A recently resurfaced interview reveals Hideo Kojima’s collaboration with Yoji Shinkawa, highlighting how Shinkawa’s visionary designs became the soul of Metal Gear Solid. “A cyborg ninja? Absolutely!” Kojima recalled. “I wanted the characters’ outfits to reflect who they were as people.”

Hideo Kojima’s 1998 game Metal Gear Solid marked a turning point in his career. Its innovative cinematic storytelling, intricate gameplay, and bold creativity set a new benchmark for stealth games and inspired countless imitators, though none matched the genius of Kojima’s Tactical Espionage Action.

A 1998 interview from Japanese PlayStation magazine, recently translated by Schmuplations and highlighted by GR+, sheds light on the game’s development. In the interview, Kojima and lead artist Yoji Shinkawa discuss how Shinkawa’s artistic input influenced not just the visuals but the core design of the game.

Kojima recalled being immediately impressed by Shinkawa’s portfolio during the hiring process. “He was the first candidate I felt deserved an S-grade right away,” Kojima noted. (Konami typically graded candidates on a C-to-A scale, but Shinkawa stood out as exceptional.)

Shinkawa joined the team as Kojima was finishing production on the Policenauts PC-9821 version. Kojima reminisced about Shinkawa’s perfectionism, noting, “He kept critiquing designs up until the last minute.”

When Metal Gear Solid entered development, Kojima tasked Shinkawa with creating a physical model of the game’s central element, the Metal Gear mech. Shinkawa spent six weeks immersed in the project, transforming his workspace into a chaotic hub of creativity. Kojima laughed, “The room was littered with junk; you could barely move.”

The Metal Gear Rex design drew inspiration from the Tyrannosaurus Rex, blending mechanical and organic traits. Kojima explained: “It’s a weapon of war, but I wanted it to feel alive when piloted, almost like a living creature.”

Source: PC Gamer