To celebrate the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 we’ve rounded up the top ten MGS gadgets of all time, going right from Snake’s first outing to his latest to unearth the finest gadgets right across the tactical espionage series.
We’re sure you’ll remember each one with fondness. Have a peep and see if you agree with our seasoned spy veteran nostalgia.
iPod
If there was any evidence Apple’s slowly taking over the world, then Snake’s favoured MP3 player in MGS4 is it.
It’s not really used for anything other than changing the music you listen to during the game, but it does show Snake knows his gadgets. Good man. He might need to swap that fifth-gen iPod for something newer though.
Found in: MGS4
Drum Barrel
When you’ve got all the spy gadgets in the world you can be spoilt for choice. Sometimes the simplest things work best. Disguises don’t come much better than hiding in a barrel. And if the enemy spots you, knock ‘em over.
Found in: MGS4
Crocodile cap
In a move more Crocodile Dundee than Metal Gear Solid, Snake dons some croc headwear to fool enemy soldiers in an attempt to creep past them. We’d have thought some people would be more wary of a man-eating reptile sneaking past them, but who are we to argue. It works.
Found in: MGS3
Camera
Although Snake’s snapper of choice did not have any hidden spy features, it proved a useful tool in gathering evidence of Metal Gear Ray in MGS2, and taking photos of those posters in the locker room.
Found in: MGS2
Cigarette shaped narcosis gun
James Bond isn’t the only one with secretly disguised gadgets. Found in MGS3, this cig-shaped shooter fires out a dose of sleep spray at unsuspecting, often clumsy, guards. Snake’s then free to pilfer their belongings. Good night.
Found in: MGS3
Solid Eye
One of the most infuriating aspects of previous MGS titles was having to flick between the scope, thermal and night vision. Thankfully Snake’s military suppliers in MGS4 have bundled them all together in one covert peeping package.
Found in: MGS4
Radar Mic
What good is a microphone in a stealth game you ask? It’s not for singing, silly. It works the opposite way, by picking up sounds from the enemy.
During Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty, Raiden has to find out where Richard Ames is, but as you’d guess, he can’t exactly ask the AK47 armed guards where to find him.
That’s where the mic comes in. When pointed at an area, or person, it amplified the sound, helping Raiden to eavesdrop on conversations. It’s a voyeurs dream, and a rather handy tool in tactical espionage.
Found in: MGS2, MGS3
MK2
Metal Gear wouldn’t be the same without Otacon’s marathon pre-mission ramblings. Though he never fights alongside our hero, his presence on the field is more physical this time round, communicating via the WALL-E- like MK2.
Equipped with an electric prod it can be used to stun enemies into submission and scout dangerous locations in stealth. It’s the ultimate spy gadget. Who needs a human sidekick when you can have a robot?
Found in: MGS4
Stealth suit
Awarded for finishing the MGS games (or by cheating), the stealth suit is the ultimate in spy-style sneaking.
You can do anything with it. Run amok predator style, giving armed guards wedgies (maybe), peep at the discarded issues of Playboy without getting caught, or just take a leisurely stroll through the world of MGS without filling the screen with an explosion of exclamation marks.
Found in: MGS, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4
Cardboard box
OK, so it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the stealth suit, the deadliness and cunning of the MK2 or the sheer cool of Snake’s cigarette gun, but has there ever been a more useful spy tool than the legendary cardboard box?
“It’s just a box” say the guards. Maybe, but with Snake inside it, it’s a deadly one.
Found in: MGS, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4
