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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