Metal Gear Solid’s Boldest Twist Happened 24 Years Ago Today

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Today marks the 24th anniversary of the release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a game famous for its clever deception. Fans were anticipating a direct sequel to the popular Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation, and trailers and a playable demo led them to believe Solid Snake would be the main character facing new challenges.

As the game’s story was being updated to reflect current world events, creator Hideo Kojima came up with a daring plan to shock players. Instead of focusing on the established hero, Snake, the game unexpectedly put players in control of a new character. This bold move forced gamers to question who the real hero was and fit perfectly with the game’s exploration of identity. While initially controversial, this twist is now considered one of the most ingenious in gaming history.

The Raiden Reveal

Today marks the 24th anniversary of a truly shocking moment in video game history: the release of Metal Gear Solid 2. The game famously surprised players by moving the story away from its main hero, Solid Snake. Before this, the Metal Gear Solid series was known for focusing on Solid Snake’s missions. Starting with games on the NES and gaining huge popularity on PlayStation with the original Metal Gear Solid, the sequel, created by Hideo Kojima, initially seemed like it would continue Snake’s adventures based on early trailers and demos.

The game’s opening mission directly continues the story from the previous installment, bringing back Snake’s brother, Liquid, through a unique twist – his spirit inhabits Ocelot. However, the game quickly shifts its focus to Raiden, a new character in the FOXHOUND unit who hadn’t appeared in any previous games except for a brief mention in the ending of the older Game Boy Color title, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Raiden is presented as a contrast to Snake; this blonde, sword-fighting newcomer is burdened by a troubled past and motivated by intense guilt.

Hideo Kojima introduced Raiden as a way to explore the world of Metal Gear Solid through fresh eyes. Initially conceived as a foil to Solid Snake – a bit like Dr. Watson to Snake’s Sherlock Holmes – artist Yoji Shinkawa redesigned Raiden to be younger and more appealing to a wider audience. Compared to the experienced and hardened Snake, Raiden offered a different worldview and approach to the game’s conflict, despite having similar gameplay. To maintain the surprise, Konami and Kojima kept Raiden’s role a secret, even editing trailers to show Snake instead. This was a risky strategy – almost unthinkable with today’s frequent leaks – but it successfully shocked players when Metal Gear Solid 2 was released in 2001.

Gamers Took A While To Get Used To Raiden

When Raiden first appeared, fan reactions were quite divided. Critics praised the game’s complex story, which explored ideas about capitalism, government, and what it means to be human in a world increasingly reliant on technology, calling it a smart addition to the Metal Gear Solid series. However, some players found the long, talkative cutscenes and the story’s challenging themes confusing. The biggest point of contention was Raiden himself – while some appreciated that he felt like a more relatable, inexperienced character, many Western fans were disappointed that the beloved Snake took a backseat.

Raiden proved more popular with Japanese fans, who readily accepted the cyborg ninja and his struggle with inner demons. However, some Western players disliked his youthful, good looks, especially when contrasted with the rugged Solid Snake, leading to harsh criticism and insults. A lot of this initial negativity stemmed from the fact that Metal Gear Solid 2 initially misled players into believing Snake would be the main character, rather than any issue with the game itself or Raiden as a character.

Looking back, a lot of fans really appreciate the game now, including Raiden. But honestly, when it first came out, the fanbase was pretty divided on him. It was so noticeable that Hideo Kojima actually acknowledged it in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. They created a character, Colonel Volgin’s assistant Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov, who looked a lot like Raiden and was constantly being put down – it was like a playful jab at the controversy. Kojima definitely knew how people were reacting and wasn’t afraid to make fun of it, which I thought was cool.

How A Plot Twist Turned Into A Spin-Off Star

Raiden’s backstory is considered a great plot twist because of how dramatically his popularity changed over time. Initially left out of the earlier game, Snake Eater, he returned in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots as a fully developed cyborg with enhanced fighting abilities. This new version of Raiden was much better received by fans, who had previously been critical of his inexperience compared to Solid Snake.

Raiden was created as a strong partner for the aging Snake, who wasn’t as effective in combat anymore. Players really liked the changes made to Raiden’s character, which led to his own game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This game showed how much Raiden had grown from his earlier, more troubled self into a skilled warrior, and it delved into his darker personality, ‘Jack the Ripper,’ examining the psychological effects of war.

Raiden’s evolution – becoming both a more skilled fighter and a character with greater emotional depth – won over many gamers who hadn’t previously been fans. This bold move by Hideo Kojima and Konami proved successful despite some initial skepticism. He transformed from a surprising character reveal into a popular and central figure in the series.

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2025-11-12 22:14