David Hayter, the voice actor for Solid Snake, recently revealed his opinions on Metal Gear Solid 4 and how much he begged Konami to change certain parts of the game that he wasn't happy with. So what parts did Mr Hayter want changed? Read the article to find out!

  • SPOILERS AHEAD

    Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter was surprisingly candid at Anime Expo's centerpiece guest-of-honor panel, where he admitted to being frustrated at times with Metal Gear Solid series director Hideo Kojima's over-the-top scriptwriting and direction. He specifically called out the suicide scene highlighted in Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers, saying that Snake, a man who's killed thousands, shouldn't flinch at pulling the trigger on himself. "I didn't agree with that at all, and I begged them to change it, but I think it's still in the final game," he said. "I didn't buy it at all. I think it's weak for Snake to be killing other people and then not be able to kill himself when it's time. If he knows it's time, then it's time."
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    Most recently commented on by on Jul 8, 2008
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    • 0
      Cruxis Mana Jul 7, 08
      quote
      David Hayter Critical of Some MGS Moments.
      He didn't beg at all. Stupid Kotaku.

      Besides, he only really made 2 critical comment, both of which I agree with, but are somewhat trivial.
      • 1
        Miss Razz Jul 7, 08
        quote Hayter
        "I didn't agree with that at all, and I begged them to change it"
        Straight from the horse's mouth
    • 0
      Cruxis Mana Jul 7, 08
      Stop trying to catch me out.

      I'll rephrase what I meant : That was only on one issue within MGS4. The Kotaku title seems to imply that Hayter found numerous problems within MGS4, when really he only had 1.

      I agree with the statement that that relates to though =]

      -----

      Its a shame that they didn't get to ask more questions though. Silly convention noobs.
    • 1
      Drogo Baggins Jul 7, 08
      Honestly, I think this is pretty stupid.

      Basically, he's bitching that they made Snake into a realisticly weak person, instead of a ridiculously badass guy.

      1. No one, it doesn't matter how tough you are, could easily just up and kill themselves without hesitation or a moment of thought beforehand. It's not just something you decide to do and then just do it. I know Snake's killed countless people, but I'm pretty sure ending other peoples lives is different from ending your own. Anyone and everyone is afraid of death.

      2. Homoerotic? I guess I can see how someone might get that, but, until I read this article, I've honestly never thought of Snake and Otacon being gay lovers.

      I mean, I think it was pretty obvious that Snake was in love with Meryl in the Otacon ending that David Hayter seems to think was a bit gay. Snake gave that whole speech about her after she died, how he "gave into his fear, gave into his pain" and how he "couldn't protect her."

      Honestly, you'd have to be pretty dumb to have not noticed that, especially if you're the one who actually did voice-overs for that speech.

      I find his criticisms to be trivial and, in the case of the first bit, uneducated. Snake was already tough enough, it would be ridiculous if they made him any more manly.

      I still like David Hayter, but I think he's being a bit ridiculous with this...
    • -1
      Bandito Jul 7, 08
      this is stupid and gay! what a waste of time.
    • 0
      Theory of Chaos Jul 7, 08
      There's such a difference between killing other people and pulling the trigger on yourself. Plus, I don't even think Solid Snake could kill Solid Snake. That's just how badass he is.
    • -1
      Bandito Jul 7, 08
      go that far for what? me?
    • 0
      iLLmatic Jul 7, 08
      Well I'll say the same thing I said on another forum:

      I've never killed anybody, but I would think that taking someone's life is going to be different than taking your own. I don't think it matters how many people you have killed, your life is your life, and if you are human at all, it's only natural to hesitate committing suicide. After playing through the entire Metal Gear series, yes, we have all seen how Snake has been used, how he has been a pawn of different causes, how he killed countless soldiers, how he was artificially created, but he is still a human being. He has a heart, a mind, a sou, and emotional ties to the world that he lived in, no matter how twisted this world isl. I really don't know what David is getting at.
      • 0
        Seeker X Jul 7, 08
        There are still people that haven't hesitated to blow their own brains out with a shotgun. People that most likely have never killed other people and the such...I do see what he's getting at.
        • 0
          Drogo Baggins Jul 7, 08
          Really? Who? You don't know of anyone? Exactly, you don't know anyone who's committed suicide without hesitation. Just because people have killed themselves, that doesn't mean they didn't stop and think before they did it.

          The only way someone can just up an kill themselves in an instant, without hesitation is if they're completely insane or if it's an accident.
          • 0
            Seeker X Jul 7, 08
            quote
            Really? Who? You don't know of anyone? Exactly
            You mean to tell me that people that have hung themselves or killed themselves in some other agonizing way (while leaving behind a note) just slipped and did it accidentally? I'm not saying they never thought twice or 50 times about it...whether they thought of it or not ultimately they came to the conclusion and they succeeded.

            And NEXT TIME, you might NOT wanna come off as a wannabe smartass. It's a simple discussion, unnecessary sarcasm pisses the *bleep* outta me.
          • 0
            Seproth Jul 8, 08
            Are you seriously comparing someone committing suicide, to Snake wanting to kill himself to avoid being a walking biological weapon? Sorry, but that's idiotic. People who kill themselves are doing it because they have nothing to live for. They just want out. Snake doesn't want to die. Killing other people or not has nothing to do with it... Additionally there are failed suicides all the time. As well as no proof to say people who are successful didn't fail a time or two themselves.

            I don't think anyone can just end their own life without a second thought. Even once you decide on it, I doubt you would just do it. I think you'd bite the barrel a few times before finally pulling the trigger.

            Snake doesn't even want to die...and you're going to tell me it should be easy just because he killed other people? I can't punch myself as hard as I can. No matter how hard I try I'd hold back, despite having hit other people.
          • 0
            Seeker X Jul 8, 08
            When it's all said and done, your guess is as good as anybody else's. Nobody in here knows anything about suicide, you don't, I don't, nobody does. It could be turned either way. Snake follows every mission if it costs him his life, as you've seen time and time again. When he put the gun to his mouth, how many people were at the edge of their seat?

            Not to mention other factors like he has half a year to live, at the moment he believed he was going to be a walking WMD, and nothing to lose...all of these factors led to ONE POSSIBLE CONCLUSION.

            It wasn't until Big Boss tells Snake of Naomi's finding that he can finally live. I will not lie though, I was too relieved that Snake did not shoot himself in the end though...I understand the impact it could've done on the ending, but I just prefer it that way.
        • 0
          iLLmatic Jul 7, 08
          I'm sure there are, but that isn't everyone. For one, we're talking about a fictional character. Second, I'm guessing that since Snake did hesitate, that he is one of these people that I alluded to, because that is the character that Kojima scripted/created.

          What I'm saying is just because you have killed people, it doesn't mean it's automatically easy to kill yourself. Ironically, after Snake had been used his whole life, Hayter's comments make it sound like he also used Snake as a tool, and didn't care about his emotions or his life.
          • 0
            Drogo Baggins Jul 7, 08
            Wow, iLLmatic, you're pretty smart (i'm talking about your "tool" comment.
    • 0
      Gutter_Tech Jul 7, 08
      if you notice through out the series snake has always had can do attitude. he has a job a he does it. thats it. i dont think it was right for him to hesitate or even attempt to kill himself in the first place. i mean i know he thought he was a weapon and what not. but it just seems like a man who never gives up and can move mountains just gives up without even trying.
      • 0
        Bale Fire* Jul 7, 08
        Your right Snake should have just gone on living and doomed the entire human race just for a few months of life. What a smart idea [/sarcasm]
        • 0
          Drogo Baggins Jul 7, 08
          I think what Gutter Tech was trying to say was, why would Snake give up so easily? There could've been a chance the he'd find a cure for the mutated FOXDIE, but, instead of trying that, Snake just decides to give up and try to kill himself.

          If anything, Snake could've been quarantined, and probably could've lived for half a year later. Although, if he did that, it would've really just been waiting to die in a prison-like environment.
          • 0
            Gutter_Tech Jul 8, 08
            you are right i was saying that he should of atleast tried to find a cure, and then if that didnt work then i could understand snuffing it snake would never be the cause of major disaster like that. but to just give up without even looking is nt the solid snake i know
    • 0
      Drogo Baggins Jul 8, 08
      quote Seeker X
      You mean to tell me that people that have hung themselves or killed themselves in some other agonizing way (while leaving behind a note) just slipped and did it accidentally? I'm not saying they never thought twice or 50 times about it...whether they thought of it or not ultimately they came to the conclusion and they succeeded.

      And NEXT TIME, you might NOT wanna come off as a wannabe smartass. It's a simple discussion, unnecessary sarcasm pisses the *bleep* outta me.
      Lol, how about reading my comment before replying?

      I didn't say the only way people can kill themselves is if they're insane of if they do it by accident. I said that people who kill themselves without hesitation must be insane or must do it by accident.

      And NEXT TIME you might not wanna come off as an ignorant person. It's a simple comment to be read, and ignorance really pisses the *bleep* out of me...
      • 0
        Seeker X Jul 8, 08
        quote
        I didn't say the only way people can kill themselves is if they're insane of if they do it by accident. I said that people who kill themselves without hesitation must be insane or must do it by accident.
        Yeah because my comment was directed at that, even though I qouted ANOTHER part of your statement. Nice going, dipshit. It's even funnier when you don't even follow your own suggestion. You may slap yourself twice now.

        Then slap yourself 2 more times. For being a smartass and using sarcasm where it was not needed in the first place, AND for complete lack of originality; peace.
        • 0
          Drogo Baggins Jul 8, 08
          Dude, are you insane? You tried changing my words(I italicized the bit in my quote in my previous comment), and I corrected you. Get the *bleep* over it.

          Jesus *bleep*ing Christ.

          quote Seeker X to himself
          Yeah because my eyes were directed at your butt, even though I tried to rub ANOTHER part of your body. Nice going, hotness. It's even hotter when you don't wear clothes. You may spank yourself twice now.

          Then spank yourself 2 more times. For being a stud and using lotion where it was needed in the first place, AND for your oily muscles; orgasm.
          See? It's not cool to try to change people's words...
    • 0
      Storm Jul 8, 08
      It's a hard thing to do. We can all speculate as to why Snake didn't put himself to rest in that manner. To me, deep down, he felt that he still had some purpose, some goal to fufill...of course the 'tragic hero' bit could work, ending his genes and therefore truly putting a stop to the MGS series, but him still alive makes me believe that a new Metal Gear series can appear...with him as the source of it all, kind of like how the whole 'Big Boss cloning' ordeal went. Meh, who knows?

      I can understand Hayter's perspective, but I likely would have been tear-jerked if the cutscenes that followed didn't show up. Was still emotional, but I really didn't want Snake to go out that way.
    • 0
      KevinEleven Jul 8, 08
      The flinch is an interesting touch, I think they should keep it, to show Snake is human and has a mind and feelings. I don't get why this is so contreversial though, I mean I would be shocked if he did it, not the way he did it.
    • 0
      BANDITO ATTACK Jul 8, 08
      i bet hitler didn't flinch when he pulled the trigger.
      • 0
        Seproth Jul 8, 08
        Yeah, well Snake wasn't in danger of getting caught after committing mass genocide and conquering much of Europe. Death is a wonderful idea in comparison to what they would have done to Hitler had he been taken alive.
        • 0
          Drogo Baggins Jul 8, 08
          Also, didn't Hitler swallow a cyanide pill? That would be a lot easier than blowing your brains out, IMO.

          I looked it up, and apparently he did both. He swallowed a cyanide pill and then blew his brains out...wow, he really wanted to die.

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