Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 5.0 stars Spectacular
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 9.6 (5.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Greg Kasavin
• Reviewed on: 11/13/2001
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 11/12/2001
• Originally published on GameSpot: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PlayStation 2) 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.

As you're playing, you'll discover soon enough why it's best not to discuss the plot of Metal Gear Solid 2 with anyone who hasn't played it yet--so they may enjoy it as much as you. But like with anything exciting, you'll yearn to talk about it with someone who's also shared in the experience. You'll probably compare the plot with that of the original Metal Gear Solid. You'll debate over which game had the better story. You'll draw comparisons between the games' somewhat overstated political agendas--much like Metal Gear Solid, the sequel can get preachy and is maybe even somewhat hypocritical in some of its underlying themes about nonviolence and environmental awareness. You'll compare the great cast of characters of the first Metal Gear Solid with that of the new game. You'll wonder what Kojima will do next.

It's more than likely that lot of people who never played the original Metal Gear Solid will play the sequel, even though the original was successful. Since the plot of the sequel ties in with the first game, these people may find themselves confused by some of the references. Metal Gear Solid 2 does include a brief rundown of the events that transpired in the previous game, but it's best to actually play through the original prior to playing the sequel. On the other hand, if by chance you've never played Metal Gear Solid, then the surprises in Metal Gear Solid 2 will be even more pronounced since you'll be unfamiliar with what Hideo Kojima is capable of in his storytelling.

Technically, the story sequences in Metal Gear Solid 2 are slick and stylish, far more so than what you'd typically find in other games. The fully 3D cinematics are rendered on the fly just like the rest of the game, making these scenes blend in seamlessly with the actual gameplay. The story sequences are often very dramatic, and they're directed with a flair that's comparable to that of Hollywood's--and Hong Kong's--greatest action movies. The characters are very expressive for the most part, thanks to the painstakingly detailed 3D models and the motion-captured animations. Sometimes, the characters' faces don't exactly convey the emotions they're supposed to be feeling--that these are rare exceptions speaks highly of the artists' work in capturing a real sense of humanity (or at least personality) in the excellent cast of Metal Gear Solid 2.

It's worth pointing out that much of the story is revealed through dialogue over the codec, a high-tech transmission system some of the characters use. The action is paused when the codec screen comes up--you'll sometimes take calls right in the middle of a battle--and the codec screen itself is just a green-tinted, mostly static display featuring the faces of the two characters talking. Needless to say, then, that codec conversations aren't as interesting to watch as the cutscenes are. Still, the strength of the story makes the codec scenes engaging, even if they can be long-winded and a bit too frequent at times. The best part about the codec is that, as in Metal Gear Solid, it doubles as a thoughtfully integrated in-game hint system. At virtually any time, you'll be able to contact your allies for advice in the context of any situation. You'll first get general suggestions on how to proceed, but if you get really stuck, then repeated calls will eventually yield more-specific tips.

Though the game is optionally subtitled, every line of dialogue is spoken out loud, as in the original Metal Gear Solid. The speech is of similarly good quality in the sequel, partly because all the voice actors for the returning characters reprised their roles, including X-Men screenwriter David Hayter as Solid Snake. As in Metal Gear Solid, the voice-overs don't always sound natural. The speech of some of the characters, including Snake, is exaggerated, and though the dialogue mostly flows smoothly, it still sounds scripted. Even so, the over-the-top voice acting justly fits the game's over-the-top characters, and the dialogue itself survived the translation from Japanese intact. The game ends up having the feel of a good graphic novel. It may not seem completely serious, but it takes itself seriously, though with a few clever in-jokes thrown in for good measure.

While some won't be completely satisfied with all the voices, it's hard to imagine anyone not being smitten with Metal Gear Solid 2's soundtrack, which was written by experienced Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Some of this dramatic score has already been etched into the memories of fans who have watched Konami's various teaser trailers in anticipation of the game. The rest of it is just as remarkable, and it serves to magnify the epic feel of the plot. What's particularly great about it is that the music is situational and changes with the action. As you're sneaking through enemy territory, the soundtrack is deliberate. If you're caught, it deftly transitions to a fast-paced theme that will make you want to keep running just as much as the swarms of gun-toting guards on your tail will. Music is used to excellent effect during the cinematic sequences, too.

Metal Gear Solid 2's soundtrack will likely stick with you long after you've finished the game, and the rest of the sound effects are equally good. From the deafening gunfire, to the distinct tones of footsteps on different surfaces, to the game's wide variety of ambient effects such as seagulls squawking and torrential rain pouring down, Metal Gear Solid 2 sounds fantastic. The game even supports Dolby Digital 5.1 audio in a few key cinematic sequences.

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