Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

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.

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...).

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.

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++)

"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 ****.