20 Best Cutscenes In The Metal Gear Solid Franchise

After playing the majority of Metal Gear Solid 2 as the divisive Raiden, players are treated to a lengthy appearance from the game’s true protagonist.

Solid Snake meets Raiden on Wall Street and begins to wax lyrical about perception versus reality. With the game’s focus on Artificial Intelligence, it is a poignant speech about deciding who you are and what meaning you can make from your life.

While it is Raiden whom Snake is talking to, it is actually the player Snake is relaying this message, ‘everything you felt, thought about during this mission is yours.’

It is a heartfelt message from the game’s writers to the players. After being toyed with by being forced to play as a new character, and the uncertainty of Solid Snake’s true motives until past-midway through the game, Kojima acknowledges the player in a true fourth-wall-breaking way.

Kojima through Snake discusses the importance of art in society. Once we are dead, we can no longer have an impact in the world. However, if we choose to leave behind a legacy - like the Metal Gear Solid franchise, for example - we can still interact with people and help alter the world long after we’ve gone.