The actor learned about the replacement of the main character right during the voice acting. According to him, in the studio they told him: "No, now the player will control Raiden."
Metal Gear Solid 2 is considered a cult game today, but at the time of release it caused a storm of emotions. Advertising materials and covers assured that Snake would be at the center of the story. But two hours after the start, he disappears, and control passes to the less experienced Raiden.
Hayter admits that he was puzzled and anticipated a controversial reaction: "I thought: let's see how the fans will perceive this." And so it happened - the decision caused heated discussions.
At the same time, the actor emphasized that MGS2 is an "amazing game", and the continuation in the form of Metal Gear Solid 3 became a return to the origins for him and his favorite part.
Over time, the series gained cult status, and Raiden managed to earn the respect of players, especially after the release of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.