Outer Heaven Resistance HQ | REbellion, REclamation, REvolution-OHR

Metal Gear

The Story

METAL GEAR-Platforms:MSX2, NES, FAMICOM

The year is 1995...200 miles north of Garzburg, South Africa. Here, an armed forces nation calling itself "Outer Heaven" had declared itself an independent nation. What caught the eyes of the rest of the world was the rumor that a new type of weapon was under construction here. The person in charge here is a man named Colonel Vermon CaTaffy although this alias was only stated in the Metal Gear Nintendo Entertainment System manual.

To remedy the situation, a special forces unit named "Fox-Hound" under the command of Big Boss, named the greatest warrior who ever lived, was called upon. Big Boss sent the unit's best man- Gray Fox, the codename "Fox", being given to the best member in the unit. However after a while, Gray Fox stopped reporting in, his last message being simply "Metal Gear.." Under increasing pressure, Big Boss sent another member of the unit, the newly appointed Solid Snake.

Once Snake had infiltrated the base, he met up with the local resistance leaders- Schneider, Jennifer & Diane. With their help, Snake rescued Gray Fox. It was then that Fox filled in Snake in on what Metal Gear was. He told Snake of how Metal Gear is a walking battle tank, of its Vulcan cannon & anti tank missiles, he told Snake of its ability to launch a nuclear weapon from any surface on Earth to any other surface on Earth. He basically told Snake that with Metal Gear constructed, Outer Heaven would have military superiority over the entire world!

Snake then went off to rescue Metal Gear's Chief Engineer, Dr. Pettrovich who was being forced to work against his will, and his daughter Ellen. It was around now that Snake began to suspect something. It was as if someone was watching his every action and relaying it to the enemy so they would know just where to set their traps. Then, Schneider, the resistance leader was captured. While trying to rescue him, Snake was badly wounded in combat with some of the islands best mercenaries. It was now that he decided to destroy Metal Gear once and for all.

He traveled to the 100th floor basement, avoiding carefully laid traps & more mercs. Eventually he manged to destroy Metal Gear, but as he turned his back, the leader of Outer Heaven stood before him. He turned to face Big Boss. He had deliberately sent the inexperienced rookie, Snake in the hope that he would not suceed. However, he had miscalculated and didn't expect Snake to get this far. Big Boss and Snake then had a tremendous battle. Snake managed to defeat Big Boss, but as Snake went to finish him, Big Boss activated a self destruct mechanism and escaped unharmed. Snake had managed to completely destroy Outer Heaven and protect the world from a new nuclear threat, but Big Boss still lived while being presumed dead, and could yet cause trouble.

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Alternate Versions

Metal Gear-MSX2-Released 7/12/1987 Japan

Metal Gear-MSX2-Released 1987 Europe

Metal Gear-Famicom-Released 12/22/1987 Japan

Metal Gear-NES-Released June 1988 America

Metal Gear-NES-Released 1989 Europe

Metal Gear-IBM/PC-Released 9/30/1990 America

Metal Gear-Commodore 64-Released 1990 America

Metal Gear-Gamecube-Released 3/11/2004 Japan

Metal Gear-Mobile Phone-Released 9/18/2004 Japan

Metal Gear (MGS3 Subsistence)-PS2-Released 12/22/2005 Japan

Metal Gear (MGS3 Subsistence)-PS2-Released 3/14/2006 America

Metal Gear (MGS3 Subsistence)-PS2-Released 10/6/2006 Europe

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Metal Gear Mobile

A mobile phone version of Metal Gear was released in Japan only on August 18, 2004 for the i-Mode, EZweb and Vodafone cell phone services. The game is based on the original MSX2 version, but includes several additional features and changes.

New Easy mode- Player can choose to play with the original MSX2 version's difficulty or with an easier difficulty setting.

Boss Survival mode- After clearing the game once (regardless of difficulty setting), a new game mode in which the player fight against all of the main game's bosses. The player will be awarded with a title based on their clear time (as well as in the main game).

Infinite Bandana- A hidden item which becomes available to the player after clearing the game once on either difficulty settings. Like the bandana featured in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2, this will conserve the player's ammunition to the present amount while firing.

Rewritten script- The Japanese Language script has been rewritten to include hiragana and kanji, in addition to romaji and katakana.

Name Changes- Three of the game's bosses got their names changed in the mobile phone version.

Shoot Gunner was changed to Shotmaker

Arnold (TX-11) was changed to Bloody Brad

Coward Duck was changed to Dirty Duck

Players can download or play it online at a monthly rate of 315 yen ($2.88), plus connection fees in Japan.

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The Characters

Metal Gear (South Africa, 1995)

Solid Snake- Rookie member of Fox-Hound. Operation Intrude N313 is his first mission. Recruited from the Marines after an heroic performance in the Grenada invasion, the given code name- Solid Snake is because of his ability to strike quickly, quietly and with deadly accuracy.

Elen- Dr. Pettrovich's only daughter. Former Bolshoi Ballet star. She was captured by Outer Heaven to blackmail her father. The Japanese manual calls her by the full name of Elen Pettrovich and Dr. Pettrovich's full name is never given.

Shoot Gunner- Former member of Spetsnaz and master of riot guns. He guards a top-secret underground prison.

Coward Duck- A former leader of Egg-Plant, an extremist terrorist group. He attacks with boomerangs while using hostages as shield. He is a coward and is dishonorable just as stated in his name.

Colonel Vermon CaTaffy- A once tranquil shepard boy, who grew up on the remote banks of the Sam Sam River in outer Mongolia with his 27 sisters, turned to terrorism at an early age. Now after years of pillaging innocent people, he has taken control of Outer Heaven. Here he is sole tyrant and radial dictator. He has created the ultimate super weapon- Metal Gear. This man is actually Big Boss. This wasn't actually included in the game but it was noted in the Metal Gear NES manual.

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The Soldiers

MSX Version

Guard 1

Guard 2

Sleeping Guard

Flying Guard

Guard Dog

POW

NES Version

Guard 1

Sleeping Guard

Flying Guard

Guard Dog

POW

Colonel Vermon CaTaffy's Elite Scum Squad

(Pulled From The Metal Gear Manual For The Commodore 64)

Soldier Of Fortune

The Electrocutioner

Checkpoint Charlie

Corporal Watchman

B.A. Dozer

The Dogs Of War

Trained Killer Scorpions

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Groups

Outer Heaven Resistance- Wink, wink! The resistance leader of this group was Kyle Schneider. He previously worked as an architect for the fortress's interior, but left when his family was killed due to undisclosed circumstances. After this occurred, he escaped and formed this resistance to take down Outer Heaven. He did this knowing the entire interior of the fortress thanks to his former occupation although he was killed in the crisis.

Operatives-

1. Leader- Kyle Schneider

2. Diane

3. Jennifer

Outer Heaven Mercenary Dispatch Company- The mercenary leader was Big Boss who secretly served as the mercenary leader of Outer Heaven, while working as supreme commander of Fox-Hound. Prior to its downfall in 1995, Outer Heaven boasted an elite group of mercenaries from around the world that guarded the fortress in addition to a conventional armed force. He in spite of this, none of them were able to survive in battle against Solid Snake, who was still a rookie during Operation Intrude N313.

Operatives-

1. Leader- Big Boss

2. Shoot Gunner

3. Machinegun Kid

4. Fire Trooper

5. Coward Duck

6. Arnold

Fox-Hound- This special forces unit is run by Big Boss, at the same time he's the leader of the mercenary group of Outer Heaven. This group founded by the U.S. government, deals with conterterrorism, international conflicts and local disorder. Each member that is in Fox-Hound has a special skill, has specialized in a unusual subject, has had extensive training and can operate alone or with a teammate. Fox-Hound started in 1971 after Big Boss took over and changed the name from Fox. During this time, there are five members in Fox-Hound including Big Boss.

Operatives-

1. Leader- Big Boss

2. XO- Roy Campbell

3. Frank Jaeger

4. Solid Snake

5. McDonell Miller

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Location

Outer Heaven, South Africa

200km north of the region of Garzburgh

A while ago, I believed Outer Heaven was located near Rwanda or Uganda in Africa, I was wrong! A few weeks ago, I researched everything I could to at least try to find a reasonable loaction of where Outer Heaven might be. According to my research, I have pointed out a few facts of where it might be. I know Garzburgh is a fictional place but I looked for any regions that had a similar name or renamed areas but found nothing. When Metal Gear was first developed, I doubt they pulled a location out of their arse! I remembered in Metal Gear Solid that Naomi said Big Boss found her while staying in Mozambique so I thought at first it could be around there. I then played Metal Gear and tried to find clues but on the box it does say, "deep in South Africa". I looked at a map of South Africa and I took a look at the coast and counted up north 200km to make sure it wasn't past that point just to be safe, any lower and Garzburgh would be in the ocean. I also took a look at a geographical map and tried to find areas with wetlands and a low population, wetlands because Outer Heaven was located in the jungle. The region I found had the lowest population (a population of 1-5 people!) and it had one of the highest percentage of wetlands. The location that seemed perfect is near a place called Brymac in the depth of South Africa. Now, in Metal Gear Solid 4, there is talks about a new "Outer Heaven". This shouldn't be confused with the original fortress, there is possibly a new military fortification possibly near the Middle East. I know this is kind of pointless but it was fun and I have a lot of time! I have tracked everything down courtesy of Google Maps. Now for the logistics of Outer Heaven is that it is a fortified state in Metal Gear located 200km north of the region of Garzburgh, South Africa. Founded in the late 1980s by a legendary mercenary who was considered to be heroic and demoniacal at the same time. In reality, Outer Heaven was a mercenary dispatching company founded by Big Boss (Fox-Hound's commander in chief at the time) with the money he accumulated during his mercenary days. In 1995, Outer Heaven attempted to achieve military supremacy with the development of the Metal Gear TX-55 prototype, but Big Boss' plans were diverted by Solid Snake.

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Pics

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Metal Gear Unit

Metal Gear

Metal Gear TX-55 aka VRC-4 (Referred In Snake's Revenge)

Designer: Dr. Pettrovich

Armed with a Nuclear Missile

Full Specifications- TX-55

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Mechanics

M6 Tank

Heavy Tank M6

Made in America

Armed with 2 machine gun turrets & missile launcher

Full Specifications- M6 Tank

Hind D

MI-24 Hind D

Made in Russia

Armed with barrel machine gun, cannon, turrets & missiles

Full Specifications- Hind D

Bull Tank

M4 Sherman Bulldozer Tank

Made in Germany

Armed with machine gun turret and missile launcher

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Arsenal

Beretta Pistol: 45 caliber with minimal recoil. Compatible with a silencer.

Sub-Machine Gun: Fully automatic Ingram Mac 11 with minimal recoil.

Grenade Launcher: Heavy artillery weapon using RPG's for long distance.

Rocket Launcher: A surface piercing rocket-propelled miniature missile.

Mine: Explosive charge set to detonate under sudden pressure.

Remote Controlled Missile: Rocket-propelled, remote-guided missile.

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Equipment

Ration: "Meal ready to eat" food rations. Restores life.

Binoculars: Dual-precision viewing lenses capable of long-distance sight.

Infrared Goggles: Allows wearer to see infrared laser mesh.

Gas Mask: Face enclosing filtering device that allows for normal vision and breathing.

Mine Detector: Magnetically portrays where a mine is.

Antidote: Antivenin serum for poisonous stings and bites.

Oxygen Tank: Oxygen tank with several liters of oxygen.

Cigarettes: Highly addictive and hazardous to your health.

Cardboard Box: Large collapsible cardboard box. Used to hide from guard and cameras.

Enemy Uniform: A sleek gray uniform matching that worn by the enemy.

Bomb Blast Suit: A suit designed to resist impact from explosions and air blasts.

Armor: Reduces bodily damage from bullet impaction.

Flashlight: Rough-grip texture enables non-slip surface while handling.

Compass: Shows correct direction up to the exact latitude, longitude.

Cards 1-8: Electronic card keys. Used to electronically open doors.

Iron Glove: A strong alloy metal tool made to fit over the hand to protect it from harm.

Ammo: Ammunition for your Sub-machine gun and Beretta handgun.

Silencer: Keeps all report of muzzle flash and noise to an inaudible minimum.

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Facts

The character of Solid Snake is based on Snake Plissken, Kurt Russel's character in Escape From New York in 1981 (which is one of Hideo Kojima's favorite movies).

Big Boss's alias, Vermon CaTaffy is actually a play on Muammar al-Qaddafi.

The whole Metal Gear series has sold over 14 million units worldwide to the start of 2004.

The codename of Snake's mission (Operation: Intrude N313) is actually an inside joke regarding the development of the game. After Hideo Kojima's earlier game, "Lost Warld," was canceled, he was assigned to work on a nearly canceled military-themed game bearing the working title of "Project N312." Kojima departed from the game's original premise and gradually turned the game into what eventually became Metal Gear. In the game, Gray Fox's failed mission was titled "Operation: Intrude N312."

Kojima decided to make a game where the player had to avoid contact with the enemy instead of fighting. Kojima got the idea from The Great Escape (1963) and originally wanted to make the game about a POW escaping from the enemy's prison. However, Kojima's co-workers advised him that a game based solely on avoiding the enemy wouldn't work by itself. As a result, the original escape premise was replaced by an infiltration premise. Kojima took the infiltration premise from The Guns Of Navarone (1961).

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Exclusive Appearances

Outer Heaven Night Club In Snatcher

In the popular game Snatcher by Hideo Kojima, Outer Heaven is a popular dance club in Neo Kobe. It is located at 17th Street in the HS District. The highlight is masquerade hour, where all the guests are required to wear full face masks (which must be bought at Plato's Cavern, due to a special arrangement) to gain admittance. Because of this, this club is the preferred night spot for many well to do citizens who wish to enjoy a night on the town while concealing their identities. Outer Heaven is also noted as the only place in the city which serves buffalo meat, and is the club where dancer/actress Isabella Velvet was discovered by director Ridley Scott. She still performs at the club on occasion.

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Version Differences

The biggest difference between the MSX and NES versions is in the presence of the actual Metal Gear mecha or lack thereof in the NES version. Instead, the player must destroy a "super computer" which controls all of Metal Gear's activities in its place. The method of destroying it was also changed. While in the MSX version, the player must place 16 plastic explosives on Metal Gear's feet based on the order given by Dr. Pettrovich, in the NES version the player must simply place the bombs over the Super Computer on no specific parts (however, the player must have already rescued Elen and Pettrovich first).

In the MSX version, Snake performs an underwater insertion into Outer Heaven in the beginning of the game in the entrance of Building No. 1. In the NES version, he performs an air insertion by skydiving and parachuting into the Jungle.

The level designs were altered greatly in the NES version. In the beginning of the game, the player must proceed through a jungle area before reaching the entrance of Building No. 1 through a truck. The first floor corridor of Building No. 1 was also remodeled greatly, with many of its trucks and rooms moved to other locations. The basement level floors of Building No. 1 and 2 were made into separate buildings, Building No. 4 & 5.

In order to reach Building No. 4 or 5, the player must go through one of two jungle mazes located west to each of the outdoor areas. The solution for both mazes are the same, although it is never actually given within the game.

Another boss, the Hind D, was replaced. Instead, the player faces a pair of gunners known as "Twin Shot" on the rooftop of Building No. 1.

Since the player no longer has to parachute to reach Dr. Pettrovich's cell in Building No. 1, the parachute was removed. An Iron Glove was added in its place, which allows the player to break hollow walls. However, in some versions of the NES game, the Iron Glove has no real use.

The Flying Army located on the roof of Building No. 1 and 2 lost their ability to hover over the ground in the NES version.

In the NES version, the "high alert" (or double exclamation mark) mode was disabled. As such the player can always make their escape from alert mode by simply moving to the adjacent screen.

The player can no longer acquire rations or ammo by punching enemy soldiers in sneaking mode.

Solid Snake's face no longer appears in the transceiver mode's screen.

Big Boss's final message to the player after the closing credits was removed.

Some of the music (mainly, the two main themes and the alert mode theme) was changed in the NES version.

There are also several other minor differences in gameplay, including the addition of several bugs and glitches. Some of the radio conversations were "misplaced" as a result of the redesigned areas in the NES game. For example, if the player calls Schneider in front of the room containing the Gas Mask in Building No. 1, he will tell Snake the location of the mine detector instead. This is due to the fact that the same spot in the MSX version used to be a minefield. In addition, the player's bullets has a farther range than they do in the MSX version and can also shoot while wearing the cardboard box.

Regional Differences

Two MSX versions were released- a Japanese version and an English version. For the English release, Konami edited various of the game's radio messages and removed others entirely. Some of the removed messages includes each of Big Boss's comments regarding an item and weapon, and some of Schneider's messages (and practically all of his calls). Reportedly, only 86 of the game's 116 messages were kept. The Japanese MSX manual contains exclusive content not found in the English MSX manual (nor in the Famicom/NES manuals), such as character profiles with illustrations, brief descriptions of the game's bosses, and the complete specifications of Metal Gear TX-55.

In contrast, there's very little differences between regional versions of the NES game. Three versions were released- the Japanese Famicom version, the North American release and the PAL release. The differences between the three are minor. The North American and PAL versions featured a redesigned transceiver screen, while the PAL version fixed some of the glitches from the previous version and featured slightly revised password system. All three versions kept virtually all of the radio messages in the game.

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