If this is Hideo Kojima’s last Metal Gear trailer, he’s going out with a bang.
My personal history with the franchise is complicated; loved the first and third games, couldn’t get into the second and fourth games. The deeper Metal Gear dug into its mythology, the more it pushed me away. (It’s weird, too, since I’m usually into things with convoluted storylines!)
But I’m setting everything aside for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. If Kojima and Konami go their separate ways after the game ships, this is a noteworthy moment. Whatever you think of Metal Gear, Kojima, and his specific brand of video game, he’s had an impact.
Part of what’s made Kojima unique is how hands-on he is with everything about his games, including the marketing. He’s personally edited the game’s lengthy, sprawling trailers for years, and as we near the game’s release date next week, he’s released what may be his final creation.
The first half of the trailer is an emotional retrospective on Metal Gear’s past, showcasing how the series has changed from 1998 through 2015. It’s amazing how far video games have come.
But a quick warning: the second half of the trailer is full of spoilers.
I may or may not have misted up a bit there.
Jason’s been playing Metal Gear for a week or so now, and he’s loving it. I hope I do, too.
You can reach the author of this post at patrick.klepek@kotaku.com or on Twitter at @patrickklepek.