Returning to MGS4 in 2025: A Retrospective

[starschwar]

I find the ending to be beautiful (if sloppy in certain aspects). Snake was created to be a weapon. Being given a last chance by Big Boss of all people - who had a change of heart after his years of burning the world - is pretty moving. Instead of being a mere soldier, he has the chance to spend his last days enjoying the newfound peace he helped usher in. While his lifespan is tragically short - he gets to die peacefully of old age. An absolute luxury compared to those who spent (or as Big Boss himself put it, 'wasted') their lives in violence. When we first met Solid Snake - at least, the version that had a voice and 3D model - he was a loner. Living with the wolves, as off-the-grid as can be. Disconnected from humanity. But in the end, he has a best friend, a daughter-like figure in Sunny. And all those he met along the way who lived to see it, too - they got their own happy endings - Meryl, Raiden - even Johnny Sasaki. He was very much connected to all of them, one way or another.

Of course, Nanomachines being the answer to virtually everything was a bit much. Especially the Ocelot/Liquid connection. The son of The Sorrow being possessed by a ghost makes sense. Weird that they went with the hypnotherapy thing instead.


I assume the version of "Here's to You" they recorded was meant for the original ending? Snake and Otacon being executed ties in to the lyrics well enough. If there's one word I wouldn't associate with Zero and Big Boss, it would be 'innocent'.

Not that they could have afforded it, but I think the perfect end song would have been The Beatles' Let it Be. Connects perfectly with the 'let the world be as it is' mantra, as well as the notion of a departed mother (The Boss) giving some much needed guidance.