chefpyro:

I really like the way Metal Gear has its three “Snake” protagonists, who in theory are supposed to be identical in both function and appearance (even sharing voice actors) because they’re clones and body doubles, but are written so distinctly.

Solid Snake is very professional. He keeps everything focused on the mission while on the job, to the point where he may seem cold and distant. Still, softer aspects of his personality shine through when he’s with people he likes, showing a person who’s very caring and even philosophical, as he goes on about love and spending his life in a worthwhile way. Unlike his brother, he seems to have no issue whatsoever with his existence as a clone.

Naked Snake, or Big Boss, was specifically introduced to be very different from Solid, as MGS3 explicitly shows him being brash, even witty, as he jokes around with his colleagues. However, he undergoes radical changes in personality as the series unfolds his story. In every subsequent appearance, the various traumas he endures cause him to become more ruthless, bitter and disillusioned, and he slowly loses his sense of humour and ability to care about others. At the end of the series, as an old man, he’s become full of regret, having never gotten over the loss of his mentor.

Venom Snake (initially) believes himself to be Big Boss, but doesn’t know how to play the part off-mission. He’s got the skills and the looks, but he’s far less vocal. Venom’s personality is mostly shown through his actions. He’s repeatedly shown to care about his staff beyond simply playing the Boss’ role. He panics when Quiet is injured, gets emotional when cremating fallen comrades, and displays extreme guilt over not being able to save Paz’s life. Ironically, he’s probably a better leader than Big Boss is.

Which do you think the boss would like the most