No conversation about stealth in gaming can be complete without copious mentions of Metal Gear Solid. Hideo Kojima’s long-standing franchise has been one of the pioneers in the genre and created an experience that few can match, even to this day.
With Konami’s MGS Delta: Snake Eater slated for launch this year, it will be the second game in the franchise to be made without Kojima’s sign-off. But., even though Kojima and Konami have parted ways, can the company escape the long shadow cast by one of the most well-known directors in the industry?
Konami Gambles on Metal Gear Solid Delta Without Kojima’s Involvement
The first game in the franchise was released on the PlayStation in 1998, and it quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the best games to ever be released on Sony’s first gaming console. Since then, games in the series have even diverted from the traditional stealth action games.
But the binding factor of most Metal Gear Solid games was the direction and leadership of Hideo Kojima. Now considered a titan in the industry, Kojima’s first entry in the series was titled Metal Gear.
It’s only after collaborating with Konami that he released the new name of the series, which attained the fame we know today. Kojima also credits the chairman of Konami, Kagemasa Kozuki, for encouraging him to build on the franchise with the second game despite the harrowing world events occurring at the time.
The new MGS 3 Remake is the second game without Kojima’s guidance, the first being Metal Gear Survive. The title already has the guardrails in place from the 2004 release, so the developers have some of Kojima’s leadership, even if by proxy. However, the question arises about the franchise’s future if this title is to succeed.
With the series and Kojima so integrally linked, one must wonder if the franchise can grow without his vision. It’s one thing to remake a classic, but building on the established universe and doing so in a faithful manner that does not discredit previous titles in the franchise will be an uphill battle for the current developers.
Kojima Has Moved on From the Metal Gear Series
While everyone is awaiting the release of Delta, the director himself is busy with his next project, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Already labeled as one of the best-looking games on the current console generation, the sequel to Death Stranding will feature many of the famous cast members from the first title and bring in more names for new characters added to the story.
The sequel is expected to launch sometime next year, and many have hoped that we will get an announcement for a PS5 Pro in the lead-up to the game. With greater specs comes a greater gaming experience, and Death Stranding 2’s full impact would be best felt at 4K 60FPS.
As Kojima moves on to future work, the fate of the stealth-action series is a bit ambiguous. Fans can only hope that Konami does not run the good name of the series into the ground and can add meaningful additions to the series.
What do you think will happen to the franchise? Let us know in the comments below!