MAIN » ARTICLESMetal Gear Solid 2
The first MGS was released on the original PS One and was hailed as the best game on the console, perhaps even the best game of all time. It housed many innovating features, and spawned the new 'sneak-em-up' genre. Without listing statistics to make my point - let's just say that Metal Gear Solid was class and it set the standard for the sequel.
Ever since the PS2 was announced, the public were anxious to get the list of games we could expect over the next couple of years and the one that always came up was Metal Gear Solid 2. It has been perhaps the most-anticipated game of all time and the only question I was wondering when i spent my easily obtained cash was - will it live up to the hype?
However I already knew the answer to this question - of course it will - there were one or two core demos of the game that were widely distributed around the gaming community, featuring original hero Solid Snake sneaking around a large tanker taking out Russians. Later you find out you are actually playing the 'introduction' of the full game itself, which tells the story proceeding the main game's plot. High quality DVDs and trailers had already demonstrated some of the new features, and the delicious graphics and FMVs on offer. Basically the punters were dribbling in anticipation months before it's release.
On the day of purchase, i had returned from a hard day's work in the mines and was knackered. After sitting around for a while staring at paint that had been chipped off my wall i decided i needed some entertainment. I grabbed some notes from the stash and wandered off to Sainsburys. The purchase itself was about as straightfoward as the game contents, ie. not simple at all. It's the standard system as always where you collect the case, and they find the CD. So i went to the checkout and paid for it, took the receipt to the front desk but was told i had to go to Customer Services as they were all in storage. So i goes to customer services and explained the situation to some woman who took the case through the store exit.. i never did work out exactly where she went. I sat on a chair for about 10 minutes looking at the business cards on offer including "Lose Weight Now" and "Call this instant to recieve a free Boxing lesson!" - I didn't call.
Anyway the short story is I got home, and I played the game and it was everything I expected it to be, just a little bit more confusing. I still don't understand the entirity of the plot and I don't think I ever will. It's not a gigantic leap of innovation from the first Metal Gear Solid but it's an excellent standard game in every respect, and along with GTA3 is the best game I've played on the PS2. If you have the beforementioned console, you have to buy this game. One might call it a "must-buy", i am that one.
Under Scrutiny:
Graphics: 18/20
Gameplay: 19/20
Story/Plot: 14/20
Style: 20/20
Addictiveness: 18/20
89%
"same score as Rock Star you know"
Graphics:
The graphics do not differ immensley from the first game, the view is pretty much the same with the only possible complaint being the camera angle at times. However it is easy to get used to the views and of course the console upgrade brings smoothness and a higher attention to detail. The ability to smash individual bottles behind a bar is very satisfying. It has it all - water effects, bird shit, flags waving in the wind, explosions, and they're all used to perfection. A beauty to observe.
Gameplay:
Again, the game makers stick with the tried and tested popularity of the first game. The controls are the same allowing the experienced gamer to get right in there, and play, rather than having to learn a whole new system. There are new controls and moves for characters but they're easy to learn and allow you to concentrate on playing. The weapons are satisfying to use, and there is alot more realism within the A.I, which makes it more pleasingly challenging than the first.
Story/Plot:
I could try and explain it, but i'd end up looking a fool. I didn't understand alot of it, and sometimes i admit when they went on twenty minute conversations i had a quick nap but it's possible to grasp the simple concepts, and i'll leave it at that.
Style:
20/20 speaks for itself.
Addictiveness:
Whilst playing the game, it's easy to spend hours on end continuously playing. Even when you die - which can be often if you try to rush through - you can get back into the action very quickly, so you don't get put off. Even when seemingly impossible challenges come about, some help from comrades via codec or things you didn't think of the first time inspire you to try again. It will probably be the only game you play during the period before you complete it.
BUY IT.
Article Written By Jay
j666.16814.k00@ntlworld.com
Ever since the PS2 was announced, the public were anxious to get the list of games we could expect over the next couple of years and the one that always came up was Metal Gear Solid 2. It has been perhaps the most-anticipated game of all time and the only question I was wondering when i spent my easily obtained cash was - will it live up to the hype?
However I already knew the answer to this question - of course it will - there were one or two core demos of the game that were widely distributed around the gaming community, featuring original hero Solid Snake sneaking around a large tanker taking out Russians. Later you find out you are actually playing the 'introduction' of the full game itself, which tells the story proceeding the main game's plot. High quality DVDs and trailers had already demonstrated some of the new features, and the delicious graphics and FMVs on offer. Basically the punters were dribbling in anticipation months before it's release.
On the day of purchase, i had returned from a hard day's work in the mines and was knackered. After sitting around for a while staring at paint that had been chipped off my wall i decided i needed some entertainment. I grabbed some notes from the stash and wandered off to Sainsburys. The purchase itself was about as straightfoward as the game contents, ie. not simple at all. It's the standard system as always where you collect the case, and they find the CD. So i went to the checkout and paid for it, took the receipt to the front desk but was told i had to go to Customer Services as they were all in storage. So i goes to customer services and explained the situation to some woman who took the case through the store exit.. i never did work out exactly where she went. I sat on a chair for about 10 minutes looking at the business cards on offer including "Lose Weight Now" and "Call this instant to recieve a free Boxing lesson!" - I didn't call.
Anyway the short story is I got home, and I played the game and it was everything I expected it to be, just a little bit more confusing. I still don't understand the entirity of the plot and I don't think I ever will. It's not a gigantic leap of innovation from the first Metal Gear Solid but it's an excellent standard game in every respect, and along with GTA3 is the best game I've played on the PS2. If you have the beforementioned console, you have to buy this game. One might call it a "must-buy", i am that one.
Under Scrutiny:
Graphics: 18/20
Gameplay: 19/20
Story/Plot: 14/20
Style: 20/20
Addictiveness: 18/20
"same score as Rock Star you know"
Graphics:
The graphics do not differ immensley from the first game, the view is pretty much the same with the only possible complaint being the camera angle at times. However it is easy to get used to the views and of course the console upgrade brings smoothness and a higher attention to detail. The ability to smash individual bottles behind a bar is very satisfying. It has it all - water effects, bird shit, flags waving in the wind, explosions, and they're all used to perfection. A beauty to observe.
Gameplay:
Again, the game makers stick with the tried and tested popularity of the first game. The controls are the same allowing the experienced gamer to get right in there, and play, rather than having to learn a whole new system. There are new controls and moves for characters but they're easy to learn and allow you to concentrate on playing. The weapons are satisfying to use, and there is alot more realism within the A.I, which makes it more pleasingly challenging than the first.
Story/Plot:
I could try and explain it, but i'd end up looking a fool. I didn't understand alot of it, and sometimes i admit when they went on twenty minute conversations i had a quick nap but it's possible to grasp the simple concepts, and i'll leave it at that.
Style:
20/20 speaks for itself.
Addictiveness:
Whilst playing the game, it's easy to spend hours on end continuously playing. Even when you die - which can be often if you try to rush through - you can get back into the action very quickly, so you don't get put off. Even when seemingly impossible challenges come about, some help from comrades via codec or things you didn't think of the first time inspire you to try again. It will probably be the only game you play during the period before you complete it.
BUY IT.
Article Written By Jay
j666.16814.k00@ntlworld.com