Hideo Kojima on MGS: Peace Walker

Metal Gear creator and Video Game genius Hideo Kojima reiterates the significance of the Metal Gear Solid PSP installment deeming it a "MGS5-class game," in a press release Q&A "unveiled" by Konami yesterday.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker" picks up where MGS3 leaves off as players take control of Naked Snake. Taking place in 1974, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker features original game design, story and scenario by Hideo Kojima. The game takes the series in an exciting new direction with its incredible visuals and its unique new game system designed specifically with the PSP in mind.

This game is an MGS5-class game. I am supervising, designing, producing, directing, and editing this title together with the MGS4 team. Therefore in that sense, "METAL GEAR SOLID" has not ended, and the "METAL GEAR SAGA" continues.

Though Kojima had intended to place the project in the hands of the next generation of creators at Kojima Productions, he, in the end, "felt that it was still a little too early to leave it completely in their hands, so [he] decided to take the reins.

While Kojima doesn't give away too much details surrounding gameplay, he does state that the game will be stealth-action based. However, "the game will be a little different from the METAL GEAR that players have come to know. However, the story can be replayed numerous times and the game is full of challenges to complete, so...this title will really satisfy players with its long-lasting play time."

To end, Kojima also gave us a little insight into the strange code that appeared on the teaser website pre-E3 2009.

5=it is an MGS5 class game
S=Snake
巳＝snake in Kanji
E=E3
R=Raiden
3=3 from 360 and E3
6=6 from 360
P and S=PSP and adding 3 makes it PS3

Aside from the Snake and Raiden visuals, we featured a total of 10 "symbols" and when all of these are rearranged, they form connections to the announcements that we made at E3. The first symbols that appeared were the number "5" and the letter "S" for Snake that represented PW which, to me, is a "5" class title. "巳" not only hints at the lowercase lettering of "E" for E3, but it is the kanji for the word "snake." Also, the symbol that appeared at the very end is the kanji "日" and represents a sunny background and the sunrise that links to RISING.

The "RISING" of "METAL GEAR SOLID RISING" implies "the sun rising," "the sun shining," and "the sun shining on Raiden" that was revealed in the visuals on the HP. In addition, RISING" also represents how "METAL GEAR SOLID" will be taking the next step up.

Going back to the symbols found on the HP, they also link to "the day of 360" and also to each of the titles that we announced at E3. When each of the symbols are rearranged, I think you'll be able to recognize E3, PSP, PS3, 360 and others. So everyone, how did you like it? Were your predictions on the mark?

Check out the entire press release here.