I Can Haz Revengeance?, 10.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating

If you spend any appreciable amount of time on the internet then you have no doubt run across the word “meme.” For most people, it refers to funny pictures with interchangeable captions–mostly cats with poor grammar. Popular usage has essentially transformed the word “meme” into a synonym for “online in-joke.”

However, as we discussed on the latest BT Podcast, the field of memetics is a real thing with actual scholars and academic literature. The term itself was coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, as a way to describe the transmission of culture in a way analogous to genetics. In essence, Dawkins argued that human beings pass down our ideas the same way we pass down genes, hence the neologism.

What does this have to do with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance? Everything.

Smart and pretty? Platinum has it all.

Without spoiling any of the great revelations or plot points of Raiden’s latest adventure, it needs to be said that Hideo Kojima’s most recent script is absolutely obsessed with the concept of memes. More than a few cutscenes are entirely dedicated to discussions of the subject, all of which use the sociological definition, instead of the internet one. But instead of coming of as pretentious or irrelevant, these ideological conversations actually help tie up a lot of the themes that have been building up over the entire Metal Gear franchise.

Think back to the infamous “recessive/dominant gene speech” from Metal Gear Solid. While Liquid Snake’s understanding of biology was laughable, the themes of genetics and inheritance run back deep into the series. The idea that people are slaves to their birth (whether they are clones, child soldiers, etc.) is a recurring motif throughout almost every title. This preoccupation translates seamlessly from genes to memes in Revengeance, as it is revealed that the happy ending of Guns of the Patriots was merely temporary.

The evil conspiracy controlling the world may have been stopped, but its memes are still alive.

Blade wolf can has cheeseburger.

Taking this to its logical conclusion can be downright chilling. If we delve all the way back to Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, we can recall that Big Boss established Outer Heaven for seemingly noble reasons. Although his actions have been expanded upon in more recent releases, the basic idea behind this action is that Big Boss believed that soldiers should be free to fight beyond the boundaries of government. Solid Snake spent decades fighting this notion, in order to free the world from the grasp of The Patriots and stop the “War Economy.” He seemingly succeeds at the end of Metal Gear Solid 4, yet the Outer Heaven meme lives on in the culture of private military contractors, which in turn continues to fund the military-industrial complex.

The implication seems to be that war is not political–it’s cultural. People fight for different reasons, but they merely inherit these ideas. In fact, Raiden’s main character arc in Revengeance involves his personal struggle with his reason for killing, and the answer isn’t pretty. This existential dilemma isn’t just limited to Jack either. Blade Wolf, the Unmanned Gear pictured above, similarly embodies a conflict between personal freedom and literal societal programming.

Ultimately, most of the questions raised by the game are left for the player to decide. Can we ever escape the ubiquity of society’s memes? What does it mean to be free? What responsibility do the strong have to the weak? There is a lot more going on in this title than its name would have you believe.

Robo-gorillas don’t symbolize anything. They’re just cool.

The blurring of the line between man and machine is also an important theme of Metal Gear Rising, although it falls a bit outside of the scope of this essay. However, if you’re curious, take some time to compare the amount of cybernetic implants each antagonist has with their sense of morality. The pattern is both clear and incredibly interesting. Also, the glorious finale is a scathing indictment of American exceptionalism, which has to be seen to be believed. I may return to it once everyone has had a chance to complete the game.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to dig too deeply into specifics without ruining the story. Still, I hope some of the ideas here will enhance your Metal Gear Rising experience, or give you food for thought if you’ve already beaten it. Revengeance may seem like a silly game on the surface, but underneath its bloody exterior is the same intelligence and heart that drive every Hideo Kojima project. With that said…

NANOMACHINES, SON! (ENDING SPOILERS)

Pixelated Pretension is a weekly column by Austin Yorski dedicated to discussing the literary conventions of video games, including themes, rhetoric, and symbolism. Tune in every other week for more analysis. Feel free to disagree with, add to, or question everything. I welcome your feedback. Also, follow me on Twitter @austinyorski (please).

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