With its badass main character, memorable villains, cinematic cut scenes and meta-touches, Metal Gear Solid felt like something entirely unique - and indeed, progressive - when it first landed for the PlayStation in 1998. As the first 3D game in Hideo Kojima's series (the game game of which, Metal Gear, came out in 1987), Metal Gear Solid - with its irresistible tagline "Tactical Espionage Action - proved to be unlike any game ever made. Not to mention the fact that Kojima seemed to be taking all of his cues from Hollywood films. The stealth aspects certainly defined Metal Gear Solid, as husky-voiced protagonist Solid Snake attempted to infiltrate a secluded island overtaken by a terrorist unit. Dense, insane and entirely idiosyncratic, Metal Gear Solid felt like a huge leap forwards for auteur game creators - and proved a totally thrilling mindf*ck to play.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
