WhenMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaterfirst captivated the world, it left behind a mystery that many players have attempted to solve. It all concerned the likeness of our favorite motorcyclist, EVA, a key character who somehow never got a voice actor reveal.
As we approach the release ofMetal Gear Solid Delta, the time has finally come for us to put this mystery to bed. TheMGSLegacy Part 3 unveils that Jodi Benson, the notable voice actor behind Ariel inThe Little Mermaid, is, in fact, the voice of EVA. As someone who’s been an EVA stan since the early days ofMGS3, I’m both surprised and delighted, especially as a fan who grew up onThe Little Mermaidfilms.
But now, you might be wondering: Why did it take almost two decades for this to be revealed? Fortunately, Jodi answers this question right at the beginning of the Anniversary episode. She starts by stating, “Just, the various projects that I am affiliated with in my career are sort of family-based, children-based, things like that.” Given that Benson was prominently known for her Disney films and other family-based content, her part as EVA seemed a bit too risqué at the time. Let’s not forget that the first few minutes of this character’s introduction involve a spicy unzipping scene, which, of course, isn’t the most family-friendly.
Jodi then says, “So, it was actually Kris Zimmerman Salter. That was our director, that she kind of sat down with me, and she’s like, ‘Maybe we need to change your name.'” This is where the pseudonym Suzetta Miñet was born, a title that started many EVA voice actor subreddits. When I was a kid playingMGS3, I remember seeing this name and having it go completely over my head. I had no idea that it was all a part of an elaborate plan to keep EVA’s voice actor a secret.
The choice to go with Suzetta Miñet was also discussed, as Benson indicates that it was actually an ode to her dog’s name, Suzette Monet, growing up. Even though the pseudonym had pretty much kept EVA’s voice actor a mystery, there were still plenty of theories surrounding Jodi Benson. So now, those fans who got it right can finally rest easy after all these years.
The rest of theMetal Gear SolidLegacy Part 3 series continues with a conversation between Jodi Benson, Lori Alan (The Boss), andDavid Hayter(Snake). This video offers a ton of interesting deep dives, including one part where Jodi and David explain how they did their famous love scene. It’s essentially just them kissing their own hands, which is something I never would have expected, even though it does make the most sense.
If you’re a bigMetal Gear Solid 3fan, you should definitely give this one a watch. The nostalgia train is going at full speed, and it’s wonderful to see the actors speak so highly of the characters I love.
