For those of you who may not know: I regard the Metal Gear series as the greatest achievement in video game history. Between the looping story, the phenomenal production values and the tremendous voice acting, Metal Gear became the first series of games to ever make me fall in love.
To this day each entry gives me the same pre-teen jitters that I’ve gotten since I was 12. Enter Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; the trailer at GDC blew my mind and sold me on the game as only legendary designer Hideo Kojima could. But there was one caveat: Where is Snake’s voice? Not coming out of David Hayter’s mouth, I can tell you that.
David Hayter has been doing the voice for Snake since the first Metal Gear Solid game on the PSone in 1999.
Since then his raspy voice has floated into the minds and hearts of fans everywhere, solidifying him as one of the most recognizable characters in all of gaming. In the years following Hayter also lent the identical voice to Big Boss, Snake’s genetic father in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. But for Metal Gear Solid V Kojima has revealed that David Hayter will not be doing the raspy voice of Big Boss.
As you can imagine, fans revolted in the same way members of the NRA would if someone decided to pry their guns away from them. I myself felt a sorrow so profound words cannot even begin express it. Hayter himself even released a statement essentially saying he had a great run, and loved the character. It seemed like the Snake we knew was gone forever… Or is he (queue surprise music)?!
**I’m excited too David! Also let’s be best friends!**
Hayter recently tweeted about being excited for E3 coming up in a couple of weeks. Why would he be so excited? He rarely does other high profile game voices, and if he does they’re not nearly the same caliber of Snake’s. My theory: He’s not doing Big Boss the main character in MGSV … He is however still doing Snake. Hold your gasps, I’ll explain.
**See? Super different. Big Boss’ coat is WAY cooler.**
They’re Different People
Snake is technically a clone of Big Boss. In Metal Gear Solid V it has been confirmed that Big Boss goes into a coma, during which (in the MGS lore) his genes are cloned to create three “children” that are mothered by EVA. The project is called Les Enfants Terribles, which is French for the terrible children. The project eventually yields Solid Snake, Liquid Snake and Solidus Snake: the “children” of Big Boss.
Snake and Big Boss are different people. They are technically genetically very similar (not identical as Snake is only comprised of Big Boss’ dominant genes), but different nonetheless. My prediction for this game is that we’ll finally see Big Boss become the big bad we see him as in Metal Gear for the NES (1987). Since playing as Big Boss in MGS3 and Peace Walker we have only seen the motivations that drive Big Boss to become a villain. We’ve seen him get pushed closer steadily to the line, but never really cross it. I believe that Kojima, in his infinite wisdom, may want to separate that characters of Snake and Big Boss thematically in this installment, and one easily identifiable way to do this is to change his voice.
Even in MGS4 Big Boss had a different voice than Snake. Being that Big Boss is starting to get on in years at the point of MGSV Kojima is probably looking to make the differences between the characters a little more noticeable than an eye patch. While we’ve seen Big Boss make decisions that may be different than the ones Snake would make in similar situations, the characters demeanor and physical appearance remain hyper-similar.
**He’ll look EXACTLY like this!**
I’ll Bet we See Snake in MGSV
This is a wild theory, I know, so bear with me here. Kojima has said that after Ground Zeroes, what I assume will be a prologue (likely downloadable) to MGSV, Big Boss is left in a coma for a number of years, likely due to the events that obliterate Mother Base from Peace Walker. As I mentioned this is when the Les Enfants Terribles project takes place, and the sons of Big Boss are engineered.
When he comes out of his coma, it is safe to assume that Snake and his brothers could be anywhere between newborns and nine-years-old; for argument’s sake, lets say 5-years-old. Slap on a few more years of Big Boss building strength up again after being atrophied in a coma for nearly a decade; 9-years-old. Then insert the amount of time the actual game takes place over in addition to the creation of FOXHOUND, Big Boss’ Special Forces Unit from Metal Gear. That could be a full 18 to 20 years elapsing in the game. More than enough time for a rookie Snake to show up on Big Boss’ door ready to take up the proverbial mantle and officially set up the original Metal Gear.
Just imagine having a playable scenario at the end of the game where you’re put in the sneaky shoes of young Solid Snake being mentored by Big Boss! It would be like finally driving without a parent the day you get your license. Beyond that it would bring the story full circle and attach direct, meaningful connections to the two ends of the Metal Gear spectrum.
**Da Vinci was a visionary.**
I’m not comfortable enough to bet money on this or anything, but I do know that Kojima listens to his fans, and loves drawing crazy links to his previous games. Nothing is ever out of the realm of possibility with this man; just look at the Shadow Moses chapter in MGS4… It was unbelievable in the best way.
I know this is pretty hair-brained, but I’m just putting myself in Kojima’s shoes. Hopefully we can find out some new information on this during Konami’s pre-E3 event on Thursday, June 6th, and you can bet on me waking up early to bring the news to you, good friends.
Most importantly, what do you think? Does my theory hold water or am I spilling it all over my white pants in a public venue. Sound off in the comments down below and maybe I’ll let you have access to my awesome DVD collection!
[UPDATE] While digitally sauntering around the expansive inter-webs I came across something very interesting regarding my David Hayter theory.
Hayter’s IMDb page has him credited as playing a character named “David” in MGSV. One may assume this is a placeholder name for a cameo he’s doing; but more learned Metal Gear fans know that Snake’s real name is David. Coincidence? I think not.
It seems that my tin-foil-hat-level theory may be panning out exactly as I had predicted. Perhaps we’ll see Hayter reprise his roll after all – and maybe if were lucky we’ll be able to sneak into the novice boots of a young Snake.
Published: Jun 3, 2013 11:06 am