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icarusallusion · 2 months

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On the kick of relationships I feel were a bit wasted on lack of expansion and fandom media literacy.

Volgin and Ocelot. While they definitely do not stem from the same problems as Kazuhira and Quiet like I talked about in my other post, I still feel they aren't explained enough, hours of exposition but nothing quite explains why they are the way they are. Part of that leads to their allure as characters, the years of character building we don't hear or see, but their subtle relationship really falls flat on a lot of gamers I've found.

Into them themselves before I get into all the meta stuff.

Volgin doesn't waste time torturing and shocking people who minorly inconvenience him. He kills Granin pretty much just for fun, shocks and sexually tortures EVA, tortures his own men from the simplest lack of respect, and nukes a facility which kills multiple of his countrymen. All of these disturb Ocelot, but he never says much about it until it comes at the pain of Russia itself. (i.e killing Granin who benefits them and Russia in turn, not truly caring about torture when he learns its for a spy, feeling bad ahout killing Russian men even those who go agaisnt the GRU, and the nukes destroying Russian soil and countrymen)

However any time Ocelot calls Volgin out on his sadistic and cruel behaviors, Volgin never says anything truly negative back to Ocelot. For a man who does awful things to everyone else the way he hesitates to hurt Ocelot whether through physical or verbal means was always interesting to me.

Especially this interaction after Granin is killed by Volgin.

Volgin speaks down on Ocelot, however this isn't done in an insulting way, it's simply the truth in Volgin's eyes. Volgin raised Ocelot since he was 16, Ocelot is still decades younger than him, and is still ranks below.

To Volgin, Ocelot needs to be weeded out himself, of the care he deeply holds for Russia. Volgin undermines Ocelot and how he feels towards the war and cruelty surrounding it, that his feelings have no place within the war and that they're a threat to their organization. While on the surface it refers to how Ocelot is too hot headed and jumps the gun, that he won't be able to focus if he is always judging others. On a deeper level, it read to me as Volgin cares for Ocelot. That the judgement from Ocelot doesn't just break the GRU's unity, it breaks Volgin's unity with Ocelot.

Volgin doesn't want to get rid of Ocelot, that much is evident when in the final boss battle when this is their exchange.

Ocelot shoots at Volgin, disobeys orders, disrespects his title, etc, etc. Despite this, they have the same back and forth they always do. Volgin simply keeps ordering him until Ocelot just leaves. It comes across as Volgin trusts Ocelot to find the bombs, either that or views him too inferior to do any real damage on his own devices. All and all, Volgin doesn't care about Ocelot's disrespect towards him when if it was anyone else they'd be dead.

Speaking of the boss fight, it really added more to their relationship.

THIS ESPECIALLY

Volgin comes so close to shocking Ocelot, but he can't, simply just a warning. Then in the next scene, Ocelot looks to Volgin for reassurance on his aid to Snake. This back and forth always ends each word from Ocelot with an obedience to Volgin.

The fact Volgin and Ocelot have whole conversations with each other from body language alone and the way Ocelot himself relies on body language really is such a good detail

The way they simply talk with one another also always felt like a parent to a child to me. (Maybe a very bad parent but still) In a way, they are a very fucked up found family.

Ocelot kidnapped by The Philosophers as a baby, sent to the GRU to be a spy at 16 and being guided through the rest of his years up until the end of teenage life by Volgin who he knew he'd have to betray at some point. Volgin who was raised by a member of The Philosopher.

While family has never been something they have been expanded on with, I think that speaks more. Neither Ocelot nor Volgin have any semblance with family. They are each other's only sense of that. Through the traitorous attitude of Ocelot and through the hedonist sadism fogging Volgin, they are the only people who get each other but ultimately are not fond of each other in most scenarios. They serve as a twisted parallel of The Boss and Snake to me.

Which sucks even more when The Boss is literally Ocelot's real mom, don't know how to thread that in either, but it's just ughhh literally custody battle between The Boss and Volgin every time they're on screen together with Ocelot

I could talk forever and ever about the analysis between them, but onto the meta. My issues are not within any prejudice or forced characterization like Kaz and Quiet. However, I feel they come from the writers thinking they were not interesting enough. They don't put a lot of their relationship on the surface and by the time players realize their relationship the game is over. MGS is really a game that always deserves a second playthrough to fully grasp its ideas and characters.

Volgin and Ocelot didn't grasp a lot of people because they weren't pushed and pushed like EVA and Snake. They were an afterthought in the game while I think they really could've been given more, considering how much of Volgin affects Ocelot. Ocelot liked torture because of how Volgin raised him, Ocelot has a complicated relationship with Russia partially due to Volgin, and Ocelot's relationships with people are forever shadowed by how Volgin raised him.

I think they really could've been something so interesting, but so much of it was swept under the rug by other relationships and topics within the game. I don't know, tell me what you think this is mostly spit balling about two characters I really like. 🐆

#metal gear solid #revolver ocelot #volgin mgs #looking back on this definitely couldve written this better lol

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armed-saphire · 1 year

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Descriptions from the MGS3 voice casting sheet: (there are a few grammatical/spelling errors, I'm assuming because it's translated from Japanese.) (also lots of spoilers ahead)

Snake-

Male, 30s, Standard English. His real name is Jack. Naked Snake is the code name he uses in the VR Missions and during Snake Eater operations. He will later be given the name, Big Boss, and is the Big Boss of the future. 6'5" high, and his physical constitution are thick like 'Schwarzenegger'. He has more of an "all mighty", tough fighting style. He is a persistent, highly independant hero. FOX (Force Operations X), the special forces team that Snake serves with in MGS3, will eventually become the unique special forces team, "FOX-HOUND", formed at the end of the 20th century for solo infiltration and destruction.

The Boss-

Female, 40s, slightly British accent. A British American female. Real name is unknown. The code name she uses in the U.S. is The Boss. She serves in FOX's VR Missions. She gives support via radio transmission during the VR Missions. Her age is unknown but she is a gorgeous female soldier somewhere in her 40s and single. She is mother of Ocelot. She had experienced the world war. She was involved with the British SAS, the American Green Beret and SEALs, and sits high on the list of each country's special-forces legendary soldiers lists. She is currently proposing the establishment of a new special force unit. She is Snake's mentor, and the only woman that Snake loves.

EVA-

Female, late 20s, standard English. Eva is a spy and Snake's supporting mole. Infiltrating the KGB, she acts as Sokolov's lover under the name Tatyana (nick name, Tanya). She is also romantically involved with Snake, but he doesn't know about her double identity (Tatyana and Eva). Eva is using Khrushchev in support of Snake. She is an ex-NSA code analyst, an American sexy blonde type super glamour chick. As Sokolov's helper (and lover), she infiltrates the GRU, where she also becomes the Major's lover. Actually, during MGS3, while working as a spy for China she falls for Snake while working together. She is a very wicked, fox-like woman, but likeable.

Major Zero-

Male, 50's, British accent. Real name is David Oh. In "FOX" he's known as Major Zero. He will be referred to as Major Tom in the VR Missions, but his code name, Major Zero, will be used during the main story. He offers intelligence support to Snake via radio transmission during missions. He belongs to the CIA bureau of classified planning, and is the commanding officer of "FOX". Major Tom is British, an English gentleman. He is in his 50's and single. Aiming to create a task force of absolute secrecy to collect intelligence during the Cold War period, he organized "FOX". Major Tom has a British accent.

Thunderbolt-

Male, 50s, standard English. He is the colonel/major of the GRU. His code name is Thunderbolt, real name Ephgeny Borisovich Volgen. He plays MGS3's villain role. He is a giant at over 6'7" tall. He is kind of a torture freak. Inheriting a fortune from the Assembly (his dead father's money laundering business was handed over), he builds an enormous base in Glasnigrad. Bringing in The Boss's group and the Brezhnev military faction, he seeks ultimate political power. A man of broad tastes, he keeps two lovers, one of them Lieutenant Raikov, the other Eve. He is the strategic operations commander of the enemy. He is an ex-boxing champion.

Ocelot-

Male, high teens, standard English. He is Snake's old enemy and biggest rival. He has an incredibly handsome appearance, and is, in a word, cool. He is a pure, likeable young man. As a teenager under Major Volgen, he commanded the elite force. Ocelot, son of a legendary hero and was raised to be an elite. First encounters Snake in the VR Missions, he was put to shame in front of his subordinates. He hopes and hunts for a chance to someday get even with Snake. Even after that, Snake always seemed to be one step ahead of him. In awe of always being outdone, Ocelot comes to respect and hold deep affection for Snake.

Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov-

Male, 20s, standard English. Ivan is a young GRU Lieutenant. An elite in the power hierarchy, he is next in line behind the Major, and also the Major's lover. In his 20s.

Paramedic-

Female, mid-20s, standard English, raised in Eastern part of US. A Caucasian female who handles Snake's medical care via radio transmission. She is in her mid-20s, divorced. She is a "FOX" support member. She has a full, round look to her, and a motherly feel.

Mr Sigint-

Male, mid-20s, African American accent. He is a Will Smith type, a 21st century young African American male. He is crazy about computers. A supporting member of "FOX", he appears in the main story of MGS3. Mr Sigint keeps tabs on Snake via radio transmission. He explains about historical or visionary weapons and gives advice on how to deal with certain enemies. As a member of the NSA, he is familiar with the most cutting edge electronic reconnaissance technology.

Director Sokolov-

Male, 50s, standard English. He is a Russian scientist and his full name is Nicholas Stepanovich Sokolov. He is the man Snake must recover and escort back. He runs the planning and design department with Khrushchev (KGB) funds. Possessing a tall, emaciated body, he appears to be nervous but diligent. He is the inventor of Shaghad. In fear of his own creation, he hopes to leave Russia. Climbing the Berlin wall to the west side, he finds protection, but in Cuba Missile Crisis related dealings, is brought back to Russia. In the main story he is killed by the Major, Volgen, after making contact with Snake.

Director Glanin-

Male, 60s, standard English. He is another Russian scientist. His full name is Alexander Leonovich Glanin. He is short and fat, with a sly look and way of talking. A member of the Kosygin faction, he works in the Glasnigrad Planning and Design Bureau as a scholar, funded by the GRU. He is the inventor of a two-legged walking machine (the eventual REX). He is crazy about vodka. Troubled with the development of incorporating nuclear powered energy into his two-legged walking machine, he consults his American friend (the father of Otacon). After leaking information to Snake, he is tortured to death by Major Volgen.

The Pain-

Male, 50s, standard English. A surviving member of Cobra. He has the ability to manipulate and command large numbers of bees. He is a giant at over 6'7" tall. He keeps the queen bee in his backpack, using her buzzing sound to guide the other bees. His body is also covered with bees. When they fly, a beehive is left behind, formed in his hand. The beehive can then be thrown like a grenade, exploding into a swarm of bees. The Pain keeps a highly toxic, "bullet bee" inside his body. When he removes his skullcap, the bullet bee is released from his mouth. This bullet bee, much like a real bullet, is fired at high speeds.

The Fear-

Male, 50s, standard English. He is a surviving member of Cobra. His real name is unknown. His arms and legs are considerably longer than a normal person's, and he climbs trees much the same way that a spider would (he can pop his limbs out of joint and bend them backwards). Using rope he can rapidly travel through the forest and between trees. He is indeed a spider man. He has a long, insect-like tongue (forked through surgery) and can grab things with it.

The Fury-

Male, 50s, standard English. He is a surviving member of Cobra. His real name is unknown. He wears a black Soviet-made space suit, which serves as a replacement for actual fire prevention gear. He is very skilled with a flamethrower. Like The Boss, he has experience going into space as an astronaut, but suffered full body burns when traveling through the atmosphere. He can no longer feel pain, and does not talk much at all. He lives to create angry, wicked fire. Removing his helmet reveals a burn-distorted face.

The Sorrow-

Male, 50s, standard English. He is an ex-member of Cobra, already dead. He was romantically involved with The Boss, and the father of Ocelot. In battle together with The Boss, he lost his own life to save hers, and his corpse still rests below a suspension bridge in Cherno Yarsuki. He becomes an ally of Snake. Since he is a ghost, he does not speak outside of the boss battle. He gives off a sense of intelligence and the feeling of a philosopher. His personality is dry and serious. He is unarmed and very weak when it comes to combat. He can use his spiritual mental power to communicate, and has the ability to summon the dead.

The End-

Male, 100 yrs old, standard English. A surviving member of Cobra with a code name (The End) that implies the meaning "demise". His real name is unknown. He is the oldest member of Cobra and taught The Boss everything about sniping. This legendary sniper was born in the 1860's, he will soon be more than 100 years old. He is the founder of all modern day sniping techniques, from stalking and ambushing, to general know-how. With lichen living parasitically in his body, he is a living miracle. Through the photosynthetic properties of the moss living in his body, he can survive without eating or drinking anything.

There are some additional ones that I felt didn't need to be included in this post but if you want to read them all of the descriptions are here.

#mgs #metal gear solid #mgs3 #metal gear solid 3 #metal gear solid 3 snake eater #big boss #naked snake #the boss mgs #eva mgs #ocelot mgs #revolver ocelot #volgin mgs #raikov mgs #cobra unit mgs #long post #fenix dont look

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