So I just beat Splinter Cell

[Slayer]

It's kind of funny how nowadays everyone is an expert on the Metal Gear "legacy," but prior to Solid next to nobody seemed to ever hear of the games.

I remember playing the original NES game a fair bit back in the late 80's, and then again pre-MGS when emulation first hit it big

 

Any one remember what started the big hullaboo about the Metal Gear revival?

I think it was because at that point, around mid-'98, stealth games were unheard of (though I think Thief was in development around the same time as MGS) so it was something new and different.