When Does "Metal Gear" (1987) Take Place?

"Metal Gear" is a spy science fiction video game written by Hideo Kojima, designed for the MSX system, that released July 1987. So when is "Metal Gear" set? 


It takes place on the fictional Metal Gear timeline in the year: 

1995 AD 



We know this because in the next game, "Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake" (1990), which takes place in December of 1999 AD, George Kasler specifically refers to the infiltration of Outer Heaven when he says "Three years ago, when Outer Heaven"... This would make it 1996 AD

1999 - 3 = 1996. 

HOWEVER, this was changed to 4 years previous in the mission files readable in "Metal Gear Solid" (1998), the third installment and reaffirmed in various timelines and references over the following games. 

1999 - 4 = 1995. 

For instance, in "Metal Gear Solid" (1998), Nastasha Romanenko says, "I do not know much about Metal Gear. Just the little I have heard. I know it appeared in Outer Heaven in 1995 and then again in Zanzibar Land in 1999", referring to the events of this game and its sequel. 

It is a chronologically midway game in the Metal Gear universe and can be played either at its timeline point or first [before "Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake" (1990)] as part of a retro release order experience. 


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