Metal Gear Solid 2:
Sons Of Liberty
[PS2]

Our next VGN review is for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty on the PS2. I wasn't able to get in touch with some of the crew we planned for this review, so it resulted in less reviewers doing a lot more work, and me getting this review out a little later than expected. However, I feel all parties did a very successful job on reviewing this opus. So, without further ado, here is the review.

Halbred will first cover the game's presentation:

I believe MGS2's graphics are still far above par for the PS2, if only for the incredible rain effects on the first level. Rarely have I seen a character's reflection on a water-laden surface, and even better - that reflection is distorted by the rainfall. Amazing. Meanwhile, the sound was average for a video game of this caliber. Nothing really stood out, either musically or effects-wise. While I wasn't disappointed, I wasn't blown away either.

Of course, there were some graphical tweaks that could have been made. Jaggies were occasionally present on in-game character models, and environments looked a little too clean. Maybe I'm just a Silent Hill freak, but shouldn't there be some RUST on old metal surfaces?

And I might be wrong... it WAS a few years ago, but I could have sworn that I saw some explosions occur before hearing them. That bugs me, but it actually happens during a lot of games. Overall though, I have nothing to complain about. MGS2 is a solid visual and audio experience.

ViewtifulGamer shares his opinions on MGS2's difficulty.

What can be said about Sons Of Liberty's difficulty? Well, the learning curve presented here is probably the best I've seen. Not a big stealth/action gamer, I easily found myself becoming akin to the levels in a way that made me believe I'd been playing all my life. I'd say it would take an average gamer about 45 minutes to 1 an a half hours to master all of the dimensions in the game.

The boss fights are not by any means easy, though. You'll find them quite challenging, and some will require a huge amount of strategy to complete. Like I said before, the learning curve is, for lack of a better term, awesome. The levels will steadily get harder, but I think you'll find yourself rising to the challenge each time. Newbie gamers may be turned off, though. I've known a few who claim it to be a little too "genre-appealing", in that it's only do-able if you're a vet of the style. I say those people are quitters. All it takes, like any good investment, is patience.

bigredrockeater had this to say about Metal Gear Solid 2's storyline.

No game is as cinematic as the Metal Gear Solid series. Unlike most action games, this series actually has a story worth listening to (depending on who you talk to). Simply put, MGS2: SOL takes place a few years after the original MGS. Allow me to explain the original’s story...

You are Solid Snake, a secret operative who has 12 hours to save hostages and stop a nuclear machine from blowing up the planet (over-achiever). Snake has two objectives: rescue DARPA Employees Donald Anderson and Kenneth Baker, and discover if the terrorists have the ability to launch a nuclear strike (they do). After a diversion caused to draw the leader of the terrorists, Liquid Snake, out from the compound, Snake is able to slip in undetected. After a few battles, he rescues both of the DARPA members. They tell him to find Hal "Otacon" Emmerich, the designer of this model of Metal Gear.

Allow me to explain what a Metal Gear is. A Metal Gear has the ability to rail-fire nuclear strikes, and also to slip into areas without being picked up by radar. That’s quite a machine (it would definitely keep those squirrels out of my birdbath). Otacon tells Snake how to stop MG, so off Snake goes. After a few battles, Snake gets to MG and destroys it after learning that Liquid Snake is actually his brother. Then, Snake rides out and evades death.

Meanwhile, MGS2 takes place 4 years after MGS. It turns out that Revolver Ocelot (a man who was Liquid’s left-hand man - quite literally, now), sold Metal Gear’s destroyed parts after Solid Snake mangled them in the first game. Due to this, nearly everyone has a MG now, including the U.S. Army. Snake’s objective is to infiltrate the tanker the Army's MG is stored on, and take pictures. But things are never that easy.

Just after Snake arrives, the “party” starts. Foot soldiers come from above and slit the army-men on the front of the boat (it’s gonna be one of those days...). Snake gets to the MG after some time, only to find his old friend, Revolver Ocelot, except now he has his arm back that he lost in MGS. This arm plays a crucial role in some segments of the storyline. After some name-exchanging, some shots are fired, killing some people. Then Ocelot hi-jacks the Gear, and floods the tanker. Snake gets out... or does he?

Some may argue that SOL’s story is twisted and confusing, but I find it to be perfect. Sure, the main character after Snake’s “death” is a beach boy, but he gets mildly better by the game’s end. I found I wanted more story after the credits rolled, and I can hardly wait for the next installment in this “solid” series.

TheInvisMan will close this review with his thoughts on the game's control and gameplay.

Metal Gear Solid 2 controls nearly flawlessly. The layout is almost identical to the first Metal Gear Solid, but some new enhancements and techniques are added, like first-person aiming for better gun combat. The new moves are easy to get the hang of, and all the basics have been tweaked to provide an even smoother experience.

The main problem most people have with Metal Gear Solid 2 is that, after playing a stealth blockbuster like Splinter Cell or one of the Thief games, MGS2's stealth seems much more rudimentary in comparison. Whereas those other games put a heavy emphasis on having very realistic lighting and sound impact the stealth, MGS2 goes for a much more basic approach, with simple enemy vision cones, memorization of enemy patrol patterns, and little need to sneak.

While it might sound like I'm bashing the game for not being "with the times", MGS2's gameplay is still superb, partially because the majority of these challenges are designed superbly, and balance themselves well with the mechanics of the stealth. In addition, there are a few new gameplay elements and alterations to the general formula which add some nice variety.

However, the biggest reason why I don't care as much is probably because this game incorporates a lot of elements those other games don't have. A lot of work has been done to add a cinematic feel to the game, making it seem less like a stealth game and more like an espionage movie, not to mention a number of action elements. Does battling a Harrier on a bridge with a rocket launcher seem like the epitome of stealth that belongs in a game like Splinter Cell? I certainly don't think so.

Overall, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty is one of the most cinematic and engaging action/stealth games out there, with one of the most intricate plotlines in gaming. It is recommended to just about every gamer who has access to it.

Score: 9.5 out of 10