Metal Gear Solid (メタルギアソリッド, Metaru Gia Soriddo?, commonly abbreviated as MGS) also known as Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action is a stealth action video game directed by Kojima Hideo. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation 1 video game console.
It is the sequel to Kojima's early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. The game featured cinematic cutscenes rendered using the in-game engine and graphics, as well as voice acting in numerous codec sequences.
Metal Gear Solid follows Solid Snake, a soldier who infiltrates a nuclear weapons facility to neutralize the terrorist threat from FOXHOUND, a renegade special forces unit. Snake must liberate two hostages, the head of DARPA and the president of a major arms manufacturer, confront the terrorists, and stop them from launching a nuclear strike using an advanced combat mecha known as Metal Gear REX.
Metal Gear Solid was very well received by critics and sold many units. It is recognized by many experts as one of the best and most important video games of all time, and heralded as the game which made the stealth genre popular.
The commercial success of the title prompted the release of an expanded version for the PlayStation and PC, titled Metal Gear Solid: Integral; and a remake with enhanced graphics, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was later released for the NintendoGameCube. The game has also spawned numerous sequels, prequels and spin-offs, including several games, a radio drama, comics, and novels.
