The story explores uncommon topics for video games of the era like nuclear proliferation, and it creatively uses its nature as a video game with setpieces like the torture scene and Psycho Mantis fight. It's easy to see why Metal Gear Solid cemented Hideo Kojima's reputation as a genius game designer.

The controls haven't aged very well, though, and its reliance on standard action movie beats/video game structure hold it back.