Devil_Driver

A starving Dracula beat the brakes off of Alucard without even using his magic, so take from that you will.

@stormdriven: I agree with your take on it, that's exactly what I was thinking the first time they fought, by their final fight I was just wanting it to end quickly, though unfortunately it appears Diaz is going to carry over into next season.

@lvenger: I'm very out of the loop on this never ending Dragonball vs Superman thing, but is it now accepted that Goku is above Superman? that seems crazy if so.

@cergic: I always appreciate elaboration, I'm sure Fizzy feels the same.

Venom is not being outclassed by Moon Knight physically.

Tag for voting.

The cause doesn't matter though old age is old age regardless and it has an obvious effect, Naomis statement was hyperbolic, she was just saying that Snake was incredibly resilient.

Again I don't have to argue what's canon and what isn't the fact of the matter is Solid Snake only ever beat Big Boss as an old man, that's the best that the canon will get you where this fight is concerned, and you can say it doesn't effect him just like I can say it did if you want to talk about speculation.

Ocelot is a more comparable situation to Big Boss. In MGS1, Ocelot was 70, but better than he'd ever been before. In MG2, Big Boss was only 60. Experience and skill are what makes a soldier deadly in Metal Gear, not strength and reflexes. This is obvious, Big Boss himself proved it by defeating Volgin and Gene. Any physical disadvantage he might have had against Snake is rendered moot by the fact that he had a machinegun and Snake was emptyhanded and forced to used stealth to ambush him. It came down to skill and Snake won out.

Not really Big Boss was more skilled than both of them for sure, but when you face someone who is nearly equal in skill and has a physical advantage you aren't going to win unless you get lucky.

Personally I'm done with this discussion you can have the last word if it means that much to you.

@nickzambuto: Read my post to cool jammy above, it addresses the same arguments. You can rely on anecdotal evidence to a certain degree, but a battle board is all about objectivity, and like in a court of law, where the term anecdotal originated, an entire argument can not be based off anecdotal evidence. You're effectively just theorizing that Big Boss's age was the true reason for his defeat, when not once in the entire franchise, canon or not canon, has any material given such an idea. Theories like that are better suited for discussion posts, not battle posts.

I'm not relying on anecdotal evidence Nick, Big Boss was an old man when they fought that's just the way it is, we know age effects people in game it's already been demonstrated so there is nothing reaching about what I said, the fact is Solid Snake never fought Big Boss in his prime, clearly you think David is better and that's your opinion which is fine but I disagree, we clearly aren't going to see eye to eye on this so there isn't much point continuing it.

I will say that experience itself sharpens reflexes and hones senses, so even as Big Boss's body declines, his growing experience compensates, until he reaches a point where he's just decrepit and aching for no reason like Solid Snake was during MGS4.

Reflexes and senses only decrease with age Nick, experience grants wisdom but if you are physically outmatched by someone who is nearly as good as you are chances are pretty good that you'll lose.

The key there is Phenomenal Shape for 60 not compared to someone half their age who does the same, we actually don't know how active Big Boss was during that time period in terms of maintaining his physical health, again you are just doubling down here for no reason, age effects all humans, it effected David so there is no reason to think it would be any different for Big Boss.

Wealth of experience doesn't mean anything if your senses are dulled and your reflexes aren't sharp which is where the contradiction comes into play with the comparison between Old Big Boss and Young Big Boss. If Big Boss in MG 2 Solid Snake had the same capability as MGS 3 Big Boss he never would have lost in that manner with a superior weapon, don't forget he trained Solid Snake.

Remember that Big Boss was old when they met and under the effects of Foxdie, your response here is built upon speculation when none is needed, and your own statement from the past comes back to hurt you here remember? "Big Boss willed himself not to die from Foxdie"

@cooljammy18: Age is a definitely a factor as great as Big Boss and Solid Snake are they are still mortal men, and again anyone who thinks it isn't a factor hasn't played MGS4.