Kojima’s top picks: 15 movies that influenced Metal Gear Solid series
It’s quite natrual how some media would borrow elements from other media these days. Some movies, for example, take a lot from mythology. As such, video games borrow lots of elements from movies as well, and the Metal Gear Solid series is no exception. Check out the full article for Kojima’s top picks, and reasons how and why these movies made the cut.
It’s quite natrual how some media would borrow elements from other media these days. Books and stories take a lot from mythology, TV show borrow many elements in movies, and the like. As such, video games do so as well, and the Metal Gear Solid series is no exception.
In line with Japanese retailer Tsutaya, Hideo Kojima is doing poster boy to promote certain movies that he’s advertising as those which he got influence from. Here’s Kojima’s top 15 picks:
- The Guns of Navarone
- The Great Escape
- Goldfinger
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Planet of the Apes
- The Deer Hunter
- Dawn of the Dead
- Full Metal Jacket
- Die Hard
- Heat
- Predator
- Black Hawk Down
- Children of Men
- The Bourne Identity
- Casino Royale
Yes, as you can see, most of them are old – the type of movies some of your dads must have on their DVD racks (go, quick, see if you have some of these at home; they’re classics!). Lots of Kubricks and Vietnam war films, yeah?
If you check these entries on Tsutaya’s site, Hideo Kojima clues us in on why or how these movies played a role in influencing certain elements in Metal Gear Solid. Some of them are obvious, but for the record, here are some examples:
- The biggest influence for MGS is the James Bond series, most especially the ones which Sean Connery did. One instance of this is the Snake Eater song (man I love that song!), is a nod to the intro scenes in Bond movies.
- The Octocamo in Metal Gear Solid 4 is taken from Predator’s camouflage suit.
- Contrary to popular belief, Snake’s bandana isn’t taken from Rambo. Actually, it’s from Robert De Niro’s character in The Deer Hunter.
- FOXHOUND’s Sniper Wolf from Metal Gear Solid (and as an Easter egg ghost in MGS4 – after Crying Wolf) was inspired by the Vietnamese sniper girl in Full Metal Jacket.
- MGS4‘s documentary feel for camera movement was taken from Children of Men.
- The stage setting (meaning the lighting, the mood, etc.) of Middle East conflict zone in MGS4 was taken from Black Hawk Down.
- And of course, my favorite – something I actually already figured out since the first game: the influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. See the top image for a clue. *wink*
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