If get the chance to play this game, I'm certain you will never need to play another game. This is the defining moment in Video Game History. You will be amazed at all the detail this game has and I'm certain you'll be playing it over and over again. Just make sure that NO-ONE tells you anything about this game beforehand or it might ruin the entire game...be prepared for non-stop action, suspense and video gaming, that would make most Hollywood Action Directors blush.
72 Reviews
The Greatest Game in History
pardy_travis13 December 2004
The Greatest Game in History.
That sets up some pretty high expectations. Reasons are plentiful: The character proxemics, the ambiance and the use of camera angles, mise-en-scene and the editing are skilled beyond many of Hollywood's films today. The characters themselves are deeply psychological. They're all troubled in some way or another, and yet, despite their own individual depth, they're also representations of a side of the human experience and psyche. Raiden is the brash, headlong energy of youth, but he is also the insecurity and inexperience that comes with it. It comes back on his own life, his romantic life no less, in a big way. Snake is Raiden's foil - strong and secure, with years of experience to back up his quiet confidence.
However, his expertise comes at a toll to his own mental health.
The game itself transcends the nature of video games. It uses its predecessor (MGS 1 was itself a revolution in the gaming world) as a symbol of games in general. MGS 2 comments not only on technology, the effect it has on each of our individuality, the nature of humanity in exploration, and our own inabilities to confront demons, but it does all this while reflecting ON THE NATURE OF GAMES THEMSELVES. Bar none, this game has no rivals - it is consummate gaming, and film-making, for that matter. Being both entertaining and thought-provoking, philosophical and compassionate, the games paradoxes and dichotomies are whole and beautiful. In short, this is the game to end all games. I kid you not.
That sets up some pretty high expectations. Reasons are plentiful: The character proxemics, the ambiance and the use of camera angles, mise-en-scene and the editing are skilled beyond many of Hollywood's films today. The characters themselves are deeply psychological. They're all troubled in some way or another, and yet, despite their own individual depth, they're also representations of a side of the human experience and psyche. Raiden is the brash, headlong energy of youth, but he is also the insecurity and inexperience that comes with it. It comes back on his own life, his romantic life no less, in a big way. Snake is Raiden's foil - strong and secure, with years of experience to back up his quiet confidence.
However, his expertise comes at a toll to his own mental health.
The game itself transcends the nature of video games. It uses its predecessor (MGS 1 was itself a revolution in the gaming world) as a symbol of games in general. MGS 2 comments not only on technology, the effect it has on each of our individuality, the nature of humanity in exploration, and our own inabilities to confront demons, but it does all this while reflecting ON THE NATURE OF GAMES THEMSELVES. Bar none, this game has no rivals - it is consummate gaming, and film-making, for that matter. Being both entertaining and thought-provoking, philosophical and compassionate, the games paradoxes and dichotomies are whole and beautiful. In short, this is the game to end all games. I kid you not.
A Game Ahead Of It's Time
riku-715 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I'm tired of reading so many reviews for MGS2 that are prefaced with "It's a great game but it made no sense at all and Raiden was gay." It is sad to see that so few people who played Metal Gear Solid 2 thought about anything deeper than what was explicitly told to them during the game. Yes the game is complex, yes things are not always explained as well as they should have been and yes Raiden is not as cool as Snake, however that does not change the fact that Metal Gear Solid 2 might be the most intelligent game ever created.
MGS2 is a work of postmodern art. Pick up any other game and you find it's about solving puzzles or hacking and slashing your way to victory with an overly-badass character. What Kojima figured was that videogames are inherently post modern, so why not take things to the next step? It's why rations automatically heal wounds, how ammo is found in a spinning box floating a foot above the ground, it's in how you have to wait for a loading time between areas, and in every other countless way the game tells you that it is a game - not real life. People wanted realism, instead they got a fat man on roller blades, a vampire and a main character who not only wasn't Solid Snake, but who was actually a whinny, selfish, childish ("Did you say Nerd?") girlie man to go along with countless other oddities. The game challenged so many players expectations and wants, almost taunting them to continue. It amazes me that in a series where the fans were all looking for realism, Kojima would create a game that forces the player to question the reality of everything around him. The plot of the game and the experience for the player are one in the same - human control. The S3's goal is to see if it can get Raiden to complete his mission and do everything they expect of him despite his not wanting to at every turn. It is the same for the player, 'this doesn't make any sense', 'why am I not playing as Snake?', 'Raiden, turn the game console off now!', 'why am I naked?!?!', etc. the game goes as far as to actually TELL YOU to stop playing, just to see if you will, but everyone kept playing. We all reluctantly got to the end, hoping for it to all make sense so we could rationalize it into some form of a possible reality only to find out that the whole point of the 'game' was to see if 'Raiden' would make it far enough to be told that it was all just a TEST to see if he would make it that far. Even once he knows this the mission is not over, he has no choice but to finish it and he reluctantly does, much in the same way that I doubt anyone got to that point in the game simply to drop the controller and quit. The backlash at this game stems from the success of the games message. The lack of 'control' players felt lead them to summarize the game with the usual "it doesn't make sense and Raiden is gay" that I hear to this day. Few people saw this aspect of the game and consequently few people appreciate it.
Raiden is a flawed character. Perhaps the gaming industry just wasn't ready for it, as virtually all the characters you'll find in today's games are the ideal, always badass, and generally the type that embody the best aspects of human nature, certainly not a whinny, self centered man who is embarrassed by his past. The fatal 'flaw' people always seemed to find in MGS2 was that you play as Raiden, instead the ideal game character, Snake. Raiden's flaws are the flaws of everyone, the flaws of your average person. The point that Raiden is in fact YOU is constantly driven home throughout the game. His noticeably feminine look to help female players identify with him, lines like "I've spent hours in VR, I feel like some sort of legendary mercenary", and "I've gone through VR for the Shadow Moses", the telling of Raiden to "turn the game console off now" and finally the part at the end where Raiden looks down at his dog tags and they have YOUR NAME ON THEM. So you see, the main character of MGS2 is YOU, and this is a fact that makes much of the arguing over Raiden seem fairly ironic.
The ending, where our flawed representative of the masses chooses his own life over the antagonist who dreams of taking back "freedom, civil rights, opportunities - The founding principles of this country," is a brilliant take on our selfish nature as a species. The AI tells you to look at the strange juxtapositions of morality around you. Solidus can only achieve his goals through killing Raiden, the Patriots pawn, while Raiden must kill Solidus to save Rose and Olga's child, thus willingly serving the Patriots. The depth of this game is amazing. Consider how the S3's plan was to censor information, much in the same way Raiden was censored from all of the trailers and clips of the game before its release. The actual hype leading up to the game mimicked the game itself. The most brilliant thing to me is how, Kojima can be substituted for the Patriots, the game itself for the S3 Plan and the player for Raiden. This is a game that talks directly to the player. This is not a story about terrorists and agents; this is an experience about us. A sequel created by our own expectations and experience just like the characters we dreamt up.
MGS2 is the perfect example of what the Patriot are trying to save. A treasure lost in the sea of garbage that the idiots produce everyday.
MGS2 is a work of postmodern art. Pick up any other game and you find it's about solving puzzles or hacking and slashing your way to victory with an overly-badass character. What Kojima figured was that videogames are inherently post modern, so why not take things to the next step? It's why rations automatically heal wounds, how ammo is found in a spinning box floating a foot above the ground, it's in how you have to wait for a loading time between areas, and in every other countless way the game tells you that it is a game - not real life. People wanted realism, instead they got a fat man on roller blades, a vampire and a main character who not only wasn't Solid Snake, but who was actually a whinny, selfish, childish ("Did you say Nerd?") girlie man to go along with countless other oddities. The game challenged so many players expectations and wants, almost taunting them to continue. It amazes me that in a series where the fans were all looking for realism, Kojima would create a game that forces the player to question the reality of everything around him. The plot of the game and the experience for the player are one in the same - human control. The S3's goal is to see if it can get Raiden to complete his mission and do everything they expect of him despite his not wanting to at every turn. It is the same for the player, 'this doesn't make any sense', 'why am I not playing as Snake?', 'Raiden, turn the game console off now!', 'why am I naked?!?!', etc. the game goes as far as to actually TELL YOU to stop playing, just to see if you will, but everyone kept playing. We all reluctantly got to the end, hoping for it to all make sense so we could rationalize it into some form of a possible reality only to find out that the whole point of the 'game' was to see if 'Raiden' would make it far enough to be told that it was all just a TEST to see if he would make it that far. Even once he knows this the mission is not over, he has no choice but to finish it and he reluctantly does, much in the same way that I doubt anyone got to that point in the game simply to drop the controller and quit. The backlash at this game stems from the success of the games message. The lack of 'control' players felt lead them to summarize the game with the usual "it doesn't make sense and Raiden is gay" that I hear to this day. Few people saw this aspect of the game and consequently few people appreciate it.
Raiden is a flawed character. Perhaps the gaming industry just wasn't ready for it, as virtually all the characters you'll find in today's games are the ideal, always badass, and generally the type that embody the best aspects of human nature, certainly not a whinny, self centered man who is embarrassed by his past. The fatal 'flaw' people always seemed to find in MGS2 was that you play as Raiden, instead the ideal game character, Snake. Raiden's flaws are the flaws of everyone, the flaws of your average person. The point that Raiden is in fact YOU is constantly driven home throughout the game. His noticeably feminine look to help female players identify with him, lines like "I've spent hours in VR, I feel like some sort of legendary mercenary", and "I've gone through VR for the Shadow Moses", the telling of Raiden to "turn the game console off now" and finally the part at the end where Raiden looks down at his dog tags and they have YOUR NAME ON THEM. So you see, the main character of MGS2 is YOU, and this is a fact that makes much of the arguing over Raiden seem fairly ironic.
The ending, where our flawed representative of the masses chooses his own life over the antagonist who dreams of taking back "freedom, civil rights, opportunities - The founding principles of this country," is a brilliant take on our selfish nature as a species. The AI tells you to look at the strange juxtapositions of morality around you. Solidus can only achieve his goals through killing Raiden, the Patriots pawn, while Raiden must kill Solidus to save Rose and Olga's child, thus willingly serving the Patriots. The depth of this game is amazing. Consider how the S3's plan was to censor information, much in the same way Raiden was censored from all of the trailers and clips of the game before its release. The actual hype leading up to the game mimicked the game itself. The most brilliant thing to me is how, Kojima can be substituted for the Patriots, the game itself for the S3 Plan and the player for Raiden. This is a game that talks directly to the player. This is not a story about terrorists and agents; this is an experience about us. A sequel created by our own expectations and experience just like the characters we dreamt up.
MGS2 is the perfect example of what the Patriot are trying to save. A treasure lost in the sea of garbage that the idiots produce everyday.
A Movie in a games box.
RaveN_ImW10 August 2002
This is going to be short and sweet, Metal Gear Solid 2 is just what an interactive movie could be. Playing this game is just like playing a main role in a movie. The only way this movie could be more imersive is if you when on a holodeck like in startrek. Play it you wont regreat it.
"The Matrix" of video games.
practiced_bravado10 August 2004
"Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" is the best action game ever made. It's also one of the best video games of all time. Creator Hideo Kojima and his team have made the impossible possible. They have created a sequel that outdoes the original in almost every way imaginable. It is a masterpiece that redefines what a video game can be and will be the standard of this industry for years to come.
If there's one thing all players can agree on, it's that "Metal Gear Solid 2" excels in its cinematic presentation. Not only in the cutscenes, but in the gameplay itself. The graphics are an awesome sight to behold. It's been almost three years since the game first debuted in the U.S. and yet few other game releases have surpassed its visuals. They are detailed, lifelike and stunning.
Interaction with the game's enviroment is encouraged and so is the open-ended gameplay. The sky's the limit when it comes to your imagination and curiosity. You can move around in stealth and collect dogtags off soldiers or be a "Rambo"-type badass and just kill everybody in sight. Your choices determine what the game's experience will be. Be inventive and you'll realize how deep this title actually is.
The game is divided into two parts. A "prologue" takes place aboard an oil tanker just off of the coast of the New York Harbor and the "main story" is set on a cleanup plant. If "The Matrix" stunned with you the surprise twist, then "Metal Gear Solid 2" will have your head spinning way before the end. It's talky, but if you stick with it you'll feel like you survived the ultimate mind bender.
There are two action sequences that "Matrix" creators the Wachowski brothers would probably envy. One is an awesome gunfight involving high-tech ninjas and the other is the climactic fight you engage in with samurai swords. Not only does MGS 2 mess with your brain, it is also the very definition of cool action. "Metal Gear Solid 2" is definitely a 10 out of 10. An A Plus. It's gonna take alot to top this installment of Solid Snake's adventures.
I'm sure Hideo Kojima will be up to the task. His "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater" will be released this November. Until then, if you have haven't played "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Then what are you waiting for? Go and buy it now! **** out of ****.
If there's one thing all players can agree on, it's that "Metal Gear Solid 2" excels in its cinematic presentation. Not only in the cutscenes, but in the gameplay itself. The graphics are an awesome sight to behold. It's been almost three years since the game first debuted in the U.S. and yet few other game releases have surpassed its visuals. They are detailed, lifelike and stunning.
Interaction with the game's enviroment is encouraged and so is the open-ended gameplay. The sky's the limit when it comes to your imagination and curiosity. You can move around in stealth and collect dogtags off soldiers or be a "Rambo"-type badass and just kill everybody in sight. Your choices determine what the game's experience will be. Be inventive and you'll realize how deep this title actually is.
The game is divided into two parts. A "prologue" takes place aboard an oil tanker just off of the coast of the New York Harbor and the "main story" is set on a cleanup plant. If "The Matrix" stunned with you the surprise twist, then "Metal Gear Solid 2" will have your head spinning way before the end. It's talky, but if you stick with it you'll feel like you survived the ultimate mind bender.
There are two action sequences that "Matrix" creators the Wachowski brothers would probably envy. One is an awesome gunfight involving high-tech ninjas and the other is the climactic fight you engage in with samurai swords. Not only does MGS 2 mess with your brain, it is also the very definition of cool action. "Metal Gear Solid 2" is definitely a 10 out of 10. An A Plus. It's gonna take alot to top this installment of Solid Snake's adventures.
I'm sure Hideo Kojima will be up to the task. His "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater" will be released this November. Until then, if you have haven't played "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Then what are you waiting for? Go and buy it now! **** out of ****.
One of the Greatest games for Next Gen systems if not all time.
jmartinez82365 June 2002
No game before has ever gripped you by your balls and swung you till you asked it to do it again. Its cinematic in ways most movies would kill for, its graphics are top of the bar, its sound makes you jump with every cock of the gun. And its gameplay is as flawless as it can get.
If this was a movie it would be in the top 5 on everyones list.
If this was a movie it would be in the top 5 on everyones list.
Brilliant in every way.
JackBauerPowerHour14 March 2004
How to describe the greatness of this game. Here I go. When I went to buy this on the day it came out. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get home and start playing this right away. When I got home and put the game inside the PS2. The intro started and my jaw fell to the ground because it was so f***ing breathtaking. I knew this was gonna be one hell of a thrill ride.
The Graphics: Simply spectacular, probably the best I have seen on any console. Snake looks even more like a badass than ever. All the other characters look completley realistic.10/10
The Controls: Awesome, is easy to control snake,raiden and the weapons you get to use.10/10
The Story: Mind-Blowing. The plot is very dark and complex with so many plot twists from beginning to end. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what happens next and I thought 24 had a lot of surprises but nothing comes close to this. This is the type of story videogames should have.10/10
The Sound: Excellent musical score by Harry Gregson Williams, very cool attention details and also great voice acting especially from David Hayter. Also with one of the greatest videogame soundtracks ever made. 10/10
Lasting Ability: Collecting all the dog tags is very fun but other people would probably stop playing it for awhile, mainly to free there minds of what they just witness.9/10
Overall: This is the greatest game ever made, simple as that. Took a lot of years to make this magnificent piece of art work. My hat goes off to Hideo Kojima and his entire MGS2 crew for creating this true Masterpiece/Classic. Too bad we have to wait for MGS3 to come out in November but trust me is worth the wait.(A++)
The Graphics: Simply spectacular, probably the best I have seen on any console. Snake looks even more like a badass than ever. All the other characters look completley realistic.10/10
The Controls: Awesome, is easy to control snake,raiden and the weapons you get to use.10/10
The Story: Mind-Blowing. The plot is very dark and complex with so many plot twists from beginning to end. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what happens next and I thought 24 had a lot of surprises but nothing comes close to this. This is the type of story videogames should have.10/10
The Sound: Excellent musical score by Harry Gregson Williams, very cool attention details and also great voice acting especially from David Hayter. Also with one of the greatest videogame soundtracks ever made. 10/10
Lasting Ability: Collecting all the dog tags is very fun but other people would probably stop playing it for awhile, mainly to free there minds of what they just witness.9/10
Overall: This is the greatest game ever made, simple as that. Took a lot of years to make this magnificent piece of art work. My hat goes off to Hideo Kojima and his entire MGS2 crew for creating this true Masterpiece/Classic. Too bad we have to wait for MGS3 to come out in November but trust me is worth the wait.(A++)
Most likely the best thing to hit the videogame world since Pong.
just_some_guy6027 April 2001
Hideo Kojima has done it again.
The fifth addition to the official Metal Gear lineup is quite definately the best. Perfect AI, powerfull voice acting by the returning David Hayter, Patrick Laine, and Christopher Fritz, a professionaly composed score, and graphics that will make you swallow your tounge.
If you cant handle good games, stay as far away from this title as possible. Metal Gear fans and newbies alike, I urge, emplore, and DEMAND that you get this game.
So basicaly, it's lookin pretty good.
The fifth addition to the official Metal Gear lineup is quite definately the best. Perfect AI, powerfull voice acting by the returning David Hayter, Patrick Laine, and Christopher Fritz, a professionaly composed score, and graphics that will make you swallow your tounge.
If you cant handle good games, stay as far away from this title as possible. Metal Gear fans and newbies alike, I urge, emplore, and DEMAND that you get this game.
So basicaly, it's lookin pretty good.
The Ultimate PS2 game
Ryjhan18 November 2001
This game is by far the best PS2 game out there at the moment. The graphics are amazing, the plot is outstanding, and the attention to detail is mind-blowing. your Facial expressions change depending on the situation, the guards have a good AI, and almost every environment item can be manipulated. If you have a PS2, get this game.
Let's gear up for Metal Gear Solid 2. It's good, but why do we have to play as Raiden, most of the time!? I wanted to play as Snake.
ironhorse_iv18 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
It's very controversial at the time, to have Raiden (Voiced by Quinton Flynn) as the main protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2, rather than established hero, Solid Snake (Voiced by David Hayter). I don't really dislike the character. I just would like to play as Solid Snake. Raiden is just a little dull. One thing that I really hate is how the creators of the game, deceive and trick gamers, by thinking that Solid Snake was playable, in the whole game. They did this, by misrepresentation their demos, leading up to the game release. It's wrong that they didn't inform, the gamers that Solid Snake is only playable in the first mission, and that, the rest of the game, the gamer controls Raiden. Talk about a dishonor swerve by the creators. I really dislike Solid Snake's removal as the playable main character, but I was willing to finish the game, regardless, even if I have to play a whiny baby face character like Raiden to get through it. Despite that, Metal Gear Solid 2 manages to be a good fun game. The game heavily utilized the PlayStation 2's capabilities, in its graphics and gameplay. While the bare mechanics remain relatively untouched, there were a lot of great improvements was added to this game, while also keeping the identity of the series intact. The horrific textures, the jumpy animations, bad camera angles, and awful controls from 1998 Play Station One original, are all now gone. This lead, to better gameplay. I like, how you can now, crawl, duck, and prone around, during sneaking missions. I also love how you can climb or hang from a balcony or swim if you want to. The best thing, they added, was aiming and shooting in first person mode. I just wish, they along Solid Snake to be as supporting AI, throughout the game. The interactivity is also incredible for a 2001 game. The game has smarter enemy AI. Now, guards can get suspicious if a sentry fails to deliver their status report, and deploy protective riot gear should the player be spotted. It's so much challenging. I like how enemies shake & urine themselves when held up at gun point. It's get even funnier, when the luckless soldier with chronic digestive problems return from the first game. I love the action set pieces and bosses battles. Each one is very unique. My favorite is the bombing disposal mission. My least favorite is any of the swimming levels. The Interactive to the world is very impressive. I love how the raindrops hit characters & bounce off. You can break bottles, glasses, and even create bullet holes in the walls is a highlight. This game is great in the graphics and still holds up, even today. Also noteworthy is the soundtrack. A fantastic musical score by Harry Gregson-Williams underlines the entire game. There are moments when the music matches the on screen action so perfectly. The voice acting is very strong; particularly from David Hayter, but like the previous game, the game also suffers from exposition diarrhea. It has way too much long stretches of somewhat boring codec conversations. Sometimes, you might heard something smart, being said, but the majority of the time, its mind-numbing lecturing and uninteresting. Sadly, you still can't skip, most of them. While most of the gameplay was universally acclaimed; the cinematic of the game is probably the biggest fault. I was a bit confused on the philosophical nature and execution of the game storyline. The game has this avant-garde surrealism and post-modernism felt to it; remind me of the philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Hobbes, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, as well as the more recent social media and social gaming trends. I know, that the game wanted to be gripping and thought-provoking, but it came across as messy. Themes such as political conspiracies, memes, social engineering, censorship, and artificial intelligence are somewhat unsatisfying explored. Directed and created by Hideo Kojima, the story revolves the "Big Shell", a massive offshore clean-up facility that has been seized by a group of terrorists that call themselves, the "Sons of Liberty". Their plan is destroy the facility and create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their demands are not met. The player take control of Raiden as he must find a way, not only to stop the terrorist threat, but also find out, who his allies and his enemies are, when a world-shaking conspiracy is discovery. According to Kojima, the original plot of the game revolved around nuclear weapon inspections in Iraq and Iran and had Solid Snake trying to stop the Metal Gear while it was located on an aircraft carrier, in a certain time limit. However, the political situation in the Middle East became a concern and they decided that they could not make a game with such a plot. The tanker in the released game is based on this original plot. Significant changes to the game's ending were made late in development following the 9/11 attacks in New York. Needless to say, Metal Gear Solid 2 is the single most confusing game in the Metal Gear franchise. It has the most overly convoluted plot from all the series. Still, there were a lot of great homages and inside jokes to other films like 1981's Escape from New York, 1997's Titanic, and 1968's Space Odyssey that made this, very entertaining. I also love the returning cameos from the first game. It made fun to watch. Overall: While, the original game had a better overall story, more memorable bosses & more moments that have stayed in my memory. I still would recommend playing MGS2 nonetheless. It's a great game & is rightfully remembered as one of the best of the PS2 era. So, stop hiding in your little box, and play it!
Without a Doubt The Best Game Ever!
smithy200128 April 2002
I didnt play Metal Gear Solid for the PSone but I played demos foe MGS2 and I was so impressed by both the graphics and gameplay I went and bought it on the release date. This is without a doubt the best ever game to be release on any game console! The story line is excellent, the graphic is a benchmark for future releases and the sounding matches every part of the game.It's a shame where you don't get to play as Snake full out the game but the character Raiden is a good replacement (especially that cartwheel stunt) but he crys to much!
The very definition of "mindf*ck"
u_mbaptista19 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This game made sweet love to my mind in a cheap motel and never called back the following day. MGS2 isn't just a game, it's an experience. It's a thrilling, intelligent, and emotional roller coaster ride with twists and turns at every corner. I achieved such a high level of immersion on my first playthrough that I found myself questioning reality by game's end. Though initially annoyed by Konami's decision to make Raiden the main protagonist, I did enjoy seeing Solid Snake from a student perspective. Seemingly all knowing mentor who's better equipped and provides support when you're stuck is an appropriate role for a character who exudes unparalleled badassery and pimptitude. The soundtrack was pretty good. The improvements in gameplay over the original are vast. The first person aiming is a godsend, and the improved AI made toying around with enemy soldiers infinitely more fun and versatile. Every phase of the game is "Solid". Pun intended.
A BEAUTIFUL sequel
shadowolf2k26 November 2001
When the first Metal Gear Solid was released on the Playstation, it blew every other game out of the water. It wasn't just a game... it was a piece of art. Not only was the gameplay excellent and heart-pumping, but the story was gripping and touching, the quotes were novel-like and cutscenes were as memorable as your favorite scene in any movie.
Now, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has been released for the Playstation 2, with an improvement upon everything. The enemy intelligence has got to be the most impressive I have ever seen. They constantly radio in their reports of their guarding spots, and if you kill them, the ones they radio to will check out why they are not responding, forcing you to think before you shoot, unlike many other games. You can sneak up the guards and hold them up or snap their necks if you want, you can limp them by shooting specific body parts, or you can even make them bleed to death by shooting them a few times and letting them live.
The characters are still as three-dimensional as they were before (and I don't mean physically as models, but as a character by inner traits, motives and feelings). You'll feel very emotional for them. Whether you hate them because they're a backstabbing b*****d, or you feel sorry for them because of their past or situations that they are stuck in. The story is as gripping as the first, however, it IS a lot more complicated and one would probably have to play through a few more times to understand the plot a lot more. There are so many pieces of the plot that are in their own seperate places, that it's hard to put them together until you do play a few more times. It's almost impossible to give away the plot without spoiling anything, so I will not say anything, because this game is FULL of surprises. Even at the nearing of beginning of this game that you will be surprised.
Metal Gear Solid 2, in my opinion, is not as good as the first game, but it surely does not make this a bad game. In fact, this game is a worthy sequal, as much as The Empire Strikes Back was for the first Star Wars film (well, I liked the first better). There are some parts in Metal Gear Solid 2 that will seem too similar to the first game, which is the weakest point of this sequel, but the new quotes and philosophies, outstanding gameplay, wonderful story, and hilarious humor will make this game worth a purchase.
HOWEVER, if you have never played the first game, do so, before this one. This isn't like a James Bond film, in which every story is quite new. This game does continue with explanations to the first game. You can read the "In the Darkness from Shadow Moses" in this game, which summarizes (despite being about 349 pages) the events of the first game, though the summary has inaccuracies that were put in on purpose (most likely to put a touch of realism in which the author can't remember what everybody says...can't blame her, there's a lot of speech in it).
Another congratulations to Hideo Kojima and the crew at Konami for making the second best game out there (the best game out, in my opinion, is the first Metal Gear Solid still...).
Now, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has been released for the Playstation 2, with an improvement upon everything. The enemy intelligence has got to be the most impressive I have ever seen. They constantly radio in their reports of their guarding spots, and if you kill them, the ones they radio to will check out why they are not responding, forcing you to think before you shoot, unlike many other games. You can sneak up the guards and hold them up or snap their necks if you want, you can limp them by shooting specific body parts, or you can even make them bleed to death by shooting them a few times and letting them live.
The characters are still as three-dimensional as they were before (and I don't mean physically as models, but as a character by inner traits, motives and feelings). You'll feel very emotional for them. Whether you hate them because they're a backstabbing b*****d, or you feel sorry for them because of their past or situations that they are stuck in. The story is as gripping as the first, however, it IS a lot more complicated and one would probably have to play through a few more times to understand the plot a lot more. There are so many pieces of the plot that are in their own seperate places, that it's hard to put them together until you do play a few more times. It's almost impossible to give away the plot without spoiling anything, so I will not say anything, because this game is FULL of surprises. Even at the nearing of beginning of this game that you will be surprised.
Metal Gear Solid 2, in my opinion, is not as good as the first game, but it surely does not make this a bad game. In fact, this game is a worthy sequal, as much as The Empire Strikes Back was for the first Star Wars film (well, I liked the first better). There are some parts in Metal Gear Solid 2 that will seem too similar to the first game, which is the weakest point of this sequel, but the new quotes and philosophies, outstanding gameplay, wonderful story, and hilarious humor will make this game worth a purchase.
HOWEVER, if you have never played the first game, do so, before this one. This isn't like a James Bond film, in which every story is quite new. This game does continue with explanations to the first game. You can read the "In the Darkness from Shadow Moses" in this game, which summarizes (despite being about 349 pages) the events of the first game, though the summary has inaccuracies that were put in on purpose (most likely to put a touch of realism in which the author can't remember what everybody says...can't blame her, there's a lot of speech in it).
Another congratulations to Hideo Kojima and the crew at Konami for making the second best game out there (the best game out, in my opinion, is the first Metal Gear Solid still...).
Just Play The Demo and Leave This In The Shops.
ml012a486021 June 2006
***Tip: Have It Read To You, Heres How***
1) Copy And Paste This To Notepad (NOT WORD) 2) Go To. START>ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>ACCESSABILTY>NARRATOR
When I played the demo to MGS2: Sons Of Liberty I was really looking forward to playing the full game. I thought that the graphics were perfect, the way the rain would distort the lights on the oil tanker, the voice acting was just as good as MSG1 with both Snake and Otacons friendly banter and the character movements looks awesome.
The demo would allow for me to play up to the first boss fight and then would end, little did I know that thats about all I get to play as with snake, thinking that when I got the full game that I would be able to explore more into the tanker, maybe get off the tanker and look around a new destination with Snake. When I looked at the box, all that I could see was Snake, it was him on the front, screen shots of him on the back in the rain and information about how SNAKE IS BACK. This was really only bait, you don't play as Snake but as a different character called Jack (Code Name Raiden).
It would not have been as bad if I knew that I was going to be Raiden but the developers decided not to let on to this until I owned the game.
About the full game; well once you get past the tanker everything changes, the graphics become dull and lifeless with horrible orange walls in every part of the oil rig and then there is the storyline.
What i liked about the Tanker was that the cut scenes and radio comms were short and sweet, not anymore they ain't. Every time I entered a new part of the oil rig there would be a cut scene showing me where all the enemies were, followed by a 15 minute lecture about how to tackle them, this don't just happen once but every time for the first 15 minutes of the game and every time a new enemy comes into the game.
This game is also heavily bogged down with unnecessary radio comms, for example when you first open the door on the oil rig you see a lone guard recovering from some kind of an attack, this frightens our hero who then runs into the corner (The Computer Will Take Control Of The Character) and rings the commander;
"Colonel, I've spotted an enemy, what should I do" "Raiden, Engage the enemy" This will always be repeated with a questioning tone "Engage the enemy?" "Yes, Engage the enemy" "How should I best do this?" "Well..." and about 20 minutes later you get back to the game.
Bad, but not half as bad as when his girlfriend pops up with more ear bending.
"Jack, Do you remember when we first met" "Jack, Do you know what to day is" or "Why don't we talk anymore"
Jezz, Its seems to me they do nothing but talk. During major operations do elite soldiers have to put up with this sort of thing I mean;
"Sir, I've found the bomb" "Jack, did you take the bins out" or "Your always to busy to talk to me"
This is bad but Raiden complains more to his girlfriend like when he asks about seeing him kill someone.
"Rose, I've just killed someone, ain't you gonna say something" "No" "Taking a human life is....Blah Blah Blah"
And this sort of thing goes on. I thought this game would be worth buying just for the storyline but it is not, mainly down to the fact that the story is to hard to follow after the many U-turns the game makes. I've clocked it about three times and I still can't make head nor tail of it.
Your better off playing Pac-Man, at least that games story line was easier to follow, and Ms. Pac-Man didn't keep popping up asking Mr. Pac-Man about if he knew when their wedding anniversary is.
1) Copy And Paste This To Notepad (NOT WORD) 2) Go To. START>ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>ACCESSABILTY>NARRATOR
When I played the demo to MGS2: Sons Of Liberty I was really looking forward to playing the full game. I thought that the graphics were perfect, the way the rain would distort the lights on the oil tanker, the voice acting was just as good as MSG1 with both Snake and Otacons friendly banter and the character movements looks awesome.
The demo would allow for me to play up to the first boss fight and then would end, little did I know that thats about all I get to play as with snake, thinking that when I got the full game that I would be able to explore more into the tanker, maybe get off the tanker and look around a new destination with Snake. When I looked at the box, all that I could see was Snake, it was him on the front, screen shots of him on the back in the rain and information about how SNAKE IS BACK. This was really only bait, you don't play as Snake but as a different character called Jack (Code Name Raiden).
It would not have been as bad if I knew that I was going to be Raiden but the developers decided not to let on to this until I owned the game.
About the full game; well once you get past the tanker everything changes, the graphics become dull and lifeless with horrible orange walls in every part of the oil rig and then there is the storyline.
What i liked about the Tanker was that the cut scenes and radio comms were short and sweet, not anymore they ain't. Every time I entered a new part of the oil rig there would be a cut scene showing me where all the enemies were, followed by a 15 minute lecture about how to tackle them, this don't just happen once but every time for the first 15 minutes of the game and every time a new enemy comes into the game.
This game is also heavily bogged down with unnecessary radio comms, for example when you first open the door on the oil rig you see a lone guard recovering from some kind of an attack, this frightens our hero who then runs into the corner (The Computer Will Take Control Of The Character) and rings the commander;
"Colonel, I've spotted an enemy, what should I do" "Raiden, Engage the enemy" This will always be repeated with a questioning tone "Engage the enemy?" "Yes, Engage the enemy" "How should I best do this?" "Well..." and about 20 minutes later you get back to the game.
Bad, but not half as bad as when his girlfriend pops up with more ear bending.
"Jack, Do you remember when we first met" "Jack, Do you know what to day is" or "Why don't we talk anymore"
Jezz, Its seems to me they do nothing but talk. During major operations do elite soldiers have to put up with this sort of thing I mean;
"Sir, I've found the bomb" "Jack, did you take the bins out" or "Your always to busy to talk to me"
This is bad but Raiden complains more to his girlfriend like when he asks about seeing him kill someone.
"Rose, I've just killed someone, ain't you gonna say something" "No" "Taking a human life is....Blah Blah Blah"
And this sort of thing goes on. I thought this game would be worth buying just for the storyline but it is not, mainly down to the fact that the story is to hard to follow after the many U-turns the game makes. I've clocked it about three times and I still can't make head nor tail of it.
Your better off playing Pac-Man, at least that games story line was easier to follow, and Ms. Pac-Man didn't keep popping up asking Mr. Pac-Man about if he knew when their wedding anniversary is.
Hideo Kojima never stops amazing me
klono99 November 2003
For starters this is NOT an ordinary videogame. It is a movie/videogame.
Hideo Kojima has taken a lot from fans and critics regarding this game. People complain on the lack of "playability". in other words: there are to much dialouge & videos and to little gameplay. But Hideo has said a thousand times:
-This is NOT an ordinary game! It's movie/videogame.
So I don't understand why people are complaining on those particular aspects. It's like complaining on a book because it's only text in it! It's outrageous!! Ok ok there is a LOT of videos and a LOT of dialouges. But that is just what it's supposed to be!
So stop complaining about it already!
I think this game is one of the best games in the world. And it has a LOT replayability value. BUT you won't get the story, witch is the best thing about the game, if you haven't played Metal Gear Solid 1 recently. So you can say that MGS 2 is a followup on MGS 1.
Hideo Kojima has taken a lot from fans and critics regarding this game. People complain on the lack of "playability". in other words: there are to much dialouge & videos and to little gameplay. But Hideo has said a thousand times:
-This is NOT an ordinary game! It's movie/videogame.
So I don't understand why people are complaining on those particular aspects. It's like complaining on a book because it's only text in it! It's outrageous!! Ok ok there is a LOT of videos and a LOT of dialouges. But that is just what it's supposed to be!
So stop complaining about it already!
I think this game is one of the best games in the world. And it has a LOT replayability value. BUT you won't get the story, witch is the best thing about the game, if you haven't played Metal Gear Solid 1 recently. So you can say that MGS 2 is a followup on MGS 1.
Maybe, not for everyone, but a masterpiece
jhwjohnson13 September 2021
This game is great on a first playthrough, but only really shines on repeat plays as well as analysing all the themes of the game. If that doesn't sound appealing, it's still a pretty fun game, but just know you won't get the full experience. However, if you like doing that, be prepared for one of the greatest experiences in any form of media ever, I'm serious, its that good.
Kojima's Finest. Stands up to and Surpasses in every way.
kt3234-124 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
First, let's make this clear: THIS GAME IS NOT FOR ANYONE WHO CANNOT SIT STILL IN A CHAIR AND LISTEN TO CONVERSATION OR FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T PLAYED AT LEAST METAL GEAR SOLID. You'll be too confused and you will whine about it.
From the start, it looks like you'll be playing a typical Metal Gear. Go in, rescue hostages, destroy Metal Gear, and get out. While that is all followed, you do it in the most clever and exciting of ways.
You play as Snake, legendary hero of Operation Intrude F313 and Shadow Moses...for about 10 seconds. You'll then be thrust into the role of rookie FOXHOUND member Raiden, who will be your primary character for the bulk of the game.
First, the Tanker Chapter The graphics are gorgeous. Absolutely incredible camera work and tremendously well-done voice acting. It could be said that this game has more going for it than most Hollywood films. Snake's arsenal gets a complete overhaul, and a variety of new moves. WE CAN FINALLY SHOOT IN FIRST PERSON! Enemies are smarter and deadlier, and the great new feature of getting through the game without killing a single boss character is very welcome to stupid naysayers.
But, in the Plant Chapter You take on Raiden, the aforementioned rookie FOXHOUND agent. In many ways, the game fits so perfectly with Raiden than with Solid Snake. People who pay attention will realize that we find a lot more out about Snake through the perspective of another, and it really helps to move the story along. And what a story it is. This game deals with the 1984-esque world we've all been thinking about. Censorship, memes, social engineering, AI, and conspiracy theories. The story can be convoluted, and many will say "huh?" but it doesn't detract from the overall game-play or enjoyability of it.
But let's address that right now. Gameplay can be fickle. For some reason, we're still left with the crouch-then-crawl routine of Snake introduced way back in 1990 with Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. We get the funny way of movement and the sometimes frustrating camera angles, and the awkward way of firing a weapon based on pressure pushing. But these are only very minor things, in the larger view. These do not hamper the quality. think of it this way: You shouldn't even be using guns. It's a sneaking game. Many of you will say "Yeah, but still" and I understand that. But don't discard this wonderful piece of art just for the sake of accurate gun control.
To all you with ADD, DON'T BASH THE GAME UNLESS YOU MAKE A FAIR ATTEMPT TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE CUTSCENES. The cut scenes are the meat of Metal Gears. Play with it, eat with it, live with it. Shut up about it.
But really, the cut scenes are more like a movie than just your standard cut scenes. They are beautifully rendered, and perfectly acted and voiced. The reason I think everyone hates this particular entry in the series is the fact that they do not watch the cut scenes, so they can't figure out the story. The cut scenes are key to it. They are long, but so are movies. Treat it like that.
Codec conversations are a slight problem. it would be so much better if they were to be cut scenes as well, but alas, we're stuck with talking green heads. Codec conversations are still excellent, mind you, but they do hamper the game-play.
In short, the Metal Gear series is known for it's intricate plot, it's drama, and it's characters. While it may seem like all of these have been so overdone that they are virtually unrecognizable, it's all for the sake of telling a great story. You could not ask for a funnier or more clever sequel. It deserves so much more than a 10.
From the start, it looks like you'll be playing a typical Metal Gear. Go in, rescue hostages, destroy Metal Gear, and get out. While that is all followed, you do it in the most clever and exciting of ways.
You play as Snake, legendary hero of Operation Intrude F313 and Shadow Moses...for about 10 seconds. You'll then be thrust into the role of rookie FOXHOUND member Raiden, who will be your primary character for the bulk of the game.
First, the Tanker Chapter The graphics are gorgeous. Absolutely incredible camera work and tremendously well-done voice acting. It could be said that this game has more going for it than most Hollywood films. Snake's arsenal gets a complete overhaul, and a variety of new moves. WE CAN FINALLY SHOOT IN FIRST PERSON! Enemies are smarter and deadlier, and the great new feature of getting through the game without killing a single boss character is very welcome to stupid naysayers.
But, in the Plant Chapter You take on Raiden, the aforementioned rookie FOXHOUND agent. In many ways, the game fits so perfectly with Raiden than with Solid Snake. People who pay attention will realize that we find a lot more out about Snake through the perspective of another, and it really helps to move the story along. And what a story it is. This game deals with the 1984-esque world we've all been thinking about. Censorship, memes, social engineering, AI, and conspiracy theories. The story can be convoluted, and many will say "huh?" but it doesn't detract from the overall game-play or enjoyability of it.
But let's address that right now. Gameplay can be fickle. For some reason, we're still left with the crouch-then-crawl routine of Snake introduced way back in 1990 with Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. We get the funny way of movement and the sometimes frustrating camera angles, and the awkward way of firing a weapon based on pressure pushing. But these are only very minor things, in the larger view. These do not hamper the quality. think of it this way: You shouldn't even be using guns. It's a sneaking game. Many of you will say "Yeah, but still" and I understand that. But don't discard this wonderful piece of art just for the sake of accurate gun control.
To all you with ADD, DON'T BASH THE GAME UNLESS YOU MAKE A FAIR ATTEMPT TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE CUTSCENES. The cut scenes are the meat of Metal Gears. Play with it, eat with it, live with it. Shut up about it.
But really, the cut scenes are more like a movie than just your standard cut scenes. They are beautifully rendered, and perfectly acted and voiced. The reason I think everyone hates this particular entry in the series is the fact that they do not watch the cut scenes, so they can't figure out the story. The cut scenes are key to it. They are long, but so are movies. Treat it like that.
Codec conversations are a slight problem. it would be so much better if they were to be cut scenes as well, but alas, we're stuck with talking green heads. Codec conversations are still excellent, mind you, but they do hamper the game-play.
In short, the Metal Gear series is known for it's intricate plot, it's drama, and it's characters. While it may seem like all of these have been so overdone that they are virtually unrecognizable, it's all for the sake of telling a great story. You could not ask for a funnier or more clever sequel. It deserves so much more than a 10.
As good as it gets
Eplebit20 March 2002
This is easily the best game in years. The game play is fantastic. It's relatively realistic but never forgets that it's supposed to be fun, not frustrating like a lot of other games. And there are all these little touches, like that you can shoot the soldiers radios out of their hands so that they can't call for help and that when you get hurt badly you will leave a trail of blood after you that the soldiers will follow. And that you can hind the bodies of enemy soldiers in lockers so that the other soldiers won't find them. And that you can... I could go on and on.
The graphics in this game is the best I've ever seen. Ok, I haven't tried much on the X-Box and never seen a Gamecube in real-life, so I won't compare to those, but it's so much better than anything I've seen on the pc or the ps2 that I don't have words. And the music, composed by Harry Gregson Williams is some of the best music I've ever heard, and I'm not just talking about music in video games. The rest of the sound is also brilliant, and the voice overs are for once good. As for the story I like it. It's a mix of realistic and the more supernatural and, well, just cool, and I love it. Kind of like some animes. And there are enough plot-twists and conspiracies so you'll always be wondering what will happen next. It's presented with ingame-cut scenes, but they do (honestly) look better than the FMV in most games. Heck, it looks much better than most aninmes I've seen. And they're just cool.
So as I've said this is the best game I've played in years. Buy it and you won't regret it.
The graphics in this game is the best I've ever seen. Ok, I haven't tried much on the X-Box and never seen a Gamecube in real-life, so I won't compare to those, but it's so much better than anything I've seen on the pc or the ps2 that I don't have words. And the music, composed by Harry Gregson Williams is some of the best music I've ever heard, and I'm not just talking about music in video games. The rest of the sound is also brilliant, and the voice overs are for once good. As for the story I like it. It's a mix of realistic and the more supernatural and, well, just cool, and I love it. Kind of like some animes. And there are enough plot-twists and conspiracies so you'll always be wondering what will happen next. It's presented with ingame-cut scenes, but they do (honestly) look better than the FMV in most games. Heck, it looks much better than most aninmes I've seen. And they're just cool.
So as I've said this is the best game I've played in years. Buy it and you won't regret it.
I love this game.
Roger_Sterling19 August 2006
Just how good is Metal Gear Solid 2? This game single handedly made me want to get a PS2. The first time I saw saw the graphics I was stunned. The game play is better than the original, the story, while complex, is on par with the the first Metal Gear Solid. The one complaint MANY have is the main character, Raiden. Yes, he is not as bad ass as Snake, but get over it! That's one of the very few bad things in this game. The boss fights are more intense, the characters more interesting, and the dialogue is quote worthy. To this day there are games that can't match MGS2's graphics, and can't match anything else as a whole. Is it better than the original? That's entirely up to you, but they both get 10's from me.
Amazing
LoserMallrat24 November 2001
It is rare to play a game with so much hype and be completely satisfied. I've been waiting for this game to come out for a while. I've been reading articles, reviews and thinking "When is it going to be my turn?" Well, when Metal Gear Solid 2 finally sold, I sent my Mom to pick it up after work and played the crap out of it the first night.
It was awesome. The intro to get to the start menu alone was rad. The cutscenes were lengthy, but man were they cool. The time they consumed didn't even bother me. Maybe because they were so intense. Some of the scenes got really emotional. Maybe because I'm a girl, but my friend said he felt really sad at the same exact part as me which was comforting. Some of the things were repetitive from the first Metal Gear Solid, a little deja vu. But it didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed it, nonetheless. The ending was cool. I don't want to give anything away, but it's completely worth the... about 30 minutes of end cutscenes. I've beaten the game with a pathetic ranking, but I plan on playing again. With so many rankings the game isn't one I'd beat and then stop playing. I still need to collect all the dogtags. That is why the game will never get boring. A couple years from now, I can imagine myself still playing that game. That's how good it is. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty rocks and rolls. Everyone should own it.
It was awesome. The intro to get to the start menu alone was rad. The cutscenes were lengthy, but man were they cool. The time they consumed didn't even bother me. Maybe because they were so intense. Some of the scenes got really emotional. Maybe because I'm a girl, but my friend said he felt really sad at the same exact part as me which was comforting. Some of the things were repetitive from the first Metal Gear Solid, a little deja vu. But it didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed it, nonetheless. The ending was cool. I don't want to give anything away, but it's completely worth the... about 30 minutes of end cutscenes. I've beaten the game with a pathetic ranking, but I plan on playing again. With so many rankings the game isn't one I'd beat and then stop playing. I still need to collect all the dogtags. That is why the game will never get boring. A couple years from now, I can imagine myself still playing that game. That's how good it is. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty rocks and rolls. Everyone should own it.
A TRUE leap from it's predecessor. Bigger in scope and wild ambition with the technology to match.
johnnymacbest6 July 2009
When creating a series in any form of media, a general rule of thumb is to find a way to expand on the quality of the original while also not losing it's charm. Many have tried, with disastrous results while others are just shy of greatness. But in the right hands, the possibilities leads to a package that's more than the sum of its parts. With that in mind, the second sequel to the celebrated and critically acclaimed Metal Gear series is a true leap over it's predecessor in more ways than one.
Taking place several years after the events of the first game, war hero and super spy extraordinaire Solid Snake, undertakes a mission near the heart of NYC to uncover evidence of a devastatingly powerful super weapon that can wipe humanity off the face of the earth. But unbeknown st to him, a group of rogue mercenaries led by an unknown agent board the ship that contains the weapon. The result is an edge of your seat action packed intro that sets the stage for an epic spy adventure enveloped in darkness.
While Metal Gear Solid was the "Alien" Son's of Liberty is the "Aliens" of the franchise. Everything is amped up and polished to sheer quality in terms of graphics and physics which further immerses you into this dangerous world fraught with Tom Clancy caliber of action and excitement.
A new protagonist joins the cast named "Raiden". However, his introduction into the series was met with lukewarm results; even I was hardly fond of the character. But you don't play as him first, that honor goes to the bad-ass of all video game super spies: Solid Snake. Although Raiden's role in the game is a bit distracting from the more genuinely compelling actions of Solid Snake, as I progressed through the game, the character grew on me. He's essentially the boy scout who gets caught up in a world in which he doesn't fully understand and in that regard, he as equal to Snake as he is the other characters. More on them later.
The graphics and game-play are much improved this time around although it can be a little tricky when switching weapons in the middle of a fierce firefight. And boy oh boy what MARVELOUS firefights there are. Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty has one of the most breathtaking action scenes I've ever seen in a video game. In terms of intensity, they even make most Hollywood blockbusters pine with envy. And that's saying a lot considering a game of this nature which is to be expected of Hideo Kojima, creator of the series. Without him, Metal Gear would barely stand against the masses of great games out there on any system. One of the key elements that make a game great is it's direction and Kojima pulls it off marvelously with a heavy arsenal of great special effects; especially during the swimming levels and boss battles.
Along with Raiden comes Dead Cell, a group of super terrorists with their own brand of attacks against the player. What these guys dish out is nothing short of amazing with some of the most creative and exciting boss battles ever devised in the series. There are some homages to past foes of Metal Gear Solid, but they don't diminish the impact of the new guys. I like it when game developers are subtle. That alone adds more to the game's charm.
The score is done brilliantly by Harry Gregson Williams with thunderous bouts of emotion that gets at you and grips you like wet rope that is so involving that it really gives you the feeling of being in a spy thriller. Nothing brings out a game's atmosphere than it's musical score and that's another thing: Some of the music is really pumping and adrenaline-soaked while there's also for that quiet time to get down into plot and character development which this game has an abundance of. I won't give anything away, but suffice it to say it's one helluva emotional roller-coaster. And there you have it.
It's the story and plot that are the true stars of Sons of Liberty and the overall series with themes of war, peace, loyalty, courage, despair, ethics, and more. I gotta say as much as I enjoyed Metal Gear Solid, to me this is the best, most cerebral of the series. I ended up playing this game more than MGS1 because though it's confusing at first, it rewards you by replaying it over to truly understand the whole plot. That to me is great replay value.
So is MGS: Sons of Liberty the best in the series? The answer is an enthusiastic YES!!! What's interesting is that with all the tight game-play mechanics and graphical prowess, I really got INVOLVED in the story. It's not a run-of-the-mill action game, it's a more deeply insightful and philosophical experience. I've yet to see a spy thriller action game that can match the sheer quality and awesomeness of the Metal Gear series. Not even Spyphon Filter comes anywhere close to this. There's just something to it. And it's really special.
Taking place several years after the events of the first game, war hero and super spy extraordinaire Solid Snake, undertakes a mission near the heart of NYC to uncover evidence of a devastatingly powerful super weapon that can wipe humanity off the face of the earth. But unbeknown st to him, a group of rogue mercenaries led by an unknown agent board the ship that contains the weapon. The result is an edge of your seat action packed intro that sets the stage for an epic spy adventure enveloped in darkness.
While Metal Gear Solid was the "Alien" Son's of Liberty is the "Aliens" of the franchise. Everything is amped up and polished to sheer quality in terms of graphics and physics which further immerses you into this dangerous world fraught with Tom Clancy caliber of action and excitement.
A new protagonist joins the cast named "Raiden". However, his introduction into the series was met with lukewarm results; even I was hardly fond of the character. But you don't play as him first, that honor goes to the bad-ass of all video game super spies: Solid Snake. Although Raiden's role in the game is a bit distracting from the more genuinely compelling actions of Solid Snake, as I progressed through the game, the character grew on me. He's essentially the boy scout who gets caught up in a world in which he doesn't fully understand and in that regard, he as equal to Snake as he is the other characters. More on them later.
The graphics and game-play are much improved this time around although it can be a little tricky when switching weapons in the middle of a fierce firefight. And boy oh boy what MARVELOUS firefights there are. Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty has one of the most breathtaking action scenes I've ever seen in a video game. In terms of intensity, they even make most Hollywood blockbusters pine with envy. And that's saying a lot considering a game of this nature which is to be expected of Hideo Kojima, creator of the series. Without him, Metal Gear would barely stand against the masses of great games out there on any system. One of the key elements that make a game great is it's direction and Kojima pulls it off marvelously with a heavy arsenal of great special effects; especially during the swimming levels and boss battles.
Along with Raiden comes Dead Cell, a group of super terrorists with their own brand of attacks against the player. What these guys dish out is nothing short of amazing with some of the most creative and exciting boss battles ever devised in the series. There are some homages to past foes of Metal Gear Solid, but they don't diminish the impact of the new guys. I like it when game developers are subtle. That alone adds more to the game's charm.
The score is done brilliantly by Harry Gregson Williams with thunderous bouts of emotion that gets at you and grips you like wet rope that is so involving that it really gives you the feeling of being in a spy thriller. Nothing brings out a game's atmosphere than it's musical score and that's another thing: Some of the music is really pumping and adrenaline-soaked while there's also for that quiet time to get down into plot and character development which this game has an abundance of. I won't give anything away, but suffice it to say it's one helluva emotional roller-coaster. And there you have it.
It's the story and plot that are the true stars of Sons of Liberty and the overall series with themes of war, peace, loyalty, courage, despair, ethics, and more. I gotta say as much as I enjoyed Metal Gear Solid, to me this is the best, most cerebral of the series. I ended up playing this game more than MGS1 because though it's confusing at first, it rewards you by replaying it over to truly understand the whole plot. That to me is great replay value.
So is MGS: Sons of Liberty the best in the series? The answer is an enthusiastic YES!!! What's interesting is that with all the tight game-play mechanics and graphical prowess, I really got INVOLVED in the story. It's not a run-of-the-mill action game, it's a more deeply insightful and philosophical experience. I've yet to see a spy thriller action game that can match the sheer quality and awesomeness of the Metal Gear series. Not even Spyphon Filter comes anywhere close to this. There's just something to it. And it's really special.
THE BEST GAME I EVER PLAYED!
gator_ball9225 November 2001
This game took along time to beat. It was a really cool game to play. You do all kinds of different stuff like defusing bombs, saving hostages, and snipering. I thought this game was a lot better than the first one because there are two different stories in this one. And at the end it makes you really think.
The Greatest Game Ever.
MIKEBARR881 March 2002
Contrived yet Convoluted
nvjs10 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
In my opinion, MGS 2 is the least playable of the series. It's overly convoluted plot is so complicated with it's twists and turns and barrel rolls, you have to wonder how much Ritalin Kojima was taking in addition to the prescribed dosage.
Just when you start to think that you've got a clue as to what's going on, a wrench is thrown into the gears of the narrative. But even to decipher the saga as a series since it's now beyond a quintology, is definitely a feat Kojima himself was quoted as saying he doesn't even understand it.
What really ruined the game to me, was how Kojima went with an emasculated hero strictly to accommodate female gamers. What was so brilliant about the first one, MGS is that it had a rough and tumble hero, a nice ensemble of villains this side of Batman's rogues gallery, and an innovative game design which made Tenchu, and Splinter Cell possible. The villains, by no means realistic, were plausible.
This time, we've got Dead Cell. A name that works to well as a metaphor compared to Foxhound, The Cobra Unit, or Beauties and Beasts. Vamp, Fortune, Fatman ? These guys don't hold a candle to any of the other motley crews.
On the plus side, we do get a 128 bit graphics, longer gameplay, and the best antagonist face-off in the series in the form of Solidus Snake.
Just when you start to think that you've got a clue as to what's going on, a wrench is thrown into the gears of the narrative. But even to decipher the saga as a series since it's now beyond a quintology, is definitely a feat Kojima himself was quoted as saying he doesn't even understand it.
What really ruined the game to me, was how Kojima went with an emasculated hero strictly to accommodate female gamers. What was so brilliant about the first one, MGS is that it had a rough and tumble hero, a nice ensemble of villains this side of Batman's rogues gallery, and an innovative game design which made Tenchu, and Splinter Cell possible. The villains, by no means realistic, were plausible.
This time, we've got Dead Cell. A name that works to well as a metaphor compared to Foxhound, The Cobra Unit, or Beauties and Beasts. Vamp, Fortune, Fatman ? These guys don't hold a candle to any of the other motley crews.
On the plus side, we do get a 128 bit graphics, longer gameplay, and the best antagonist face-off in the series in the form of Solidus Snake.
A sad disappointment of a sequel. (May Contain Spoilers)
bad-mojo14 August 2002
Warning: Spoilers
This game is the definition of wasted potential. Its a sad excuse for interactivity, and I'll tell you why.
When you first play this game, you'll be blown away. The tanker mission is amazing. The graphics are more breathtaking than the first, the gameplay is as exciting as the first. Everything is amazing.
It all goes downhill from there. It becomes a massive amount of talking, a little walking/dodging/shooting, and than even more talking.
Soon, the plot twists and turns in a convoluted, stupid way, causing a lot of nonsense. And to anybody who says that I couldn't keep up with the plot, I'll say to you this: I was predicting about half of the twists before they happened.
Sure, the game has alot of secrets, and a few tidbits of interesting interactivity, but I would much prefer being able to play a good, stealthy action game for ten minutes than watch a female hostage quickly close her legs if I try to peek up her dress, or a parrot recoil when I spray it in the face with coolant.
Also, the removal of you being able to play Solid Snake for about 90% of the game is horrible. Raiden is a pathetic character, and playing as him is garbage platforming incarnate. Kojima says he was a device to keep the CODEC in the game, as he claims the CODEC is integral, and Snake, being a seasoned veteran, wouldn't use it. Two problems: The CODEC is NOT more integral than the character of Solid Snake, and two, Snake himself spends so much time on the CODEC with you that he's obviously still in need of it. Plus, the other characters you contact by CODEC you do so once our twice, thereby making the CODEC almost completely useless.
There are no boss fights like in the original MGS to speak of. You clash with some bosses, but never kill them. If anybody claims you get to kill Vamp, think again. He gets shot up, shot in the head, etc., and you think a gut wound will kill him? Obviously not, because in the end, you can see him standing on the street watching Raiden and Snake after Raiden duels Solidus.
All this and much, much more mediocrity makes for a pathetic, overhyped let-down that I tried very hard to love but couldn't. pass this one up and just play the original Metal Gear Solid over again, which Konami would do well to remake for the PS2.
When you first play this game, you'll be blown away. The tanker mission is amazing. The graphics are more breathtaking than the first, the gameplay is as exciting as the first. Everything is amazing.
It all goes downhill from there. It becomes a massive amount of talking, a little walking/dodging/shooting, and than even more talking.
Soon, the plot twists and turns in a convoluted, stupid way, causing a lot of nonsense. And to anybody who says that I couldn't keep up with the plot, I'll say to you this: I was predicting about half of the twists before they happened.
Sure, the game has alot of secrets, and a few tidbits of interesting interactivity, but I would much prefer being able to play a good, stealthy action game for ten minutes than watch a female hostage quickly close her legs if I try to peek up her dress, or a parrot recoil when I spray it in the face with coolant.
Also, the removal of you being able to play Solid Snake for about 90% of the game is horrible. Raiden is a pathetic character, and playing as him is garbage platforming incarnate. Kojima says he was a device to keep the CODEC in the game, as he claims the CODEC is integral, and Snake, being a seasoned veteran, wouldn't use it. Two problems: The CODEC is NOT more integral than the character of Solid Snake, and two, Snake himself spends so much time on the CODEC with you that he's obviously still in need of it. Plus, the other characters you contact by CODEC you do so once our twice, thereby making the CODEC almost completely useless.
There are no boss fights like in the original MGS to speak of. You clash with some bosses, but never kill them. If anybody claims you get to kill Vamp, think again. He gets shot up, shot in the head, etc., and you think a gut wound will kill him? Obviously not, because in the end, you can see him standing on the street watching Raiden and Snake after Raiden duels Solidus.
All this and much, much more mediocrity makes for a pathetic, overhyped let-down that I tried very hard to love but couldn't. pass this one up and just play the original Metal Gear Solid over again, which Konami would do well to remake for the PS2.
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