A popular Elden Ring meme sees players reference Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, proving the timeless quality of Hideo Kojima's stealth action title. FromSoftware's open-world fantasy epic features a multiplayer message system that lets players leave helpful hints, deceptive tricks, or simple memes. One particularly popular Elden Ring message references Metal Gear Solid's Snake, demonstrating the mechanic's potential for jokes and references. However, this meme also portrays enduring love for the third installment in the espionage franchise.
Released back in 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a prequel to the first few games in the stealth series. While earlier installments cast players as super-soldier Solid Snake, MGS3 takes players back to 1964 and casts them as Solid Snake's predecessor Naked Snake. The novice spy finds himself on a mission to prevent nuclear war, forcing him to assassinate his mentor and her unit of superpowered soldiers. The game serves as an emotional origin story for future series antagonist Big Boss and reinvigorates gameplay by taking players out of urban environments and into dense Russian jungles. However, one of Metal Gear Solid 3's best scenes involves neither combat nor stealth, instead tasking players with simply climbing a massive ladder.
A late Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater bosses fight pits players against The End, an aging sniper capable of energizing himself through photosynthesis. A grueling duel against the legendary marksman, which tests gamers' patience and aim, is often considered one of the greatest boss fights in the series. Once players best The End they must proceed into the Krasnogorje mountains, which are accessed via a massive ladder. Climbing this ladder takes nearly three minutes, with the player controlling Snake's ascent in real-time, and it is accompanied by a rendition of Cynthia Harrell's theme for the game. While one player recently found a way to skip the Metal Gear Solid 3 ladder scene, doing so misses out on one of the most haunting and iconic scenes in gaming history.
Elden Ring Players Leave MGS3 Messages Beside Ladders
To reference this emotional Metal Gear Solid 3 scene, many Elden Ring players leave messages near ladders reading "visions of snake." These messages in FromSoftware's latest soulslike are a clear nod to the unusual yet emotional section in Hideo Kojima's seminal release. No ladder in Elden Ring takes anywhere near three minutes to climb, but the oft-repeated reference nonetheless pays homage to a game that many consider one of the greatest in history. MGS3 is known for both its poignant plot and innovative gameplay, and the ladder scene combines both to create an intense and interactive scene. Some players have an issue with multiplayer meme messages in Elden Ring, but "visions of snake" is a perfect love letter to Naked Snake and his journey.
While some players may not understand the reference, Metal Gear Solid fans no doubt appreciate Elden Ring messages that reference MGS3's ladder scene. The section serves a pivotal role in the game's pacing, allowing gamers to reflect and unwind after an intense sniper duel against The End. Through the "visions of snake" message, Elden Ring players are recalling the feelings of awe and wonder that Metal Gear Solid 3 was able to conjure in 2004.