[I originally posted this on my Wordpress blog, but figured it could fit here too.]

Yes, it’s time for a rant again.

Disclaimer: There will be spoilers for parts of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. I don’t care, but you might. Also, my information comes from what I’ve heard and read, not directly from the game, but I trust my sources.

Warning: I will be talking about rape. Just a heads-up.

It was brought to my attention earlier today that one of things you can find within Ground Zeroes is a particular tape which details what happened to the characters Chico and Paz.

While I would never accuse Hideo Kojima of good writing, the Metal Gear series (the Solid games especially) has usually had quite outlandish and entertaining writing at least. But that tape is just plain awful and disgusting. I will not recount the entirety of it. You can read about it yourself. If you want to stay with me, you probably should. Just read under Ground Zeroes, and you’ll know it when you see it.

This infuriates and disgusts me for several reasons, but let’s focus on a couple of them. Some especially vile tropes, if you will.

Can we get past the idea of using a woman as a tool (and toy) to ‘break’ a man, or make him seem heroic, or make another man seem evil or any such shit? That would be lovely, thanks. And this… ugh. “He did a rape on her. Then he made good-guy watch her get gang-raped. Then he forced good-guy to rape her.” Just stop it! It’s making me absolutely sick! If you think that is acceptable writing, I don’t want to read what you write. I honestly thought better of you, Kojima.

If you wanted to provoke a reaction in me, then job well done. But my outrage is directed at you, mister writer, and not at this character you created.

I would also like to mention how it’s tapping into that rather revolting and damaging idea: if you rape someone enough, they will start to like it. And get addicted to the sex. And will want it all the time. I have encountered this one several times before, and it’s never any less ludicrous. I might expect something like this from a porn or a hentai. But in a AAA game written by a professional? How fucking dare you?

Yes, I said it. How. Dare. You.

People have defended you on many things, Kojima, but this is just inexcusable. I’ve played Metal Gear Solid 1 through 3, and while they were definitely silly, I enjoyed them quite a bit. I never thought you capable of this. And a friend of mine is going through a crisis because of you. Because of this. Again: How *dare* you?

I’m sure some people will be quick to defend and try to explain away this too. “It’s meant to be disgusting”, is one likely phrase. Well, whoop-de-fucking-doo! Mission bloody accomplished! Have a shit medal! Now go away before I throw up.

There is no excuse for this. It’s bad writing. Filled with horrible and horrifying tropes and cliches. Damaging ideas. It’s leapt so far over the line, it probably can’t even see the line any longer, even with a telescope. It’s beyond any sort of human decency, or respect for your audience and fans. How did this slip through? How did anyone think this was acceptable? I am appalled.

My final say on the topic for now: in light of this, that half-naked, mute sniper lady they’ve been showing off seems a tad more sinister than before.

~Wulf