- Contents:
- Chapter 1 - Introduction
- Chapter 2 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Chapter 3 - Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Chapter 4 - Metal Gear
- Chapter 5 - Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
With the much delayed but imminent arrival of Metal Gear Solid 4, at the beginning of the year I set myself a target, to complete Metal Gear Solid 3. I had owned the game since its release in 2005 yet I had stopped playing it just after I completed the ‘Virtuous Mission’.
My first Metal Gear experience was set in the colourful, urban and futuristic conditions of Metal Gear Solid 2. So to go from that to the old fashioned, brown and white, 60’s setting of Snake Eater (MGS3) was a vast contrast, not to mention the non-confined and somewhat limitless outdoor jungle setting! It was a complete change. It was a change that, at first, I did not quickly become accustomed to.
So, after almost three years of not playing computer games except for Football Manager, I bought myself a Playstation 3 out of my desire for High Definition movies on Blu-ray. This, coupled with my need to play MGS4 was the reason I picked up gaming and indeed relit my affinity for the Metal Gear series. I bought an inexpensive Slim PS2 (my 40GB PS3 wouldn’t play PS2 games!) and I immediately started playing MGS3 from where I left off, just after the Virtuous Mission!
What is the Metal Gear Marathon?
I found that after completing MGS3 for the first time, there was so much I wanted to re-play from the other games before I started the final chapter of the saga, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Also, I’d never played Portable Ops, the original Metal Gear or Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake which are all considered cannonical of course. So what better time to do it than now, before I complete the final chapter.
That’s how my idea was conceptualised. I would play through the entire Metal Gear saga chronologically from Big Boss’ first mission and the birth of Metal Gear, in Metal Gear Solid 3, through the Solid Snake series of games to Metal Gear Solid 4, the final act and ultimately the crecendo of the marathon. The order of play would be as follows:
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Metal Gear
- Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
- Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel *
- Metal Gear Solid & MGS: The Twin Snakes **
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
* Ghost Babel is a Gameboy Colour game that has always been held in high regard as far as the Metal Gear series is concerned. It is non-canonical and contradicts some aspects of MGS but is considered a very good game and one that must be played if you’re a fan of Metal Gear Solid. Therefore, provisionally, I am placing this in the marathon, I may decide against it and play it at a later date to experience it another time.
** The Twin Snakes is a Nintendo Gamecube remake of the original Metal Gear Solid which made its debut on the PSX. I will play this because I wish to experience the story in a different, more graphically enhanced way, as well as experiencing it the way it was originally intended for the PSX.
In amongst those titles, I would read the corresponding novels and graphic novels for MGS1 & 2 as well as view the supplements and extras included in the MGS3: Subsistance package, like the ‘Existance’ 3+ hour cinematic movie of the story of MGS3. As well as view the Digital Graphic Novels on the PSP and maybe add the Gameboy Colour game “Metal Gear Soid: Ghost Babel” alongside too. (Supplemental reviews will be highlighted at the bottom of each chapter under the title “Supplemental Reviews”, please take the time to read them if you have the time.)
Yes, I fully understand that this is a little extreme, watching and reading the same story 4 times over (MGS, TTS, Graphic Novel and Digital Graphic Novel!), but that’s what I want to achieve! Maybe at some point I may get bored and settle for just completing the games instead. But for now, that’s my goal! Please don’t email me saying, “what’s the point?” or “you do know that the Graphic Novel and the Digital Graphic Novel are the same don’t you?”. I know already! 
Throughout the course of the marathon, I will document my thoughts and feelings on the games and the story as I progress through what will no doubt not only be a mammoth undertaking but a worthwhile and rewarding effort when it comes to playing Metal Gear Solid 4.
In the mean time, please bear in mind that I have not played a number of the games before (in fact all of them except MGS, MGS2 and MGS3), so I will not be rushing through this, I wan’t to enjoy it. I also, don’t wish for the stories of any of the games to be spoiled in any way, that would just be nasty!
This idea was originally posted at the Junker HQ Metal Gear Solid forums, feel free to join me in taking part in the Metal Gear Marathon, if you would like to read more and see who else is taking part, please visit: The Metal Gear Marathon - Junker HQ Thread
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy, here goes!