Metal Gear Solid was a great acheivement for video games. Not only were standards of gaming raised, but a lot of people were attracted to the series. I was attracted to the series somewhere in between E3 2000 and 2001. I remember I started with VR missions, after playing the demo in an Official Playstation Magazine Demo Disc. After that, I went to tackle Metal Gear Solid. That is where my point of view is. No one really knows the true feeling you got waiting through the last few hours before opening the copy of Metal Gear Solid 2, or waiting to see the amazing story unfold before your eyes throughout the whole year of 2001. This was the most hyped game PS2 had so far. The first game to hype people everywhere. This is Sons of Liberty.

Evolution of Metal Gear Solid to PS2

Sons of Big Boss >> Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear has somewhat been about evolution when it comes to gameplay. every game has evolved in some way. The big jump here was the transition to PS2, including better graphics, gameplay, and character models. I can find no way to say this game is bad in any way compared to Metal Gear Solid. Every evoluton this series goes through turns out great.

Plot

I don't want to give too much away, so please note this is a VERY short part of the game. There is much more to the story than this. (Again, there are spoilers from Metal Gear Solid...)

After the Shadow Moses incident, you may recall Ocelot escaped with Metal Gear's test data. Needless to say, he sold it on the black market, revealing the specs of Metal Gear to every nation of the world. Solid Snake, still very much alive after his encounter with FoxDie, has joined an Anti-Metal Gear Organization known as Philanthropy to destroy Metal Gears throughout the world. Intel reports that a new Metal Gear is being designed by the Marine Corps and it is being shipped on a ship disguised as a tanker through New York City. Backed up by his old friend, Otacon (Hal Emmerich), Snake must complete his mission: To provide photographic evidence of the new Metal Gear, codenamed RAY, and reveal it to the world. Suddenly, as he arrives on the tanker, the crew are ambushed by an armed group of Russian soldiers. Snake proceeds with caution.....

Graphics

Truthfully, the graphics are great. They were mindblowing at the time of the release, but nowadays all console games are just as good or better. Compared to Metal Gear Solid on Playstation, it's awesome. You can see much more time is spent on each character. Not only that, but models for machines in the game are amazing. It's like you're really there....

Gameplay

This is one of the best catatagories for me to write. The minute you pick this game up, you will love the feel. It runs smooth, every command executed theb second you press the button. Sure, it's hard to avoid guards if you're running in blowing their heads off with a machine gun, but you get used to the concept. The controls are changed from the Playstation version of Metal Gear Solid, but it's still basically the same general set-up. Even if you are new, the controls don't take much getting used to. The concept of Sneaking over fighting is big in this game. Guards are very smart, and follow footprints or anything you may leave behind.

Music

Harry Gregson-Williams is my favorite composer so far. He's definitely got his style laid out for himself. I have to hand it to him, because his Techno-Classic Style goes great in a game so technologically-oriented. Hideo Kojima made the right choice. All, well... most of the cinematic music including the main theme were composed by Harry Gregson-Williams. Norihoko Hibino is the other composer that makes the other cinematic music and in-game music. He also has his own defined style that goes really well witht the MGS series. If you don't like the music, I don't blame you. Most is in a style you may or may not like, but you've gotta admit there is a lot of musicality to it. Great job, guys. Can't wait for my MGS3 soundtracks.

Recap

Metal Gear Solid 2 is the best game to come for Video gaming in a long time. It was the ultimate game, and it still is a great example of why you should own a PS2. If anyone tells you it sucks, I seriously want you to punch them in the face. They obviously aren't smart enough to understand it, or are just one of those society-rejected gamers who spend their days on the computer making TV dinners in the microwave next to them and playing online FPSs that are bloody and gorey beyond all reason, and their only friends they've never seen in real life. Metal Gear Solid is not some game you play just to kill something. The point is the plot. If you can't understand that, then what's the point of movies, books, or even stories in general? Bottom line: This game is one of the best out there.

Final Score: 10/10

Other Versions or Expansions

There are a few Extra versions of this game. Here they are....

The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2

This is a $20 DVD playable only on PS2. It contains bonus material, such as trailers, timeline of production, and pother goodies. It is sort of linited though, because in Polygon Demos (Cinematics from the game, without sound) you can not fast forward, rewind, or play from the new angle you set the camera. Only advance frame-by-frame is possible at a different angle. Character models can't do much either, but you can get them to walk... Maybe. Anyway, for $20, it's a great Must-Have for any Metal Gear fan.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2)

If you haven't bought Sons of Liberty yet, get this one. Basically, it is the European Version of the Sons of Liberty game (With some extra cinematics, Character swap for certain cutscenes, Boss Survival Mode, and new Dogtags), with extras. Skateboarding Mode, based on Konami's Evolution Skateboarding, is a small Minigame letting you skate in the Big Shell (Actually a course that resembles it). VR missions are small missions to play with different characters and get the best scores you can. Some of them, however are very hard, and somewhat pointless. Do you really have to throw Grenades at moving targets that move fast as hell and dissapear half the time? No. Also are Snake Tales, which I found relatively disappointing. They are mini-missions as Solid Snake, but not related to the actual game at all. Also, there are no cutscenes, only savepoints that tell you what happens. Anyway, this is the best choice if you plan to get it.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PC)

This is the same game as on Playstation, but without the skateboarding made due to porting issues. Sorry. Anyway, you can do quite a bit with it. It's a fun game. I don't think there is anything different, but I don't have this version yet.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (X-Box)

Again, there are not skaeboarding missions due to porting issues of the game engine of Evolution Skateboarding designed for PS2. I've also heard it doesn't run well, because the rain-scenes outside are very slow. It was designed for PS2 hardware, and X-Box isn't going to cut it this time. Also, other areas have some inconsistent framerates. If it comes down to a chice of which system, pick PS2 or PC first.

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