Codecs

One of the things I absolutely love about these games is the ability to call your team whenever you'd like! For most situations, every character will have a totally different reaction & different information to share regarding it. In a boss fight, you'll get totally different advice from your weapons specialist versus the mission lead, characters who are "friendlier" to the protagonist might give a more emotional insight into the scene. It's a lovely way to round out the world for the players who seek it, and when you go out of your way to find the most absurd dialogues it's very rewarding.

Below I've linked YouTube-hosted videos of all the codecs I talk about, which unfortunately may make this page a bit laggy. I've also written transcripts with periodic notes about the dialogues in each video in a screenplay fortmat. Without further ado, here's some of my favorites, as well as some of the history of this system along the way!

A gif from MGS Ghost Babel, Mei Ling & Snake on a codec call. She says 'You rang, Snake?'

Metal Gear Solid

The codec system as we know it got its start here. MG and MG2 had transciever mode, which gave, for the most part, one-sided conversations on the part of whoever's frequency you were on. The conversations you could hear were very limited to boot, based only on your location in the game with very to-the-point dialogue about where you should head next. MGS introduced voice acting to its calls, more unique & situational dialogues, and even the term codec.

The voice acting really shines here, after the torture sequence the guard outside of Snake's cell will sneeze periodically. A bit after breaking out, Snake will start sneezing too. Calling your team will give some spectacular performances on David Hayter's part.

Transcript

CAMPBELL
Snake, Naomi wants to talk to you.
NAOMI
How do you feel, Snake?
SNAKE
Well, to tell you the truth, I think I'm catching a cold...¹

1. Please just listen to this line delivery.

During the Liquid/Hind D fight, if you call Campbell while you're playing the game on mono audio you'll get some really great dialogue of your support team...basically dunking on you. MGS1, and by extent the whole series, has some great fourth wall breaking codecs, but this one is so ridiculous I feel it's worth the attention out of any of those other moments.

Transcript

CAMPBELL
Huh? Snake, you're not using a stereo TV!?
MEI LING
It can't be!
NAOMI
A mono TV...
CAMPBELL
Hmmmmm...
NAOMI
Well Colonel... there's nothing we can do about it...
CAMPBELL
...I guess you're right
CAMPBELL
Snake, don't worry about it. There's more to being a good person than just having a stereo television. You can do it just the way you are!
MEI LING
A mono TV...

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

MGS2's codecs are relatively similar to MGS's, the biggest differences being 3D models in the place of illustrated portraits and thus the ability to pan the models around the screen with the analog sticks. There's also a hidden feature where you can press R1 or R2 to hear Snake/Raiden's positive and negative thoughts about the conversation—something I'll hopefully write a separate article on in the future!

At the very start of the game, in the opening Tanker mission, Otacon takes the "Mei Ling" role of giving motivational quotes as you save your game. Except he's absolutely horrible at it. I'd highlight all 13 of the conversations, but this one's a personal favorite.

Transcript

OTACON
You know the story about Achilles and Paris? The moral here is—er—something about his heel? Anyway, even the great and virtually immortal hero Achilles was finally done in by Paris. Talk about a dangerous city... So don't get complacent. The mission can turn around and get you.
SNAKE
Wasn't Paris a person?
OTACON
What?
SNAKE
Paris. I thought he was a—
OTACON
Snake, there's a time and a place for conspiracy theories. Please, I'm trying to concentrate here.
SNAKE
Huh? Ah, sorry...?

This call is unlocked early in the Plant chapter, by running right to the CD connecting bridge after meeting Pliskin then calling him. I like this conversation because it's a fun (albeit subtle) subversion of Snake's usual calm and collected demeanor. That, and the Snakes' fondness for boxes will never get old to me.

Transcript

RAIDEN
Pliskin, I just saw someone wearing a cardboard box just now...?
PLISKIN
A box? I don't know anything about that. You sure you weren't imagining things?
RAIDEN
Of course I'm sure. Do you think it's one of the members of Dead Cell?
PLISKIN
How should I know?
RAIDEN
I don't want to fight someone like that...
PLISKIN
Why not?
RAIDEN
Because it looked so dumb. Anyone who's willing to be seen like that must be completely insane. I mean, he's a psycho; there's no question about it.
PLISKIN
Um, yeah...

The next conversation can be unlocked around the same time as the last example through a random selection of calls. It's a pretty standard Metal Gear-style infodump until it isn't, but it's so iconic I had to put it here.

Transcript

PLISKIN
Vamp is a member of Dead Cell. Born in Romania, his speciality is knives. But I guess you know that by now. When he was just a kid, he lost his family to a terrorist bomb that went off in a church they were attending. His body pierced by a crucifix, Vamp was buried under the rubble for two days before he was finally rescued. During those two days, he survived by feeding on the blood of his family to quench his thirst. That was how he acquired a taste for blood...
RAIDEN
So that's why they call him "Vamp"...
PLISKIN
No, "Vamp" isn't for vampire. It's because he's bisexual...¹
(...)
PLISKIN
As you say, Vamp and Fortune are very close. Not lovers, but very close...
RAIDEN
Friends?
PLISKIN
No. There's more to their relationship than that.
RAIDEN
But Vamp was her father's lover!
PLISKIN
Would it have been better if it was with her mother?²

1. Fun fact, this is the first spoken instance of the word bisexual in a video game!
2. I just like this line a lot ^.^

The segment of the game this next codec is from completely and utterly blew my mind the first time I played MGS2. All the random codec calls in Arsenal Gear are fantastic, but this one was so bonkers to me, it kind of made me reconsider just what you can do with games as a genre—especially with psychological horror. Not to mention, these calls are such a unique way to use the system in place to create an unsettling environment!

Transcript

CAMPBELL
Raiden, turn the game console off right now!
RAIDEN
What did you say?
CAMPBELL
The mission is a failure! Cut the power right now!
RAIDEN
What's wrong with you?
CAMPBELL
Don't worry, it's a game! It's a game just like usual.
ROSEMARY
You'll ruin your eyes playing so close to the TV.
RAIDEN
What are you talking about!?

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

MGS3 reverts the codec screen back into portraits...sort of. The character you're speaking to is represented by a series of slides with different photos of them, while Snake himself is a 3D model on the rightmost side. The radio here also allows you to view information about the characters you're speaking to, such as their full name, height, weight and more! There's even secret frequencies hidden through the codec, like channels that allow you to heal your stamina. This game really took the codec system above and beyond, and is quite honestly the most elaborate it gets in the series.

This codec can be unlocked by calling The Boss during the Virtuous Mission part of the game, it stands out to me as a staple of any Metal Gear game: an absurd explanation as to why this experience is a game. It's also not one I see people talking about much, if at all, for all its implications.

Transcript

BOSS
Always be listening for that one snap of a twig among the chirping of the birds and the babbling of the brooks. Your sense of smell is also important. Body odor, sweat, gunpowder, food... These faint smells wafting in the wind will tell you where the enemy...
SNAKE
Uh, no.
BOSS
No?
SNAKE
I can't smell.
BOSS
You... what now?
SNAKE
I can't smell.
BOSS
Not at all?
SNAKE
Nope.
BOSS
Not even a little bit?
SNAKE
Not a thing.
BOSS
Oh... Well, then, you'll just have to trust in your instincts as a gamer.¹

1. This is objectively the funniest Boss line ever.

Just like how you could discuss the items you held in previous MGS games, MGS3 allows you to discuss what camoflauge you're wearing! If you call Sigint with the GA-KO camo on, you'll get this really fun call where Para-medic interrupts.

Transcript

SIGINT
By the way, Snake, that outfit is really killing your Camo Index. Unless you want the enemy to see you, I'd suggest you change your clothes as...
PARA-MEDIC
Why?
SIGINT
Why? Because his Camo Index is...
PARA-MEDIC
Camo Index, shmamo Index.
SIGINT
Hold on now...
PARA-MEDIC
He's wearing the GA-KO suit.
SIGINT
Why?
PARA-MEDIC
Because it looks cute.
SIGINT
Snake, talk some sense into her!
SNAKE
What's wrong with being cute?
SIGINT
...am I the only normal person around here...?

Another item dialogue, this time by equipping the croc hat and calling EVA, unique because it references earlier codecs (the ones earlier in the video). It's a nice change, how MGS3 lets the characters simply interact and have a good time over the codec, despite the circumstances surrounding the game.

Transcript

EVA
Snake?
SNAKE
EVA, what do you think?
Eva laughs.
EVA
What a dork! You must be kidding me! Are you willing to risk your life for that joke?
SNAKE
All right! Finally, I get a normal response.
EVA
???
SNAKE
Everyone was giving me strange responses and acting like nothing was odd about it. I was starting to wonder myself, but now I feel better.
EVA
I'm not sure what you're talking about, but you look adorable in it.
EVA snorts and continues laughing as she speaks.
EVA
Sorry. I've got to go. This is too much...
Snake grumbles incoherently.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

In MGS4, the codec UI is more like a Facetime call, where you see a full video of whoever's on the line, but not Snake interacting with them, and now the frequencies you can call are locked, so there's no secret frequencies like in Snake Eater. The codec serves its purpose in this game, and certainly still has its fair share of fun moments and unique situations, but the loss of what existed in MGS3 can certainly be felt.

One interesting set of call scenarios are with Rosemary after Snake dies. Calling her will cause Snake to discuss how he died as if it's something he half remembers happening, which is a very cool way to give the player's actions a stake in the world!

Transcript

SNAKE
Rose, I know it sounds weird, but I can't shake this feeling that I've drowned before.
ROSEMARY
Like...deja vu?
SNAKE
Well, more like I have this gut feeling, like I died underwater at some point.
ROSEMARY
Are you afraid of water?
SNAKE
I'm not afraid of anything.
ROSEMARY
Then, I wonder what it could be.
SNAKE
Except, now it feels like I'm more aware than ever of drowning. I'm paying more attention to my O2 Gauge, and coming up for air more regularly.
ROSEMARY
That's a good thing, then! As long as you're aware of that danger and how to avoid it, you'll be able to respond more effectively to real-life crises.¹
SNAKE
You're right. No more risky underwater maneuvers for me.
ROSEMARY
Good to hear it, Snake. That's what we're all hoping for... That you'll finish the mission and come home safely.
SNAKE
Hmph. That'd be nice. Anyway, sorry to bother you.
ROSEMARY
Not at all. You can call me anytime, Snake.

1. Giving Snake a therapist is the most important thing they've ever done in this series.

For every single other one of these I have a comment about how it ties into the functions of codecs or the messaging of the series as a whole, but I just like this one a lot and I wanted to include it! This dialogue's unlocked by calling Otacon in the Shadow Moses tank hangar.

Transcript

OTACON
I always suspected there was a little something crazy about you, Snake. But hearing that story... Now I know it. You're nuts! Single-handedly taking out a tank? That's crazy! You're insane!
SNAKE
Otacon, is this your idea of a compliment?
OTACON
Yes! You're the toughest, craziest, most hardcore badass on the planet. You're...the shit!

Another iconic codec, there's something about the way Metal Gear will go back and forth between justifying its existence as a game and just running away with it (this one being the latter) that's so charming to me. This call occurs right after the Crying Wolf boss fight.

Transcript

OTACON
Hold it, Snake. Time to change the disc. I know, I know... It's a pain. But you need to swap Disc 1 for Disc 2. You see the disc labeled "2"?
Snake huffs.
SNAKE
No.
OTACON
Huh? Oh, wait! We're on Playstation 3! It's a Blu-ray Disc. Dual-layered, too - no need to swap.
SNAKE
Damn it, Otacon, get a grip!
OTACON
Heh. Yeah, what an age we live in, huh, Snake? Wonder what they'll think of next!

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

PW changes it up, while codecs do exist in the game, their narrative function is moreso replaced by the briefings/casette tapes. Codecs by name serve only as an in-mission reminder about where to head to next, while the menu's casettes are where context, motives and other flavor events are discussed. It's an interesting change, and not necessarily a bad one, where it's now perfectly possible for the casual player to hear all there is to hear in a way codecs before didn't make possible.

Yet another iconic conversation, this conversation with Huey is unlocked after the third and final Peace Walker fight.

Transcript

HUEY
Snake, how much do you know about the U.S. homeland air defense network?
SNAKE
I don't know much about what goes on up in the sky. What I do know is that NORAD tracks Santa Claus on its radar.
HUEY
Ha! Nice one. I didn't know you were a comedian too!
SNAKE
Huh? No, I'm serious...
Huey laughs.
SNAKE
It's true. NORAD tracks his...
Huey laughs even harder.
SNAKE
Listen to me! Every December, they set up a hotline and...
Huey loses it.
HUEY
OK, OK, I get it.
SNAKE
...He's real, I tell ya. He... used to bring me presents and...¹

1. The mental image of the Boss giving Jack presents every year makes me tear up a little bit. Did he not piece it together after she left. This man is in his 50s.

As this is the game I'm currently playing through, these are all the codecs that stand out to me as I write this. Down the line, and as I explore the rest of the mainline games and their spinoffs, I'd love to go through and add even more! Maybe even record my own footage of these calls and host them on my own server.