OMG YAY TY FOR THIS MESSAGE!! I'm so glad I can use my PHD in Raiden. It's been a few years since I've watched someone play MGRR but man. I love watching this game. For being a (canonical) spinoff I think it carries the spirit of the series's goofiness- and antiwar theming- quite well (if not more blatant - *more* political than the main series games). MGRR Raiden and MGS2 Raiden do seem like different characters..
at first. But once you think about his upbringing, his fears in mgs2 (Snake, is it wrong that I enjoy killing?), his inner conflict with wanting to be a hero to justify his past- how he's *good* at killing... it's clear MGRR Raiden is the same guy. The game's theme of using violence against violence to protect those who can't protect themselves... ough. He's always been a protector (Olga relying on him to save her c
child, rescuing Emma, later saving Sunny from the patriots, protecting Old Snake to the point where *he* wants to go into the microwave hallway). In MGRR Raiden is terrified of himself, terrified 'the real him' will come out, and hurt those he loves, just like he's scared of hurting Rose (emotionally) in MGS2, or hurting her (physically) in MGS4.
I would debate all three Raidens, MGS2, MGS4, and MGRR, play like they're going through different phases of their life. Each game, he goes through a new and fun identity crisis. Naive hotshot -> emo kid -> scene kid, but they're all about trying to find identity and purpose. From a modern fandom consensus, I think most people like MGS4 Raiden the least, and like MGRR Raiden the most.
IMO they I love all of them for different reasons. ANYWAY Thank you for coming to my TedTalk !!!!!
i've never been happier to remember what day it is