Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Game Info

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

Platform: PS2

Genre(s): Action

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: November 13, 2001

Intro:

The opening credits is accompanied by a montage of soldier scenes amongst names and chemical symbols.  It looks very much like the opening credits of a movie.  Following the opening credits, the story begins with Snake on a bridge over the Hudson River.  Without spoiling the scene, all I can say is that the graphics are indeed breathtaking, especially for a 2001 game.

Getting Going:

Twenty minutes after sliding the disc into the console, the player finally takes control of Snake.  There is a brief mini-tutorial regarding the menus and then the player is on his own with the one main caveat: this is a stealth mission.

Fun:

By now, the major twist in this story isn't a spoiler anymore.  For the majority of the game, you don't play as Snake; you play as Raiden.  The conversations between Raiden and Rose were annoying.  Gameplay is similar to Metal Gear Solid, although the graphics are a giant leap forward from that.  Exploring with the new graphics was more interesting and I jumped every time I got caught.  Metal Gear 2 has a way of getting under your skin and creating that "fight or flight" reflex.

Visuals:

Konami made a giant leap in visuals between Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2, most likely associated in the upgrade of systems from Playstation to Playstation 2.  The CG's are amazing with realistic rain effects coupled with invisibility and even smoking.  The physics are accurate and very noticeable in character movements.  Facial characteristics come into sharper focus, as well.  

Sound:

Voice acting is a huge part of the Metal Gear franchise and is done extremely well in Metal Gear Solid 2.  The story is absorbing even though, as a love story, it's a bit sappy. The story is largely told in the voice acting which is present in-game as well as in the cut scenes.  The sounds of moving from room-to-room are well done and include texturing of surfaces, background noises, engine noises and nature noises.  Overall, the sounds are crisp and clean without being over-done.

Intelligence:

Enemies generally walk a particular path making it possible to see their pattern and overcome it.  In this way, Metal Gear might be considered a puzzle game veiled as a stealth game.  While the enemies and cameras are easy enough to notice on the map, however, they're not always so easy to bypass nor hide from.  Gone are the days when Snake could simply sit still and hope that he isn't noticed by an inattentive guard.  Once found, it becomes difficult, at times, to find a decent hiding spot while guards descend from all directions to assist.

Immersion:

The Metal Gear franchise is as infamous for its long cut scenes as it is for its captivating story line and innovative play.  Long, and occasionally irritating, cut scenes permeate Metal Gear Solid 2, keeping the player from playing.  Skipping a cut scene may mean missing important information, but extended cinemegraphics will never create immersive play.

Rewards and Punishment/Win-Lose States:

Rewards are not plentiful here, although there are plenty of treasures to find throughout the game.  Players will find new weapons, armor, ammo, bandages and health kits lying around in various places, giving them plenty of reasons to explore.  Loss of life is, quite simply, game over.  Fortunately, the player is given the option of continuing and will not lose much in the way of time or placement in the game if they take this option.  Getting spotted often leads to death and game over.  Since treasures seem to reside mostly in unpopulated areas, there is not a lot of risk to exploring for treasures, but punishment comes swiftly while performing in the game.

Cameras:

The camera offers a full 360 degree view and the option of moving easily between third person and first person view, even allowing for a first person attack.  Players only have to press and hold R1 to enter this mode.  This is convenient to use and makes gameplay much easier in heavily populated areas of the map. 

Controls:

Snake/Raiden can crouch,crawl, jump over things, hug the wall, slide against walls, hide inside of lockers and boxes, attack, shoot, break an enemy's neck, and traverse ledges.  At times, it's difficult to get Snake/Raiden to stand or do exactly what you want.  I would try to get him to walk into a locker to pick up the ammo, but he'd walk in and close the door.  I'd want him to stand, but had to make him crouch or lay before he would stand up.  Or, he'd back against a wall when I was trying to get him to hurry past a guard.  In conclusion, Snake has a nice range of motion, but lacked smooth interaction.  Also, I remembered that Snake could sneak up on characters and choke them, but since I obtained this game without a book and it wasn't in the tutorial, I was at a loss to remember how to do it.  I couldn't find an onscreen controller guide; it would have been extremely helpful to have one.

Ideas:

As already stated, the Metal Gear franchise is known for its long cut scenes.  It fails to keep in mind the player who wants to play.  I've eaten dinner while watching a cut scene!  Metal Gear games play more like interactive movies than games.  This is fine as long as the player goes into it with that knowledge.  However, if the story were more intertwined with the gameplay, the stealth action alone would make this game unsurpassable.

Memory:

Metal Gear Solid 2 is at once stimulating and exhausting.  If I were to describe the game in 50 words or less I'd simply say "Don't get caught.  And, bring rations."