nukes and a cyborg ninja...

God MGS1 was one of the best games of all time.

 

[TwoDurans]

So let me get this straight.

...a virus that kills people with certain DNA by using nano techonology, a dying shaman who dissapeared after being eaten by ravens, two perfect clones of a commatose character, an invisible camo, a bipedal tank capable of launching nukes and a mutilated man inside a cyborg skeleton...

I can buy all that. But I refuse to believe that Meryl can take a sniper bullet to the torso, losing a shitton of blood, and still live.

 

[Arthursw1]

You can find it here:

http://www.gamesradar.com/the-complete-history-of-metal-gear/

 

[dan2026]

The plot of MGS4 kind of trampled on everything that came before.

All the explanations basically boiled down to 'its magic! we don't have to explain it!'

 

[mingus]

If it's still available, and if you have a PS3 (and the time) the MGS4 Database on the PS Store chronicles the series up to MGS4.

Quoting again so this doesn't get lost, I found this comprehensive timeline to be really helpful prior to playing MGS4.

 

[thetrin]

I can't really get through 1 or 2. I played half of 1 and started 2 in the HD pack but the fixed camera killed me. Maybe I'll try again.

Would I play the normal order? Or go Peace Walker, MGS3, MGS 1, 2, 4?

I'm not sure why the fixed camera would be so difficult. It actually makes the game far easier than it otherwise would be. All the same, give it another try. You're doing yourself a huge disservice by skipping two of the best games in the whole series.

The plot of MGS4 kind of trampled on everything that came before.

All the explanations basically boiled down to 'its magic! we don't have to explain it!'

Actually, it boiled down to the exact opposite. Magic would have been great, and was what was accepted all this time (as silly GI Joe-esque nonsense). MGS4 tried to root everything in nanomachines and technology.

Just give up after MGS1. Actually, play MGS3 too, but leave it at that. The rest of it just turn the series into a stupid anime.

you lost me there. I loved the first metal gear solid and I felt that it had a pretty coherent plot but when I tried MGS2 the whole thing just came undone. A vampire boss? Some fat fuck on roller blades? wut?

and then those youtube videos about nanomachines for MGS4 crack me up every time.

I feel like people who think MGS is some sort of Tom Clancy thriller never really understood the point of Metal Gear.

MGS is Japanese GI Joe. It always was, and always will be. If you don't like that concept, I'm afraid you don't like Metal Gear.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Metal Gear story summary: Everyone spent decades worrying about giant war machines. Turns out tiny war machines are worse - who would have guessed!

lol this

and sadly, thats the truth in the real world too in a way

 

[CambriaRising]

So let me get this straight.

You digested a mind-reader, a virus that kills people with certain DNA by using nano techonology, a dying shaman who dissapeared after being eaten by ravens, two perfect clones of a commatose character, an invisible camo, a bipedal tank capable of launching nukes and a mutilated man inside a cyborg skeleton...

And then you lost it at a fat guy wearing roller blades?

Lol People that think the Metal Gear series hasn't always been amazingly crazy.

Quoting again so this doesn't get lost, I found this comprehensive timeline to be really helpful prior to playing MGS4.

It is a very good resource.

 

[j0hnny_385]

I just played MGS 1, 2, 3 & 4. Read the detailed plot summary from Metal Gear 1 & 2 and Portable Ops, I still have to play Peace Walker.
I had absolutely no problems following the story or its theme(s). Played all the games back to back in a 1 month period. Enjoyed every bit of it.

 

[Chinner]

I separate the Solid series personally in terms of story. MGS1 + 2 pretty much relate and wrap up the ideas and themes within each over. Then you have MGS3 + 4, with 4 taking a lot of things brought up from 3 to develop into storylines.

 

[BadWolf]

The plot of MGS4 kind of trampled on everything that came before.

All the explanations basically boiled down to 'its magic! we don't have to explain it!'

Not really, no.

 

[rvy]

My friend is a huge Metal Gear fan (for obvious reasons, they are cool games), and thought I was a bit nuts in making the general statement that the plot of the games was seen as a bit confusing and crazy to a lot of people

No, your friend is nuts. Not even Kojima knows what's going on any longer.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Do most people still think the series is the greatest story ever told in the medium or have most of us realized it's a melange of American action movies, anime tropes, and gun porn? Loved the series up until MGS4, but then Kojima's ticks and kinks overcame the good in his work. The retcons and the self-indulgence convinced me that Kojima neither knows what he's doing with the series, nor respects his audience.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

It's easy to follow if you're paying attention to it. If story takes a backseat in videogames for you then it's going to come off as nonsense.