10 Video Game Moments You've Always Misunderstood
6. No, It Isn't Solid Snake's "Virtual" Mission - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Metal Gear Solid games are convoluted and confusing at the best of times, so fans can't really be blamed for misinterpreting a lot of Hideo Kojima's storytelling, but even so, that Metal Gear Solid 3 scene isn't quite what you think.
In Snake Eater's opening cinematic, Major Zero explains the Virtuous Mission to Naked Snake, at which point Snake calls it the "Virtual Mission" before Zero corrects him.
Pretty much ever since the game's 2005 release, this scene has promoted widespread belief from fans that Snake Eater is actually a VR mission being undertaken by Solid Snake in order to better understand his "father."
Those who believe the theory also point to the Game Over screen instead reading "Time Paradox" if Naked Snake or other franchise-pivotal characters are killed before their time. It's almost as if the VR simulation needs Snake to stick to the facts.
It's a cute idea, but one which has been rejected by Kojima and doesn't really vibe with anything that's happened in the series since.
Still, there are many absolutely convinced that what we played in Snake Eater was a digital recreation of events - a virtual simulation for Solid Snake to hone his chops.