I’ve drank all of the koolaid available for this game. I think it’s the most compelling game in this series, perhaps partly because of how incomplete it is, allowing the player to fill in the blanks, informed by their own knowledge of real life and the general Metal Gear Solid universe. There’s such a strong story in here about identity and belief, to say nothing of the paramilitary complex and its related themes.

SPOILER The Truth scene is such a powerful moment to me, for some reason. The metal gear story has been developing for 38 years. It’s an intensely personal game that relies on the strength of its characters to keep you invested in the story. Venom is, out of all characters, the most accurate portrayal of the player playing the game. Not in the sense that he feels like a blank slate due to the lack of dialogue. But because of the sense of betrayal he seems to feel when it’s revealed he’s not big boss, he’s merely a puppet who should be proud of wearing the identity of a man who propagated war world over for ideals he betrayed constantly.

Venom managed to be the good cop and competent administrator of BB’s paramilitary empire for nothing. And not even out of his own will. He thought he had ownership of his will, when it turns out he never did.

Punished Snake is the outsider in this series, the one character not related to this nobility of super soldier. Just the most capable one. He’s also the most empty, hollowed out character but for very intriguing reasons.