Kojima the producer open to MGS remake, Kojima the creator not so much
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Konami's recent Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is an odd product for shipping without anything called "Metal Gear Solid HD" in the box. One part of series creator Hideo Kojima views the omission as a call to be answered, while another is eager to spend less time in the past.
"There are a lot of people wanting remakes of the original, and as producer I want to answer those calls," Kojima tells Official PlayStation Magazine. "But as a creator I'm not very interested in going back. If we were to do it, it would have to be a total remake – the only thing that would be the same would be the story. If it happened at some point I would stay as a producer, but would have to hand off most of the actual creating."
We've heard of Metal Gear Solid's seemingly inevitable continuation before, and of Kojima's wearying dance between director and producer. The first Metal Gear Solid is satisfactory in being "the game I wanted to make," says Kojima, who sounds like he'd rather not meddle and make it once more -- never mind that it's already been redone in MGS: Twin Snakes with the help of Silicon Knights and Nintendo. "If you bring the gameplay up to modern standards, then you lose a bit of the original game. It was a game made for a certain era – not just the story, but the controls and everything about it reflect that era in which the game was made."
That's right. Back in the day, there wasn't enough visual fidelity to tell whose footprints those were -- and we liked it.
"There are a lot of people wanting remakes of the original, and as producer I want to answer those calls," Kojima tells Official PlayStation Magazine. "But as a creator I'm not very interested in going back. If we were to do it, it would have to be a total remake – the only thing that would be the same would be the story. If it happened at some point I would stay as a producer, but would have to hand off most of the actual creating."
We've heard of Metal Gear Solid's seemingly inevitable continuation before, and of Kojima's wearying dance between director and producer. The first Metal Gear Solid is satisfactory in being "the game I wanted to make," says Kojima, who sounds like he'd rather not meddle and make it once more -- never mind that it's already been redone in MGS: Twin Snakes with the help of Silicon Knights and Nintendo. "If you bring the gameplay up to modern standards, then you lose a bit of the original game. It was a game made for a certain era – not just the story, but the controls and everything about it reflect that era in which the game was made."
That's right. Back in the day, there wasn't enough visual fidelity to tell whose footprints those were -- and we liked it.
Reader Comments (52)
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:07PM Gibbeynator said
Not really that interested in another remake of Metal Gear Solid. One attempt to kill Jennifer Hale's accent was enough.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 10:20PM LEONLEONLEON said
@Gibbeynator
I would be. It would be nice to play the game several more times but with nice visuals. Gameplay wouldnt really need to change, It would be good if it was given more detail and effects.
But then, It would get slated for being clunky and what not.
people who dont know it wouldnt like it.
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I would be. It would be nice to play the game several more times but with nice visuals. Gameplay wouldnt really need to change, It would be good if it was given more detail and effects.
But then, It would get slated for being clunky and what not.
people who dont know it wouldnt like it.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:10PM BULLETBOI said
I would enjoy a PS vital remake with trophies.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:21PM type2red said
Did these guys ever hear of twin snakes on the gamecube?
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 7:42PM Nintendo Tim said
@type2red - Yes, they have. I'm sure it's something to do with Nintendo. I mean, why did they use stock footage from MGS1 on the PS1 rather than Twin Snakes footage? Doesn't make sense, unless having Miyamoto involved caused Nintendo to flip out and not allow them to use it.
I'm all for re-releasing Twin Snakes (which is what they should've done), however, do NOT include the first-person shooting elements or the rail hanging; that absolutely killed the entire game. If I can hop over the railing as soon as I drop into the hangar, take 3 steps to the left and call the elevator, then that entire area has been ruined. Not to mention one boss fight entirely...
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I'm all for re-releasing Twin Snakes (which is what they should've done), however, do NOT include the first-person shooting elements or the rail hanging; that absolutely killed the entire game. If I can hop over the railing as soon as I drop into the hangar, take 3 steps to the left and call the elevator, then that entire area has been ruined. Not to mention one boss fight entirely...
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 7:43PM Nintendo Tim said
@Nintendo Tim -
"I mean, why did they use stock footage from MGS1 on the PS1 rather than Twin Snakes footage?"
That is, in regards to MGS4 when they used footage from MGS1 during flashbacks.
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"I mean, why did they use stock footage from MGS1 on the PS1 rather than Twin Snakes footage?"
That is, in regards to MGS4 when they used footage from MGS1 during flashbacks.
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 2:28PM Prboi said
@Nintendo Tim
But that's what Kojima was talking about. If you remake the game, you'd have to change the gameplay as well. MGS1 worked so well because we didn't have any expectations of what could be done by Solid Snake. With MGS 2, 3, & 4 already down the pipe, going back & remaking the game just with better graphics would be kind of stupid. They would have to change the way Snake did everything, as they did in Twin Snakes. & for the reason you stated above, it could also ruin the experience you had in the original game. Like Kojima said, if they did a remake, the only thing that can stay the same, is the story. EVERYTHING else would have to be re-built from the ground up in order to meet today's standards which is something Kojima doesn't necessarily want to do.
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But that's what Kojima was talking about. If you remake the game, you'd have to change the gameplay as well. MGS1 worked so well because we didn't have any expectations of what could be done by Solid Snake. With MGS 2, 3, & 4 already down the pipe, going back & remaking the game just with better graphics would be kind of stupid. They would have to change the way Snake did everything, as they did in Twin Snakes. & for the reason you stated above, it could also ruin the experience you had in the original game. Like Kojima said, if they did a remake, the only thing that can stay the same, is the story. EVERYTHING else would have to be re-built from the ground up in order to meet today's standards which is something Kojima doesn't necessarily want to do.
Posted: Dec 28th 2011 12:08AM Nintendo Tim said
@Prboi - Then, as I said, just take Twin Snakes, up-res the textures, but remove the rail-hang and first person shooting elements. There's not much of "remaking" the game, just removing things from a remake of the same game. Kojima acts as if he completely forgot about Twin Snakes, or at least the article paints it out that way.
You'd still have a faithful recreation of MGS that still has gameplay that is quasi-modern with updated visuals, but a game that isn't broken, like Twin Snakes. MGS1's gameplay is still modern by todays standards; the key point is MGS4, as it's essentially the same damned thing.
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You'd still have a faithful recreation of MGS that still has gameplay that is quasi-modern with updated visuals, but a game that isn't broken, like Twin Snakes. MGS1's gameplay is still modern by todays standards; the key point is MGS4, as it's essentially the same damned thing.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:23PM Jawmuncher said
We don't need a remake of MGS1. The GameCube remake was enough.
If anything pay the dues needed for that and just up it to HD resolutions.
What we need is a remake of MG 1 and 2 the MSX games.
Most MGS players have never really played those titles, and the story for those set up the rest of the games.
Not to mention a lot of the scenes from those games would be amazing to see revisioned and with today's graphics.
I love pixels as much as the next guy. But for the type of set pieces and cutscenes Kohima likes to do, those don't do enough of setting up the whole picture.
If anything pay the dues needed for that and just up it to HD resolutions.
What we need is a remake of MG 1 and 2 the MSX games.
Most MGS players have never really played those titles, and the story for those set up the rest of the games.
Not to mention a lot of the scenes from those games would be amazing to see revisioned and with today's graphics.
I love pixels as much as the next guy. But for the type of set pieces and cutscenes Kohima likes to do, those don't do enough of setting up the whole picture.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:30PM Nyghtwynd said
@Jawmuncher
I agree, MG 1 and 2 remakes could be amazing. Even if they were combined on one release I would be happy
Of course, they are also on the MGS HD Collection under the MGS3 Extras. That alone was reason enough for me to buy Subsistence back in the day.
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I agree, MG 1 and 2 remakes could be amazing. Even if they were combined on one release I would be happy
Of course, they are also on the MGS HD Collection under the MGS3 Extras. That alone was reason enough for me to buy Subsistence back in the day.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 7:36PM Nintendo Tim said
@iceytoa1 - "Metal Gear" is the original games in the series released in Japan only on the MSX. Kojima released two of them, and when it came time to bring them Stateside, they wouldn't do it. So, in comes the terrible Metal Gear game on the NES, which Kojima heavily disavows.
They added "Solid" to the end of the name when it hit the PS1 to differentiate it, I would assume.
The series chronology goes like this:
• MGS3: Snake Eater
• MGS: Portable Ops
• MGS: Peace Walker (end Big Boss' story)
• Metal Gear
• Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (the abomination that is "Snake's Revenge" is the non-canonical US NES game)
• MGS1: Twin Snakes
• MGS2: Sons of Liberty
• MGS4: Guns of the Patriots
• MGR: Revengeance
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They added "Solid" to the end of the name when it hit the PS1 to differentiate it, I would assume.
The series chronology goes like this:
• MGS3: Snake Eater
• MGS: Portable Ops
• MGS: Peace Walker (end Big Boss' story)
• Metal Gear
• Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (the abomination that is "Snake's Revenge" is the non-canonical US NES game)
• MGS1: Twin Snakes
• MGS2: Sons of Liberty
• MGS4: Guns of the Patriots
• MGR: Revengeance
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 10:02PM kentuckyfried said
@Jawmuncher
It's the sort of project that Kojima Productions should've tasked to the younger team members instead of sending them off into unexplored territory with MGS: Rising.
Just remake MG1, MG2, and MGS to modern graphical and control standards, and I'd be a happy camper (MGS2 and MGS3 with an MGS4 control scheme wouldn't hurt either, as I'm finding I'm one of the worst sneaking operatives ever with this HD edition as I was when the games first game out).
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It's the sort of project that Kojima Productions should've tasked to the younger team members instead of sending them off into unexplored territory with MGS: Rising.
Just remake MG1, MG2, and MGS to modern graphical and control standards, and I'd be a happy camper (MGS2 and MGS3 with an MGS4 control scheme wouldn't hurt either, as I'm finding I'm one of the worst sneaking operatives ever with this HD edition as I was when the games first game out).
Posted: Dec 28th 2011 12:15AM Nintendo Tim said
@kentuckyfried - You wouldn't believe how long it took me to get re-accustomed to MGS2's control scheme. I swear, I felt like a 10 year playing with a controller covered in peanut-butter held upside down.
It was /that/ bad.
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It was /that/ bad.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:26PM Mechazawa Prime said
I like his idea of keeping the story but making everything else new. I mean it's not like the level design was integral to the plot. Besides, with new technology they could take advantage of new game mechanics and design levels around those mechanics.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:27PM Foxhound1 said
remake metal gear 1 and 2 please i want them so badly in next gen graphics (im not talking about metal gear solid i mean the msx ones)
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:35PM Timjoy said
"If you bring the gameplay up to modern standards, then you lose a bit of the original game."
Totally agree..the part with psycho mantis would be weird with a wireless controller....
Totally agree..the part with psycho mantis would be weird with a wireless controller....
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 9:49PM bamb0ostick said
@Timjoy In MGS5 I actually tried switching the wireless controller to be set as 2+ while I was fighting the B&B Mantis boss. I got yelled at by Otacon, asking why I would think this would be like MGS1.
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Posted: Dec 26th 2011 9:50PM bamb0ostick said
@bamb0ostick I meant MGS4, sorry. Forgot 5 isn't out yet, lol.
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Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:36PM TechnoSyndrome said
I'd love another remake of MGS1 using the MGS4 controls/engine. The MGS4 engine was wasted on a terrible game, it'd be great to play an actual stealth game with it.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 10:05PM kentuckyfried said
@TechnoSyndrome
Exactamundo! I know I'm not with the majority of the fans, but I disliked MGS4 heavily.
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Exactamundo! I know I'm not with the majority of the fans, but I disliked MGS4 heavily.
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 11:32AM MontEdZuma said
@kentuckyfried I didn't have a problem being stealthy in the game. I think the biggest problem was that it was set in an open war zone at times, which made "stealth" a totally different thing. I think it's a matter of taste. I enjoyed it...just in a different way than MGS.
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Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:45PM JinZX1 said
HD remake of Twin Snakes would be good. So would TROPHIES FOR MGS4.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:46PM zombiefriend said
They definitely don't need to remake MGS. Work on something new like ZOE 3 or remake Metal Gear 2. That would be sweet.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 6:01PM Gibbeynator said
@zombiefriend
Then they'd just get rid of everything that made Metal Gear 2 awesome. Tricking the guard into thinking it's nighttime, neutralizing deadly acid with deadly chocolate, deadly poisonous Zanzibar hamsters, and Sean Connery as Big Boss.
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Then they'd just get rid of everything that made Metal Gear 2 awesome. Tricking the guard into thinking it's nighttime, neutralizing deadly acid with deadly chocolate, deadly poisonous Zanzibar hamsters, and Sean Connery as Big Boss.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 5:49PM DasMadHatter said
I really re-hope they remake the series. This time, fire the writing staff, and get a Western writer to handle things like story, dialogue, etc.
You know, so they're bearable, and not painfully redundant?
You know, so they're bearable, and not painfully redundant?
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 6:05PM zombiefriend said
They could easily do all of that in a remake. I don't see what the problem would be. Plus, they got rid of Connery as Big Boss in Subsistence.
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Posted: Dec 26th 2011 6:15PM RealityCheck2013 said
No MGS1 + MGS4 on the MGS HD Collection? Hmm why bother? ? ?
Best thing anyone who hasn't played MGS yet to do is just buy a PS3 console & get this + MGS1 off PSN & buy MGS4(PS3 disc) & enjoy the whole lot :P You can't do that owning a Xbox 360 LoL
Best thing anyone who hasn't played MGS yet to do is just buy a PS3 console & get this + MGS1 off PSN & buy MGS4(PS3 disc) & enjoy the whole lot :P You can't do that owning a Xbox 360 LoL
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 3:06AM Liquidfingers said
@RealityCheck2013
LoLoLoLoL! you're hilarious!
i played MGS1 on the original PSX back when i was about 12. i have no desire to go back and play it now, ruining my extremely fond memories of it for all time. oh, and MGS4 is a decent flick and everything, but as far as the actual game part of it goes...well...
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LoLoLoLoL! you're hilarious!
i played MGS1 on the original PSX back when i was about 12. i have no desire to go back and play it now, ruining my extremely fond memories of it for all time. oh, and MGS4 is a decent flick and everything, but as far as the actual game part of it goes...well...
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 6:45PM HardBoiled2009 said
I hope MGS is finished. cause they would just be milking the series yea yea i know i speak against the mass but if you wanna play them games go buy them online cause it's perfect how it is and we don't need anything MGS
/Rant
/Rant
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 7:38PM jamiepgs said
When I heard that there wouldn't be a MGS1 HD I was initially disappointed. However, I then bought the original on PSN and realised that it doesn't need re-doing. Kojima is right, if it were to be done it would have to be a total remake and if you did that it wouldn't be MGS1. Sure, it has the same story but that's not all MGS1 is. MGS1 was made for that time, that hardware. You wouldn't be able to recreate that, even the PSN version doesn't do it justice.
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 7:54PM Foxhound1 said
oh and twin snakes is rubbish maybe better graphics but the amazing soundtrack especially gray fox v rex is not there dont ever want to see it ported to anything again mgs1 through n through :D
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 8:23PM theshonen8899 said
Screw MGS1, we already have Twin Snakes if people really need better graphics. I want a real Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 remake!
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 8:24PM theshonen8899 said
@theshonen8899 And I'm sure Kojima can release a remastered version of Twin Snakes on the Wii U :P
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Posted: Dec 26th 2011 9:53PM MasterBrief said
um isnt there a remake? called the twin snakes? why make another
Posted: Dec 26th 2011 10:07PM kentuckyfried said
@Antwerp
She would make even more as a stripper, what a waste of a life working in front of a computer...
She would make even more as a stripper, what a waste of a life working in front of a computer...
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 3:09AM Liquidfingers said
@Antwerp
why do you care so much about what your step-sister does? shit, she's just your step-sister. if you're so impressed with her wages, why don't you do the same thing, and why are you being so amazingly generous by revealing this secret recipe for success to complete strangers over the internet?
why do you care so much about what your step-sister does? shit, she's just your step-sister. if you're so impressed with her wages, why don't you do the same thing, and why are you being so amazingly generous by revealing this secret recipe for success to complete strangers over the internet?
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 3:52AM McDude said
No one's getting another MGS remake until I get a Snatcher remake.
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 10:14AM Tab said
I liked MGS, but i didn't like Twin Snakes. It's like they tried so hard to be "cool" with him jumping off of rockets and all sorts of other nonsense. The whole tone of the Pycho Mantis fight was changed for me. I'd welcome a closer remake if I got it, but if not. I'll take the original. Ugly graphics and all.
Posted: Dec 27th 2011 10:15AM Tab said
I do agree that they should remake the original Metal Gear games. Ah, what I would pay to actually hear somebody say "I feel asleep".








