The popular Metal Gear Solid franchise is known for having a giant collection of characters. While much of the story revolves around Solid Snake and his various clones, several other key players contribute to the plot and advance the canon forward.

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Putting aside the fact that most of the characters are violent soldiers prone to killing, defecting, cloning, and any other means necessary to win the Cold War and subsequent conflicts, they also tend to exude some of the best qualities humanity has to offer. Those wondering how they stack up with their MGS counterpart need only look to the Chinese Zodiac to how their personalities align with Solid, Snake, Big Boss, Raiden, and the rest.

Rat - Gray Fox

Gray Fox uses a sword in Metal Gear Solid

Also known as Frank Jaeger, Gray Fox is one of the most iconic and long-running MGS characters. When he was first introduced, he was a kind, trusty ally of Solid Snake who the protagonist had to search for and rescue from evil. In subsequent games, Gray Fox does a complete 180 and betrays Solid Snake to become his archenemy in MG 2. Resourceful and fast-witted, he had to do so to survive.

Since rats are often associated with snitching, sneaky betrayal, and an unremorseful willingness to sell out a friend for their own gain, Gray Fox certainly fits the bill. On the positive side, rats are also extremely industrious, resilient, and hard to kill, qualities Gray Fox exudes in spades.

Ox - Colonel Volgin

Volgin holds his arms out in Metal Gear Solid

Known for their unparalleled brute strength and ability to endure hardship like few others, Oxen are physically formidable animals. When thinking of the strongest pound-for-pound character in the popular action RPG series, Colonel Volgin is the first person that comes to mind. The MGS3 villain is able to lift unfathomably heavy items and hurl them at his foes to inflict max damage.

As such, it's no stretch to think Colonel Volgin would be born in the Year of the Ox. What the Colonel may lack in manipulation skills he more than makes up for in his raw power and unparalleled strength.

Tiger - Revolver Ocelot

Revolver Ocelot holds a gun in Metal Gear Solid

With a nickname like Revolver Ocelot, the wicked henchman is one phylum or two away from sharing the genetic code of a highly aggressive and domineering Tiger. Indeed, the bloodthirsty gunslinger also harbors an air of mystery that reflects the regal majesty of the jungle cat.

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Moreover, few characters in MGS are as courageous as Revolver Ocelot, risking life and limb time and again as he coyly shifts allegiances with Solid Snake and his enemies from game to game. Rebellious, quick-tempered, and highly competitive to boot, Revolver Ocelot checks all the boxes.

Rabbit - The Boss

The Boss meets Snake in a field in Metal Gear Solid

According to the Chinese Zodiac, those born in the year of the Rabbit tend to be kind, caring, responsible, and quiet. Due to her love and care for her mentee Naked Snake, her responsibility in co-founding the CQC technique, and her overall sense of grace under fire, The Boss has all the characteristics of a Rabbit in the long-running cinematic game.

Of course, rabbits can also be timid and fearful, emotions The Boss has worked to overcome since failing her mission during The Cold War. Most telling is The Boss' maternal nature toward EVA, cementing her rabbit-like qualities as a loving nurturer.

Dragon - Vulcan Raven

Vulcan Raven fires his gun in Metal Gear Solid

Due to his inherent spirituality and shamanistic qualities drawn from a tattoo of a Raven on his forehead, Vulcan Raven has all the mystical majesty of a Dragon. His otherworldly senses, confident leadership qualities, and ability to fly with the right gear also equate his character with the fantastical fire-breathing beast.

Those born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be the luckiest sign in the Chinese Zodiac, which Vulcan Raven demonstrates by having the good fortune to survive the freezing cold. With ambition, courage, and fearlessness in the face of danger, Vulcan Raven can spit deadly fire from his Gatling Gun equivalent to a Dragon's breath.

Snake - Solid Snake

Solid Snake wears a headband in Metal Gear Solid

As his reptilian namesake suggests, Solid Snake has both the positive and negative traits of those born in the year of the Snake. An enigmatic master strategist, Snake puts forth the best-laid plans with well-thought-out planning the way the beautiful reptiles do. He can be alluring and charming when needed and he can strike with a venomous sting if required. Never showing his temper also helps him exact quick unexpected strikes.

Extremely difficult to outwit and defang on the battlefield as well, Solid Snake is so wise and comfortable in combat that many accused him of enjoying killing both enemies and allies alike. Moreover, snakes tend to be independent and don't often travel in packs, underscoring Solid Snake's status as a loner.

Horse - Naomi Hunter

Naomi wears a lab coat in Metal Gear Solid

As perhaps the most elegant, romantic, and nonviolent character in MGS, Naomi Hunter has all the equine qualities of those born in the year of the Horse. Having been a victim of war as a child, Naomi has been hunted her whole life and sworn off armed violence, drawing parallels with horses as prey animals and their need to stay away from predators at all costs.

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Moreover, those who are born in the year of the Horse tend to be outgoing, self-assured, active, and animated, qualities that apply to Naomi as she serves as a geneticist in the game who constantly feeds the player info about FOXDIE.

Goat - Sniper Wolf

Sniper Wolf holds a rifle in Metal Gear Solid

More of a Goat in Wolf's clothing, Sniper Wolf is presented as a highly-skilled marksman willing to go to great lengths to kill a mark. Deep down, she often has too much sympathy to pull the trigger and slows her enemies with poison rather than lethal bullets. She also hates seeing women and children in danger.

As such, Sniper Wolf has the calm, gentle, and sympathetic traits most associated with those born in the year of the Goat. She saves the lives of wolves and takes care of them at Shadow Moses, and really only kills when absolutely necessary. As such, she's among the most sympathetic villains in MGS.

Monkey - Major Zero

Major Zero wears a headset in Metal Gear Solid

Those born in the year of the Monkey tend to be shrewd, curious, and extremely smart. While many characters fit the bill in MGS, none are more ingenious than Major Zero, the grand mastermind who orchestrated the entire political landscape and created the sinister AI that plagues all the Snakes throughout the series.

Despite his ruthless immorality and craven need for power and influence, Major Zero is one of the coolest Metal Gear Solid villains and a brilliant visionary who conceived and implemented a nationwide brainwashing plot to control the masses for his own gain.

Rooster - Big Boss

Big Boss lifts his goggles in Metal Gear Solid

According to the Chinese Zodiac, Roosters are brave, perceptive, and highly industrious. Cue Big Boss, the ultimate Rooster of the MGS series.

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With a heated passion for conflict and the intense need to prove he's the biggest badass on the block, Big Boss is one of the most diligent and hard-working super soldiers in the series, stopping at nothing until his life is lost or the mission is completed. He's also more observant than he appears, quashing his bloodlust in the realization that mercy killings are unwise.

Dog - Hal Emmerich

Hal wears a white coat in Metal Gear Solid

Also known as Otacon, Hal Emmerich is one of Solid Snake's closest friends and most trustworthy allies in the MGS series. So many characters in the games deceive, backstab, defect, and doublecross that it's really refreshing to see such a loyal, reliable, ever-dependable ally who Snake can count on at all times.

No qualities better describe Hal than those born in the year of the Dog, as they have keen detection skills about who to trust and who to avoid as potential threats. Even the cool MK II bot Hal created resembles a pet pooch.

Pig - Raiden

Raiden wears an exo-suit in Metal Gear Solid

Born in 1983, Raiden literally comes from the year of the Pig. However, before he turns into a brutal Cyborg Ninja, Raiden had to overcome his PTSD as a child soldier to slowly become more compassionate toward Rosemary. Since compassion is a chief hallmark of Pigs, the shoe fits.

While Pigs can also be untidy, Raiden actually goes out of his way to clean up the messes of others, which would seem out of character. However, Pigs are also extremely diligent and generous, and that spirit shines through even when he cleans up. As for when Raiden goes full-blown Cyborg Ninja, he exudes more Tiger-like traits.

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