Last time, we took a look at the first half of the Metal Gear timeline: namely, the games featuring Big Boss as the main hero. While it was certainly a lot to go over, it's only the first half of the saga - this time, we're looking at the franchise's main hero, Solid Snake!
There's quite a bit of material to cover: Solid Snake was the hero of the franchise from the Japanese MSX original all the way through Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It's also where the series' story gets a bit more convoluted, so if you need a refresher, check out the first half of the timeline first.
And, as always, we're covering the entire stories of each game - basically, if you haven't already played through them, SPOILERS AHEAD!
So, without any further adieu, here's the second half of the Metal Gear timeline:
Pre-Metal Gear
December 1989:
• A young boy named Jack - who would eventually become Raiden - participates in the Liberian Civil War.
1990:
• George Sears, otherwise known as Solidus Snake, trains Raiden.
• Big Boss returns to the U.S. military, becoming the commander of the revived FOXHOUND unit.
• Frank Jaeger joins FOXHOUND and is awarded its highest honor: the codename 'Fox.' Jaeger becomes known as 'Gray Fox.'
• Huey Emmerich learns that his second wife is having an affair with his son, Hal. After realizing this, he drowns himself in the family pool, nearly taking his stepdaughter Emma with him.
• Solid Snake joins the U.S. Army as a member of the Green Berets. He then participates in the Gulf War.
• Liquid Snake joins the SAS and also participates in the Gulf War - however, he is captured and becomes a prisoner of war.
1994:
• Liquid Snake is rescued by U.S. forces and returns to America.
1995:
• Solid Snake joins FOXHOUND.
• Metal Gear TX-55 is developed in secret by Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar. The weapon was then deployed in Outer Heaven, a heavily-armed state off the coast of Africa, built by a mercenary force during the 1980s.
Late 1995:
• Operation Intrude N312 commences.
• FOXHOUND (more specifically, Gray Fox) is sent into Outer Heaven at the behest of the U.S. government.
• After surveying much of the bases' defenses, Gray Fox is captured, only sending two words back: "Metal Gear."
The Events of Metal Gear
Days later, 1995:
• Operation Intrude N313 commences.
• Big Boss sends Solid Snake into Outer Heaven as his first assignment. His objectives: rescue Gray Fox and discover the truth behind Metal Gear.
• After meeting a local resistance leader named Kyle Schneider, Snake learns the location of Gray Fox. Upon finding him, Snake learns of Metal Gear.
• Fox tells Snake to find Dr. Madnar. While en route to the doctor, Snake encounters and defeats Shotmaker, Machinegun Kid and a Hind-D helicopter.
• Snake reaches Madnar's cell, only to find it empty. He learns that Madnar was moved to the basement.
• After defeating Fire Trooper and Bloody Brad. Snake finds the Madnar in another cell. Madnar reveals that Snake can destroy Metal Gear by placing C4 explosives on the tank's feet.
• On his way to Metal Gear's sub-basement hangar, Big Boss starts feeding Snake faulty intel before ordering him to abort the mission altogether.
• Snake defeats Dirty Duck on his way towards Metal Gear. Upon reaching the giant tank, Snake destroys Metal Gear. Outer Heaven's self-destruct sequence begins.
• Before Snake can escape the facility, he is confronted by Outer Heaven's true leader: Big Boss. Snake learns that he was only sent in to spread false information about Outer Heaven, but learned too much in the process.
• After a long, grueling fight, Snake manages to defeat Big Boss and escape Outer Heaven.
• NATO bombs Outer Heaven after Snake's extraction, leveling the base and killing anyone left inside.
Pre-Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Late 1995:
• The survivors from the NATO bombing (including Kyle Schneider) of Outer Heaven are saved by Big Boss, who managed to survive his fight with Snake.
• Gray Fox disappears.
• Roy Campbell replaces Big Boss as FOXHOUND's commander-in-chief.
1997:
• An Asian conflict known as the Mercenary War begins. As a result, the military democracy 'Zanzibar Land' is formed.
1998:
• A successor to the Metal Gear TX-55, codenamed 'D,' is developed in Zanzibar Land.
1999:
• The world's supply of crude oil reaches critically low levels.
• American and Russian nuclear disposal sites are raided by the now-completed Metal Gear D.
• A biologist by the name of Dr. Kio Marv creates OILIX, a nano-organism that can produce high-quality crude oil.
• The Patriots develop a program to control information that they deem 'inconvenient.' It is planned to be spread throughout the world as a supposed fix for the Y2K bug.
• Zanzibar Land becomes its own nuclear power, and begins to invade its neighboring countries.
• Dr. Marv is kidnapped by Zanzibar Land forces while en route to an OILIX program demonstration.
The Events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
December 24, 1999
• Operation Intrude F014 commences: Solid Snake is brought out of retirement to infiltrate Zanzibar Land, rescue Dr. Marv and retrieve the OILIX formula.
• Snake is ambushed almost immediately by Black Ninja, who turns out to be Kyle Schneider in an exoskeleton. Before Schneider dies, he hints that Big Boss is behind Zanzibar Land.
• Upon reaching Dr. Marv's cell, Snake finds it empty. However, Snake finds Dr. Madnar instead, who reveals that he was captured in order to work on Metal Gear D.
• After leaving to continue his search for Dr. Marv, Snake is contacted by his '#1 fan,' who warns him about a hidden minefield in his path. Snake evades the mines.
• Snake encounters another Hind D helicopter and a mercenary named Running Man. Both are defeated.
• After rescuing a captured CIA agent named Holly, Snake finally learns of Dr. Marv's location.
• Snake heads to the roof of the facility to find Dr. Marv - instead, he fights and defeats Red Blaster on the way.
• Snake finally contacts Dr. Marv, only to learn that he doesn't speak English. Kazuhira Miller (now known as Master Miller) contacts Snake and tells him to find Gustava Heffner.
• Snake finds Gustava, then contacts Dr. Marv and confirms that he's alive. The two then reunite with Madnar, and continue on to find Dr. Marv.
• While crossing a suspension bridge, Gray Fox reveals himself. Piloting Metal Gear D, Fox kills Gustava and captures Madnar.
• Snake recovers, defeats a squad of mercenaries and finds Dr. Marv's cell. Unfortunately, Dr. Marv is already dead and Madnar was unable to save him.
• Holly, the CIA agent, then reveals that Madnar was willingly working on the new Metal Gear. Madnar responds by attacking Snake; he is easily defeated.
• Snake continues on and finds Marv's OILIX formula. After retrieving the formula, Madnar tells Snake how to defeat Metal Gear D: throw grenades at its feet.
• Snake then falls into Gray Fox's trap and fights Metal Gear D. Thanks to Madnar's advice, Snake emerges victorious. However, the resulting explosion causes Snake's equipment to light on fire, forcing him to abandon all of it.
• Gray Fox uses the confusion to steal the OILIX formula and run. Snake follows.
• While standing in the middle of minefield, Snake and Fox fight hand-to-hand. Fox loses the fight and seemingly dies. Snake grabs the OILIX formula.
• A familiar voice begins to taunt Snake. Following the mysterious voice to its source, Snake finds Big Boss, who reveals his plan to hold the world hostage.
• With no equipment or weapons, Snake fashions an impromptu flamethrower using a lighter and aerosol spray. Big Boss burns to death.
• Snake escapes Zanzibar Land with the OILIX formula intact.
• FOXHOUND commander Roy Campbell offers to let Snake rejoin the unit; Snake declines and retires to the Alaskan wilderness.
Pre-Metal Gear Solid
Late 1999:
• Revolver Ocelot is asked to join FOXHOUND.
• Ocelot and EVA conceive a plot to destroy the Patriots and revive Big Boss.
• The Patriots begin work on an AI network to govern the world's governments and economies.
2000:
• George Sears, the third clone of Big Boss, is 'elected' as the 43rd President of the United States.
• Liquid Snake joins FOXHOUND and becomes a squad leader. Revolver Ocelot joins him.
2002:
• A nuclear weapons disposal facility is built on Shadow Moses Island in Alaska.
2003:
• Naomi Hunter joins FOXHOUND as a medical researcher.
• Dr. Clark, one of the surviving Patriots, is killed by a revived Gray Fox. The 'accident' was actually planned by EVA and Ocelot.
February 2005:
• Kazuhira Miller is assassinated in his home.
• A FOXHOUND squad, led by Liquid Snake, takes over the facility at Shadow Moses. They commandeer a new model of Metal Gear, nicknamed REX, and threaten a nuclear strike.
• Liquid sends his demands to Washington: $1 billion and Big Boss' remains, to be delivered within 24 hours.
• Colonel Campbell convinces Solid Snake to come out of retirement.
• Naomi Hunter injects Snake with 'nanomachines' before he leaves for the mission.
The Events of Metal Gear Solid
February 2005:
• Snake infiltrates Shadow Moses via an underwater drainage pipe and a large freight elevator. His objectives: rescue DARPA Chief Donald Anderson, ArmsTech President Kenneth Baker and Campbell's niece Meryl Silverburgh.
• On his way into the base, Snake is contacted by someone claiming to be Miller, who offers his help during the mission.
• Snake makes his way to Anderson's cell. Anderson reveals the existence of Metal Gear REX to Snake, but before Snake can rescue him, Anderson suddenly suffers from a heart attack.
• Snake emerges from Anderson's cell to find the disguised Meryl Silverburgh. After surviving an ambush, Meryl runs off while Snake leaves to find Baker.
• Upon finding Baker, Snake is confronted by Ocelot. During their fight, a Cyborg Ninja appears and cuts Ocelot's hand off before freeing Baker. Both Ocelot and the Ninja retreat.
• Baker, now safe, tells Snake that Meryl has REX's override keys. Baker then gives Snake the last copy of REX's data before succumbing to a heart attack.
• Snake leaves to find Meryl. Along the way, FOXHOUND operative Vulcan Raven ambushes Snake in a tank, only to be defeated.
• Snake finds REX's programmer, a scientist named Hal Emmerich, being attacked by the Ninja. The two engage in hand-to-hand combat, during which Snake recognizes Gray Fox.
• After saving Emmerich (nicknamed 'Otacon'), Snake leaves to find Meryl. He finds her, and they continue on towards REX's hangar.
• The duo are ambushed by FOXHOUND operatives Psycho Mantis and Sniper Wolf; Snake manages to defeat Psycho Mantis. Sniper Wolf injures Meryl, and Snake is forced retreat and find a sniper rifle.
• He returns and manages out-snipe Sniper Wolf, only to be captured by Ocelot. Ocelot then tortures Snake and takes the REX data that Baker gave him.
• Snake passes out, and is thrown in a holding cell. Otacon finds Snake and helps him escape.
• Snake continues on towards REX's control room, taking down another Hind-D helicopter, Sniper Wolf and Vulcan Raven along the way.
• Upon reaching REX's control room, Snake finds Liquid and Ocelot discussing their plans. Liquid reveals that FOXHOUND doesn't plan to attack the United States, but a foreign civilian population, thus igniting World War III. FOXHOUND would remain in control of REX and its nuclear payload, thus establishing its own state and re-starting Outer Heaven.
• Ocelot then discovers Snake, shooting the override key out of his hand. After retrieving it, Snake receives a call from Naomi, now in custody.
• Naomi admits that Snake's pre-mission injection wasn't just nanomachines, but a virus known as FOXDIE, which only targets specific genes - namely, FOXHOUND, Anderson, Baker and Snake.
• Snake returns to the control room, and uses the keys. Surprisingly, this activates Rex - 'Miller' then reveals himself to be Liquid in disguise, and thanks Snake for falling into his trap.
• Hijacking a now-active REX, Liquid attacks Snake. Campbell then calls Snake to tell him that if REX isn't destroyed, the government would green-light a nuclear strike on Shadow Moses.
• Snake tries to fight REX to no avail. Gray Fox suddenly re-emerges, damaging REX with a laser and buying Snake some time. Sadly, Fox is crushed underfoot in the process.
• Using a Stinger missile launcher, Snake destroys the now-vulnerable REX. The resulting explosion knocks him out.
• Snake awakens on top of the burning REX. Liquid reveals that he and Snake are clones; Campbell confirms everything.
• Liquid then challenges Snake to a duel, with Meryl's fate resting in the balance. Snake wins, rescues Meryl, and escapes the base using a nearby jeep.
• Somehow, Liquid manages to survive and pursues Meryl and Snake. Both jeeps crash as they exit the facility.
• Liquid gains the upper hand following the crash. Just before Liquid kills Snake, FOXDIE confuses their nearly-identical DNA and kills Liquid.
• Campbell then calls Snake to let him know that the strike was called off. Naomi tells Snake not to worry about FOXDIE. Meryl finds a nearby snowmobile, and the two of them ride off into the wilderness.
• Ocelot contacts the President of the United States, revealing that he'd been working as a double agent the whole time. Ocelot leaves Shadow Moses with all of the data on Metal Gear REX.
Pre-Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
2005:
• The U.S. government denies any involvement in the incident at Shadow Moses. They blame the entire thing on a radical right-wing organization.
• Naomi is arrested and imprisoned, but escapes three days later thanks to Ocelot's help.
• The REX project is abandoned, along with the entire Shadow Moses facility.
• Due to his manipulation of the events at Shadow Moses, George Sears (a.k.a. Solidus Snake) is removed from his position as President. He only escapes the Patriots' wrath with Ocelot's help.
Late 2005:
• Ocelot has Liquid's arm grafted onto his own in order to replace the one he lost in Shadow Moses.
Early 2006:
• Solid Snake and Otacon form Philanthropy, an anti-Metal Gear organization.
• Jack, also known as Raiden, undergoes virtual reality training.
April 30, 2006:
• Raiden and Rosemary meet for the first time.
May 2006:
• Raiden and Rosemary discover that they just happen to work at the same military base, and begin their relationship.
• Olga Gurlukavich becomes pregnant.
The Events of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Summer 2007:
• Snake and Otacon discover that a new model of Metal Gear, nicknamed RAY, has been developed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
August 8, 2007:
• Snake boards the USS Discovery in order to expose the new Metal Gear to the public, only to watch as the ship is hijacked by Russian soldiers.
• Snake heads to the bridge to find where the Russians are taking the ship. Once there, Snake finds the Russian commander's daughter Olga, and the two engage in a brief duel. Olga is knocked unconscious.
• As Snake makes his way into the ship's interior, Otacon reveals that their intel came from his long-lost sister Emma Emmerich.
• Snake finds RAY, but before he can escape, Revolver Ocelot reveals himself. Ocelot guns down the Russian commander and steals RAY for himself.
• Snake confronts Ocelot, which causes Liquid's persona to manifest itself through Ocelot's arm. Liquid Ocelot destroys the tanker and escapes with RAY, leaving Snake for dead.
The game skips ahead two years: while the following events don't technically take place during the game, they're important enough to list nonetheless.
Late 2007:
• The Patriots begin construction of an offshore oil facility known as 'Big Shell' as a cover for their latest Metal Gear project, Arsenal Gear.
• Emma Emmerich is recruited by the Patriots to work on their AI network.
• Olga gives birth to a daughter, Sunny. The baby is then kidnapped by the Patriots.
2008:
• President James Johnson, Solidus Snake's successor, is re-elected thanks to the Patriots.
April 29, 2009:
• A special ops squad known as Dead Cell (led by Solidus Snake) takes over the Big Shell facility. Among the hostages are President Johnson and Emma Emmerich.
• Metal Gear Solid 2 resumes with Raiden infiltrating the Big Shell facility via an underwater oil fence. Upon entering the facility, Colonel Campbell reveals that Rosemary has joined the mission as a systems analyst at the last second.
• While looking for the President, Raiden is ambushed by Dead Cell member Vamp. Raiden is then saved by a suspiciously familiar-looking soldier named 'Iroquois Pliskin.'
• After catching his breath, Raiden continues to search for the President. He finds him with Fortune, another Dead Cell member.
• Fortune eliminates a squad of Navy Seals before heading further into the facility with the President and Vamp in tow.
• Raiden then learns of explosives being planted throughout the facility. Employing the help of Pliskin and explosives expert Peter Stillman, Raiden disarms the bombs.
• This turns out to be a trap, as disabling the smaller bombs triggers two larger explosives. Raiden manages to disable one, though Stillman is killed while trying to disable his.
• On his way back to Pliskin, Raiden is attacked by Fortune. During their fight, Fatman threatens to destroy the entire facility. Raiden tries to use the distraction to kill Fortune, but seemingly kills Vamp instead.
• Raiden leaves Fortune to mourn Vamp and makes it to Fatman. Following a brief fight, Fatman dies.
• Raiden is then confronted by a new Cyborg Ninja. After giving Raiden new intel, it vanishes.
• Thanks to a Secret Service agent, Raiden learns of the new Metal Gear and the President's location.
• Solidus Snake (posing as Solid Snake) and Ocelot appear; Solidus reveals his plan to detonate a nuke above Manhattan, using the EMP as a way to free the city from the Patriots' control.
• Raiden is discovered by Ocelot, only to be rescued by the Cyborg Ninja.
• After regrouping, Raiden confronts Solidus, and Pliskin reveals himself to be the real Solid Snake. Solidus attacks them from a Harrier jet, and Raiden takes it down.
• Raiden finally finds the President, who informs him of the Patriots' control over the country: the new Metal Gear, nicknamed 'Arsenal Gear,' is controlling information using an advanced AI named 'GW.' The only way to stop it is with a virus, which the President gives to Raiden.
• The President then asks Raiden to kill him; Raiden never gets the chance, as Ocelot steps in moments later and kills the President.
• After watching Ocelot leave and defeating a newly-revived Vamp, Raiden finds and rescues Emma. Due to the damaged caused by the Harrier jet, Raiden and Emma are forced to use Big Shell's external bridge to escape.
• Just as Emma is about to make it across, Vamp appears yet again and stabs her. Raiden puts a bullet in his head, and Vamp is seemingly killed (again).
• Emma dies just as the virus is uploaded into the AI. Sadly, the virus doesn't work as expected; Snake and Raiden realize they must head inside Arsenal Gear to stop it.
• As they enter Arsenal Gear, Raiden is seemingly betrayed by Snake and the Ninja (now revealed to be Olga). Raiden awakens to Ocelot's torture and a reunion with his old mentor, Solid Snake.
• Afterwards, Olga reveals that her 'betrayal' was merely a distraction. Raiden finally contacts Rose, who hints at being pregnant.
• Olga frees Raiden. Despite being naked, Raiden catches up to Snake.
• 'Rosemary' and 'Campbell' start acting strangely. They are revealed to be Patriot AIs, and the virus in GW is beginning to affect them.
• Snake and Raiden fight through more of Solidus' troops. Raiden fights through a horde of unmanned Metal Gear RAYs, barely making it through.
• As Solidus is about to finish Raiden off, Olga appears and sacrifices herself. Emma's virus reaches the RAYs, which go berserk. Raiden passes out.
April 30, 2009:
• Raiden finds himself handcuffed on top of Arsenal Gear, along with Snake, Fortune, Ocelot and Solidus.
• Solidus reveals that he wants to use GW to find the Patriots. Ocelot reveals that the Patriots have been controlling everything the whole time.
• Just as Ocelot tries to kill everyone, Liquid's 'spirit' then takes him over and steals RAY. Snake gives chase.
• Arsenal Gear then crashes into Manhattan, flinging Raiden and Solidus onto a nearby rooftop.
• Once Solidus and Raiden recover, they realize that only one of them can leave alive. Following a grueling sword fight, Raiden cuts Solidus down.
• Snake then reappears, telling Raiden that he's off to find the Patriots. Raiden begs to go, but Snake stops him, telling him that he's got a family to worry about.
• Rosemary then appears and reveals her pregnancy to Raiden. They walk off into the sunset.
Late 2009:
• Snake and Otacon realize that the intel on the Patriots they retrieved from GW is bogus.
Pre-Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Late 2009:
• Liquid manages to recover the remnants of the GW AI from Arsenal Gear.
• Revolver Ocelot has Liquid's arm removed due to its reaction around Snake. He replaces with a cybernetic prosthetic.
2010:
• Rosemary has Raiden's child. However, due to her fear of the Patriots, she convinces him that she miscarried.
• Raiden falls into a depression and leaves Rosemary. Out of concern for her safety, Campbell pretends to marry Rosemary.
2011:
• Raiden infiltrates Area 51 in order to rescue Olga's daughter Sunny. He leaves her with Snake and Otacon.
• Liquid Ocelot takes controls of the five largest PMCs on the planet.
• The SOP system is created, giving commanders control over each soldier's implanted nanomachines (including emotional control and pain responses).
2012:
• Raiden is captured by the Patriots. The replace most of his body with cyborg enhancements; everything below his upper jaw is now cybernetic.
• Raiden is rescued by EVA (now going by Big Mama) and her resistance group. Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar helps save Raiden's life.
• Solid Snake begins aging rapidly due to the cloning process.
The Events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
2014:
• Campbell finally locates Liquid Ocelot at his stronghold in the Middle East.
• Snake, now an old man, is tasked by Campbell with assassinating Liquid.
• Snake travels to the Middle East, where he meets the weapon vender Drebin. After injecting Snake with a new series of nanomachines, Drebin disappears.
• Snake then rendezvous with Campbell's informant, Meryl, who explains their updated nanomachines and SOP.
• Meryl and Snake are ambushed by Liquid's personal troops. After evading them, they go their separate ways.
• While on his way to Liquid's stronghold, Snake watches the Beauty and the Beast Unit (a.k.a. the B&B Corps) wipe out an entire squad of militia soldiers.
• Snake arrives at Liquid's compound. Before Snake can open fire, Liquid tries to deactivate the SOP system, sending everyone equipped with nanomachines into a frenzy.
• Naomi Hunter reveals herself to Snake before departing with Liquid.
• Snake is rescued by one of Meryl's squadmates, Johnny, and is brought back to Otacon.
• After recovering, Snake and Otacon find a message from Naomi. She begs them to rescue her from Liquid's compound in South America.
• Hours later, Snake arrives in South America. After discovering the B&B Corps member Laughing Octopus and a still-living Vamp, Snake heads towards Naomi.
• Raiden then reveals himself to Snake, and explains that he's looking for the body of Big Boss.
• Snake happens upon Drebin, who reveals that the modern-day Patriots are nothing more than AI, like GW.
• Continuing on, Snake finds Naomi in a small cabin. She then reveals that FOXDIE has mutated, and will start killing indiscriminately soon.
• Snake and Naomi are ambushed by Laughing Octopus and her troops. Snake manages to defeat Octopus, but Naomi is captured.
• Snake follows Naomi to a nearby helipad. Liquid tries to deactivate the SOP system again, giving him time to escape.
• Snake and Naomi escape thanks to Drebin's timely appearance.
• After retreating to a small village, Raiden arrives to save Snake and Naomi. Following a prolonged battle with Vamp, everyone escapes to safety.
• Naomi reveals that nanomachines are what keeps Vamp alive. Raiden nearly dies due to his injuries, but manages to tell Snake to find Big Mama in Eastern Europe.
• After stabilizing Raiden, Naomi explains that Liquid needs Big Boss' remains in order to take control of SOP. Snake sets off to find Big Mama while the others tend to Raiden.
• Upon arriving in Eastern Europe, Snake follows one of Big Mama's resistance fighters to their hideout.
• Big Mama immediately recognizes Snake, and reveals that she is his and Liquid's mother.
• Snake learns that Big Boss is alive, though his body is heavily decayed and his consciousness is locked away by nanomachines.
• Big Mama prepares to flee the area with Big Boss' remains. Snake provides covering fire from the back of her motorcycle, and the two take off through the streets.
• Snake and Big Mama are knocked off the bike by an unmanned drone. Snake emerges relatively unscathed, by Big Mama is impaled on a metal spike.
• Snake makes sure the Big Mama is alright, then confronts the Raging Raven, another B&B Corps member. After a brief skirmish, Snake defeats her.
• Snake then returns to Big Mama, who reveals that the actual remains were being transported by boat. Liquid (along with Naomi and Vamp) ambushes them and destroys said boat.
• Meryl and a UN response team surround Liquid. Having already taken control of SOP, Liquid disables their weapons and nanomachines, then opens fire on the defenseless soldiers.
• Liquid throws Big Boss' remains onto Snake's boat, then opens fire. The resulting explosion fatally wounds Big Mama and scars Snake's face.
• Otacon manages to stow a remote-controlled drone on Liquid's boat.
• Meryl and Johnny kiss while Snake watches Big Mama die.
• Using the drone, Otacon learns that Liquid intends to use Metal Gear REX's railgun to destroy the Patriots. They leave for Shadow Moses.
• After recovering, Snake and Otacon head back to Shadow Moses.
• Snake makes his way back through Shadow Moses, defeating another B&B Corps member named Crying Wolf.
• Upon reaching REX's hangar, Snake finds Vamp and Naomi waiting for him. Snake renders Vamp's nanomachines inert, and Raiden finishes him off.
• Naomi confesses that she has cancer, which was only held back by nanomachines. Overcome with guilt, she disables the machines and dies.
• As the hangar begins to collapse, Snake and Raiden board Metal Gear REX and escape to Shadow Moses' harbor.
• Liquid appears in Metal Gear RAY, and the two walking tanks battle it out.
• Both machines cripple one another, but Liquid manages escapes aboard a modified Arsenal Gear ship and tries to crush Snake with it. Raiden intervenes at the last second, but is badly wounded (again).
• Snake, Raiden and Otacon regroup on a nearby Navy vessel. They hatch a plan to board Liquid's ship, which Snake, Meryl and Johnny volunteer for.
• All three catapult onto Liquid's ship, but Snake is the only one to make it to his designated landing zone. He continues into the bowels of the ship.
• Snake confronts Screaming Mantis, the leader of the B&B Corps. He defeats her and the ghost of Psycho Mantis.
• Meryl and Johnny appear to give Snake backup. Once Snake leaves, they propose to one another while fighting off waves of soldiers.
• Snake is ambushed by Liquid's personal soldiers, but Raiden intervenes and stays behind to give Snake cover.
• Snake enters the microwave hallways, and Metal Gear fans everywhere start to cry.
• Snake makes it to the AI server room, where Otacon uploads an updated virus into GW just in the nick of time.
• A video of Naomi appears, and reveals that the virus would destroy everything that the Patriots had built, including SOP and the global war economy. The world will essentially be sent back to the Dark Ages.
• Snake passes out. A medical team manages to find him, but Liquid abducts him and brings him to the roof of the ship.
• Liquid explains that, with the Patriots gone, society as we know it has been reset. He reveals that it was his plan all along, and challenges Snake to one last fight.
• Snake and Liquid beat the tar out of each other. As a result, Liquid's persona fades and Ocelot's true personality re-emerges.
• Ocelot dies, seemingly due to exhaustion, and Snake is rescued.
• Otacon then reveals that Naomi's virus wiped out the Patriots, but none of their systems; instead of sending the world into a new Dark Age, they simply deleted the Patriots. Everyone celebrates.
• Meryl and Johnny get married. Drebin revealed that the Patriots had tried to control them to eliminate Liquid, but ended up being terminated along with him.
• Raiden recovers from his wounds, and is reunited with Rosemary. She reveals that her 'marriage' was just a ruse, and that his son is alive and well. They reconcile, and Raiden promises to protect them.
• Snake visits the grave of Big Boss, and plans to kill himself to stop the spread of the mutated FOXDIE. He changes his mind at the last second, only to be confronted by a very much alive Big Boss.
• Big Boss reveals that his body was recreated from the parts of his clones, and that the body that burned in Easter Europe was actually Solidus'.
• Using GW, Big Boss was finally able to locate a vegetative Zero, the last remaining Patriot. As Big Boss unplugs his machines, Zero and the Patriots die.
• Big Boss reveals that Drebin's nanomachine injection in the Middle East was an updated version of FOXDIE, one that would negate the mutated version. The new version of FOXDIE also had new targets: Big Mama, Ocelot and Big Boss, who begins to succumb to its effects.
• Big Boss begs Snake to spend the rest of his days living peacefully, not fighting. He passes away sitting next to the grave of his mentor.
Late 2014:
• Snake lives out the rest of his days in peace.
As you can see, the Metal Gear timeline is one of the strangest, most convoluted stories in all of gaming - and that's precisely why so many people love it.
If you're still a little confused as to who all these different Snakes are, check out our Beginner's Guide to Metal Gear's characters. Otherwise, the only thing left to do is wait for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to launch on Sept. 1!
Related: Metal Gear Solid V Beginner's Guide
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page!
