Mr. N64's Summary of the Metal Gear Solid 2 Experience

The original Metal Gear Solid coupled white-knuckle espionage action with a jaw-dropping storyline that was on par with an exceptional episode of the X-Files. It's always hard to follow something so exceptional with something even better, and the follow-up to Snake's PS1 adventure is a valiant effort, but it just doesn't match up to the original. If the first game seemed like an episode of the X-Files filled with plausible conspiracy and weighty moral issues, the sequel is more akin to an out-of-control anime with conspiracy theories that flaunt such a grand scope and feature so many contradictions in their execution that the game looses nearly all of its punch.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of things, I feel that I must first mention something that I have not yet seen mentioned in any write-up on Metal Gear Solid 2: For the vast majority of the game, you do not play as Solid Snake. Yes, you read that correctly. After the original game spent so much time masterfully developing the character of Solid Snake, he is relegated to a bit player throughout most of the sequel. His replacement (shown on the cover page of this review) is an effeminate bleach-blond anime guy named Raiden who is almost completely unlikable until near the end of the game. In addition, Raiden saves the game by talking to his immensely insecure girlfriend, who constantly pesters him about the quality of their relationship while he is risking his neck for the sake of national security. Again, near the end of the game the plot makes things more palatable, but it is just too little too late. 

The atmosphere of the fist game has been abandoned as well. While the original game was dark, serious, and morally heavy in its cold look at what it means to be a soldier and why nuclear war will always be a threat, the sequel is very comic-book like in its considerably more implausible environments, characters and wild story arc. Game villains include the likes of a fat man on roller-skates wearing an armored suit and a vampire of some sort, whose origin and fate are left completely unaddressed. Worst of all, the end of the game has an odd juxtaposition of tragedy and soppy sweetness that just doesn't jive.

The storyline fails to address many concerns that interested me the most, like what has happened after the Metal Gear specs were released on the black market (a fact revealed in the opening cinema). Why hasn't nuclear war broken out if Metal Gears are readily available? Rather than tackle these interesting issues, the game develops a convoluted conspiracy theory that makes any attempt at a tidy ending impossible. The conclusion left me feeling that (no matter what soppy message may be attached) the good guys had already lost -- big time. However, with the odd vagueness of the game's ultimate payoff, your interpretation may vary. It's worth noting that while the overall story is disappointing, there are a few parts that do have a bit of impact to them. My jaw hit the floor during a scene containing major revelations about Otacon and his family.

Despite the disappointing change in tone and style, MGS2 does not fail in any way to deliver incredible graphics and sound, the likes of which make the first game look nearly as primitive as pong. Three of the cinemas are presented in 5.1 surround sound, and somewhere around 99.9% of them are completely real time. This can be proven by pressing one of the left shoulder buttons and the control sticks to zoom in on the action for a closer look. 

The opening movie that plays when you turn on the game literally gave me goose-bumps. With genuine movie-quality music and visual flair, this is the first opening that looks completely like it belongs at the local multiplex. For the remainder of the game, the camera angles and use of special effects are a joy to watch (if overly gory at times) and prove that this game at least lives up to the hype visually.

So story and atmosphere aside, how does it play? Honestly, it plays pretty much the same as the first game. In some ways it actually plays a little worse. The sad fact is that all of the control problems that the original had are still present here, and the new first person view and the PS2's analog buttons add even more annoyances to the mix. Camera changes can be disorienting, and sometimes Snake or Raiden just won't seem to do what you want them to do. I found the use of the analog buttons as triggers frustrating, since the lack of tactile feedback makes it difficult to know if you're about to shoulder your weapon (gentle button release) or mistakenly blow the head off a guard (quick release). The first-person view requires too much time to utilize effectively, making it tough to use it in tight spots.

To make things even more difficult, the guards can be insanely smart. They look in all the best hiding places, call out for help if you shoot and miss, and backup arrives if a guard you've knocked out doesn't report in to his comrades. The game ends up being more stressful than fun, and what's really sad is that there's little time to admire all of the detail put into the game's environments.

All things considered, Metal Gear Solid 2 is still the best action game available for the PS2. It was probably impossible for it to completely live up to the hype, but it is still a very good game. If you've finished the first game, you should definitely give the sequel at least a rental, and I think most players will find it worth the cash -- if only so that they can own both games in the series. I just hope that Metal Gear Solid 3 returns to the rich tone and atmosphere that made the original so unforgettable.

Overall Rating: Safe Buy 
(Play Metal Gear Solid 1 first though :-)

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