Raiden: From MGS2 Punching Bag to Gaming Icon

The Misunderstood Protagonist: A Journey of Redemption

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty remains one of the most controversial and thought-provoking video games ever made. Released to immense hype, it dared to subvert expectations, delivering a complex narrative that challenged players’ understanding of heroism, control, and reality. At the heart of this controversy stood Raiden, the blond-haired, seemingly less-experienced protagonist who replaced the beloved Solid Snake. Initially met with disdain and ridicule, Raiden’s character arc is now recognized as a pivotal element of Metal Gear Solid 2’s brilliance. This article aims to explore Raiden’s journey, unpack the reasons for the initial backlash, and demonstrate why he is the true hero of Sons of Liberty, a misunderstood protagonist who has evolved into a gaming icon.

The Initial Firestorm: Why Raiden Was Unwelcome

Before its release, Metal Gear Solid 2 was hyped as the ultimate sequel, promising a continuation of Solid Snake’s adventures. Players eagerly anticipated more of the tactical espionage action they had come to love. Consequently, the revelation that Solid Snake was largely absent from the main game, replaced by a newcomer named Raiden, was met with widespread disappointment and anger.

Many found Raiden’s appearance and demeanor unappealing. He was perceived as effeminate, inexperienced, and simply not as “cool” as Solid Snake. His clean-cut image and reliance on codec support stood in stark contrast to Snake’s grizzled veteran status and self-reliance. Furthermore, his relationship with Rose felt forced and melodramatic to many players, adding to the perception of him being a weak and underdeveloped character.

Adding fuel to the fire was Hideo Kojima’s masterful manipulation of the game’s marketing. Trailers and demos heavily featured Solid Snake, leading players to believe he would be the main protagonist throughout the entire game. This deliberate deception heightened the shock and frustration when Raiden took center stage, creating a sense of betrayal among the fanbase. In essence, the narrative cleverly reflected a major part of the theme with the fanbase becoming an unintentional character in a game about control and expectation.

Raiden’s character arc begins with naivete, but as the game progresses he transcends his initial mold. It’s important to understand the context of the time, and why so many players initially were unable to see the brilliant design laid out by Kojima.

Trauma, Manipulation, and Growth of Raiden

At the beginning of Metal Gear Solid 2, Raiden is a soldier heavily reliant on his superiors for guidance. He follows orders meticulously, constantly seeking validation and reassurance from the Colonel and Rose through codec conversations. He is a blank slate, a soldier who has trained in virtual reality and is now experiencing his first real combat scenario. He’s fighting an uphill battle, against a game designed to push back on the player’s pre-conceived notions.

Throughout his mission on the Big Shell, Raiden is constantly reminded of Solid Snake’s legacy. He is told that he must live up to Snake’s example, that he is the “chosen one” to complete the mission. The game deliberately mirrors the events of Shadow Moses, further emphasizing the comparison between Raiden and Snake. Raiden is caught in a repeating cycle, an echo of the past that haunts his present.

As the game progresses, the lines between reality and simulation begin to blur. Raiden starts to question the nature of his mission, the motives of his superiors, and even his own identity. He uncovers the truth about the Patriots, a shadowy organization that controls the flow of information and manipulates world events. He learns that his entire life has been orchestrated, that he is a pawn in their grand scheme. As Raiden uncovers the truth, his physical and mental state undergo a dramatic transformation. He becomes more assertive, more confident, and more willing to challenge authority. He embraces his past, even the dark aspects of it, and uses his experiences to forge his own path. The Colonel and his team, including Rose, start sending strange commands, furthering Raiden’s confusion and isolation.

Raiden goes through incredible changes during the Big Shell Incident. He becomes a symbol of breaking free from external influences. He shows incredible will to find his own path, against all the machinations put into place by the Patriots.

Ultimately, Raiden rejects the predetermined roles imposed upon him. He defies the Patriots’ plans and refuses to be a puppet any longer. He understands that his future is his own to create, and he chooses to forge his own destiny. This culminates in Raiden cutting ties with Rose, in an attempt to find his own path forward.

Thematic Significance is revealed, through the actions of Raiden

Raiden’s journey is deeply intertwined with Metal Gear Solid 2’s core themes. The game explores the dangers of information control, the manipulation of history, and the power of memes (ideas and cultural information) to shape individual and collective identity.

Raiden’s experience reflects the concept of memes shaping reality. He has been programmed with specific skills and beliefs, molded into a soldier designed to fulfill a specific purpose. His struggles demonstrate the difficulty of breaking free from these ingrained patterns and forging an independent identity. What is real, what is not, and can one escape the past? These questions become essential in understanding Raiden’s growth throughout the game.

Raiden’s character arc is also a powerful metaphor for breaking free from societal expectations and predetermined roles. He is constantly pressured to conform to the image of Solid Snake, to live up to the legacy of a legendary hero. However, he ultimately rejects this pressure and chooses to define himself on his own terms. He learns to accept his past, to embrace his strengths, and to forge his own path forward.

Metal Gear Solid 2 also delves into the classic nature versus nurture debate through Raiden. His upbringing as a child soldier, his training in virtual reality, and his manipulation by the Patriots all raise questions about the extent to which his identity is shaped by his environment. The game suggests that while external forces can exert a powerful influence, individuals ultimately have the agency to choose their own destiny.

Raiden represents the struggle to find meaning in a world saturated with information and controlled by powerful forces. His journey is a reminder that we must be critical of the information we receive, that we must question authority, and that we must strive to define our own identities.

Raiden Becomes Popular: How Later Games Altered Perception

While Raiden initially faced a torrent of criticism, his character has undergone a significant reevaluation in recent years. His appearances in subsequent Metal Gear games, particularly Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, have contributed to this change in perception.

In Metal Gear Solid 4, Raiden returns as a cyborg ninja, a heavily augmented warrior with incredible combat abilities. His transformation into a powerful and skilled fighter silenced many of his early critics. However, it was Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance that truly cemented his status as a fan favorite. In this action-packed spin-off, Raiden is the sole protagonist, showcasing his incredible agility, katana skills, and unwavering determination. The game’s fast-paced combat and over-the-top action sequences resonated with players, allowing them to fully embrace Raiden’s newfound power and confidence.

Raiden evolved into the cyborg ninja that fans always wanted, but it’s important to remember the message of MGS2. Can Raiden truly create his own destiny? The success of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance goes to show that Raiden became more than just a pawn, but someone with incredible will.

An Icon is Born

Raiden’s journey from Metal Gear Solid 2 punching bag to gaming icon is a testament to the power of complex character development and thematic depth. He is a multifaceted and deeply flawed character whose struggles resonate with players on a personal level. While his initial reception was undoubtedly negative, a closer examination of his character arc reveals a nuanced and compelling story of self-discovery, resilience, and ultimately, triumph.

He represents the power of free thought. Raiden’s initial persona was merely the result of manipulation, but over time he became so much more. He became more than Solid Snake, and created a new path that was all his own.

By challenging expectations and subverting established tropes, Metal Gear Solid 2 forced players to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world around them. Raiden serves as a mirror reflecting these truths, prompting us to question our assumptions and embrace the complexities of the human experience. So, the next time you think of Metal Gear Solid 2, remember Raiden not as a replacement for Snake, but as a hero in his own right, a symbol of resilience, and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. It might be time to play the game again.