Are Big Boss and Venom Snake the Same? Unraveling the Truth
The simple answer is: No, Big Boss and Venom Snake are not the same person. While they share a striking resemblance and a complex interconnected history, they are distinct individuals with separate identities and motivations. The confusion surrounding their relationship is understandable, given the intricate plot of the Metal Gear Solid series, particularly Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. This article will delve deeper into their complex relationship, clarifying their individual roles and providing a comprehensive understanding of their connection.
Who is Venom Snake?
Venom Snake, also known as Punished “Venom” Snake, Ahab, V, or Big Boss’s phantom, was originally a combat medic for Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF). He is a crucial character introduced in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Following the destruction of MSF’s Mother Base in Ground Zeroes, he is severely injured and put into a coma. During his coma, he undergoes significant surgical modifications and is subjected to hypnotherapy by Major Zero and Ocelot. These procedures were intended to alter his appearance and mental state, transforming him into a “phantom” of Big Boss. He was essentially made to believe he was Big Boss.
The Transformation
His appearance was altered to closely resemble that of Big Boss. This included facial reconstruction, the addition of a shrapnel horn lodged in his skull (a remnant from the attack at the end of Ground Zeroes), and likely other cosmetic changes to make him a convincing double. Additionally, he was given memories and personality traits of Big Boss through hypnosis and implants, believing them to be his own.
Venom’s Unique Path
Importantly, prior to becoming Big Boss’s phantom, Venom Snake had a separate life as a medic, making him more than just a mere clone. This backstory adds significant depth to his character, making him a more compelling figure. It is this very fact, having lived an entire life before being transformed, that sets him apart from other characters in the series. He embodies what a person can become when told exactly who they are and being forced to live that role. He becomes a living embodiment of Big Boss, unknowingly carrying out the legend while the real Big Boss pursued other objectives.
Who is the Real Big Boss?
The “real” Big Boss, whose real name is John, was a legendary soldier and central figure in the Metal Gear series. He is the mentor to Solid Snake, the protagonist of the main series, and the genetic father of Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake via the Les Enfants Terribles project. He appears throughout the franchise, both as a hero and as an antagonist. He is known for his skills in combat, military leadership, and for his complex philosophical views. The “real” Big Boss is the individual who was the main character in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.
Big Boss’s Motivations
His driving forces include his disillusionment with governments and the desire to create an independent nation for soldiers, a dream he realized in the form of Outer Heaven and later Zanzibar Land. He is driven by his strong will to challenge the status quo and the notion of global peace maintained through political control.
The Split
The events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain reveal that after the events of Ground Zeroes, the real Big Boss steps away from the front lines. The phantom, Venom Snake, takes on the role of Big Boss, leading Diamond Dogs, while the real Big Boss works behind the scenes, establishing Outer Heaven, a military nation.
Separating Fact from Fiction
Venom Snake is not a clone of the real Big Boss in the traditional sense. He is a field medic surgically and mentally modified to look and act like Big Boss. This distinction is crucial to understanding his character and the storyline. He is a “phantom,” an imposter, unaware of the grand design unfolding around him, following the plan set by the real Big Boss.
The real Big Boss, during this period, is building the true Outer Heaven, his own army, laying the groundwork for future events in the series. Venom Snake is a tool, albeit an incredibly capable and complex one, used to divert attention and maintain the Big Boss legend. The deception is made to confuse their adversaries and to create the legend of the “Big Boss” figure that looms large through the franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Did Miller know Venom Snake wasn’t Big Boss?
Yes, Miller was aware that Venom Snake was not the real Big Boss. Ocelot informed him of the truth. This is evidenced by Miller’s dialogue in the end credits of The Phantom Pain.
2. Why does Venom Snake look like Big Boss?
Venom Snake was the medic in Ground Zeroes and after the attack, he underwent surgical modifications to resemble Big Boss to act as his “phantom” while the real Big Boss built his army elsewhere.
3. Are Venom Snake and Big Boss the same person?
No, they are not the same person. Venom Snake is a modified field medic who was made to believe he was Big Boss. They are two distinct individuals with their own separate existences.
4. Is Venom Snake older than Big Boss?
Yes, Venom Snake’s birth year was 1932, making him a few years older than the real Big Boss, who was born in 1935.
5. Which Big Boss is Venom Snake?
Venom Snake is Punished “Venom” Snake, a combat medic turned phantom Big Boss. He commands the Diamond Dogs and believes he is Big Boss, unaware of the deception.
6. Who is the strongest Snake in Metal Gear?
According to many rankings, Big Boss is often considered the strongest Snake, followed by Venom Snake. Their combined skill and experience make them top contenders.
7. Why does Big Boss have one eye?
Big Boss lost his right eye during his torture by Colonel Volgin in Metal Gear Solid 3, where he took a bullet meant for EVA.
8. Why does Venom Snake not talk much?
Venom Snake doesn’t speak often because he isn’t Big Boss. He doesn’t know how the real Big Boss would act. He starts speaking more as he becomes more proactive in his role, gaining a better understanding of his new persona.
9. Did Miller hate Venom Snake?
Initially, Miller disliked Snake, but eventually grew to respect him. By the end of The Phantom Pain, they were portrayed to have a very strong bond.
10. Did Big Boss respect Solid Snake?
Yes, Big Boss respected Solid Snake. He told him, “I never thought of you as a son, but I always respected you as a soldier… and as a man.“
11. Is Big Boss Solid Snake’s dad?
Yes, Big Boss is the genetic father of Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and Solidus Snake through the government project Les Enfants Terribles.
12. How did Big Boss lose to Solid Snake?
Big Boss was defeated by Solid Snake in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake in Zanzibar Land. Solid Snake killed Big Boss using a makeshift flamethrower.
13. Who kills Venom Snake?
Solid Snake kills Venom Snake during the Outer Heaven Uprising in 1995, which is stated in the timeline after the credits. He is unaware that he is killing a phantom.
14. What is Big Boss’s real name?
Big Boss’s real name is John, which is mentioned in some games and materials.
15. Why did Big Boss hate Zero?
Big Boss hated Zero primarily due to the Les Enfants Terribles project, where his DNA was used without his consent to create clones, leading to a strong sense of betrayal and rebellion.
Conclusion
While Big Boss and Venom Snake share a history, they are fundamentally different individuals. Venom Snake is a tragic figure, a medic turned legendary soldier, who unknowingly serves as a phantom for the real Big Boss. Understanding this difference is crucial for appreciating the full depth and complexity of the Metal Gear Solid saga and The Phantom Pain’s poignant narrative. They are intertwined, but not the same. Venom is a key piece in Big Boss’s grand scheme, and his journey adds a unique and powerful dimension to the series’s already intricate lore.