Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5085906-20130627191357/@comment-64.33.250.214-20140803061356

Misterbunnsy wrote: We already know Big Boss was framed by Cipher (or at least they attempted to at the end of Peace Walker).

I think that he could be framed for crimes he did not commit in some areas, but he does turn out to be a villain in Metal Gear, so chances are he will actually be evil. Boss wont become a villain in the traditional sense. He might cross the line into morally gray territory, but not true evil. Much of what Boss does is an effort to combat Cipher's control. Even recruiting child soldiers is a means to that end. Liquid and Solidus had questionable methods themselves, but they too were trying to defeat Cipher.

In the early games (MG1 and MG2), Boss's motives hadn't been fleshed out. He was conceived simply to be the main boss, hence "Big Boss". It wasn't until MGS3 when we learned he had been manipulated by The Patriots. Kojima hadn't mapped out his character arc from the beginning, and didn't even know he'd make an MGS3.

I think how Big Boss is perceived by the end of Phantom Pain will depend on how you play the game. If you kill most enemies and create more conflicts for Mother Base, your soldiers and the main characters may treat you like a real bad guy. If you minimize casualties and collateral damage, then you may be framed by Cipher instead.

Past games allowed players the option to upset their comrades, but it never resulted in multiple endings. At least not since the first Metal Gear Solid. It will be interesting to see if Kojima allows for an open-ended conclusion.