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Okay, so it's not really the final review, but it's *my* final review.
Yes this should be in the reviews section, but I knew as a massive MGS2 supporter my whole life on these forums, you’d all be interested in my views.
And of course, it’s just way too big for the reviews section.
I sit here now, about to do something I’ve been waiting to do for the past three years. In 1999, I bought a game named Metal Gear Solid. I was of course excited about the purchase, but I could never have imagined the pleasure this masterpiece would give me. It was the game that really got me into gaming, the game that made me realise, “I love this.” If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be on these forums today. If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be the proud owner of a PS2. Although it may seem strange, MGS affected me more than any movie has ever done. All elements of it; the twisting plot, the innovative gameplay, the excellent graphics, the emotional music and the wonderfully deep characters, all of them, were put together into one, fantastic experience. A roller-coaster of a ride, in which unlike a film, I played a main part. I was the star.
I couldn’t believe how utterly brilliant this game was. After I got over the…shock, if you like, I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like if Rachel Stevens and Jennifer Lopez took part in a bikini-wearing mud wrestling match?” After realising it would be great but highly unlikely, I thought about something that was far more possible. A sequel to MGS. I was delighted to find out that genius Hideo Kojima was going to make an MGS2, and it was to be released on a next generation console, the PS2. I knew I was in for a long wait, but that it would be worth it.
And now here I am, around three years on. I have completed Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty a few times now, and I am here to write my final thoughts on the game. I’m here to write about the graphics, the gameplay, the plot, the music, the characters, and of course whether it lived up to the hype that surrounded it like a pack of wolves surrounding its prey, just waiting for the kill. Ready to take down and devour what was supposed to be the best game ever.
MGS2, in my mind, is the best game ever in terms of gameplay. It’s basically MGS, but with more. Just like in the prequel you can stand against walls and a special camera angle will show what is behind you, you can crouch and crawl to deceive and hide from enemies, you can use different ways of disabling security cameras and guards, you have an innovative radar that shows you the visibility of the enemies, you have to take out an electric system with remote-controlled missiles and among other things you can talk to friends (or maybe even enemies) on the Codec. However, MGS2 adds more. This time you can peek round corners and take shot, you can aim and shoot in first person mode, you can get dog-tags from guards by surprising them from behind, you can hide enemies and yourself in lockers, you can put enemies to sleep with a tranquiliser (sp?) gun, you can take a guard hostage to stop others shooting at you and much, much more. You could literally spend hours just mucking around and having fun, taking out guards in all the different ways possible or shooting seagulls to annoy your friends on the Codec – there are so many options!
Although the game is linear in that you are told what to do, there are still different ways and routes of doing it. In MGS2 you will have to disable bombs, take photos, swim through flooded areas and much more, as well as all the “usual stuff” of sneaking and shooting. There are many more weapons to use including an AK, an M9, an M4, a Grenade Launcher, another Sniper Rifle as well as the old favourites like the Socom, the Nikita and the Stinger. There are more gadgets too, such as two types of Bomb Sensor, something that makes the controller vibrate when an enemy is near and even more cardboard boxes - bliss. Never before has a game had so much detail and given such a full and realistic experience, which is why MGS2 is the best gameplay-wise. I could go on much longer, but I don’t want this to turn into a Dan2K2 post, and I’ve got to somehow fit this into the reviews section later.
Graphically, MGS2 is extremely impressive. Much detail has been added, especially to the faces, and if you take the time to look at everything in the environment then you will be amazed. Shoot a bowl of ice cubes and they shall fall out and melt, destroy bottles for a laugh, check out the magazines that the Tanker has to offer and also take a look at what people put inside their lockers. The environments are a Tanker and a Clean-up Facility Plant. They may sound boring, but somehow Kojima and his cronies have made them into extremely interesting and vivid places, full of rooms and areas to explore and marvel out. As you get further into the mission the time of day changes too, so at some points you will be playing while the sun goes down. There’s no doubt about it, MGS2 wouldn’t be the same without the gorgeous eye-candy.
However, some elements of the game are not as good as MGS1. One of these, in my opinion, would be the music. Although the official tune is fantastic, everything else that it offers is only good. I can never get used to the action music, and I feel when you are sneaking around the sound isn’t as sinister as MGS. It’s not that it’s bad in anyway, just not as good. However, this still means that the music is a success, and without it MGS2 wouldn’t seem right.
Onto what I feel is the most important part of any Metal Gear game, the plot. MGS’ was emotion filled, making me laugh and at some points nearly making me cry. It twisted and turned, shocking me at many points. Fortunately, MGS2 offers much of the same. Loads of plot twists, character changes and some of the strangest Codec conversations ever. Without good characters a plot is nothing, and the characters in MGS2 are wonderful. Because you play as another character for most of the game, you get to see Snake in a different light. Of course there are new people to meet like Rose, Stillman, Olga and also a new team of baddies, including a cool Vampire and a deranged bomber. Of course some have been brought over from MGS, these including Revolver Ocelot, and Liquid…yes, Liquid Snake. MGS2 keeps you on the edge of your seat with constant FMV scenes to keep you up-to-date, some of them completely surprising you. At one point I even thought Snake had turned on me.
Although there is no doubting that MGS2 boasts a fantastic plot, at times I feel it becomes too complicated. The confusion of reality and non-reality can become annoying, and enemies continually telling you what they are really trying to do can puzzle you, and by the time the game is finished you’re left sort of unsure of what has happened. I feel that maybe Hideo went a little over the top this time, and that the simpler plot of MGS worked much better. Just like with the sound though, the plot is good enough and offers one of the most emotional scenes ever in a video game, probably THE most emotional scene ever in a video game.
I must come to and now, maybe I could’ve written more but if you have reached this far then I expect I am boring you. But, I have still yet to answer the question. Being the avid MGS fan I am, a question I expect you would all be very interested to hear my answer to (in my dreams, anyway.) Is Metal Gear Solid 2, better than MGS1? My answer is no…and yes. (I know that’s what everyone says when they can’t decide, and yes it is an extremely dull answer but I shall explain further.) In terms of gameplay and graphics then yes, it is much better than MGS1, but in terms of plot and sound, the answer would be no. Which is the most important of these is up to you, but I can’t decide. Maybe I will someday, and if I do I will be sure to tell you (not if I’m on holiday though, then you can all sod off {;))
So, is MGS2 the best game ever? Well, it certainly has a case, but I’m not the one to prove it.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
Yes this should be in the reviews section, but I knew as a massive MGS2 supporter my whole life on these forums, you’d all be interested in my views.
And of course, it’s just way too big for the reviews section.
I sit here now, about to do something I’ve been waiting to do for the past three years. In 1999, I bought a game named Metal Gear Solid. I was of course excited about the purchase, but I could never have imagined the pleasure this masterpiece would give me. It was the game that really got me into gaming, the game that made me realise, “I love this.” If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be on these forums today. If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be the proud owner of a PS2. Although it may seem strange, MGS affected me more than any movie has ever done. All elements of it; the twisting plot, the innovative gameplay, the excellent graphics, the emotional music and the wonderfully deep characters, all of them, were put together into one, fantastic experience. A roller-coaster of a ride, in which unlike a film, I played a main part. I was the star.
I couldn’t believe how utterly brilliant this game was. After I got over the…shock, if you like, I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like if Rachel Stevens and Jennifer Lopez took part in a bikini-wearing mud wrestling match?” After realising it would be great but highly unlikely, I thought about something that was far more possible. A sequel to MGS. I was delighted to find out that genius Hideo Kojima was going to make an MGS2, and it was to be released on a next generation console, the PS2. I knew I was in for a long wait, but that it would be worth it.
And now here I am, around three years on. I have completed Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty a few times now, and I am here to write my final thoughts on the game. I’m here to write about the graphics, the gameplay, the plot, the music, the characters, and of course whether it lived up to the hype that surrounded it like a pack of wolves surrounding its prey, just waiting for the kill. Ready to take down and devour what was supposed to be the best game ever.
MGS2, in my mind, is the best game ever in terms of gameplay. It’s basically MGS, but with more. Just like in the prequel you can stand against walls and a special camera angle will show what is behind you, you can crouch and crawl to deceive and hide from enemies, you can use different ways of disabling security cameras and guards, you have an innovative radar that shows you the visibility of the enemies, you have to take out an electric system with remote-controlled missiles and among other things you can talk to friends (or maybe even enemies) on the Codec. However, MGS2 adds more. This time you can peek round corners and take shot, you can aim and shoot in first person mode, you can get dog-tags from guards by surprising them from behind, you can hide enemies and yourself in lockers, you can put enemies to sleep with a tranquiliser (sp?) gun, you can take a guard hostage to stop others shooting at you and much, much more. You could literally spend hours just mucking around and having fun, taking out guards in all the different ways possible or shooting seagulls to annoy your friends on the Codec – there are so many options!
Although the game is linear in that you are told what to do, there are still different ways and routes of doing it. In MGS2 you will have to disable bombs, take photos, swim through flooded areas and much more, as well as all the “usual stuff” of sneaking and shooting. There are many more weapons to use including an AK, an M9, an M4, a Grenade Launcher, another Sniper Rifle as well as the old favourites like the Socom, the Nikita and the Stinger. There are more gadgets too, such as two types of Bomb Sensor, something that makes the controller vibrate when an enemy is near and even more cardboard boxes - bliss. Never before has a game had so much detail and given such a full and realistic experience, which is why MGS2 is the best gameplay-wise. I could go on much longer, but I don’t want this to turn into a Dan2K2 post, and I’ve got to somehow fit this into the reviews section later.
Graphically, MGS2 is extremely impressive. Much detail has been added, especially to the faces, and if you take the time to look at everything in the environment then you will be amazed. Shoot a bowl of ice cubes and they shall fall out and melt, destroy bottles for a laugh, check out the magazines that the Tanker has to offer and also take a look at what people put inside their lockers. The environments are a Tanker and a Clean-up Facility Plant. They may sound boring, but somehow Kojima and his cronies have made them into extremely interesting and vivid places, full of rooms and areas to explore and marvel out. As you get further into the mission the time of day changes too, so at some points you will be playing while the sun goes down. There’s no doubt about it, MGS2 wouldn’t be the same without the gorgeous eye-candy.
However, some elements of the game are not as good as MGS1. One of these, in my opinion, would be the music. Although the official tune is fantastic, everything else that it offers is only good. I can never get used to the action music, and I feel when you are sneaking around the sound isn’t as sinister as MGS. It’s not that it’s bad in anyway, just not as good. However, this still means that the music is a success, and without it MGS2 wouldn’t seem right.
Onto what I feel is the most important part of any Metal Gear game, the plot. MGS’ was emotion filled, making me laugh and at some points nearly making me cry. It twisted and turned, shocking me at many points. Fortunately, MGS2 offers much of the same. Loads of plot twists, character changes and some of the strangest Codec conversations ever. Without good characters a plot is nothing, and the characters in MGS2 are wonderful. Because you play as another character for most of the game, you get to see Snake in a different light. Of course there are new people to meet like Rose, Stillman, Olga and also a new team of baddies, including a cool Vampire and a deranged bomber. Of course some have been brought over from MGS, these including Revolver Ocelot, and Liquid…yes, Liquid Snake. MGS2 keeps you on the edge of your seat with constant FMV scenes to keep you up-to-date, some of them completely surprising you. At one point I even thought Snake had turned on me.
Although there is no doubting that MGS2 boasts a fantastic plot, at times I feel it becomes too complicated. The confusion of reality and non-reality can become annoying, and enemies continually telling you what they are really trying to do can puzzle you, and by the time the game is finished you’re left sort of unsure of what has happened. I feel that maybe Hideo went a little over the top this time, and that the simpler plot of MGS worked much better. Just like with the sound though, the plot is good enough and offers one of the most emotional scenes ever in a video game, probably THE most emotional scene ever in a video game.
I must come to and now, maybe I could’ve written more but if you have reached this far then I expect I am boring you. But, I have still yet to answer the question. Being the avid MGS fan I am, a question I expect you would all be very interested to hear my answer to (in my dreams, anyway.) Is Metal Gear Solid 2, better than MGS1? My answer is no…and yes. (I know that’s what everyone says when they can’t decide, and yes it is an extremely dull answer but I shall explain further.) In terms of gameplay and graphics then yes, it is much better than MGS1, but in terms of plot and sound, the answer would be no. Which is the most important of these is up to you, but I can’t decide. Maybe I will someday, and if I do I will be sure to tell you (not if I’m on holiday though, then you can all sod off {;))
So, is MGS2 the best game ever? Well, it certainly has a case, but I’m not the one to prove it.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
DeltaJava wrote:
> I'll disagree with you on the sound there, Ant - it was much better in
> the sequel. However, plotwise, MGS was far better - more intense,
> with better plot twists. I mean, Otacon - seduced by his step mother?
> Crap.
Hummm...I have to say, lots of people think the sound is better on this one. And with Harry Gregson Williams doing it, it should be.
Okay, I now think that the music is better during the FMVs, especially during scenes like the battle with Olga. But during gameplay, I don't think it's as good.
> I'll disagree with you on the sound there, Ant - it was much better in
> the sequel. However, plotwise, MGS was far better - more intense,
> with better plot twists. I mean, Otacon - seduced by his step mother?
> Crap.
Hummm...I have to say, lots of people think the sound is better on this one. And with Harry Gregson Williams doing it, it should be.
Okay, I now think that the music is better during the FMVs, especially during scenes like the battle with Olga. But during gameplay, I don't think it's as good.
I'll disagree with you on the sound there, Ant - it was much better in the sequel. However, plotwise, MGS was far better - more intense, with better plot twists. I mean, Otacon - seduced by his step mother? Crap.
Okay, so it's not really the final review, but it's *my* final review.
Yes this should be in the reviews section, but I knew as a massive MGS2 supporter my whole life on these forums, you’d all be interested in my views.
And of course, it’s just way too big for the reviews section.
I sit here now, about to do something I’ve been waiting to do for the past three years. In 1999, I bought a game named Metal Gear Solid. I was of course excited about the purchase, but I could never have imagined the pleasure this masterpiece would give me. It was the game that really got me into gaming, the game that made me realise, “I love this.” If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be on these forums today. If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be the proud owner of a PS2. Although it may seem strange, MGS affected me more than any movie has ever done. All elements of it; the twisting plot, the innovative gameplay, the excellent graphics, the emotional music and the wonderfully deep characters, all of them, were put together into one, fantastic experience. A roller-coaster of a ride, in which unlike a film, I played a main part. I was the star.
I couldn’t believe how utterly brilliant this game was. After I got over the…shock, if you like, I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like if Rachel Stevens and Jennifer Lopez took part in a bikini-wearing mud wrestling match?” After realising it would be great but highly unlikely, I thought about something that was far more possible. A sequel to MGS. I was delighted to find out that genius Hideo Kojima was going to make an MGS2, and it was to be released on a next generation console, the PS2. I knew I was in for a long wait, but that it would be worth it.
And now here I am, around three years on. I have completed Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty a few times now, and I am here to write my final thoughts on the game. I’m here to write about the graphics, the gameplay, the plot, the music, the characters, and of course whether it lived up to the hype that surrounded it like a pack of wolves surrounding its prey, just waiting for the kill. Ready to take down and devour what was supposed to be the best game ever.
MGS2, in my mind, is the best game ever in terms of gameplay. It’s basically MGS, but with more. Just like in the prequel you can stand against walls and a special camera angle will show what is behind you, you can crouch and crawl to deceive and hide from enemies, you can use different ways of disabling security cameras and guards, you have an innovative radar that shows you the visibility of the enemies, you have to take out an electric system with remote-controlled missiles and among other things you can talk to friends (or maybe even enemies) on the Codec. However, MGS2 adds more. This time you can peek round corners and take shot, you can aim and shoot in first person mode, you can get dog-tags from guards by surprising them from behind, you can hide enemies and yourself in lockers, you can put enemies to sleep with a tranquiliser (sp?) gun, you can take a guard hostage to stop others shooting at you and much, much more. You could literally spend hours just mucking around and having fun, taking out guards in all the different ways possible or shooting seagulls to annoy your friends on the Codec – there are so many options!
Although the game is linear in that you are told what to do, there are still different ways and routes of doing it. In MGS2 you will have to disable bombs, take photos, swim through flooded areas and much more, as well as all the “usual stuff” of sneaking and shooting. There are many more weapons to use including an AK, an M9, an M4, a Grenade Launcher, another Sniper Rifle as well as the old favourites like the Socom, the Nikita and the Stinger. There are more gadgets too, such as two types of Bomb Sensor, something that makes the controller vibrate when an enemy is near and even more cardboard boxes - bliss. Never before has a game had so much detail and given such a full and realistic experience, which is why MGS2 is the best gameplay-wise. I could go on much longer, but I don’t want this to turn into a Dan2K2 post, and I’ve got to somehow fit this into the reviews section later.
Graphically, MGS2 is extremely impressive. Much detail has been added, especially to the faces, and if you take the time to look at everything in the environment then you will be amazed. Shoot a bowl of ice cubes and they shall fall out and melt, destroy bottles for a laugh, check out the magazines that the Tanker has to offer and also take a look at what people put inside their lockers. The environments are a Tanker and a Clean-up Facility Plant. They may sound boring, but somehow Kojima and his cronies have made them into extremely interesting and vivid places, full of rooms and areas to explore and marvel out. As you get further into the mission the time of day changes too, so at some points you will be playing while the sun goes down. There’s no doubt about it, MGS2 wouldn’t be the same without the gorgeous eye-candy.
However, some elements of the game are not as good as MGS1. One of these, in my opinion, would be the music. Although the official tune is fantastic, everything else that it offers is only good. I can never get used to the action music, and I feel when you are sneaking around the sound isn’t as sinister as MGS. It’s not that it’s bad in anyway, just not as good. However, this still means that the music is a success, and without it MGS2 wouldn’t seem right.
Onto what I feel is the most important part of any Metal Gear game, the plot. MGS’ was emotion filled, making me laugh and at some points nearly making me cry. It twisted and turned, shocking me at many points. Fortunately, MGS2 offers much of the same. Loads of plot twists, character changes and some of the strangest Codec conversations ever. Without good characters a plot is nothing, and the characters in MGS2 are wonderful. Because you play as another character for most of the game, you get to see Snake in a different light. Of course there are new people to meet like Rose, Stillman, Olga and also a new team of baddies, including a cool Vampire and a deranged bomber. Of course some have been brought over from MGS, these including Revolver Ocelot, and Liquid…yes, Liquid Snake. MGS2 keeps you on the edge of your seat with constant FMV scenes to keep you up-to-date, some of them completely surprising you. At one point I even thought Snake had turned on me.
Although there is no doubting that MGS2 boasts a fantastic plot, at times I feel it becomes too complicated. The confusion of reality and non-reality can become annoying, and enemies continually telling you what they are really trying to do can puzzle you, and by the time the game is finished you’re left sort of unsure of what has happened. I feel that maybe Hideo went a little over the top this time, and that the simpler plot of MGS worked much better. Just like with the sound though, the plot is good enough and offers one of the most emotional scenes ever in a video game, probably THE most emotional scene ever in a video game.
I must come to and now, maybe I could’ve written more but if you have reached this far then I expect I am boring you. But, I have still yet to answer the question. Being the avid MGS fan I am, a question I expect you would all be very interested to hear my answer to (in my dreams, anyway.) Is Metal Gear Solid 2, better than MGS1? My answer is no…and yes. (I know that’s what everyone says when they can’t decide, and yes it is an extremely dull answer but I shall explain further.) In terms of gameplay and graphics then yes, it is much better than MGS1, but in terms of plot and sound, the answer would be no. Which is the most important of these is up to you, but I can’t decide. Maybe I will someday, and if I do I will be sure to tell you (not if I’m on holiday though, then you can all sod off {;))
So, is MGS2 the best game ever? Well, it certainly has a case, but I’m not the one to prove it.
Thanks for reading, Ant.
Yes this should be in the reviews section, but I knew as a massive MGS2 supporter my whole life on these forums, you’d all be interested in my views.
And of course, it’s just way too big for the reviews section.
I sit here now, about to do something I’ve been waiting to do for the past three years. In 1999, I bought a game named Metal Gear Solid. I was of course excited about the purchase, but I could never have imagined the pleasure this masterpiece would give me. It was the game that really got me into gaming, the game that made me realise, “I love this.” If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be on these forums today. If it wasn’t for MGS, then I might not be the proud owner of a PS2. Although it may seem strange, MGS affected me more than any movie has ever done. All elements of it; the twisting plot, the innovative gameplay, the excellent graphics, the emotional music and the wonderfully deep characters, all of them, were put together into one, fantastic experience. A roller-coaster of a ride, in which unlike a film, I played a main part. I was the star.
I couldn’t believe how utterly brilliant this game was. After I got over the…shock, if you like, I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like if Rachel Stevens and Jennifer Lopez took part in a bikini-wearing mud wrestling match?” After realising it would be great but highly unlikely, I thought about something that was far more possible. A sequel to MGS. I was delighted to find out that genius Hideo Kojima was going to make an MGS2, and it was to be released on a next generation console, the PS2. I knew I was in for a long wait, but that it would be worth it.
And now here I am, around three years on. I have completed Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty a few times now, and I am here to write my final thoughts on the game. I’m here to write about the graphics, the gameplay, the plot, the music, the characters, and of course whether it lived up to the hype that surrounded it like a pack of wolves surrounding its prey, just waiting for the kill. Ready to take down and devour what was supposed to be the best game ever.
MGS2, in my mind, is the best game ever in terms of gameplay. It’s basically MGS, but with more. Just like in the prequel you can stand against walls and a special camera angle will show what is behind you, you can crouch and crawl to deceive and hide from enemies, you can use different ways of disabling security cameras and guards, you have an innovative radar that shows you the visibility of the enemies, you have to take out an electric system with remote-controlled missiles and among other things you can talk to friends (or maybe even enemies) on the Codec. However, MGS2 adds more. This time you can peek round corners and take shot, you can aim and shoot in first person mode, you can get dog-tags from guards by surprising them from behind, you can hide enemies and yourself in lockers, you can put enemies to sleep with a tranquiliser (sp?) gun, you can take a guard hostage to stop others shooting at you and much, much more. You could literally spend hours just mucking around and having fun, taking out guards in all the different ways possible or shooting seagulls to annoy your friends on the Codec – there are so many options!
Although the game is linear in that you are told what to do, there are still different ways and routes of doing it. In MGS2 you will have to disable bombs, take photos, swim through flooded areas and much more, as well as all the “usual stuff” of sneaking and shooting. There are many more weapons to use including an AK, an M9, an M4, a Grenade Launcher, another Sniper Rifle as well as the old favourites like the Socom, the Nikita and the Stinger. There are more gadgets too, such as two types of Bomb Sensor, something that makes the controller vibrate when an enemy is near and even more cardboard boxes - bliss. Never before has a game had so much detail and given such a full and realistic experience, which is why MGS2 is the best gameplay-wise. I could go on much longer, but I don’t want this to turn into a Dan2K2 post, and I’ve got to somehow fit this into the reviews section later.
Graphically, MGS2 is extremely impressive. Much detail has been added, especially to the faces, and if you take the time to look at everything in the environment then you will be amazed. Shoot a bowl of ice cubes and they shall fall out and melt, destroy bottles for a laugh, check out the magazines that the Tanker has to offer and also take a look at what people put inside their lockers. The environments are a Tanker and a Clean-up Facility Plant. They may sound boring, but somehow Kojima and his cronies have made them into extremely interesting and vivid places, full of rooms and areas to explore and marvel out. As you get further into the mission the time of day changes too, so at some points you will be playing while the sun goes down. There’s no doubt about it, MGS2 wouldn’t be the same without the gorgeous eye-candy.
However, some elements of the game are not as good as MGS1. One of these, in my opinion, would be the music. Although the official tune is fantastic, everything else that it offers is only good. I can never get used to the action music, and I feel when you are sneaking around the sound isn’t as sinister as MGS. It’s not that it’s bad in anyway, just not as good. However, this still means that the music is a success, and without it MGS2 wouldn’t seem right.
Onto what I feel is the most important part of any Metal Gear game, the plot. MGS’ was emotion filled, making me laugh and at some points nearly making me cry. It twisted and turned, shocking me at many points. Fortunately, MGS2 offers much of the same. Loads of plot twists, character changes and some of the strangest Codec conversations ever. Without good characters a plot is nothing, and the characters in MGS2 are wonderful. Because you play as another character for most of the game, you get to see Snake in a different light. Of course there are new people to meet like Rose, Stillman, Olga and also a new team of baddies, including a cool Vampire and a deranged bomber. Of course some have been brought over from MGS, these including Revolver Ocelot, and Liquid…yes, Liquid Snake. MGS2 keeps you on the edge of your seat with constant FMV scenes to keep you up-to-date, some of them completely surprising you. At one point I even thought Snake had turned on me.
Although there is no doubting that MGS2 boasts a fantastic plot, at times I feel it becomes too complicated. The confusion of reality and non-reality can become annoying, and enemies continually telling you what they are really trying to do can puzzle you, and by the time the game is finished you’re left sort of unsure of what has happened. I feel that maybe Hideo went a little over the top this time, and that the simpler plot of MGS worked much better. Just like with the sound though, the plot is good enough and offers one of the most emotional scenes ever in a video game, probably THE most emotional scene ever in a video game.
I must come to and now, maybe I could’ve written more but if you have reached this far then I expect I am boring you. But, I have still yet to answer the question. Being the avid MGS fan I am, a question I expect you would all be very interested to hear my answer to (in my dreams, anyway.) Is Metal Gear Solid 2, better than MGS1? My answer is no…and yes. (I know that’s what everyone says when they can’t decide, and yes it is an extremely dull answer but I shall explain further.) In terms of gameplay and graphics then yes, it is much better than MGS1, but in terms of plot and sound, the answer would be no. Which is the most important of these is up to you, but I can’t decide. Maybe I will someday, and if I do I will be sure to tell you (not if I’m on holiday though, then you can all sod off {;))
So, is MGS2 the best game ever? Well, it certainly has a case, but I’m not the one to prove it.
Thanks for reading, Ant.