Metal Gear (MSX2)

The humble beginnings of Konami's popular stealth action series, Metal Gear is an MSX2 game where players control a covert operative with a phallic-sounding codename who must infiltrate an enemy base guarded by soldiers with no peripheral vision.

Sub-Pages#

Prerelease Info

Notes

Unused Text#

Offset	Text	Translation
0x19EB5	ワ,ワカッタ!ハナス	I-I understand! I'll talk

This appears listed in the game's internal database of keywords and phrases in the Japanese version and it's even assigned as a value to the byte variable DB, but it's never actually referenced in any dialogue. It is unclear what's the context of this line was going to be, but it looks like it would've involved coercing someone to talk.

Cheat Codes#

After pausing the game (press F1), type in one of the following codes (space included), and then resume (press F1 again) for the code to take effect.

Code	Effect
intruder	Increases the ammo/carrying capacity of every weapon to 999.
isolation	Increases rations carrying capacity to 999.
ds 4	Promotes Snake to the next level (or class).
anta wa erai	A Japanese phrase meaning "you're the best." Promotes Snake to the maximum level.
hirake goma	A Japanese phrase meaning "open sesame." Every card key in the game will be added to Snake's inventory.

Regional Differences#

Most of the dialogue from the Japanese version were either, cut or shortened in the English version, due to space constraints (the game's ROM size is only 128kb), and possibly to shorten the localization process as well. As a result, the English version is missing 69 of the 155 messages that were present in the Japanese version. Most of these are related to item pickups and the usage of different elevators throughout the game. The port of the game that was included in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for PlayStation 2 (which served as the basis for ports of the game on future platforms, starting with the version included in the HD Edition re-releases of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in 2011 and later as part of the Master Collection series in 2023) ended up preserving all of these messages in its revised localization, while also changing the font type to a larger type that incorporates upper- and lowercase letters (conversely the Japanese versions also uses a larger font type that employs full kanji and kana, rather than just being entirely katakana with romaji for names). Most of the same messages are also present in the NES version (where they were all translated as well).

(Source: Nekura Hoka's Metal Gear Code Site)

Item Pickups#

In the Japanese version, whenever the player picks up a new item, a dialogue box appears where Snake mentions the item he just picked up. In the English version, Snake just picks an item without making any comment.

Text	Translation
レーションヲニュウシュシタ。	Rations acquired.
カート゛ 1 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 1 acquired.
ソウガンキョウヲニュウシュシタ。	Binoculars acquired.
ハンドガンヲニュウシュシタ。	Handgun acquired.
ジライヲニュウシュシタ。	Landmines acquired.
ダンヤクヲニュウシュシタ。	Ammunition acquired.
リモコン・ミサイルヲニュウシュシタ。	Remote control missiles acquired.
カード 2 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 2 acquired.
ダンボールヲニュウシュシタ。	Cardboard acquired.
サイレンサーヲニュウシュシタ。	Silencer acquired.
グレネード・ランチャ- ヲニュウシュシタ。	Grenade launcher acquired.
カード 4 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 4 acquired.
サブマシンガンヲニュウシュシタ。	Sub-machine gun acquired
カード 3 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 3 acquired.
ボデイ・アーマーヲニュウシュシタ。	Body armor acquired.
ボム・ブラスト・スーツヲニュウシュシタ。	Bomb blast suit acquired.
プラスチック・バクダンヲニュウシュシタ。	Plastic explosives acquired.
テキノユニホームヲニュウシュシタ。	Enemy uniform acquired.
セキガイセンゴーグルヲニュウシュシタ。	Infrared goggles acquired.
パラシュートヲニュウシュシタ。	Parachute acquired.
ジライタンチキヲニュウシュシタ。	Mine detector acquired.
フラッシュ・ライトヲニュウシュシタ。	Flashlight acquired.
アンテナヲニュウシュシタ。	Antenna acquired.
カード 5 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 5 acquired.
カード 6 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 6 acquired.
ロケット・ランチャーヲニュウシュシタ。	Rocket launcher acquired.
コンパスヲニュウシュシタ。	Compass acquired.
ゲドクザイヲニュウシュシタ。	Antidote acquired.
カード 8ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 8 acquired.
ガスマスクヲニュウシュシタ。	Gas mask acquired.
サンソボンベヲニュウシュシタ。	Oxygen tank acquired.
カード 7 ヲニュウシュシタ。	Card 7 acquired.

Big Boss#

Item Commentaries#

In the Japanese version, Big Boss will make a comment when you call him in a room containing an item, with only a few of the late-game items (such as the oxygen tank and compass) not getting any. Most of his item descriptions are just pretty obvious advice you can figure out on your own (Remote control missiles are missiles you can control remotely? Who would've thought?), but a few of them (such as the cardboard box) are written with a humorous slant.

Text	Translation
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・レーション？ヒジョウヨウショクリョウダ。スグニタベズニノコシテオケ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Rations? They're emergency food supplies. Don't eat them right away. Save some. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・カード？トビラヲアケルカードダ。トビラニヨッテ、カードナンバーガチガウ。チュウイシロ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A card? Use it to open doors. Card number differs between doors. Be careful. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ソウガンキョウ？シュウイヲミルトキニツカエ。トオクノチケイヤテキノハイチガワカル。ツネニソウガンキョウヲツカウヨウニココロガケロ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Binoculars? Use it to look around your surroundings. You can find out distant topography or enemy positions. Try to always use your binoculars whenever possible. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ハンドガン？ BELLETA M92F・・・ツカイカタハワカッテイルナ。ダンヤクヲサガセ。タマハムダヅカイスルナ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A handgun? It's a Belleta M92F [sic] You know how to use it. Seek ammunition. Don't waste any bullet. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ジライ？ツカイカタハワカッテイルナ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Landmines? You know how to use them. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ダンヤクハモテルカズニセイゲンガアル。チュウイシロ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... There's a limit to how much ammunition you can carry. Be careful! ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・リモコン・ミサイル？リモコンソウサデキルミサイルダ。ショウガイブツノオオイトコロデツカエ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Remote control missiles? They're missiles you can operate by remote control. Use them in places with many obstacles. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ダンボール？ヒッコシデモスルノカ？・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A cardboard box? Are they moving out or something? ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・サイレンサー？コレヲツケルト、ジュウセイガケセル。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A silencer? Attach it to suppress gunshots. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・グレネード・ランチャー M79？ツカイカタハワカッテイルナ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... An M79 grenade launcher? You know how to use it. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・サブマシンガン？ INGRUM MAC 11・・・ツカイカタハワカッテイルナ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A sub-machine gun? It's an Ingrum Mac 11...[sic] You know how to use it. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ボデイー・アーマー？オトコナラツカウナ！・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A body armor? If you were a man you wouldn't need that! ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ボム・ブラスト・スーツ？バクフウヤカゼニツヨイ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A bomb blast suit? It's resistant against winds and explosions. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・プラスチック・バクダン？ドコニデモセットデキル、バクダンダ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss. Plastic explosives? They're explosives you can set anywhere. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・テキノユニホーム？セーラー・フクカ？・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... An enemy's uniform? Is it a sailor suit? ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・セキガイセンゴーグル？セキガイセンセンサーガミエルヨウニナル。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Infrared goggles? It makes infrared sensors visible. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・パラシュート？コウカマエニセットシロ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A parachute? Make sure to wear it before jumping off. ...Over
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ジライタンチキ？ジライノイチガワカル。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A mine detector? It can locate landmines. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・フラッシュ・ライト？ツカイカタハワカッテイルナ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A flashlight? You know how to use it. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ガスマスク？ガスチタイデツカウノダ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... A gas mask? Use it in gas-covered areas. ...Over.

General Advice#

Text	Translation	Area
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・エレベーターニノルトフロアカンノイドウガデキル。エレベーターノイチヲオボエルコトダ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss. You can use elevators to move between floors. Remember their locations. ...Over.	In front of the western elevator on the first floor of Building No. 1.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・カンシカメラニチュウイシロ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... Watch out for the surveillance cams. ...Over.	On the third floor of Building No. 1 in front of the western elevator.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・イイワスレテイタガセキガイセンセンサーニハチュウイシロ。セキガイセンゴーグルガヒツヨウダ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... I forgot to tell you, but watch out for infrared sensors. You'll need some infrared goggles. ...Over.	In the corridor with the infrared sensors on the second floor of Building No. 1.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・ミトオシノヨイトコロハ、カモフラージュガヒツヨウダ。タトエバ、ナニカヲカブルトカ・・・・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... You'll need camouflage in places where visibility is great. If only you had something to cover yourself with... ...Over.	In the corridor with the security cams one screen south of the eastern elevator on the first floor of Building No. 1.

Replaced Messages#

Japanese
Text	Translation
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・イイワスレテイタガ、ガスチタイデハガスマスクガヒツヨウダ。ガスマスクノアリカハレジスタンスリーダー SCHNEIDER ガシッテイルハズダ。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss... I forgot to tell you, but you'll need a gas mask in gas-covered areas. Resistance leader Schneider might know where to find one. ...Over.
コチラ BIG BOSS・・・イイワスレテイタガ、コウアツデンリュウハデンゲンパネルヲハカイセヨ。リモコン・ミサイルヲツカウノダ。リモコン・ミサイルノアリカハレジスタンスリーダー SCHNEIDER ガシッテイル。・・・OVER	This is Big Boss. I forgot to tell you, but for high-voltage currents, you must destroy their power supply panel. You'll need remote control missiles. Resistance leader Schneider knows where to find some. ...Over.

Two of Big Boss's early messages in the Japanese version were truncated for the English version. Both of these incoming calls are made on the third floor of Building No. 1 in rooms with the situations described. The shortened versions of the messages omit any mention of Schneider, the resistance leader who provides information about the layout of the fortress (specifically the locations of certain items when they're needed). Since no other character ever brings up Schneider, it's possible to play through the English version blindly without even knowing about Schneider or how to contact him until reaching the second half of the game, in which the game starts throwing in a few incoming calls from him.

Steve#

In the few instances in which Diane is unavailable to assist you in a boss battle, a man named Steve will answer her calls for you in the Japanese version, who eventually gets annoyed with Snake in their third and final exchange. His relation to Diane is never made clear in the game, but the later released Metal Gear Solid 4 Database establishes Steve to be Diane's brother, which explains his over-protectiveness. Incidentally, Steve's messages are the last set of text in the game's code, which suggests that they were late additions to the script.

Text	Translation	Area
コチラ STEVE・・・ DIANE? DIANE ナラ、カイモノニイッタママ、カエッテイナイケド・・・	This is Steve. Diane? If it's Diane you're looking for, she went shopping and hasn't come back yet...	On the third floor of Building No. 1, in the room with the prisoner who gives you Diane's frequency number.
コチラ STEVE・・・ DIANE? DIANE ナライマ、シャワーヲアビテイルケド・・・	This is Steve. Diane? If it's Diane you're looking for, she's taking a shower right now...	During the Shoot Gunner boss battle in the basement of Building No. 1.
コチラ STEVE・・・ DIANE? マタオマエカ! モウ、DIANE ニハチカヅカナイデクレ！！	This is Steve... Diane? Oh, it's you again!? Just leave Diane alone already!!	During the Fire Trooper boss battle in the basement of Building No. 2.

Schneider#

Text	Translation	Area
コチラ SCHNEIDER・・・ヒミツノドクボウ？ザンネンナガラ、シラナイ・・・・・・OVER	This is Schneider... The secret prison? Sorry, but I don't know where it is... ...Over.	On the first floor of Building No. 1, in the room with the prisoner who tells you where Grey Fox is located.
コチラレジスタンスリーダー SCHNEIDER・・・ジライタンチキハオクジョウニアル。・・・OVER	This is resistance leader Schneider... The mine detector is on the rooftop... Over.	In the mined area with the two trucks on the courtyard of Building No. 1 or outside the rear entrance.
コチラ SCHNEIDER・・・キタエレベーターハウエニシカイドウシナイ。・・・OVER	This is Schneider... The northern elevator only moves upwards. ...Over.	In front of the northern elevator in Building No. 2 on any floor.
コチラ SCHNEIDER・・・ミナミエレベーターハシタニシカイドウシナイ。・・・OVER	This is Schneider... The southern elevator only moves downwards. ...Over.	In front of the southern elevator in Building No. 2 on any floor.
コチラ SCHNEIDER・・・コノサキニキタエレベーターガアル。・・・OVER	This is Schneider... The northern elevator is just ahead. ・・・Over.	In the basement of Building No. 2, one screen east from the room where you fight Fire Trooper.

Jennifer#

Text	Translation	Area
コチラ JENNIFER!! ヒダリノカベヲコワスノヨ！・・・OVER	This is Jennifer!! Destroy the left wall! ...Over	In the basement of Building No. 3, one screen north of the corridor with the two laser cameras.

Prisoners#

Text	Translation	Area
タスカッタ! パラシュートガアレバサクノキレメカラ、コウカデキル。	I'm saved! You can fall from the gap in the fence if you have a parachute.	On the rooftop of Building No. 1. Another prisoner on the second floor gives similar advice, which probably made this a bit redundant.
タスカッタ! コノフロアカラダッシュツスルニハキタエレベーターヲサガスシカナイ！	I'm saved! You got no choice but to seek the northern elevator if you wish to escape from this floor.	In the basement of Building No. 2.

Revisional Differences#

The Wii Virtual Console version was released exclusively in Japan in 2009. This version is a direct emulation of the Japanese MSX2 version, but contains a few script changes that were made to bring it more in line with the 2004 mobile phone port that the versions included in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, HD Edition and Master Collection were based on.

Name Changes#

The names of certain characters and groups (which are all spelled entirely in uppercase Romaji) were changed to either, make them more consistent with the later games (e.g. Grey Fox, Dr. Pettrovich, Fox Hounder) or to make them less Engrish-sounding (e.g. Shoot Gunner, Coward Duck). Although, Dr. Pettrovich's new name should really be "Dr. Madnar", since that's the spelling used in the other versions.

The Japanese transliterations of certain English loanwords were also altered as well. The "silencer" (サイレンサー) also became a "suppressor" (サップレサー) in dialogue, but despite this, the サイレンサー text string that appears on the weapon select screen remained unchanged.

Characters and Groups#

Byte	Original	Virtual Console
A9	GREY FOX	GRAY FOX
AE	DR. PETTROVICH	DR. MADNER
B0	FOX HOUNDER	FOXHOUND
B4	SHOOT GUNNER	SHOTMAKER
B9	ARNOLD	BLOODY BRAD
BA	COWARD DUCK	DIRTY DUCK

Items#

Byte	Original	Virtual Console	Translation
BC	ボデイ・アーマー	ボディ・アーマー	Body Armor
CB	テキ　ノ　ユニホーム	テキ　ノ　ユニフォーム	Enemy's Uniform
CF	グレネード・ランチャー	グレネードランチャー	Grenade Launcher
D0	ロケット・ランチャー	ロケットランチャー	Rocket Launcher
D1	プラスチック・バクダン	プラスティックバクダン	Plastic Explosives
D3	リモコン・ミサイル	リモコンミサイル	Remote Control Missiles
D4	サイレンサー	サップレサー	Silencer/Suppressor

Script Changes#

The bold portions of the text represent parts of the script that were altered. The script changes can be categorized in four types.

Removal of actual firearm names mentioned by Big Boss.
The addition of the suffixes タイイン (taiin) for "member" or ブタイ (butai) for "special forces group" to the use of "FOXHOUND" in certain lines to provide clearer context, since "FOX HOUNDER" in the original script was used interchangeably for the unit itself, as well as its members.
The use of Dr. Madner's full name (Drago Pettrovich Madner) when he's introduced, as well as his daughter Elen.
Miscellaneous grammatical changes.

The corresponding portions of the English script from the Subsistence version has been provided as well to provide clearer context.

Weapon Names#

Original	Virtual Console	Subsistence
コチラ BIG BOSS ... ハンドガン？ BELLETA　M92F...	コチラ BIG BOSS ... ハンドガン？	This is Big Boss... Handgun?
コチラ BIG BOSS ... グレーネード・ランチャー M79？	コチラ BIG BOSS ... グレーネードランチャー？	This is Big Boss... Grenade launcher?
コチラ BIG BOSS ... サブマシンガン？ INGRUM　MAC　11...	コチラ BIG BOSS ... サブマシンガン？	This is Big Boss... Submachine gun?

FOXHOUND#

Original	Virtual Console	Subsistence
スウシ゛ツ　マエ　ニ　センニュウシテキタ　FOX HOUNDER ナラ,フ゛シ゛タ゛。	スウシ゛ツ　マエ　ニ　センニュウシテキタ　FOXHOUND タイインナラ,フ゛シ゛タ゛。	The FOXHOUND member that infiltrated this base a few days ago is unharmed.
GREY FOX トカイウ FOX HOUNDER ナラ...	GRAY FOX トカイウ FOXHOUND タイインナラ...	That member of FOXHOUND, Gray Fox...
OUTER HEAVEN ノホ゛ス　ハ FOX HOUNDER ソウシレイカン,BIG BOSS タ゛!	OUTER HEAVEN ノホ゛ス　ハ FOXHOUND フ゛タイソウシレイカン,BIG BOSS タ゛!	The Outer Heaven boss is FOXHOUND's commanding officer, Big Boss!
...ワタシ　カ゛ FOX HOUNDER ソウシレイカン,ソシテ, コノ　ヨウサイ , OUTER HEAVEN ノホ゛ス,BIG BOSS タ゛!!	...ワタシ　カ゛ FOXHOUND フ゛タイソウシレイカン,ソシテ, コノ　ヨウサイ , OUTER HEAVEN ノホ゛ス,BIG BOSS タ゛!!	...I am the supreme commander of the FOXHOUND unit... And...The leader of the fortress of Outer Heaven, Big Boss!

Madner#

Original	Virtual Console	Subsistence
ソレ　ハカイハツスャ DR. PETTROVICH カ゛シッテイル...	ソレ　ハカイハツスャ DRAGO PETTROVICH MADNER カ゛シッテイル...	And the only person that knows how to do that, is Metal Gear's developer, Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar.
ワタシハ DR. PETTROVICH タ゛。	ワタシハ DRAGO PETTROVICH MADNER タ゛。	I am Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar.
アリカ゛トウ... ワタシハ DR. PETTROVICH ノ　ムスメ,ELEN。	アリカ゛トウ... ワタシハ DR. MADNER ノ　ムスメ,ELEN　MADNER。	Thank you... My name is Ellen Madnar. I am Dr. Madnar's daughter.

Other Changes#

Original	Virtual Console	Subsistence
コチラ BIG BOSS ... ミトオシ　ノ　ヨイ　トコロハ, カモフラ―シ゛ュ　カ゛　ヒツヨウダ	コチラ BIG BOSS ... ミトオシ　ノ　ヨイ　トコロハ, カムフラ―シ゛ュ　カ゛　ヒツヨウダ。	This is Big Boss... You will need to use camouflage in exposed locations.
ソウコウ　ノ　ウスイ　キャクフ゛ニ　プラスチック・バクダンセット　スル。	ソウコウ　ノ　ウスイ　キャクフ゛ニ　プラスティックバクダンヲ　セット　スル。	Attach plastic explosives to the legs of the unit where the armor is thin.

The Japanese transliteration of "camouflage" was changed on the first line and the particle wo (ヲ) was added on the second.

v · t · e The Metal Gear series
MSX2	Metal Gear • Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
NES	Metal Gear • Snake's Revenge
DOS	Metal Gear

Metal Gear Solid
PlayStation	Metal Gear Solid (Prototype)
Game Boy (Color)	Metal Gear Solid
GameCube	Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (Prototype)
PlayStation 2	Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (Prototype) • Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Prototype)
PlayStation 3	Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots • Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Xbox 360	Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Windows	Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance • Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain • Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater
PlayStation Portable	Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus • Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Nintendo 3DS	Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
PlayStation 4, Xbox One	Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S	Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater

Other
PlayStation Portable	Metal Gear Acid 2
Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Prototype)
GameCube	Metal Gear Special Disc