Zanzibar Land

Zanzibar Land is a heavily fortified territory in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, as well as the setting of the game. It was located between the former Soviet Union, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The closest location meeting this description in reality is Badakhshan.

Solid Snake was sent to the territory to retrieve a kidnapped biologist, however, his mission ended up quite a bit more complicated.

In the English-translated version of Metal Gear Solid, Zanzibar Land was, for some reason, simply called "Zanzibar" (in contrast to the original Japanese script, which used the nation's full name). This probably led many of its players to believe that it referred to the real-life Zanzibar that is part of Tanzania. In the retranslated version of the script used in the remake (Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes), all uses of "Zanzibar" was corrected to "Zanzibar Land."

The Metal Gear 2 game manual, like the game itself, was never officially translated into English, however, fans of the series have done translations of their own. The following information comes from a rough translation of the game manual.

• Population: 40,000
• Area: 450 km²
• Capital: Zanzibar
• Government: Republic
• Head of State: Unknown
• Political Parties: One-party rule by Zanzibar Land Party
• Languages: English, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Uzbek, Vietnamese, and French
• Race: 100 of every world race including Caucasian, African, Ukrainian, Russian, Uzbek, German, Chinese, and French.
• Currency: Zanje
• Defense Expenditures: 75% of GNP
• Products and Resources Iron, Coal, Bauxite, Tungsten, Sugar beets, Flour, Oats, Potatoes, Maize, Super Mentha, Jijirium, Bizanium, Eltonium, and Pegimin-h
• Arable Land: 24%
• Average Life Span: Male 41.5 years, Female 40.31 years (1999)
• Births 20 per 1000 population
• Deaths 35.8 per 1000 population

• Description: A landlocked nation surrounded by Pakistan, the USSR, China, and Afghanistan.

The south of the country is desert. The north is steppe, mountains, and plateaus. The climate is arid, with a large temperature difference between daytime and nighttime.

The area was formerly Zanzibar Province, a autonomous zone of the USSR. Opposition to the old regime mounted in the early 1990s, after the secession of the Baltic states. The period of crisis inspired nationalism in the area's leaders, who proclaimed independence in 1997.

Despite the intervention of major powers from both the Eastern and Western blocs, or, according to Metal Gear Solid's Previous Operations file, the CIS, the small tribal nation won its sovereignty. Primary credit for the success is generally given to the mercenaries from around the world that participated in the war.

Because of this, Zanzibar Land's war of independence is also called "The Mercenary War," and brought back to global attention the profession of the gun for hire.

After the war, Zanzibar Land became a heavily fortified nation.

Mercenary Force

Zanzibar Land hosted an elite mercenary force much like the one hosted by Outer Heaven.

• Black Color - The codename of high-tech ninjas formerly belonging to the "Extraterrestrial Environment Special Forces", a top-secret NASA project. After the unit was disbanded due to their too dangerous existence, the surviving members fled to Central Asia and participated as mercenaries in the war for Zanzibar Land's indenpendence. They are equipped with flex armors and has been genetically enhanced with drugs. Note: Their original name is derived from the Timothy Zahn novel, The Blackcollar. In the Mobile Phone version of Metal Gear 2, they're known as the Black Ninja.

• Running Man - A former short-range runner during the Barcelona Olympics. He was banned from competing after being convicted of steroid abuse and began working for a terrorist group in France known as "Les Enfants Terribles". He specializes in setting booby traps and explosions which requires his fast legs. He was given the name "Running Man" by the SEK. Note: His name is derived from the 1982 film, The Running Man.

• Red Blaster - An assassin who earned his special operations degree in the Lumumba University. Had a career in Spetznaz prior to joining Zanzibar Land. He is an explosive specialist and a skilled grenadier.

• Ultra Box - A four-man assassination group specializing in close-quarter combat. Consist of former GSG9, UDT and SAS members. Note: Their original name is derived from the British band, Ultravox. In the Mobile Phone version of Metal Gear 2, they're known as the Four Horsemen.

• Predator - Former member of the Reconnaissance Commandos in South Africa. Specialist in guerilla warfare. Note: His name is derived from the 1987 film, Predator.

• Night Sight - Surviving member of "Whispers", a legendary Guerilla task force in North Vietnam. He uses a stealth camouflage suit, which also makes the wearer invisible to radar. His preferred weapon is a Wei Shen Sho Ciang, a Chinese handgun which makes little sound. Note: In the Mobile Phone of Metal Gear 2, this character is named Night Fright.