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Afterwards, Revolver Ocelot informed [[Solidus Snake]] that Liquid had wrongly believed himself to be the inferior one right until his death.<ref>''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998). <br>'''Revolver Ocelot''': "Yes. The inferior one was the winner after all. ...That's right. Until the very end, Liquid thought he was the inferior one."</ref> Solidus had Liquid's body recovered, and the right arm transplanted onto Ocelot, replacing the one he had lost to the Cyborg Ninja. Afterwards, Liquid's corpse was put into cold storage.<ref name="corpse">''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001). <br />'''Raiden:''' What about -- what about the DNA results from that body? // '''Otacon:''' That was Liquid's body. He and Snake are identical on the genetic level. // '''Raiden:''' Liquid. // '''Otacon:''' A deception -- for our own protection. We stole his frozen body from some organization. Kind of a hassle though... </ref>
 
Afterwards, Revolver Ocelot informed [[Solidus Snake]] that Liquid had wrongly believed himself to be the inferior one right until his death.<ref>''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998). <br>'''Revolver Ocelot''': "Yes. The inferior one was the winner after all. ...That's right. Until the very end, Liquid thought he was the inferior one."</ref> Solidus had Liquid's body recovered, and the right arm transplanted onto Ocelot, replacing the one he had lost to the Cyborg Ninja. Afterwards, Liquid's corpse was put into cold storage.<ref name="corpse">''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001). <br />'''Raiden:''' What about -- what about the DNA results from that body? // '''Otacon:''' That was Liquid's body. He and Snake are identical on the genetic level. // '''Raiden:''' Liquid. // '''Otacon:''' A deception -- for our own protection. We stole his frozen body from some organization. Kind of a hassle though... </ref>
   
By [[Tanker Incident|2007]], Liquid's personality had been implanted into Revolver Ocelot's mind. However, the presence of Liquid's transplanted arm resulted in an imbalance in Ocelot's psyche, resulting in Liquid manifesting sporadically. Liquid's personality presumably achieved full control over Ocelot's mind in [[Big Shell Incident|2009]]. Meanwhile, Liquid's corpse was stolen by Solid Snake to fake his own death in 2007<ref name="corpse" /> and eventually ended up interred and later exhumed for DNA testing, which was mistakenly used to verify Snake's death in 2009.<ref>''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001). <br />'''Rosemary:''' I found some information on where Solid Snake is interred. // '''Raiden:''' Great. Shoot. // '''Rose:''' I've located the grave site. // '''Raiden:''' And the body? // '''Rose:''' Exhumed for DNA testing. // '''Raiden:''' Well? Do you have the results? // '''Rose:''' The right arm was missing, but there was no doubt that it was him. That body belongs to Solid Snake. </ref>
+
Meanwhile, Liquid's corpse was stolen by Solid Snake to fake his own death in 2007<ref name="corpse" /> and eventually ended up interred and later exhumed for DNA testing, which was mistakenly used to verify Snake's death in 2009.<ref>''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'', Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001). <br />'''Rosemary:''' I found some information on where Solid Snake is interred. // '''Raiden:''' Great. Shoot. // '''Rose:''' I've located the grave site. // '''Raiden:''' And the body? // '''Rose:''' Exhumed for DNA testing. // '''Raiden:''' Well? Do you have the results? // '''Rose:''' The right arm was missing, but there was no doubt that it was him. That body belongs to Solid Snake. </ref> By [[Tanker Incident|2007]], Liquid's personality had been implanted into Revolver Ocelot's mind. However, the presence of Liquid's transplanted arm resulted in an imbalance in Ocelot's psyche, resulting in Liquid manifesting sporadically. Liquid's personality presumably achieved full control over Ocelot's mind in [[Big Shell Incident|2009]].
   
 
By 2014, Liquid's persona had completely fused with Revolver Ocelot's and created the new entity [[Liquid Ocelot]] despite the replacement of his transplanted arm with a cybernetic prosthesis. Being his doppelgänger, Ocelot retained Liquid's ambitions to set off to bring about his own vision of [[Outer Heaven (mother company)|Outer Heaven]] as well as the destruction of the Patriots. During this time, a DNA chip containing Liquid's genome was used by Ocelot during a failed attempt to hack into the [[Sons of the Patriots|SOP system]]. Meanwhile, [[EVA]] used body parts from Liquid and Solidus to reconstruct Big Boss. Liquid's likeness, alongside that of his brothers and father, was later displayed in a Mt. Rushmore-like feature on ''[[Outer Haven]]''<nowiki></nowiki>'s hull, at Shadow Moses Island. Liquid's persona ultimately faded away during Ocelot's final battle with Solid Snake.
 
By 2014, Liquid's persona had completely fused with Revolver Ocelot's and created the new entity [[Liquid Ocelot]] despite the replacement of his transplanted arm with a cybernetic prosthesis. Being his doppelgänger, Ocelot retained Liquid's ambitions to set off to bring about his own vision of [[Outer Heaven (mother company)|Outer Heaven]] as well as the destruction of the Patriots. During this time, a DNA chip containing Liquid's genome was used by Ocelot during a failed attempt to hack into the [[Sons of the Patriots|SOP system]]. Meanwhile, [[EVA]] used body parts from Liquid and Solidus to reconstruct Big Boss. Liquid's likeness, alongside that of his brothers and father, was later displayed in a Mt. Rushmore-like feature on ''[[Outer Haven]]''<nowiki></nowiki>'s hull, at Shadow Moses Island. Liquid's persona ultimately faded away during Ocelot's final battle with Solid Snake.

Revision as of 03:16, 25 May 2015

This article is about Liquid Snake. You may be looking for his doppelgänger, Liquid Ocelot.

"We're losing our place in a world that no longer needs us. A world that now spurns our very existence. You should know that as well as I do. After I launch this weapon and get our billion dollars, we'll be able to bring chaos and honor back to this world gone soft."
―Liquid Snake

Liquid Snake, commonly referred to as Liquid, was the former squad commander of High-Tech Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND, and the twin brother of Solid Snake.

Liquid was one of the "Sons of Big Boss," created as part of the Les Enfants Terribles project, along with his clone brothers, Solid Snake and Solidus Snake. Liquid was led to believe that he was created in order to express Big Boss's recessive genetic traits, and as such, was "inferior" to Solid Snake. Because of this, he held a strong resentment towards his twin brother, who supposedly expressed "superior" genes, and wished to defeat him in combat, reclaiming what he felt was his birthright, and thus proving his superiority.

Possessing an IQ of 180, Liquid spoke seven languages fluently, including English, Spanish, French, Malay, and Arabic, the last of which he spoke like a native.[2] His main language, English, was also spoken with an English accent of the Received Pronunciation dialect. He was almost an exact double of Solid Snake in terms of appearance, with the only distinguishable feature being his darker skin tone and fair hair color. He also had a tattoo on his left arm, which resembled the Rod of Asclepius, but with a sword in its place and with the words "Temptation Revelation."

Biography

Background

An adult Liquid Snake was foreseen in Elisa and Ursula's prophetic vision in 1970, as the son of Big Boss that would "bring the world to ruin."[6]

In 1972, Liquid and his twin brother were born as a result of the secret "Les Enfants Terribles" project designed to create the perfect soldier, using the genes of the "Greatest Warrior of the 20th Century," Big Boss. Using the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, eight clone embryos were created by inserting Big Boss's DNA into enucleated egg cells, donated by a healthy Japanese woman. By utilizing the Super Baby Method, the embryos were then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother, with six of the babies eventually being aborted to promote growth in the remaining two. The two clones were also modified on the genetic level, with one clone expressing Big Boss's dominant genetic traits, and the other, his recessive traits. Nine months later, the twins were born and would later receive the codenames of Solid Snake and Liquid Snake. A third clone was also later created who inherited an identical genetic code to Big Boss. Liquid was later led to believe that he was the result of Big Boss's "inferior" recessive traits.

Early life and career

Upon his birth, Liquid Snake was moved to England, UK.[2] In 1974, the Patriots (Cipher) decided to use the two sons as an insurance policy against Big Boss, should he continue to oppose the organization. A business associate named Kazuhira Miller was made aware of this plan.

Liquid Snake profile

A picture of Liquid Snake.

Liquid became the youngest person to serve in the Special Air Service, at the age of 18. During the Gulf War in Iraq, he was assigned to an SAS unit to track down and destroy mobile Scud missiles. In truth, he infiltrated the Middle East as a sleeper agent for the British Secret Intelligence Service, but he was taken prisoner by the Iraqis and declared missing in action.[2] In 1994, he was rescued by the U.S. Government.[2]

After Solid Snake defeated Big Boss during the Zanzibar Land Disturbance in 1999, Liquid's hatred for Snake grew, since he had been denied the chance to exact his revenge on the father he believed had chosen him to be the inferior clone.[7] Liquid joined FOXHOUND in 2000 and became its squad leader, after Snake had already retired from the unit.[2] Despite codenames having previously been abandoned under Roy Campbell's command, new members of the unit adopted the system once more. In addition, Liquid's real name was highly classified.[8]

Shadow Moses Incident

Main article: Shadow Moses Incident

In February 2005, FOXHOUND subordinate Revolver Ocelot convinced Liquid Snake to launch an insurrection against the U.S. Government, during a weapons testing exercise on Shadow Moses Island. Along with the other members of FOXHOUND and the Next-Generation Special Forces, they seized control of the island's nuclear weapons disposal site and Metal Gear REX. Calling themselves the Sons of Big Boss, the group took DARPA Chief Donald Anderson and ArmsTech President Kenneth Baker as hostages, and threatened the White House with a nuclear strike unless Liquid's demand was met: the body of Big Boss. The incident was deliberately brought about to coincide with the signing of the START III Accord between the U.S. and Russia: exposing REX's existence would put the signing of the treaty in jeopardy, erode confidence in America’s commitment to non-proliferation, and create international turmoil.

After Anderson died during Ocelot's interrogation, Liquid arrived at a setback, having failed to learn the DARPA Chief's activation code for REX both due to the botched interrogation and Psycho Mantis being unable to retrieve the code via his mind-reading abilities. Unable to back up his threat of a nuclear strike, Mantis suggested to Liquid that Decoy Octopus disguise himself as an imprisoned Anderson, to await rescue from U.S. forces.[9] Liquid anticipated that his clone brother Solid Snake would be sent in to eliminate the terrorist threat, and intended to trick him into activating REX for them, as a backup plan. Liquid also arranged for McDonell Benedict Miller to be murdered at his home so that he could assume the role of Snake's former mentor and influence his actions via Codec, after tricking Colonel Campbell into allowing him onto the mission support staff.[10]

Alerting the Genome Soldiers of Solid Snake's imminent arrival on the island, Liquid headed out to intercept two F-16s that had been launched by the Pentagon as a diversion. Using a Hind D gunship, provided to him by Sergei Gurlukovich, Liquid successfully shot down the two fighters with his uncanny piloting skills. He then issued a threat to the U.S. Government, warning that he would launch the nuke should they attempt a similar assault. While impersonating McDonell Miller, Liquid then made contact with Snake and offered his support to the unassuming operative. However, Liquid's plans were further complicated when Decoy Octopus unexpectedly died from unknown causes, after coming into contact with Snake. When Baker died under similar circumstances, Liquid set out to discover the cause of the mysterious deaths. Nevertheless, he ordered Ocelot and Vulcan Raven not to kill him, wishing to further see what Snake was capable of. During this time, Liquid secretly observed directly Solid Snake's actions and reactions to killing his comrades.[11]

Liquid

Liquid Snake, during the Shadow Moses Incident.

When Solid Snake was later captured by Sniper Wolf, Liquid intended to obtain a DNA sample from him, in order to learn more of the Genome Soldiers' various mutations. After Snake awoke from unconsciousness, Liquid introduced himself to his brother, meeting him face-to-face for the first time. He then gave the order to continue REX's launch preparations as planned, due to U.S. government's lack of response to his demands. He suspected that they must have an ace up their sleeve, and that there was may be a spy among his ranks, questioning the motives of the mysterious Cyborg Ninja that had managed to kill twelve of his men. He left Ocelot to interrogate Snake, but warned him not to make the same mistake as he did with the DARPA Chief.

After Snake managed to escape from the medical facility, Liquid attacked him with the Hind D as he attempted to cross over the communications towers. The Russian gunship menaced Snake several times before a final showdown on the roof of one tower. Following an intense battle, the Hind eventually went down in flames due to stinger missiles fired by Snake, though Liquid was able to survive.[12] Continuing his Master Miller impersonation, he then tricked Snake into focusing on his mission support adviser Naomi Hunter as an enemy spy. Utilizing the distraction, Liquid ultimately deceived Snake into activating Metal Gear REX with the ArmsTech President's PAL key, since he had been unable to do so without it.

Through information supplied by a spy in the Pentagon, Liquid learned that Decoy Octopus's and President Baker's deaths had been caused by FOXDIE; a DIA assassination virus with which Solid Snake had secretly been infected. He then added a FOXDIE vaccine to FOXHOUND's demands, along with one billion dollars to help correct the Genome Soldiers' mutations, using information gathered from Big Boss's DNA. Deciding to play the superpowers against one another, rather than take them head on, Liquid disregarded Ocelot’s suggestion of Chernoton, Russia, as a target, and instead chose Lop Nor, China, which was the location of a nuclear test site. Since firing a nuke at a major population center would make future negotiations impossible, an attack on a nuclear test site could still be concealed from the public. The U.S. would be forced to confess some of its state secrets to prevent a retaliatory strike from China, after which Liquid could sell the nuclear weapon system to the highest bidder. Not only that, but with Metal Gear REX in his possession, Liquid planned to join forces with Colonel Gurlukovich's forces, and turn Shadow Moses into a new "Outer Heaven." With these vast resources at his command, Liquid would drag the world into a Third World War, fulfilling Big Boss's dream of a world which always had a place for soldiers. Liquid, resuming his Miller disguise, also advised Snake to change the PAL key, although by the time Snake managed to change it to the red PAL key, he almost blew his cover in excitement that Snake was getting close to activating REX, although he summarily covered it up by claiming that he's just excited that Snake's about to succeed in the mission.

After Solid Snake unwittingly activated Metal Gear REX, Liquid revealed his deception as Master Miller to Snake and locked him within the launch control room. Having no more use for Snake, he released nerve gas into the room, though Snake managed to escape with Otacon's help. Eventually cornered by Snake, Liquid revealed the existence of FOXDIE to him, and that the Pentagon wished to recover REX and the Genome Soldiers' remains without damage. Expressing his hatred for Big Boss, Liquid told Snake that he intended to destroy their father by surpassing him, and escaped into REX's cockpit to engage Snake in battle. However, Gray Fox interrupted the battle, saving Snake from being crushed by Liquid, with Liquid vowing to "send [Fox] back to Hell" in retaliation. Snake and Fox then escaped to cover and conversed while Liquid was firing everywhere, looking for the two. He finally found them and open fired, focusing on Gray Fox first. Fox managed to attack REX with his armament, but Liquid managed to shoot him once, and slice his left arm off with the laser on REX. Pinning Fox down, he mocked the two, asking Snake if he was going to help him out at all, but Fox then destroyed the radome, exposing Liquid. Liquid, although impressed at Gray Fox's destruction of the radome, nonetheless killed Fox shortly thereafter by stomping on him with REX. He and Snake then went at it again. After Snake managed to score a few hits in the cockpit, REX was rendered inoperable, but the explosion knocked him out.

Having survived the explosion, Liquid dragged Snake to the top of REX, and directly threatened the Pentagon via Snake's Codec implant.[13] As Snake regained consciousness, Liquid told him that he wouldn't be killed so long as Snake lived, and even with the destruction of REX, his fight was not over yet. He explained to Snake that his ultimate goal was to give soldiers a purpose again, especially since soldiers continued to be abused by hypocritical politicians and political gambits. He also deduced that Snake, despite his protestations, enjoyed the thrill of battle and would welcome the prospect of a war-torn world, which he intended to create. Liquid then revealed to Snake the history of their own creation, as well as that of the Genome Soldiers, and the reason why they needed Big Boss's remains. He then revealed that while Snake was still unconscious, he had placed a prone Meryl Silverburgh on top of REX as well as wiring her to a timed explosive. With a bombing raid on the facility, ordered by the U.S Secretary of Defense, due to commence shortly, Liquid and Snake battled barehanded atop REX's ruins. Snake eventually managed to knock Liquid off to the floor far below.

Though it seemed that Snake was victorious, Liquid survived the fall from REX. A car chase ensued as Liquid raced after Snake and Meryl by jeep as they were trying to escape from the impending nuclear strike via a supply tunnel. Using a FAMAS rifle to attack, Liquid was kept at bay by Snake's machine gun fire, until both jeeps crashed at the tunnel entrance, just outside the facility. Minutes later, Liquid emerged from the wreck of his jeep, bloody and wounded but still alive. He staggered towards Snake and Meryl, FAMAS in hand. Just as he was about to kill them, as they were both trapped underneath their vehicle, Liquid suddenly lurched backwards and collapsed to the ground, succumbing to the FOXDIE virus.

After death

Liquid Snake Outer Heaven

Liquid Snake's specter.

Afterwards, Revolver Ocelot informed Solidus Snake that Liquid had wrongly believed himself to be the inferior one right until his death.[14] Solidus had Liquid's body recovered, and the right arm transplanted onto Ocelot, replacing the one he had lost to the Cyborg Ninja. Afterwards, Liquid's corpse was put into cold storage.[15]

Meanwhile, Liquid's corpse was stolen by Solid Snake to fake his own death in 2007[15] and eventually ended up interred and later exhumed for DNA testing, which was mistakenly used to verify Snake's death in 2009.[16] By 2007, Liquid's personality had been implanted into Revolver Ocelot's mind. However, the presence of Liquid's transplanted arm resulted in an imbalance in Ocelot's psyche, resulting in Liquid manifesting sporadically. Liquid's personality presumably achieved full control over Ocelot's mind in 2009.

By 2014, Liquid's persona had completely fused with Revolver Ocelot's and created the new entity Liquid Ocelot despite the replacement of his transplanted arm with a cybernetic prosthesis. Being his doppelgänger, Ocelot retained Liquid's ambitions to set off to bring about his own vision of Outer Heaven as well as the destruction of the Patriots. During this time, a DNA chip containing Liquid's genome was used by Ocelot during a failed attempt to hack into the SOP system. Meanwhile, EVA used body parts from Liquid and Solidus to reconstruct Big Boss. Liquid's likeness, alongside that of his brothers and father, was later displayed in a Mt. Rushmore-like feature on Outer Haven's hull, at Shadow Moses Island. Liquid's persona ultimately faded away during Ocelot's final battle with Solid Snake.

Personality and traits

Liquid Snake displayed an arrogant and extroverted attitude in stark contrast to Solid Snake's more calm and collected personality. He was incredibly bitter towards Big Boss, believing he had been knowingly chosen by the man to be his "inferior" clone, whereas his brother Snake was endowed with "superior" genes. This drove him to surpass his supposed genetic destiny, and in essence, his father. In addition, he bore hatred towards the Patriots as he had hunted them down for some time, and vowed to deal with them in such a manner as to "cause even the reaper's stomach to turn."

In contrast to his twin brother and their father, Liquid showed an apparent lack of compassion and loyalty to his allies, as well as his enemies, and only seemed to view them as pawns at best. After Snake defeated Psycho Mantis and Sniper Wolf, Liquid thought they were pathetic and foolish for not fighting more effectively. In addition, before Vulcan Raven fought Snake for the final time, Liquid told him "[his] existence [was] no longer needed in this world." However, he did seem to possess some skewed sense of pride and honor by letting Snake live to fight him unbound and unarmed in a one-on-one duel (presumably in an attempt to feed his ego). Despite his nature, Liquid was shown to be merciful as he let Meryl live when Ocelot offered to kill her. However, he did this moreso to use her as a pawn against Snake.

In large part because of his upbringing and his knowledge of how he was conceived, he harbored a belief that he should follow what his genes told him, under the hopes that he would surpass his genetic destiny. He also largely believed for the same reasons that he couldn't become anything else than a soldier, and wouldn't have the right to even possess a real name, reacting angrily at one point when Snake claimed that he did have a name other than his codename.

Mgs-sketch-liquid

Liquid Snake

Liquid was an especially adept pilot; as demonstrated by his piloting of a Hind D during a blizzard when the gunships IR and navigation systems were nonfunctional, especially in combat against two F-16s, as well as co-pilot it from within the weapons operator's cockpit, which Revolver Ocelot attributed to the successes of the "Les Enfant Terribles" project.[17] He would later use the same chopper to combat Snake.

Liquid was skilled at disguising himself, as evidenced by his deception as Master Miller to Snake and the mission control into unwittingly activating REX with the PAL key. However, he did have trouble maintaining his disguise when undergoing intense emotions. This was demonstrated twice during the Shadow Moses Incident: the first time was when he reacted with anger over Ocelot leaving a time bomb among Snake's belongings when he escaped (causing him to narrowly stop himself and regain his composure when he came too close to saying too much). The second time was nearing the end of the mission, having a suspiciously excited reaction when Snake managed to heat up the key, causing Snake to wonder why "Miller" was feeling oddly happy about it.

Liquid often displayed high levels of endurance, having survived numerous, seemingly fatal, events throughout Snake's mission to Shadow Moses:

  • He was shot down in the Hind D, the explosion of which Snake could see from the top of the communications towers.
  • During the REX battle, Liquid survived the multiple stinger missile hits on the cockpit, and was still inside REX when it finally blew up. The force of that explosion was sufficient to bodily hurl Snake across the room and slam him into a wall. However, once again, Liquid emerged relatively unscathed, dragging Snake to the top of REX's remains for a final fight.
  • At the conclusion of the brawl, Liquid survived a fall of over 10 meters (40 feet) from the top of REX, when he had claimed beforehand that such a fall would kill even Snake.
  • Immediately afterwards, Liquid gave chase to Snake and Meryl, via jeep, eventually causing both vehicles to crash. Dragging himself from the wreckage, staggering but still alive, he attempted to finish off Snake, but finally succumbed to FOXDIE before he could.
  • His body was able to withstand freezing temperatures for several minutes with little clothing or protection.

Japanese heritage

Being a somatic cell clone of Big Boss, Liquid Snake inherited mitochondrial DNA from the Japanese egg donor of Les Enfants Terribles. Liquid and Solid Snake were also somewhat aware of their Japanese heritage. During the Shadow Moses Incident, Liquid almost let slip his true identity, while posing as Master Miller, when discussing Snake's and Vulcan Raven's common ancestry.[18]

Unconfirmed history

The following information has been detailed in official Konami-licensed media, written by various external authors. Its status in the Metal Gear canon is unconfirmed.[?]

The Twin Snakes were born as a result of a ninth batch of clones, in Carlsbad, New Mexico.[19]

After being sent to Great Britain after birth, Liquid Snake experienced a harsh childhood where he received an education and combat training courtesy of the MI5.[20] Similar to his father, Big Boss, he was also trained in withstanding torture.[21] By the time of age 13, he experienced several combat situations, and spent time as a mercenary and assassin, having disdain for service in the military. He also had the uncanny ability to disguise himself in a multitude of ways, which earned him a spot on the SIS.[20]

His part Japanese heritage, alongside his knowledge of Arabic, allowed him to pass as half Turkish and half Caucasian during his sleeper agent duties, and used his time as a sleeper agent to quickly create contacts with various resistance fighters among oppressed Kurds and Islamic fundamentalists that were repressed as part of Saddam Hussein's pan-Arabist agenda, to which his contacts acted as the main reason why Liquid was able to remain inside Baghdad long after the beginning of the Gulf War despite the heavy presence of the Mukhabarat (the Iraqi Intelligence Service) agents and counterspies within the al-Amn al-'Amm secret police forces. In addition to the SCUD missile mobile launching platforms' locations, Liquid also uncovered details of mustard gas production as well as the movements of Republican Guard tanks, and filed the reports to coalition forces, who promptly used his information to plan a number of missions.[21]

During the Gulf War, Liquid Snake succeeded in destroying four mobile SCUD missile launchers before Iraqi paratroopers captured him,[20] with even Liquid being unable to comprehend how he was captured easily as he was being transported for the secret police's headquarters in a van with a canvas sack over his head. In addition, Liquid was believed to have been sold out by the SIS to get a new source of information from one of Saddam's closest associates. After being delivered to the al-Amn al-'Amm headquarters, he was subject to the torture of the secret police's interrogation squads. These torture rounds, as well as the interrogation squads' sadistic reactions to rubbing salt into Liquid's wounds under Saddam's command, were what led Liquid to believe that humanity, when absolutely free, were vicious and irredeemably evil, almost similar to beasts. His hatred of having his will constrained to the extent that the only "liberty" that it can be allowed is to live was also stemmed from the brainwashing in the POW camps.[21]

He was then brainwashed by the Iraqi government and assigned to undertake major terrorist activities throughout the Middle East before he was rescued in 1994.[20] During his time of brainwashing, he also set about creating international networks.[21] Upon hearing of the FOXHOUND unit during the 1990s, he expressed interest in it and dubbed his activities Jackal hunting, which was a rudimentary Middle Eastern equivalent of FOXHOUND. He also developed a resistance to extreme climate temperatures due to his missions in the Arab desert regions.[20]

By the time he became the commander of FOXHOUND, he started suffering mental instability as a result of discovering that the "genes" that he inherited from Big Boss as a result of the Les Enfants Terribles project were apparently recessive.[20]

Behind the scenes

Liquid Snake (リキッド・スネーク Rikiddo Sunēku?) serves as the primary antagonist of the original Metal Gear Solid. Hideo Kojima made Liquid Snake a clone in order to create a strong opponent for Solid Snake, and thus a worthy final boss for a video game, citing that, "It's Snake who can surpass the Snake."[22][23]

Liquid is the only Snake whose real name is not revealed in the series, has not worn an eye patch (or a similar device), has not been voiced by Akio Ōtsuka at some point, has not worked under the CIA at any point, and who has not been shown to smoke tobacco (Liquid Ocelot's cigar smoking in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, notwithstanding).

Metal Gear Solid

The mission in which Liquid was captured in Iraq bears similarities to one of the mission outlines of a failed SAS operation during the Gulf War, Bravo Two Zero.

Although Roy Campbell said Liquid was rescued after Snake retired from FOXHOUND, Liquid's briefing file says he was rescued in 1994, one year before Snake retired.

Mgs-liquid-snake

Liquid Snake

In the original game, Liquid mentioned that Big Boss had personally told him that he was inferior. This line of dialogue was changed in the remake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, and in the fictional in-game novel In the Darkness of Shadow Moses to stating his belief that Big Boss chose him, knowingly, to be the inferior one, possibly suggesting that the two never met one another. It remains unclear as to which clone was created to express Big Boss's dominant or recessive traits, since Liquid's exposition on Les Enfants Terribles is contradicted by Ocelot's later report to Solidus, regarding which clone was designated the "inferior" one. The subject of Big Boss's dominant and recessive traits, in regards to the clones' gene expression, has never referred again in subsequent games and sources. A recap of Liquid's dialogue was included in the in-game novel In the Darkness of Shadow Moses, but there is no mention of dominant and recessive traits. However, the dialogue remains essentially unchanged from the original game in the remake The Twin Snakes.

In Liquid's official Metal Gear Solid artwork, he is seen wearing dog tags, though they are not seen in the game itself. However, his wearing of dog tags was included in the remake, The Twin Snakes, in which the player is also given an option to procure the tags if Liquid is knocked off the edge of Metal Gear REX. Nevertheless, Liquid will retain them in various following cutscenes.

AbbyShot Clothiers, a company that creates movie and video game-inspired clothing, created a trenchcoat similar to those worn by Liquid and other members of FOXHOUND.[24] The standard coat is priced at $399 CAD ($385 USD), while a custom sized version is priced at $499 CAD ($482 USD).[25] On a semi-related note, Liquid's attire also resembles that of Colonel Silver, a member of the Red Ribbon Army from the Dragon Ball franchise, who in the anime also shared the same Japanese voice actor as Liquid (Banjō Ginga).

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

In the original plot for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Liquid was intended to have faked his death from FOXDIE and was also to have been the main antagonist of the Tanker Chapter (which was originally supposed to be on an aircraft carrier).[26] However, this, along with most of the original plot, was scrapped due to tensions rising in the Middle East. According to character designer Yoji Shinkawa, Liquid living on via Ocelot's transplanted arm was added in as a direct result of Liquid's popularity, as he was originally slated to have a cybernetic arm instead.[27]

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

During the 2009 Tokyo Game Show, Kojima stated that players would discover what caused Liquid to become one of the series' antagonists in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.[28] However, Liquid makes no actual appearance in the game and is only mentioned once, during Kazuhira Miller's secret phone call, as one of the "two sons" of Big Boss.[29] His later impersonation of Miller was also alluded to in two radio calls, both relating to the player (either as Big Boss or a male MSF soldier) using the "Miller" uniform. He does, however, make a cameo appearance in the English version of Peace Walker, on the front cover of the Liquid Magazine. This was changed from the real life Dengeki PlayStation magazine featured in the original Japanese version. The Liquid Magazine featured two lines uttered by Liquid on the cover: "We have no past, no future", in reference to his statement to Solid Snake regarding their creation for the sole purpose of fighting; and "Did you like my Sunglasses", referring to his line when Snake confronts him in the hangar, regarding his disguise as Master Miller.

E3 Battle

Liquid appeared as a participant in the Konami-sponsored event E3 Battle, where he defeated Adba Anda from Otomedius in the first round. He ended up facing off against and losing to Revolver Ocelot in the second round.

"LIQUID SNAKE
FIRST APPEARED IN
Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Former FOXHOUND squad leader and twin brother to Solid Snake.
"
―Liquid Snake's bio from E3 Battle

Metal Gear Solid V

It has been speculated that Liquid Snake will make an appearance in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain as a young boy named Eli. In an interview with Game Informer during the leadup to Ground Zeroes, Yoji Shinkawa, when inquired about Eli's design, said he was forbidden to answer at the moment.[30] Aside from his suspected connection to Eli, Liquid also appears in the Ground Zeroes extra op, Déjà Vu. In the mission, Liquid appears in a flashback when the player drives a jeep underneath a bridge, depicting Liquid pursuing Meryl and Snake in the climax for Metal Gear Solid. He also screams Snake's name during this flashback. Aside from this, Miller mimics Liquid in the post-mission quiz relating to events from the original Metal Gear Solid, using either direct lines from the game or paraphrases relating to the context of the quiz. In addition, Miller also ends up succumbing to FOXDIE if the player manages to complete all ten questions correctly, causing an eleventh question to pop up where the player has to finish Miller's declaration of "FOX... DIE..."

Reception

Liquid proved to be extremely popular upon his debut. Kojima, in a series of Twitter posts, reflected that had he thought ahead beyond each Metal Gear game being the last, especially Metal Gear Solid, he would have spared Liquid and split him from Snake in light of his popularity instead of having him die.[31]

Gameplay

Metal Gear Solid

Liquid MGS

Liquid Snake in Metal Gear Solid.

When outside the control room of Metal Gear REX before Snake loses the PAL card, the player can contact Liquid, who will still answer disguised as Master Miller, even though Liquid will still appear to be sharing a conversation with Ocelot if the player looks at the control room in first person view (at this point, the player is unaware that Miller is really Liquid, and the player cannot look in First Person View while using the Codec. The player can, however, use the scope to view Liquid and call Master Miller).

If Snake is killed during the torture session with Ocelot, Liquid will berate Ocelot for "doing it again," referring to Donald Anderson's death.

If Snake fails to defeat Liquid atop REX before the time limit runs out, Liquid will laugh maniacally during the Game Over screen. If the player pushes Liquid off REX in The Twin Snakes, Liquid will drop his dog tags.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Liquid (along with several other Metal Gear characters) made a cameo feature in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a mention in a collectible trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. According to the cardboard box trophy, Liquid is just as fond of cardboard boxes as his brother and father. He also appeared as a sticker, depicting his Metal Gear Solid artwork, of which, when it is worn, the food effect will increase by 6.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Killing enough human enemies in Metal Gear Solid 4 will cause Old Snake to recall Liquid’s words to him at the end of Metal Gear Solid ("You enjoy all the killing, that's why!"). The shock from this episode causes Snake to throw up and his Psyche Gauge lowers drastically. Although, if you pause the game after Liquid's speech, then you will skip the vomiting and not lose any Psyche. Unlocking this flashback after downloading the trophy patch will also result in the trophy, "You Enjoy All the Killing, That's Why!", being unlocked. In Metal Gear Solid 4, Liquid's voice is heard over flashbacks taken from The Twin Snakes.

In Act 4, when arriving at the Supply Route where REX's remains are located, taking a photograph of the cockpit area with the camera will reveal a ghost of Liquid Snake.

During the opening stage of the final battle with Liquid Ocelot, images of Liquid from Metal Gear Solid flash on the screen, and the "Encounter" music from Metal Gear Solid is played. Liquid Ocelot's attack patterns in this stage are similar to the ones Liquid Snake used in the fistfight atop REX.

Appearances

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c METAL GEAR SOLID (Japanese). Konami Digital Entertainment. Retrieved on 2012-01-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Metal Gear Solid (Briefing), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
  3. ^ Yoji Shinkawa artwork
  4. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Liquid Snake: That’s right... The Genome Soldiers that you’ve [Solid Snake] been killing are our brothers, with the same genes as ours. // Solid Snake: The Genome Soldiers!? Liquid: That's right. They are our brothers, created artificially through the alignment of nucleotides to mimic our father's genes. They too are the product of numerous sacrifices. // [...] Snake: So then... the so called Gulf War Babies that have been reported by Gulf War veterans are... // Liquid: Yes... They too our are brothers and sisters.
  5. ^ http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/countdown.html
  6. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2006).
    Elisa/Ursula: Your children... Les Enfants Terribles. Snake [Big Boss], your son will bring the world to ruin, your son... will save the world."
  7. ^ Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Liquid Snake: "Ha! Love!? It's hate!! His choosing me, knowingly, to be the inferior one... For this I want revenge! You don't even understand this! You, who could kill your own real father! You stole my chance for revenge!"
  8. ^ Metal Gear Solid (Briefing), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Solid Snake: I thought that by the time I left they were no longer using codenames. // Roy Campbell: I don't know his real name. That information is so highly classified that even I can't look at it.
  9. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998)
    (The scene changes. We see three men standing in a small group around an unidentified body [Donald Anderson].) // First man [Liquid Snake]: You fool! You've killed him!! // Second man [Revolver Ocelot]: I'm sorry, Sir. // (A third man [Psycho Mantis] speaks, his voice is distorted, as if speaking through a gas-mask.) // Third man [Mantis]: ...His mental shielding was very strong. I could not dive into his mind. // First man [Liquid]: Now we'll never get that detonation code... // Third man [Mantis]: Boss, I have a good idea. // (We are back in the cell area. The woman runs into an elevator and turns around quickly. She fires her gun at Snake, he dodges it easily.)
  10. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    "Master Miller:" Campbell told me about the situation here [at Shadow Moses Island]. I thought I might be of some use.
  11. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Liquid: I watched your [Solid Snake] face when you did it [killing Liquid's various comrades]. It was filled with the joy of battle.
    Note: in the remake, The Twin Snakes, this dialogue was reworded as "I saw the look on your face. It reflected such vitality." In addition, in the same remake, a red-toned flashback was inserted showing Solid Snake killing a Genome Soldier when Liquid says that line.
  12. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    A parachute was visible on a tree in the snowfield of the base, though a Codec call confirmed that he couldn't possibly have used it, and had placed it there after crashing in order to taunt Snake with his survival.
  13. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    In the Darkness of Shadow Moses: The Unofficial Truth: "I know you're listening. You have a radio implant in this one." It was clear that Liquid was talking to us. "You think you've pulled off FOXDIE. Think again. You're never going to kill me with a thing like that. Never." The knowledge that he was already infected with the killer retrovirus made no difference to Liquid Snake. It was a force of will that commanded respect. "You have no idea how excited I am -- knowing that you're still out there. Revenge is a candy I've been deprived of too many times..." The hatred in Liquid's voice was chilling. "You -- 'Patriots'...!" At that moment, Snake let out a groan. He was starting to surface. "He's almost ready. Listen, all of you. When I've settled the score with this one, I'm coming after you next. I'm going to end your miserable lives in a way that'll make even the Reaper's stomach turn..." "I'll look forward to it," Richard Ames murmured starkly. Snake groaned again. He was apparently awake."
  14. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Revolver Ocelot: "Yes. The inferior one was the winner after all. ...That's right. Until the very end, Liquid thought he was the inferior one."
  15. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Raiden: What about -- what about the DNA results from that body? // Otacon: That was Liquid's body. He and Snake are identical on the genetic level. // Raiden: Liquid. // Otacon: A deception -- for our own protection. We stole his frozen body from some organization. Kind of a hassle though...
  16. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Rosemary: I found some information on where Solid Snake is interred. // Raiden: Great. Shoot. // Rose: I've located the grave site. // Raiden: And the body? // Rose: Exhumed for DNA testing. // Raiden: Well? Do you have the results? // Rose: The right arm was missing, but there was no doubt that it was him. That body belongs to Solid Snake.
  17. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Revolver Ocelot: You're the boss's brother, all right. Your brother ...he's an amazing man. Who else could shoot down two F-16s with a Hind helicopter. The "Les Enfant Terribles" project was not a total failure.
  18. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Master Miller (Liquid Snake): "A Native Alaskan American, huh? Probably Athapaskan. They're originally from the same tribe as the Apaches and Navajos of New Mexico. Anthropologically, they're related to the Japanese. There are even linguistic similarities between Athapaskan languages and ancient Japanese. You and he probably share many of the same ancestors." // Solid Snake: "...Master, I don't remember telling you that I was part Japanese..."
  19. ^ Metal Gear Solid by Raymond Benson, Del Rey Books (2008).
    "The president turned back to the window. “Well, is the project finally going to succeed?” he asked. “This is, what, the ninth try?” // “Have faith, Mister President,” Dr. Clark said. “I corrected the genetic code in the last batch. I also made sure that the surrogate mother possessed certain genetic latches, if you will, that could connect with those of Big Boss.”
  20. ^ a b c d e f Metal Gear Solid Official Mission Handbook, Millennium Books (1998).
  21. ^ a b c d Metal Gear Solid Guns of the Patriots novelization by Project Itoh (English, 2012).
  22. ^ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/441459551523450882
  23. ^ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/441459638551060480
  24. ^ Foxhound Coat. AbbyShot Clothiers Limited. Retrieved on 2013-06-02.
  25. ^ Foxhound Custom Size. AbbyShot Clothiers Limited. Retrieved on 2013-06-02.
  26. ^ Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc (2006).
  27. ^ [1]
  28. ^ Kojima talks Peace Walker:
    "Solid Snake's storyline has ended with MGS4," he continued. "But there's still a lot more when it comes to Naked Snake's storyline. The Cold War was a time where people, neither good nor evil, were manipulated by various factors, and they became good or evil. The same goes for Liquid Snake, and we'll get to see just what happened to him."
  29. ^ [2]
  30. ^ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/02/12/sketching-snake-inside-the-art-of-yoji-shinkawa.aspx
  31. ^ http://www.metalgearinformer.com/?p=14215