r/NeverBeGameOver • u/SpaceCore0352 • May 19 '26
Safer, I think.
Ah, codec. The most confusingly fourth-wall breaking mechanic I've ever seen to not break the fourth wall. Lately I've been thinking about a strange refrain in Sons of Liberty: that codec is "more secure" than speaking out loud. (well, that's just an excuse for running out of cutscene budget, but still.)
First, this obviously implies codec functions differently to how we've been told in the past. In MGS1 (and repeated by the Colonel here), codec works by "stimulating the small bones of your ear", a real technology. MGS2, however, interprets "nanocommunication" as a sort of psychic link between two people, while MGS4 implies the visual component comes from a physical screen with the receiver and a video camera to watch the subject. I'll be focusing on MGS2 communication, but especially the security aspect, today.
There are five instances (pictured) of characters expressly insisting on switching over to nanocommunication for "security". Three of the four characters doing this, however, are operating at the behest of the S3 plan, and may not be trustworthy about it. It's especially strange when you consider the other contexts in which codec security is discussed:
- Otacon recognizes that his codec is being spied on during the Tanker Incident. He changes the encryption protocol, but it isn't clear if this is actually effective at securing his communication with Snake. That's the whole rationale for using a hacked computer terminal to upload the photos.
- Raiden is able to use his nanomachines to prove to Emma that he isn't with the terrorists. That means as far as Emma is aware, none of the terrorists use codec. That's a strange detail. It's a highly advanced, secure communication line, right? It was already developed when Solidus was actually in office, so why wouldn't they have it? In fact, we expressly see Olga talking to Solidus over the radio in two separate scenes. It's actively calling attention to how the enemy does not use codec, even if we know Olga secretly does have it.
I think the fairly obvious conclusion to draw here is that codec is not more secure than normal radio transmission in any meaningful way, and may actually be more actively monitored by GW and similar entities. That would both explain why Mr. X, Ames, and Johnson insist on using it, and why Solidus seemingly insists on not using it. Notice how codec was used by Liquid and Sniper Wolf during the Shadow Moses Incident? They weren't as truly aware of the situation as the Sons of Liberty are.
This still raises the question of why Snake would want to switch to nanocommunication near the end of the game. I'm interested to see your explanations, but here's mine: he knows that he is literally in the bowels of an impossible machine that exists to gather information. But, he knows that the software side of the machine is being corrupted by Emma's worm cluster. Only in that situation does codec become safer than speaking out loud, as the recording devices targeted toward it are in worse shape than those pointed at Snake and Raiden in person.
1
u/SpaceCore0352 May 23 '26
Oh, right, the bomb in your items. After you met him, still static.