If "Going Old School" means going back to gameplay similar to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, what would you call going back to gameplay similar to 1987's Metal Gear? If "Going Old School" means going back to gameplay similar to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, what would you call going back to gameplay similar to 1987's Metal Gear?

Editorial by Ravi Singh, Posted on March 29, 2011

When someone tells you that they are a "Metal Gear fan," does that really say much to you? Sure, they may have a familiarity with the series allowing you to talk to them about Solid Snake and Rising without them thinking that you were hitting on them, but maybe they like some of the games better than others? Perhaps they even hate a few of them. It's entirely possible even to this day that they do not know about certain games, as shown by many self-proclaimed fans who have never heard of the Metal Gear titles for the MSX.

The Metal Fear fanbase is diverse. This is to be expected from a fanbase of a series that is nearing it's twenty-fifth anniversary. Maybe with one title you could expect a monolithic fanbase. I suppose that even with two titles it's possible. But with the more titles that come out, fans love or hate the certain things which make these titles different. This is especially the case for a series as large and as old as the Metal Gear series.

So that brings us to today's question… what kind of Metal Gear fan are you? If you've never considered this question, you should be aware that when you refuse to describe yourself or your beliefs, then someone else who is far less qualified than you are will be willing to do that for you… often without understanding you. Don't like Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake? You're clearly a modern fan who only likes 1080p explosions. Did you not like Guns of the Patriots' story? Clearly you are a classic fan who refuses to take off the nostalgia goggles. And so forth.

So I created this short quiz. Mostly in good fun, but who knows, maybe it'll explain what kind of a fan you are. Maybe it won't. I decided to adopt the Nolan political ideology chart, since if you haven't really noticed, most Metal Gear fan debates in internet forums tend to sound like political debates. Unlike the "left-right" line, the Nolan Chart determines what political ideology someone falls into by rating their views on government roles in the economy and personal matters. Seeing as how what kind of a fan you are is usually determined by how you view the series, this quiz based on two scores: the importance you give to a innovative and fresh gameplay and the importance you give to a healthy and consistent plot.

In order for this quiz to be somewhat accurate, you must be a Metal Gear fan who has an opinion on all of the canon Metal Gear titles: Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and to some degree, Metal Gear Solid: Rising even though it has not been released. You must answer all questions and also answer them only taking the canon titles into consideration.

After taking the quiz you will see your result mapped on a chart along with a description of each type of Metal Gear fan along with a description of the other types. Once again, this is simply for fun.

Definitely Maybe No More gameplay value is needed in addition to having a "Story Mode." Controls should be made so that actions are easier to make. "3D" user-controlled cameras are a manditory addition to Metal Gear gameplay. Putting CQC in a Metal Gear game adds more choices in dealing with enemy confrontations. More weapons is an absolute must and allows for versatile gameplay. Kojima Productions should not contradict previous Metal Gear games for any reason. The classic MSX Metal Gear games should not be disregarded. The series canon should have ended already. New installments are unnecessary. Codec/Radio calls are an important part of the series and provides depth for the fictional universe. Some things are best left to the player as opposed to an explanation.

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