Hideo Kojima Reflects on Solid Snake’s Silent Origins in Metal Gear

Kojima explains that early technical limitations, including the absence of voice dialogue and kanji fonts, shaped Solid Snake's silent 'tough guy' persona in the 1987 debut of Metal Gear.

• 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.

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