Editing Solid Snake (section)

===Video games===
====''Metal Gear'' and ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake''====
{{Main|Metal Gear (video game)|l1=Metal Gear|Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake}}
''Metal Gear'' introduces Snake, a rookie recruit of the elite special forces unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]]. Snake is sent by Big Boss into [[Outer Heaven]], a rogue nation in South Africa, to rescue [[Gray Fox (Metal Gear)|Gray Fox]] and discover who or what the "[[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear|Metal Gear]]" is.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss:''' Big Boss speaking. Operation Intrude N313. Penetrate the enemy's Outer Heaven and destroy the ultimate weapon, Metal Gear!}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss:''' First, contact missing Gray Fox and destroy Metal Gear!}}</ref> As his mission progresses, Snake finds out that he has been set up; Big Boss's phantom intended to use TX-55 Metal Gear (the experimental, nuclear-armed weapon) to establish Outer Heaven as a nuclear power.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss:''' Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commander of Foxhound. And in charge of this castle, Outer Heaven.}}</ref> After destroying the Metal Gear, Snake confronts and defeats Big Boss's phantom.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake:''' This is Solid Snake... Metal Gear's destruction is a success.}}</ref>

The sequel ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' sees Solid Snake called up to infiltrate Zanzibar Land, a heavily fortified enemy base in Central Asia that has aggravated an international oil crisis and declared themselves a nuclear power by kidnapping Dr. Kio Marv (after the creation of a bio-engineered algae that produces an oil substitute) and the Metal Gear engineer [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Dr. Madnar|Pettrovich Madnar]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Roy Campbell:''' Snake... Right on time, as always.  Let's get started... Commencing Operation Intrude F014. Let's go over this one more time. Your mission is to infiltrate Zanzibar Land and rescue the kidnapped Czech biologist, Dr. Kio Marv.}}</ref> Snake infiltrates the base and discovers that Pettrovich as well as Fox has defected to Zanzibar Land, and that Zanzibar Land is led by the true Big Boss.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake:''' Big... Boss?! / '''Madnar:''' The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!}}</ref> Snake destroys Metal Gear D, and defeats both Fox and the true Big Boss.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Gray Fox:''' Snake... I'm not the same as I used to be. And neither is Metal Gear. I'll show you what fear really is. Prepare to taste defeat!}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss:''' Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!}}</ref><ref name="UGO">{{cite web|title=The History of Metal Gear Solid|work=UGO.com|access-date=2005-07-15|url=http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/metalgearhistory/default.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331004729/http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/metalgearhistory/default.asp|archive-date=2005-03-31}}</ref>

====''Metal Gear Solid / The Twin Snakes''====
{{Main|Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|l1=Metal Gear Solid|Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes}}
''Metal Gear Solid'' and its remake – ''The Twin Snakes'' – reveals Solid Snake's real name as {{nihongo|David|デビッド|Debiddo}}. He is pulled out of retirement by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Roy Campbell|Roy Campbell]] to deal with the "Sons of Big Boss" led by [[Liquid Snake]] who seized an isolated American nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island. Snake's mission is to rescue [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Donald Anderson|Donald Anderson]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Kenneth Baker|Kenneth Baker]] but he is unable to prevent both hostages' deaths.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|year=1998|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake:''' FOX-HOUND hijacking a nuclear weapon? / '''Campbell:''' Now you understand how serious the situation is. You'll have two mission objectives. First, you're to rescue the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Chief Donald Anderson, and the ArmsTech president Kenneth Baker. They're both being held as hostages.}}</ref> As the game progresses, Snake infiltrates and learns about [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear REX|Metal Gear REX]] while meeting up with rookie soldier [[Meryl Silverburgh]] and REX's engineer [[Otacon|Hal Emmerich]], confronts and defeats each member of the corrupt faction of FOXHOUND (consisting of [[Revolver Ocelot]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Decoy Octopus|Decoy Octopus]], [[Psycho Mantis]], [[Sniper Wolf]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Vulcan Raven|Vulcan Raven]], and the Genome Soldiers), several confrontations with the Cyborg Ninja, is able to destroy REX, and personally confronts Liquid. During their fight, it is revealed that Solid and Liquid are twin brothers artificially conceived from Big Boss's genes during the "Les Enfants Terribles" government project designed to create the perfect soldier, in which one brother was genetically modified to be superior over the other.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|year=1998|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|publisher=Konami|quote='''Liquid Snake:''' There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. '''Solid Snake:''' Created? '''Liquid Snake:''' Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970's. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world...}}</ref> Liquid harbors a strong resentment towards Snake since Solid was apparently given their father's dominant "soldier genes" and Liquid was seemingly cast aside. A grueling series of battles and Liquid dies from the FOXDIE virus that was previously implanted into Snake by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Naomi Hunter|Naomi Hunter]] in order to wipe out FOXHOUND without risking any damage to REX for retrieval.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|quote='''Liquid Snake:''' The Pentagon only needed for you to come into contact with us. That's what killed the ArmsTech president and Decoy Octopus. / '''Solid Snake:''' You don't mean... / '''Liquid Snake:''' That's right. You were sent in here to kill us so they could retrieve Metal Gear undamaged along with the bodies of the genome soldiers. From the beginning, the Pentagon was just using you as a vector to spread FoxDie!}}</ref> In the end, it is revealed that Liquid got Big Boss's superior "soldier genes" while Solid was actually the inferior one.<ref name=MGSpostcred>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|quote='''Revolver Ocelot''': Yes, although [Solid Snake] proved he was superior and was the winner after all. ...That's right. Until the very end, [Liquid Snake] thought he was meant to be the inferior one.}}</ref>

====''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty''====
{{Main|Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty}}
''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'' shows Solid Snake as a central character. During the game's extensive prologue sequence, he is sent by Otacon's anti-[[nuclear proliferation|proliferation]] organization [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Philanthropy|Philanthropy]] to infiltrate a cargo tanker and photograph [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear RAY|Metal Gear RAY]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake:''' All right. I'll head to the bridge ASAP. / '''Otacon:''' Try to avoid confrontations. Our goal is to collect evidence on Metal Gear development and expose it to the world. It would be best if you could get out of there without alerting anyone. / '''Solid Snake:''' Don't worry. I know the drill -- we're not terrorists. / '''Otacon:''' Very good. Don't you forget that you're a part of "Philanthropy" now, an anti-Metal Gear organization and officially recognized by the UN.}}</ref> During the operation, however, RAY is hijacked and the tanker destroyed, with Snake apparently dead and framed for the deed.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|publisher=Konami|quote='''Revolver Ocelot:''' ...Yes, at the location we discussed. Yes. I have photographic evidence of Snake on the scene. The Cypher was most useful...I look forward to tomorrow morning's news flash. I would say the Marine Corps' plans are on indefinite hold.}}</ref> During the game's main portion, [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Solidus Snake|Solidus Snake]] steals Snake's identity,<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Raiden:''' So your the boss around here? / '''Solidus Snake''': No, not just around here. I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself. Solid Snake. / '''Solid Snake''': No! That is not Solid Snake! '''Solidus Snake''': What a pleasant surprise – brother.}}</ref> and leads the "Sons of Liberty" (consisting of Revolver Ocelot, [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Fortune|Fortune]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Fatman|Fatman]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Vamp|Vamp]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Olga Gurlukovich|Olga Gurlukovich]]) while Snake himself uses the pseudonym {{nihongo|Iroquois Pliskin|イロコィ・プリスキン|Irokoi Purisukin}} as a non-playable character who assists rookie agent [[Raiden (Metal Gear)|Raiden]] through the remote offshore Big Shell facility and in taking down Solidus and RAY while also learning about [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|the Patriots]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Konami Computer Entertainment Japan|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake''': I'm not an enemy. Calm down. My name is S... My name is Pliskin. Iroquois Pliskin, Lieutenant Junior Grade.}}</ref>

====''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots''====
{{Main|Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots}}
''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'' features an aged incarnation of the character who nicknamed himself {{nihongo|Old Snake|オールド・スネーク|Ōrudo Sunēku}} as the protagonist once again. Thanks to Otacon and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Sunny|Sunny]], he wears a sneaking suit outfitted with "Octocamo" technology which allows him to blend with his environment as well as a face mask which alters his appearance.<ref name="1up">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3146394|title=Metal Gear Solid 4 101|access-date=2006-12-25|publisher=Ziff Davis Media Inc|year=2005|author=MacDonald, Mark|work=1up.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192646/http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3146394|archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>

For his final mission, he is once again enlisted by Campbell to assassinate Liquid Ocelot, CEO of a giant mother company that are trying to take control of the Patriots' AIs.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|year=2008|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Campbell:''' His will lives on - in the body of the man once known as Ocelot. He aims to fan the flames of war even higher - to create the perfect world once envisioned by Big Boss. / '''Old Snake:''' The one world in which soldiers will always have a place... / '''Campbell:''' He must be stopped... Before it's too late.}}</ref> He also learns from Naomi that his life has been artificially shortened as part of the cloning process so that his genes can't be used as a weapon in later research, thus explaining why he has the physical appearance of an elderly man despite being only forty-two years old.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|developer=Kojima Productions|quote='''Naomi Hunter''': You're clones created for one purpose - war. And so in order to prevent you from being abused by clients or stolen by the enemy... They shortened your lifespan and removed your ability to reproduce. It was a safety device to ensure that the seed of Big Boss didn't end up in the hands of others. The reason you're aging so rapidly isn't that of disease, or faulty research, or FOXDIE. It's how you were born. It's your natural lifespan.}}</ref> Snake and his allies are forced to destroy the Patriots' AI and fight through Ocelot's forces until Snake defeats Liquid's doppelgänger in hand-to-hand combat. Snake tried to commit suicide as his DNA contains a mutated FOXDIE virus that might trigger an epidemic, but Big Boss revealed a new variant overwrote the mutant version to which the two make up as father and son. David is told he still has a chance to live "not as a snake but as a man" so he decides to live out the remainder of his life in peace, vowing that he will live long enough to see what the future holds for the new world he has helped create.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|year=2008|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Otacon''': Our fight is finished. There's nothing left for us to do. / '''Old Snake''': No. There's one thing I still have to do. I have to see this age off... See what the future brings.}}</ref>