‘Metal Gear Solid 4′ And The Lack Of Sad Games

By Stephen Totilo on June 25, 2008 at 1:00 AM

Like Kotaku’s very own Leigh Alexander, I was interviewed by the New York Times for the paper’s weekend story about Metal Gear Solid 4. But, perhaps unlike Leigh, I wasn’t confident I gave the reporter a solid interview.

So, shortly after hanging up the phone, I sent him a follow-up. There was one MGS4 idea that we hadn’t discussed that I thought was deserving of an NYT spotlight: How sad the game is. And how rare it is that we get a chance to play a sad game.

In my letter, I wrote:


MGS4 is the rare effort of video game blues and tragedy. Gamers are used to being asked to save the day and be the hero. Metal Gear Solid 4 is so unusual in that it’s the rare game that asks them to be interested in something else: a march toward defeat, an interactive tragedy.

I’ve printed my full e-mail below. No spoilers beyond what was in the game’s trailers.

Anyone else want more video game tragedies? (cue mention of Conker’s Bad Fur Day)

David,

One other thing that we should have talked about: the novelty of a video game tragedy.

The video game medium has largely been one of triumphal fiction. One could argue that that’s because of the nature of games. Designers need to keep their players entertained, which, in character-driven games as far back as Pac-Man, involves giving the player obstacles and enemies to overcome. And many modern video games keep the player engaged by rewarding the player with an expanding arsenal of abilities. Get this far in a game or conquer this challenge in a game and your character will now be able to jump further or replace her pistol with a shotgun or finally be able to swing not just a sword but now a sword engulfed in magic flame. Players are compelled, so often, by a sense of progress. And that’s why, I think, so many games’ stories are necessarily ones of triumph, of Horatio Alger status climbing or Joseph Campbell heroic feat.

So it was a bit strange when the first major MGS4 trailer premiered a few years ago and culminated with Old Snake finding a quiet spot of the battlefield away from the gunfire an placing the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. That’s what feels so unusual about MGS4 even compared to the other MGS games. This is a sad story, one that feels destined to end in defeat. Snake is aging and dying. He’s literally become toxic to the people around him. And his back hurts. (Which you’ll see him clutch in pain if you let him crouch too long). MGS4 is the rare effort of video game blues and tragedy. Gamers are used to being asked to save the day and be the hero. Metal Gear Solid 4 is so unusual in that it’s the rare game that asks them to be interested in something else: a march toward defeat, an interactive tragedy. That’s what feels novel. And, like I said, it’s still a challenge to parse the value of novelty from any sense of how the work will hold up in the long term.

Hope that helps!

-Stephen

Tagged:

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • cdammers
    June 25, 2008 at 2:49 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • MadMinstrel
    June 25, 2008 at 2:49 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Krondonian
    June 25, 2008 at 2:46 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 2:45 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 2:45 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 2:38 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • rdcarvallo
    June 25, 2008 at 2:33 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ziggy6069
    June 25, 2008 at 2:32 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • .em.
    June 25, 2008 at 2:31 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • DugDawg
    June 25, 2008 at 2:30 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 2:30 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • WEGGLES90
    June 25, 2008 at 2:28 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Totorototoro
    June 25, 2008 at 2:27 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Tubatic
    June 25, 2008 at 2:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Kaminari
    June 25, 2008 at 2:22 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Frank
    June 25, 2008 at 2:20 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • heretrix
    June 25, 2008 at 2:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Daft
    June 25, 2008 at 2:17 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • mfwahwah
    June 25, 2008 at 2:16 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Ptolemy
    June 25, 2008 at 2:16 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • sj4iy
    June 25, 2008 at 2:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • chucklebuck
    June 25, 2008 at 2:11 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • eskimo-bob
    June 25, 2008 at 2:10 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • heretrix
    June 25, 2008 at 2:09 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Combichristoffersen
    June 25, 2008 at 2:08 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Jagzthebest
    June 25, 2008 at 2:08 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Siegeman
    June 25, 2008 at 2:07 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 2:06 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Ptolemy
    June 25, 2008 at 2:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Combichristoffersen
    June 25, 2008 at 2:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 2:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • JustThisGuy
    June 25, 2008 at 2:03 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • RPGr
    June 25, 2008 at 2:03 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • JohAE86
    June 25, 2008 at 2:01 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Berd
    June 25, 2008 at 2:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • pasquinelli
    June 25, 2008 at 1:58 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • fuchikoma
    June 25, 2008 at 1:55 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • bean, bean, the musical... well, you know.
    June 25, 2008 at 1:52 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 1:51 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • OtherAdam
    June 25, 2008 at 1:50 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ahmeng
    June 25, 2008 at 1:49 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Cosmitz
    June 25, 2008 at 1:48 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • exion
    June 25, 2008 at 1:48 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Deuce
    June 25, 2008 at 1:48 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Hazaa54
    June 25, 2008 at 1:48 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • homernoy
    June 25, 2008 at 1:46 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • robotleawesome
    June 25, 2008 at 1:43 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Kanik
    June 25, 2008 at 1:40 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Mr.DuckSauce
    June 25, 2008 at 1:40 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • JohnHype
    June 25, 2008 at 1:38 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • XanderSan
    June 25, 2008 at 1:35 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Dragzonox
    June 25, 2008 at 1:34 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Hatebunny
    June 25, 2008 at 1:34 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • jettokisora
    June 25, 2008 at 1:34 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Reetesh
    June 25, 2008 at 1:33 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Eville1
    June 25, 2008 at 1:31 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Aex
    June 25, 2008 at 1:29 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Cin
    June 25, 2008 at 1:28 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • dry-roasted-peanuts
    June 25, 2008 at 1:27 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • bigmuffpi
    June 25, 2008 at 1:27 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Darth Navster
    June 25, 2008 at 1:26 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Voteforme2020
    June 25, 2008 at 1:25 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Islandkiwi
    June 25, 2008 at 1:25 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • SuperMaxZero
    June 25, 2008 at 1:25 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Xtreme_Hindu_Cow
    June 25, 2008 at 1:25 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • kronk
    June 25, 2008 at 1:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Gray665
    June 25, 2008 at 1:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ShaggE
    June 25, 2008 at 1:23 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Omegasoap
    June 25, 2008 at 1:23 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Rorschach2112
    June 25, 2008 at 1:21 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • quartet4
    June 25, 2008 at 1:21 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • StephenTotilo
    June 25, 2008 at 1:20 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 1:20 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wild homes and gardens
    June 25, 2008 at 1:19 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • LordMaim
    June 25, 2008 at 1:19 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Guild_Navigator
    June 25, 2008 at 1:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • WolFEnsTeiN68
    June 25, 2008 at 1:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Eville1
    June 25, 2008 at 1:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • drmcscott
    June 25, 2008 at 1:17 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • TrjnRabbit
    June 25, 2008 at 1:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Kanik
    June 25, 2008 at 1:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • McKenney
    June 25, 2008 at 1:14 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Gray665
    June 25, 2008 at 1:14 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • SovietEngland
    June 25, 2008 at 1:14 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • agies
    June 25, 2008 at 1:12 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • famousmortimer78
    June 25, 2008 at 1:12 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • soldier148
    June 25, 2008 at 3:37 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased
    June 25, 2008 at 3:35 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • soldier148
    June 25, 2008 at 3:34 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • CardJoker
    June 25, 2008 at 3:33 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • teraphony
    June 25, 2008 at 3:22 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Salen
    June 25, 2008 at 3:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • alitcofsky
    June 25, 2008 at 3:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Sunjammer
    June 25, 2008 at 3:06 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Sollus
    June 25, 2008 at 3:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Twoflower
    June 25, 2008 at 3:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • tsukasa1288
    June 25, 2008 at 3:01 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • latinogamer
    June 25, 2008 at 3:01 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Numerous
    June 25, 2008 at 3:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • GhaleonUnlimited
    June 25, 2008 at 2:59 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Killer7
    June 25, 2008 at 2:59 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • invictus2006
    June 25, 2008 at 2:57 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Sunjammer
    June 25, 2008 at 2:53 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • WatchAndWarrant
    June 25, 2008 at 4:44 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • umbrae
    June 25, 2008 at 4:39 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 4:36 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • HappyWulf
    June 25, 2008 at 4:35 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • cynopt
    June 25, 2008 at 4:29 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Talleh
    June 25, 2008 at 4:25 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • cynopt
    June 25, 2008 at 4:23 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Velops
    June 25, 2008 at 4:20 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • HikariOblivion
    June 25, 2008 at 4:17 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • somarix
    June 25, 2008 at 4:17 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Peter-Moore
    June 25, 2008 at 4:15 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ビッグ ボス
    June 25, 2008 at 4:14 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Ryodestined
    June 25, 2008 at 4:10 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • DigiMish
    June 25, 2008 at 4:06 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • supercrap
    June 25, 2008 at 4:01 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • epherlite
    June 25, 2008 at 4:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • vanderblade
    June 25, 2008 at 3:46 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Evil_Monkeys
    June 25, 2008 at 3:46 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Chanaluss
    June 25, 2008 at 3:45 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • tehflyingwombat
    June 25, 2008 at 3:45 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • bakana
    June 25, 2008 at 3:44 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • superbabyproject
    June 25, 2008 at 6:17 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 6:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • cdammers
    June 25, 2008 at 5:53 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • boopadoo
    June 25, 2008 at 5:50 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • artofwar420
    June 25, 2008 at 5:40 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Totorototoro
    June 25, 2008 at 5:30 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Antiterra
    June 25, 2008 at 5:27 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • heretrix
    June 25, 2008 at 5:21 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ManjiKengo
    June 25, 2008 at 5:05 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • catapult37
    June 25, 2008 at 5:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Totorototoro
    June 25, 2008 at 5:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • element7
    June 25, 2008 at 4:55 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • JustThisGuy
    June 25, 2008 at 8:26 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased
    June 25, 2008 at 8:24 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • humongous_mouse
    June 25, 2008 at 8:22 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • L337fool
    June 25, 2008 at 7:53 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • goldwings
    June 25, 2008 at 7:50 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Totorototoro
    June 25, 2008 at 7:44 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • cynopt
    June 25, 2008 at 7:28 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • pyropetey
    June 25, 2008 at 6:53 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Weasel3689
    June 25, 2008 at 9:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Weasel3689
    June 25, 2008 at 9:00 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Blah8
    June 25, 2008 at 9:54 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • WPack911
    June 25, 2008 at 9:51 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • superapplekid
    June 25, 2008 at 9:47 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Mistghost
    June 25, 2008 at 9:40 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • SpearXXI
    June 25, 2008 at 9:12 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic
    June 25, 2008 at 10:58 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • wirebrain
    June 25, 2008 at 10:52 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Sunjammer
    June 25, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • himohebi
    June 25, 2008 at 11:18 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • MGSchick
    June 25, 2008 at 12:15 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • golguin
    June 25, 2008 at 12:46 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • bobtheduck
    June 25, 2008 at 12:42 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Squeegoth
    June 25, 2008 at 1:25 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • FunkyJ
    June 25, 2008 at 1:54 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • TheMysteriousStranger
    June 25, 2008 at 4:52 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • mcderek3000
    June 25, 2008 at 5:39 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • mcderek3000
    June 25, 2008 at 5:28 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • michaelleung
    June 25, 2008 at 6:54 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • vln
    June 25, 2008 at 7:33 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Reetesh
    June 25, 2008 at 8:50 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • antimony
    June 26, 2008 at 1:04 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ConstantCupcake
    June 26, 2008 at 6:10 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • ConstantCupcake
    June 26, 2008 at 6:03 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Hokes
    June 25, 2008 at 7:03 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Tayruh
    June 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • Fiskib0t
    June 25, 2008 at 2:28 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • BxRaphael
    June 25, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • oddjob323
    June 25, 2008 at 12:28 PM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • monsterparty
    June 25, 2008 at 8:51 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

  • SpamuelD
    June 25, 2008 at 1:42 AM

    Maybe his shirt should have read,

Post Your Comments

Got something to say? There are two ways to comment:

1. Guests

Click here to comment instantly.

2. Facebook Users

Click below to comment using your Facebook account.

We're looking for comments that are interesting, substantial or highly amusing. If your comments are excessively self-promotional, obnoxious, or even worse, boring, you will be banned from commenting. All comments are moderated.