A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth.
Overview[]
A cigar is one of the oldest forms of tobacco smoking, and is distinguished from a cigarette in that, besides their obviously being larger than the latter, they are mostly made from rolled tobacco leaves instead of ground up tobacco and are contained by wrapper leaves. Cigars are closed off at the head with the "wrapper", which necessitates cutting some of it off or punching a hole in it before smoking the cigar. It generally takes an estimate of 20 minutes to a full hour to finish smoking one cigar. As cigars require a constant temperature and humidity to remain functional, they are generally stored in a humidor. The main centers for cigar production include Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines, with Havana leaves being a common ingredient for Cuban cigars and Manila leaves for Filipino cigars. Like cigarettes, cigars also have health hazards due to their containing nicotine. Because of their taking very long to finish, they can also act as a substitute for torches in dark areas.
Usage[]
The Boss[]
Renowned American soldier The Boss once smoked cigars, though she quit sometime prior to the events of the Virtuous Mission.[1]
Big Boss[]
Naked Snake discards his Cuban cigar, prior to a HALO jump.
In late 1964, Naked Snake carried Habano-brand Cuban cigars with him during the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.[2] He was annoyed whenever people either mistook cigars for cigarettes or treated both as the same thing.[3][4] Immediately prior to making his HALO jump in the Virtuous Mission, Snake smoked a cigar in the back of the plane, much to the annoyance of his instructor and Major Zero, before stamping it out.[5] After Snake was hospitalized following the first mission's failure, Zero visited him in an ICU, and provided him with a cigar.[6] Aside from recreational use, Snake also used them to burn leeches from his body, and as an improvised torch in darkened areas.[1]
While meeting with clients prior to the Peace Walker Incident in 1974, Snake's lighter stopped working in the rainy weather in Colombia, and he was unable to smoke a cigar. Ramón Gálvez Mena then offered him the use of his own lighter, which was built into the forefinger of his prosthetic hand. Snake later supplied Sandinista National Liberation Front comandante Amanda Valenciano Libre with a Cuban cigar after rescuing she and her troops in Rio del Jade, Costa Rica. Although she was more of a cigarette smoker, she nevertheless accepted as gratitude for his saving her troops, and also proceeded to note the cigar made her look a bit like the Argentenian Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.[7] Because of the cigar's origin, Amanda initially assumed that Snake was Cuban, until he corrected her and claimed he was a bird photographer who hailed from Colombia.[8] Amanda's brother Chico intended to smoke one of Snake's cigars after he was seemingly given one, though Snake immediately snatched it back when it was lit, telling Chico that it wasn't for kids.
Big Boss continued to smoke cigars in the 1980s after he came out of his coma. He smoked one while on a motorcycle, prior to riding off in Western Ormideia.
Big Boss smoked his last cigar with Solid Snake in 2014, while succumbing to the effects of the new FOXDIE virus.
Venom Snake[]
Cigar crates on Mother Base, damaged by Quiet while shooting a birthday salutation to Snake.
Venom Snake used his prosthetic hand as a cigar lighter. He smoked one in Afghanistan while rescuing Kazuhira Miller from the Soviets. He used a special electronic cigar known as a phantom cigar, which contained Wormwood, a herbal drug that sped up his perception of time when smoked, as well as had some anesthetic affects.[9][10] On his birthday, he smoked a traditional cigar on Mother Base, which was ignited by sniper rifle fire from sharpshooter Quiet. In addition several crates on Mother Base also contained a significant amount of cigar packs, although the crates had sustained some damage due to Quiet, in her own way of greeting Venom Snake a happy birthday during his aforementioned birthday celebration, shot the initials "HBD" into the boxes with her sniper rifle.
Ocelot[]
Although Ocelot himself didn't smoke cigars, he did help Big Boss light his cigar in Cyprus as his last deed for him before the latter went into hiding in 1984.
During his 2014 insurrection against the Patriots in 2014, Ocelot, then going by the moniker of Liquid Ocelot, smoked cigars in a manner similar to his "father," Big Boss.
| Warning: The following information is from outside Hideo Kojima's core "Metal Gear Saga." Its canonicity within the continuity is disputed, therefore reader discretion is advised.[?] |
Solidus Snake[]
During the First Liberian Civil War, Solidus Snake smoked cigars.[11]
Steven Armstrong[]
Colorado senator Steven Armstrong frequently smoked cigars. He smoked a cigar when meeting up with Samuel Rodrigues before having his "final interview" with him in 2016, and later when meeting with Raiden in 2018 before fighting him with Metal Gear EXCELSUS, and later after beating Raiden atop the mech, during their fight in Pakistan.
| Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here. |
Behind the scenes[]
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater[]
- "Highly addictive and hazardous to your health."
- ―Cigars description in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Cigar is a support item that appears in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Its function is almost identical to the Cigarette from previous games as it slowly depletes the Life Gauge whenever it is equipped. However, the Cigar also has additional uses, such as removing leeches in the Survival Viewer, driving away hornets, or providing some illumination in dark areas.
The cigar brand Habano, as seen in-game, is fictitious, although there is a real Cuban tobacco company called Habanos S.A. It is most likely based on the H. Upmann No.2; a favorite of President John F. Kennedy.
In the flashback where Zero visits Naked Snake in the ICU to brief him on the new Operation Snake Eater, he supplies him with a cigar. In the Japanese version, Zero specifies that it's a Havana cigar. The English localization simply has him state it's Cuban.[12]
At the beginning of the game, Naked Snake stomps out his cigar prior to performing his HALO jump. This was specifically added in to address the angry response the development team received when Solid Snake tossed a lit cigarette into the Hudson Bay in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.[13]
Other appearances[]
Although Big Boss does not smoke cigars in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, he does make up a story about intending to order one, if the player should make radio contact with Major Ocelot.[14] In Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Big Boss only smokes cigars during cutscenes.
Big Boss is sometimes seen smoking cigars inside the MSF helicopter between missions in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Venom Snake smokes both real cigars and an electronic version, the latter being available for use in gameplay as the Phantom Cigar. There is a brand name of cigar called Phantom in real life.[15]
During the 12 Days of Metal Gear event, the seventh day had "5 Cigars Smoking", referring to Big Boss smoking them on the main menu.
Gallery[]
Notes and references[]
- ^ a b Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
The Boss: Are you smoking a cigar? // Naked Snake: Uh huh. // The Boss: I don't approve of you smoking during a mission. // Snake: Hey, you used to smoke them. // The Boss: Never mind what I did. // Snake: ... // The Boss: But that being said, cigars can be useful in a number of ways. Like getting rid of leeches. // Snake: Did you say leeches? // The Boss: Yes. If a leech clamps onto you, try pressing the lit end of a cigar onto it. The leech should cringe and detach itself from you. If you try to yank it off by yourself, you run the risk of it leaving its teeth inside you. With the cigar method, you won't have that problem. // Snake: Fascinating. // The Boss: And unlike the cigarette, a cigar burns slowly, so you can use it in place of a torch in dark places. // Snake: I never knew a cigar had so many different uses... // The Boss: Now you know. But quit smoking them during the mission. // Snake: ... // The Boss: Hear me? // Naked Snake: Yes, ma'am... - ^ The label stating the brand of cigar can be seen when Snake discards the cigar at the last second in the opening of the game.
- ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
Para-Medic: Are you smoking a cigarette? // Snake: Nope. // Para-Medic: Yes you are. // Snake: It's not a cigarette, it's a cigar. // Para-Medic: Same thing. // Snake: Not at all. In fact, there's a world of difference. There's nothing quite like the rich smell and mellow flavor of a cigar. And that thick, luxurious smoke is almost sensual when it... // Para-Medic: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. You know something? // Snake: Probably not, but I don't want to hear it. // Para-Medic: Well, you don't have a choice. // Snake: ... // Para-Medic: Cigarettes are bad for you. // Snake: It's not a cigarette, it's a... // Para-Medic: Quiet, you! - ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
Sigint: Snake, you smoking a cigarette? // Naked Snake: It's not a cigarette. It's a cigar. // Sigint: Ah, same thing. // Snake: It's not the same thing. Why am I the only one who can tell the difference? // Sigint: Doesn't matter to me.
Naked Snake's retort during this conversation only occurs if the player had previously contacted Para-Medic with the cigar equipped. - ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
(Naked Snake is smoking a cigar in the back of the plane) // Instructor: Put out that cigar. Connecting oxygen hose to interior connector... Put on your mask... // (Snake is still smoking his cigar) // Instructor: Does this pantywaist know what he's doing? // Pilot: Approaching release point... // Instructor: Ten minutes to dropoff. // Major Zero: Hey! Are you deaf? He said put out the cigar and put on your mask. // (Snake discards his cigar and puts on his mask) - ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
Major Zero: The reason I came to see you today... Jack, it's time for FOX to clear its name. // Naked Snake: What are you talking about? // Zero: The situation has changed. We've still have a chance to come out of this one alive. // Snake: Yeah, what kind of chance? // Zero: Don't get too excited. Here, have a cigar...it's Cuban. - ^ Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Kojima Productions (2010).
Snake: Relax. I'm not your enemy. Want one? It's Cuban. // Chico: Hmph. A Cigar...? // Amanda Valenciano Libre: I'll take whatever you've got. // Cut to the outside of the boathouse, with Amanda proceeding to smoke her new cigar, and then striking a pose // Amanda: I owe you one. But, I prefer cigarettes you know. How do I look? A little like El Che. No? - ^ Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Kojima Productions (2010).
Amanda Valenciano Libre: You Cubano? // Snake: Colombiano. A photographer I came to Costa Rica to take pictures of birds. - ^ The medical plant Wormwood is required for using the Phantom Cigar. It contains the chemical compound thujone that can cause hallucinatory and/or anesthetic effects.
- ^ Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 2014 E3 Demo, Kojima Productions (2014).
PHANTOM CIGAR
A cigar blended with a medicinal herb that speeds up the user's perception of time.
Loses efficacy if the user is under stress, for instance if spotted by an enemy. - ^ VIDEO DATA ACCESS FILE #01000100: "MAKE It Right - "Sword" - METAL GEAR RISING"
- ^ Board screwing up/MGS2: Lost in Translation Hyper Edition - - Page 4 :: Forums :: THE SNAKE SOUP (archive.org)
- ^ http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary1.html
- ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
Ocelot: So who told you about this frequency, Snake? Don’t tell me you’re out snooping around again. // Snake: No… Must’ve dialed the wrong number. I’m on vacation, in fact. I was just thinking of ordering a cigar... // Ocelot: Heh heh. A cigar... South American, perhaps? // Snake: ... - ^ http://static.squarespace.com/static/51c9e7ede4b043b66a213ac3/t/52450035e4b042025c5462de/1380253762409/Phantom2.jpg