The Metal Gear series of groundbreaking and mind-bending stealth action games from creator Hideo Kojima began with the original 1987 game. Released by Konami for the MSX2, Metal Gear is considered by many to be the first true stealth video game. Despite using such early technology, many of the gameplay mechanics and story events established in this first installment went on to become staples of the franchise.
Before the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in 2015, Hideo Kojima's partnership with Konami ended, and he founded his own independent studio. This separation makes it unlikely that fans will ever see another Kojima-directed Metal Gear title, with the creator instead working on brand new properties such as 2019's Death Stranding.
Konami attempted to continue using the property, releasing the zombie survival game Metal Gear Survive in 2018, but this game performed poorly in all aspects. While some fans are anticipating a remake of 1998's Metal Gear Solid, Konami's best course of action would actually be to remake the very first Metal Gear title.
As the first full-fledged stealth game, 1987's Metal Gear set precedents which are still followed by the genre today. Unfortunately, after more than three decades, the gameplay of the classic MSX2 title has become extremely dated. Stealth maneuvering is hindered by screen transitions, and firing a gun is extremely awkward and unreliable. On top of that, item selection is slow and clunky, breaking the game's already slow pacing. Fans of modern gaming might not have a hard time picking up the game's 1990 sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, but the very first installment is a chore for most modern gamers.
Using the highly refined stealth gameplay of Metal Gear Solid V could easily breathe new life into this classic title. MGSV's gameplay is fast and responsive, while still retaining the pillars of stealth and innovation that were established by Metal Gear. While MGSV: The Phantom Pain's open-world nature wouldn't quite fit into the story and tone of the original game, its predecessor Ground Zeroes would translate perfectly.
MGSV: Ground Zeroes features modern movement, sneaking and combat mechanics while also keeping the action contained to a single military base. This smaller scope could give players an excellent idea of what a modern Metal Gear may look like when rendered in the powerful Fox Engine and utilizing MGSV's gameplay features.
The Metal Gear series' story is notoriously convoluted, but the original game maintained a solid place in the franchise's canon. Solid Snake's infiltration of Outer Heaven, culminating in a face-off with legendary soldier and former mentor Big Boss, is a staple moment for the series' protagonists. This simple premise could easily be embellished and expanded by Konami in a hypothetical remake without stepping on Hideo Kojima's toes too much. The basics could remain the same, and some details could be updated to better reflect the twisted lore that has followed since Metal Gear's 1987 release, such as having Big Boss reveal to Snake that he is actually his father.
The Metal Gear series is known for its legendary boss fights, and the original game has a final boss that could be amazing given modern technology. The final battle of the original Metal Gear game sees protagonist Solid Snake face off against his commanding officer, and occasional series protagonist, Big Boss. However, those who have played Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain know that this final boss fight is actually against Venom Snake, the playable character of that game who is revealed to be impersonating the original Big Boss.
This mind-bending series of twists could be boiled down to a grueling and emotional final boss fight, in which the player must take down a character who acted as their avatar in the previous installment. Seeing Venom Snake use familiar tricks, such as hiding in cardboard boxes or calling in his canine companion D-Dog, would make this iconic fight feel like a perfect mirror match. Like The Boss, the final boss of Metal Gear Solid 3, a battle against Venom Snake/Big Boss could test players abilities in shooting, sneaking and close-quarters fighting.
Metal Gear is a series that is close to many gamers' hearts, mixing truly innovative gameplay with an absolutely absurd plot. With Hideo Kojima's departure from the series, sequels or additional installments would only disappoint those who love his signature style. However, by remaking a very dated game with modern gameplay, Konami could avoid stepping on Kojima's toes while also creating a brand new Metal Gear experience.