Please don't spoil anything for MGS4 because I haven't started it yet. I just beat MGS3 today. I just have one question that I thought didn't make sense. If The Boss knew she had to die for America and knew Snake had to kill her, why did she bother fighting Snake in the first place in the field of flowers? Why not just let him walk up and kill her? What would she have done if she had killed him??

After playing MGS3 (and MGS1 and 2 a couple times in the past) and reading a LOT of the information on the MGS4 database from the PSN, I shockingly think I have a good grip on the story up to this point and am ready to start MGS4. :)

The Boss was the truest patriot and soldier of any MGS story arc character. Her objective became to die at the hands of Naked Snake, while his objective was to take out Boss. She followed her order out to the fullest, even though she fully knew that she was being cast aside by the country she dedicated her life for, the country that she killed her own lover (The Sorrow) and father of her child (heavily implied to be Ocelot) for, the country she would now die for.

Out of respect for one another and for their mission objectives, they carried out a true battle that took both Boss and Snake's training/talent to its limits. Also, the symbolism of the white flowers turning to red, etc, with her death... very poignant and powerful.

The way the US Government basically tosses the Boss away and disgraces her name at the end is what makes the newly titled Big Boss jaded towards the Gov't and begins the story of the Metal Gears, etc...

Atleast, thats what I think, anyway... :P

That's about right.

Makes sense, but again, what would she have done if she killed him? :) Just playing devil's advocate I guess.

I think it is kind of respect for the code. He can't be considered the Boss unless he takes out the Boss according to their rules of honor IMHO.

Makes sense, but again, what would she have done if she killed him? :) Just playing devil's advocate I guess.

She probably would have stood their with him and let the MIGs she ordered to take out "the orchid" take her out. Here is a head scratcher, we saw Snake get his butt kicked by the Boss all game, maybe she DID let him win in the final fight. :eek:

Makes sense, but again, what would she have done if she killed him? :) Just playing devil's advocate I guess.

TIME PARADOX

Makes sense, but again, what would she have done if she killed him? :) Just playing devil's advocate I guess.

Go back and play it again, but stall for about 10 minutes and you'll have your answer.

Her mission was to recover the Patriots legacy and get it back to America. I don't think she was ever instructed to die, as her mission went sour after she defected, she wouldn't have had contact with anyone in the us and surely knew they would turn on her by sending snake in.

Snakes mission on the other hand was clear, and she knew as much.

Their fight was her way of passing the torch, One must Live, and One must Die.

TIME PARADOX

touché

:D

The Boss is one of the best characters in videogame history.

What would she have done if she had killed him??

Her mission was failed. She couldn't go back to the USA, and the Soviet Union didn't want her as she was the one who was blamed for launching the "Davy Crockett" in the beginning of the game, and she actually she did blow up Groznyj Grad at the end. She could've killed Snake, sure, but she was damaged goods. At the same time, she is a warrior, and warriors don't lie down and die.