Metal Gear is Hideo Kojima's stealth video game franchise, first released in 1987 on the MSX2 and published by Konami, with a fanbase that turned its voice acting and boss fights into recurring memes[3].

Where did Metal Gear come from?

The original Metal Gear shipped in Japan in 1987 for MSX2, directed by Hideo Kojima at Konami with Solid Snake as the lead protagonist[1].

What does Metal Gear mean?

In the series, 'Metal Gear' refers to bipedal nuclear-armed walking tanks that drive each game's plot[3]. In meme use, 'Metal Gear?' is quoted in a gruff Snake voice as a mock repeat-back gag[4].

How do you use Metal Gear?

Fans quote Snake's 'Metal Gear?' repeat in his gruff codec voice, and cut Rising's Senator Armstrong quotes and the 'Rules of Nature' track into remixes and edits[2].

Is Metal Gear still popular?

The series is still a classic among stealth fans and its clips still get recut for memes, though Konami's 2016 pachinko reveal drew heavy backlash from the community[1].

Metal Gear

1987video game franchiseclassic

Published September 6, 2026

Metal Gear is Hideo Kojima's stealth game franchise that started in 1987 on the MSX2 in Japan and grew into a series known for winding cutscenes, gruff voice work, and a fanbase that turned Solid Snake, Raiden, and Senator Armstrong into meme staples.

metal gear memes gaming youtube poop memes villain memes boss fight memes

Overview

The meme side of Metal Gear grew out of the series' voice-acted moments and codec calls, with Solid Snake's habit of repeating words back in a gruff voice ('Metal Gear?') widely copied as a stock impression among fans4. Solid Snake, Naked Snake, Raiden, and later Senator Armstrong all became recognizable through voice clips, boss fight quotes, and cutscene freeze-frames that fans clip and edit3.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the 2013 spin-off starring Raiden, produced its own wave of internet edits and audio memes, with the 'Rules of Nature' track and Armstrong's monologues heavily reused in YouTube Poop and TikTok remixes2. The 2016 Konami pachinko reveal for Metal Gear Solid 3 also became a rallying point for angry fans, driving over 52,000 dislikes on the trailer within weeks1.

Origin & Background

Platform

MSX2 (Japan) / YouTube (meme spread)

Creator

Hideo Kojima

Date

1987

The first Metal Gear game shipped in Japan in 1987 for the MSX2 home computer, directed by Hideo Kojima and starring Solid Snake3. A modified NES port followed in Japan, Europe, and North America, and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake arrived on MSX2 in 19902. The series broke into wider western awareness with Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation in 1998, whose codec calls and dramatic voice work gave fans the raw material that later became meme quotables1.

How It Spread

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty released in 2001 on PS2 and introduced Raiden, whose reveal became a long-running fandom joke3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater arrived in 2004 as a prequel starring Naked Snake1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots wrapped the main arc in 2008 on PS3, and Peace Walker followed on PSP in 2010 before ports to PS3 and Xbox 3603.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance shipped in 2013 on Xbox 360 and PS3, spawning its own meme ecosystem around Senator Armstrong and Jetstream Sam2. Kojima announced Metal Gear Solid V on March 27, 20131, with Ground Zeroes on March 18, 2014 and The Phantom Pain on September 1, 20152. On June 1, 2016, Konami posted a trailer on YouTube for a Metal Gear Solid 3 themed pachinko machine, and by June 19, 2016 the video had cleared 954,000 views and 52,000 dislikes as fans piled on3.

How to Use This Meme

The most common Metal Gear meme move is quoting Snake's questioning repeat in a rough voice, mimicking his codec delivery: someone says a phrase and another person answers 'X?' in gruff Snake tone4. Fans typically cut Armstrong's Rising monologues, 'Rules of Nature' drops, and Kojima's cinematic quirks into edits, YouTube Poops, and reaction clips2.

Frequently Asked Questions

References (4)