1998’s Metal Gear Solid remains one of the most celebrated video games released for the original PlayStation, often put in the same league as Final Fantasy 7, Resident Evil, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2.

The stealth-action game not only made series creator Hideo Kojima a household name, but it also expanded the boundaries of what most people thought was possible in video game design from both a gameplay and narrative perspective. However, such triumph does not come about easily or quickly. The ten facts below about Metal Gear Solid’s development show just how much work and effort went into this timeless classic.

10 A Third Title Was Originally Planned For The 3DO

Even before official development on Metal Gear Solid began, Hideo Kojima was planning a third title in the series for the 3DO. It is extremely fortunate development never commenced for it.

The console was not nearly as technically capable as the PS1, and its extremely high price tag caused it to flop. Had a Metal Gear game come out for it instead of on Sony’s console, the world might not have the Metal Gear franchise as it is known today.

9 Development Began In 1995

The actual development of Metal Gear Solid did not start until 1995. The game spent three years in production, which was quite long for the generation. Other notable games from the same generation like Resident Evil spent two years in development.

Even shorter, the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game was in development for just barely a year. Metal Gear Solid has more gameplay mechanics, extended cinematics, and spans two discs, so the longer development seems logical.

8 Hideo Kojima Used Legos To Design Levels

Hideo Kojima is known for some fairly original and unique approaches to game design. This goes back to even the development of Metal Gear Solid. For the 3D title, Hideo Kojima used LEGO bricks to design the levels.

It is easy to imagine the advantage of having something physical to use as a reference when actually crafting the levels. We wonder if the models are still together or if they were promptly destroyed after the game was completed.

7 Snake Is Modeled After Christopher Walken And Jean-Claude Van Damme

Film has had a huge influence on the Metal Gear franchise. Even before the 1998 game, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake used actors’ likenesses for the radio calls.

When making Solid Snake for the new 3D game, Hideo Kojima looked to actors Jean-Claude van Damme and Christopher Walken. The former had an impact on Snake’s physique, while the latter was used for the face. Snake’s iconic bandana comes from Christopher Walken’s character in The Deer Hunter.

6 Metal Gear Solid: Integral

Like the two sequels, Metal Gear Solid received an updated re-release for the PlayStation called Metal Gear Solid: Integral. This version brought numerous updates, including a Very Easy difficulty setting, a first-person mode, alternative enemy patrols, and 300 VR missions.

While this re-release never made it to North America, the VR missions were released as a separate game. The VR mission game was not reviewed particularly well in its time, but it still offers a lot of content for fans.

5 There Was A Japanese Radio Drama

There have been numerous adaptations of Metal Gear Solid, including two novelizations and a graphic novel. Before all of these and just a year after the original game’s release, there was a Japanese radio drama set after the events from the popular PS1 game.

It spans 12 episodes and uses the original Japanese cast for all the returning characters. It is most likely non-canon, considering Metal Gear Solid 2’s existence.

4 It Was First Revealed At Tokyo Game Show 1996

After about a year of development, Metal Gear Solid was finally revealed at Tokyo Game Show in 1996. However, it barely resembles what people finally played in 1998. Another demo was shown off at E3 in 1997 which closer resembled the finished release.

It was also this demo that really heightened anticipation for the release among the press. A demo for the public to play in their homes was also extensively distributed, which no doubt helped in its success.

3 It Is Called “Solid” Because It Was The First 3D Entry

There are several reasons why the third entry in the franchise was called Metal Gear Solid instead of Metal Gear 3 or something else entirely. Mainly, Hideo Kojima did not want to confuse or put off newcomers by advertising it as the third in a series, especially because the series was not well known in the west.

Additionally, the word “Solid” was used because it was the first 3D entry in the series. It also refers to Solid Snake’s codename.

2 Hideo Kojima’s First Western-Released Metal Gear Game

While 1987’s Metal Gear came out in the west on the NES, this version differs greatly from the original MSX2 home computer release in Japan. The sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, never saw any sort of release in the states until 2006’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence.

Additionally, the non-canon sequel Snake’s Revenge was made with absolutely no involvement from the series’ creator. This makes Metal Gear Solid really the first entry in the series to release in the west with direct input from Hideo Kojima.

1 The Psycho Mantis Boss Fight Is Dramatically Different On PC

Because the legendary Psycho Mantis boss fight takes advantage of several PS1 functions, such as a memory card and multiple controller ports, it had to be reworked for the 2000 PC port. The boss no longer reads your memory card, nor does he cause the controller to vibrate.

There is also no way to switch controller ports, so the fight is made more manageable from the start without having to do this. It is still a great fight, but it is these excluded features that made it one of gaming’s most memorable moments.