Metal Gear Survive Hammered on YouTube – Kojima Says “Nothing to Do With Me”

Konami could be called’ brave’ for deciding to create a new game set in the Metal Gear Solid universe without Hideo Kojima. Brave is certainly one word for it. Stupid could be another, considering the entirely predictable response to the games by fans. Over the weekend, Konami unveiled a first look at gameplay for its new title, Metal Gear Survive, which sees Mother Base soldiers, following the end of MGS V: Ground Zeroes, transported to another dimension where they are forced to fight zombies:

The video has had half-a-million views on YouTube and around 18,000 votes: 2,692 positive and 15,536 negative (at the time of writing). The comments aren’t much better: “TRASH,” “where is the spirit of old Metal Gears?” and “This just looks like a mod for Phantom Pain” are just some of the more palatable criticisms.

While Metal Gear Survive was taking a kicking on YouTube, Kojima – the series’ original creator – was promoting his first game since leaving both Metal Gear and Konami behind, Death Stranding. Kojima, while presenting the new game at the Tokyo Game Show 2016, was asked about Metal Gear Survive.

“That’s nothing to do with me!” Kojima declared (via IGN).

“The Metal Gear games are about political fiction and espionage,” he added. “Where do zombies fit in with that?”

Granted, Metal Gear Survive doesn’t feel like a legitimate Metal Gear game, but didn’t Metal Gear Sold V: The Phantom Pain feature what were effectively zombies in the Skulls Parasite Unit? Decide for yourself:

It seems an odd criticism from the man who brought us vampires, telekinesis, and relentless fourth wall-breaking – including two separate cameos from Kojima himself, in Peace Walker and The Phantom Pain – in his previous “political fiction and espionage” games, but, for all we know, Kojima could be taking a sly jab at Konami, who reportedly wanted the Metal Gear Solid games to be more grounded in reality.

Yoji Shinkawa – character designer on the Metal Gear series under Kojima and now working on Death Stranding, also chimed in – scoffing at a Metal Gear game that, as far as we have seen, doesn’t actually feature a Metal Gear.

“If I had worked on that game, it would have mechs in it,” Shinkawa said.