Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

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.

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.

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 ****.