Metal Gear Solid: Rising

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

Original Concept and Story#

Metal Gear Solid: Rising was announced at E3 2009, intended as a console installment following Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, starring Raiden and set between Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4. Research suggests the plot was a "three-act tale of revenge and rescue" starting in 2011, with Raiden, initially not a cyborg, aiming to save Sunny from Area 51, held by a financier named Wexler. A partner, Vespa, was involved, and Raiden's capture and injury (intestines pulled out, jaw crushed) likely led to his cyborg transformation, aligning with Metal Gear Solid 4 events.¹

Gameplay and Mechanics#

The original gameplay focused on "zan-datsu" (cut and take), allowing Raiden to slice enemies and absorb power, as seen in the E3 2010 trailer. It also featured "Hunting Stealth," a high-speed, acrobatic stealth approach, differing from the series' traditional stealth, aiming for a blend of action and stealth.²

Development and Cancellation#

Development by Kojima Productions faced challenges, particularly with the cutting mechanic, leading to cancellation in late 2010. Hideo Kojima handed it to PlatinumGames in 2011, who revamped it into Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, set after Metal Gear Solid 4, focusing on action rather than stealth.³

Detailed Analysis of Canceled Metal Gear Solid: Rising#

This section is a comprehensive examination of the canceled iteration of Metal Gear Solid: Rising, originally developed by Kojima Productions and later transformed into Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance by PlatinumGames. Announced at E3 2009, the game was intended to be a significant console installment after Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, starring Raiden and sandwiched between Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and 4. Its cancellation in late 2010 and subsequent revamp was a turning point in the Metal Gear series, providing insight into lost concepts and development issues.

Historical Context and Announcement#

Metal Gear Solid: Rising was first revealed at Microsoft's E3 2009 press conference, with a 45-second teaser focusing on Raiden, marking a shift from Solid Snake.⁴The game was planned for simultaneous release on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, as noted in contemporary reports.⁵This announcement followed a countdown on Kojima Productions' website, altering the series' tagline to "Lightning Bolt Action," reflecting Raiden's name meaning "thunder and lightning".⁶

Footage#

2009 Metal Gear Solid: Rising CG teaser.

Watch on YouTube

Original Story and Plot Details#

The original plot is a “three-act tale of revenge and rescue” spanning two to three years, beginning in 2011. In the beginning, Raiden, not yet a cyborg, is tasked with rescuing Sunny, Olga Gurlukovich's daughter, from Area 51, held by a wealthy American financier named Wexler. The narrative includes a partner, Vespa, and a dramatic scene in which Wexler captures Raiden, forces Vespa to pull out his guts, and crushes his jaw, likely resulting in his cyborg transformation⁷.This plot was intended to bridge the gap between Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4, depicting Raiden's journey, as hinted in developer discussions with DidYouKnowGaming in March 2024⁸.This was intended to offer a fresh take, with motion controls considered, as mentioned in E3 2010 interviews

Gameplay Mechanics and Innovations#

The gameplay was centered on "zan-datsu" (cut and take), allowing Raiden to slice enemies and objects, absorbing power, as seen in the E3 2010 trailer where he takes a robotic soldier's intestinal battery⁹.An additional mechanic, "Hunting Stealth," was described as high-speed, acrobatic stealth, blending action with stealth elements, differing from the series' traditional approach¹⁰.This was intended to offer a fresh take, with motion controls considered, as mentioned in E3 2010 interviews¹¹.

The game was to use Kojima Productions' Fox Engine, potentially affecting visual style and performance, contrasting with Platinum Engine in Revengeance¹².

Footages#

2010 Metal Gear Solid: Rising CG teaser with gameplay at the end.

Watch on YouTube

2010 Metal Gear Solid: Rising tech-demo clip.

Watch on YouTube

Gameplay Mechanics and Innovations#

Development faced significant hurdles, with Kojima Productions struggling to design around the cutting concept. By late 2010, Hideo Kojima canceled the project, citing a lack of focus and direction, as revealed in a 2011 interview¹³.The game had a completed script, boss concepts, level designs, motion capture, and voice lines, with Yuji Korekado, the producer, expressing sadness at the cancellation, noting it would have had "the best bosses in the franchise"¹⁴.

Korekado initially resisted handing over the project to PlatinumGames, feeling frustrated but eventually participating in its development, impressed by their work¹⁵.In early 2011, PlatinumGames took over, leading to a revamp announced at the Spike Video Game Awards in December 2011, shifting the timeline to after Metal Gear Solid 4 and focusing on action¹⁶.

VGA 2011#

First Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance trailer, the development team changed from Kojima Production to PlatinumGames.

Watch on YouTube

Unused Assets and Lost Content#

Before cancellation, significant work was done, including a completed script, boss designs, and motion capture, much of which was not used in Revengeance. Concept arts hinted at unexplored themes, and there were rumors of different voice actors, such as Toshiyuki Morikawa for Japanese Raiden instead of Quinton Flynn for English¹⁷.The E3 2010 trailer showed Raiden fighting a robotic soldier, possibly part of planned content, but specifics on unused levels or bosses remain scarce, with developers advising against divulging details¹⁸

References#