Before Solid Snake was a household name, before you were hiding in cardboard boxes and questioning the nature of reality, there was just... Metal Gear. Originally released on the MSX2 computer in 1987 and then popularized on the NES, Metal Gear threw players into the role of a young soldier named Solid Snake, tasked with infiltrating the heavily fortified Outer Heaven and destroying a nuclear-equipped bipedal tank known as Metal Gear.

Forget Rambo-style action, though! Metal Gear demanded stealth. Going in guns blazing was a surefire ticket to a game over screen. You had to sneak, use disguises, avoid enemy sightlines, and rely on your wits to survive.

While the NES version has some notable differences from the original MSX2 release (we can talk about those later!), both versions introduced core concepts that would define the series:

Strategic Espionage Action: Not just running and gunning, but planning your moves, using the environment, and thinking like a spy.
The "Metal Gear": A terrifying, technologically advanced weapon of mass destruction that becomes the recurring threat throughout the series.
A surprisingly intricate storyline: Filled with political intrigue, double-crosses, and questions about the true nature of war.

So, get ready to dive into a world of spies, soldiers, and superweapons. We're talking about the game that laid the foundation for a legendary series. Get ready to experience... Metal Gear!