Kojima talks Metal Gear 4

By Ellie Gibson Published 3 October, 2005

Revolver Ocelot is back!

Hideo Kojima has revealed some more details of the fourth instalment in the Metal Gear Solid series, including news that Revolver Ocelot will be back and ready to take on Snake once again.

Speaking to Hyper PlayStation magazine, Kojima explained that although Snake appears very old in the MGS4 trailer, this doesn't mean the game is set decades after MGS2. It's simply that as Big Boss's clone, Snake ages extra quickly - hence he's all grey and wrinkly long before his time. That's not to say that the other characters haven't aged at all though - Otacon, for example, does have a few more years on him, though he's still looking young and sprightly next to Snake.

One of the game's main themes is "No place to hide," and Kojima explains that there is more than one meaning implied by this. First off, MGS4 sees Snake in the heart of an enemy base during a war where buildings are continually being damaged and obliterated - so very often, he'll find that there is literally no place to hide.

Also, Snake can make alliances with difference countries for protection - so if he wants to infiltrate a particular country, he might kill one of their enemies and thus win their favour. In this instance, there's no need to hide, do you see? Hmm.

Kojima also talked about the psychological warfare element of MGS4, admitting that enemies tended to behave unrealistically in previous games, acting simply as cold-blooded killers who knew no fear. But now you can psyche them out a bit - for example, by making a noise which freaks them and puts them on edge, leaving them unprepared for battle.

It's not yet known just how important this element will be to the game, but Kojima is working on it and has hired Mori Motosada - a military advisor who also worked on the previous MGS games - to help him out.

You can read more about Metal Gear Solid 4 in our recent preview.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • RabidMonkey #1 7 years ago

    "It's simply that as Big Boss's clone, Snake ages extra quickly - hence he's all grey and wrinkly long before his time."

    Riiiiight.

  • chronom4n #2 7 years ago

    but weren't the soldiers in mgs2 showing signs of being scared when pounced on from behind? oh and for the first time i have my commenet in asap!!!

  • myiagros #3 7 years ago

    you can all nay say but i think this sounds cool!!

  • Artemus #4 7 years ago

    So Snake will looks as old as or older than Ocelot then. Christ! Kojima = nuts.

  • Dr_Actually #5 7 years ago

    "Riiiiight. "

    Quite normal for clones, Mr Doubty

  • Salato #6 7 years ago

    I may not know much about cloning etc, but why exactly do some people think that the reason for Snake's aging is crap? Didn't dolly the sheep suffer from accelerated aging? If so, seems a reasonable reason for Snake's aging to me, especially if you compare it to some of Kojima's other plot ideas.
    That point aside, does sound quite good, and quite a change from normal MGS gameplay with alliances with different countries soldiers etc.

  • Razzajazz #7 7 years ago

    I think you'll find Kojima is referring to a supposed side effect of cloning, 'Clone Degeneration'. This has actually been speculated on by a number of leading scientist as something that might actually happen as a result of cloning, where the cells do not have the same molecular integrity as their originals.

    However, I do think is this is a bit deep, so I'll revert to type: WOOOOOWW! TH1S GAME ROXXXXXORRR!!!

  • Domstercool #8 7 years ago

    "It's simply that as Big Boss's clone, Snake ages extra quickly - hence he's all grey and wrinkly long before his time."

    It was already known from past MGS games. Why are people like shocked about this?

  • PearOfAnguish #9 7 years ago

    Can you still hide in boxes? Because they won't stick out on a battlefield. No sir.

  • Daryoon #10 7 years ago

    People are moaning about a Metal Gear game being silly and far-fetched?

    This is a series that started in the 80s with a game about stopping a walking tank, a super-computer, and a bloke who calls himself "Big Boss".

  • Derblington #11 7 years ago

    Who bought it, you or her?

  • Bates #12 7 years ago

    I find it hilarious that anyone could compare MGS to Splinter Cell in all honesty. Never have I had a more hollow, funless experience than I did while playing Splinter Cell.

    MGS is fun, it tells a decent interesting story that only idiots seem to have trouble following, and to suggest they take the games several steps backward by basing them on "Tom Clancy cash in no.34578" is laughable.

    See me laugh: hahahahahaha.

    Ha.

    Don't be stupid, end of.

  • gamesport #13 7 years ago

    Why didn't eurogamer use the oportunity to ask kojima about those graphics, and weather or not when playin the game, the graphics are actually going to look like that,
    b/c i know that eh mgs3 trailer and gameplay were miles apart in terms of graphics
    Edited by gamesport at 03/10/05 @ 18:25

  • Derblington #14 7 years ago

    "I didn't buy it, I WANT to buy it, to play Advance Wars and all the RPG goodness coming over the new months. But she won't let me, 'cos we just bought a new sofa, and I'm getting a 360 at launch, and blah blah blah. I fail to see her point, needless to say ;-) "

    lol. I have one and it's very good! Put her in her place.

  • Bates #15 7 years ago

    "not that flaming idiot that Master Bates"

    /Looks at all dilldong's posts in this thread

    Yes, I'M the idiot alright, you cock.

  • GitSomE_UK #16 7 years ago

    Hmmm my gran ages extra quickly... so she must be a clone.

    /Packs FAMAS, dons rag round head and goes in search of the truth
    /slam!


  • Stu #17 7 years ago

    Should I be excited that Revolver Ocelot is back?

    I grew a beard in the time that I spent watching him fannying about with his stupid bloody pistol in MGS3.

    JUST GET ON WITH IT!

  • Mr.Roboto #18 7 years ago

    Don't see the reason why so many people don't like the accelerated aging, they even mentioned it in MGS2 and as mentioned here even the Dolly sheep suffered from it.
    Besides I don't see anyone complaining about the fact that they made almost perfect human clones in the 70's.
    Edited by Mr.Roboto at 03/10/05 @ 22:15

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #19 7 years ago

    "..for example, by making a noise which freaks them and puts them on edge, leaving them unprepared for battle."

    "That's just silly. What noise will leave an enemy unprepared? (To me, to be on edge is quite the opposite of being unprepared..)"

    How about enemy Metal Gear Rex howls? They'd be far too busy hiding/running from that then, so our little old Snake could prance about a little easier after that..

  • Talha #20 7 years ago

    It seems that even at this point we don't know all that much about MGS4. I hope Mr Kojima does.

  • Dr_Actually #21 7 years ago

    "Have had flaming arguments with the wife about buying a NDS... "£

    Jesus, do you have to ask her permission? She must secretly think your weak...Be a man and grow a backbone. And also get a clue about cloning. And a wider vocabulary of insulting terms.
    Edited by Dr_Actually at 04/10/05 @ 09:29

  • space_ace #22 7 years ago

    actually, it's on a football field - nowhere to hide!