Metal Gear has inspired several imitators, but they could never capture what really makes Hideo Kojima's series special. The game play, story, and art design all come together to form a whole significantly larger than the sum of its parts. The latter element is especially celebrated, having mostly been led by masterful artist Yoji Shinkawa since Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation in 1998.

RELATED: 10 Most Powerful Boss Weapons In Metal Gear: Ranked

His design for each of the main characters sticks in the brain. To celebrate his work, and the work of those who came before him, this list will point out the ten best stealth suits worn by the protagonists throughout the series, ranking them from worst to best.

10 Snake's Revenge

Snake's Revenge Game play
Snake's Revenge Game play

Snake's Revenge should consider itself lucky it even gets an inclusion on this list. Hideo Kojima had no involvement with this unofficial sequel and wasn't aware of its existence until after its release. It deserves thanks for reportedly being the reason he started work on Metal Gear 2, however. As for Snake's clothes, the cover art's suit looks almost identical to the one on the first Metal Gear's cover, but in game it appears different. Snake is just an orange blob, which is curious because there's no orange on his clothes in the art.

9 Metal Gear 2

Metal Gear 2 Solid snake game play Screenshot

To be fair, there isn't much to go on with Snake's stealth suit in the first real sequel. He isn't on the cover art and his body isn't shown in the opening cinematic. All we have is the dated '90s graphics.

RELATED: 10 Hilarious Hideo Kojima Memes Only True Fans Of Death Stranding

His clothing is mostly green, and his trademark bandana is clearly visible across his forehead. The visuals do a good job of portraying what he is supposed to look like despite the technological limitations, but this can only get it so far on the list.

8 Metal Gear Solid 2 - Raiden

Metal Gear SOlid 2 raiden with an assault rifle
Metal Gear SOlid 2 raiden with an assault rifle

Metal Gear Solid 2 threw fans for a real curve ball when it introduced Raiden as the main playable protagonist just a couple of hours into the campaign. Most were unable to look past what they viewed as a direct slight against them and held a personal grudge against the new face. It didn't help matters when his stealth suit was an odd, skin-tight design pushing his chest and stomach in so tight to make it look like his ribs are showing. Looking at him makes one wonder just how he puts it on. Is it vacuum sealed?

7 Metal Gear

metal gear box art
metal gear box art

This is the one that started it all, though it wasn't a huge hit upon release. Playing it today, one will find many elements with surprising longevity. Some of the puzzles are extremely obtuse, however, forcing one to use a strategy guide in order to not pull their hair out.

RELATED: 10 Quotes From Metal Gear Solid We Still Don't Understand

In the game Snake is a drab blob of pixels, but the cover art clears up how he is supposed to appear. It's a neat look, and original too, as long as someone has never seen Terminator. The design is ripped right out of the future segments from the first film in James Cameron's sci-fi franchise.

6 OctoCamo

Metal Gear Solid 4 - Snake In The Middle Of Combat

Metal Gear Solid 4 was the grand finale. While the story has extended beyond with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Snake left the plot with a bang in the 2008 title. His suit of choice was called OctoCamo because of its ability to change look and texture based on the surrounding environment. It also helped the rapidly aging protagonist keep on his feet during the mission. He takes off his shirt in one cutscene, and players really see how age has racked his body.

5 Metal Gear Solid

The first three-dimensional Metal Gear outing skyrocketed the series' popularity and cemented its legacy. Snake also became an icon with his journey through Shadow Moses. The stealth suit he wears is flattering to his figure, showcasing his impressive chest and abs. Just like the colonel says after he rides the elevator in the introduction, age hasn't slowed Snake down one bit. He may have retired in the time between Metal Gear 2 and Solid, but he certainly did not give up a steady exercise routine, and the suit shows it.

4 Metal Gear Solid 2 - Solid Snake

The Tanker chapter of Metal Gear Solid 2 was most prominently featured in the marketing materials, with Raiden's involvement kept mostly a secret. The demo disc packed with Zone of the Enders gave plenty of eager fans a taste of the opening moments before the full release, showing off the new sleek suit.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Death Stranding Is Hideo Kojima's Best Game (And 5 Reasons Why It's Still Metal Gear Solid 3)

Fans of some nice buns will probably have this one at the top of their list, assuming they can pull their eyes away from the screen every time he runs up a flight of stairs to even make one.

3 Ground Zeroes

Ground zeroes game play snake in the rain
Ground zeroes game play snake in the rain

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes got flack for its short length and price tag, but one can easily get between fifteen to twenty hours out of it if they do everything it has to offer. In it, Snake is wearing the stealth suit from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. This alone makes it a treat to behold, since seeing all these characters and gadgets from the PSP game through next gen lenses is a trip. The dark colors and smooth design make logical sense for the places he sneaks through during the game.

2 The Phantom Pain

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN_20150907014741

Venom Snake dons a variety of suits in this game, but we'll go with the default outfit he wears during the first mission. Accessorizing helps distinguish a look, and the same goes for the scarf he adorns. The new hand is also a part of the look, and while it probably wasn't worth losing it to get the extra fashion points, it undeniably looks cool. This character doesn't talk much, but his aesthetic makes a loud enough statement on its own.

1 Metal Gear Solid 3

Despite being the fifth game in the series, Metal Gear Solid 3 is something of a fresh start and a great entry point for newcomers. It takes place in 1964 and has little connection to the prior entries.

MGS 4 brings the past and present together, but Snake Eater can be taken as its own story. As such, Snake's stealth suit has a less fantastic look, feeling more appropriate to the time and not utilizing any glaringly anachronistic technology. The game, despite its premise and place in the lore, does a great job of staying true to its time period, and the suit is a part of this execution.

NEXT: 10 Times Metal Gear Solid Made More Sense Than Death Stranding