10 Video Game Fourth Wall Breaks No One Saw Coming

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In terms of gaming, the concept of breaking the fourth wall is simply to dissolve the barrier between the game and the audience. More simply explained, it's when a game becomes aware of its own existence, references the real world or acknowledges the gamer directly. It's not an element that often appears in games, but much like it has in films and TV, it's been popping up more regularly since the dawn of the 21st century. Metal Gear Solid is probably the most well-known for breaking the fourth wall, there are countless moments in the series that bewildered fans. A recent example would be when Otacon told the player to switch to disc 2 in Metal Gear Solid 4, before realizing that the PS3's Blu-ray capabilities removed the need for disc switching. There's also the unforgettable moment when Colonel tells you to abort the mission and turn off your console in MGS 2. There's no doubt the franchise has been the most effective in its use of fourth-wall breaking, the epic Psycho Mantis boss fight comes to mind in particular. It also definitely played a role in popularizing its use. However, we're not intending to comment on the greatest use of fourth wall-breaks in games, this time we're going for the least expected fourth wall references, ones that we didn't see coming or expect like the ones that often occur in Metal Gear Solid. When the medium is used best, it's used to bewilder, or to shock or astound - to do that the element of surprise is needed.
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Contributor

Sam is an experienced Film, Gaming and Wrestling writer, critic and journalist who was written for a vast number of different entertainment websites. Follow him on twitter at @Sams_Reel_Views.