In the near future, the nations of the world rely upon private military companies to fight their battles for them. When renegade super-soldier Liquid Ocelot emerges as the head of a potent coalition of mercenary powers, an aging Solid Snake returns to save the world one last time.

As a joke, the game's director was originally announced as Alan Smithee, a pseudonym commonly used by directors who want to disown their films. Eventually, "Smithee" was revealed to be Shuyo Murata.

[from trailer]


Otacon:
Hey Snake, it's me.


Solid Snake:
Who?


Otacon:
[Otacon's face appears on the robot] Snake, it's me.


Solid Snake:
Otacon?


Otacon:
Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm here to help you from here on out.


Solid Snake:
Where are you now?


Otacon:
Out of harm's way.


Solid Snake:
Is that remote control?


Otacon:
Yup. And this mechanism is equipped with a Cell Processor.

[the robot starts dancing]


Solid Snake:
[Snake looks out the window] Otacon, we're surrounded.


Otacon:
Any ideas?


Solid Snake:
Can you lend me a hand?


Otacon:
Not at the moment... Snake, you'd better get moving.

[the robot gives Snake bullets]


Solid Snake:
OK. I'll take what I can get.

[Snake gets up and leaves]


Solid Snake:
You coming?


Otacon:
Of course. I'll be behind you all the way.


Otacon:
[after Otacon spots a cigarette in Snake's mouth] Uhh, Snake?


Solid Snake:
What now?


Otacon:
Didn't you quit?


Solid Snake:
Nah, just found a light.


Otacon:
Even in the middle of a battlefield...


Solid Snake:
Go!

Continuity: In this game, we're told that Para-Medic, the female doctor from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, was Dr. Clark, who Naomi mentioned several times in Metal Gear Solid. However, Naomi always referred to this person as male. This is an unfortunate translational error: the Japanese language provides many gender-neutral terms, so Clark's gender was never specified in the Japanese version of the first game. The "Metal Gear Solid Database" which Konami have released fudges this by claiming Dr. Clark was secretive, and Naomi mistakenly assumed she was male as a result.

(Opening Theme)
Performed by Jackie Presti
Words by Hideo Kojima
Composed & orchestrated by Nobuko Toda
Conductor: David Matthews
Recorded at Right Track Recording Studio (New York)