List of classic Metal Gear characters
This is a list of characters appearing in the video game titles Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, the first two canonical games in the Metal Gear series. The two games were originally released in 1987 and 1990 respectively for the MSX2 home computer in Japan, with the original Metal Gear being ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and released worldwide. While many of the characters listed here only appeared in one game or the other, some of the major characters would return to form part of the mythos of the later Metal Gear Solid and its sequels, particularly protagonist Solid Snake and commanding officer-turned-antagonist Big Boss.
In 2004, both games were re-released for Mobile Phones in Japan, which were then included in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 (which marked the official worldwide release of Metal Gear 2). These versions featured renamed characters and updated character designs for Metal Gear 2 by illustrator Yoji Shinkawa. This article mainly follows the names used by the re-releases whenever a discrepancy presents itself.
Recurring characters
The following characters have appeared in both Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
FOXHOUND
Dr. Madnar
| Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Madnar.gif File:MSX Petrovich.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar is the inventor of the first known completed Metal Gear prototype. Originally from Russia, he is held captive in Outer Heaven after his plane was seized during his trip to the US. He developed the TX-55 Metal Gear tank, as well the TX-11 Arnold (Bloody Brad) cyberoids, while his daughter is held hostage, but they're both rescued by Solid Snake during Operation: Intrude N313 (the events of Metal Gear). His daughter Ellen falls in love with Snake at this point.
Afterwards, he goes to the U. S. A and proposes the Metal Gear project to the Government, but is ostracized by the scientific community for this and is subsequently institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital. After his release, he willingly sells the plans for a Metal Gear successor to Zanzibar Land. During Operation: Intrude F014 (the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake), he orchestrated the kidnapping of his academic friend, Dr. Kio Marv, and deceives Snake about his intentions by posing as a hostage. In the end, he kills Dr. Marv for refusing to reveal the location of the OILIX plan and attacks Snake after his cover is blown. He is outmatched by Snake and left for dead. He dies, while pondering about his daughter, whom he left in the East.
The name Pettrovich Madnar was also attributed by Hideo Kojima to a minor character in Snatcher. In Snatcher, Pettrovich is one of the head researchers of the Soviet Union's "Frankenstein Project" during the early 1990s along with his son, Elijah Madnar (the game's antagonist), which led to the creation of the "Snatcher" bioroids. He also designs an Anti-Snatcher bioroid named Randam Hajile (modeled after the image of his son), decades later in Neo Kobe. In Metal Gear 2, it is rumored (in a radio call with George Kassler) that Dr. Pettrovich had already developed the "Snatcher" technology prior to the events of the game and used it to create cybernetic implants to restore Big Boss' lost limbs after having been defeated by Snake in Outer Heaven (the rumor is never confirmed nor disproved, as it was never brought up again).
Note that Pettrovich's full name varies between versions and translations of the game. In the original MSX2 version of the first Metal Gear, his name was simply Dr. Petrovich. However, Metal Gear 2 gave him the surname of Madnar (although, it was used before for the aforementioned Snatcher character). The later versions released for Mobile Phones and included with Subsistence gave him the first name of Drago, establishing Pettrovich as his patronym rather than his given name. The spelling of his patronym alternates between Petrovich, Petorovich and Pettrovich depending on the translation. The English Sega CD version of Snatcher spells his surname as Modnar, but this was the result of a translation liberty.
While Pettrovich is credited as the inventor of Metal Gear, the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater reveal that the concept isn't originally his, but rather that of Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin who sent a copy of his original plans to a friend in the United States, most probably a relative of Dr. Hal Emmerich.
Kyle Schneider
| Kyle Schneider | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Kyle Schneider.jpg | |
| First game | Metal Gear |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Kyle Schneider is the leader of the resistance movement at Galzburgh, South Africa. He was once an architect who was forced to be part of Outer Heaven's design staff, but joined the underground movement when his wife and child were killed (the exact circumstances of their deaths are never revealed).
During Operation Intrude N313, he lent his the knowledge of the fortress layout to Solid Snake, serving as a sort of navigator during the mission. However, Snake loses contact with Schneider just before he was about to reveal the identity of the Outer Heaven leader and he is presumed dead afterwards.
In reality, Schneider survived but was taken captive by a clean-up crew deployed by NATO. He was used as a guinea pig for NASA's top-secret Black Ninja (Black Color) project. He was outfitted with an experimental flex armor and reflex-enhancing drugs. When the Black Ninja unit was disbanded, Schneider and other members of the unit fled to Zanzibar Land and assisted Big Boss during the War of Mercenaries in 1997.
In spite of the fact that Schneider originally opposed the Outer Heaven regime, he was grateful of Big Boss due to the fact that he provided refuge to the surviving members of the resistance movement after the NATO air strike that left most of them dead. He served as a vital member of Zanzibar Land's elite mercenary force after the war. During Operation Intrude F014, Schneider confronted Snake after disguising himself as Dr. Marv. Snake did not recognize Schneider until he defeated him in battle. Before dying, Schneider revealed his identity to Snake and told him what became of him after Outer Heaven. He provided a hint to Snake about the real Dr. Marv's location before dying.
Metal Gear
Supporting Characters
Ellen Madnar
| Ellen Madnar | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Elen Madnar.jpg Artwork of Elen as depicted in the MSX Metal Gear manual. | |
| First game | Metal Gear |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Ellen Madnar is a former Bolshoi Ballet star and the only daughter of scientist Dr. Petrovich Madnar. She is kidnapped by the mercenary force of Outer Heaven and held hostage in order to coerced her father into developing Metal Gear. However, she is saved by Solid Snake during Operation Intrude N313 and is reunited with her father at the end. Afterwards, she decides to remain in the Russia while her father goes to the United States. She falls in love with Snake at this point and "won't marry other man" as Petrovich tells Snake during Operation Intrude F014.
Note that Ellen's full name was originally listed as Ellen Pettrovich in the MSX manual for Metal Gear, but this was retconned when it was established that Madnar is Petrovich's true surname. The Mobile Phone/Subsistence version changed her surname to Madnar.
Diane
| Diane | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:MG1 diane.jpg | |
| First game | Metal Gear |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Diane is a member of the Resistance movement at Outer Heaven. She was formerly a vocalist of Thin Wall, a positive punk band and uses her feminity for intelligence activities. Having gone on several intelligence missions in Outer Heaven, she has accumulated knowledge about the mercenaries and armaments of Outer Heaven. During Operation Intrude N313, she provided her expertise to Snake, providing with the weaknesses of each of Outer Heaven's mercenaries. She apparently had an unrequited love for Snake, but never expressed her feelings to him. She lived with her boyfriend Steve, who would often answer Snake's calls only to be annoyed with him and provided excuses for Diane's absence.
Jennifer
| Jennifer | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:MG1 Jennifer.jpg | |
| First game | Metal Gear |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Jennifer is a member of the resistance movement at Outer Heaven. She infiltrates the fortress by posing as part of the medical staff to save her older brother, who is taken captive by Coward Duck (Dirty Duck). During Operation Intrude N313, Solid Snake learns her frequency from one of the hostages (however, the player is unabled to contact unless a four-star rank has been obtained). She provided internal support to Snake, by providing him with the Rocket Launcher used to defeat the Arnold (Bloody Brad) cyberoids, as well as unlocking the room containing the Compass (which Snake used to cross the desert to Building #3). In return, Snake managed to save her brother from Duck.
Jennifer reappeared in the non-canonical Snake's Revenge as a double agent working for both, FOXHOUND and the unnamed terrorist group in the game. The name Jennifer was also reused for an incidental character in one of the "Snake Tales" featured in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. She is among the hostages in the Shell 1 Core's Conference Room, although it is never properly established whether she is the same Jennifer or an unrelated character.
Outer Heaven
Shotmaker (Shoot Gunner)
Shotmaker (Shoot Gunner (sic) in the MSX2 version and Shotgunner in the NES version) is a member of the Outer Heaven mercenary force. A riot gun specialist. He was formerly a Spetsnaz operative before the collapse of the Soviet Union. He was the warden of the secret underground prison where Gray Fox was being kept during Operation Intrude N313. He was the first professional mercenary Solid Snake ever fought against and defeated.
Machinegun Kid
Machinegun Kid is an Outer Heaven mercenary who specializes in machine guns. He was formerly an agent for the British Special Air Service. During Operation Intrude N313, he fought against Solid Snake while guarding the corridors of the second floor of Building No.1, but ultimately lost against him.
Fire Trooper
Fire Trooper is an Outer Heaven mercenary who specializes in handling a flamethrower like a mere rifle. He is a former GSG 9 operative who wears a white flame-protection suit. He fought against Solid Snake in an underground prison during Operation Intrude N313.
Bloody Brad (Arnold)
Bloody Brad (Arnold in the MSX2/NES versions, named after actor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his role in The Terminator) is the codename of the TX-11 series of "cyberoids" developed by Dr. Madnar. When Dr. Madnar was taken captive by Outer Heaven, he was forced to use his robotic technology to develop two cyberoid units. They're resistant to virtually all sorts of firepower. During Operation Intrude N313, Solid Snake fought against two TX-11 units and managed to destroy them using an RPG-7 provided to him by Jennifer.
Dirty Duck (Coward Duck)
Dirty Duck (called Coward Duck in the MSX2/NES version, named after the comic book character Howard the Duck) is an Outer Heaven who is known for his cowardly tactics of using hostages as shields (hence his name). He was once the leader of an extremist terrorist group known as "Egg Plant". During Operation Intrude N313, Duck fought against Solid Snake with a boomerang while using Jennifer's brother and other hostages as shields. However, Snake found an opening against Duck and use it without harming the hostages.
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
FOXHOUND
George Kasler
| George Kasler | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:George Kessler.gif File:MSX Kessler.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
George Kasler (spelled Kesler in the original MSX2 version and Kessler in a fan-translation) is a member of FOXHOUND during the events of Operation Intrude: F014. He is a well-known mercenary who possess intel on every active mercenary in the world and it is said that those who are not aware of who he is are not worthy of being recognized as part of the elite.
He participated in various regional conflicts for the South African Mercenary Force and the French Foreign Legion. He lent his service for Zanzibar Land during the War of Mercenaries against the CIS Army, but suffered a deep wound on his right thigh, ending his career. Afterwards, he worked briefly as a hostage negotiator and lent his field experience to work as a military informant.
He was hired to work as an arms advisor for FOXHOUND shortly before the events of the Zanzibar Land incident. During the mission, he provided operative Solid Snake with his expertise when he engaged in combat with Zanzibar Land's mercenary force. He informed Snake of whom Gray Fox really was near the end of Snake's mission.
Supporting characters
Kio Marv
| Dr. Kio Marv | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Kio Marv.gif File:MSX Marv.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Dr. Kio Marv is the Czechoslovakian scientist responsible for the discovery of OILIX (Botulliococcus Ozuma Braunii), a microorganism which excretes high-quality petroleum from raw oil. He discovered OILIX by accident while conducting experiments with fertilizers using biomasses. In addition to his occupation as a biologist, Dr. Marv is also a well-known video-game hobbyist, designing his own independently produced video games which has received acclaim from magazines. He could only speak in Czech and Slovak often requires an interpreter. He is also known for writing his clues backwards.
He was scheduled to attend the International Energy Crisis Conference to officially unveil OILIX when his plane was hijacked by Zanizbar Land's mercenary force. He was accompanied by his academic friend and colleague, Dr. Madnar, who was one who actually orchestrated the attack. He is held captive in Zanzibar Land's Detention Camp and is ultimately killed by Madnar when he refuses to reveal the location of the OILIX formula, which he hid inside a specialized locker that can only be opened by a temperature-sensitive key. Snake is successful in retrieving the formula, which was programmed into an MSX cartridge with Marv's signature (VRAM 01k or Kio Marv spells backwards).
Holly White
| Holly White | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Holly White.gif File:MSX Horry.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Holly White (spelled Horry in the MSX version) is an American freelance journalist. The daughter of a French mother and a British father. an undercover spy for the CIA. She has been awarded with a Pulitzer Prize for her report on Afghanistan and an Emmy for her documentary on KTV, Unknown Bloodstream. Her fame has gained various positions, including working as an exclusive model for Depeche Vogue magazine at one point. However, she also uses her positions to do undercover work for the CIA.
During Operation Intrude F014, she infiltrated Zanzibar Land for the CIA while posing as a journalist. She met up with Solid Snake, who was dispatched to the country retrieve Dr. Marv. Holly provided her assistance to Snake and served as a navigator of the fortress' layout. At one point, her cover was blown and she was captured. Snake managed to save her and she managed to stay hidden disguised as a soldier. It was she who exposed Dr. Madnar's treachery to Snake. After Snake retrieved the OILIX formula and defeated Big Boss, Holly escaped from Zanzibar Land together with Snake. Snake had made dinner plans with Holly at the end of the mission, but these were never met.
Gustava Heffner (Natasha Marcova)
| Gustava Heffner | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Gustava Heffner.gif File:MSX Natasha.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Gustava Heffner (Natasha Marcova in the MSX2 version and Markova in a fan-translation) is Dr. Marv's personal bodyguard. A former world-class figure skater, she was once known as the "Fairy on Ice" during the Olympics and has won several successive championships. She became romantically involved with an American man named Frank Hunter and tried to elope with him. After being denied her green card and failing an over-the-fence, she was stripped of her competition rights. She then joined the StB (the Czech International Police), hoping she could meet with Frank again.
Prior to Operation Intrude F014, she was assigned to be Dr. Marv's bodyguard when his plane was hijacked by Zanzibar Land's forces. She managed to escape captivity by disguising herself as a soldier. She met up with Snake while hiding inside the women's bathroom in Zanzibar Building. Gustava provided her assistance to Snake for a brief period, helping him free Dr. Madnar from his cell. However, Dr. Madnar was actually an enemy spy and led the two into a trap. While crossing the suspension bridge leading to the Detention Camp where Dr. Marv was held, she was struck by a missile from Metal Gear D. Ironically enough, it was her former lover, Frank Hunter (aka Gray Fox), that was piloting Metal Gear, although it is unknown whether he was aware who his target was. Before dying, she provided the Zanzibar Land-shaped brooch needed to open Dr. Marv's locker.
Johan Jacobsen (Yozef Norden)
| Johan Jacobsen | |
|---|---|
| Metal Gear series character | |
| File:Johan Jacobsen.gif File:MSX Yozev.PNG | |
| First game | Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |
| Created by | Hideo Kojima |
Johan Jacobsen (Yozef Norden in the MSX2 version) is a zoologist and an international authority on endangered species. He was an academic friend of Dr. Madnar during their college years. He worked as vice chairman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has also served as a biology adviser for Maxwell magazine. During the time of Operation Intrude F014, he was near Zanzibar Land, conducting research on the desert wildlife of the Middle east. Snake learned his frequency from Dr. Madnar during his mission and often came in contact with him when dealing with animal matters.
Zanzibar Land
Black Ninja (Black Color)
Black Ninja (Black Color (sic) in the MSX2 version, named after The Blackcollar ninjas from the Timothy Zahn novel of the same name) is the codename of members of the Extraterrestrial Environment Special Force, a top-secret project established by NASA. They are high-tech ninjas equipped with flex armor and reflex-enhancing drugs. They attack with teleportation techniques and shurikens, and are also masters of disguise. They were considered too dangerous to exist and the unit was disbanded before their actual debut. However, some of the members avoided sacrifice and fled armed to Zanzibar Land, where they were recruited for the mercenary wars. One of these members was actually Schneider, whom Solid Snake fought against during Operation Intrude F014.
Running Man
Running Man (a name derived from the novel and film The Running Man) is a Zanzibar Land mercenary noted for his high agility. He is well-versed in explosives and setting booby traps that require his fast feet. He was once a well-known short-range runner who gained his fame during the Barcelona Olympics. His athletic career was put to an end when he was convicted of doping and he became a mercenary afterwards. He was involved in terrorist activities through all of Europe. He once served as a sub-leader to a French terrorist group known as Les Enfants Terribles (no relation to the secret government project) and got his name from SEK (the German Special Police Force).
Running Man fought against Solid Snake in a gas-filled corridor during Operation Intrude F014. Snake managed to use Running Man's greatest asset against him by placing mines in Running Man's path. The concept for Running Man "The fastest mercenary in the world" was criticised by one critic.[1]
Red Blaster
Red Blaster is a Zanzibar Land mercenary who specializes as a grenadier. He is an elite assassin who earned his special operations degree from the Patrice Lumumba University of the former Soviet Union. He once served as a detonation professional for Spetsnaz.
Red Blaster fought against Solid Snake during Operation Intrude F014 in the 29th floor of Tower Building.
Strangely, he is described as being dressed in red, but in-game he wears green fatigues.
Four Horsemen (Ultra Box)
The Four Horsemen (or Ultra Box in MSX2 version, named after the band Ultravox) is an assassination squad employed by Zanzibar Land that specializes in close-quarter combat. They are comprised of former elite members of UDT, GSG-9 and SAS. They used the advantage of increased weight inside elevators to their benefit. Their name is probably a reference to the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
They fought against Solid Snake during Operation Intrude F014 in an elevator inside Tower Building under the direct orders from Gray Fox and Big Boss.
Jungle Evil (Predator)
Jungle Evil (Predator in the MSX2 version, a name derived from the film Predator) is a Zanzibar Land mercenary who specializes in ambush techniques and guerilla warfare. Also known as the phantom assassin, he was once an operative for the South African Special Forces Brigade.
Predator fought against Solid Snake during Operation Intrude F014 in front of a laboratory near the Detention Camp.
Night Fright (Night Sight)
Night Fright (Night Sight in the MSX2 version) is a Zanzibar Land mercenary who uses an optic camouflage suit that is also undetectable by radar and wields a Wei Shen Sho Ciang (roughly translated from Chinese "No Sound Machine Gun"), a gun which makes little noise. He is a surviving member of Whispers, a legendary guerilla squad from North Vietnam. He is also the first character in the series to use a form of steath camoflauge.
He fought against Solid Snake in the basement of the Detention Camp during Operation Intrude F014. Snake got a tip of an ambush he prepare from an anonymous caller, who was later revealed to be Gray Fox. Night Sight was described as having one of the better names amongst the characters of Metal Gear 2.[1]
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