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"Mature Content Warning!" |
| “ | The nightmares? They never go away, Snake. Once you've been on the battlefield, tasted the exhilaration, the tension... it all becomes part of you. Once you've awakened the warrior within... it never sleeps again. You crave ever bigger tensions, ever bigger thrills. As a mercenary, I'd think you would have realized that by now. You care nothing for power, or money, or even sex. The only thing that satisfies your cravings is war! All I've done is give you a place for it. I've given you a reason to live. | „ |
| ~ Big Boss in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. |
| “ | This is good...isn't it? | „ |
| ~ Big Boss's last words. |
John, also known as Big Boss, is one of the two main protagonists (alongside Solid Snake) of the Metal Gear franchise.
He is a legendary soldier who earns his title after defeating his mentor, The Boss, during the Cold War. This event marks the beginning of his complex journey, transforming from a loyal soldier into a revolutionary leader. He experiences and disillusionment with governmental manipulation lead him to establish military states such as Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land. These havens for soldiers are founded on his philosophy that soldiers should live free from political control, fighting for their own beliefs rather than those of their governments. This vision of perpetual conflict puts him at odds with global powers and ultimately with his protégé, Solid Snake.
He was voiced by David Hayter in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and by Richard Doyle in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
His Evil Ranking[]
What Makes Him Heinous?[]
In General[]
- He aims to perpetuate never-ending wars on the world from his disillusionment with the existing global order and his vision for a world where soldiers, whom he considers to be the ultimate beings, can exist without restraint, which would cause countless deaths.
- He is one of the founders of the Patriots, a group who were responsible for many deaths and wars and many conflicts.
Peace Walker[]
- Initially refused to get involved in Costa Rica's conflict, but he eventually agreed after hearing a recording that contained the voice of The Boss. It was motivated not by justice or peace, but by his personal obsession with The Boss.
- Established MSF as a mercenary group for hire, effectively becoming a warlord.
- Although MSF’s mission was to protect Costa Rica, it marked the start of his transformation from a soldier of ideals to a leader of a private military force, profiting from war.
- Approved the creation of Metal Gear ZEKE, a nuclear-capable walking tank.
- Allowed Cipher’s influence to infiltrate MSF through Kazuhira Miller, who was working for Cipher. Though he forgave Miller later.
Ground Zeroes[]
- Despite knowing that Paz was a potential double agent for Cipher, he suggested killing her to eliminate the threat she posed to MSF. Although Kaz convinced him to rescue her, it was cold and pragmatic act.
- During the rescue, he found Chico severely traumatized and injured but chose to choke him unconscious rather than finding a more humane way to handle his panic.
- Chico had already endured significant psychological and physical torture, and this act added to his suffering.
- After the helicopter crash, he allowed Zero to create a mental and physical copy of him using the medic who had saved his life. He condoned the brainwashing and manipulation of the medic into believing he was Big Boss, effectively erasing the medic’s identity and using him as a pawn in his long-term plans.
- Upon waking from his coma, he learned that XOF forces were after him and the medic. Knowing this, he still went along with the plan to stay in the hospital, even though it put the lives of innocent patients, doctors, and nurses at risk. This resulted in a brutal attack on the hospital and numerous casualties.
- During the XOF attack on Mother Base, he and Miller focused on their own escape rather than coordinating a more organized defense of the base. While they provided some cover fire, they ultimately left many MSF soldiers to fend for themselves in the chaos, leading to the destruction of Mother Base and the deaths of many comrades.
Phantom Pain[]
- While Venom Snake was leading Diamond Dogs and fighting Skull Face, he secretly worked on his own project: the creation of the military nation Outer Heaven. This was part of his long-term plan to establish a state based on perpetual warfare, outside the control of any government.
- His actions ultimately caused a deep rift with Kazuhira Miller, who felt betrayed upon learning the truth about Venom Snake and the real Big Boss, which led Miller to oppose Big Boss, showing that Big Boss was willing to sacrifice even his closest friends to achieve his vision of Outer Heaven.
Metal Gear[]
- Rescued child soldiers like Frank Jaeger and Sniper Wolf, not to save them but to raise and train them as soldiers for his own purposes.
- Secretly built the mercenary state of Outer Heaven, aiming to create a military state where soldiers could live as warriors without political ties.
- Used Venom Snake as his stand-in, allowing him to carry out operations while Big Boss remained in the shadows, which led to his death.
- His genetic information was used to create super soldiers during the Gulf War, leading to Gulf War Syndrome and deformities in the children of the soldiers who were subjected to unethical experiments.
- Establishes the rogue state of Outer Heaven with the goal of creating a mercenary utopia and challenging global powers through military force.
- Outer Heaven killed numerous number of people in an attempt to ignite an infinte war around the world.
- Deceives FOXHOUND and Solid Snake by hiding his true identity as the leader of Outer Heaven.
- He spearheads the development of Metal Gear, a nuclear-armed walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from any terrain.
- Sends rookie agent Solid Snake on a mission to infiltrate Outer Heaven, hoping that Snake will fail and die.
- Sent Gray Fox on a mission to infiltrate Outer Heaven, only to leave him captured, using his capture as bait to manipulate Solid Snake into the operation.
- After NATO's bombing of Outer Heaven, he rescued survivors, but only because he intended to use them as future soldiers.
- Commissioned the development of the TX-55 Metal Gear, a bipedal nuclear tank capable of launching nuclear strikes from any terrain.
- Throughout Snake’s mission, he provides false information and misleading instructions to ensure Snake's failure.
- Kidnaps Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar, a scientist forced to develop the Metal Gear weapon under duress.
- Threatens the lives of Madnar's family to ensure the scientist's compliance in developing Metal Gear.
- Keeps numerous hostages within Outer Heaven to use as leverage and human shields against any attacks or rescue attempts.
- By developing Metal Gear, aims to escalate global tensions and force world powers to acknowledge and fear Outer Heaven.he
- Personally trying to eliminate Snake when his mission threatened Outer Heaven.
- Triggered the self-destruction of Outer Heaven, sacrificing his own soldiers to attempt to escape and cover up his involvement in its downfall.
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake[]
- He recruited war orphans from across the Third World.
- Forming another rogue state involved in nuclear proliferation after his initial defeat, called Zanibar Land, which is involved in terrorist activities destabilized regions worldwide.
- He recruits Frank Jaeger (Gray Fox) into his operations.
- He leaves Naomi Hunter in America while returning to continue fighting.
- Developed Metal Gear D, Creating a more advanced Metal Gear, increasing the nuclear threat.
- Kidnapped Dr. Kio Marv To control global oil supplies by obtaining his oil-eating bacteria, OILIX.
- Keeps Dr. Marv captive to extract the OILIX formula.
- Recruited Gray Fox, and manipulated him into fighting for his cause, ultimately leading to Gray Fox's defeat and betrayal by Solid Snake.
- His legacy indirectly led to the creation of the FOXDIE virus, which targeted and killed those with specific genetic markers.
- By controlling OILIX, he aims to manipulate global energy markets.
- He prepares for Solid Snake’s rescue attempt of CIA agent Holly White.
- He attempts to sabotage Snake’s mission in Zanzibar Land just like the first game.
- Uses Metal Gear D’s capabilities to blackmail world governments.
- Operates a large-scale illegal arms trade out of Outer Heaven. This contributes to global conflict and violence, as weapons end up in the hands of various militant groups.
- Once again faces off against Solid Snake, trying to eliminate him to protect his plans.
What Makes Him Inconsistent?[]
- He is genuinely tragic, as he was forced to kill his former mentor, The Boss, under orders from the U.S. government. This act haunts him deeply and shapes his subsequent actions and worldview.
- He showed care for and was very loyal to many people:
- The Boss: his mentor and mother figure, The Boss, holds a profound influence over him. Despite being forced to kill her in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater under orders, Big Boss deeply respects and honors her memory.
- EVA: they develop a romantic relationship during the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. EVA, initially posing as a KGB agent named Tatyana, infiltrates Volgin’s ranks to assist Big Boss (then known as Naked Snake) in his mission to recover the Philosophers’ Legacy. After the mission’s conclusion, EVA’s true identity and motives are revealed. Despite her initial deception, Big Boss forgives EVA for her role and the two part ways on amicable terms, with EVA expressing regret for her actions.
- Ocelot: though their relationship is complex and often adversarial, Big Boss cares about Ocelot, who serves as a protégé and ally in various stages of the series. Their shared history and mutual respect shape their interactions and alliances.
- He has many heroic acts, such as saving the world from Colonel Volgin, Gene, Hot Coldman and Skull Face.
- He finally regrets his actions at the end of Metal Gear Solid 4, as he realizes the wrong path he was walking in and apologizes to Snake for everything he put him through, before dying from the virus Snake infected him with, making his ultimate redemption.
External Links[]
- Big Boss on the Villains Wiki
- Big Boss on the Heroes Wiki
- Big Boss on the Metal Gear Wiki
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 Inconsistently Heinous
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Senator Armstrong | Big Boss | Revolver Ocelot | ||