Metal Gear Solid V Might Break Canon, But Kojima Says That's Okay

"The first thing is, I shouldn't have talked about clones," said Hideo Kojima, laughing.

He was joking. I think. Kotaku's Evan Narcisse and I were sitting in a swanky hotel room with the creator of Metal Gear Solid, and we'd just spent some time talking about his next game, Ground Zeroes, which is a prequel to Metal Gear Solid V, itself a prequel to Metal Gear Solid 4, which is not a prequel. But Metal Gear Solid 3 is a prequel to Metal Gear Solid 2.

[-Foxtrot]

No offence but it shouldn't be okay, it's a little bit lazy in my opinion if you can't keep up with your own stories. I mean when things like this happen usually to the writer it's an honest mistake but if Kojima thinks there will be some and has an advance warning then he should be checking in development that there isn't any.

MGS is complicated enough you wouldn't want small things like that to make it even more confusing for people.

If thats the case why do another prequel? Especially for a main game. We know Big Boss's past, we've played MGS3 which was needed as the main games because of MGS4 but this story should of been kept for a handheld game on the PSV in my opinion, like Peace Walker on PSP

He should of either did a new game, should of started a new timeline of MGS games that continue on from MGS4 with new characters OR do a reboot but a re-telling of the old timeline.

[Lord_Sloth]

This is always a risk with Prequels.

Besides, if he wants to make an alternate timeline then I say let him. His games are awesome anyways.

[-Foxtrot]

Which is why he shouldn't of done it if he's going to create holes in this fantastic timeline he's created.

Prequels are always risky...it worked for MGS3 because you kind of needed to know more about Big Boss after MGS2 and before the events played out in MGS4. Yet with Portable Ops, Peace Walker and all the stuff we've found out in MGS4 it's going to create problems if he isn't careful.

If he wants to create an alternate timeline then great but he should never call it MGSV or MGSVI etc - making it look like a continuation of the old timeline timneline.

I don't see why he doesn't re-tell the original timeline but change things around. They would be like remakes in a way, then for the second game they could make it so Raiden was killed as a child soldier so he's not in MGS2 and you play as Snake for the entire game. What if at the end you kill Ocelot and Solidus gets away instead...I mean that could really change the events of future events like MGS4 where Ocelot was the guy who set things in motion....what would Solidus plan be? It's great to think about because you would actually see both Snakes plans for the world play out

I would like to see one thing though if he did that....a way where (a way driven by a plot point) Snake finds out he's going to advance in age before it happens so he (or maybe Naomi if wrote into the story) can stop it before it happens. Least in this time line Snake will last longer.

[garos82]

"This it's always a risk with prequels"

I agree however mgs3 was a prequel and was my favorite.

I say have it kojima.make your project as you envision it and I'll be there day 1 enjoying it.

@Foxtrot I'd like to see you attempt creating a series that is still relevant today spanning so many years with incredibly detailed and rock solid story lines, WITHOUT any plot holes or possibility of misinterpreting them.

Not so easy eh?

[MysticStrummer]

If he wants to make an alternate timeline that's fine but it should be separate from the MGS series, like the game starring Raiden that I had no interest in.

@garos - If there are plot holes or the possibility of misinterpreting them, then the story isn't rock solid.

[Lord_Sloth]

I understand the issue but we don't know how he may break the canon or even if it will. MGS has has plot holes before and he may not add to them. We'll just have to wait and see.

Besides, even Kojima isn't sure if it will or not.

[TheOneWhoIsTornApart]

Kojima said there "might" be small discrepancies that will be different and nothing major so everyone can relax.

[e-p-ayeaH]

Take a look at the Back to the Future trilogy, the story in the sequels dont make any sense if you think about it but all were clearly conected somehow ,good movies in their own way that´s how i see MGS games they have their own thing going on with plenty of references.

MGS4 was pure fan service and so it will be MGS5.

[KingKelloggTheWH]

Agreed on all fronts, and honestly this game just seems like kojima making the new engine for future products...sad to say imnot very excited for a Metal Gear..MGS is one of the best franchises out there, but it seems like it needs to be put down now..

edit:was meant as reply to first comment.

[DanielGearSolid]

The game is gonna be video game porn, and I will be its biggest masturbator!

[garos82]

Haha hilarious.great analogy

[jukins]

Not a problem. I remember the basics of the mgs storyline but its so confusing i probably wont even notice. I just want the game I think its safe to say as long as kojima is heading the project it will turn out good.

[Dark11]

I F***ing hate Prequels.

[Irishguy95]

MGS3 was the best MGS.

[dcj0524]

Metal gear 2 was pretty boss.

[AHall88]

I look at each MGS as it's own universe kind of, as they've all changed things in one way or another. So I really don't care if it breaks canon or not, as long as it's another fun experience that's all I care about.

[rodiabloalmeida]

Break canon? I was not waiting for something like this to come. Too many changes Kojima is doing with this MGS5. I wonder if I'm gonna like the end result after all.

[cell989]

I really hope my all time favorite videogame story is not tampered with

[AHall88]

Each game has "tampered" with the story.

[cell989]

but not to the point where it becomes no-canon

[My_Name_BTW_Is_Dante]

Rising already broke the canon. The rest of Metal Gear's story will just go downhill from here regardless if it's a sequel/prequel/spin-off.

[Inception]

Well, i hated when the main story can break the canon and Kojima almost did it with Gray Fox in Portable Ops. Even though Kojima only work as producer in Portable Ops.

But i think he should release new database, just like MGS4 database for PS3 that full of info about MGS timeline, characters, places, weapons, etc. So we can always re-check all MGS storyline, canon or non-canon.