David Hayter Unpacks the Shocking Metal Gear Solid 2 Protagonist Switch
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, legendary voice actor David Hayter, best known as the iconic voice of Solid Snake and Big Boss, shared a remarkable behind-the-scenes story from his work on Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Hayter revealed he discovered that Solid Snake would not be the game's main character only when he was already in the recording booth.
“I love Metal Gear Solid 2. I think it’s a brilliant game,” Hayter recounted. “But I was just as surprised as everybody else when I found out Snake wasn’t going to be the main character. I found that out when I was in the studio recording. And I'm like, ‘What the hell?’ And they’re like, ‘No, no, Raiden's going to be the main character.’ I thought, ‘Wow. Okay… we'll see how gamers take that.’”
Upon release, Metal Gear Solid 2 was critically acclaimed, but the discussion surrounding the protagonist change was widespread among fans. Hayter acknowledged this, then praised Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, calling it his favorite entry in the series. “Then, of course, Metal Gear Solid 3 brought the series back to its roots – that's my favorite entry. It really revealed who Snake was and what Metal Gear truly meant.”
Working with Hideo Kojima and the Future of the Series
Hayter also clarified that, contrary to what many fans might assume, he had very little direct interaction with series creator Hideo Kojima during his time on the games. Instead, the English versions were primarily directed by Kris Zimmerman Salter.
“I met Mr. Kojima a couple of times. He's a very nice man and, certainly, a brilliant, brilliant game designer,” Hayter explained. “But I didn't really feel the impact of his participation much, other than the game itself, which obviously speaks for itself.”
Looking to the future, Hayter believes the series can still evolve, even without Kojima at the helm, though he admits Kojima's unique storytelling style is virtually impossible to replicate. “I’ve been a screenwriter for 26 years and written countless projects, and I think I'm pretty good at it. But when I look at the scripts for Metal Gear, I think, ‘I could never do that.’”
Fans can once again hear David Hayter’s iconic voice in the recently released remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, available across PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Hayter's insights offer a fascinating look into the creation of one of gaming's most storied franchises, reminding players of the unexpected turns that shaped the legacy of Metal Gear.
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