Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid franchise is one of the most iconic in gaming, and within it, Quiet remains one of the most controversial characters. As Stefanie Joosten prepares for the launch of her album on November 10, she sat for an interview with IGN where she reflected on playing Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
In the interview, she discusses her experience working with Kojima. She describes how dedicated Kojima was to the project and how he would attend many of the motion capture sessions. He is also described as an amazing visionary with ideas “so large in span that the actors, including me, would often ask for more input on the characters’ motivations and the world we were in.”
Though many fans felt that MGSV was incomplete, Joosten feels differently. She argues it had “a really beautiful conclusion,” though she wouldn’t be opposed to unraveling Quiet’s story once again and perhaps exploring the character’s past. The overall motion capture process for the game was enjoyable, though it was a long process that lasted years.
The controversies of Quiet
Quiet is a character in Metal Gear Solid V who helps Big Boss. She can make herself invisible, and she is mute, though she likes humming. She also appears in incredibly revealing clothing.
At the time of MGSV‘s release, the character drew controversy, and many argued that her muteness was misogynistic, which is an understandable position to take when female characters have consistently been relegated to secondary roles in gaming. Quiet’s sexualized depiction was also criticized.
Joosten is aware of the controversy that surrounds the character, but she claims she still respects “the choices Kojima made and his team in designing the character.” She argues that she sees video games as fantasy worlds, so it’s no surprise that you find a “character that’s visually appealing.”
This doesn’t mean she doesn’t sympathize with opposing viewpoints. She states: “people are looking for more representation, and I really get it.” She also isn’t convinced by Kojima’s explanation for Quiet’s skimpy outfit. It is revealed that Quiet breathes through her skin, requiring her to keep her clothing to a minimum, though Joosten points out that “there were so many other options you could have gone with.”
Metal Gear Solid has a legacy that has endured even after Kojima and Konami parted ways. Konami has attempted to capitalize on the franchise’s popularity with remakes but they haven’t been well-received.
