Hideo Kojima on What Makes the Original Metal Gear "Ahead of Its Time"

The original Metal Gear, first launched in Japan on the MSX2 computer platform in 1987, celebrated its 37th anniversary on July 13. This game's creator, Hideo Kojima, reflected on Twitter about one of the game's features that positioned it "ahead of its time".

While Metal Gear is renowned for its pioneering emphasis on stealth action — it was one of the earliest games to prioritize stealth and avoidance over direct combat, which laid the foundation for the stealth genre — Kojima identified the game's "biggest invention" as the "concept of a radio transceiver in the storytelling".

The radio transceiver in Metal Gear is an integral part of the gameplay. It enables the protagonist, Solid Snake, to receive mission updates and guidance from his command team at base. This narrative device not only advances the plot, but also provides vital mission objectives and hints. 

Despite the original Metal Gear being launched nearly 40 years ago, you can still experience it on modern platforms by obtaining it through the METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION VOL.1. 

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