Metal Gear

In The Beginning

The strategies needed to be successful at Metal Gear change as the game progresses. Techniques that work well in the beginning of the game are bound to fail once the action starts cooking.

In the earlier levels it's important that you stay out of sight as much as possible. Your instructions are to infiltrate the base, and a successful infiltration is one with a low body count. Although Metal Gear won't directly penalize you for blasting every guard you stumble upon, your best approach is to avoid conflict wherever possible - if for no other reason than because it's safer. Avoiding conflict also helps preserve your precious supply of ammunition.

Once you get accustomed to the game, you'll realize that the guards (at least, in the early segments of the game) are outrageously stupid - not to mention almost blind. They can't see an infiltrator unless directly facing him. When they do notice that something's amiss, they frequently panic and run helter-skelter, as if not having the vaguest idea of what to do about their unwelcome guest.

Beginning-game strategy: stay hidden. If you can't stay hidden, run. If you can't run, fight - but only as a last resort.

If you run, however, you must have time to get to an exit before enemy reinforcements arrive; otherwise, you'll find yourself facing a nasty fight. Remember that, when the guards see you, they'll yell for more men. If you don't have time to make it to an exit, bump off the guards as quickly as possible. If you're fast enough, the reinforcements won't hear their calls for help.

After Your Promotion

Once you get your second rank, the game play changes dramatically. Now the enemy is aware of your presence, is watching for you, and the instant you step into a room, the guards will yell for help and attack. Even so, running is still your best bet. Staying to fight, especially when the reinforcements show up, is dangerous.

Sometimes, though, you can't avoid conflict. When this happens, fight from a distance, using your machine gun or pistol. Why? If you let a guard get next to you, his rapid fire will drain your energy quickly - so quickly that you may not even have time to grab Rations. Should you find yourself surrounded by the enemy, all firing from close range, you'll die almost immediately

When in battle always keep an eye on your energy level. It's too easy to get caught up in the action and then suddenly find yourself dead.

Rescuing Prisoners

To advance in rank, you must rescue prisoners. But while you're rescuing them, be careful you don't shoot them; if you do, you will immediately lose a full rank - and if you have plans of ever finishing the game, you can't afford to throw away those general's stars. Due to the game's design, it is easy to put a bullet into the very prisoner you're trying to rescue. This is especially true of prisoners with information, since you must repeatedly push a button on your control pad to see everything they have to say. Use the arrow pad to advance the text. If you use the fire button and press it one too many times, you'll have a dead prisoner on your hands - and a lost rank.

Never-Ending Supplies

Most of the supplies you'll see in Metal Gear, such as Rations and Ammunition, are available in an unlimited supply. If you pick up a carton of Rations, for example, then leave and reenter the room, the Rations will be back.

But there's actually a faster way of "resetting" a room. After you pick up all the supplies that are available in a room, use the controller buttons to bring up the radio screen. Don't bother to call anybody; as soon as the radio appears, exit back to the main screen. You'll find that all the supplies are back.

A Careful Save Is A Smart Save

One of the things that makes Metal Gear such an outstanding game is its "password reentry" ability. When you've finished a session with Metal Gear, you will be given a series of code words that, when reentered at the beginning of your next game, will allow you to continue where you left off.

As handy as this "game save" feature is, it is sometimes the source of great frustration. You have to be careful to write down the code exactly as it's shown on the screen. Because of the poor characters that are used, it's easy to confuse a "G" for a "6," a "U" for a "V" an "I" for a "1" or a "Z" for a "2". Make certain you copy the right codes - or you'll be in for a disappointment the next time you sit down to play.

You can do it!

Beating Metal Gear is not too difficult; it just takes time. The information provided on the original Metal Gear map and the hints supplied in this article will give you help for any situation in which you might get stuck.

But should you find yourself unable to complete the game, the following code will allow you to enter the game as close to the end as is possible, with all weapons and supplies: 5XZRZ QZZZG T000U UYRZZ NZXZC.

But while using the passwords above will allow you to see the game's ending sequence, the real fun is playing from the beginning, gathering all the clues, finding all the surprises and completing your mission.