Poll: How is Metal Gear Solid 2?

[Ironbat92]

So, I've been getting really in the Metal Gear series as of Late. I've been Playing MGS 3, 4, and Peace Walker, and I'm now trying to decide to get MGS 2 or not. I've been hearing so much, from how much Raiden sucks, to how well it plays, to how bad the story is, and so on. It's a mixed game from what I've been hearing, and I'm on the fence on if I should play it or not. Should I or should I not.

P.S, Don't say "just get the HD collection" as I do have the HD versions of MGS 3 and Peace Walker on my PS3 and Vita.

 

[Roxas1359]

I find MGS2 to be the black sheep of the series really. I mean, personally I don't mind it at all, but if given the choice to replay Snake Eater or 2, then I will go with Snake Eater anytime. It's not bad persay, it's just different. Like how Super Mario Sunshine is considered the black sheep of the 3D Mario games apparently.

 

[ginty2]

Personally I loved it when I played it on the ps2. I got the hd collection an found it didn't age well. I didn't have a problem with raiden but that's just me being happy with a new metal gear game. As far as the story is concerned its weird but still workable..it would say if it's cheap get it. Have you played the first MSG. I ask because the controls are similar which was not very good

 

[w9496]

From a gameplay standpoint, it's fantastic. No real obvious problems, and the bosses are unique and (usually)fun to fight.

The story suffers when compared to the other games in the series though. There is a lot of explaining done in the final stretch of the game, and most of it seems like absolute BS when you hear it the first time.

I remember some people, myself included, were disappointed that you only spend 1/5 of the game playing as Solid Snake. Raiden is not mentioned on the game case or anything to give away the fact that the main character of the previous games is now riding shotgun.

 

[NihilSinLulz]

I remember not caring for it when it first came out. Though, I did recently pick up the HD collection after loving the crap out of Revengance so in all likelihood, I'll give it another go.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

In terms of gameplay, it's a fun, fast-paced (almost arcadey) take on the stealth genre. In terms of plot, it deals with a lot of very interesting themes in an extremely hamfisted way.

 

[shrekfan246]

It's worth noting that if you're used to the control scheme from MGS 3 and on, Sons of Liberty is probably going to be a bit of a nasty shock to the system. It uses the overhead map point-of-view with fixed camera angles that occasionally randomly switch while you're moving and make you do loop-the-loops in circles.

I still had a lot of fun with it and thought the story was pretty good and rather prophetic in a way, considering when it was made. Raiden isn't as "cool" as Snake or even MGS 4 Raiden, but if you can manage to not let that bother you it's still a good, if dated, game. As is the first Metal Gear Solid or its Gamecube remake Twin Snakes (which is more like MGS 2 from a gameplay perspective and adds absolutely hilarious tweaks to cutscenes).

 

[omega 616]

People say Raiden is such a ***** but I to be honest, after an hour or two you totally forget that your looking at a blonde dude in a latex suit.

The story does go bat shit bananas, especially the ending ... I still have no clue what I bear witness to when I play it.

If you're on an MGS kick then MGS2 isn't a AVOID AT ALL COSTS! kind of thing, it's more of a "prepare to not play as snake" thing.

Spoiler: Most importantly!

[HEADING=3]LAUGH AND GROW FAT![/HEADING]

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

I couldn't play it because apparently the controls for the first two MGS games are like Ancient Greek to my non-Classics major fingers. Having seen Chip Cheezum play it though, I have to say it looks like a pretty fun game, though it seems shorter than the other MGS titles and isn't much of an improvement on the first from what I can tell.

 

[Genocidicles]

It's ok, but I really think Raiden ruins it.

I had a blast with the parts you play as Snake and while the gameplay is good, Raiden really drags the whole thing down. Why was that androgynous douchebag in the game again?

 

[M0rp43vs]

Just played through it yesterday and I'll say, yes, it's a very good game.
Gameplay wise, it's rather top notch but since you're coming from the later games in the series, the controls will require some getting used to.
I have no idea why Raiden gets so much hate. He was rather alright and only about as whingey at the general level the series is. Eventually you forget you're ever playing him.

Rose will annoy you though even if you don't save that often. But I suppose a later plot point justifies this... maybe.

The story is alright... until the last hour or so. That's when you might want to write stuff down to keep up. But I'll admit, it adds a bit of a "Rewatch" bonus to the game... if you ever feel like going through the massive amounts of cutscenes again.

Also, I think this game has the most amount of neat little easter eggs of the series, though I could be wrong. Seriously, I replayed that game just because I wanted to see them again.

 

[LookingGlass]

I've played MGS, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4 and Peace Walker. I really enjoy 1, 3, and 4.

Peace Walker was decent but felt too much like a handheld game (which it was) with tiny levels (I played it on PS3) and I kind of "levelled up" wrong and got to a boss I couldn't beat because I hadn't earned the required equipment.

MGS 2 is the other one I never finished, because I just got bored of it. The gameplay is pretty good (and a big step up from #1) but the story just lost me. It's a little tough to play though after experiencing the free-camera controls of MGS 3 (the updated version) and 4.

 

[Sir Pootis]

MGS2 is one of my favorites of the series. It tends to get a lot of hate because of Raiden, but barely any of it is really justified, and most of it is just based on the fact that he's not Snake. Additionally, people tend to complain about the story, but that's down to personal preference.

 

[lachlan4567]

To be honest I've been on a MGS kick lately and finished playing 2 again around a fortnight ago. Raiden is hit or miss with great lines such as "We've managed to avoid drowning" and you do grow to miss snake, but from a story standpoint what it set up with 4 was great.
I'd say pick up the Hd version of 2 as it has snake tales which are pretty fun, also the gameplay in 2 is top notch.
Although I'd also recommend the First MGS game also, Graphically it's a ps1 title, but story,gameplay and voice acting are right up there with the best of them.
I also find it kinda funny that MGS a ps1 title is fully voiced whereas Dead rising 2 and a fair few others today only have text or one liners for a large number of side characters.

 

[Kyrian007]

It's not my favorite... but it's not bad by any means. Those who rage because they're playing as Raiden, seem to forget in other games they are playing as "oh no, the truck have started to move" Solid Snake. My biggest problem with Raiden was he didn't really have the heart to tell his support girlfriend that maybe during a mission... not the best time to have long dialouges about the "relationship." Otherwise he seemed ok.

What I really want to see is a remake of 2 with the engine of any of the later "Solid" entries. Especially if they get the guys who made the cutscenes in "Twin Snakes" to do the minefield battle with Frank Jeager. (What, THOSE guys made that port... Wow, that isn't happening ever) Still that would be awesome. That was an epic fight in 8-BIT, I'd love to see it now.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

The story is pretty convoluted, and I wasn't a big fan of the boss fights.

Spoiler: I mean...

A fat guy on roller skates? Really?

I found them a bit over the top, even by the series' standards.

Spoiler: But the biggest detriment to the game, for me, was the restrictive setting.

Almost the entire game takes place on an oil rig. The tight corridors and bland metal hallways blend together after a while, and make the whole thing feel really constrained.

Compared to MGS3, or even the first one, it's really lacking.

That being said, it's not a bad game. But out of the five I've played (1-4 and Peace Walker) I'd say it's at 4th or 5th place.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Its... It not a bad game. Its definitely an MGS true-to-the-series game. That being said, its biggest offense aside from the convoluted story that will make you say "what the fuck?" faster than the end of Assassin's Creed 2, is the fact that it feels like 80% of the game is fucking cutscenes that are unskippable. Its almost like they wanted to make it a movie rather than a game and just tacked on the MGS stealth/action mechanics.
That being said if you get past the story, it is pretty over-the-top fun as soon as the crazyness begins and before that its still quite good for a playthrough.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

I find MGS2 to be the black sheep of the series really. I mean, personally I don't mind it at all, but if given the choice to replay Snake Eater or 2, then I will go with Snake Eater anytime. It's not bad persay, it's just different. Like how Super Mario Sunshine is considered the black sheep of the 3D Mario games apparently.

But on the other hand, Snake Eater is by far the best installment of Metal Gear Solid so far. It is, quite simply, a stellar game. The sneaking is fun, the survival aspect serves its' function, the gunplay is surprisingly good for a sneaking game, the CQC system is actually useful if you master it, the story draws you in (and makes some kind of sense) and the boss fights are varied and challenging. You can really see how far the game play evolution had come between MGS 2, which was hailed for its' great game play on release, and Snake Eater, which still has the most solid game play in the series. MGS 4 was a contender until it removed much of the game aspects and introduced many features that simply weren't needed and just cluttered up the game.