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"What is our legacy if we cannot pass the torch? Proof of our existence - a mark of some sort. When the torch is passed on from parent to child... it extends beyond DNA; information is imparted as well. All I want is to be remembered. By other people, by history."
―Solidus Snake[src]

Solidus Snake, real name George Sears, and also known as King, or simply Solidus, was the 43rd President of the United States, and a product of the Les Enfants Terribles project, making him the third son of Big Boss. After secretly instigating the events on Shadow Moses Island, he became directly involved in the Big Shell Incident.

Biography[]

Background[]

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.[?]

An adult Solidus Snake was foreseen by Elisa and Ursula in 1970, in a prophetic vision of Big Boss's future.[2]

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Solidus was the third son of Big Boss created by a secret organization in 1972,[1] through somatic cell cloning, as part of the Les Enfants Terribles project.[1][3] The project's initial phase produced genetically diverse twin clones with one expressing Big Boss's "inferior" genetic traits and another expressing Big Boss's "superior" traits, thus he was created as a perfect clone, identified as "George Sears" to the public, with the same "perfect balance" of dominant and recessive traits that Big Boss possessed.

Early life and career[]

In his teenage years, Sears was dispatched to Liberia in the late 1980s, to participate in the civil war. To test a hypothesis regarding the nature of his existence, he adopted a young boy, Jack, during the war after killing the boy's parents, and trained Jack to be a ruthless killer from as early as the age of six. Seeing himself as the boy's godfather,[4] Sears had Jack serve as part of his Small Boy Unit in the Army of the Devil. Jack proved himself to be one of Sears's best child soldiers with an amazing record of kills, gaining platoon leadership of the unit at just ten years old, and earning Jack the nicknames "White Devil" and "Jack the Ripper."

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.[?]
IGiej

Solidus (left) orders a physician to administer an injection to Jack.

During this time, Sears worked as a CIA paramilitary,[5] and smoked cigars like Big Boss.[6] At some point, he allowed a physician to inject Jack with a substance that he claimed would "never make [Jack] the same" although not before warning the physician that he would kill the former if it permanently harmed Jack. He taught Jack that blades were "honorable" compared to guns, killing a soldier on one occasion by slitting a throat in front of the boy.

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

After the war ended, Jack suddenly disappeared from a relief center which left Sears to wonder what happened to Jack for some time.

During the Gulf War, some U.S. soldiers were injected with soldier genes in an attempt to replicate the results of Les Enfants Terribles, making them, and the reported "Gulf War Babies," Sears's siblings, in a sense.[7]

Since the accelerated aging written into each clone's genes provided the fail-safe of a limited lifespan, Sears appeared more aged in his later life despite being preceded by his brothers.[3] He would take much pride in his visible similarity to Big Boss.

U.S. Presidency[]

President Sears

George Sears during his term as President.

In the early 2000s, George Sears was the 43rd U.S. President of the United States as he was entrusted by the Patriots with the Presidency.[8] While in office, Sears created the U.S. Navy special forces unit Dead Cell. When the NMD program was about to fail due to the complete failures of the trials, he reportedly pushed for it to be completed, resulting in success.[9] His administration was characterized by its stance on nuclear disarmament and anti-eugenic policies. In February 2005, he attempted to negotiate with Russia in regard to lowering the ceiling of nuclear stockpiles via START III, in order to get them to agree to a revision to the ABM treaty, since the NMD program violated the current ABM treaty. He wanted to have it signed so that it could go down in the history books, knowing that his term was soon to be up.

Shadow Moses Incident[]

Main article: Shadow Moses Incident


6a63f6246b600c33d8d301c61a4c510fd9f9a112

George Sears in 2005.

During negotiations for START III, George Sears secretly orchestrated the Shadow Moses Incident. He ordered his agent to persuade FOXHOUND's squad leader Liquid Snake into hijacking Metal Gear REX. His intentions were to have his agent steal REX's data and the experimental nuclear warhead with which it was to be armed. Sears hoped to use this as a tool against the Patriots, whom he had come to loathe. The Next-Generation Special Forces also participated in the incident, whose members, like himself, had been experimented on to replicate Big Boss’s genes.[7] An unplanned factor, however, came when the Secretary of Defense issued an order to commence a nuclear air raid on Shadow Moses after REX was destroyed, but Richard Ames arrested the Secretary for going out of line as per his orders.

After the incident, his agent reported to have had purposefully killed the DARPA Chief and also reported that the "inferior" twin had defeated Liquid as well as FOXDIE's activation.[10] The President then received a compliment on being a "well balanced individual" worthy of ruling the world, as the perfect clone of Big Boss.

Post-Shadow Moses[]

After the release of Nastasha Romanenko's book, Sears was removed from the presidency which was covered up by the general public as that he "resigned." He went into hiding when he learned that the Patriots were planning to eliminate him as punishment and somehow procured a personal battlesuit. He was also involved in the funding of Revolver Ocelot's arm transplant in Lyon, France.[11] During his time underground, Sears made preparations for open rebellion against the Patriots and allied himself with Sergei Gurlukovich's private army of mercenaries as well as the rogue anti-terrorist unit Dead Cell.

The Manhattan Incident[]

See also: Tanker Incident and the Big Shell Incident


SolidusRender

Solidus as he appeared during the Big Shell Incident.

In April 2009, Solidus Snake and his Sons of Liberty forces initiated an armed takeover of the Big Shell offshore cleanup facility, located in the Lower New York Bay. Solidus assumed the identity of "Solid Snake", and intended to take control of the new and highly advanced warship Arsenal Gear which was being developed in secret at the facility. He also kidnapped his successor James Johnson that had been on an inspection tour at the time, though Johnson would later aid Solidus willingly, before ultimately disagreeing with his intended goal. However, neither Solidus or Johnson knew of being manipulated by the Patriots as part of the S3 Plan.

Solidus's troops were later forced to contend with an anti-terrorist operation conducted by SEAL Team 10, as well as an undercover infiltration by FOXHOUND commando Raiden. Shortly after both SEAL Team 10 divisions were wiped out by Dead Cell, Solidus personally took care of the SEAL helicopters, shooting them down using a Harrier jet. Solidus learned from his subordinate Olga Gurlukovich that both a sword-equipped "Cyborg Ninja" and someone in a cardboard box had been seen on the Big Shell. He had Olga increase patrols and proceeded to place infrared sensor-equipped Semtex on the Shell 2 connecting bridge as a trap.[12]

Solidus's plans were nearly ruined when Dead Cell's bomb specialist Fatman attempted to destroy the Big Shell. Solidus suspected that Fatman may have been a plant for the Patriots, and ordered Revolver Ocelot to do a recheck on Dead Cell's background files just in case as well as stopping a heated argument between Olga and Ocelot. Solidus later encountered Raiden on the Shell 2 connecting bridge, after Raiden had disabled the Semtex IR sensors in an attempt to rescue President Johnson. Solidus identified Raiden as "a messenger from the Patriots", and was certain that he knew Raiden from somewhere. He utilized his brother's stolen identity while Solid Snake (as Iroquois Pliskin) attacked from a Kasatka helicopter. During an exchange of heated dialogue between the two brothers, Raiden learned of their true identities. Snake also demanded that Solidus stop impersonating Big Boss.[13]

Solidus utilized his exo-suit and enhanced speed and strength to evade Snake's machinegun fire. Eventually knocked from the bridge by Snake's grenade launcher, Solidus landed on a waiting Harrier jump jet, piloted by his subordinate Vamp. Entering the Harrier's copilot seat, Solidus engaged the Kasatka, though Raiden was able to shoot the jet down with Stinger missiles. Hurtling down towards the ocean, the Harrier was caught within the jaws of the terrorists' Metal Gear RAY before Solidus's jet could crash. Having lost his left eye in the battle, Solidus ordered Vamp to escape before sealing the cockpit and allowing RAY to carry him and the crippled aircraft away underwater.

Solidus snake on AG

Solidus with an eyepatch.

After Raiden was later captured, Solidus finally realized that Raiden was his own adopted son. Believing that Raiden's memory of him may have been altered by the Patriots, Solidus revealed their connection which was something that Raiden did not wish to remember. After Raiden escaped custody, Solidus informed Raiden of the S3 Plan, based on what Ocelot had told him. With some reluctance, he must ultimately kill Raiden, sending the ship's unmanned RAY units to attack Raiden. Solidus ultimately succeeded when Olga interfered to protect Raiden, revealing his plan to lure the Patriots' spy into the open. Solidus captured Olga in a stranglehold with his exo-suit's snake arms, and promptly executed Olga with his P90 rifle, shooting Olga in the head at point-blank range. However, Emma Emmerich's worm cluster that had infected Arsenal Gear's onboard AI GW caused the remaining RAY units to go haywire, forcing Solidus to destroy the machines. With Arsenal Gear's AI corrupted, Solidus resolved to extract the information he desired from Raiden instead, via Raiden's built-in nanomachine base.

It was initially believed that Solidus planned to expose the Patriots by using Arsenal Gear to detonate a nuclear warhead over New York City's skies where the high-altitude blast would create a gigantic electromagnetic pulse and bring Wall Street to a halt, toppling the Patriots' power over the business community in Manhattan, and spurring the world into a panic. He would then free Manhattan from the Patriots' digital yoke and establish the liberated zone Outer Heaven in place. However, he was going to give Arsenal Gear to Dead Cell leader Fortune to draw the Patriots' attention whilst Solidus would hunt the Patriots' twelve individuals down to kill off one by one. Unfortunately, Solidus's plan never came to fruition due to GW's corruption, and Ocelot's actions as the Patriots' double agent that had helped to orchestrate the entire incident due to Solidus's relationship with Raiden resembled that of Solid Snake and Big Boss.

Solidus's back was forced to the wall until being saved by Fortune, and Liquid Ocelot crashed Arsenal Gear into Manhattan with Snake in pursuit. Solidus and Raiden were thrown from the top of Arsenal Gear onto the roof top of Federal Hall, where Solidus told his true intents and desires to Raiden. Unable to father children and pass on his legacy, Solidus wished to be immortalized by history, but knew the Patriots' indomitable control of information wouldn't allow this. He explained his reason for the Big Shell uprising and his plan to kill off the Patriots, finishing off by declaring that only one monstrosity will have the privilege to live on. He also admitted to Raiden shortly after this that he was the one who killed his former protégé's parents, mainly because he wanted to see if the both of them were of someone else's creation, even going as far as to compare their situation with his brothers' and Big Boss's situation.

Solidus revealed that he needed to kill Raiden because his final lead on the Patriots' identities lied inside the nanomachines within Raiden's brain. Solidus and Raiden clashed blades in a duel that would ultimately result in Solidus's defeat, falling from the rooftop of Federal Hall with a significant portion of his spine severed from an elegant technique by Raiden. Solidus crawled towards the statue of George Washington, reaching up to the first President of the United States as he let out his last breath.

After death[]

Biomort

Solidus's biomort.

Afterwards, Solidus was left brain dead due to his injuries, and was used as spare parts for Big Boss's transplant surgery by Big Mama. Life support equipment was used to maintain Solidus's metabolic processes, keeping him alive and functional. By 2014, Solidus's body served as a decoy for the Patriots' proxy AIs with his body producing spontaneous reflex movements on occasion.[14] Liquid Ocelot used Solidus's DNA to tap into the SOP system in Eastern Europe which was equally capable due to Solidus being an identical clone of Big Boss. Vamp later threw his corpse into a boat fuel fire and Solidus's remains were incinerated.

Solidus's prediction and fears of what the Patriots intended to do were proven correct with the advent of the war economy and the development of the SOP system.

Solidus's likeness later appeared in the form of the Mt. Rushmore-esque feature on the hull of Outer Haven at Shadow Moses (alongside his brothers and Big Boss). Solidus's end goal of the Patriots' destruction was ultimately realized at the Guns of the Patriots Incident's conclusion due to FOXALIVE's effects.

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.[?]

Raiden possessed many unpleasant memories of Solidus, but the former would later feel that he had ultimately performed some good, by teaching to be free with his own life. Solidus's activities in Liberia would later inspire a program, which involved VR training of child soldiers in 2018.[15]

Non-"Metal Gear Saga" information ends here.

Name[]

The solidus (Latin for solid) was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans. The word soldier is ultimately derived from solidus, referring to these coins with which soldiers were paid. Solidus is also the term used by chemists for the line on a pressure/temperature diagram that marks the phase transition between a solid and liquid. This may also mirror the fact that he has a perfect balance of Big Boss's dominant and recessive genes (Solid and Liquid had only one or the other).

Solidus' surname is most likely derived from Isaac Sears, an American political figure who led the original Sons of Liberty. While his first name is probably in reference to George Washington, who was the first president of the United States.

Personality and traits[]

20111008011836!Solidus Snake

Solidus Snake.

Solidus was driven by a strong desire to be remembered by history and leave a lasting impression on the world following his death. Having been denied a genetic legacy by the Les Enfants Terribles project, he also had a strong political opposition to the Patriots, which would lead him to carry out an attempted coup d'état, and ultimately remake the U.S. in a similar manner to George Washington. He is also shown to have somewhat fatalistic tendencies, as just prior to his duel with Raiden, he mentions that they're "repeating history".

Solidus felt a deep patriotic love for his country. The primary motivation of his actions was to destroy the Patriots and give the power back to the citizens of America. Despite his radical methods, he strongly valued civil liberties and personal freedoms. He opposed The Patriots plot for digital censorship as he believed that it would be the nail in the coffin for the Patriots plan to control the American population.

He idolized George Washington, to the extent that his terrorist group was named after the historical Sons of Liberty. Additionally, he intended to go down into history as a liberator and a revolutionary, not unlike George Washington. In his final moments Solidus gazed up at a statue of his idol moments before succumbing to his wounds.

Unlike Solid Snake and Liquid Snake, Solidus apparently held a lot of open respect for their father Big Boss, modelling himself after the renowned mercenary in both attitudes and beliefs. He gathered disillusioned soldiers to his cause and gave them purpose, as he did with the Gurlukovich Mercenaries. However, he seemed to lack Big Boss's forgiveness towards allies, executing Olga Gurlukovich for betraying him to the Patriots, despite explaining good reasons.

Solidus held a great deal of respect towards his adopted son Raiden, with their relationship similar to that between Snake and Big Boss. In addition, Solidus seemed to have a code of honor as he supplied Raiden with a sword for him to defend himself, despite making it clear that he intended to kill Raiden for the information on the Patriots located inside his nanomachine network. Presumably, his admission to Raiden of his role in the latter's parents' demise may have been an attempt to give Raiden additional incentive to fight him.

Despite his idealistic mentality, Solidus was ruthless in his methods during warfare. Having trained child soldiers in his younger years during the First Liberian Civil War, he had put said children under harsh training and conditions. He lacked remorse in his treatment towards the children of his Small Boy Unit, even going so far as relishing in Raiden's success as an accomplished killer.

Solidus mgs2

Solidus, equipped with swords and his exoskeleton's snake arms

Solidus had keen senses, as evidenced when he managed to shoot out one of the Metal Gear RAY's AIs with his P90 without even turning to face it, after the units went haywire. His superhuman speed and reflexes were artificially heightened by his powered exoskeleton, to which he claimed that he was a "whole different game" from Liquid.[16] Solidus was also a skilled pilot, using a Harrier jet to shoot down SEAL Team 10's two transport choppers, and also acted as the co-pilot during his fight against Raiden and Philanthropy's Kasatka.

Solidus was familiar with unorthodox infiltration methods, ordering Olga to set a trap on the Big Shell's connecting bridge, after hearing about "a man hiding under a cardboard box" which was a trick that he had encountered before.

Weapons[]

In terms of small arms, Solidus used a P90 submachine gun and also used a Daishō (Katana and Wakizashi set); the "Minshuto" (Democrat) and "Kyowato" (Republican) high-frequency blades. During the Big Shell Incident, Solidus demonstrated a highly dexterous combat ability, both as a marksman and a swordsman (though he only ever fought while wearing his suit, which increased his abilities).

Exoskeleton[]

Main: Solidus Snake's exoskeleton

MGS2 Solidus Snake

Solidus Snake, armed with his powered exoskeleton and swords.

The exoskeleton that Solidus wore was developed for the U.S. Army by DARPA. It increased the wearer's speed, strength, and agility through the use of the same artificial muscle technology initially developed for Metal Gear RAY, as well as the Tengu soldiers’ combat suits, and to a lesser extent, the Skull Suit. It could allow a skilled sword user to deflect a heavy barrage of machine gun fire with relative ease. The suit could also withstand attacks from blade weapons due to sensors stretching between the interior and the surface of the suit comparable to a neural network, which upon detecting an impact, would instantaneously react by automatically contracting and diffusing the damage. In contrast to Gray Fox' exoskeleton, the abilities of Solidus's suit were not in effect permanently but could be activated at will. The exoskeleton's gauntlets were also durable enough to deflect gunfire even when its artificial muscle technology enhancements are not activated, as Solidus demonstrated to Snake

Solidus's suit was also armed with two prehensile tentacles or "Snake Arms" that could be used to grab or asphyxiate opponents, inject drugs such as Phenobarbital B into the system of an opponent, analyze the content of someone's brain for nanomachines and the information in them, and also had the ability to fire small missiles. The snake arms could be ejected to further increase the wearer's speed and agility. This technology was also utilized in the combat suit of Laughing Octopus of the Beauty and the Beast Unit.[17]

In addition, the suit was equipped with a built-in accelerator unit that allowed the user to make quick movements across terrain, leaving a trail of flames in their path.

The exoskeleton initially came equipped with a cloak, although it was burned off when Solidus used his exoskeleton's accelerator to evade Snake's gunfire as a consequence of the resulting flame trail.

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.[?]

During his time in Liberia, Solidus Snake managed to capture several Liberian terrorists responsible for murdering American soldiers. On Jack's tenth birthday, Solidus then had Jack decapitate ten of the Liberian terrorists (each one acting as a "birthday candle" representing each year Jack had lived by that point) as the former's "birthday present" for the latter.[18]

After Solidus's body was burned in Eastern Europe, 2014, his remains were recovered and flown over to the U.S. They were interred next to The Boss's burial site by Solid Snake and Otacon, with Meryl, Mei Ling, and Roy Campbell's help, still believing that the remains were those of Big Boss.[19]

Behind the scenes[]

Solidus Snake (ソリダス・スネーク Soridasu Sunēku?) is the primary antagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. In the Japanese version, both Solidus Snake and Solid Snake are voiced by Akio Ōtsuka, while John Cygan voiced the former in the English version. As of The Phantom Pain, Solidus is the only Les Enfants Terribles clone to not have a biblical first name, instead using the name "George."

Metal Gear Solid[]

Solidus's identity as the U.S. President in Metal Gear Solid is only revealed in the post-credits telephone conversation between himself and Revolver Ocelot. This detail is only given in the original game if Meryl Silverburgh survives the events of the story, whereas The Twin Snakes remake reveals this regardless of whether or not she survives.

Hideo Kojima, in a series of tweets elaborating on the reason behind naming the Les Enfants Terribles clones in the leadup to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes' release, explained that he chose the name "Solidus" to indicate he was a boundary between Solid and Liquid Snake, as their "states" names were allegorical to their nature, as Solidus was intended to be used for the eventual sequel to Metal Gear Solid.[20][21] He also explained that although "gas" was technically a state and the next stage forward, he didn't give him the name "gas snake" because, like the term "gas human," it wasn't a very appealing name.[22]

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[]

Solidus Establish

Solidus Snake concept art.

In Kojima's "Grand Game Plan" for Metal Gear Solid 2 (MGS2), Solidus Snake was originally to have faked his death from an assassination attempt, by having a double pose as him. His last name was also originally "Ryan" instead of "Sears." The game plan also implies that Solidus intended for Nastasha Romanenko to publish her book in his agenda to expose the Patriots to the world, and that he carried the FOXDIE antidote, rendering him immune to Solid Snake's FOXDIE virus.

Solid and Solidus Snake

Comparison of Solid Snake and Solidus Snake polygon models.

Solidus' in-game model is a re-textured version of Solid Snake's, maintaining the same facial shape but with the addition of details such as wrinkles, paler skin and aged hair. Kojima used this unique method to authentically display that Solid Snake and Solidus were clones.

SoliDUS

Solidus Snake concept artwork.

At the conclusion of the Tanker Chapter, Ocelot makes a radio transmission to a "Mr. President." Although the contact is identified as Solidus in the game's script[23], this is contradicted by Otacon during the Plant Chapter, who claims Solidus was keeping a low profile at the time.[24] In addition, the official Piggyback strategy guide for MGS2 names President James Johnson as Ocelot's contact, noting Solidus's removal from office.[25]

During his speech on top of Federal Hall, Solidus incorrectly states that "George Washington took office as the first President of the United States of America 200 years ago today." Washington actually took office on April 30, 1789, exactly 220 years prior to Solidus's speech. The game's script also contains an error in this regard as it incorrectly states that Solidus's speech took place 223 years after Washington becoming President.[26]

During the boss fight with Solidus, the player can exploit the blind spot created from Solidus's loss of his left eye to attack him easily. In the HD Edition of MGS2, defeating Solidus will unlock the achievement/trophy "Another Snake Bites the Dust."

The MGS2 script originally had Solidus shred the New York Stock Exchange flag with his sword during the Arsenal Gear crash scene in Manhattan. The scene ended up being cut from the final version due to the events of 9/11. After the final battle with Raiden, the flag was supposed to fall onto Solidus's body, thus, mirroring the draping of the flag over a President's coffin during a state funeral. The visual of an American flag falling from its pole ended up being cut from the final version due to the events of 9/11. The novelization, which was written many years later, used a similar scene with a American flag of Federal's Hall falling by the breeze and covering Solidus's corpse.

Aside from the main game, Solidus also had a major role in the Snake Tales story "External Gazer" as the main antagonist. In it, he (or rather, an alternate version of Solidus) accessed the Koppelthorn Engine and attempted to manipulate realities to ensure his self-preservation and the preservation of his alternate selves, not caring who he hurts in the process. This version of Solidus also married an alternate version of Mei Ling and had her replace their Mei Ling to manipulate Philanthropy into merging the various parallel universes by destroying the Gurlugon. He later tries to stop Snake, eventually resorting to trapping him in the body of a young, blond man and experiencing various disturbing scenarios. Ultimately, Solidus fails in his goal due to Otacon finding the singularity and fights Solid Snake due to rage at the failure of his plans. He perishes when he falls to his death after Solid Snake knocks him off Federal Hall.

In the fictional history of the Metal Gear series, Solidus is the youngest known U.S. President, being in his mid to late 20s at the time, which would have made him constitutionally ineligible in reality (35 years of age being the minimum). However, having apparently aged more rapidly than his clone brothers by the time of MGS2, it is likely he possessed a much older appearance than his actual age would imply, thus arousing less suspicion. His "resignation" from the Presidency, as a result of the Shadow Moses Incident, also makes him the second known U.S. President to resign from office, the first being Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal.

George Sears' fictional presidency appears to coincide with real world events that occurred after the 2001 release of MGS2, such as U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the establishment of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, which are mentioned in later games in the series and other official timelines. The series' plot does not link Sears' presidency with these events, and the article, similarly, does not attempt to conflate them.

The official Piggyback strategy guide for the prequel Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (MGS3) claims that it was Solidus Snake who ordered the development of Metal Gear REX.[27] In MGS2, he is only stated to be responsible for the Shadow Moses Incident.

Solidus's comments to Ocelot and Olga when breaking up their argument were slightly different in overall tone compared to the English and Japanese version. The latter had it being delivered in a more mocking manner, implying they effectively can't make it out in the world without him, while the former had him being more respectful. Similarly, the English localization for the game made it sound as if Solidus was upset at Raiden destroying his eye, while the Japanese version as well as the included script made it clear Solidus was happy that he did so due to it making him look more like Big Boss.[28] The initial English localization for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has a mistranslation where Solidus refers to Raiden as Raiden rather than his real name of Jack shortly after the latter is left winded from wiping out most of the mass produced Metal Gear RAYs. This was corrected in the Subsistence version.[29]

Elements of Solidus's characterization were modeled after Snake Plissken in Escape from L.A., particularly his defiance to authority.[30]

Contrary to popular belief, Solidus was not the source behind the ominous laughter during the game over the player gets if they shoot Solid Snake aboard Arsenal Gear, as the script made clear it was the Colonel who did so.[31]

According to Hideo Kojima in an interview with OMI, there was supposed to be a Codec call that explained the origin behind the two swords Solidus used during the final battle, but it got cut due to various rewrites that were occurring. Specifically, the swords were crafted by Hittites from a meteor, and implied a third sword existed.[32]

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[]

The Big Boss FaceCamo in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is actually that of Solidus, as the camo is shown with its right eye intact. Its appearance is based on the biomort featured in Act 3, then believed to be Big Boss. He also has a vocal cameo in the beginning of Act 2, Solid Sun, where Snake recalls that Solidus's fears of the Patriots taking control of the media to retain their power had come to pass. Despite this, however, Solid Snake was not actually present when Solidus made this statement to Raiden, as he had been busy trying to pursue Liquid Ocelot and his hijacked Metal Gear RAY prototype at the time.

Raiden's entry for the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, incorrectly states that it was Solidus who erased most of Raiden's memories, rather than the Patriots.[33] Similarly, in his own entry, it is incorrectly stated that he was the one who caused Arsenal Gear to crash into Manhattan as a last resort strike at the Patriots.[34] It also showed him wearing eyeglasses though he is never seen wearing them in MGS2.

The game reveals that Solidus Snake's corpse was utilized to harvest parts to replace Big Boss's body parts alongside Liquid. The scenario book for Metal Gear Solid 4 specified that Solidus's limbs and right ear were used for Big Boss.[35]

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker[]

Solidus makes a cameo appearance in the English version of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, on the cover of the Solidus Magazine item. This magazine replaced the Dengeki Games/GAMES Blitz of the original Japanese version, during the game's localization.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance[]

During the development of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (MGR), Quinton Flynn tweeted that he had been working with fellow voice actor John Cygan, implying that Solidus might appear in some form in the game. The "Arm" trailer, which was later released on the official website, showed an obscured figure that sounded similar and bore a physical resemblance to Solidus, overseeing the treatment of the child soldier Jack (Raiden).[36] His identity was confirmed on MGR's Facebook page, inviting viewers to "Uncover the secret behind Raiden's training under Solidus @ http://www.metalgearsolid.com/rising."[37] In these trailers, Solidus also has the appearance and voice of his 2009 self, although it is unknown whether this was the case in-universe, or whether this was in order to have the audience identify Solidus more easily. Solidus does not make an appearance in the game itself, although he is mentioned in reference to the goals of the main antagonists. In addition, MGR describes his role during the First Liberian Civil War as a CIA paramilitary, whereas previous games had left this unclear (the IDW comic book adaptation of MGS2, however, does imply his serving U.S. interests in the conflict).

E3 Battle and Versus Battle[]

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Solidus facing off against Jehuty in E3 Battle.

Solidus Snake appeared as a participant in the Konami-sponsored event E3 Battle, defeating Jehuty in the first round, namely because he was a master of Metal Gears, to which Jehuty bore a similar design to a Metal Gear.[38] He proceeded to face off against, and defeat, Rat Patrol Team 01 in the second round (although the percentage points implied that he lost against them). Solidus proceeded to fight Solid Snake in the third round, although he lost to him.

"SOLIDUS SNAKE
FIRST APPEARED IN
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Former President of the United States of America and leader of the Sons of Liberty. Said to be a perfect clone of Big Boss.
"
―Solidus Snake's bio in E3 Battle

Solidus also appeared in Versus Battle, where he fought against Gray Fox Skin, Black Raiden and later Ocelot. He also, under then name Armored Clone, fought against Metal Gear earlier.

"STRENGTHS:
Exoskeleton-Enhanced Lethality
WEAKNESSES:
One Eye; Presidential Duties
FEATURED FACT:
It was Solidus Snake who mentored a young Raiden in the ways of the blade.
FEATURED GAME:
METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection
"
―Armored Clone in Versus Battle
"STRENGTHS:
Best Exoskeleton Ever
WEAKNESSES:
It's Inhuman to Think Any Exist
FEATURED FACT:
Solidus Snake became the youngest clone ever to be elected President of the US
FEATURED GAME:
METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection
"
―Solidus in Versus Battle; Solidus vs. Gray Fox Skin
"STRENGTHS:
President, Superior Soldier, Son of Big Boss
WEAKNESSES:
Taught Raiden Everything Solidus Knew
FEATURED FACT:
Raiden actually defeated Solidus once during the Big Shell incident in an epic duel. Could Raiden do it again?
FEATURED GAME:
METAL GEAR SOLID: THE LEGACY COLLECTION
"
―Solidus in Versus Battle; Solidus vs. Black Raiden
"STRENGTHS:
Ocelot’s Superior & Perfect Clone of Big Boss
WEAKNESSES:
Accelerated Aging
FEATURED FACT:
The Presidential figurehead of the Patriots, Solidus Snake grew to despise them and formed the Sons of Liberty to combat them
FEATURED GAME:
METAL GEAR SOLID: THE LEGACY COLLECTION
"
―Solidus in Versus Battle; Solidus vs. Ocelot

Appearances[]

Non-canonical[]

Gallery[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ a b c Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2004).
    Ending timeline: 1972 — The Sons of Big Boss are born.
  2. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Kojima Productions (2006).
    Elisa/Ursula: Your children... Les Enfants Terribles."
  3. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    James Johnson: He was the third Snake, preceded by Solid and Liquid... a survivor of the Les Enfants Terrible project.
  4. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Solidus Snake: "Jack... I was your godfather... I named you..."
  5. ^ An optional Codec conversation in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance reveals this.
  6. ^ VIDEO DATA ACCESS FILE #01000100: "MAKE It Right - "Sword" - METAL GEAR RISING"
  7. ^ a b Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Liquid Snake: That’s right... The Genome Soldiers that you’ve 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.
  8. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4 Database ("Solidus Snake"), Kojima Productions (2008).
  9. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Scott Dolph: The National Missile Defense program was initiated in the end of the 20th century, projected to completion in 2005. However, the NMD trial conducted in the year 2000 was a complete failure and the success of the 1999 trials is now considered a chance happening. There was no technological solution in sight and the program was already attracting strong criticism from Russia and China for its potential violation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile agreement. The fact that any development in missile defense would trigger accelerated weapons development has been pointed out from the very beginning. President Sears forced the NMD proposal through and succeeded in deploying the program. Some say that it was a military interest - with plans for the hundred billion dollar program budget that actually arranged the legislative approval.
  10. ^ Metal Gear Solid, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (1998).
    Revolver Ocelot: Yes sir. The entire unit was wiped out. Those two are still alive. The vector? Yes sir, FoxDie should become activated soon... Right on schedule.
  11. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (script), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Solidus Snake: How much do you think we spent on that arm in Lyon. The best transplant surgery team in the world -- Revolver Ocelot: I never trust a Frenchman.
  12. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (script), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    P021_01_P01 Bomb disposal/Enter Olga 1 polygon demo 1 (MC) Heliport, roof of Strut E // Raiden neutralizes the bomb on the second level of Strut E and heads for the rooftop heliport. He clears the door and emerges outdoors in time to hear someone talking (from the radio). Shades of Snake and Olga in the Tanker Chapter. // Solidus Snake: (OFF) I’ve taken care of that annoying fly (the SEAL helicopter). What’s the situation over there? // Olga Gurlukovich: Puzzling. I saw a man dressed like a ninja just now. // Solidus: (OFF) Ninja? // Olga: That’s the only way to describe it. A kind of cyborg ninja, complete with a sword. // Solidus: (OFF) (Surprised) What...! // Raiden walks out in the direction of the voices. He can see Olga at the top of the stairs. She wears tiger-stripe urban camos over a ninja inner wear. // Olga: Are you hiding something from me? // Solidus: (OFF) Olga, are you it wasn’t an Arsenal Tengu? (referring to the special squadron attached to Arsenal, a new model of Metal Gear) // Olga denies the suggestion (and with it the user’s suspicion that she herself may be the ninja) vehemently. // Olga: Don’t be a fool. Think I wouldn’t know the difference? I’ve never seen field gear like that, ever. // Solidus: (OFF) All right. We’ll intensify patrols. Anything else? // Olga: Actually...one more thing. You’ll find it hard to believe, though. // Olga seems reluctant. She is leaning on the railings of the stairs. // Olga: I saw a man hiding under a cardboard box. // Solidus: (OFF) Where? // Olga: On the connecting bridge to Shell 2. // Solidus: (OFF) Hmm. (grunt) // Olga: So you believe me this time? // Solidus: (OFF) I’ve seen someone use that box trick before. We’ll lay a trap on the Shell 2 connecting bridge. // Olga: Over and out then. // Olga puts away the radio.
  13. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (script), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Solidus’ face is finally visible. The hairstyle and the facial hair are conscious attempts to model himself after the Big Boss (since the share the same genes). By the same token, he has a striking resemblance to Snake.
    Snake: (seeing Solidus’ face) Stop impersonating him (Big Boss)!
  14. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Kojima Productions (2008).
    This is observed by Solid Snake upon approaching it, in the Paradise Lost Army's hideout.
  15. ^ Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance TGS Trailer, Kojima Productions/Platinum Games (2012).
    Sundowner: We've [Desperado] already commenced VR training [...] Same one ol' Georgie-boy [George Sears] used on the kids in Liberia.
  16. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Solidus Snake: (deflecting the bullets fired by Solid Snake) Brother [Solid Snake], I'm a whole different game from [Liquid Snake]!
  17. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Kojima Productions (2008).
    Otacon and Old Snake discuss the similarity in an optional Codec conversation, while the latter is fighting Octopus.
  18. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty comic
    Solidus Snake: Happy birthday, Ripper. (gives Jack a knife) Here, its yours. (Motions to ten prisoners) Now, blow out the candles. // Raiden: Ten of them. One for each year of my life. Solidus called them Liberian terrorist scum. He [Solidus] tells me they've killed innocent Americans, that they deserved to die. I don't care. I only knew what I have to do. (Jack runs to the first prisoner, then places his newly-supplied knife to the soldier's neck) I lightly caress the man's [the Liberian terrorist's] neck, as if preparing for the first stroke of a shave. (Jack slowly moves the blade down the neck.) Feeling it out. Searching for just the right... (slice) Ten. // (Head collapses) Solidus: That's my boy. Keep going... // Raiden: Nine. (slice) // Solidus: Blow them all out or you don't get your wish. // Raiden: I don't care. Eight. (slice) My wishes never come true anyway. // Solidus: That's my little Jack the Ripper. // Raiden: Solidus... my so-called "father". He seems proud of me. I don't care. Seven. (slice) I'm ten years old today and I don't care about anything anymore.
  19. ^ Metal Gear Solid Guns of the Patriots novelization by Project Itoh (English, 2012).
  20. ^ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/441461274157654016
    As to develop sequel, the 3rd snake was needed. Since both solid & liquid express state, means same true state.(cont)
  21. ^ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/441461682691264513
    So I borrowed from physics terms of (cont) "solidus/liquidus". SOLIDUS is not state but implies the boundary of liquid and solid.
  22. ^ https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/441461653373063168
    Naturally the next would be gas but gas snake is like gas human, not handsome name. So I borrowed from physics terms of (cont)
  23. ^ The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2002).
    Main Menu > Script > <Tanker Chapter> From "Seizure of Metal Gear" To "Metal Gear Escapes"
    RAY’s cockpit is now at the same level as Snake’s face. Ocelot stares at Snake’s image on the monitor from his seat in the cockpit, then raises Solidus on the radio. // Ocelot: No problems proceeding as planned, sir.
  24. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
    Raiden: Was Solidus behind all this? He used Ocelot to get ahold of RAY, huh? // Otacon: No, he was underground, keeping a low profile at the time. // Raiden: Then it must be the Patriots... // Otacon: If that’s the case, what’s Ocelot doing alongside Solidus? // Raiden: ...
  25. ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty: The Official Strategy Guide, Piggyback Interactive (2002).
    Secrets > Metal Gear Solid 2: The Story
    Incidentally, Ocelot's final radio transmission ("... of course, Mr. President") is not intended for his old boss, Solidus. George Sears was removed from office after the Shadow Moses incident, and the current President is James Johnson, also a puppet of the Patriots, and the intended recipient of this message.
  26. ^ The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2002).
    Main Menu > Script > <Plant Chapter> From Ending 1 To Ending 10 voice demo 1
    A close-up, slo-mo shot of the Stars and Stripes over Federal Hall. // Solidus: That’s right. George Washington took office as the first President of the United States of America 200 ***note: this should say 223*** years ago today. // The American Flag on Federal Hall is flapping in the breeze.
  27. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: The Official Strategy Guide, Piggyback Interactive (2005).
    Extras > Retrospective
    It was [Solidus Snake] that ordered the secret development of Metal Gear Rex, and later arranged for its complete destruction, the murder of witnesses, and the Ocelot's theft of the only surviving blueprints.
  28. ^ Board screwing up/MGS2: Lost in Translation Hyper Edition - :: Forums :: THE SNAKE SOUP (archive.org)
  29. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/1535679963399081986
  30. ^ Metal Gear Solid 3: The Shedding, pages 94-107 MGS Trivia (2003)
  31. ^ jankahl on X: "You guys were wondering about the game over screen laughter in MGS2, and if it's the Colonel or Solidus. The script has those lines attributed to the Colonel. Right side says "Once the Colonel has gone completely insane" and a bunch of laughter and mockery. @Drk29TTV @DoggTTV https://t.co/2rXd7GRQuK" / X (twitter.com)
  32. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/1764230480482742709
  33. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, Kojima Productions (2008). [1]
  34. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, Kojima Productions (2008). [2]
  35. ^ https://twitter.com/HEITAIs/status/1353981614439555072
  36. ^ http://www.metalgearsolid.com/rising/
  37. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150695008770986&set=a.381327975985.168167.285152375985&type=3&permPage=1
  38. ^ http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=392578164119266&set=a.124472100929875.9952.124280484282370&type=1&relevant_count=1
    Metal Gear Rising Round 1, Day 2 of our Konami E3 Battle continues with 8 new match-ups @ www.konami.com/e3/battle/
    It's up to you to determine which characters will make it to Round 2, so vote now for who you think will win! What happens when a Metal Gear-like Orbital Frame like Jehuty takes on a master of Metal Gear like Solidus? You decide!
    LikeUnlike · · Share · May 24
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