Snake's struggle: hayter admits kojima's plots remain a 'huh?'

Ever felt adrift in the labyrinthine storytelling of Metal Gear Solid? You’re far from alone. Veteran voice actor David Hayter, the iconic Snake himself, has confessed that even he struggles to fully grasp the complexities of Hideo Kojima’s sprawling narratives.

A confession from the voice of a legend

Speaking on the Fall Damage podcast, Hayter admitted that while he understands the “gist” of the series – a vague “basically, I do” – the intricate details and convoluted plotlines often leave him bewildered. “I’d be like, ‘What does this mean?’ And they’d say, ‘Just say it.’” The experience, he joked, was punctuated by frequent, frustrating demands from Kojima’s team to simply deliver the lines without fully comprehending their context.

Despite this ongoing confusion, Hayter staunchly defended the core of what makes the series – arguably one of gaming’s most influential franchises – so compelling. “There’s more information, there’s more character development, there’s more detail to the story than you can ever possibly absorb, no matter how many times you play it.” He emphasized that this level of depth, this almost overwhelming density of narrative, is precisely what creates the series’ undeniably immersive and richly realized world. It’s a compelling argument for the series' lasting appeal, even if deciphering it feels like an academic exercise.

Forgiveness and a delayed game

Hayter’s admission comes alongside a retrospective on his initial reaction to being replaced by Kiefer Sutherland in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Initially, he recounted, the prospect of playing the game without his voice – a decision he considered akin to “60 hours of humiliation” – was unthinkable. “I’ve got no particular love for Kojima,” he stated plainly. “I don’t feel any need to go back and work with him again.”

However, looking back a decade later, Hayter expressed a surprising shift in perspective. “There was reluctance. I didn’t want to play the game because I figured it would hurt my feelings. Then, you know, 10 years went by and I was like, ‘Ah, to hell with my feelings. What do I care?’” As a screenwriter, accustomed to being let go, Hayter admitted that the experience – and the subsequent realization that he shouldn’t let it affect him – was a valuable lesson. “I was like, ‘Stop being a baby and play the game.’ So I played it. It’s amazing.”

The series' intricate layers, despite their inherent difficulty, are what truly define it. Hayter’s admission, coupled with his eventual acceptance of Kojima’s vision, offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a gaming icon – and the enduring enigma of a truly remarkable, albeit occasionally baffling, creative force.