Metal Gear Solid (original Japanese name: Metal Gear: Ghost Babel ) for GameBoy Color is not part of the same storyline as other games in the series. Instead, it tells an unrelated story featuring special agent Solid Snake. A secret government project, codenamed "Babel", aims to revive the Metal Gear project - a highly destructive mech weapon. However, an organization known as Gindran Liberation Front hijacked the Metal Gear prototype, making its development impossible without it. Solid Snake is sent to Outer Heaven to retrieve the prototype.
The game's style and gameplay are similar to early Metal Gear games. It is viewed from a top-down perspective, with stealth being the main focus. Snake must sneak past guards, using tactics such as distractions or silent kills. The game includes familiar weapons, gadgets, and moves from other Metal Gear Solid games. Occasionally, Snake will face bosses that he must defeat to progress through the levels. Virtual Missions for Snake are also included in this release.