Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review
It boils down to this: You need to play Metal Gear Solid 2.
The Video Review
GameSpot's Greg Kasavin explains why Metal Gear Solid 2 was worth every minute of the wait in this video review.
Metal Gear Solid 2 is one of the single most highly anticipated video games of all time. Many consider its 1998 predecessor to be not just one of the greatest games for the PlayStation, but also one of the greatest games ever. No wonder--Metal Gear Solid took the Metal Gear stealth action series from its humble 8-bit origins to completely unprecedented heights with its combination of cinematic 3D graphics, memorable characters, diverse and unusual gameplay elements, incredible production values, terrific showdowns, and surprising plot twists. A game of this quality demanded an encore--if nothing else, players were eager to find out what would happen next to Solid Snake, the tough secret agent hero of the series.
Snake made an understated appearance on the Game Boy Color last year, but when Metal Gear Solid 2 was first revealed for the PlayStation 2 a few weeks later, everyone was stunned. The incredibly detailed graphics and few tantalizing bits of its story that were shown promised that designer Hideo Kojima's next Metal Gear Solid would be even greater than the first.
It's hard to believe Metal Gear Solid 2 is finally here. And though fans' expectations for this sequel have been set almost impossibly high, both fans and skeptics alike will now discover that Metal Gear Solid 2 indeed lives up to its promises. It's an undeniably impressive game that's just as unforgettable as the original, and it's longer too. Perhaps best of all, Metal Gear Solid 2 stays true to its roots. Though you'll undoubtedly get swept up in the game's plot and be dazzled by its cinematics, it's the incredible story and the tense, enjoyable action at the heart of Metal Gear Solid 2 that make it so extraordinary.
Then again, Metal Gear Solid 2's story is what drives the action along, and it's such a major portion of the game that it demands to be addressed even before the gameplay itself. If you've played Metal Gear Solid, then you'll vaguely know what to expect from the story of the sequel--"vaguely," because you'll know nothing more than the fact that you're in for a real roller-coaster ride. Even some of the most minor points of the game's convoluted plot are entertaining and interesting.
This review will not disclose any specific plot points, since you'll enjoy the game so much more if you experience it all firsthand. As such, if you take just one thing away from this review, then it should be this: Do not let anyone reveal the plot of Metal Gear Solid 2 to you, whether intentionally or inadvertently, before you play the game yourself. In fact, you'd even be better off not reading the manual that comes packaged with the game, as it includes more information than you'd probably like. You'll learn how to play the game in context anyway. If you do happen to hear something about the story, don't worry. Even if someone told you what The Matrix was really about, that still wouldn't replace the experience of watching the movie. It's a similar case with Metal Gear Solid 2, a game that can't suitably be described in words, even if its plot twists can.
It's safe to discuss Metal Gear Solid 2's story on some levels. For instance, it's safe to say that it gets at least as much attention as the story of its predecessor did. This means you should expect to watch Metal Gear Solid 2 almost as much as you actually play it. Lengthy cinematic sequences and extensive dialogue are common throughout the game. The abundance of noninteractive sequences opens up Metal Gear Solid 2 to justifiable criticism--games are made for playing, not for watching, right? If you want to just stare at a screen, then turn on the TV or go to the movies. But Metal Gear Solid 2 is an exception. It's worth watching more than most anything that's in theaters or on TV. It's a great game, too, but make no mistake--a noninteractive story, a very good one, makes up a significant percentage of the game's overall length.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Downloads | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- GameSpot Score 9.6 Editors' Choice
Player Reviews
-
A game that is just so mind-blowing you want to play it again to find your brain. Continue »
-
Wow, this game will grow on you and will make you so obsessed with the series you'll be all over it like a girl on.....- Continue »
Critic Scores
- IGN 9.7 / 10
- PSX Extreme 10 / 10
- Game Chronicles 9.2 / 10
- Eurogamer 9 / 10
- Gaming Age A-
- TechTV 4 / 5
- GameZone 9.8 / 10
- Gamer.tv 9.6 / 10
*The links above will take you to other Web sites and are provided for your reference. GameSpot does not produce or endorse the content on these sites.
- Konami
- KCEJ
- Modern Action Adventure
- Release: Nov 12, 2001 »
- ESRB: Mature
Games you may like…
-
MGS2: Substance
(PS2) -
MGS3: Subsistence
(PS2) -
Metal Gear Solid 3
(PS2) -
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
(GC) -
Metal Gear Solid EC
(PS2)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
