The Bizarre Crossover That Was Featured In Metal Gear Solid 3

Konami's military espionage series Metal Gear Solid is backed by an incredibly intricate (and some would say convoluted) plotline.

The timeline surrounding Solid Snake and his stealthy adventures across the globe is full of history-altering events and shocking character developments. Perhaps the most surprising moment that took place within the world of Metal Gear Solid featured...monkeys? Yes, you read that right. At one point in time, Konami  and Sony pulled off one of the strangest gaming crossovers of all time.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is an amazing game in its own right. But imagine the shock and awe that gamers felt when they spotted a special mini-game devoted to Sony's Ape Escape within Solid Snake's jungle-themed mission. If you've never even heard of that trippy crossover experience, then you've come to the right place to learn all about it.

Here's what happened when Metal Gear Solid 3 met Ape Escape 3.

MGS3 included a special mode that could only be accessed within the PS2 version. It's referred to as "Snake vs. Monkey".

The storyline reasoning behind that special mode is as follows: Solid Snake is sent on a special mission to capture a whole bunch of familiar-looking monkeys. Those mischievous apes can be found all over the locales found within the game's main campaign. In order to bring those apes in, Snake is forced to rely on only two tools: a "Monkey Shaker" (that's also known as the EZ Gun) and stun grenades. 

Ape Escape 3 even joined in on the crossover fun with its own MGS-themed mini-game: "Mesal Gear Solid: Snake Escape." Players could hop into the mode and attempt to take down a special group of "guerilla apes" who have the latest "Mesal Gear Solid" model in its possession. The main hero sent out to engage in some sneaking and shooting is a monkey that has the same combat abilities as Solid Snake.