It's been a long, long road for the Metal Gear series. Since the first game hit the MSX in 1987, we've had more than two dozen games (counting the spin-offs) across a multitude of different platforms. With The Phantom Pain set to close the series and bring it back full circle chronologically to the first game, developer Konami has pushed out a few infographics charting the games' progression from then to now.
The image above shows the two main snakes in their various forms, and how the character model evolved over the years from blocky pixels, to rough polygons, and finally, the peanut buttery smooth goodness of Big Boss Snake in Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.
Below, you'll see another graphic showing the titular Metal Gears in their various forms from game to game...to game (but only the Solid series). Big, small, from the REX to the Basilisk, they're all there, save for the mechanical monstrosity to be featured in The Phantom Pain (but there is the briefest of peeks at it in the game's trailer).
Stefanie Joosten, Model for MGS 5's Sniper Quiet Answers Fan Theories for The Phantom Pain
There's also the graphic comparing the games' respective maps to each other. More on that here.
Fans were recently treated to a nice cinematic trailer of The Phantom Pain at this year's E3. Check out the whole thing below.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is set to release sometime next year for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. In addition to Big Boss / Snake, other familiar faces include Ocelot, Chico, Huey Emmerich, Kaz, Ground Zeroes' Skull Face, and others.
