[1] He first appears as the main antagonist in the original Metal Gear Solid, where he leads the rogue FOXHOUND unit in a hostile takeover of a nuclear disposal facility in Alaska.

The character returns in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain as a child mercenary nicknamed the White Mamba with his real name revealed to be Eli.

Liquid Snake (Japanese: リキッド・スネーク, Hepburn: Rikiddo Sunēku) was raised in the United Kingdom following his birth, and served as an operative for the British SAS and later became the field commander of FOXHOUND during Metal Gear Solid, leading Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, Sniper Wolf, Vulcan Raven, Decoy Octopus and the Genome Soldiers.

[2] He leads the hostile takeover of Shadow Moses Island, Alaska to acquire Big Boss's remains and use his genetic information to treat the mutations affecting his subordinates, the Genome Army.

However, Liquid's personality is ultimately revealed to be an elaborate facade by Ocelot made possible through a process of self-hypnosis, in order to trick the Patriots' AIs.

However, Eli resists this treatment and rebels against the Mother Base staff, focusing his hostility on Big Boss's body double who is mistaken for his biological father.

After Sahelanthropus is neutralized and transferred to Mother Base, the Third Child infiltrates the place and befriends Eli, giving him a vial containing the English strain of Skull Face's vocal cord parasite.

"Kingdom of the Flies"[10] shows Snake pursuing Eli's group in an unnamed African island surrounded by saltwater, where the English strain of the vocal cord parasite has been spread to prevent access to adults.

[11] For most of Metal Gear Solid, Liquid is dressed in a brown trenchcoat but fights shirtless when he confronts Snake at the end of the game.

In Metal Gear Solid 2, when Liquid possesses Ocelot, his physical appearance changes as well, exposing the surgically attached right arm and letting his hair loose.

Eli in Metal Gear Solid V wears a wardrobe similar to his older self, consisting of a green jacket with no shirt and shorts.

The back of his jacket has a drawing of a pig with an eye patch meant to resemble Big Boss and the phrase "Never Be Game Over" atop of it.

[20] In 2011, UGO Networks ranked Liquid as the fourth-scariest fictional terrorist in entertainment,[21] also featuring him revealing himself in Metal Gear Solid on the list of the most shocking twists in gaming.