Top 10 Metal Gear Solid Characters

Discovering his telekinetic powers at a very young age, Psycho Mantis has been enlisted in various organizations due to his unique gift. Mantis began his career by working with the KGB, and eventually the FBI, until he finally finds solace as FOXHOUND's psychic expert. Wearing a gas mask to prevent thoughts of others to force entry, Mantis uses his ability to aid his group of mercenaries to take over Shadow Moses Island and wage war against the U.S. Of course, everyone remembers Psycho Mantis the best for being able to break the 4th wall to mess with your controller and read your memory card.

During the events of Metal Gear 2, this mercenary rivaled Solid Snake as one of the best in the world. When the soldier later defects from FOXHOUND to battle alongside Big Boss, he's eventually beaten and killed by his former comrade Snake. His body is later recovered and built into a super exoskeleton suit, granting him life, but at the cost of his humanity. Longing to challenge his longtime rival once again and despising his status as a government guinea pig, this tragic character still raises Naomi out of guilt for killing her parents.

Not many have the liberty of calling Solid Snake their best friend, however Otacon, real name Dr. Hal Emmerich probably knows the silent protagonist better than anyone else. Originally employed as a weapons specialist in the Shadow Moses incident, Otacon now works with Snake in procuring the nation's defense against Metal Gears. He can often be seen providing Snake intel using Codec or various other telecommunication devices, as he isn't nearly as useful on the field. Otacon's expert tech skills are only matched by his loyalty, along with his affinity for anime.

Raised as a spy by the Philosophers, a secret organization of the wisest and most wealthy men of the world, Eva worked as a sleeper agent in operation Snake Eater. Posing as a KGB agent, this allusive woman was able to get close to not only Colonel Volgin, but also Big Boss. After completing her mission in securing the Philosophers' Legacy, Eva disappears. She later becomes the surrogate mother to both Solid and Liquid Snake in the Les Infants Terribles project.

This special forces agent played a key role in the Big Shell mission, which is later revealed to have been an elaborate plan into crafting him into the next Solid Snake – which almost explains the bait and switch that has you playing as him throughout most of the second game. His troubled past links him to being a child soldier in Liberia, under the rule of Solidus Snake. Originally a pawn of The Patriots, Raiden is later recaptured after the Big Shell incident and built into a cybernetic ninja. Brooding on his dark history and his fate of existence as an expendable soldier, Raiden later finds resolve in fighting for his mentor Solid Snake.

A product of Big Boss' experiment in using his genes to clone three perfect soldiers. Being led to believe that he received the recessive or inferior genes from the legendary soldier, Liquid grew to become envious of his highly revered brother, Solid Snake. In attempts to forego his late father's work, Liquid declares war on the United States in the Shadow Moses incident. In Snake and Liquid's final battle, Liquid succumbs to the FOXDIE virus, but later lives on through Ocelot's surgically attached arm. Or so we’re meant to think.

This character's place in the series seems to transcend almost all titles, as more of his role and identity is revealed after every successive game. Originally introduced as one of Liquid Snake's henchmen, his affiliation with the Patriots later becomes evident, while his ultimate goal is to see them disassembled. Ocelot now shares a consciousness with Liquid through fusing with his right arm. He also shares a deep history with his idol Big Boss, meeting on opposing sides of the battlefield in Operation Snake Eater.

Debatably the woman who started it all. The Boss was the mentor of the legendary soldier we know as Big Boss today. During The Cold War, The Boss spent nearly a decade training with Snake, developing their signature combat style, CQC. When her country ran into peril and needed a scapegoat, The Boss was forced to defect and pose as a traitor, culminating in her demise at the hands of none other than her beloved student. Only a select few know of her sacrifice, while the rest brand her as a heretic to this day.

Product of the Les Enfants Terribles project, former FOXHOUND agent, hero of Shadow Moses; need we go on? But honestly, there's not much that this man hasn't done. After the Shadow Moses incident, Snake was labeled a traitor by the Patriots, so he ends up staging his own death to sever any ties to a government organization. Thereafter, Snake stopped a World War catastrophe from transpiring in the Big Shell incident. He has since believed to retire after his final mission, mainly due to his accelerated aging, a side effect of his cloned genes. To the uninitiated Snake would be a clear number 1, if it wasn’t for someone even bigger.

Before we unveil our pick for Top Metal Gear Solid Character, here are a few honorable mentions:

Meryl Silverburgh
Solidus Snake
Fortune
Roy Campbell
Colonel Volgin

No surprises here. The only person worthy of taking this top spot would be the man that fathered the best soldier the world has ever known. After being forced to take the life of his longtime mentor and friend, Big Boss retired from the CIA, only to later form his own mercenary group. Soon amassing enough funds, Big Boss dreamed to create a safe haven for talented soldiers casted away and mistreated by their government. The Outer Heaven he would later build would be in direct tribute to his late mentor. The only man better than Solid Snake is the O.G. Snake himself.

Do you agree with our list? What Metal Gear Solid character was your favorite? For more awesome Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.