Original Snake Voice Actor Discovers Metal Gear Solid V

After many years of giving Snake his iconic raspy voice, David Hayter says he has finally "forgiven" series creator Hideo Kojima for not casting him in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain—once he got around to playing the game and discovering how "amazing" it is.

Back when he was replaced by Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland, Hayter acknowledged that playing the game then would have felt like "60 hours of humiliation." He even remarked, "I've got no particular love for Kojima. I don't feel any need to go back and work with him again."

Now, with time and perspective, Hayter told PC Gamer, "I was reluctant at first. I avoided playing because I expected it to sting. But after a decade had passed, I thought, 'Ah, forget my pride. What does it matter?' […] I’m a screenwriter—getting fired is part of the job. I eventually get let go from every single project. I’m not a child."

"I told myself, 'Stop acting like a baby and just play the game.' So I did. And it's incredible."

Hayter has also made peace with Sutherland. After running into him at a Dallas bar, the two "had a bunch of drinks." "He's a genuinely good guy. No hard feelings. All is forgiven," Hayter added.

So, what makes The Phantom Pain so impressive in Hayter’s view?

"You can approach the same mission setup every time, with the enemies following the same patterns, but your tactics and entry points can vary completely. It creates this sensation of time travel… Yeah, that was seriously cool. As far as I’m concerned, all is forgiven."

We also consider it a masterpiece, noting in IGN's 10/10 Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain review: "The Phantom Pain is the kind of game I never thought possible—one where every subtle gameplay detail serves a real purpose. While the lighter narrative focus may split longtime Metal Gear fans, the emphasis on crafting your own stories of Espionage Action easily makes it my favorite entry in the series."

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