#ghost babel

Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake: Codec Portraits

In 2004, Konami would update and re-release the first two entries in the franchise, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2∶ Solid Snake for mobile phones. The updated versions would later be available on the PS2 as bonus games in Metal Gear Solid 3∶ Subsistence, as standalone titles in the Japanese WiiWare store, and current generation platforms via The Metal Gear Solid∶ Master Collection.

Whereas both re-releases received general quality of life improvements, only Metal Gear 2 received significant visual changes. The primary reason why Metal Gear 2 needed a reworking is the unauthorized usage of various celebrity likenesses.

In the original release, Snake's appearance is based on Mel Gibson, Big Boss clearly uses Sean Connery’s likeness, Dr. Madnar is essentially Albert Einstein and Colonel Campbell looks almost identical to Richard Crenna in First Blood.

Interestingly enough, the character portraits used for the codec conversations are clearly based on the ones from Metal Gear∶ Ghost Babel. At first glance, some of the sprites appear to be identical.

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Marionette Owl!