Raiden

Few characters in gaming have had a glow-up like Raiden’s. He debuted as a controversial swap for Snake in MGS2 — a softer, greener protagonist a lot of players initially resented — and by MGS4 he’s reinvented as one of the coolest things in the entire series.

Who he is

Real name Jack, Raiden was a child soldier whose past is one of the saga’s darkest threads. He was thrust into the spotlight in Sons of Liberty (included in Vol.1) as the player character, a deliberately unprepared everyman caught in a conspiracy he barely understood. Fans were divided, to put it kindly.

Then Kojima did something brilliant: he took all that backlash and turned it into a redemption arc.

Raiden in MGS4

By Guns of the Patriots, Raiden has been rebuilt as a cyborg — a sleek, white-armoured ninja who wields a high-frequency blade, runs up walls, and holds back giant Metal Gears with his bare hands. His entrances in MGS4 are pure spectacle, and he repeatedly saves Snake’s life in fights that look more like superhero cinema than stealth gaming. The crowd that once groaned at his name walked out of MGS4 loving him.

His arc here is also genuinely moving: a man who was used as a weapon his whole life, trying to protect the people he loves and reclaim some scrap of his own humanity. That tension between the machine and the man became so popular it spun off into his own game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

Why he matters

Raiden is the proof that Metal Gear can take a risk, weather the reaction, and turn it into something better. He’s also a key ally in MGS4, and his fights are among the most replayed moments in the collection. Love him or once-hated-him, he’s essential to the experience.

Where to learn more

Raiden’s story stretches from MGS2 (in Vol.1) through MGS4, so the Metal Gear timeline helps connect the dots. To see how he fits among Snake’s allies, browse the full character database.