Is Metal Gear without Hideo Kojima truly Metal Gear?

[Cactuar]

WhatCulture Gaming made a video yesterday highlighting something Colin Moriarty said in his podcast about him believing Metal Gear Solid VI is in development. The boys seem to dismiss Colin's statement, but if true, this would obviously be done without any involvement from series creator Hideo Kojima.

Now, I would love another Metal Gear. MGSV is one of my favorite games of the generation, and the thought of a true sequel delights me to no end. The problem is, however, is there a such thing as a true sequel without Kojima?

Is there a video game series that's so tied to one man's vision and influence as MGS is with Kojima? I don't believe there is, and I don't believe it's close.

So with that said, what do you do with such a license? You're not going to sell it. I'm sure that ill be suggested, and it doesn't mean they shouldn't, but I just don't see it. You can shit out games like Metal Gear Survive using the existing blueprint, and that may be the way to go. Or - the best possible idea - you remake the older games, because the structure, theme and feel have already been provided, and maybe you can just bring the gameplay/graphics into modern times.

What about a mainline title though? What about continuing the story? Are we sure Les Enfants Terribles yielded no others? Snake didn't know about Solidus, perhaps there is another?

Is adding to Kojima's madness something a developer/writer would even want to approach? Perhaps Konami is interested, but no one has come knockin'?

 

[vestan]

As illustrated by Survive, not really.

 

[BadWolf]

Kojima's Metal Gear is over, the story has ended.

Whatever comes next is just someone else's vision.

 

[Deleted member 13328]

No, let it die.

 

[Zalman]

It's possible to make a good MGS game without Kojima. It's not like he has a perfect track record either. I just don't have any reason to believe Konami has the talent to do it.

 

[Silky]

I don't fucking know

 

[Deleted member 28523]

Is Kojima without Metal Gear truly Kojima?

 

[Risev]

Kojima's Metal Gear is over, the story has ended.

Whatever comes next is just someone else's vision.

Click to shrink...

Yeah this right here. I love Metal Gear and want to see it continue, but it'll never be the same knowing that whatever comes next (if anything) was never planned ahead by Kojima (not that Kojima planned even half of the stuff ahead, but still).

 

[cephus]

I believe that the right person directing could make a Metal Gear that lives up to the ones Kojima worked on. I think the problem is that Konami doesn't exactly inspire the type of work environment that many would want to work in however.

Best case scenario is a sequel getting outsourced to a separate studio, but I have no idea who would be up to the task.

 

[ckareset]

I honestly don't see any reason why they can't make an actual metal gear mainline game with the fox engine without Kojima.

 

[Zor]

I believe a Kojima-less Metal Gear can be made and still be good. I mean, Hideo himself was trying to make that a thing several times whilst at Konami. I'd love to see someone else take a stab at it, but not some Survive-esque experience.

 

[Uzumaki Goku]

Honestly, Kojima kept saying "this is my last one." And nobody believed him.

 

[Outrun]

SW without Lucas has not been the same.

So yeah, it's done.

 

[Strangelove_77]

I feel like these games are his. No one else can make these the way they're made without him. It's his thoughts and personality in game form. You're taking out what makes MGS MGS without Kojima.

That being said, he's done with MGS and won't be back anytime soon if ever. MGS has to live on so I'm curious to see what someone new comes up with. I'm not opposed like I was with DmC. DmC was unnecessary, MGS isn't.

 

[Dreamboum]

As illustrated by Survive, not really.

Click to shrink...

As illustrated by Ghost Babel, it can be even better without him

 

[Video Games Are Dumb]

Everyone impacts video game development. If you have one sound director in a game and switch to another in a sequel, it changes the way a game feels. Not better or worse, just different. So everyone, no matter how seemingly small a role, has a significant contribution to the end result.

So what was Kojima at the end of the day? I think he was a generous yet chaotic genius. He seemed to embrace every idea with devote confidence that it would work...or at least it would lead to a better idea. In short, he was more creative than he was pragmatic. And while he didn't invent all of the concepts in Metal Gear, he was the one who decided what it would ultimately be. Even if there were other team members serving as a filter.

Konami will not, repeat - will not ever allow another Kojima to rise up the ranks. That doesn't mean another director can't make a great game or it wont be a Metal Gear game - but it wont be a Kojima game. And there's nothing wrong with passing the torch to a new creator . Heck, it's better than letting the franchise die. Brands allow games to be made and teams to work with a budget that a new IP would not be given.

 

[MarcelRguez]

Get Shinita Nojiri back into the series and it might turn out even better than a MGSVI with Kojima.

 

[Nightfall]

MGS is the child of Kojima. It's born in his mind as much as in his heart. One can try to imitate it, but it won't be the same without him.

It would be like making a sequel to a Kubrick film. Without Kubrick. Which... yeah I know it happens, but is no good idea.

 

[Arkanius]

As illustrated by Ghost Babel, it can be even better without him

Click to shrink...

And by Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2 which were not written by Kojima

 

[Deleted member 37928]

Just as with a good movie franchise that switches director it needs someone that has their own strong vision of what the Metal Gear franchise can be. We don't need a director that imitates the previous one; it would be a disservice both to the franchise and Kojima.

 

[Jangowuzhere]

I think Konami had the opportunity to show that Metal Gear could live on without Kojima. However, they failed miserably with Survive. I'm not exactly hopeful at this point.

 

[Goddo Hando]

is this canon? Kojima wasn't on it

 

[Deleted member 4869]

People here that know me know how much of a Metal Gear fanboy I am.

But without Kojima to direct, or supervise, or to approve the canon, my interest in the series is dead and buried. Any following game will hold the value of fan fiction to me, so I have zero interest.

 

[Steeped in a Sea of Games]

As illustrated by Ghost Babel, it can be even better without him

Click to shrink...

Was going to bring this up. Sadly, I doubt most people have played this gem.

 

[TheEchosOfTheCyborg]

yes, it is, most works of fiction live on way beyond their original creators, from the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Sherlock Holmes, from Norse Mythology, Journey to the West, Dracula, Pride and Prejudice etc.

Whether it's as good, better or worse who can say, but I'd argue a few of these game franchises will survive the centuries in some way or form.

 

[Fisty]

If Kojima had quit after MGS3 like was originally planned, yes they could have easily continued it with different teams and there probably wouldnt have been much uproar. Kojima was able to put his stamp on the series for too long though.

That said, I will not dismiss a Metal Gear game outright. MGR was fantastic for instance. A good Metal Gear game can still be made, even without Kojima's unique touch. Survive didnt appeal to me and was slammed with Konami mtx bullshit.

 

[SneerfulOwl]

Judging by MGS5, it has a high chance of possibility that it could be better without him.

 

[Deleted member 4869]

is this canon? Kojima wasn't on it

Click to shrink...

Nope. Not canon.

 

[Dreamboum]

Haven't we been lighting the torch on Kojima since MGS4 and his shoddy stories? But somehow no one can compare to Kojima anyway? Weird

There's always gonna be someone with the knowledge and the creativity to match Kojima. He's special but he's not the only one who's unique

 

[Dark_Chris]

Kojima went more and more crazy with Metal Gear. I would definitely be interested in someone else's MG as long as that team/person would understand what MG is.

Tho at first I would love to see MGS3 remake from them. Than reimagined MG and MG2:SS.

 

[The Unsent]

Revengeance despite being a spin off felt very legit, with its memes, codec and memorable bosses. It can definitely be done

 

[P-Bo]

We may never know.

 

[The Struggler]

They made Survive and how did that turn out? Only way to really test it is start from scratch or see if someone can head a decent remake of a metal gear game

 

[Deleted member 37928]

Haven't we been lighting the torch on Kojima since MGS4 and his shoddy stories? But somehow no one can compare to Kojima anyway? Weird

There's always gonna be someone with the knowledge and the creativity to match Kojima. He's special but he's not the only one who's unique

Click to shrink...

I'm very open to a new director myself. I mean, at the very least a new creative mind could challenge Kojimas portrayal of women and the heavy non-interactive exposition. That alone would be a big step in a new positive direction.

 

[SturokBGD]

I would kill for a Metal Gear game by David Lynch.

 

[Deleted member 2254]

Konami doesn't seem interested in a mainline Metal Gear right now, but no person is irreplaceable for better or worse, and a new Metal Gear Solid could come out one day, one that can compete with the originals. This isn't an indie project made by person, it's a franchise thousands of people worked on at this point, so it can be done.

 

[Dogui]

Of course not. How is this not a consensus? :p

 

[Fisty]

Judging by MGS5, it has a high chance of possibility that it could be better without him.

Click to shrink...

Wasnt Kojima locked in a room and not allowed to communicate with his team for months during production? Seems like the game was likely negatively impacted by that, maybe

 

[whatsarobot]

They should do a hard reboot with a new visionary. Let it evolve into something that tries to capture the spirit, but doesn't bother doing what it can't.

 

[Xam3l]

Yes. It just needs the right team and a good vision. Celebrate its legacy without imitating.

What I take from Survive is that Konami really tried to imitate Kojima's shenanigans and the result is hilarious.

I'm open to see what's next.

 

[Techno]

After MGSV I'm up for whatever, I was so disappointed.

 

[Shevek]

I feel like Metal Gear hasn't been Metal Gear since Tomokazu Fukushima stopped writing for the series after MGS3. It's where the series fell off for me (still love MGS4 and to a tiny extent MGS5 though)

 

[Lant_War]

I can see stuff like MGR happening, but not a main entry.

 

[DeeDubs]

I liked Survive way more than 5. I'd be willing to give 6 a shot with an open mind.

 

[Vampirolol]

I think it could be, but it would require a huge amount of work. I know those games were pretty personal (it's not like Zelda without Miyamoto for example), so we would get a slightly different MGS. But still an MGS.
I'm down for a 6th episode by Konami honestly.

 

[LeoModesto]

if they release an interesting sequel, i'll play just like any other. We all should play the game and not think about kojima every single second while playing a game.

 

[aisback]

With the way konami is at the moment I don't trust them to make another big game.

A remake is more likely

 

[Deleted member 7883]

Konami can absolutely make another AAA Tactical Espionage game... but it couldn't be MGS. Too much of Kojima's DNA is embedded in what makes that series what it is. That's the "problem" (for lack of a better word) with auteured games.

 

[MarcelRguez]

If we can get a new Metal Gear that's heavy on the cyberspy, magical militarism aesthetics of Solid 1 and 2, and leave the Netflix Arthouse style to Kojima, I'm gold.

 

[DOBERMAN INC]

I hope so, I'm ready for a new MGS.