The world and character design in the cult series Metal Gear Solid has always been a reflection of the imagination of its creator, Hideo Kojima, who tried to follow a single tone, albeit not without experiments. The 1998 archive interview published by The PlayStation Magazine reveals interesting details about the game designer’s approach to character creation, which has changed markedly over the decades.
Seventeen years ago, Kojima stated that he wanted Metal Gear Solid to remain true to its gloomy and serious tone. In this spirit, he rejected the “daughter” design of the characters, including “women with huge busts” or images created exclusively for visual appeal.
I wanted the character to be understood for who he is and what his motives are.
Kojima explained.
Designer Yoji Shinkawa confirmed that such demands created difficulties. In particular, the initial design of Snake was rejected, as he resembled a hero from Captain Future and had an orange color.
But in the later parts of the Metal Gear Solid series, Hideo Kojima clearly decided to abandon his earlier principles. With the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, a female character named Quiet appears, who even now causes strong condemnation from activists for her hypersexualized image. Despite the criticism of the heroine’s design, Quiet has become one of the most memorable characters in the series, while the developers logically explained her appearance.