The Nintendo Entertainment System version came to North America in June 1988, followed by PAL version in Europe and Australia in March 1989. Konami produced this version without Kojima's direct involvement and several changes were made as a result. Kojima has been vocal about his disappointment at the quality of the NES version, going as far to regard the game as "complete garbage".
Additionally, the
English NES version's manual and packaging swayed from the game's official storyline. The game's main villain (whose identity is intentionally kept secret in the game) is mentioned to be "Col. Vermon CaTaffy" . Snake's commanding officer is referred as "Commander South." Moreover, Snake is mentioned as having participated in the Grenada invasion prior to joining FOXHOUND. This localized version of the game's story is only referenced in the packaging and manual for Snake's Revenge (which features a similar discrepancy between the manual and the game's version of the story) and is never referred in the later Metal Gear Solid games.Differences between MSX2 and NES versions.
* The biggest difference between the MSX2 and NES versions is in the presence of the actual Metal Gear mecha or lack there of in the NES version. Instead, the playe
r must destroy a "Super Computer" which controls all of Metal Gear's activities in its place. The method of destroying it was also changed. While in the MSX2 version, the player must place 16 plastic explosives on Metal Gear's feet based on the order given by Dr. Petrovich, in the NES version the player must simply place the bombs over the Super Computer on no specific parts (however, the player must have already rescued Elen and Dr. Petrovich first).* In the MSX2 version, Snake performs an underwater insertion into Outer Heaven in the beginning of the game in the entrance of Building No. 1. In the NES version, he performs an air insertion by skydiving and parachuting into the Jungle with three other soldiers who disappear after landing. They are neither seen or mentioned again.
* The level designs were altered greatly in the NES version. In the beginning of the game, the player must proceed through a jungle area before reaching the entrance of Building No. 1 through a truck. The first floor corridor of Building No. 1 was also remodeled greatly, with many of its trucks and rooms moved to other locations. The basement-level floors of Building No. 1 and 2 were made into separate buildings, Building No. 4 and 5 respectively.
* In order to reach Building No. 4 or 5, the player must go through one of two jungle mazes located west to each of the outdoor areas. The solution for both mazes are the same, although it is never actually given within the game.
* The boss, the Hind D, was replaced. Instead, the player faces a pair of gunners known as Twin Shot on the rooftop of Building No. 1.
* Since the player no longer has to parachute to reach Dr. Petrovich's cell in Building No. 1, the parachute was removed. An Iron Glove was added in its place, which allows the player to break hollow walls. However, in some versions of the NES game, the Iron Glove has no real use.
The Flying Army located on the roof of Building No. 1 and 2 lost their ability to hover over the ground in the NES version.
* In the NES version, the "high alert" (or double exclamation mark) mode was disabled. As such the player can always make their escape from alert mode by simply moving to the adjacent screen.
* The player can no longer acquire rations or ammo by punching enemy soldiers in Sneaking Mode.
* Solid Snake's face no longer appears in the transceiver mode's screen.
Big Boss' final message to the player after the closing credits was removed.
Some of the music (mainly, the two main themes and the alert mode theme) was changed in the NES version.
* There are also several other minor differences in gameplay, including several bugs and glitches. Some of the radio conversations were "misplaced" as a result of the redesigned areas in the NES game. For example, if the player calls Schneider in front of the room containing the Gas Mask in Building No. 1, he will tell Snake the location of the mine detector instead. This is due to the fact that the same spot in the MSX2 version used to be a minefield. In addition, the player's bullets have a longer range than they do in the MSX2 version and the player can also shoot while wearing the cardboard box.
* In NES version, after defeating Big Boss, the player uses an elevator instead of climbing a ladder at the end of the MSX2 version.
