An enthralling blend of cutscene and gameplay the likes of which had never before been seen on home consoles! The meta elements, ludonarrative fluidity and political commentary made the game a deservedly hot topic upon release, but the optimism and empathy at the game's core is why Metal Gear Solid has stuck around. The game has dark views of war and politics, but that pain is in service of truth and empathy. Every villain has a story, and every sin can be forgiven. This becomes even more powerful retroactively, knowing the incredibly dark path the Metal Gear series eventually takes, this entry becomes bittersweet in its innocence.