Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review

Hype is often a bad thing when it comes to videogames, weâve seen many an eagerly awaited title crushed under the demands of an ever demanding gaming public, how can such titles please everybody? Surely these worries must have caused Hideo Kojyima a few restless nights, but Iâm more then happy to say his team at KCEJ have done it, delivered a game beyond the hype, just in a different way to what everybody would expect.



A lot has been made of the surprises that lay in store when you play MGS2; in fact itâs proving quite hard to write a review for a game that relies so strongly on its plot without ruining it, however here goes. 



The only way to meet the gaming publics demand for MGS2 was to surprise everybody, give them something they werenât expecting, and boy does MGS2 do that. Playing through MGS2 youâll constantly be kept guessing, progressing through the story and then just when you think youâve got it⦠BANG⦠in comes another tangent to the whole equation. Let me just say that MGS2 has the most
captivating plot Iâve seen in a videogame, theyâve got the balance perfect, giving you a little but asking a whole lot more each time, you canât help but continue to play just to find out whatâs going to happen next.

As with its predecessor youâll be watching almost as much as you actually play, witnessing the best cut-scenes yet seen on a videogame. The direction during these moments puts Hollywoodâs finest to shame, youâve just got to simply sit back, put the pad down and watch. Literally some of these scenes last for 10-15 minutes and then youâve got to remember it is actually a game youâre playing and pick up the pad, not to mention your jaw. 



For the uneducated and those that have never experienced MGS, you may be thinking this sounds a little naff, games are for playing not for watching, thatâs why we go to the cinema⦠Well yes youâre right, but thereâs always an exception to a rule and MGS2 is that exception. In fact, Iâd rather pay to watch MGS2âs cut scenes on the silver screen then most of this years blockbusters.



Once again key story elements are discovered over the Codec system â“ a communication device â“ and whilst these just show the two characters heads atop a static background, and even though some of these last up to five minutes you canât help but hang on to every word, trying to work out whatâs happening, a true tribute to Kojima ability to tell stories. The Codec system also doubles up as a hint system for when you become stuck, calling any of the games characters will often result in a sound bit of advice being offered



Like the original the games dialogue is OTT and occasionally feels scripted, but this is a perfect match to the exaggerated characters that feature in MGS2. Itâs a funny thing as it doesnât take itself too seriously, but in the same way it does.



As with its predecessor, MGS2 introduces a cast of memorable characters, like any director worth his chair, Kojima ensures that every character is carefully developed so you generate real emotion for each one.



Onto the actual game, which plays pretty much like the original only refined and with a few extras thrown in. Like MGS before it, the key is to employ a stealth based approach, donât alert the guards and youâll have an easier time, although when things do go wrong they can be occasionally be rescued by an all out action, guns blaring approach. 

You canât just tiptoe your way around all of the guards, thankfully Snake has a variety of moves to dispose of them. Of course you can just shoot them but then run the risk of alerting other guards, especially when youâve got nowhere to cover up the body. Other methods include the neck-break from the original, a martial arts custom combo, the tranquilliser gun or holding them up by aiming a gun to their head or slightly more sensitive areas! 



Snakeâs wonderful manoeuvrability has been refined from the first one, peeking around corners and taking out guards is as good as you remember, now helped by the ability to switch to a first person view to help with the accuracy. Youâll also have to make fair use of Snakes ability to hang from ledges, to avoid being noticed and to cross certain areas. Thankfully all of the moves are easily accessible thanks to wonderfully responsive controls, youâll always be able to do exactly what you want and herein lies one of MGS2 finer points as a videogame.



Even the best player will alert the guards sooner or later, and this is when you need to keep a cool head. Heâll take a few pots at you and then radio for assistance â“ unless you manage to shoot the radio from his hands - within a few seconds a pack of heavily armed sentries will arrive, armed with bullet proof shields, heavy weapon machine guns, and grenades for when youâre hiding underneath a table or in a cubicle. This usually means only one thing, instant death; fortunately youâll often restart where you came into the area alleviating any frustration worries. This just serves to highlight the games old school nature; practise makes perfect - died with this approach so better try another until you get it right.

During these moments youâll also witness some superb AI, the guards will duck for cover, hide behind objects, shoot through windows, and pretty much do anything to dispose of you. Theyâre also a lot more believable then in the first game, no longer can you get away with just hiding until the caution bar ran out and watch them go back to their business. When the caution bar eventually runs down the attack group will leave, leaving the guard patrol to secure the area. One word of warning in each group there is always a communications guard; try not to kill him, as when they try a radio check and not receive an answer theyâll send down a pack to make sure everything is ok. 



These enhancements highlight the fact that you need to take a stealth approach, and try to avoid confrontations at every opportunity.



A lot has been made of MGS2 visuals; personally Iâm not so impressed. Character models are extremely impressive for everyone in the game, even the guards, each packed with detail and realistically animated, whilst the special effects, in particular the rain are astounding. However there is very little variety in the locations, it is once again grey room after grey room which is a little disappointing for me. 
Having said that each room is usually packed full of little details, breakable bottles, collections of FHM magazines (which you can collect), etc⦠The game also features the best looking underwater sequence ever; words alone cannot do this justice you simply have to see it. It feels a little harsh to criticise as it does all come tougher very well and feels complete in its silky smooth 60FPS, but I canât have a review without any gripes can I??? 



Although I have a few gripes with the games visuals, I cannot say anything bad about the games soundtrack, scribed by Hollywoodâs composer Harry Gregson-Williams. It is simply magnificent and helps to convey the overall epic feel of the game.