Kojima Has Explained Why Solid Snake Was a ‘Silent Tough Guy’

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In 1987, Hideo Kojima introduced the character Solid Snake to the gaming world through Metal Gear, a game he had created himself. Over time, Solid Snake became one of the most well-known figures in video games. However, in his debut appearance, he was portrayed as a mute hero, unable to speak a word.

Kojima, in previous interviews, shares the reasons behind Solid Snake’s silence, discussing his initial interactions with voice actors and contemplating past technological limitations.

‘Games Still Couldn’t Speak’

In a current conversation (thanks to Automaton), Hideo Kojima elaborated on the reasons behind Solid Snake’s silent role in the initial Metal Gear game, which was released in the late eighties.

Back in 1986, when I joined the gaming world, games hadn’t yet developed speech capabilities. Characters didn’t have voices, and there wasn’t even a font for Kanji characters; instead, they were shown one at a time. As a result, Solid Snake, my first game’s protagonist in Metal Gear (1987), was essentially a taciturn tough guy due to this limitation.

Changes happened swiftly, as it turned out. The renowned game developer disclosed that only a year following the launch of Metal Gear, NEC introduced a significant technological advancement – the CD-ROM2 console, equipped with a disc drive. This development, which was an evolution, aligned perfectly with Kojima’s ambitions.

Since the medium used was a CD, it opened up the opportunity for voice dialogues, a feature that hadn’t been available before. I was among the pioneers who took the initiative to recreate it.

For the very first time, I undertook voice recording sessions. I handled the casting process myself, but given my lack of experience, I delegated management to an agency. I boarded the initial bullet train from Kobe and made it to the studio in Tokyo. The talented voice actors were all assembled and ready at their microphones before me.

In a rush, there wasn’t an opportunity for a greeting or a discussion. My agenda was hectic, packing nearly two days worth of tasks into just half. Building connections seemed impossible under such circumstances. The disappointment from that initial encounter significantly influenced the tone of my later recordings.

(Text translated from Japanese by AI)

Afterward, significant events began unfolding, and Kojima proceeded to outline how his diverse teams consistently strived to introduce advancements in the voice acting sector whenever feasible. Nowadays, Kojima’s games boast A-list actors and intricately crafted scripts and performances, suggesting that he achieved his objectives in this endeavor.

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2025-04-08 09:18