Metal Gear (mecha)
Metal Gear is the name for a series of fictional bipedal tanks in the Metal Gear series of video games. Initially, the different models of Metal Gear were mobile launch platforms with nuclear weapons with an intercontinental range, serving the purpose of rail or wheeled nuclear platforms, but with greater mobility and greater ability to defend itself from traditional threats. Typically, the final objective in each of the Metal Gear games is to destroy the latest incarnation of the Metal Gear. Template:Spoiler
Models of Metal Gear (canonical)
Metal Gear TX-55
The original Metal Gear (featured in the eponymous first installment), sometime referred by its full codename Metal Gear TX-55 (or alternatively, TX-55 Metal Gear), was designed at Outer Heaven by the Eastern scientist Dr. Drago Petrovich Madnar. Dr. Madnar was forced against his will to complete the development of the tank, after his daughter was held for blackmail. Metal Gear's weakspot were its feet, which could only be destroyed by placing plastic explosives over them in a determined order. The TX-55 was armed with a 15mm vulcan gun, a 20mm laser cannon and multiple medium-range warheads. However, none of its arsenal was put to use, as the TX-55 was destroyed before completion. As such, it is the only Metal Gear model never to see active combat.
In Snake's Revenge, the uncanonical sequel to Metal Gear, mass-produced versions of the original Metal Gear appears, alongside Metal Gear 2, its successor. The wreckage of the original Metal Gear itself also appears in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, in "Stage 9" of the game.
Metal Gear D
The Revised Metal Gear D (from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake) is a redesigned version of the original TX-55 model, featuring a more streamlined design. Its standard arsenal is comprised of a 60mm Vulcan Gun, a 5.56mm machinegun and a missile pod with a capacity for six warheads. It was developed by Dr. Madnar for Zanzibar Land, much like TX-55. However, unlike the TX-55, he designed D out of his own free will. D was piloted by Gray Fox during Zanzibar Land's raid of Nuclear Disposal Sites. However, D's weakspot were its legs, which were vulnerable to hand grenades. Snake uses this knowledge to his advantage while fighting D.
In addition to Metal Gear D, a small-scaled mass-produced version of Metal Gear was also developed in Zanzibar Land known as Metal Gear G (or Gustav). These Metal Gear units have their nuclear armament removed, which are replaced by improved sensors. They are used primarily for infantry, but are not deployed during Snake's mission (as they were not added to the game due to time constraints).
Metal Gear REX
Metal Gear REX is the model of Metal Gear involved in the Shadow Moses incident (depicted in Metal Gear Solid), and is characterized by a railgun that can deliver undetectable nuclear warheads to anywhere in the world. In addition to its railgun, REX differs from the preceding Metal Gear D in that its legs are heavily armored and reinforced, not vulnerable like its predecessor's.
The Metal Gear REX has near-impregnable compound armor, a pair of vulcan cannons, anti-tank missiles, and a free-electron laser, to protect itself from conventional forces. Its primary weapon, however, is a railgun capable of delivering a nuclear warhead anywhere in the world, without the propellant trail or launch flare that gives away the launch position of a traditional ballistic missile. Because of its sealed, one-man cockpit and thick armor, its sensors are focused in a radome on the left side of its body; this radome is very vulnerable to attack, and destroying it effectively blinds the REX, forcing the cockpit to open. In this state, the REX is vulnerable as its controls can be easily destroyed (This feature was purposefully added by its designer, Dr. Hal Emmerich, who declared that nothing can be complete without a "character flaw").
The idea of Metal Gear REX originally came from Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin from Metal Gear Solid 3 who said that for a tank to be perfect, it needed legs. He even had drawings of Metal Gear REX which he showed Naked Snake. At the end of Metal Gear Solid 3 Ocelot reveals he stole the desingns from Granin.
The Metal Gear REX was a last-ditch effort on the part of weapons company ArmsTech, and, after bribing DARPA chief Donald Anderson to get covert US government funding for its development, ArmsTech produces a single prototype, which is sent to be tested at a nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island. In the Shadow Moses incident (the events of Metal Gear Solid), the Shadow Moses facility is taken over by the rogue special forces unit FOXHOUND, led by Liquid Snake, who then attempt to use it as leverage to extort $1 billion and the remains of Big Boss from the US government. Solid Snake infiltrates the Shadow Moses facility and, with the help of Hal "Otacon" Emmerich, the disgruntled designer of REX, and Cyborg Ninja, a mysterious infiltrator, eliminates FOXHOUND and destroys the Metal Gear REX.
After the Shadow Moses incident, Revolver Ocelot, the sole FOXHOUND survivor, escapes with the blueprints for REX, however, and soon sells them onto the black market. As a result, clones of REX spread worldwide. (The Metal Gear RAY is designed to combat these clones of REX.)
Metal Gear RAY
Metal Gear RAY (introduced in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, but previewed in an unlockable image in Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions) comes in two variants: a manned prototype version, developed to combat derivatives of Metal Gear REX, and an unmanned version, refitted to defend Arsenal Gear.
RAY differs from previous Metal Gears in that it is not a nuclear launch platform, but instead a weapon of conventional warfare, originally designed to hunt down and destroy the many derivatives of Metal Gear REX that became common after the leak of the REX plans after the events of Metal Gear Solid. It is designed to be even more maneuverable and flexible in deployment than the REX, and can operate both on land and in the water. (Underwater, it is propelled by engines of unknown form in its two bulbous "wings".) While RAY has a pair of machine guns and six missile tubes to defend itself from more conventional battlefield threats, its primary weapon is a powerful water jet, which can cut through heavily-armored foes, such as Metal Gear REX clones.
The Metal Gear RAY is more organic than previous models, both in appearance and in function. (The Konami mechanical designer, Yoji Shinkawa, primarily responsible for designing RAY ascribed this more-organic appearance to cross-pollination of ideas from his time spent working on Zone of the Enders.) The exterior is more organic; its streamlined shape helps to deflect enemy fire and allows for greater maneuverability both on land and in the water.
RAY's interior workings are also much more organic. It has artificial fibers that contract when electricity is applied, much like natural muscle, instead of typical hydraulics; this pseudo-muscle tissue makes it very maneuverable. It also has a nervous-system-like system of conductive nanotubes, which connect the widely dispersed sensor systems and relay commands from the cockpit to the various parts of RAY's body, automatically bypassing damaged systems and rerouting to auxiliary systems when needed. Particularly unusual is its blood-like armor-repair nanopaste, which is secreted from valves whenever the exterior surface is damaged.
Prototype version
Metal Gear RAY was originally developed by the USMC to locate and eliminate Metal Gear REX units and their derivatives. During the Tanker incident, however, it is captured by Revolver Ocelot while being transported for testing by the covertly refitted oil tanker Discovery.
This version is labeled "MARINES", and has a cockpit (accommodating a single pilot) and a long tail. The RAY is an amphibious craft which allows for maneuverability in land and at sea-- the long tail is intended for balance while making leaps or operating underwater. The entirety of the forward interior of the cockpit is a heads-up display (HUD), allowing the pilot to look around as if there were no obstruction between him and the battlefield.
Unlike REX, which had its exterior sensor concentrated in a single, vulnerable radome, the sensors (including cameras, radar emitters, and an array of passive detection sensors) are distributed throughout the body.
Mass-production version
Revolver Ocelot delivers the stolen prototype RAY to The Patriots, an Illuminati-esque organization secretly running the United States. Under their direction, the unit is redesigned for control by the AI known as "GW" in defense of Arsenal Gear. The Arsenal Gear has a force of these slave RAYs ready for immediate deployment against any possible threats.
The mass-production RAYs lack the tail and cockpit of the prototype and has only one sensory output or "eye" as opposed to having two like the prototype version and are labeled "US NAVY".
Metal Gear GEKKŌ (Moonlight)
Little details are yet known about these mass-produced Metal Gear models known as Gekkō (月光, from the Japanese word meaning Moonlight), seen in a trailer for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4. They are comprised of a mechanical head and torso similar to Metal Gear REX, and organic legs and are AI-controlled, similar to the mass-produced Metal Gear RAY units. Other parts of its equipment include an infrared radome on the top left-hand side of the head, surface-to-air guided Missiles on the left side of the head (supposedly), apparently a machine-gun on the top right-hand side of the head, and just like Otacon's Mk II, it has a storage compartment accompanied by flexible tentacles to hand personnel any needed equipment when necessary such as a handgun. It is also important to note that the Metal Gear made grunting noises and kicked up dust just like a bull during the trailer, which could give insight as to how the Metal Gear reacts and operates.
The origins are unknown at this time, however it is most likely that they are simply new variants of Metal Gear clones that arose after Ocelot sold the design and specs of the mech to the black market. It is owned by the apparently American platoon Snake will encounter in his mission.
Metal Gear Mk. II (MGS4)
The smallest known Metal Gear, standing at approximently 2 feet in height, is a small UGV manipulated by Otacon. It is modeled after the Metal Gear Mk. II, Gillian Seed's robotic navigator from Hideo Kojima's early title, Snatcher. Unlike all the other mechs in the series so far, the player won't fight this version, but instead, will be assisted by it with a new buddy AI system put into the game.
Its body is entirely mechanical and rather than feet has wheels at the end of its legs for faster mobility (although this would seem to make it harder to control, especially on sharp turns where its speed and momentum could cause it to fall over, but it may have the ability to get back up on it's wheels, thanks to some unknown extra mechanical feature). It has (at this time) no known weapons, but it does have a small storage compartment on the rear side of it's body able to fit small clips of ammunition, such as a 30-round detachable box magazine of 5.56 x NATO rounds, along with gun accessories as big as an M203. It also features a flexible tentacle on its left side for giving the close-by person the desired item in the user's collection. On the top of the body it is equipped with a spec scanner in its camera with a built-in microphone, and apparently a smoke detector. On it's right side is a small monitor for the user to display any desired image (including their real face). Most notably, this Metal Gear is also equipped with a Cell Processor which "...is key to winning the console war." as Otacon put it.
Models of Metal Gear (non-canonical)
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While the following models are not considered part of the mainstream Metal Gear continuity, they still share the same basic design and/or principle as the canonical Metal Gear models or at the very least a resemblance.
Metal Gear G
Though never deployed (or even seen by the player, for that matter), this incarnation of Metal Gear was a mass-produced version of the TX-55 model. It's nuclear weaponry has been removed to make it more suitable for standard combat, though it is otherwise indentical to Metal Gear TX-55.
Metal Gear Mk. II
Metal Gear Mk. II is the robotic "navigator" assigned to JUNKER operative Gillian Seed in Snatcher. It was developed by JUNKER mechanic Harry Benson, who based his design on the TX-55 model. He has been programmed with an A.I.-based personality that accomodates with Gillian's personality and serves as a comic relief in some of the more tense situations. Its equipped with a plasma screen monitor which doubles as a video phone, various types of sensors for forensic analysis and a manipulator for extracting small objects. It was voiced by Mami Koyama in the Japanese version and Lucy Childs in the English one. Its design was the basis for Otacon's Mark II seen in Guns of the Patriots.
Petit Metal Gear
An even smaller version of "Mk. II", Metal Gear Mk. II Petit appears only in SD Snatcher. It's same size as that of a palm and mainly serves to recap the player's gained experiences after battle.
Metal Gear GANDER
The Metal Gear model in Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Metal Gear GANDER is the result of the U.S. Army's "Project Babel" after the U.S. Government procured the data from the original prototype in Outer Heaven. It is stolen by the Gindra Liberation Front and taken to their fortress of Galuade (the former Outer Heaven). Its armament consists of a rail gun, two vulcan cannons, six guided missile pods and two automated flying attack pods. Its more powerful weapon is its satellite-based datalink system that allows to launch nuclear missiles anywhere in the world. This system consumes too much power and requires an entire power plant to function properly. The design is based on one of Shinkawa's unused Metal Gear REX concepts.
Metal Gear KODOQUE
The Metal Gear model in Metal Gear Acid. Its named is derived from the Japanese word "Kodoku" (Sudoku) or "Isolation".
Metal Gear PUB
The Metal Gear model in Metal Gear Acid 2.
"Metal Gear 2"
The unnamed "Metal Gear" succesor in Snake's Revenge, referred as "Metal Gear 2" by enemy soldiers and Snake's commanders. Not much is known about it other than it's "seven times more powerful than (the original)" by one of the prisoners.
Related weapons
Arsenal Gear
Arsenal Gear (appearing in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) is a submersible, mobile fortress, with the ability to monitor, block, and tamper with internet communications in order to further the goals of The Patriots. It is a metaphor for the change of warfare in the last decades of the 20th century, from nuclear war to a war of culture, information, and espionage.
Arsenal Gear is hidden under the Big Shell, and is controlled by an AI named "GW", which was designed by Emma Emmerich (there are other AIs besides GW, as Raiden speaks with another AI named "JFK" prior to his battle with Solidus, but they are unrelated to this Arsenal Gear. The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 actually reveals that the Arsenal below the Big Shell is not the only one, and each Arsenal is run by its own networked AI system).
Arsenal Gear is massive, large enough to house - and also require - a significant force for its defense. The exterior is shown when Raiden and Solidus are heading for Federal Hall and see it speeding under many bridges before it crashes. It is large enough to house many Metal Gear RAYs, and causes widespread destruction when it crashes into Manhattan Island.) The Arsenal Gear hidden under the Big Shell has an unspecified number of "Tengu Commandos", soldiers clad in bionic exoskeletons and armed with P90 submachine guns and a katana (these were actually the Russian mercenaries under Solidus Snake's command during the Big Shell incident). It also has a squadron of 25 mass-production Metal Gear RAYs, each of which is under the direct control of GW, the AI controlling Arsenal Gear. One of it's flaws, pointed out by Solidus Snake after GW was destroyed, was that it was virtually worthless without a nuclear payload, the RAY's to protect it, and full sea, land, and air support. Unless it is capable of sustaining such needs, Arsenal Gear is nothing more than "a gigantic coffin."
During the Big Shell incident, Raiden is actually being manipulated by GW, Arsenal Gear's AI, but, as Emma Emmerich's virus slowly destroys GW, Raiden is able to enter Arsenal Gear (from the Big Shell, the facility Arsenal Gear is hidden under) and uncover the many layers of deception concealing the true meaning behind his mission to the Big Shell. Revolver Ocelot, being controlled by Liquid Snake via transplanted arm, directs Arsenal Gear to crash into Manhattan Island at the end of Raiden's mission, but its ultimate fate is yet to be explained.
Shagohod
The Shagohod (Russian Шагоход, "step-walker", occasionally referred to in English as "The Treading Behemoth") featured in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, while not a Metal Gear variant per se, has a similar design and role. Rather than a bipedal mecha, it is an unconventional tank, armed with an intermediate-range ballistic missile it can propel to intercontinental ranges. Like the various Metal Gear variants, it can be crewed by a single pilot, although it has a station for a copilot.
The Shagohod has an articulated body, split into two parts. The front part has a pair of Archimedes screws on hydraulic legs, which pull the bulky rear portion, suspended on a hovercraft-style air cushion. While this is an unusual mechanism for propulsion, far more unusual are the Shagohod's rocket boosters. With a sufficiently large flat piece of land (such as a highway or landing strip), the Shagohod can fire its rocket boosters to build up speed (up to more than 480 km/h or 300 mi/h) before firing its primary weapon, a nuclear-armed intermediate-range ballistic missile. In doing so, it serves as an additional stage for the rocket, allowing it to strike at targets nearly anywhere in the world. The Shagohod also has parachutes in the back to help slowing it down after a rocket-boosted missile-launch.
Besides its single SS-20 "Saber" IRBM (which has to be reloaded after firing), the Shagohod has defensive weaponry, including three DShKM machine guns (two with 300 rounds mounted to defend against infantry, one with 360 rounds mounted in a turret to defend against airborne threats), six 9K112 Kobra surface-to-air guided Missiles to protect against aircraft, and a 100 barrel volley gun to defend against armor.
The Shagohod is 22.8 meters long, 6.4 meters wide, 8.2 meters high and has a combat weight of 152.5 tons. It's non-rocket boosted maximum speed is 80 km/h and it has a range of 650 km.
The Shagohod is not a precursor to the Metal Gear series of mecha, but instead a parallel development; it is developed by Dr. Sokolov at a secret base in Tselinoyarsk. His peer, and self-proclaimed rival, Director Granin, conceives of the Metal Gear at approximately the same time, but Colonel Volgin favors Sokolov's design over Granin's, and funds the production of a prototype, which is destroyed by Naked Snake during Operation Snake Eater. Granin, however, arranges for his plans for what would later become Metal Gear to be sent to one of his colleagues in the West, later to be discovered as the grandfather of Dr. Hal Emmerich (Otacon).
The Shagohod was the only one of its kind which Volgin was planning to mass-produce based on it's design. Not only was he going to deploy them all over the Soviet Union, but also ship them to Eastern Europe, or rather Asia (more specifically to all the countries of the Eastern bloc). He also intended to use the Shagohod as bait to foment armed uprisings against dictators, ethnic insurgents, and revolutionary groups throughout the Third World.
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