16 things the first Metal Gear Solid doesn’t tell you right away

1998s Metal Gear Solid is widespread across the recently published Master collection contains it and a number of other essentials Metal gears Title. Although this collection isn’t the best way to explore these games given its size missing functions and technical problemsThe strengths of these classic titles often outweigh the inconveniences of a lackluster release.

Read more: How to open Metal Gear SolidThe new game plus and the best items

And if you are new MGS1 or haven’t played for many years, you might find yourself traveling back in time Metal gears Game to endure this Solid Title a bit rough. Because the controls are dated and awkward by today’s standards, it’s easy to stumble, especially in a game that requires strict stealth and difficult gunfights to survive.

But MGS1 is, despite its older mechanics, a very learnable game with many techniques that can save you time and keep you alive while making the game more fun in the end.

Run and shoot

In the 1998s MGS1, you press the leftmost face button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox, Y on Switch) to aim your weapon. When you try to move your analog stick, you’re simply telling Snake which direction to aim.

But don’t think that in 1998 we couldn’t aim and run at the same time! By holding the gun And If you press the crouch button you can run and shoot. This is very helpful for maintaining mobility during boss fights and during the famous stair fight scene later in the game.

GIF: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

To run and shoot, start by holding down the weapon button and then place the other part of your thumb on the crouch button directly below it.

Speaking of precise aim…

MGS2 Aiming was made much easier as the player could use the first-person perspective while shooting. That didn’t exist MGS1. Luckily, Snake has an auto-aim feature that triggers when a threat is within a certain range and he aims with the Socom.

You can avoid firing the Socom by putting the weapon down

If you aim with the weapon button while using the Socom pistol, releasing it will cause Snake to fire the weapon. Not only is this a waste of ammo if you don’t plan on shooting anyone, it can also give away your position if you haven’t spotted the silencer yet. Good news: You can equip the Socom by equipping it with R1 on PlayStation, RB on Xbox, and R on Switch.

The tricky part, of course, is that Snake will usually target an enemy just before they’re within range to spot you. To get around this, watch the radar in the top right corner to spot an enemy that you can’t yet see on the screen. Then aim your weapon and make sure Snake locks on the target before firing.

Read more: Why you should play VR missions Before Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid VR Missionsthe 1999 spin-off included in the Master collectionoffers great exercise for this.

You can reload tactically by equipping and re-equipping your weapons

Tactical reloading, i.e. reloading before the cartridge magazine is completely empty, is standard practice for almost all shooters. But since MGS Since there is no “reload” button, you might think that this isn’t possible.

Unless you’ve just used up your last magazine, you can tactically reload your weapon by quickly double-tapping R1 on PlayStation, RB on Xbox, and R on Switch.

This also works in MGS2 And 3but you must use R2, RT or ZR on PS5, Xbox and Switch respectively.

Have rations ready to automatically avoid death

While you normally bring up rations in the menu and use the action button to consume them to heal, you can also leave them equipped to heal. While rations are equipped and your health reaches zero, the next available ration will automatically be used to prevent you from dying.

This comes in very handy during boss fights where you may be too busy moving and aiming, which can make it a bit difficult to take care of your health.

You don’t have to crawl to muffle your steps

At the start of the game you will come across special floors that make your footsteps louder. “Master Miller” will call you to tell you about a technique he calls “stalking” that apparently muffles your footsteps on these particular floors. However, Snake will explain that he cannot. But here’s a neat trick: somehow you still can.

Above: Slowly tapping the D-pad. Below: crawling.
GIF: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

While MGS1 Since there are no walking speeds other than running, crawling, and moving on a wall, you can fake a kind of “stalking” by slowly tapping the D-Pad. The first press causes Snake to move forward; But take your thumb off the control pad and it will stop. Repeat this pattern and you’ll move silently across noisy floors.

Not only is it faster than crawling, but it also allows you to freely aim and fire your weapon when necessary. You can also overcome noisy floors by pressing against a wall and moving.

You can’t pet the dogs, but you can make them pee on you (it’s worth it!)

About halfway MGS, you’ll come across some wolves that are all too eager to screw the crap out of you if you’re not near Meryl (or haven’t gotten a unique item from a later boss fight). But if you make her pee on you instead, you’ll be safe.

Read more: Metal Gear Solid Features a quick travel mechanism you probably didn’t know about

Getting her to pee on you is a bit awkward. You have to navigate the area with Meryl and then, um, meet her. Of course she will get angry and will order the wolves to attack you. Just equip a box before they get to you and they’ll pee on you instead. No matter when you carry this box, the dogs will not attack you.

You can travel quickly with a cardboard box!

With a cute internal game mechanic, you can easily switch between three different areas on Shadow Moses Island. To do this, you need to equip a cardboard box in a truck. We explain how this works and where you can find the boxes Our special guide to the topic MGS1‘s fast travel system.

You can attach C4 to a guard’s back

GIF: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

That’s certainly an exaggeration, but it’s a lot of fun. Sneak behind a guard while you have C4 equipped and press the weapon button. When you get close enough, Snake will attach a C4 charge to the guard. You can detonate this charge at any time while the guard is walking around. It’s a good idea to do this while they’re near other guards so you can take out multiple forces at once.

You cannot strangle an opponent if you are also moving

If you try to put your enemy in a chokehold but instead keep knocking them over, it’s because you haven’t stopped moving. Before pressing the weapon button while unarmed, make sure you stop moving completely. When you’re running towards an enemy, timing will be tricky, but it’s a completely learnable mechanic.

You can also take out guards for a (mostly) non-lethal run

When you have an enemy in a chokehold, you can quickly tap the weapon button to snap their neck. However, if you kill too many guards, you will receive a lower rating at the end of the game. So instead of killing a guard, you can render him unconscious by tapping the weapon button every time he starts squirming in the chokehold. If you do this enough times, they will fall over with stars over their heads.

However, you should take this as a request to leave the area, as unconscious guards there wake up fairly quickly MGS1.

It is not possible to achieve a 100% no-kill run-in MGS1 due to certain scripted sequences, but practicing such techniques will help you improve your score at the end of the game.

You can see out of corners

Whenever you’re in first person view, you can press L1/R1 on PlayStation, LB/RB on Xbox, or L/R on Switch to tilt from side to side. This is an easy way to peek around corners without exposing yourself so easily.

Use the codec frequently

Nastasha gives Snake a lecture about how cardboard boxes are made.

Screenshot: Konami / Claire Jackson / Kotaku

There’s a lot of stuff packed into the codec calls – everything from weapon trivia, history lessons, philosophy, and even background information on specific bosses if you call during a fight. You might also learn a few practical gaming tips.

You can spice up the ninja boss fight with chaff grenades

Gray Fox really wants you to hurt him, but if you’re having trouble keeping up with his melee demands, you could try throwing chaff grenades to gum up his cybernetic suit. Unless you have the Bandana (which grants infinite ammo and can be). is unlocked at the end of the game), there is a limit to the number of chaff grenades you can carry during combat.

If you find a particular phase of ninja combat difficult, you should definitely save the chaff grenades for those tricky parts.

Don’t miss certain articles!

Many items will be given to you as a gift MGS1. However, others are easily overlooked. Here are some items you should definitely grab in case you didn’t know:

  • Thermal Goggles (depicts characters wearing camouflage, claymore mines, and motion-sensing lasers): Found in the open room in the tank hangar OR in the nuclear warhead storage building B2 behind a key door on level 6.
  • Gas Mask (slows O2 loss in areas with gas): Found in Nuclear Warhead Storage Building B2 behind a key door on Level 3.
  • Body Armor (reduces the damage you take): Found in Nuclear Warhead Storage Building B2 behind a level 6 key door OR on the first floor of the Furnace.
  • Camera (takes photos): Found in tank hangar B2 South Armory behind a key door on Level 2.

Post-game codenames explained

At the end of the game you will be given a codename. Your name is based on a variety of factors, including the number of enemies killed, the number of rations consumed, your full play time, the number of times you were spotted, and the difficulty level.

There are a variety of possible outcomes. This FAQ was put together by GameFAQs user Reala presents the possible outcomes in a convenient diagram.

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