Kudama

I haven’t even gotten a PS2 yet (waiting for price drop, patience of a trapdoor spider) and when I saw the box at Target yesterday I freaked out!
Is this game the sh*t or what? Has anyone played it. Are you playing it and can’t leave the console to post because it’s soooo good? I don’t usually fall for the hype this hard, but they got me this time. There are now many reasons that I will purchase the PS2 when the price goes down, but this is the king of all of them (my reasons I mean).

Yes, I have no information to offer. On the contrary, I’m fishing for opinions.

Static Cling

Just got it today, and love it. Graphically, it's head and shoulders above MGS1, just like it should be. I never understand why they Snake into battle with nothing more than a tranq gun, though! If it were me, I'd want some sort of submachine gun or something.

Controls are great. They're slightly different than MGS1, but it didn't take much getting used to. And just like MGS1, the game gives you little tips on how to use your controls.... how to open doors and such. You have a lot more control over Snake now... for instance, you are now able to get up against a wall, and use the L2 and R2 buttons to creep left and right... get to a corner and keep holding the correct button, and Snake will peer around the corner. Hit the fire button, and Snake will pop around the corner, fire a shot, and jump back behind cover. It all looks beautiful. The concept of being able to "hold up" guards and shake them down for dog tags or other resources is pretty neat. It was a little difficult to pull off at first, but I've gotten the hang of it.

People have been mentioning the AI, especially in the other MGS2 thread. The guards are fairly smart in normal mode.... I haven't tried too hard to evade them yet once I've been discovered, but I'll share two neat guard stories that I have.


Just to let you know, I'm not an MGS1 fanboy. I just beat MGS1 recently, and I wasn't too pleased with it overall, maybe because I had watched my roomie beat it in college and all the surprises were spoiled for me. I'm really loving MGS2, though.

Snake good!

Cysco

I've only got one thing to say about MGS2... OH MY GOD!!!

The only word to describe this game is Epic. Period.

The game is so good that i went out and got my gamecube on Sunday, came home, toyed around with it for a hour and went back to Metal Gear. I haven't had this much fun playing a game in a long time.

Graphics: Amazing
Movies: even more amazing
Story: Campy, but fun
Voice acting: Best I've seen in a game
Gameplay: addicting. Not to hard, but very intense
Detail: the attention to detail is astounding
Sound: On par with any hollywood action movie

This game is the Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings of the video game world. If you don't have this game you need to get it. If you don't have a PS2 to play this game on, you need to get one.

-=cysco

Cereal-Killer

If you've never played Metal Gear before(NO SPOILERS):

Heads and shoulders possibly one of the best games ever. It's almost an action puzzle game in the sense that you have to figure out how to sucessfully evade gaurds and cameras. The game's cinematic nature is handled way better then what Square tries to do. Maybe certain scenes aren't as good, but they're definitely integrated into the game better. Also, the game is easily a 10+ hour game which is long for any action game, but there's tons of replayibility due to certain items and exploration to be done. Can't go wrong with this.

If you've played and beaten MGS(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS):

This is were it gets controversial. For veterans, the gameplay is the same and upgraded for the better here. If you love the dynamics and controls of the first Solid game then you'll be in heaven here. The 1st person mode here is a godsend.

Now comes the story. Probably half the fun of the game is in the epic storyline and how well it's integrated into the gameplay. For example, it sets up gameplay situations and alters the way you play out certain areas of the game. Plus, who could forget those awesome boss battles. Here, the storyline has changed. I don't want to ruin the storyline(Note: you may not want to read the manual since it gives away crucial plot points), but about 2-3 hours into the game the story under goes a major change that changes the game from that point on. Oh the controls are the same, but the story essentially goes way back to square one and begins anew. This change may really piss fans off considering the game is called Metal Gear SOLID and this is a sequel, but for fans I'd definitely say stay with it and see how everything plays out.

Then there are certain elements that and minor quibbles that effect this sequel. For example, while I do love the cutscenes, there are some that are long. I think there are 2 or 3 that run roughly longer then 25 minutes. This really drags and could have been summed up in a much shorter time. Plus, there are quite a few needless moments and some that are really inappropriate given the context of the game. For veterans that laughed or hated at the moments of character development right in the middle of a heated battle will find that there are more here and even more eyerolling. Personally, while these could be annoying I still appreciate them as a whole and at least Kojima injects these into his characters rather then other games that don't even try.

One thing that also puzzled me was that you don't really need to use everything weapon and item you come across. Unlike the first game where each thing you collect get's it's own moment in the spotlight, it's not so here. Not really a complaint, but when you think about it, it is kinda pointless to have such a huge inventory.

Then comes the boss fights. The first game had incredible boss fights and even had you going up against a tank. Here you fight a Harrier jet which is cool, but everyone else is kinds bland and cliched'. Not as good a group as the Foxhound crew from the first.

Okay, now for the ending. Personally, no how sappy and preachy the ending of the MGS 1 got at spots it was still an incredible ending with an excellent closing credit song. Even though they set up a sequel there was plenty of closure. Now as for the ending of MGS 2. I won't ruin it here so don't worry. However, let me just say, what was Kojima thinking? It's not a bad ending per se, in fact it's a very emotional one, but just think about it for a second and look at it's setting. What just happened a few minutes before with these characters? Look at the setting and why are the people(not the main characters, but the crowd) acting the way the are? Think about the immediate situation and setting of the ending? Pretty much all credibility and realism are thrown out the window for sake of drama. Bad writing on Kojima's part.

Also, let me just say that there will be a MSG 3 and 2 sets it up, but unfortunately the ending is very disjointed when compared to the 1 games' ending that it just leaves a wierd taste in ones' mouth.

So to sum up, these points are minor. I pointed them out so much cause I'm a huge fan of Metal Gear that I got very passionate about these points. But they did not at all ruin the experience for me. In fact, I now prefer this game to the first. It's longer, more varied, and the game is much more of a complete experience. Without a doubt a must have game.

timewaster

This is a must buy!
I didn't play MSG1, but haven't been able to put this game down.
The ones who were disappointed in the game, are only the die-hards MSG fans, but the disappointment lies in one major turning point of the story. The game, gameplay, graphics etc is awesome.

P.S. - as pointed out earlier, don't read the manual until you are done with the tanker.

Aghama

I should be getting this from Amazon by the weekend. I wasn't a huge fan of MGS (like Static Cling, the constant intrusion of the plot was a nuisance), but the new & improved boxes sound too good to pass up.

BTW, does anyone else think of another acronym whenever SOL is posted?

AgtFox

Actually, that other name for that anagram would fit that game as well.

MGS2 really is the best game so far this year. I was immersed by ICO, but MGS2 immerses me even more. I have beaten the game and I still love it. Plan on going back and playing parts of the game this weekend.

Outlaw

It is GOD go get it now!!! Gameplay is great, visuals are great, music and voice acting is great, story is great, everything about it is top notch if you have a PS2 and haven't gotten it yet I will personally assassinate you

G. Noel Gross

The nice UPS man dropped at my door this morning, but all I could do is LOOK at the case before heading off to the office. Sigh. This game is the main reason I bought a PS2 ages ago. The wait is finally over!

mljones99

I got MGS2 thursday of last week and then a cube on Sunday... guess which one I am playing more. MGS2. don't get me wrong, the cube is awesome... but we are talking about MGS2 here!

Lethal Nemesis

I finally bought MGS2 today and so far I've played it for about 4 hours..

..And all I have to say about it is -- DAMN!

(read: Play this game. NOW!)

Quake1028

I just beat it tonight. It's the best game ever, my favorite game ever. The plot, the graphics, the twists. I didn't want it to end. Good thing I can play it as much as I want to.

Cardiff Giant11

I finished it last night and while I think the graphics and sound are amazing(as well as the gameplay) I have a few nitpicks.

Aghama

Definitely too short, but I'd say it's about as long as the first one. But holy jeez, they certainly one-upped the plot from the first one! Half a dozen plot twists, each one more nonsensical than the previous. I was expecting a fair amount of melodrama, but when I found out Otacon's back story I started referring to it as MGS2: The Days of our Lives. The bosses were pretty weak, as noted above.

It takes more than attention to detail to make a game great for me. But at least I'm having fun getting the dog tags.

Thunderball

I hate being the odd man out, but I'm going to take that roll here.

The "twist" at the 2-3 hour mark was a total letdown for me. I don't like the fact that for the rest of the game, that wrecks the game for me.

Snake is such a bad ***, and maybe that's why I grew attached to him, who knows.

This game wasnt worth the hype IMHO.

Lethal Nemesis

I'm at the 10 hour mark, and yeah, I'm somewhat disappointed with that fact as well.

djones6746

As soon as this happened..... l lost interest. Loved the first game...loved this game up until they stuck this in.......

Great game graphic wise but I think I will go back to GTA3 and look forward to Max Payne and FFX.

Aghama

Who said you're the odd man out? I can't believe there isn't a a way to

djones6746

Maybe the Xbox version will offer something different.....this twist in the story turned me off from the game.

Static Cling

Just beat MGS2: SOL.



Fire bad!

G. Noel Gross

This title is the ONLY reason I bought a PS2. Now I finally have it and can't stop playing Grand Theft Auto 3. Go figure.

Kudama

WAAAHH!!! Don’t kill me Outlaw. I swear I don’t have a PS2 yet.

Now I have no choice. I just ordered a monitor that will break me, having me eat Top Ramen for a month at least and begging money from my room mate to take BART to work and keep smoking.

Soooon, though, soon. (but not soon enough!)

Outlaw

HAhaha! Better watch your back Kudama! or else I'll have to sneak up on you like this:



But.....uh.........because you've been working so hard this year eating ramen I'll let ya off the hook.......ehm.....yeah.

Anyway I just finished it and it was a blast! I already started a new game on it but I have some thoughts on the story