Actor, writer, and director David Hayter has enjoyed a prolific career across multiple industries, but gaming fans will forever recognize him as the voice of Solid Snake and Big Boss. When 1998's Metal Gear Solid arrived, it represented a massive cinematic leap for the industry. During an era where voice acting was still in its infancy, Hayter’s gruff performance provided a level of depth that was rare at the time. However, navigating Metal Gear Solid's convoluted plot wasn't always straightforward for the actor during recording sessions.

Creating a Weathered Legend

In a recent interview with Fall Damage (spotted by GR+), Hayter discussed his formative years on the series and how he settled on Snake's iconic voice. He noted that while the character was modeled after Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken from Escape from New York, he wanted to avoid a direct imitation. This influence was so strong that Hideo Kojima later explicitly referenced it in MGS2 via the alias Iroquois Pliskin.

"I knew that there were similarities there and I felt like he needed to sound more weathered, you know," Hayter recalls. "That he had been through a lot more than I had been through at that point in my life."

Deciphering Metal Gear Solid's Convoluted Plot

The storytelling in the Metal Gear series is famous for being dense and difficult to parse. The narrative is packed with complex elements that can leave even seasoned players scratching their heads, including:

  • Double-bluffs and triple agents
  • Shadowy cabals and organizations
  • Outright misinformation
  • Countless references to real-world events

Hayter admitted that he didn't always have a grasp on the narrative while in the booth. "Do I understand the story of Metal Gear Solid? Uh, basically I do," says Hayter. "Do I understand all of it? Absolutely not. I didn't understand all of it while we were recording it. I'd be like 'What does this mean?' and they'd say, 'just say it.' And I'd be like, 'Okay.'"

The Magic in the Complexity

Even when the script felt wacky—such as the famous "La-li-lu-le-lo" line delivered by Commandant Scott Dolph in MGS2—Hayter believes the complexity is essential. He argues that Metal Gear Solid's convoluted plot actually serves to enrich the experience, providing more detail than a player can ever fully absorb.

"That's what makes Metal Gear, Metal Gear," says Hayter. "There's more information. There's more character development. There's more detail to the story than you can ever possibly absorb, no matter how many times you play it. That's what makes the world feel real and rich and lovable."

A New Era for Metal Gear

As Konami moves forward with a Kojima-less series, including the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Hayter remains a part of the franchise. While he believes a future without Kojima is possible, he acknowledges the difficulty of replacing the original creator's unique vision.

"I think it's absolutely possible," said Hayter. "Will it be the same? No. There's no way to replicate his exact genius, his exact weirdness, his specific personality." Despite his 26 years as a professional screenwriter, Hayter maintains that he could never replicate the complexity of the Metal Gear scripts: "I look at the Metal Gear scripts, and I'm like, 'I could never do this.'"