Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes (Confirmed)

REDWOOD CITY, CA. - May 1, 2003 - Continuing to broaden the Nintendo GameCubeTM library, Konami and Nintendo today announced Konami will publish a new Metal Gear® adventure exclusive for Nintendo GameCube. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM combines the thrilling story of the original Metal Gear Solid® game with the jaw-dropping graphics and unparalleled gameplay found in Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of LibertyTM. The game is scheduled to ship later this year in North America and Europe, followed by the Japanese launch in early 2004.

Bringing heart-pounding espionage action home to gamers, Metal Gear Solid® is one of the most highly-regarded action series ever created. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube will combine stunning next generation graphics and gameplay, an epic storyline and unmatched content designed specifically for mature gamers.

Under the guidance of Konami's Hideo Kojima and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's exclusive second-party developer, Silicon Knights, is working with Konami to develop the game. Silicon Knights previously developed last year's award-winning Eternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemTM for Nintendo GameCube.

"I am tremendously excited to introduce a unique Metal Gear Solid® experience to a new audience of gamers as well as collaborate with my mentor in game design, Mr. Miyamoto, on Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube," says Hideo Kojima, vice president, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.

"Mr. Kojima and I have spoken about this project for some time, and I'm excited our ideas have matched so perfectly," adds Shigeru Miyamoto, senior managing director of Entertainment Analysis and Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. "It's this shared passion for game creation that has allowed us to collaborate to bring a special Metal Gear® project exclusively for Nintendo GameCube."

Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM will be featured at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on May 14 - 16 in the South Hall at Konami Booth 900 and in the West Hall at Nintendo Booth 2816.

Nintendo and Konami's Statement:

REDWOOD CITY, CA. - May 1, 2003 - Continuing to broaden the Nintendo GameCubeTM library, Konami and Nintendo today announced Konami will publish a new Metal Gear® adventure exclusive for Nintendo GameCube. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM combines the thrilling story of the original Metal Gear Solid® game with the jaw-dropping graphics and unparalleled gameplay found in Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of LibertyTM. The game is scheduled to ship later this year in North America and Europe, followed by the Japanese launch in early 2004.

Bringing heart-pounding espionage action home to gamers, Metal Gear Solid® is one of the most highly-regarded action series ever created. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube will combine stunning next generation graphics and gameplay, an epic storyline and unmatched content designed specifically for mature gamers.

Under the guidance of Konami's Hideo Kojima and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's exclusive second-party developer, Silicon Knights, is working with Konami to develop the game. Silicon Knights previously developed last year's award-winning Eternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemTM for Nintendo GameCube.

"I am tremendously excited to introduce a unique Metal Gear Solid® experience to a new audience of gamers as well as collaborate with my mentor in game design, Mr. Miyamoto, on Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube," says Hideo Kojima, vice president, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.

"Mr. Kojima and I have spoken about this project for some time, and I'm excited our ideas have matched so perfectly," adds Shigeru Miyamoto, senior managing director of Entertainment Analysis and Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. "It's this shared passion for game creation that has allowed us to collaborate to bring a special Metal Gear® project exclusively for Nintendo GameCube."

Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM will be featured at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on May 14 - 16 in the South Hall at Konami Booth 900 and in the West Hall at Nintendo Booth 2816.

[ May 02, 2003, 03:06 AM: Message edited by: 2nd Opp ]

First Preview:

Metal Gear has been always proven to be a hot property. Essentially selling the PS2 before it was even released, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty had captured the hype and the imagination of people years before it was even playable. On the original PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action was considered a powerful killer app and was a hit with both critics and gamers. Combining compelling gameplay, an interesting plot coupled with professional voice-acting, and cinematic cutscenes, the game was an instant hit among PSX owners. Many Nintendo fans wished for the same action, but they were never offered a comparable experience on the N64.

Fast forward to the year 2003, and things have suddenly changed. A few months ago Mr. Miyamoto let it slip that there was indeed a Metal Gear Solid game in development for GameCube. Since then everyone has been wondering if this title is an entirely new game, a port of MGS2: SoL, or a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid.

The answer will probably come as a surprise. Nintendo's biggest coup from Konami stars none other than the world-renowned Solid Snake in a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid, now with the subtitle The Twin Snakes. Not only will the graphics be redone, but the gameplay will be upgraded to include all of the new features found in MGS 2. We assume this includes everything from first-person aiming to dragging bodies into lockers, plus whatever brand new features might be in the works. It has also been rumoured that the game will utilize GBA connectivity for things such as Snake's radar and Codec. While the new subtitle is a reference to the game's story, it is possible that some multiplayer features are being added. But here's the real kicker: the title is in development not in KCEJ, and not even at NCL. The team of people who have been assigned this difficult task is Silicon Knights, the creators of Eternal Darkness. Being that Silicon Knights is a second-party, it’s clear that Nintendo is putting up considerable cooperation and investment to bring Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes to the GameCube.

Graphically, the game is supposed to mirror the jump in quality that the Resident Evil remake saw, and knowing the sound aficionados at SK, MGS will probably be redone in Dolby Pro Logic II. The game is still going to be published by Konami, but the title will be featured prominently at Nintendo's press conference and booth at E3. It's understandable how much Nintendo will be pushing this title, as it marks the first time since the NES that the Metal Gear series has graced a Nintendo console.

Metal Gear Solid plays differently than most action titles. Controlling the world-famous spy Solid Snake, players are encouraged to sneak past the enemies instead of fighting. Snake has many moves and tools at his disposal, most significantly a radar that helps track enemy movement. By using this information along with his natural skills, Snake must infiltrate a supposed nuclear waste facility in effort to stop a band of terrorists from launching a nuclear weapon. By using weapons and items he finds on dead guards, or in the back of empty trucks, Snake will gather a considerable arsenal to combat the great number of opposing enemy soldiers.

Gameplay revolves around Snake avoiding soldiers by ensuring he isn't seen, heard, or caught on camera. Enemies have blind spots that can be exploited, and they can also be distracted by knocking on walls. Alternatively, you can hide behind walls and then pounce on the enemies, snapping their necks. This level of violence netted a Mature rating for the PSX original, and we can probably expect no less for the remake.

The story is a major part of the Metal Gear Solid games. A reluctant Solid Snake has been forced into helping his old commander, Jim Campbell, in turning back a terrorist threat on a nuclear waste disposal plant. Members of FOX-HOUND, his former squad, have rebelled and are now threatening to launch a nuclear missile with the giant Metal Gear mech. Since Snake is the only one who has taken out the mechanical beast multiple times, Jim Campbell and the Pentagon essentially blackmail the old secret service agent into complying. The story is told through frequent radio conversations and real-time cut-scenes.

We’re still gathering intelligence on Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. Expect hands-on impressions and plenty of commentary from Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack at E3.