Have you ever sat through a Metal Gear cutscene and felt completely lost? If so, you are in excellent company. David Hayter, the legendary voice of Snake from the original Metal Game Solid through Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, recently admitted that he also struggles to grasp every detail of the complex Metal Gear Solid story.

The Complexity of the Metal Gear Solid Story

In a recent interview on Fall Damage, Hayter opened up about the difficulty of following Hideo Kojima's dense and intricate narratives. When asked directly if he understands the plot, Hayter’s response was candid.

"Do I understand the story of Metal Gear Solid?" he said. "Uh, basically, I do. Do I understand all of it? Absolutely not."

He even joked about the confusion experienced during production. "I’d be like, ‘What does this mean?’... And they’d say, ‘Just say it.'"

Despite the narrative hurdles, Hayter believes that the depth of the Metal Gear Solid story is exactly what makes the franchise legendary. He noted that the sheer volume of detail provides a sense of immersion that is hard to replicate:

  • Deep Lore: There is more information than a player can ever fully process.
  • Character Depth: The writing allows for significant character development.
  • Immersive World: The density of the plot makes the world feel "real and rich and lovable."

Moving Past the Metal Gear Solid V Controversy

Hayter also touched upon his complicated history with series creator Hideo Kojima. Last year, the actor revealed he has finally "forgiven" Kojima for the decision not to recast him in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

During the development of The Phantom Pain, Hayter was replaced by Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland. At the time, Hayter admitted that playing the game would have felt like "60 hours of humiliation." He noted his current stance on future collaborations is clear: "I've got no particular love for Kojima. I don't feel any need to go back and work with him again."

However, after a decade of distance, Hayter found peace with the situation. He explained that while he was initially reluctant to play the game because it might "hurt [his] feelings," his professional perspective as a screenwriter helped him move past it.

"I'm a screenwriter, so I get fired for a living... and I'm not a child," Hayter remarked. "I was like, 'Stop being a baby and play the game.' So I played it. It's amazing."