Overview

• Hideo Kojima revealed that Solid Snake’s silent personality in the original Metal Gear was due to the technological constraints of the 1980s, not purely creative decisions.
• At the time, games lacked voice dialogue capabilities and could not display kanji fonts, limiting character expression and narrative depth.
• The 1988 release of NEC’s CD-ROM2 console marked a turning point, enabling voice recordings and influencing future game design.
• Kojima’s first experience with voice recording was rushed and challenging, leading to significant changes in his approach for later projects.
• These early constraints laid the groundwork for the evolution of voice acting and character development in Kojima’s later games, including the critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid series.