User reviews

If get the chance to play this game, I'm certain you will never need to play another game. This is the defining moment in Video Game History. You will be amazed at all the detail this game has and I'm certain you'll be playing it over and over again. Just make sure that NO-ONE tells you anything about this game beforehand or it might ruin the entire game...be prepared for non-stop action, suspense and video gaming, that would make most Hollywood Action Directors blush.

The Greatest Game in History.

That sets up some pretty high expectations. Reasons are plentiful: The character proxemics, the ambiance and the use of camera angles, mise-en-scene and the editing are skilled beyond many of Hollywood's films today. The characters themselves are deeply psychological. They're all troubled in some way or another, and yet, despite their own individual depth, they're also representations of a side of the human experience and psyche. Raiden is the brash, headlong energy of youth, but he is also the insecurity and inexperience that comes with it. It comes back on his own life, his romantic life no less, in a big way. Snake is Raiden's foil - strong and secure, with years of experience to back up his quiet confidence.

However, his expertise comes at a toll to his own mental health.

The game itself transcends the nature of video games. It uses its predecessor (MGS 1 was itself a revolution in the gaming world) as a symbol of games in general. MGS 2 comments not only on technology, the effect it has on each of our individuality, the nature of humanity in exploration, and our own inabilities to confront demons, but it does all this while reflecting ON THE NATURE OF GAMES THEMSELVES. Bar none, this game has no rivals - it is consummate gaming, and film-making, for that matter. Being both entertaining and thought-provoking, philosophical and compassionate, the games paradoxes and dichotomies are whole and beautiful. In short, this is the game to end all games. I kid you not.

This is going to be short and sweet, Metal Gear Solid 2 is just what an interactive movie could be. Playing this game is just like playing a main role in a movie. The only way this movie could be more imersive is if you when on a holodeck like in startrek. Play it you wont regreat it.

"Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" is the best action game ever made. It's also one of the best video games of all time. Creator Hideo Kojima and his team have made the impossible possible. They have created a sequel that outdoes the original in almost every way imaginable. It is a masterpiece that redefines what a video game can be and will be the standard of this industry for years to come.

If there's one thing all players can agree on, it's that "Metal Gear Solid 2" excels in its cinematic presentation. Not only in the cutscenes, but in the gameplay itself. The graphics are an awesome sight to behold. It's been almost three years since the game first debuted in the U.S. and yet few other game releases have surpassed its visuals. They are detailed, lifelike and stunning.

Interaction with the game's enviroment is encouraged and so is the open-ended gameplay. The sky's the limit when it comes to your imagination and curiosity. You can move around in stealth and collect dogtags off soldiers or be a "Rambo"-type badass and just kill everybody in sight. Your choices determine what the game's experience will be. Be inventive and you'll realize how deep this title actually is.

The game is divided into two parts. A "prologue" takes place aboard an oil tanker just off of the coast of the New York Harbor and the "main story" is set on a cleanup plant. If "The Matrix" stunned with you the surprise twist, then "Metal Gear Solid 2" will have your head spinning way before the end. It's talky, but if you stick with it you'll feel like you survived the ultimate mind bender.

There are two action sequences that "Matrix" creators the Wachowski brothers would probably envy. One is an awesome gunfight involving high-tech ninjas and the other is the climactic fight you engage in with samurai swords. Not only does MGS 2 mess with your brain, it is also the very definition of cool action. "Metal Gear Solid 2" is definitely a 10 out of 10. An A Plus. It's gonna take alot to top this installment of Solid Snake's adventures.

I'm sure Hideo Kojima will be up to the task. His "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater" will be released this November. Until then, if you have haven't played "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Then what are you waiting for? Go and buy it now! **** out of ****.

No game before has ever gripped you by your balls and swung you till you asked it to do it again. Its cinematic in ways most movies would kill for, its graphics are top of the bar, its sound makes you jump with every cock of the gun. And its gameplay is as flawless as it can get.

If this was a movie it would be in the top 5 on everyones list.

How to describe the greatness of this game. Here I go. When I went to buy this on the day it came out. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get home and start playing this right away. When I got home and put the game inside the PS2. The intro started and my jaw fell to the ground because it was so f***ing breathtaking. I knew this was gonna be one hell of a thrill ride.

The Graphics: Simply spectacular, probably the best I have seen on any console. Snake looks even more like a badass than ever. All the other characters look completley realistic.10/10

The Controls: Awesome, is easy to control snake,raiden and the weapons you get to use.10/10

The Story: Mind-Blowing. The plot is very dark and complex with so many plot twists from beginning to end. This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what happens next and I thought 24 had a lot of surprises but nothing comes close to this. This is the type of story videogames should have.10/10

The Sound: Excellent musical score by Harry Gregson Williams, very cool attention details and also great voice acting especially from David Hayter. Also with one of the greatest videogame soundtracks ever made. 10/10

Lasting Ability: Collecting all the dog tags is very fun but other people would probably stop playing it for awhile, mainly to free there minds of what they just witness.9/10

Overall: This is the greatest game ever made, simple as that. Took a lot of years to make this magnificent piece of art work. My hat goes off to Hideo Kojima and his entire MGS2 crew for creating this true Masterpiece/Classic. Too bad we have to wait for MGS3 to come out in November but trust me is worth the wait.(A++)

Hideo Kojima has done it again.

The fifth addition to the official Metal Gear lineup is quite definately the best. Perfect AI, powerfull voice acting by the returning David Hayter, Patrick Laine, and Christopher Fritz, a professionaly composed score, and graphics that will make you swallow your tounge.

If you cant handle good games, stay as far away from this title as possible. Metal Gear fans and newbies alike, I urge, emplore, and DEMAND that you get this game.

So basicaly, it's lookin pretty good.

This game is by far the best PS2 game out there at the moment. The graphics are amazing, the plot is outstanding, and the attention to detail is mind-blowing. your Facial expressions change depending on the situation, the guards have a good AI, and almost every environment item can be manipulated. If you have a PS2, get this game.

I didnt play Metal Gear Solid for the PSone but I played demos foe MGS2 and I was so impressed by both the graphics and gameplay I went and bought it on the release date. This is without a doubt the best ever game to be release on any game console! The story line is excellent, the graphic is a benchmark for future releases and the sounding matches every part of the game.It's a shame where you don't get to play as Snake full out the game but the character Raiden is a good replacement (especially that cartwheel stunt) but he crys to much!

This game is great on a first playthrough, but only really shines on repeat plays as well as analysing all the themes of the game. If that doesn't sound appealing, it's still a pretty fun game, but just know you won't get the full experience. However, if you like doing that, be prepared for one of the greatest experiences in any form of media ever, I'm serious, its that good.

When the first Metal Gear Solid was released on the Playstation, it blew every other game out of the water. It wasn't just a game... it was a piece of art. Not only was the gameplay excellent and heart-pumping, but the story was gripping and touching, the quotes were novel-like and cutscenes were as memorable as your favorite scene in any movie.

Now, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has been released for the Playstation 2, with an improvement upon everything. The enemy intelligence has got to be the most impressive I have ever seen. They constantly radio in their reports of their guarding spots, and if you kill them, the ones they radio to will check out why they are not responding, forcing you to think before you shoot, unlike many other games. You can sneak up the guards and hold them up or snap their necks if you want, you can limp them by shooting specific body parts, or you can even make them bleed to death by shooting them a few times and letting them live.

The characters are still as three-dimensional as they were before (and I don't mean physically as models, but as a character by inner traits, motives and feelings). You'll feel very emotional for them. Whether you hate them because they're a backstabbing b*****d, or you feel sorry for them because of their past or situations that they are stuck in. The story is as gripping as the first, however, it IS a lot more complicated and one would probably have to play through a few more times to understand the plot a lot more. There are so many pieces of the plot that are in their own seperate places, that it's hard to put them together until you do play a few more times. It's almost impossible to give away the plot without spoiling anything, so I will not say anything, because this game is FULL of surprises. Even at the nearing of beginning of this game that you will be surprised.

Metal Gear Solid 2, in my opinion, is not as good as the first game, but it surely does not make this a bad game. In fact, this game is a worthy sequal, as much as The Empire Strikes Back was for the first Star Wars film (well, I liked the first better). There are some parts in Metal Gear Solid 2 that will seem too similar to the first game, which is the weakest point of this sequel, but the new quotes and philosophies, outstanding gameplay, wonderful story, and hilarious humor will make this game worth a purchase.

HOWEVER, if you have never played the first game, do so, before this one. This isn't like a James Bond film, in which every story is quite new. This game does continue with explanations to the first game. You can read the "In the Darkness from Shadow Moses" in this game, which summarizes (despite being about 349 pages) the events of the first game, though the summary has inaccuracies that were put in on purpose (most likely to put a touch of realism in which the author can't remember what everybody says...can't blame her, there's a lot of speech in it).

Another congratulations to Hideo Kojima and the crew at Konami for making the second best game out there (the best game out, in my opinion, is the first Metal Gear Solid still...).

***Tip: Have It Read To You, Heres How***

1) Copy And Paste This To Notepad (NOT WORD) 2) Go To. START>ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>ACCESSABILTY>NARRATOR

When I played the demo to MGS2: Sons Of Liberty I was really looking forward to playing the full game. I thought that the graphics were perfect, the way the rain would distort the lights on the oil tanker, the voice acting was just as good as MSG1 with both Snake and Otacons friendly banter and the character movements looks awesome.

The demo would allow for me to play up to the first boss fight and then would end, little did I know that thats about all I get to play as with snake, thinking that when I got the full game that I would be able to explore more into the tanker, maybe get off the tanker and look around a new destination with Snake. When I looked at the box, all that I could see was Snake, it was him on the front, screen shots of him on the back in the rain and information about how SNAKE IS BACK. This was really only bait, you don't play as Snake but as a different character called Jack (Code Name Raiden).

It would not have been as bad if I knew that I was going to be Raiden but the developers decided not to let on to this until I owned the game.

About the full game; well once you get past the tanker everything changes, the graphics become dull and lifeless with horrible orange walls in every part of the oil rig and then there is the storyline.

What i liked about the Tanker was that the cut scenes and radio comms were short and sweet, not anymore they ain't. Every time I entered a new part of the oil rig there would be a cut scene showing me where all the enemies were, followed by a 15 minute lecture about how to tackle them, this don't just happen once but every time for the first 15 minutes of the game and every time a new enemy comes into the game.

This game is also heavily bogged down with unnecessary radio comms, for example when you first open the door on the oil rig you see a lone guard recovering from some kind of an attack, this frightens our hero who then runs into the corner (The Computer Will Take Control Of The Character) and rings the commander;

"Colonel, I've spotted an enemy, what should I do" "Raiden, Engage the enemy" This will always be repeated with a questioning tone "Engage the enemy?" "Yes, Engage the enemy" "How should I best do this?" "Well..." and about 20 minutes later you get back to the game.

Bad, but not half as bad as when his girlfriend pops up with more ear bending.

"Jack, Do you remember when we first met" "Jack, Do you know what to day is" or "Why don't we talk anymore"

Jezz, Its seems to me they do nothing but talk. During major operations do elite soldiers have to put up with this sort of thing I mean;

"Sir, I've found the bomb" "Jack, did you take the bins out" or "Your always to busy to talk to me"

This is bad but Raiden complains more to his girlfriend like when he asks about seeing him kill someone.

"Rose, I've just killed someone, ain't you gonna say something" "No" "Taking a human life is....Blah Blah Blah"

And this sort of thing goes on. I thought this game would be worth buying just for the storyline but it is not, mainly down to the fact that the story is to hard to follow after the many U-turns the game makes. I've clocked it about three times and I still can't make head nor tail of it.

Your better off playing Pac-Man, at least that games story line was easier to follow, and Ms. Pac-Man didn't keep popping up asking Mr. Pac-Man about if he knew when their wedding anniversary is.

For starters this is NOT an ordinary videogame. It is a movie/videogame.

Hideo Kojima has taken a lot from fans and critics regarding this game. People complain on the lack of "playability". in other words: there are to much dialouge & videos and to little gameplay. But Hideo has said a thousand times:

-This is NOT an ordinary game! It's movie/videogame.

So I don't understand why people are complaining on those particular aspects. It's like complaining on a book because it's only text in it! It's outrageous!! Ok ok there is a LOT of videos and a LOT of dialouges. But that is just what it's supposed to be!

So stop complaining about it already!

I think this game is one of the best games in the world. And it has a LOT replayability value. BUT you won't get the story, witch is the best thing about the game, if you haven't played Metal Gear Solid 1 recently. So you can say that MGS 2 is a followup on MGS 1.

the game metal gear solid 2 was in short, awesome. the composers music really added to the hype. i hope they make this into a movie. the plot is just as good as any movie, the acting was wonderful, the music was really extraordinary. even after i was finished playing, i couldnt think of anything else but the game and harry gregson williams score. kudos to harry and hideo on a job better than well done.

When creating a series in any form of media, a general rule of thumb is to find a way to expand on the quality of the original while also not losing it's charm. Many have tried, with disastrous results while others are just shy of greatness. But in the right hands, the possibilities leads to a package that's more than the sum of its parts. With that in mind, the second sequel to the celebrated and critically acclaimed Metal Gear series is a true leap over it's predecessor in more ways than one.

Taking place several years after the events of the first game, war hero and super spy extraordinaire Solid Snake, undertakes a mission near the heart of NYC to uncover evidence of a devastatingly powerful super weapon that can wipe humanity off the face of the earth. But unbeknown st to him, a group of rogue mercenaries led by an unknown agent board the ship that contains the weapon. The result is an edge of your seat action packed intro that sets the stage for an epic spy adventure enveloped in darkness.

While Metal Gear Solid was the "Alien" Son's of Liberty is the "Aliens" of the franchise. Everything is amped up and polished to sheer quality in terms of graphics and physics which further immerses you into this dangerous world fraught with Tom Clancy caliber of action and excitement.

A new protagonist joins the cast named "Raiden". However, his introduction into the series was met with lukewarm results; even I was hardly fond of the character. But you don't play as him first, that honor goes to the bad-ass of all video game super spies: Solid Snake. Although Raiden's role in the game is a bit distracting from the more genuinely compelling actions of Solid Snake, as I progressed through the game, the character grew on me. He's essentially the boy scout who gets caught up in a world in which he doesn't fully understand and in that regard, he as equal to Snake as he is the other characters. More on them later.

The graphics and game-play are much improved this time around although it can be a little tricky when switching weapons in the middle of a fierce firefight. And boy oh boy what MARVELOUS firefights there are. Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty has one of the most breathtaking action scenes I've ever seen in a video game. In terms of intensity, they even make most Hollywood blockbusters pine with envy. And that's saying a lot considering a game of this nature which is to be expected of Hideo Kojima, creator of the series. Without him, Metal Gear would barely stand against the masses of great games out there on any system. One of the key elements that make a game great is it's direction and Kojima pulls it off marvelously with a heavy arsenal of great special effects; especially during the swimming levels and boss battles.

Along with Raiden comes Dead Cell, a group of super terrorists with their own brand of attacks against the player. What these guys dish out is nothing short of amazing with some of the most creative and exciting boss battles ever devised in the series. There are some homages to past foes of Metal Gear Solid, but they don't diminish the impact of the new guys. I like it when game developers are subtle. That alone adds more to the game's charm.

The score is done brilliantly by Harry Gregson Williams with thunderous bouts of emotion that gets at you and grips you like wet rope that is so involving that it really gives you the feeling of being in a spy thriller. Nothing brings out a game's atmosphere than it's musical score and that's another thing: Some of the music is really pumping and adrenaline-soaked while there's also for that quiet time to get down into plot and character development which this game has an abundance of. I won't give anything away, but suffice it to say it's one helluva emotional roller-coaster. And there you have it.

It's the story and plot that are the true stars of Sons of Liberty and the overall series with themes of war, peace, loyalty, courage, despair, ethics, and more. I gotta say as much as I enjoyed Metal Gear Solid, to me this is the best, most cerebral of the series. I ended up playing this game more than MGS1 because though it's confusing at first, it rewards you by replaying it over to truly understand the whole plot. That to me is great replay value.

So is MGS: Sons of Liberty the best in the series? The answer is an enthusiastic YES!!! What's interesting is that with all the tight game-play mechanics and graphical prowess, I really got INVOLVED in the story. It's not a run-of-the-mill action game, it's a more deeply insightful and philosophical experience. I've yet to see a spy thriller action game that can match the sheer quality and awesomeness of the Metal Gear series. Not even Spyphon Filter comes anywhere close to this. There's just something to it. And it's really special.

This game took along time to beat. It was a really cool game to play. You do all kinds of different stuff like defusing bombs, saving hostages, and snipering. I thought this game was a lot better than the first one because there are two different stories in this one. And at the end it makes you really think.

I have been playing games for 12 years and this is by far the greatest game I have ever played. I have never been so drawn in by great game play and an equally great story. Never will such a game measure up to it.

This is easily the best game in years. The game play is fantastic. It's relatively realistic but never forgets that it's supposed to be fun, not frustrating like a lot of other games. And there are all these little touches, like that you can shoot the soldiers radios out of their hands so that they can't call for help and that when you get hurt badly you will leave a trail of blood after you that the soldiers will follow. And that you can hind the bodies of enemy soldiers in lockers so that the other soldiers won't find them. And that you can... I could go on and on.

The graphics in this game is the best I've ever seen. Ok, I haven't tried much on the X-Box and never seen a Gamecube in real-life, so I won't compare to those, but it's so much better than anything I've seen on the pc or the ps2 that I don't have words. And the music, composed by Harry Gregson Williams is some of the best music I've ever heard, and I'm not just talking about music in video games. The rest of the sound is also brilliant, and the voice overs are for once good. As for the story I like it. It's a mix of realistic and the more supernatural and, well, just cool, and I love it. Kind of like some animes. And there are enough plot-twists and conspiracies so you'll always be wondering what will happen next. It's presented with ingame-cut scenes, but they do (honestly) look better than the FMV in most games. Heck, it looks much better than most aninmes I've seen. And they're just cool.

So as I've said this is the best game I've played in years. Buy it and you won't regret it.

It is rare to play a game with so much hype and be completely satisfied. I've been waiting for this game to come out for a while. I've been reading articles, reviews and thinking "When is it going to be my turn?" Well, when Metal Gear Solid 2 finally sold, I sent my Mom to pick it up after work and played the crap out of it the first night.

It was awesome. The intro to get to the start menu alone was rad. The cutscenes were lengthy, but man were they cool. The time they consumed didn't even bother me. Maybe because they were so intense. Some of the scenes got really emotional. Maybe because I'm a girl, but my friend said he felt really sad at the same exact part as me which was comforting. Some of the things were repetitive from the first Metal Gear Solid, a little deja vu. But it didn't bother me at all. I enjoyed it, nonetheless. The ending was cool. I don't want to give anything away, but it's completely worth the... about 30 minutes of end cutscenes. I've beaten the game with a pathetic ranking, but I plan on playing again. With so many rankings the game isn't one I'd beat and then stop playing. I still need to collect all the dogtags. That is why the game will never get boring. A couple years from now, I can imagine myself still playing that game. That's how good it is. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty rocks and rolls. Everyone should own it.