Metal Gear is a top-down infiltration game where you control Solid Snake sneaking through a fortified military base to destroy a nuclear-capable walking tank. You start unarmed and must avoid guards' line of sight—get spotted once and nearby enemies attack; trigger an alarm and reinforcements flood in until you eliminate them or escape to another area. You'll acquire pistols, grenade launchers, and explosives with limited ammo, punch guards for rations, and rescue hostages to increase your rank and health capacity. The base spans three buildings with locked doors requiring specific keycards. A radio lets you contact allies for hints tied to your current location. Big Boss, your commander, guides the mission—but his instructions grow suspicious as traps become unnervingly accurate. The game introduced mechanics that defined stealth as a genre: vision cones, alert states, and rewarding evasion over combat.
