Hideo Kojima is one of the most popular game developers in the gaming industry as he is the creator of the Metal Gear series. The Metal Gear series has been influential for the gaming industry, particularly for stealth games. After leaving Konami, he went on to direct Death Stranding.
We will look at the top 7 games Kojima has worked on throughout his career whether as director or producer.
7. Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Sitting in 7th is the high-speed robot action game, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.
This was released in February 2003. Although Kojima wasn’t the director of this title, he was involved as a producer (he also produced the first ZOE game). Yoji Shinkawa made art for the game while Norihiko Hibino took part in making the soundtrack.
The game involves you playing as a pilot named Dingo Egret who pilots a robot (called an “Orbital Frame”) called Jehuty, and he fights against a military organization called BAHRAM. You fight other robots in fast pace combat gameplay. The game is short, so it can be completed in one sitting; although there are people who wanted the game to be longer.
It improves a lot from the first game such as having more action sequences, and a more likable protagonist. If you beat the game, you unlock a versus mode where you can play as different characters from the story mode, and you unlock a mission mode. Lastly, the game has an awesome soundtrack too.
Jehuty slashing the final boss Anubis (piloted by Nohman)
6. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
At 6th place is the PSP stealth operations game called Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
This Kojima directed game was released on the PSP in 2010 and received a positive reception, although the sales were poor outside of Japan. You play as Big Boss (referred to as Snake), and you complete missions across Central America. You can change the equipment as you prepare for a mission thus giving strategy elements to the game as you decide what equipment is best for the mission.
There is a main hub for the game called “Motherbase” which you could upgrade as you progress throughout the game. Inside the “Motherbase” are different facilities with different functions including an R&D building that specializes in the development of weapons and other equipment.
Snake hiding from an enemy during a mission.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Sitting in 5th is the open-world stealth operations game called Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
This was the last Metal Gear game directed by Kojima and released in 2015. You play as Venom Snake, and you do missions, just like in Peace Walker, across the Middle East and Africa. Unlike the other games from the Metal Gear series, the maps of this game are more of an open-world type.
As you prepare for a mission, you can change the equipment, and outfit or skin of Snake. This game has a buddy system where you could bring someone or something with you such as a woman who is good at sniping or a horse that could get you to areas quicker.
You even have a tape player where you can play songs such as Snake Eater or licensed songs such as The Final Countdown by Europe. Lastly, like in Peace Walker, you have “Motherbase” which you must upgrade as you progress in the game.
Snake hiding behind a wall during a mission in the Middle East.
4. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Coming up in 4th is a juggernaut of a game that will mess with your mind; give it up for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty!
This game was released in November 2001 and directed by Hideo Kojima. Taking place after Metal Gear Solid 1, you start as playing Solid Snake, but you then play as Raiden after the prologue section. The prologue takes place on a tanker while the rest of the game takes place in a decontamination facility called “Big Shell.”
This was the first Metal Gear game to enable you to aim your gun in a first-person view. Other elements introduced included hanging off ledges, holding an enemy at gunpoint, and enemies working in squads.
You can shoot and break an enemy’s radio, so they won’t be able to call for help. With the enemy’s AI improved over MGS1, the enemy can work together and check the area if the player encounters them, escapes, and hides.
Raiden and Snake join forces to fight enemies.
3. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
In third is the finale of Solid Snake's epic story called Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
This was released in June 2008 and directed by Hideo Kojima, this concludes the story of Solid Snake. Solid Snake has become Old Snake due to his accelerated aging, but he still must confront Liquid. Characters from MGS1, MGS2, MGS3 make appearances in the game such as Meryl from MGS1 and Raiden from MGS2 who has become a cyborg.
You go through different environments in the game including the snowy island Shadow Moses; this causes the player to want to change camouflage to increase stealth in the right environment. Snake has an iPod where you play songs from other Metal Gear games, as well as songs from other Konami games.
This game brought in the over-the-shoulder camera view when aiming a weapon thus making it easier to aim a weapon compared to earlier games. There is even a shop where you can buy weapons and ammunition.
Old Snake riding with Eva during Act 3 in Eastern Europe.
2. Metal Gear Solid
In 2nd is the game that brought Metal Gear and Kojima's name to the mainstream; give it up for Metal Gear Solid!
The 1998 PlayStation 1 game that popularized the Metal Gear series, and the director Hideo Kojima. You play as Solid Snake who goes to an island called Shadow Moses to stop a terrorist group, led by Liquid Snake, from launching a nuclear missile. The terrorists plan on launching a missile through a giant robot called Metal Gear Rex.
Unlike the first two Metal Gear games, MGS1’s gameplay is in 3D. Just like the previous two games, you sneak past enemies through various means and hide. Once detected, you must escape and hide until security goes back to normal.
There are multiple weapons and equipment you can obtain throughout the game. This game being cutscene heavy with voice acting, and combined with it being 3D, gives the game a cinematic experience.
This game popularized the stealth genre causing other video game companies to develop stealth games such as Ubisoft creating Splinter Cell. MGS1 is considered to be one of the greatest games on the PlayStation 1 and of all time.
Snake teaming up with Meryl during a gunfight against enemies.
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The winner in 1st place is a prequel, that will do a better job educating you about the Cold War than school, called Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Released in 2004 and directed by Kojima, this game served as a prequel which focuses on Big Boss (called “Naked Snake”), the protagonist of the game. Taking place in 1964 during the Cold War, Naked Snake must rescue a scientist while killing his former mentor and destroying the first Metal Gear called the Shagohod.
Unlike the previous Metal Gear games, this game largely focuses on stealth outside rather than indoors. You must rely on your survival skills such as medical and food. You can kill animals such as frogs and eat them. This game introduced the camouflage system where you can change camouflage to increase stealth in the right environments.
It was praised for the gameplay, story, and graphics. This game is considered to be one of the best games of all time as well as the best Metal Gear game by many fans.
Snake and Eva during an escape sequence near the end of the game.
