And such caliber can be inserted via Ocelot's hypnotic gun twirling and some surgery. Why in the holy hell would you not create a literal army of BBs?
because it's not just about wanting something. The world doesn't bend to your will and learn to fear your name because you dream big. You have to have lived a life that tempers you into the weapon BB became. You do - in fact - need the years of training, hardship, insanity and self reflection that BB had to be a legend on the level that he is.
As well as buff as shit. And tough as nails. And oh so gruff sexy for when the super spying needs to start.
The idea that just anyone could reach BB's level of skill and technique and bravery and zen like war murder ability... cheapens him. The game doesn't even need to be MGSV if that's the case. What's the point? Just make it about some random soldier in MSF working for Boss and move on. But no... we had to take a chainsaw to the glory and legend of one of our most loved characters in the series.
Gotcha. Thanks Koj. You fuckin prankster you.
We don't know what experiences the medic had previously. Only the likelihood that he had skill since he was with BB on his most personal mission. But I think this series has generally sided with the idea that fighting spirit trumps all. Obviously strength and stamina and such plays a role, but an indomitable will is ultimately what makes the man.
I didn't mean to imply that Big Boss' genes were the only thing that made him special, but that they were at the very least an important part of who he was. And I don't agree with your assertion that all of these hero characters rose above due to force of will. Venom didn't. He didn't have a will of his own, they just grafted Big Boss' onto him. At the start of MGS2 Raiden doesn't, it's part of his arc that he recognizes the need to break away from his "programming" and become his own man.
Raiden breaking away from his programming is force of will. The programming is his training, not what makes him "work." And Venom thought he was Big Boss, but he was still, at his core, his own man. I certainly don't think his personality matches 1:1 with the real BB. The difference in tone between Ishmael and Ahab is day and night.
Ultimately, it was Venom out on the field, in life-and-death situations, suffering from injury and the elements, etc. He had to reach down inside himself and pull out what it takes to persevere.
Which again, is the whole point: Force of will. Not genes.
Beserker976 said:
And now that I've thought about this for a bit...
MGSV:
-Cheapens MGS1 by undermining the idea of Big Boss' genetic uniqueness
-Directly contradicts MGS2's message to the player
-Cheapens MGS3 by explaining Skull Face was integral to Naked Snake's success
-Creates a bunch of plot holes that had been paved over in MGS4
-Kills, ignores, or radically changes all the characters from Peace Walker
MGSV is kind of just a giant "fuck you" to the series
I agree with you on PW (although I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing). Not sure what you're thinking about MGS4.
With MGS3, I think it just makes BB a bit more human. What he did is still incredible -- but it turns out there was more to the legend. As is always the case in real life. I can understand your disappointment if you prefer BB the Superman. It seems many people do.
As for origins, as explored in MGS1 and MGS2... I don't know. Seems consistent to me. All three characters (Solid, Raiden, Venom) have some background that gives them a baseline of skill. But at the end of the day they carve their own paths with their own wills. Even Venom, who starts in service to BB, goes his own way at the end, and since he thinks he can, he proves himself an equally capable "Big Boss."
