Changes: Big Boss (Metal Gear)

Big Boss
	Metal Gear character
	Big Boss, as portrayed in a promotional CGI render for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
First Episode Appearance	Metal Gear (1987)
Final Episode Appearance	Super Bomberman R (2017)
Created by	Hideo Kojima
Designed by	Yoji Shinkawa
Character played by	English; David Hayter (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Super Bomberman R); Richard Doyle (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots); Kiefer Sutherland (Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain); Japanese; Akio Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid V and Super Bomberman R); Chikao Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 4)
Motion capture	Mizuho Yoshida (Metal Gear Solid 3); Akio Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 4); Mio Tanaka (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker); Erik Brown (Metal Gear Solid V); Kiefer Sutherland (Metal Gear Solid V [facial only])
In-universe information
Full name	Jack / John
Alias	Naked Snake ; Vic Boss ; Ishmael ; "The Man Who Sold The World"
Affiliation	Outer Heaven / Zanzibar Land (Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake) ; Green Berets (pre-Metal Gear Solid 3) ; FOX and CIA (Metal Gear Solid 3) ; FOXHOUND (Metal Gear and Portable Ops) ; Cipher (post-Portable Ops / pre-Peace Walker) ; MSF (Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes)
Nationality	American

Revision as of 14:35, 16 December 2019

For the player character in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, see Venom Snake.

Big Boss is a video game character and one of the primary protagonists of the Metal Gear series created by Hideo Kojima and developed and published by Konami. Introduced in the early entries of the series as the commanding officer and subsequent nemesis of his son Solid Snake, he is later featured in the prequel games as a younger version of the character named Naked Snake (later shortened to simply Snake), an American Special Forces Operator and decorated war hero until political manipulations cause him to be disillusioned and start his own private mercenary company.

Appearances

In the MSX2 games

Big Boss (ビッグ・ボス, Biggu Bosu) is introduced in the original Metal Gear game as the Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND's leader and Solid Snake's commanding officer. He initially acts as a radio contact who provides Snake with information about mission objectives, as well as weapons and equipment.^[3]^[4] But after Snake destroys the titular TX-55 Metal Gear weapon despite Big Boss's discouragement, Outer Heaven's militia leader confronts Snake near the base's escape route in a final battle only to be defeated.^{[lower-alpha 1]}^[5]

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake reveals that Big Boss has since taken control of a fortified nation in Central Asia known as Zanzibar Land and commissions the development of Metal Gear D.^[6] Solid Snake confronts Big Boss once again while escaping from Zanzibar Land's detention camp, with Snake incinerating Big Boss.^[7]

In the Metal Gear Solid series

Big Boss's presence figures prominently in the original Metal Gear Solid games where his DNA was used to create the genetically-altered clones as part of the secret "Les Enfants Terribles" government project (French for "The Terrible Children"): Solid Snake, Liquid Snake,^[8] and Solidus Snake.^[9]

The prequel Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater depicts a young incarnation of the character, under the codename Naked Snake (ネイキッド・スネーク, Neikiddo Sunēku),^[10] as a member of the CIA special forces unit FOX in 1964 that was founded by Zero.^[11] With Para-Medic and Sigint for additional support, he is sent on an assignment in the Soviet Union to thwart an uprising led by the sadistic Volgin, rescue key weapons researcher Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov, destroy the Shagohod prototype, and kill his mentor, The Boss, who defected to the Soviet Union, to avert a nuclear war. Over the course of his assignment, he encounters Major Ocelot multiple times, fights and defeats the Cobra Unit (consisting of The Pain, The Fear, The End, The Fury and The Sorrow). After the mission is completed and Snake kills The Boss, he learns that the defection was part of a mission to be carried out, and the government ordered his mentor's death to prevent war.^[12]^[13] According to EVA's debrief, the political motives behind the operation do not sit well with Snake, especially after he is awarded the Big Boss title for his actions;^[14] he initially rejects the title, prompting him to retire from active service.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops shows Naked Snake still under his former codename, believing that he has yet to surpass The Boss as a warrior. Having spent six years wandering the globe, Snake finds himself involved in an armed uprising caused by Gene's rogue FOX unit in the (fictional) San Hieronymo peninsula in Colombia and learns that he has been convicted for instigating the revolt. Hoping to clear his name, Snake forms his own team of specialists by recruiting both old allies and defecting enemy soldiers to his cause, one of whom happens to be Roy Campbell. He faces not only the members of the FOX unit, but also Metal Gear's first prototype. After he learned that The Boss's death had been planned all along, Snake defeats Gene and obtains the funds for Army's Heaven.^[15]

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots revealed that Big Boss was one of the founding members of Zero's cause to initially realize The Boss's dream, but this spiraled into a conspiracy to impose order and control over the world after Big Boss disagreed with Zero's interpretation of the dream. Big Boss despised his role as figurehead, especially since Zero's vision placed no value on loyalty to ideals and people, something The Boss treasured above all else. When Big Boss learns that his own DNA was being used for Zero's "Les Enfants Terribles" project, this proved to be the final straw. After his defection from Zero's cause, Big Boss plotted coup d'état with Outer Heaven (Metal Gear) and Zanzibar Land (Metal Gear 2).^[16] Although he had survived these defeats, he was placed in an artificially induced coma with his genetic code used for an ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to the AIs that make up the Patriots. His body is recovered and reconstructed using parts from the bodies of both Liquid and Solidus, and he awakens from his coma after the fall of the Patriots' AIs. Following the game's voice casting credits, Big Boss appears before Old Snake. After he reveals to Snake the truth about himself and Zero, Big Boss shuts down his catatonic nemesis' life support system. He manages to come to terms with his feelings regarding The Boss,^[17] and then reconciles with his son before dying from unintended exposure to the new FOXDIE virus.

Naked Snake's past again serves as the scenario in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker after he and his business partner Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller established the mercenary force Militaires Sans Frontières (French for "Soldiers Without Borders") made up of expatriate soldiers recruited to his cause. He intends to use MSF to live out The Boss's final will, a world where soldiers are free to choose their own fights on their own terms, and not at the whim of a government. On Colombia's Barranquilla coast, two representatives of the Costa Rican government (Paz Ortega Andrade and Ramon Gálvez Mena) seek to hire MSF to liberate Costa Rica from Coldman's CIA Peace Sentinel unit that has established bases in the country. Snake accepts the mission after Gálvez hands him an audio cassette with a recording of The Boss's voice. Following Kaz's advice, the MSF takes over an offshore research platform in the Caribbean as their base of operations in a bid to expand the group's capabilities. Over the course of the story, Snake comes to learn about the true purpose of Coldman's Peace Walker prototypes (Pupa, Chrysalis, Cocoon, and Peace Walker) and gradually lets go of his guilt for The Boss's death after encountering an AI replica, finally accepting his Big Boss title.^[18] Later in the game, Big Boss has Huey Emmerich create Metal Gear ZEKE as a weapon to defend his interests, with no desire to use offensively. After Big Boss killed Gálvez out of self-defense, Paz pilots ZEKE to launch a nuclear strike on the Eastern Coast of the United States as part of an insurance policy if Big Boss refused to obey Cipher. After hearing the ultimatum, Big Boss refuses and fights ZEKE in order to stop Paz. He is victorious, but ZEKE is heavily damaged and Paz is ejected into the Caribbean Sea. After ZEKE's destruction, Kaz tells Big Boss of being aware of the plot from the beginning, and used it to spur the growth of MSF. Big Boss and Kaz realize they'll no longer be able to be away from the outside world unless they reveal their true nature. Big Boss rejects this idea, stating that his "life shall be different from The Boss's". After this conversation, Big Boss gives a speech to the MSF soldiers, telling them that if the times demand it, they will be vigilantes, criminals and terrorists, but they will be the ones to choose their battles and their causes, not governments.

Big Boss plays a central role in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. He is on a mission to rescue a child soldier and Pacifica Ocean from an American black site on Cuban soil; Big Boss believes that Pacifica can be converted to MSF's cause. Big Boss's rescue is successful and the medic found a bomb implanted inside Pacifica who is sacrificed to save everyone from another bomb which causes an explosive concussion wave which causes the helicopter to crash into the Caribbean Sea as MSF is destroyed by an invading paramilitary force led by Skull Face. Big Boss comes out of his coma and poses as "Ishmael", a patient in the hospital where Venom Snake is also being treated, and aids in an escape when the hospital is attacked by Skull Face's forces. While Snake ventures into Soviet-controlled Afghanistan using the new mercenary force Diamond Dogs made from MSF's remaining forces, Big Boss stays behind the scenes to develop a true Outer Heaven.^[19]

Other appearances

In Snake's Revenge, a non-canonical sequel to the original Metal Gear for the NES released during the same year as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Big Boss returns as the leader of the enemy organization, having survived the injuries he sustained in the original game as a cyborg. He fights Solid Snake as a boss prior to reaching the new Metal Gear prototype and has two forms: his human form and a fire-breathing cyborg form. Naked Snake also appears as a playable character in Super Bomberman R.

Creation and design

Physical appearance

In Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Big Boss's visual appearance was inspired by actor Sean Connery. But for the ports of the game's re-released version, the original design was replaced by Yoji Shinkawa's design.^[20]

During the making of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Hideo Kojima asked Shinkawa to make Naked Snake similar to Solid Snake. But with the differences that unlike Solid Snake, Naked Snake was a rookie and thus acted more naive. Shinkawa stated having no difficulties in designing Naked Snake as basically a revised version of Solid Snake. As a result, Naked Snake is virtually identical to Solid Snake from the previous Metal Gear Solid games in terms of appearance.^[21] The love scene between Naked Snake and EVA was inspired by the first Pink Panther. Kojima and Shinkawa watched the movie but the former stated it might have come different from the original version.^[22] Since the game's trailers did not state that Naked Snake was Big Boss, Kojima often gave vague answers to the character's true identity.^[23] Although the ending of Metal Gear Solid 3 reveals Naked Snake was given the Big Boss title, Kojima stated "he's not really the Big Boss yet". With Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, he wanted to explain how Naked Snake became the man who appeared in the original Metal Gear games as Solid Snake's enemy.^[24]

Casting

Naked Snake as portrayed in Metal Gear Solid 3 shares the same voice actor as Solid Snake did in the first two Metal Gear Solid games, being voiced by Akio Otsuka in the Japanese version and David Hayter in the English version. Both actors would return to provide Snake's voice in Portable Ops and Peace Walker. The elderly version of Big Boss who appears in the end of Metal Gear Solid 4 is voiced by Chikao Otsuka (Akio Otsuka's real-life father) in Japanese and by Richard Doyle in English.

On June 6, 2013, during Konami's third annual pre-E3 show, it was announced that Kiefer Sutherland would be portraying Snake in Metal Gear Solid V, replacing David Hayter (Akio Otsuka was unaffected by this casting change and continued to portrayed Snake in the Japanese dub). Sutherland plays the original Big Boss (who serves as the playable character in the stand-alone prologue Ground Zeroes), as well as Venom Snake (a new version of the character who serves as the protagonist in the main game The Phantom Pain). In addition to the voice, Sutherland also provided facial capture for the character.^[25]^[26] Sutherland was assigned the role after a suggestion to Kojima from Hollywood producer and director Avi Arad; Kojima's reason was to "have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words", and that he "needed someone who could genuinely convey both the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40s".^[27]^[28]^[29]

Naming

In Metal Gear Solid 3, the first in a series of prequels to the original Metal Gear, the game depicts a young version of the character before acquiring the codename "Big Boss". He is initially known by the nickname "Jack" before being given the codename "Naked Snake" (commonly shortened to just "Snake") at the start of the Virtuous Mission, which serves as his main handle throughout the game, making him the first recipient of the Snake codename that Solid Snake and his clone brothers would use in the future stories. At the end of Metal Gear Solid 3, he is bestowed the title of "Big Boss" by President Johnson for defeating his mentor "The Boss". Despite this, the character is still addressed primarily as "Snake" (which drops the "Naked" portion of his codename) in later prequels, which feature him as a playable character such as Portable Ops, Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes.

Reception

Big Boss's character has been well-received, with IGN having ranked him number 32 on their 2010 list of top video game villains,^[30] and as the fourth top Metal Gear villains.^[31] In 2010, IGN's Jesse Schedeen found the character one of the most important characters from the franchise to the point his "influence is felt in every Metal Gear game, even if he isn't always present in the flesh."^[32] Computerworld named Big Boss as one of the most creative "badass villains" in video games, citing the complexity of his betrayal of Solid Snake, fueled by Solid Snake being his genetic heir.^[33] Additionally, GameSpot listed Big Boss as one of the 20 best Metal Gear bosses with focus on his importance within the series' plot.^[34] He was ranked as the 28th "coolest" video game villain by Complex in 2012.^[35] Naked Snake's transition to Big Boss was listed as the second hero who turned evil by What Culture with the writer finding the character more interesting than Solid Snake based on his progression across Big Boss's video games.^[36]

The inclusion of Naked Snake's role in Metal Gear Solid 3 has also received praise from critics.^[37] Prior to the game's release, Naked Snake was often called 'Solid Snake' or simply 'Snake' by critics due to his resemblance with Solid Snake, although some still were not sure about his true identity.^[38]^[39] Additionally, early speculation of the playable character's identity from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was listed by IGN as one top ten rumors on the PlayStation 2.^[40] GameSpy further noted that various fans started making theories about Naked Snake's identity before the game's release as while they thought it was Solid Snake, the setting from the game made it impossible for Solid Snake to be the game's main protagonist due to their difference of years.^[41] Finding the revelation of Naked Snake's identity was considered by GameSpy as "the single coolest thing Kojima could have done in MGS3" because of [Naked Snake's] differences from [Solid Snake] in regards to their personality as well as because it made fans wonder how Naked Snake would become the series antagonist Big Boss.^[42] Another comparison between Big Boss's and Solid Snake's character was made by IGN's Phil Pirrello in article titled "Stars Thunderdome: Snake vs. Big Boss."^[43] GamesRadar placed his relationship with EVA in their top list of disastrous game romances due to how it was ruined by the two's different roles in the story.^[44] Play editor Nick Jones listed Naked Snake's final fight against The Boss in such game as the second best moment from the franchise, citing the emotional focus from their characters.^[45] Various gaming sites such as 1UP.com, Game Informer and Kotaku placed his character as one of the worst fathers in video games due to his poor relationship with Solid Snake and the attempts to murder his own son.^[46]^[47]^[48] David Hayter's performance as Naked Snake's English voice actor in Metal Gear Solid 3 has been criticized by Edge while discussing the dialogues from the game.^[49]

References

Notes

↑ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain establishes that this individual is Venom Snake and not the original Big Boss.

Footnotes

↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (in English). (Konami). PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC. Scene: Cassette Tape: "Les Enfants Terribles". (1 September 2015)
↑ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (in English). (Konami). PlayStation 2. (17 November 2004) "Ocelot: ...My name... is Adamska. And you? / Naked Snake: John."
↑ "Metal Gear MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1987. Archived from the original on August 18, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Metal Gear 2 MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1990. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear. (Konami). (2005) "Big Boss: Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commandant of Foxhound. And in charge of this fortress, Outer Heaven."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. (Konami). (2005) "Solid Snake: Big... Boss?! / Dr. Madnar: The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!"
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. (Konami). (2005) "Big Boss: Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!"
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid. (Konami). (1998) "Liquid Snake: There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. / Solid Snake: Created? / Liquid Snake: Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970s. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world..."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. (Konami). (2001) "Solidus Snake: ...I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself..."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. (Konami). (2010) "Miller: Naked... That's exactly what you are with this uniform. The pants are the same as the jungle fatigues. Obviously, since you're exposing your bare skin, your defense and camo index are going to be low. On the plus side, it's so light you can move around quicker. / Naked Snake: Good for showing off muscles, too. / Miller: Hey, Snake. I heard they gave you your old code name because you used to run around with your shirt off. Is that true? / Naked Snake: Don't believe everything you hear. They called me "Naked" because I went in without gear or food. I had to procure everything on site."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. (Konami). (2005) "Zero: Do you copy? You're already in enemy territory, and somebody might be listening in. From here on out, we'll be using codenames to refer to each other. Your codename for this mission will be Naked Snake. I'll be referring to you as Snake from now on. You are not to mention your real name."
↑ EVA: The Boss' defection was a ruse set up by the U.S. government. It was all a big drama staged by Washington so they could get their hands on the Philosopher's Legacy. And The Boss was the star of the show. They planned it so that they could get the Legacy that Colonel Volgin inherited...and destroy the Shagohod at the same time. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005
↑ EVA: (...) Everything was going according to plan, but then something happened that no one could have predicted. Colonel Volgin fired an American-made nuclear warhead at Sokolov's research facility. Khrushchev demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that it wasn't involved. (...) The authorities in Washington knew that in order to prove its innocence they'd have to get rid of The Boss...and that one of their own would have to do the job. (...) That was the mission she was given. (...) She sacrificed her life and her honor for her native land. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. (Konami). (2005) "Mr. President: You are above even The Boss. I hereby award you the title of Big Boss."
↑ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006)
Gene: So... You never knew. Six years ago, during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin launched an American nuclear missile at Sokolov's research lab. This caused a change in plans, and the U.S. government had to assassinate its own operative, The Boss, to prove its innocence. And you were the assassin, Snake. / (Naked Snake is speechless) / Gene: Do you really think Volgin committed that terrible crime of his own will? / Naked Snake: What? / Gene: It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss' death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, Snake! It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist. / Naked Snake: You're saying it was all a setup? By who!? / Gene: The Boss gave up her life, even if someone else willed it. She sacrificed her own life for her calling. It was a noble act. / Naked Snake: Answer me! Who set it up?!
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. (Konami). (2008) "Big Mama: "Give birth to Big Boss." To realize this, I asked to serve as the surrogate mother... And was more than happy to carry you in my womb. I loved him. Nine months later, I gave birth to two Big Bosses... You, and [Liquid Snake]. [...] Determined to oppose Zero and his plans, Big Boss broke away from the Patriots."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. (Konami). PlayStation 3. (2008) "Big Boss: Ever since the day I killed The Boss... with my own two hands... I... was already dead."
↑ Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. (Konami). (2010) "Naked Snake: I won't make the same choice as her. My future's going to be different. / Miller: Then... / Naked Snake: Yeah, that's right. From now on, call me Big Boss."
↑ "E3 2013: Metal Gear Solid V Coming To Xbox One - IGN". ign.com. Retrieved July 11, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Parish, Jeremy. "Gear Up! A Metal Gear Retrospective". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2012. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Payton, Ryan. "The KP Report Session 027". Kojima Productions Report. mp.i.revo. Retrieved February 17, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "THE SNAKE EATER INTERVIEW". IGN. December 1, 2004. Retrieved January 11, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ C. Perry, Douglass (May 15, 2003). "E3 2003: Hideo Kojima Interview". IGN. Retrieved March 26, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Totilo, Stephen (September 25, 2009). "Hideo Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker And How You Can Help Him". Kotaku. Retrieved March 26, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Romano, Sal. "Metal Gear Solid V clip teases Snake's new voice actor". Gematsu. Retrieved June 3, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Staff. "Konami's pre-E3 stream: Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5". VG24/7. Retrieved June 6, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Goldfarb, Andrew. "Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V". IGN. Retrieved June 7, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Kojima on Ground Zeroes". Giant Bomb. Retrieved November 16, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Interview: Hideo Kojima on darker themes and phantom cigars". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved June 25, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ IGN editors (July 4, 2010). "Top 100 Videogame Villains". ign.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2006.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Scheeden, Jeese. "Top 10 Metal Gear Villains". IGN. Retrieved July 1, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Scheeden, Jeese (January 11, 2010). "Boss of the Day: Metal Gear's Big Boss". IGN. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Gagne, Ken. You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains Archived December 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Computerworld. Retrieved on September 16, 2008
↑ Dodson, Joe (July 28, 2007). "Metal Gear 20 Years of Boss Battles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2007. Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "28. Big Boss — The 50 Coolest Video Game Villains of All Time". Complex. November 1, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "9 Video Game Heroes Who Turned Evil In The Sequel". What Culture. Retrieved August 4, 2017.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Ramsay, Randolph (2005). "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review". C NET Australia. Archived from the original on August 29, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Preview". PALGN. February 29, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2011. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Torres, Ricardo (March 16, 2004). "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Updated Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Fact or Fiction? The Ten Biggest Rumors on the PlayStation 2". IGN. Retrieved July 4, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know". GameSpy. p. 3. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ "Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know". GameSpy. p. 4. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Pirrello, Phil (January 11, 2010). "Stars Thunderdome: Snake vs. Big Boss". IGN. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Meikleham, Dave. "The Top 7… disastrous game romances". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 4, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Jones, Nick. "Metal Gear Solid – My Top Five Moments". Play. Retrieved June 30, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Glasser, AJ (June 21, 2009). "Father Knows Best: The Best and Worst Fathers in Video Games". Kotaku. Retrieved August 17, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Sharkey, Scott (September 9, 2010). "Gaming's Crappiest Fathers". Game Informer. Retrieved July 18, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Ryckert, Dan (September 9, 2010). "Top 5 Crappiest Videogame Dads". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ Edge, January 2005; issue 145. Future Publishing. 2005. pp. 80–81.

[5] Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain establishes that this individual is Venom Snake and not the original Big Boss.

[1] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (in English). (Konami). PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC. Scene: Cassette Tape: "Les Enfants Terribles". (1 September 2015)

[2] Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (in English). (Konami). PlayStation 2. (17 November 2004) "Ocelot: ...My name... is Adamska. And you? / Naked Snake: John."

[mg1manual-3] "Metal Gear MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1987. Archived from the original on August 18, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[mg2manual-4] "Metal Gear 2 MSX2 version, instruction manual" (in Japanese). Konami. 1990. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[6] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear. (Konami). (2005) "Big Boss: Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commandant of Foxhound. And in charge of this fortress, Outer Heaven."

[7] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. (Konami). (2005) "Solid Snake: Big... Boss?! / Dr. Madnar: The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!"

[8] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. (Konami). (2005) "Big Boss: Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!"

[clones-9] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid. (Konami). (1998) "Liquid Snake: There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. / Solid Snake: Created? / Liquid Snake: Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970s. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world..."

[10] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. (Konami). (2001) "Solidus Snake: ...I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself..."

[mgspw_naked_uniform-11] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. (Konami). (2010) "Miller: Naked... That's exactly what you are with this uniform. The pants are the same as the jungle fatigues. Obviously, since you're exposing your bare skin, your defense and camo index are going to be low. On the plus side, it's so light you can move around quicker. / Naked Snake: Good for showing off muscles, too. / Miller: Hey, Snake. I heard they gave you your old code name because you used to run around with your shirt off. Is that true? / Naked Snake: Don't believe everything you hear. They called me "Naked" because I went in without gear or food. I had to procure everything on site."

[12] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. (Konami). (2005) "Zero: Do you copy? You're already in enemy territory, and somebody might be listening in. From here on out, we'll be using codenames to refer to each other. Your codename for this mission will be Naked Snake. I'll be referring to you as Snake from now on. You are not to mention your real name."

[13] EVA: The Boss' defection was a ruse set up by the U.S. government. It was all a big drama staged by Washington so they could get their hands on the Philosopher's Legacy. And The Boss was the star of the show. They planned it so that they could get the Legacy that Colonel Volgin inherited...and destroy the Shagohod at the same time. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005

[14] EVA: (...) Everything was going according to plan, but then something happened that no one could have predicted. Colonel Volgin fired an American-made nuclear warhead at Sokolov's research facility. Khrushchev demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that it wasn't involved. (...) The authorities in Washington knew that in order to prove its innocence they'd have to get rid of The Boss...and that one of their own would have to do the job. (...) That was the mission she was given. (...) She sacrificed her life and her honor for her native land. (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005

[15] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. (Konami). (2005) "Mr. President: You are above even The Boss. I hereby award you the title of Big Boss."

[16] Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006)
Gene: So... You never knew. Six years ago, during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin launched an American nuclear missile at Sokolov's research lab. This caused a change in plans, and the U.S. government had to assassinate its own operative, The Boss, to prove its innocence. And you were the assassin, Snake. / (Naked Snake is speechless) / Gene: Do you really think Volgin committed that terrible crime of his own will? / Naked Snake: What? / Gene: It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss' death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, Snake! It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist. / Naked Snake: You're saying it was all a setup? By who!? / Gene: The Boss gave up her life, even if someone else willed it. She sacrificed her own life for her calling. It was a noble act. / Naked Snake: Answer me! Who set it up?!

[lesenfants-17] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. (Konami). (2008) "Big Mama: "Give birth to Big Boss." To realize this, I asked to serve as the surrogate mother... And was more than happy to carry you in my womb. I loved him. Nine months later, I gave birth to two Big Bosses... You, and [Liquid Snake]. [...] Determined to oppose Zero and his plans, Big Boss broke away from the Patriots."

[18] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. (Konami). PlayStation 3. (2008) "Big Boss: Ever since the day I killed The Boss... with my own two hands... I... was already dead."

[19] Kojima Productions. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. (Konami). (2010) "Naked Snake: I won't make the same choice as her. My future's going to be different. / Miller: Then... / Naked Snake: Yeah, that's right. From now on, call me Big Boss."

[ign-20] "E3 2013: Metal Gear Solid V Coming To Xbox One - IGN". ign.com. Retrieved July 11, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[21] Parish, Jeremy. "Gear Up! A Metal Gear Retrospective". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2012. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[22] Payton, Ryan. "The KP Report Session 027". Kojima Productions Report. mp.i.revo. Retrieved February 17, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[23] "THE SNAKE EATER INTERVIEW". IGN. December 1, 2004. Retrieved January 11, 2018.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[24] C. Perry, Douglass (May 15, 2003). "E3 2003: Hideo Kojima Interview". IGN. Retrieved March 26, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[25] Totilo, Stephen (September 25, 2009). "Hideo Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker And How You Can Help Him". Kotaku. Retrieved March 26, 2012.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[26] Romano, Sal. "Metal Gear Solid V clip teases Snake's new voice actor". Gematsu. Retrieved June 3, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[vg247-27] Staff. "Konami's pre-E3 stream: Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5". VG24/7. Retrieved June 6, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[28] Goldfarb, Andrew. "Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V". IGN. Retrieved June 7, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[29] "Kojima on Ground Zeroes". Giant Bomb. Retrieved November 16, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[30] "Interview: Hideo Kojima on darker themes and phantom cigars". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved June 25, 2014.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[31] IGN editors (July 4, 2010). "Top 100 Videogame Villains". ign.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2006.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[32] Scheeden, Jeese. "Top 10 Metal Gear Villains". IGN. Retrieved July 1, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[33] Scheeden, Jeese (January 11, 2010). "Boss of the Day: Metal Gear's Big Boss". IGN. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[34] Gagne, Ken. You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains Archived December 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Computerworld. Retrieved on September 16, 2008

[35] Dodson, Joe (July 28, 2007). "Metal Gear 20 Years of Boss Battles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2007. Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[36] "28. Big Boss — The 50 Coolest Video Game Villains of All Time". Complex. November 1, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2013.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[37] "9 Video Game Heroes Who Turned Evil In The Sequel". What Culture. Retrieved August 4, 2017.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[cnet-38] Ramsay, Randolph (2005). "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review". C NET Australia. Archived from the original on August 29, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2006. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[39] "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Preview". PALGN. February 29, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2011. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[40] Torres, Ricardo (March 16, 2004). "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Updated Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[41] "Fact or Fiction? The Ten Biggest Rumors on the PlayStation 2". IGN. Retrieved July 4, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[42] "Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know". GameSpy. p. 3. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[43] "Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know". GameSpy. p. 4. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[44] Pirrello, Phil (January 11, 2010). "Stars Thunderdome: Snake vs. Big Boss". IGN. Retrieved July 5, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[45] Meikleham, Dave. "The Top 7… disastrous game romances". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 4, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[46] Jones, Nick. "Metal Gear Solid – My Top Five Moments". Play. Retrieved June 30, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

[47] Glasser, AJ (June 21, 2009). "Father Knows Best: The Best and Worst Fathers in Video Games". Kotaku. Retrieved August 17, 2011.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

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[edge-50] Edge, January 2005; issue 145. Future Publishing. 2005. pp. 80–81.

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Metal Gear
Games	Main series	Metal Gear • Metal Gear 2 • Metal Gear Solid (The Twin Snakes) • 2: Sons of Liberty • 3: Snake Eater • 4: Guns of the Patriots (Online) • Peace Walker • V: Ground Zeroes • V: The Phantom Pain
	Other	Snake's Revenge • Metal Gear Solid (GBC version) • Integral • VR Missions • 2: Substance • 3: Subsistence • Acid • Acid 2 • Portable Ops (Portable Ops Plus) • 3D: Snake Eater • Mobile • Touch • Social Ops • Rising: Revengeance • Survive
	Collections	HD Collection • The Legacy Collection
Characters	Solid Snake • Big Boss • Revolver Ocelot • Otacon • Liquid Snake • Raiden • Meryl Silverburgh • The Boss • Gray Fox • Sniper Wolf • Eva • Venom Snake • Quiet
Factions	FOXHOUND • Philanthropy • Outer Heaven • Diamond Dogs • Militaires Sans Frontières • The Patriots • Force Operation X • XOF
Universe	Metal Gears • Cyborg Ninja • Shadow Moses Island • Big Shell
People	Hideo Kojima • Yoji Shinkawa • Shinta Nojiri • Mineshi Kimura •Norihiko Hibino • David Hayter • Akio Ōtsuka • Kiefer Sutherland • Project Itoh
Other media	Comic book (Sons of Liberty)
Related	Kojima Productions • Fox Engine • Discography • Philanthropy • DreamMix TV World Fighters • Ape Escape 3 • Super Smash Bros. • PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{For|the player character in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain|Venom Snake}}
-{{Infobox VG character
+{{Infobox character
-|name= Big Boss (Naked Snake)
-|image=[[Image:Big Boss.jpg|120px]]
+|name=Big Boss
+|image=[[File:Snake (from Peace Walker).jpg|250px]]
-|caption=Big Boss was illustrated in ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' by [[Yoji Shinkawa]]. Although the character never actually appeared in the game, this illustration is used in the instruction manual and other official publications.
+|image_size=
-|firstgame=''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' (1987)
+|caption=Big Boss, as portrayed in a promotional CGI render for ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]''.
-|series=''[[Metal Gear]]''
+|first=''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' (1987)
+| last = ''[[Super Bomberman R]]'' (2017)
+|series=[[Metal Gear]]
 |creator=[[Hideo Kojima]]
-|artist= [[Yoji Shinkawa]]
+|designer=[[Yoji Shinkawa]]
-|voiceactor=[[David Hayter]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|Metal Gear Solid 3]], [[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]], [[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'')<br />[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|Metal Gear Solid 4]]'')
+|voice='''English'''<br/>[[David Hayter]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', ''[[Super Bomberman R]]'')<br />[[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'')<br/>[[Kiefer Sutherland]] (''[[Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'')<br/>'''Japanese'''<br/>[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'', ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', ''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'', ''Metal Gear Solid V'' and ''Super Bomberman R'')<br />[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')
-|japanactor=[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')<br />[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')
+|motion_actor=[[Mizuho Yoshida]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'')<br />[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')<br />Mio Tanaka (''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')<br />Erik Brown (''Metal Gear Solid V'')<br />[[Kiefer Sutherland]] (''Metal Gear Solid V'' [facial only])
+|full_name= Jack<ref>{{cite video game | title =Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain | developer =Kojima Productions | publisher =Konami | date =1 September 2015 | platform =PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC | scene =Cassette Tape: "Les Enfants Terribles" | level = | language =English | quote = }}</ref> / John<ref>{{cite video game | title =Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | developer =Konami Computer Entertainment Japan | publisher =Konami | date =17 November 2004 | platform =PlayStation 2 | scene = | level = | language =English | quote ='''Ocelot''': ...My name... is Adamska. And you? / '''Naked Snake''': John. }}</ref>
-|motionactor=[[Mizuho Yoshida (actor)|Mizuho Yoshida]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'')<br />[[Akio Ōtsuka]] (''Metal Gear Solid 4'')
+|alias= Naked Snake <br /> Vic Boss <br /> Ishmael <br /> "The Man Who Sold The World"
-|inuniverse={{Metal Gear character
-|realname= John
-|aliases=One Eyed Man (''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]''), [[Saladin]] (''Metal Gear Solid''), Jack (''Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker''),<ref name=nickname>{{cite web|url=http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mgs3/english/chara_snake.html|title=Metal Gear Solid 3 - Naked Snake|quote=Member of special forces unit "FOX". Nickname "John".}}</ref> Naked Snake (''Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')
 |nationality=American
-|affiliations=Outer Heaven (''Metal Gear''), Zanzibar Land (''Metal Gear 2''), [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Green Berets]] (Pre-''Metal Gear Solid 3''), FOX/[[CIA]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3''), [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]] (''Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''), [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|The Patriots]] (post-''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''/pre-''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker''), Militaires Sans Frontières (''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')<!--, Diamond Dogs (''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'').-->
+|affiliation= [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|Outer Heaven / Zanzibar Land]] (''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'') <br/> [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Green Berets]] (pre-''Metal Gear Solid 3'') <br/> [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOX|FOX]] and [[CIA]] (''Metal Gear Solid 3'') <br/> [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]] (''Metal Gear'' and ''Portable Ops'') <br/> [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Cipher|Cipher]] (post-''Portable Ops'' / pre-''Peace Walker'') <br/> [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|MSF]] (''Peace Walker'' and ''Ground Zeroes'')
-}} }}
+}}
+'''Big Boss''' is a [[Character (arts)|video game character]] and one of the primary [[protagonist]]s of the ''[[Metal Gear]]'' series created by [[Hideo Kojima]] and developed and published by [[Konami]]. Introduced in the early entries of the series as the commanding officer and subsequent nemesis of his son [[Solid Snake]], he is later featured in the prequel games as a younger version of the character named '''Naked Snake''' (later shortened to simply '''Snake'''), an American Special Forces Operator and decorated war hero until political manipulations cause him to be disillusioned and start his own [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|private mercenary company]].
+==Appearances==
-{{nihongo|'''Big Boss'''|ビッグ・ボス|Biggu Bosu|lead=yes}} (1935<ref>'''Vladimir Zadornov (Ramon Galvez Mena)''': Dead at age 39, just like [[Che Guevara|El Che]]. Ironic, isn't it? (''Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker'')</ref> - 2014) is a [[Character (arts)|fictional]] [[Player character|video game character]] from [[Konami]]'s [[Metal Gear|''Metal Gear'' series]]. He is originally introduced in the original ''Metal Gear'' games as the commanding officer and then arch-nemesis of protagonist [[Solid Snake]]. He also appears as the [[protagonist]] of ''Metal Gear Solid'' prequels where he is depicted as an American covert operative codenamed {{nihongo|'''Naked Snake'''|ネイキッド・スネーク|Neikiddo Sunēku}}. Naked Snake shared Solid Snake's voice actors ([[Akio Ōtsuka]] in [[Japanese (language)|Japanese]] and [[David Hayter]] in [[English (language)|English]]) while Big Boss was voiced by [[Chikao Ōtsuka]] (Akio Ōtsuka's real-life father) in the Japanese version and [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] in the English version.
+{{stack|{{Metal Gear chronology}}}}
+===In the MSX2 games===
-The character of Big Boss has been praised by video game publications for his role as a villain as well for his relationship with Solid Snake while the debut of Naked Snake as playable character resulted in multiple speculations regarding his true identity as a result of his physical similarities with Solid Snake.
+{{nihongo|Big Boss|ビッグ・ボス|Biggu Bosu}} is introduced in the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' game as the Special Forces Unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|FOXHOUND]]'s leader and [[Solid Snake]]'s commanding officer. He initially acts as a radio contact who provides Snake with information about mission objectives, as well as weapons and equipment.<ref name="mg1manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/mg1remi/mg1reme.htm|title=''Metal Gear'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|accessdate=|author=|last=|first=|authorlink=|date=|year=1987|publisher=Konami|pages=|language=Japanese|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818123628/http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/mg1remi/mg1reme.htm|archivedate=August 18, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="mg2manual">{{cite web|url=http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/Setting.htm|title=''Metal Gear 2'' MSX2 version, instruction manual|accessdate=|author=|last=|first=|authorlink=|date=|year=1990|publisher=Konami|pages=|language=Japanese|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907002228/http://www.msxnet.org/gtinter/Setting.htm|archivedate=September 7, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> But after Snake destroys the titular [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear|TX-55 Metal Gear]] weapon despite Big Boss's discouragement, Outer Heaven's militia leader confronts Snake near the base's escape route in a final battle only to be defeated.{{efn|''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'' [[Retroactive continuity|establishes]] that this individual is [[Venom Snake]] and not the original Big Boss.}}<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss''': Solid Snake! You've finally come here. Yeah, I'm Big Boss General Commandant of Foxhound. And in charge of this fortress, Outer Heaven.}}</ref>
+''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'' reveals that Big Boss has since taken control of a fortified nation in [[Central Asia]] known as Zanzibar Land and commissions the development of Metal Gear D.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solid Snake''': Big... Boss?! / '''Dr. Madnar''': The very same! With Metal Gear and OILEX, he plots to rule the world. We cannot let the secret of OILEX fall into his hands!}}</ref> Solid Snake confronts Big Boss once again while escaping from Zanzibar Land's detention camp, with Snake incinerating Big Boss.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Boss''': Even I make mistakes from time to time. Snake! This will be our final battle... Let's end this once and for all!}}</ref>
-==Biography==
-===Early Years===
-Big Boss's military career dates back to 1950, when he joined the US Army and participated in the Korean War. During his tenure, became The Boss's apprentice. In 1954, Jack was involved in the [[Bikini Atoll|Bikini Atoll]] testing of the first airborne detonation of a hydrogen bomb. During his time under the tutelage of [[Boss (Metal Gear)|The Boss]], she taught him everything about combat, weaponry, survival, espionage, destruction, psychology and foreign languages like Russian. They also developed [[CQC]] together. The Boss and Jack went their separate ways on June 12, 1959.
+===In the ''Metal Gear Solid'' series===
-In 1961, Jack joined the [[Green Berets]]. He participated in covert operations alongside [[Python]] in [[wikipedia:Vietnam War|Vietnam]]. He later stated that Python was one of the few soldiers he could completely rely on in battle. The two were involved in a top secret mission together, where Python was shot and presumed to have been killed. In 1964, he was recruited by the fledgling [[FOX (Metal Gear)|FOXHOUND]] unit.
+<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Big Boss (Metal Gear).png|left|thumb|120px|Promotional artwork of Big Boss from the original ''Metal Gear Solid'', as illustrated by [[Yoji Shinkawa]].]] -->
+Big Boss's presence figures prominently in the original ''Metal Gear Solid'' games where his DNA was used to create the genetically-altered clones as part of the secret "Les Enfants Terribles" government project (French for "The Terrible Children"): Solid Snake, [[Liquid Snake]],<ref name="clones">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid|year=1998|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Liquid Snake''': There's a killer inside you... You don't have to deny it. We were created to be that way. / '''Solid Snake''': Created? / '''Liquid Snake''': Les enfants terribles... the terrible children. That's what the project was called. It started in the 1970s. Their plan was to artificially create the most powerful soldier possible. The person that they chose as the model was the man known then as the greatest living soldier in the world...}}</ref> and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Solidus Snake|Solidus Snake]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|year=2001|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Solidus Snake''': ...I'm the boss to surpass Big Boss himself...}}</ref>
+The [[prequel]] ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'' depicts a young incarnation of the character, under the codename {{nihongo|Naked Snake|ネイキッド・スネーク|Neikiddo Sunēku}},<ref name="mgspw_naked_uniform">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker|year=2010|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Miller''': Naked... That's exactly what you are with this uniform. The pants are the same as the jungle fatigues. Obviously, since you're exposing your bare skin, your defense and camo index are going to be low. On the plus side, it's so light you can move around quicker. / '''Naked Snake''': Good for showing off muscles, too. / '''Miller''': Hey, Snake. I heard they gave you your old code name because you used to run around with your shirt off. Is that true? / '''Naked Snake''': Don't believe everything you hear. They called me "Naked" because I went in without gear or food. I had to procure everything on site.}}</ref> as a member of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] special forces unit [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOX|FOX]] in 1964 that was founded by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Zero|Zero]].<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Zero''': Do you copy? You're already in enemy territory, and somebody might be listening in. From here on out, we'll be using codenames to refer to each other. Your codename for this mission will be Naked Snake. I'll be referring to you as Snake from now on. You are not to mention your real name.}}</ref> With [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Para-Medic|Para-Medic]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Sigint|Sigint]] for additional support, he is sent on an assignment in the Soviet Union to thwart an uprising led by the sadistic [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Volgin|Volgin]], rescue key weapons researcher [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Sokolov|Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov]], destroy the [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Shagohod|Shagohod]] prototype, and kill his mentor, [[The Boss (Metal Gear)|The Boss]], who defected to the Soviet Union, to avert a nuclear war. Over the course of his assignment, he encounters [[Revolver Ocelot|Major Ocelot]] multiple times, fights and defeats the [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Cobra Unit|Cobra Unit]] (consisting of [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Pain|The Pain]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Fear|The Fear]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The End|The End]], [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Fury|The Fury]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Sorrow|The Sorrow]]). After the mission is completed and Snake kills The Boss, he learns that the defection was part of a mission to be carried out, and the government ordered his mentor's death to prevent war.<ref>'''EVA''': The Boss' defection was a ruse set up by the U.S. government. It was all a big drama staged by Washington so they could get their hands on the Philosopher's Legacy. And The Boss was the star of the show. They planned it so that they could get the Legacy that Colonel Volgin inherited...and destroy the Shagohod at the same time. (''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'') Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005</ref><ref>'''EVA''': (...) Everything was going according to plan, but then something happened that no one could have predicted. Colonel Volgin fired an American-made nuclear warhead at Sokolov's research facility. Khrushchev demanded that the U.S. government provide proof that it wasn't involved. (...) The authorities in Washington knew that in order to prove its innocence they'd have to get rid of The Boss...and that one of their own would have to do the job. (...) That was the mission she was given. (...) She sacrificed her life and her honor for her native land. (''Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater'') Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, 2005</ref> According to [[EVA (Metal Gear)|EVA]]'s debrief, the political motives behind the operation do not sit well with Snake, especially after he is awarded the Big Boss title for his actions;<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|year=2005|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Mr. President''': You are above even The Boss. I hereby award you the title of Big Boss.}}</ref> he initially rejects the title, prompting him to retire from active service.
-{{SnakeEater}}
+''[[Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops]]'' shows Naked Snake still under his former codename, believing that he has yet to surpass The Boss as a warrior. Having spent six years wandering the globe, Snake finds himself involved in an armed uprising caused by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Gene|Gene]]'s rogue FOX unit in the (fictional) San Hieronymo peninsula in Colombia and learns that he has been convicted for instigating the revolt. Hoping to clear his name, Snake forms his own [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#FOXHOUND|team of specialists]] by recruiting both old allies and defecting enemy soldiers to his cause, one of whom happens to be [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Roy Campbell|Roy Campbell]]. He faces not only the members of the FOX unit, but also Metal Gear's [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Intercontinental Ballistic Metal Gear|first prototype]]. After he learned that The Boss's death had been planned all along, Snake defeats Gene and obtains the funds for [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Outer Heaven|Army's Heaven]].<ref>''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'', Kojima Productions (2006)<br />'''Gene''': So... You never knew. Six years ago, during Operation Snake Eater, Volgin launched an American nuclear missile at Sokolov's research lab. This caused a change in plans, and the U.S. government had to assassinate its own operative, The Boss, to prove its innocence. And you were the assassin, Snake. / ''(Naked Snake is speechless)'' / '''Gene''': Do you really think Volgin committed that terrible crime of his own will? / '''Naked Snake''': What? / '''Gene''': It was all a setup from the very beginning. Volgin launching the nuke... The Boss' death... Even your mission in Groznyj Grad, Snake! It was all the work of your country and a single, deviously cunning strategist. / '''Naked Snake''': You're saying it was all a setup? By who!? / '''Gene''': The Boss gave up her life, even if someone else willed it. She sacrificed her own life for her calling. It was a noble act. / '''Naked Snake''': Answer me! Who set it up?!</ref>
+''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' revealed that Big Boss was one of the founding members of Zero's cause to initially realize The Boss's dream, but this spiraled into a conspiracy to impose order and control over the world after Big Boss disagreed with Zero's interpretation of the dream. Big Boss despised his role as figurehead, especially since Zero's vision placed no value on loyalty to ideals and people, something The Boss treasured above all else. When Big Boss learns that his own DNA was being used for Zero's "Les Enfants Terribles" project, this proved to be the final straw. After his defection from Zero's cause, Big Boss plotted coup d'état with Outer Heaven (''Metal Gear'') and Zanzibar Land (''Metal Gear 2'').<ref name="lesenfants">{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|year=2008|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Big Mama''': "Give birth to Big Boss." To realize this, I asked to serve as the surrogate mother... And was more than happy to carry you in my womb. I loved him. Nine months later, I gave birth to two Big Bosses... [[Solid Snake|You]], and [Liquid Snake]. [...] Determined to oppose Zero and his plans, Big Boss broke away from the Patriots.}}</ref> Although he had survived these defeats, he was placed in an artificially induced coma with his genetic code used for an ID recognition system, the use of which allows access to the [[Artificial intelligence|AIs]] that make up [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#The Patriots|the Patriots]]. His body is recovered and reconstructed using parts from the bodies of both Liquid and Solidus, and he awakens from his coma after the fall of the Patriots' AIs. Following the game's voice casting credits, Big Boss appears before Old Snake. After he reveals to Snake the truth about himself and Zero, Big Boss shuts down his catatonic nemesis' [[life support]] system. He manages to come to terms with his feelings regarding The Boss,<ref>{{cite video game |title=[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]] |developer=[[Kojima Productions]] |publisher=[[Konami]] |date=<!--INCOMPLETE-->2008 |platform=[[PlayStation 3]] |version= |scene= |level= |language= |quote='''Big Boss''': Ever since the day [[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater|I killed The Boss... with my own two hands...]] I... was already dead.}}</ref> and then reconciles with his son before dying from unintended exposure to the new FOXDIE virus.
+Naked Snake's past again serves as the scenario in ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'' after he and his business partner [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Master Miller|Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller]] established the mercenary force Militaires Sans Frontières (French for "Soldiers Without Borders") made up of expatriate soldiers recruited to his cause. He intends to use MSF to live out The Boss's final will, a world where soldiers are free to choose their own fights on their own terms, and not at the whim of a government. On Colombia's Barranquilla coast, two representatives of the Costa Rican government ([[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Paz|Paz Ortega Andrade]] and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Zadornov|Ramon Gálvez Mena]]) seek to hire MSF to liberate Costa Rica from [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Coldman|Coldman]]'s CIA Peace Sentinel unit that has established bases in the country. Snake accepts the mission after Gálvez hands him an audio cassette with a recording of The Boss's voice. Following Kaz's advice, the MSF takes over an offshore research platform in the Caribbean as their base of operations in a bid to expand the group's capabilities. Over the course of the story, Snake comes to learn about the true purpose of Coldman's [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Peace Walker|Peace Walker]] prototypes (Pupa, Chrysalis, Cocoon, and Peace Walker) and gradually lets go of his guilt for The Boss's death after encountering an AI replica, finally accepting his Big Boss title.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker|year=2010|developer=Kojima Productions|publisher=Konami|quote='''Naked Snake''': I won't make the same choice as her. My future's going to be different. / '''Miller''': Then... / '''Naked Snake''': Yeah, that's right. From now on, call me Big Boss.}}</ref> Later in the game, Big Boss has [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Huey|Huey Emmerich]] create [[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear ZEKE|Metal Gear ZEKE]] as a weapon to defend his interests, with no desire to use offensively. After Big Boss killed Gálvez out of self-defense, Paz pilots ZEKE to launch a nuclear strike on the Eastern Coast of the United States as part of an insurance policy if Big Boss refused to obey [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Cipher|Cipher]]. After hearing the ultimatum, Big Boss refuses and fights ZEKE in order to stop Paz. He is victorious, but ZEKE is heavily damaged and Paz is ejected into the Caribbean Sea. After ZEKE's destruction, Kaz tells Big Boss of being aware of the plot from the beginning, and used it to spur the growth of MSF. Big Boss and Kaz realize they'll no longer be able to be away from the outside world unless they reveal their true nature. Big Boss rejects this idea, stating that his "life shall be different from The Boss's". After this conversation, Big Boss gives a speech to the MSF soldiers, telling them that if the times demand it, they will be vigilantes, criminals and terrorists, but they will be the ones to choose their battles and their causes, not governments.
-[[File:Naked Snake.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Naked Snake, circa 1964.]]
-On August 24th, [[1964]], Jack was part of the [[Virtuous Mission]], in which he was to rescue a defecting Soviet scientist named [[Nikolai Stephanovich Sokolov]]. It was during this mission that he was given the codename "Naked Snake." However, this mission failed, due to the defection of The Boss.
+Big Boss plays a central role in ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes]]'' and ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]''. He is on a mission to rescue a [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Chico|child soldier]] and Pacifica Ocean from an American [[black site]] on Cuban soil; Big Boss believes that Pacifica can be converted to MSF's cause. Big Boss's rescue is successful and the medic found a bomb implanted inside Pacifica who is sacrificed to save everyone from another bomb which causes an explosive concussion wave which causes the helicopter to crash into the Caribbean Sea as MSF is destroyed by an [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#XOF|invading paramilitary force]] led by [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Skull Face|Skull Face]]. Big Boss comes out of his coma and poses as "Ishmael", a patient in the hospital where [[Venom Snake]] is also being treated, and aids in an escape when the hospital is attacked by Skull Face's forces. While Snake ventures into Soviet-controlled Afghanistan using the new mercenary force Diamond Dogs made from MSF's remaining forces, Big Boss stays behind the scenes to develop a true Outer Heaven.<ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-metal-gear-solid-v-coming-to-xbox-one|title=E3 2013: Metal Gear Solid V Coming To Xbox One - IGN|publisher=ign.com|accessdate=July 11, 2014}}</ref>
-A week later, the FOX unit and Snake launched [[Operation Snake Eater]], in which the objective was to eliminate The Boss and her new Soviet ally, [[Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin|Colonel Volgin]], rescue Sokolov and destroy the [[Shagohod]]. It was during this mission that Snake came across the prototype designs for the [[TX-55 Metal Gear]] and [[Metal Gear REX]] from [[Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin|Granin]], who was sending them to a colleague in America. This colleague was the grandfather of [[Hal Emmerich]], a.k.a. Otacon.
+===Other appearances===
-During this mission, Snake had his right eye accidentally damaged by [[Ocelot (Metal Gear)|Ocelot]]'s [[Colt Single Action Army]], while in captivity for torture, in order to save [[EVA]]'s life. However, he succeeded in completing the mission, and killed [[The Boss]]. For this, he was awarded the code name "Big Boss" and the [[wikipedia:Distinguished Service Cross|Distinguished Service Cross]] by [[List of Minor Characters|President Lyndon Johnson]].
+In ''[[Snake's Revenge]]'', a non-canonical sequel to the original ''Metal Gear'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] released during the same year as ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'', Big Boss returns as the leader of the enemy organization, having survived the injuries he sustained in the original game as a cyborg. He fights Solid Snake as a boss prior to reaching the new Metal Gear prototype and has two forms: his human form and a fire-breathing cyborg form. Naked Snake also appears as a playable character in ''[[Super Bomberman R]]''.
+==Creation and design==
-Big Boss, however, was heavily affected by the events of Operation: Snake Eater, in part to the fact that he had to kill his old mentor, The Boss, and after finding out that the whole operation (including The Boss's supposed defection) was a ruse set up by his government to avoid taking the blame for a nuclear attack while secretly getting their hands on the [[Philosophers' Legacy]], Big Boss lost sight of what he was fighting for, and with it, his patriotism for his country. Because of this, he decided to retire from FOX. He was mentally discouraged and alone.
+===Physical appearance===
+In ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'', Big Boss's visual appearance was inspired by actor [[Sean Connery]]. But for the ports of the game's re-released version, the original design was replaced by [[Yoji Shinkawa]]'s design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-retrospective?pager.offset=2&cId=|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=February 18, 2012|author=Parish, Jeremy|title=Gear Up! A Metal Gear Retrospective|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610180934/http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-retrospective?pager.offset=2&cId=|archivedate=June 10, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
+During the making of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', [[Hideo Kojima]] asked Shinkawa to make Naked Snake similar to Solid Snake. But with the differences that unlike Solid Snake, Naked Snake was a rookie and thus acted more naive. Shinkawa stated having no difficulties in designing Naked Snake as basically a revised version of Solid Snake. As a result, Naked Snake is virtually identical to Solid Snake from the previous ''Metal Gear Solid'' games in terms of appearance.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://mp.i-revo.jp/user.php/kp-ryan/entry/52.html|title=The KP Report Session 027|publisher=mp.i.revo|work=Kojima Productions Report|author=Payton, Ryan|accessdate=February 17, 2012}}</ref> The love scene between Naked Snake and EVA was inspired by the first ''[[Pink Panther]]''. Kojima and Shinkawa watched the movie but the former stated it might have come different from the original version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/the-snake-eater-interview?page=3|title=THE SNAKE EATER INTERVIEW|publisher=IGN|date=December 1, 2004|accessdate=January 11, 2018}}</ref> Since the game's trailers did not state that Naked Snake was Big Boss, Kojima often gave vague answers to the character's true identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/402/402879p1.html|publisher=IGN|date=May 15, 2003|accessdate=March 26, 2012|author=C. Perry, Douglass|title=E3 2003: Hideo Kojima Interview}}</ref> Although the ending of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' reveals Naked Snake was given the Big Boss title, Kojima stated "he's not really the Big Boss yet". With ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]'', he wanted to explain how Naked Snake became the man who appeared in the original ''Metal Gear'' games as Solid Snake's enemy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.kotaku.com/5367724/hideo-kojima-talks-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-and-how-you-can-help-him|publisher=Kotaku|date=September 25, 2009|accessdate=March 26, 2012|author=Totilo, Stephen|title=Hideo Kojima Talks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker And How You Can Help Him}}</ref>
-===Post-Snake Eater===
-When direct American involvement in the [[Vietnam War|Vietnam Conflict]] started the following year, Big Boss participated in [[wikipedia:Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol|Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP)]] along with teams of [[wikipedia:5th Special Forces Group (United States)|Green Berets]] and [[wikipedia:75th Ranger Infantry Regiment (Airborne)|US Army Rangers]]. His skills in combat earned him the "great legendary soldier" moniker. Once the conflict had ended, Big Boss had taken part in more than 70 missions attached to groups such as the [[wikipedia:Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group|SOG (Studies and Observation Group)]] and the Wild Geese. He also encountered a war orphan named [[Gray Fox (Metal Gear)|Frank Jaeger]] during the [[Wikipedia:Mozambican War of Independence|Mozambican War of Independence]] in 1966, and escorted the child to a rehab facility where he could be taken care of.
+===Casting===
-{{PortableOps}}
+Naked Snake as portrayed in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' shares the same voice actor as Solid Snake did in the first two ''Metal Gear Solid'' games, being voiced by [[Akio Otsuka]] in the Japanese version and [[David Hayter]] in the English version. Both actors would return to provide Snake's voice in ''Portable Ops'' and ''Peace Walker''. The elderly version of Big Boss who appears in the end of ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' is voiced by [[Chikao Otsuka]] (Akio Otsuka's real-life father) in Japanese and by [[Richard Doyle]] in English.
+On June 6, 2013, during Konami's third annual pre-[[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] show, it was announced that [[Kiefer Sutherland]] would be portraying Snake in ''Metal Gear Solid V'', replacing David Hayter (Akio Otsuka was unaffected by this casting change and continued to portrayed Snake in the Japanese dub). Sutherland plays the original Big Boss (who serves as the playable character in the stand-alone prologue ''Ground Zeroes''), as well as Venom Snake (a new version of the character who serves as the protagonist in the main game ''The Phantom Pain''). In addition to the voice, Sutherland also provided facial capture for the character.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|title=Metal Gear Solid V clip teases Snake's new voice actor|url=http://gematsu.com/2013/05/metal-gear-solid-v-clip-teases-snakes-new-voice-actor|publisher=Gematsu|accessdate=June 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="vg247">{{cite web|last=Staff|title=Konami's pre-E3 stream: Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5|url=http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/06/metal-gear-solid-5-castlevania-los-2-pes-2014-to-feature-in-konamis-pre-e3-stream-tonight/|publisher=VG24/7|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref> Sutherland was assigned the role after a suggestion to Kojima from Hollywood producer and director [[Avi Arad]]; Kojima's reason was to "have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words", and that he "needed someone who could genuinely convey both the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40s".<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldfarb|first=Andrew|title=Kiefer Sutherland Playing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/06/kiefer-sutherland-playing-snake-in-metal-gear-solid-v|publisher=IGN|accessdate=June 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/kojima-on-ground-zeroes/1600-673/|title=Kojima on Ground Zeroes|publisher=Giant Bomb|accessdate=November 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/467996/interviews/interview-hideo-kojima-on-darker-themes-and-phantom-cigars/|title=Interview: Hideo Kojima on darker themes and phantom cigars|publisher=Computer and Video Games|accessdate=June 25, 2014}}</ref>
+===Naming===
+In ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', the first in a series of prequels to the original ''Metal Gear'', the game depicts a young version of the character before acquiring the codename "Big Boss". He is initially known by the nickname "Jack" before being given the codename "Naked Snake" (commonly shortened to just "Snake") at the start of the Virtuous Mission, which serves as his main handle throughout the game, making him the first recipient of the Snake codename that Solid Snake and his clone brothers would use in the future stories. At the end of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', he is bestowed the title of "Big Boss" by President Johnson for defeating his mentor "The Boss". Despite this, the character is still addressed primarily as "Snake" (which drops the "Naked" portion of his codename) in later prequels, which feature him as a playable character such as ''Portable Ops'', ''Peace Walker'' and ''Ground Zeroes''.
+==Reception==
-[[File:Kp26.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Naked Snake (Big Boss), during the FOX unit's revolt, circa 1970.]]
+Big Boss's character has been well-received, with [[IGN]] having ranked him number 32 on their 2010 list of top video game villains,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html |title=Top 100 Videogame Villains |publisher=ign.com |author=IGN editors |date=July 4, 2010 |accessdate=October 20, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309045526/http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/32.html|archivedate=March 9, 2012}}</ref> and as the fourth top ''Metal Gear'' villains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/881/881015p7.html|title=Top 10 Metal Gear Villains|publisher=IGN |author=Scheeden, Jeese |accessdate=July 1, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, IGN's Jesse Schedeen found the character one of the most important characters from the franchise to the point his "influence is felt in every ''Metal Gear'' game, even if he isn't always present in the flesh."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/106/1060066p1.html|title=Boss of the Day: Metal Gear's Big Boss|publisher=IGN |author=Scheeden, Jeese |date=January 11, 2010|accessdate=July 5, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Computerworld]]'' named Big Boss as one of the most creative "badass villains" in video games, citing the complexity of his betrayal of Solid Snake, fueled by Solid Snake being his genetic heir.<ref>Gagne, Ken. [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9022399&pageNumber=3 You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207002607/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9022399&pageNumber=3 |date=December 7, 2008 }}. ''[[Computerworld]]''. Retrieved on September 16, 2008</ref> Additionally, [[GameSpot]] listed Big Boss as one of the 20 best ''Metal Gear'' bosses with focus on his importance within the series' plot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6175700/metal-gear-20-years-of-big-bad-boss-battles |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130102173609/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6175700/metal-gear-20-years-of-big-bad-boss-battles |dead-url=yes |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |title=Metal Gear 20 Years of Boss Battles |date=July 28, 2007 |author=Dodson, Joe |publisher=GameSpot |accessdate=July 5, 2007 }}</ref> He was ranked as the 28th "coolest" video game villain by ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/11/coolest-video-game-villains-of-all-time/metal-gear-solid |title=28. Big Boss — The 50 Coolest Video Game Villains of All Time |publisher=Complex |date=November 1, 2012 |accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Naked Snake's transition to Big Boss was listed as the second hero who turned evil by What Culture with the writer finding the character more interesting than Solid Snake based on his progression across Big Boss's video games.<ref>{{cite web |title=9 Video Game Heroes Who Turned Evil In The Sequel |url=http://whatculture.com/gaming/9-video-game-heroes-who-turned-evil-in-the-sequel?page=7|publisher=What Culture|accessdate=August 4, 2017}}</ref>
-Although he had been labeled "Big Boss", he continued to refer to himself as "Naked Snake", as he did not feel that he had surpassed The Boss's skill just yet. In [[1970 AD|1970]], the FOX unit was considered rogue after its members organized a revolt and took over a base in South America known as [[La Peninsula de los Muertos]]. Big Boss was taken prisoner by [[Cunningham (Metal Gear)|Cunningham]] (a member of FOX).
+The inclusion of Naked Snake's role in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' has also received praise from critics.<ref name="cnet">{{cite web | author=Ramsay, Randolph | year=2005 | title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review | url=http://www.cnet.com.au/games/ps2/0,39029672,40054224,00.htm | work=C<nowiki> </nowiki>NET Australia | accessdate=August 22, 2006 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829063134/http://www.cnet.com.au/games/ps2/0%2C39029672%2C40054224%2C00.htm | archivedate=August 29, 2006 | deadurl=yes | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Prior to the game's release, Naked Snake was often called 'Solid Snake' or simply 'Snake' by critics due to his resemblance with Solid Snake, although some still were not sure about his true identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/1027/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-preview/|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Preview|date=February 29, 2004|publisher=PALGN|accessdate=July 5, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016023240/http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/1027/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-preview/|archivedate=October 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/metalgearsolid3/preview_6091542.html|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Updated Impressions|date=March 16, 2004|author=Torres, Ricardo|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=July 5, 2011}}</ref> Additionally, early speculation of the playable character's identity from ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'' was listed by IGN as one top ten rumors on the PlayStation 2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/425/425138p2.html|title=Fact or Fiction? The Ten Biggest Rumors on the PlayStation 2|publisher=IGN |accessdate=July 4, 2011}}</ref> [[GameSpy]] further noted that various fans started making theories about Naked Snake's identity before the game's release as while they thought it was Solid Snake, the setting from the game made it impossible for Solid Snake to be the game's main protagonist due to their difference of years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p3.html|title=Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know|publisher=GameSpy |page=3|accessdate=July 5, 2011}}</ref> Finding the revelation of Naked Snake's identity was considered by GameSpy as "the single coolest thing Kojima could have done in ''MGS3''" because of [Naked Snake's] differences from [Solid Snake] in regards to their personality as well as because it made fans wonder how Naked Snake would become the series antagonist Big Boss.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater/532018p4.html|title=Metal Gear Solid 3 -- Everything We Know|publisher=GameSpy |page=4|accessdate=July 5, 2011}}</ref> Another comparison between Big Boss's and Solid Snake's character was made by IGN's Phil Pirrello in article titled "Stars Thunderdome: Snake vs. Big Boss."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/881/881688p1.html|title=Stars Thunderdome: Snake vs. Big Boss|publisher=IGN |author=Pirrello, Phil |date=January 11, 2010|accessdate=July 5, 2011}}</ref> [[GamesRadar]] placed his relationship with EVA in their top list of disastrous game romances due to how it was ruined by the two's different roles in the story.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top 7… disastrous game romances|publisher=GamesRadar |author=Meikleham, Dave|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/the-top-7-disastrous-game-romances/a-2011021895331912082/g-2005138888000000020742|accessdate=July 4, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]]'' editor Nick Jones listed Naked Snake's final fight against The Boss in such game as the second best moment from the franchise, citing the emotional focus from their characters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metal Gear Solid – My Top Five Moments|publisher=Play |author=Jones, Nick|url=http://www.play-mag.co.uk/editors-blog/metal-gear-solid-%e2%80%93-my-top-five-moments/|accessdate=June 30, 2011}}</ref> Various gaming sites such as [[1UP.com]], ''[[Game Informer]]'' and [[Kotaku]] placed his character as one of the worst fathers in video games due to his poor relationship with Solid Snake and the attempts to murder his own son.<ref>{{cite web|title=Father Knows Best: The Best and Worst Fathers in Video Games|publisher=Kotaku|url=http://m.kotaku.com/5297186/father-knows-best-the-best-and-worst-fathers-in-video-games|date=June 21, 2009|author=Glasser, AJ|accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gaming's Crappiest Fathers|publisher=Game Informer |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/09/09/gamings-crappiest-dads.aspx|date=September 9, 2010 |author=Sharkey, Scott|accessdate=July 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top 5 Crappiest Videogame Dads|publisher=1UP.com|url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-crappiest-videogame-dads|date=September 9, 2010|author=Ryckert, Dan|accessdate=July 18, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601230558/http://www.1up.com/features/top-5-crappiest-videogame-dads|archivedate=June 1, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[David Hayter]]'s performance as Naked Snake's English voice actor in ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' has been criticized by ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' while discussing the dialogues from the game.<ref name="edge">{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=| title=Edge, January 2005; issue 145 | pages=80–81 |publisher=Future Publishing}}</ref>
-He met [[Roy Campbell]], a member of the Green Berets who was sent to take care of FOX. The two managed to persuade various members of the Red Army, which FOX were commanding, to join forces with them and rise up against the renegade members, forming the early beginnings of what would become [[FOXHOUND]]. [[Para-Medic]] and [[Sigint]] also helped him in defeating FOX and clearing their names, as well as [[Zero (Metal Gear)|Major Zero]]'s (they were all partially blamed for the uprising).
+==References==
-While there, Big Boss met Frank Jaeger once again, this time going under the codename [[Null]]. The two fought on a number of separate occasions. He also met [[Python (Metal Gear)|Python]] once again, who had not died during the Vietnam War, but was kept alive by the CIA and trained as an "anti-Snake" because of his knowledge of Big Boss's fighting style. Despite Python knowing this information, he was defeated. Big Boss then went on to kill the renegade FOX unit's leader, [[Gene (Metal Gear)|Gene]], and then afterwards, with the help of the Red Army soldiers he had recruited, destroyed [[Metal Gear RAXA]] that FOX was threatening to launch into the United States. Gene left Big Boss with a large cache of funds and supplies that he intended to use to construct [[Army's Heaven]] on "La Peninsula de los Muertos". After the incident, Big Boss officially formed [[FOXHOUND]], to carry on the tradition of the FOX unit and to give a home to the soldiers he had recruited during the San Hyeronimo Incident.
+=== Notes ===
+{{Notelist}}
+{{Reflist|group=note}}
+=== Footnotes ===
-===[[The Patriots]] and [[Les Enfants Terribles (Event)|Les Enfants Terribles]]===
+{{Reflist|30em}}
-[[Ocelot]] and [[Major Zero]] later extended an invitation to Big Boss to join them in the forming of a new organization known as "[[The Patriots]]". This organization was to be set up in honor of The Boss's last wish. Big Boss, who knew her better than anyone else, was chosen by Zero to be an icon and hero to the world. Zero started spreading stories about him. Some of these tales were true, some exaggerated, and others were false. Big Boss later became infuriated with Zero's lust for power, and was sick of playing the role of a puppet.
+{{reflist|group=N}}
-Afraid of losing Big Boss, Zero planned a secret project. In 1972, Big Boss was found in a coma and Zero brought his unconscious body to a lab, where his genes were extracted to make genetically enhanced soldiers. This project would be known as "[[Les Enfants Terribles]]". [[Solid Snake]], [[Liquid Snake]], and [[Solidus Snake]] were produced in this program, and were known as the "Sons of Big Boss". However, this was the final straw between the two, and Big Boss left The Patriots with a determination to oppose them. He left the United States, drifting around the world, before finally deciding to create his own organization.
+{{Metal Gear}}
-===[[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker|Peace Walker]]===
+[[Category:Characters created by Hideo Kojima]]
-[[image:Next Big Boss.jpg|right|Big Boss, circa 1974|thumb]]
+[[Category:Characters designed by Yoji Shinkawa]]
-In 1974, Big Boss had stationed his group, [[Militaires Sans Frontieres]], in Colombia where he was approached by a visitor from Costa Rica, a "[[wikipedia:Military of Costa Rica|Nation without a Military]]." In the wake of the [[wikipedia:Cuban Missile Crisis|Cuban Missile Crisis]] in 1962, as Latin America became a key to maintaining the power balance between East and West, Costa Rica had miraculously managed to maintain its peace and neutrality. However, in various regions of the country, a mysterious armed force seemed to be engaging in specific activities. Now, to preserve peace in this nation without a military, the "Militaires Sans Frontieres" move into action. In time, they would come to be known as the founders of "Outer Heaven".
+[[Category:Konami antagonists]]
+[[Category:Konami protagonists]]
-===Later Career===
+[[Category:Male video game protagonists]]
-From the 1970s to the early 1990s, Big Boss participates in several regional conflicts and ethnic liberation wars. He was heralded as a true hero and made the front covers of popular magazines in many countries.
-After the end of the [[wikipedia:Rhodesian Bush War|Rhodesian Civil War]] in 1980, Big Boss takes [[Grey Fox|Frank Jaegar]] and [[Naomi Hunter]] to the United States. Afterwards, Frank and Big Boss returned to Africa to continue fighting a war, leaving Naomi behind in America.
-He also served as a combat instructor and worked to reintegrate former child soldiers into society, including [[Sniper Wolf]] during the [[wikipedia:Gulf War|1991 Gulf War]].
-===Creating [[Outer Heaven]]===
-Using Gene's massive funds, Big Boss eventually created his dream fortress, his own philosophical idea, known as [[Outer Heaven]]. Big Boss also returned to the U.S. to covertly take command of his special forces unit [[FOXHOUND]]. While serving as commander of FOXHOUND, Big Boss also ran his own personal mercenary dispatch company. He was planning on building this company into a larger military establishment, and Outer Heaven was meant to be its base.
-In the 1990's, Big Boss kidnapped Russian scientist [[Drago Pettrovich Madnar|Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar]] and forced him to develop the next [[Metal Gear (weapon)|Metal Gear]] prototype, code-named [[Metal Gear TX-55]]. It was a weapon system designed to give Outer Heaven military supremacy over the West, and thus giving Big Boss the power he needed to confront [[The Patriots]].
-{{MetalGearGame}}
-In 1995, when FOXHOUND was commissioned by the U.S. to infiltrate Outer Heaven and destroy [[Metal Gear TX-55|Metal Gear]], Big Boss first sent in his most trusted soldier, [[Gray Fox]]; once Gray Fox was captured, Big Boss sent in [[Solid Snake]], at that time FOXHOUND's least experienced member. Big Boss figured that there was no way that a rookie like Solid Snake could fulfill such a mission, that his efforts would delay further action by the West and buy Big Boss enough time to complete Metal Gear's development.
-However, much to Big Boss's surprise, Solid Snake succeeded in disbanding Outer Heaven, recovering the Metal Gear research data, and destroying Metal Gear itself. Faced with the failure of his plans, Big Boss confronted Solid Snake in the heart of Outer Heaven, and revealed his identity as Outer Heaven's mastermind. Big Boss laughed at the astounded Snake and told him the truth behind his mission. After Big Boss activated the base's self-destruct countdown, the two of them engaged in one-on-one combat, with Big Boss dodging between crates and firing at Snake with some kind of [[The Patriot|machine gun]]. Even in his advanced age, Big Boss proved fast and dangerous, but Solid Snake eventually managed to apparently kill him.
-In reality, Big Boss managed to escape Outer Heaven. When NATO commenced their air raid to bomb all of the refugees and war orphans regardless of their ties to Outer Heaven or not, he also forgave the Resistance members and managed to save as many of the refugees/war orphans, Resistance Members and Outer Heaven personnel alike, as he could from the bombings, including [[Kyle Schneider]].
-{{SolidSnake}}
-[[File:Big Boss (MG2).gif|left|thumbnail|Big Boss, circa 1999.]]
-In 1997, he took control of another nation known as [[Zanzibar Land]]. Recruiting war orphans from across the Third World and raising them as soldiers, Big Boss hoped to create a nation by and for soldiers, where soldiers were honored and not treated as tools. Big Boss also recruited Gray Fox to his cause. To ensure Zanzibar Land's success, Big Boss once again commissioned the creation of a more advanced Metal Gear prototype, known as [[Metal Gear D]]. This time, Dr. Madnar developed the new model on his own free will, after being institutionalized into an asylum in the US. It is rumored that Dr. Madnar also provided Big Boss with cybernetic body parts to compensate for the injuries he received in Outer Heaven.
-In 1999, Solid Snake once again managed to infiltrate the enemy nation and destroy Metal Gear. Snake eventually defeated Gray Fox hand-to-hand in the middle of a minefield. Bruised and unarmed, Snake was once again confronted by a machine gun-wielding Big Boss. Having spent his entire life on the battlefield, Big Boss could not conceive of a world without war. Big Boss paraphrased [[The Boss|his mentor]]'s final challenge to Snake before challenging his son to one final battle.
-[[File:Big Boss (1999 - 2014).jpg|right|thumb|150px|Big Boss's charred body was kept by The Patriots.]]
-''"Whoever wins, our battle does not end. The loser is free from the battlefield, but the winner must remain there and the survivor must live his life as a warrior until he dies."'' -Big Boss to Solid Snake, ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]''
-Snake managed to cobble together a makeshift [[flamethrower]], using a can of lacquer spray and a [[Items|cigarette lighter]] and used it to incinerate Big Boss.
-Big Boss's body was recovered by the U.S. government and they discovered that he was, in fact, alive. He was injected with nanomachines to induce a sort of eternal coma. For [[Zero]], Big Boss was an irreplaceable icon and, more importantly, an irreplaceable friend. Big Boss's genome was then used to identify the "[[Genone Soldiers|soldier genes]]", which the U.S. government gave to the Next Generation Special Forces via gene therapy.
-To further make the world believe he had died, a grave was laid next to The Boss's, which read: "''A Hero Forever Loyal To The Flames Of War, Rests In Outer Heaven. 193X - 1999''"
-{{GunsofthePatriots}}
-Although badly burned, his body was later recovered by EVA, with the assistance of [[Raiden (Metal Gear)|Raiden]]. EVA (presumably with scientists at hand) was able to rebuild him using body parts of his sons, Liquid and Solidus. When they were finished, Big Boss was restored to his former appearance. When [[GW]] was properly destroyed, it led the way open into [[JD]], which, in turn, revealed the location of Zero. Big Boss, now fully revived, headed to find him. As [[Solid Snake]] stood in front of Big Boss's grave after having nearly committing suicide, Big Boss emerged from behind with Zero, telling his son that there was no hatred between them. Despite his advanced age, Big Boss was still a formidable fighter, being able to disarm Snake with ease, and then embrace him in a fatherly hug.
-[[File:Big Boss MGS4.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|Big Boss in ''Metal Gear Solid 4''.]]
-He told Snake about the history of the Patriots, and the struggle between himself and Zero. He also told Snake that Ocelot was never truly possessed by Liquid, but had merely made himself believe as such through hypnotherapy and nanomachines as part of his plan, as he was informed this himself from a video Naomi had left him when he awoke. As Zero was sitting in his wheelchair in a vegetative state, Big Boss commented that, although there was bad blood between him and Zero, all he felt now was "a deep sense of longing, and pity." He pondered on whether Zero hated or feared him. Big Boss then switched off Zero's air supply machine, killing him and finally ending their conflict. Soon after that, Big Boss started to feel the effects of the new FOXDIE virus that was injected into Snake. While in pain, he requested Snake to take him over to The Boss's grave. He stood and saluted, echoing to his salute 50 years beforehand. He said that ever since he killed The Boss, he "was already dead." Sharing one final [[Cigar|smoke]], Big Boss finally made peace with his last-living son, and, as a last request, pleaded with Snake to spend his final days in peace and not waste them fighting, to which Snake agreed. Moments later, Big Boss, the greatest soldier who ever lived, passed away at the grave of the woman whose life and death had made him into the person he was.
-''"This is good... Isn't it?"''
--Big Boss's final words.
-==Legacy==
-Big Boss was perhaps the most influential figure, his very own ideology being adopted by many admirers. The dream of a unified world, passed to him by [[The Boss]], formed the basis for [[Outer Heaven]] where, in his words, "every soldier will have his place, and where they will answer to no government". As he stated during [[Operation Snake Eater]], he would die for his country if necessary, but he later found that there was no point in doing so, a realization which led him to create Outer Heaven. Big Boss knew there was no way that he could change the world, even if he was the world's greatest soldier, but he still fought for what he believed in.
-Big Boss also saw [[Solid Snake]] as a soldier rather than a son, but he always knew Snake was loyal to the end. As a last chance to prevent him from making any more terrible mistakes, Big Boss told his son to spend the rest of his life not as a soldier, but as a man. Spending his entire life fighting and experiencing sorrow, Big Boss made it clear that no one needs to die for another person's cause. People must believe in themselves and fight for what they feel is right.
-==Naming Controversy==
-Much controversy and debate surrounds Big Boss's real name. When ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3]]'' was released players safely assumed his real name was Jack, as The Boss and Major Zero called him by this name on several occasions.
-However, early on in the game Big Boss is asked by Para-Medic what his real name is, to which he responds "John Doe" with Para-Medic replying "and they call you Jack for short?" Due to slightly tongue-in-cheek nature of the conversation most initially thought it was nothing more than a joke. However, at the end of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3]]'', Big Boss also tells [[Ocelot]] that his name is John, and in Japan, a ''Limited Edition'' release of ''MGS3'' included a book called ''R'' which stated Big Boss's real name was indeed John Doe. The master Patriot AI, accessed via Big Boss's biometric data, is also named [[JD|John Doe]]. However, some fans still feel the name was just a joke, and refuse to acknowledge John Doe as Big Boss's real name.
-To further add to the confusion, the ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4 Database]]'' listed Big Boss's name as simply "John." However, both names can be applicable as the name "Jack" in English is the diminutive form of the name "John."
-==Other Appearances==
-Big Boss appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as both a trophy (as Naked Snake) and sticker. His trophy description is as follows:
-[[File:Naked Snake Smash.jpg|thumb|Naked Snake's camouflage suits in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.]]
-<blockquote>''As a member of the special-forces unit FOX, Naked Snake assassinated The Boss and ruined the Shagohod, a Soviet nuclear weapon. Years later, he was used to plant the seeds of Les Enfants Terribles, a project designed to create cloned super soldiers. The three Snakes - Liquid, Solid, and Solidus - were thus born. He would then embrace his name, Big Boss, and duel Solid Snake.''</blockquote>
-During a [[codec]] conversation about [[w:c:ssb:Toon Link|Toon Link]], Solid Snake mentions to [[Mei Ling]] that "there's been more than one 'Snake'."
-Also, several of Naked Snake's camouflage suits appear as alternate costume options for Solid Snake.
-Big Boss also appears as the second-to-last boss in the NES sequel to the original ''Metal Gear'', ''[[Snake's Revenge]]''. He guards the final fortress where Metal Gear VRC-4 is located. At first, he fights with a machine gun just as he did in the original ''Metal Gear''. After being shot several times, Big Boss reveals that he survived his injuries from Outer Heaven through surgeries that turned him into a cyborg; he then transforms into a 12-foot tall RoboCop-like robot, and proceeds to chase Solid Snake around while spitting fireballs at him.
-While ''Snake's Revenge'' is non-canonical, it should be noted that the final battles against Big Boss in ''Snake's Revenge'' and ''Metal Gear 2'' are quite similar. In both games, Big Boss can use doors to chase the player around from one screen to another. The only difference between the two games' sequences is that Big Boss doesn't transform into a cyborg in the canonical sequel, ''Metal Gear 2''.
-In ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'', when the player calls [[George Kasler]] during the final battle, he mentions a rumor about Big Boss receiving cybernetic "snatcher" organs from Dr. Petrovich after losing his limbs, right ear and right eye (which was already missing in the original game) in battle. While some fans interpret this as a jab directed at ''Snake's Revenge'', it's a reference to Kojima's previous game, ''[[Snatcher]]''. Dr. Petrovich appears in ''Snatcher'' as the founder of the Snatcher Project
-==Trivia==
-*In the Japanese version of ''MGS4'', Big Boss is voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka. Uncoincidentally, he is the father of Akio Ōtsuka, who plays Solid Snake (and in the case of ''MGS3'' and ''MPO'', Naked Snake/Big Boss himself).
-*Big Boss's look in the original MSX2 version of ''Metal Gear 2'' was modeled after actor [[wikipedia:Sean Connery|Sean Connery]]. Like other characters, this image was updated during later releases of the game to reflect his look in ''MGS1'' official artwork, which was also carried over to his appearance in ''MGS4''.
-*In ''Portable Ops'', it is mentioned during a cutscene with Para-Medic that Snake wanted to be an instructor after ''Snake Eater''. The ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database'' states that Big Boss eventually served as a combat instructor and worked to reintegrate former child soldiers into society. Ironically, he ends up believing that soldiers on the battlefield can never be reintegrated into society.
-*Naked Snake in the Olive Drab uniform is very similar looking to the appearence of [[Iroquois Pliskin]].
-*Interestingly, the targets in [[Virtual Range]] are named "John Doe."
-*There is some contradiction regarding how old Big Boss actually was when his DNA was extracted for Les Enfants Terribles. Ocelot, speaking as Liquid, claimed Big Boss was in his late fifties when his DNA was extracted, but his gravestone implies he was born sometime in the 1930s; with the twin Snakes born in 1972, this makes him a maximum of 42 at the time. This is likely just a retcon, or a mistake on Liquid's part.
-*Big Boss is, presumably, afraid of vampires. He states that thinking about them [[Guy Savage|gives him nightmares]]. For this reason, he'd rather Para-Medic (who is quite a movie buff) didn't utter the word "Dracula" when speaking to him.
-*In ''MGS3'', if the player zooms in on the right side of his chest on his dress uniform in the FMV where he's walking down the hall to achieve his title of Big Boss, the player can visibly see the ribbons he's achieved throughout his military career. Including the "Army Achievement Ribbon" the "Good Conduct Ribbon," the Distinguished Service Cross Ribbon (presumably one he'd earned before Operation Snake Eater) and several others.
-==Gallery==
-<gallery>
-File:Bigbossgreen.jpg
-File:Nakedsnake0.jpg
-File:Nakedsnakeb&w.jpg
-File:Big Boss Snake.jpg
-</gallery>
 [[Category:Metal Gear characters]]
 [[Category:Video game bosses]]
-[[Category:Male video game characters]]
+[[Category:Fictional European-Americans]]
-[[Category:Fictional Cold War veterans]]
+[[Category:Fictional assassins]]
+[[Category:Fictional CIA agents]]
+[[Category:Fictional criminals]]
+[[Category:Fictional judoka]]
+[[Category:Fictional jujutsuka]]
+[[Category:Fictional karateka]]
 [[Category:Fictional Korean War veterans]]
-[[Category:Fictional Vietnam War veterans]]
+[[Category:Fictional martial artists]]
-[[Category:Fictional Green Berets]]
+[[Category:Fictional members of secret societies]]
-[[Category:Fictional CIA agents]]
-[[Category:Fictional terrorists]]
 [[Category:Fictional mercenaries]]
+[[Category:Fictional military personnel]]
+[[Category:Fictional private military members]]
+[[Category:Fictional revolutionaries]]
 [[Category:Fictional secret agents and spies]]
-[[Category:Fictional amputees]]
+[[Category:Fictional smokers]]
-[[Category:Fictional cyborgs]]
-[[Category:Fictional private military members]]
-[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
 [[Category:Fictional special forces personnel]]
-[[Category:Fictional burn victims]]
+[[Category:Fictional United States Army personnel]]
-[[Category:Fictional members of secret societies]]
+[[Category:Fictional United States Army Special Forces personnel]]
+[[Category:Fictional Vietnam War veterans]]
+[[Category:Fictional warlords]]
+[[Category:Fictional Distinguished Service Cross recipients]]
 [[Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters]]
-[[Category:Fictional judoka]]
+[[Category:Fictional characters who became a protagonist in a spin-off]]
-[[Category:Fictional heads of state]]
+[[Category:Fictional characters with posttraumatic stress disorder]]
 [[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1987]]

Big Boss
Metal Gear character
Big Boss, as portrayed in a promotional CGI render for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
First Episode Appearance	Metal Gear (1987)
Final Episode Appearance	Super Bomberman R (2017)
Created by	Hideo Kojima
Designed by	Yoji Shinkawa
Character played by	English David Hayter (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Super Bomberman R) Richard Doyle (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) Kiefer Sutherland (Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) Japanese Akio Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid V and Super Bomberman R) Chikao Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 4)
Motion capture	Mizuho Yoshida (Metal Gear Solid 3) Akio Ōtsuka (Metal Gear Solid 4) Mio Tanaka (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker) Erik Brown (Metal Gear Solid V) Kiefer Sutherland (Metal Gear Solid V [facial only])
In-universe information
Full name	Jack^[1] / John^[2]
Alias	Naked Snake Vic Boss Ishmael "The Man Who Sold The World"
Affiliation	Outer Heaven / Zanzibar Land (Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake) Green Berets (pre-Metal Gear Solid 3) FOX and CIA (Metal Gear Solid 3) FOXHOUND (Metal Gear and Portable Ops) Cipher (post-Portable Ops / pre-Peace Walker) MSF (Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes)
Nationality	American