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Found this on Usenet, thought it'd interest ya'll
Perhaps three-quarters of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty comprise the finest videogame made to date. The other bits, unfortunately, are a bit of a problem. This is, by all means, the game you should get for your PS2 this Christmas, because the parts that are cool are so
unbelievably cool, but there are still some significant disappointments to be found, perhaps made all the more disappointing by the glory they sit alongside. I'm only going to say one thing about the game's story in the factual sense, and that is this: everything you know is wrong.
Beyond that, you should experience it all for yourself, which means that you should NOT read the game manual. Amazing, that Konami could keep a granite poker face for 18 months and then give everything away in the manual. Bureaucracy is a silly thing.
So put that booklet aside, and play the game. You know what you're doing, after all, and the superior MGS controls have been further expanded and refined. The new moves aren't just icing on the cake, they're genuine and significant additions to gameplay. Jumpout shot, diving roll, and the all-important first-person shooting mode give new
life to the sneaking experience, which is even more important this time around.
In the original MGS, you could survive an alert, and perhaps even a firefight. In MGS2, once that klaxon goes off, your life ticks away with every second. The guards are tougher, smarter, and more numerous, meaning your choices are few: run, hide, or die.
Generally, you want to run and hide, since survival means experiencing moments of unrivalled cinematic excitement. Hideo Kojima is a brilliant natural director, backed by some of the best technical talent in the industry,
and the result is more jaw-drops than you'll be able to count. It would be criminal to give away any hint of the surprises to be found beyond the early movements of the game, but far more than the price of admission is paid for.
The graphics engine renders huge, realistic worlds, meticulously crafted and shaded in with brilliant effects --
just wait. The excellent score is intense or calm as the situation demands, and the action rivals anything Hollywood's imagination could produce.
Since there are so many scenes and so many moments that are so drop-dead cool, thoughSperhaps that's why it hurts so badly when the game drops the ball. Yes, it certainly does, with some unfortunate failings in character development and plot construction. The satisfaction of many moments is overshadowed by others that simply should not be. Again, it's hard to discuss this without spoilers, but it's possible to describe some issues in general terms. For one, the game trusts too many moments of great emotional significance to the talking-heads setting of the Codec screen. MGS2 sits atop the gaming mountain as far as the quality of its writing and acting, but there are still several sequences that should be shown, not told. Minutes of conversation could be replaced by a thirty-second cutscene that would drive the point home with far, far more power.
In other situations, neither showing nor telling is appropriate. Some scenes simply needed to be removed, passages which develop characters in entirely inappropriate directions -- you cringe or laugh when neither is anywhere near the creator's intention. It's particularly sad to see space used like that when there are other characters who desperately need more development. In the original MGS, every enemy got some time to flesh out their personality and motivation. Here, some get short shrift when we're begging to learn more about them. It's also worth noting that the tally of boss battles is a tad smaller than the original, and while they're still quite inventive, there's nothing that can quite hang with the Vulcan Raven battle, the brilliant Psycho Mantis duel, or the impact of fighting Metal Gear REX for the first time.
The plot has problems towards the end, although some descend from the need to set up a sequel -- yes, MGS2 will definitely be followed up in the future. Unfortunately, that means there are still a few threads left hanging in the current game. The confused tangle of allegiances and motivations that crisscross the cast and story is further complicated by the fact that the genuine villains won't be dealt with until the next adventure.
If Metal Gear Solid 2 fails occasionally as a dramatic creation, though, when you have your hands on the controls, it's a grand slam.
Playing through multiple times is mandatory, even after the 12-15 hours of your first go. In no way could you find all the wonderful secrets, details, and in-jokes that are buried in every corner of the game by just playing once. The commando simulation itself is a brilliant toy to play with. Fiddling with the environment, tormenting the guards, experimenting with gadgets, exploring the nooks and crannies, there's entertainment here to fill hours and hours. In the end, that's what matters.
This is a synthesis of movie and game, but game should always take the forefront, and Metal Gear Solid 2 most certainly succeeds as a game, long periods of controller inaction notwithstanding. What's more, during some of those cutscenes, picking up the Dual Shock is the last thing on your mind. This isn't perfection, but it's certainly brilliance, and it's satisfying to know that there's more of it coming soon.
Overall Score 9.7
Presentation 9.0
Graphics 9.8
Sound 9.8
Gameplay 9.8
Lasting Appeal 9.8
Perhaps three-quarters of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty comprise the finest videogame made to date. The other bits, unfortunately, are a bit of a problem. This is, by all means, the game you should get for your PS2 this Christmas, because the parts that are cool are so
unbelievably cool, but there are still some significant disappointments to be found, perhaps made all the more disappointing by the glory they sit alongside. I'm only going to say one thing about the game's story in the factual sense, and that is this: everything you know is wrong.
Beyond that, you should experience it all for yourself, which means that you should NOT read the game manual. Amazing, that Konami could keep a granite poker face for 18 months and then give everything away in the manual. Bureaucracy is a silly thing.
So put that booklet aside, and play the game. You know what you're doing, after all, and the superior MGS controls have been further expanded and refined. The new moves aren't just icing on the cake, they're genuine and significant additions to gameplay. Jumpout shot, diving roll, and the all-important first-person shooting mode give new
life to the sneaking experience, which is even more important this time around.
In the original MGS, you could survive an alert, and perhaps even a firefight. In MGS2, once that klaxon goes off, your life ticks away with every second. The guards are tougher, smarter, and more numerous, meaning your choices are few: run, hide, or die.
Generally, you want to run and hide, since survival means experiencing moments of unrivalled cinematic excitement. Hideo Kojima is a brilliant natural director, backed by some of the best technical talent in the industry,
and the result is more jaw-drops than you'll be able to count. It would be criminal to give away any hint of the surprises to be found beyond the early movements of the game, but far more than the price of admission is paid for.
The graphics engine renders huge, realistic worlds, meticulously crafted and shaded in with brilliant effects --
just wait. The excellent score is intense or calm as the situation demands, and the action rivals anything Hollywood's imagination could produce.
Since there are so many scenes and so many moments that are so drop-dead cool, thoughSperhaps that's why it hurts so badly when the game drops the ball. Yes, it certainly does, with some unfortunate failings in character development and plot construction. The satisfaction of many moments is overshadowed by others that simply should not be. Again, it's hard to discuss this without spoilers, but it's possible to describe some issues in general terms. For one, the game trusts too many moments of great emotional significance to the talking-heads setting of the Codec screen. MGS2 sits atop the gaming mountain as far as the quality of its writing and acting, but there are still several sequences that should be shown, not told. Minutes of conversation could be replaced by a thirty-second cutscene that would drive the point home with far, far more power.
In other situations, neither showing nor telling is appropriate. Some scenes simply needed to be removed, passages which develop characters in entirely inappropriate directions -- you cringe or laugh when neither is anywhere near the creator's intention. It's particularly sad to see space used like that when there are other characters who desperately need more development. In the original MGS, every enemy got some time to flesh out their personality and motivation. Here, some get short shrift when we're begging to learn more about them. It's also worth noting that the tally of boss battles is a tad smaller than the original, and while they're still quite inventive, there's nothing that can quite hang with the Vulcan Raven battle, the brilliant Psycho Mantis duel, or the impact of fighting Metal Gear REX for the first time.
The plot has problems towards the end, although some descend from the need to set up a sequel -- yes, MGS2 will definitely be followed up in the future. Unfortunately, that means there are still a few threads left hanging in the current game. The confused tangle of allegiances and motivations that crisscross the cast and story is further complicated by the fact that the genuine villains won't be dealt with until the next adventure.
If Metal Gear Solid 2 fails occasionally as a dramatic creation, though, when you have your hands on the controls, it's a grand slam.
Playing through multiple times is mandatory, even after the 12-15 hours of your first go. In no way could you find all the wonderful secrets, details, and in-jokes that are buried in every corner of the game by just playing once. The commando simulation itself is a brilliant toy to play with. Fiddling with the environment, tormenting the guards, experimenting with gadgets, exploring the nooks and crannies, there's entertainment here to fill hours and hours. In the end, that's what matters.
This is a synthesis of movie and game, but game should always take the forefront, and Metal Gear Solid 2 most certainly succeeds as a game, long periods of controller inaction notwithstanding. What's more, during some of those cutscenes, picking up the Dual Shock is the last thing on your mind. This isn't perfection, but it's certainly brilliance, and it's satisfying to know that there's more of it coming soon.
Overall Score 9.7
Presentation 9.0
Graphics 9.8
Sound 9.8
Gameplay 9.8
Lasting Appeal 9.8
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Given that it lost so many marks in this review, I doubt anybody will buy it. If that happens, there won`t be a sequel made.
well i'll be getting it...
i hate ign for making you pay to read the stuff you REALLY want to read...
i hate ign for making you pay to read the stuff you REALLY want to read...
only 9 for presentation? thats bad
i'd just like to say how funny it is people saying there disappointed a game got 9.7. sheesh that means it's almost damn perfect what the hell you all complaining for? it just goes to show how good the game is if people still think 9.7 isn't good enough. any game would kill for that score so stop complaining get those shiny MGS2 stars out your eyes and recognise that 9.7 is a bloody good score people.
and also of course kojima will make another MGS it was silly to think he wouldn't no one is going to turn down easy money and mgs3 would sell by the bucketload just like mgs2 will do
and also of course kojima will make another MGS it was silly to think he wouldn't no one is going to turn down easy money and mgs3 would sell by the bucketload just like mgs2 will do
Hmmmm....so there is going to be a sequel huh. Interesting how Kojima changed his mind so quickly. 6 months ago he was saying there will not be another MGS and in the past few months there have been rumours of another games...
Bonus wrote:
A game will never
> be marked as being perfect. Any game getting full marks shows a weakness in the
> grading system, but no game will ever be made without room for improvement.
Tony Hawks 3 has been given 10 out of 10, at Gamespot.com.
I agree that it does show a slight problem with the scoring system as a game that achieves the top mark should be found fantastic by everyone, which isn't possible as people have different tastes.
A game will never
> be marked as being perfect. Any game getting full marks shows a weakness in the
> grading system, but no game will ever be made without room for improvement.
Tony Hawks 3 has been given 10 out of 10, at Gamespot.com.
I agree that it does show a slight problem with the scoring system as a game that achieves the top mark should be found fantastic by everyone, which isn't possible as people have different tastes.
Even a game such as Final Fantasy may pale into insignificance beside the Bouncer, though.............
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