As it turns out, Hideo Kojima’s infamously long set pieces are no match for the game-changing antics of speedrunners. On Tuesday, speedrunner Apel finally figured out how to skip that long climb ladder Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. As Metal Gear fans well know, this is one hell of an ascent otherwise, so Apel’s discovery is a public service.
In the exploit, Solid Snake strikes a T-pose after some menu glitches and – whoops! — Swan dives into the space above the long ladder climb. This clip is from the HD remake released for PlayStation 3 in 2011.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was first released in 2004, and that’s when Kojima really found his groove as a game director. The two-minute ladder climb is one of those infamous Kojima scenes where a burst of action and suspense is followed by a long, long stretch of boredom. This one comes shortly after Snake defeats a deadly sniper, only to suffer a long and quiet climb to the top. It’s a far cry from the action-packed, super-spy lifestyle Snake has embraced.
