Summary
The boss battles ofMetal Gear Solidare never simply there just to eat up one’s time. They are cinematic, intense, andexciting to playfor the first time, and each and every retry after that. For a game from 1999, this was truly mind-blowing stuff to experience from a gameplay aspect, as it highlights the amount of detail and thought put intoMetal Gear Solidby Konami.
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It’s difficult to say which of the boss battles are the absolute best, as there are many gems across the title that come so close to being the greatest. Nevertheless, some of these boss encounters have strengths and quirks that help stand apart from the rest.
10Sniper Wolf (Part 1)
The first encounter with Sniper Wolf is most certainly tense, but it’s a little unvaried. Once Snake gets a sniper rifle to fight back, the player will have to scope out the boss as she rushes in between cover to take aim and fire.
Sniper Wolf doesn’t mix things up here, and the narrowness of the corridor gets in the way of that. After all, there aren’t any other places for her to go. It’s by no means bad in the slightest, as quick reflexes are required to ensure that each hit lands. At least Meryl being injured doesn’t get in the way of the battle, which does help make it less frustrating.
9Vulcan Raven (Part 1)
Fighting Vulcan Raven in the tank makes for a decent enough encounter, though it does feel a tad samey.Running around and dodging almost constant machine gunfire isn’t too challenging, more so when chaff grenades can be tossed out to jam the cannon, but it will require vigilance to keep ahead of the slow-steering turret and vehicle.
Getting the grenades to land is satisfying when they blow the sentries out of the vehicle, and being able to knock out the treads with explosions makes it far less frustrating to pull off as a result. It may be a bit on the gimmicky side, but there’s some joy to be had here.
8Revolver Ocelot
As simple of a concept as it is, the encounter with Revolver Ocelot is nothing short of memorable. The box-shaped room may leave little room to run around in, but it’s this compactness that actually benefitsthe battle against the gunslinger. President Baker, being stuck in the center and surrounded by explosives, adds another complication. Getting too close to detonate the bombs, or hurting him, will result in a mission failure.
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Moreover, Ocelot may be able to reflect bullets, though the lengthy reloads and the bullets left in the chambers shown on-screen give the player ample opportunity to time their attacks. Since the player can’t look around and fire in first-person (which is good, in this case!), it makes for a devious game of cat-and-mouse.
7Hind D
There’s nothing more frightening than having to evade constant machine gun fire from a helicopter, of all things.The Hind D is a boss battleagainst a vehicle done right in so many ways. Thankfully, there’s ample cover to use in the center of the rooftop, but the attacks hit hard, so a single slip-up can put Snake in serious danger.
Being able to lock on and pop out some missiles from the Stinger is always invigorating, as it takes a few moments to lock-on and fire a homing projectile for a near-enough guaranteed hit. However, since it leaves Snake immobile, he’s left an easy target briefly. It’s hunter and hunted, yet there are enough opportunities to come out on top.
6Sniper Wolf (Part 2)
The limited draw distance and lack of movement when using the PSG1 actually benefit the second duel withSniper Wolfextensively. The playing field is much wider, too, so she’s a lot more prone to taking cover in different locations and is thus a target to hit.
Admittedly, the battle can be cheesed with NIKITA missiles as she won’t shoot them down, and a Stinger can reveal her position with its tracking ability. These really do take away from the tension that the battle builds up, though, so it’s better to stick with sniping.
5Vulcan Raven (Part 2)
Vulcan Raven’s second battle will make players feel like rats being chased in its maze of shipping containers, and that makes it ten times as invigorating as his first encounter. Raven’s chaingun and his extensive range, means simply attacking from the end of the room won’t guarantee an easy victory.
The variety of attacks one can pull off really benefits this battle. While Snake can pepper Raven with bullets and place mines, rockets from the NIKITA and Stinger can deal a hefty blow. The problem is, he’s smart enough to shoot down incoming missiles, which makes flanking essential, and the battle so darn entertaining.
4Psycho Mantis
The bizarre andmystery of Psycho Mantismakes for one of the most iconic battles in the game, and his fourth-wall-breaking attacks are indeed a part of that. Being able to black out the screen to make it look like someone changed the channel is a devious mood that requires a clever solution to break. Of course, destroying his statues will work just as well.
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Having to dodge incoming items being flung about requires memorizing patterns. Mantis will frequently float side-by-side to dodge shots to make keeping one’s aim on him all the more tricky, too. Even worse is when he makes Meryl shoot herself, but that can thankfully be stopped with some punches. So much goes on in this fight, and it’s just excellent.
3Cyborg Ninja
TheCyborg Ninjais borderline masochistic about Snake beating some life back into his soulless husk. The fact that he deflects bullets during most of the duel makes him an imposing and unnerving foe; one will need to get up close to this imposing figure a lot.
While he’s heaping around the office, there will be opportunities to attack before he lands. His counterattacks hurt a lot, so it can be tough. He’ll craftily turn invisible at times, turning the fight into a game of hide-and-seek for additional deviance. The tension remains so thick throughout, and the numerous tricks he pulls off make it a signature battle.
2Liquid Snake
The brother of Solid Snake,Liquid Snake is a tenacious foein this battle. With no weapons available, he will goad the player while delivering head-on charges, as well as roundhouse kicks after side-stepping. He’s a lot more flexible than the player is for this reason, and the severe lack of space means there’s barely room to hide and think out a strategy.
Having to make frantic decisions on the spot is enough to raise anyone’s heart rate, but the ticking time bomb with barely three minutes left really ramps up the fear factor. Liquid needing to be knocked over to end the battle successfully makes it much more strategic than simply mashing buttons. It’s dramatic and challenging in all the right ways.
1Metal Gear REX
The towering Metal Gear REX makes for the best boss battle in the entire game. With machine guns, missiles, and a laser, it’s a behemoth in size and firepower. Snake, in comparison, looks like an ant, and can be crushed like one if the player is not careful. REX is capable of destroying what little cover is available, prompting frantic dashes.
Set into two parts, Gray Fox intervenes and helps make the second round a bit easier. Even when damaged, it still packs such a serious punch that it remains one of the toughest battles in the series,on top of being utterly superb.
