Not much needs to be said about Metal Gear Solid 2. After its very memorable debut on the original Playstation in 1998, fans have been clamouring for a sequal. After a disappoinitng debut on the Game Boy, Konami took people's breath away with the first showing of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty at E3 in 2000. Despite no playable code, Metal Gear Solid 2 walked away with the conveted "Game of the Show" award, and left people hanging for more. Many people were stunned at the reality of the gameworld shown through that memorable trailer. It seemed that Konami were pulling out all the stops to ensure that the world that you, as Solid Snake would live in, would be as real as reality. Hideo Kojima, the designer and director of the series went on record that he wanted gamers to feel the air, to feel the life. Every single object in the game has it's own properties, and reacts in real time. This makes the game a real pleasure to play. Opening on the George Washington Bridge, we see a shadowy figure smoking a ciggerette as they shield themselves from the heavy rain bucketing down. We then see the figure running before hooking a cable to the rail, and flinging themselves off the bridge, and onto a passing boat, where a new version of Metal Gear is being transported. Apparently, after the events of Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid, Shalashaska, also known as Revolver Ocelot, sold the plans of Metal Gear throughout the black market, allowing every country to develop their own version. However, the new model that Snake is now on this Ship for, was designed to actually fight the others. To say more would be a disservice to the incredible story, but you can be sure to find that not everything as it seems, and if you enjoyed the storyline in the first game, then you are sure to enjoy this one. Metal Gear Solid 2 is just so incredibly polished. The game honestly blurs the line between the game world, and the real world. Snake is back and looks amazing, with fluid animation and even facial features. He reacts in real time to the atmosphere as well as the challenges faced before him, and he is one of the most realistic characters ever created. This is backed up by the numerous guards and "bosses" that you face, they all look and move realistically, and have their own motives and backgrounds. Everyone is incredibly real. Unfortunately, one of the main complaints that people had with the original has returned, the lengthy cut scenes. It's quite alright to go into detail into the games storyline, and you may just want to - but the cutscenes actually take up more time of the game then actual gameplay. What I mean to say is, this game has actually more non gameplay segments than it does playable ones. Thankfully, the cutscenes are well directed and well played out, although slightly hammy. You wish that the characters didnt have to go into so much detail sometimes, and that you can get back into playing the game. This also extends to the Codec screens. Those who played the original know what this is, but just to rephrase, it is a Radio, built into your clothes that acts as your gateway to the remote team who will support you throughout the game. The Codec screens are played out to an extensively long time, and there are some segments of the story that play out well on the Codec, but again, are overlong and really cramp on the gameplay. That's not to say the story is bad. No. The story may be one of the single most greatest endeavours ever played out on the home console. It feels impossible that this could be reproduced, or succeeded. But it begins to grate somewhat, and some people may find they just want to do some run and gunning, and will have to sit through another non-playable segment. The sound deserves a special mention. The raw recordings were created by Harry Gregson-Williams, who most people know as a famous Hollywood composer, and has written the music for many movie blockbusters. His hiring for the music feels right, as the game has all the feel of a Hollywood blockbuster, and the soundtrack that has been created for this game is nothing short of spectacular. The sound effects are also well designed and well implemented, and even with a very real world, with everything in the game having it's own properties, the game doesn't get bogged down in it's effects. Not only does everything in the game react realistically, but it sounds realistic. From the speech, to the sound of glass breaking, everything sound wise is top shelf. The game in total will take players about 12-15 hours. Much of this is taken up in cutscenes, however, it is heartening to note that the game is longer than the original, and just as refreshing. Overall, this game has blockbuster stamped all over it. The fact that you are playing what is in essence, a movie, makes this title stand out and it also grips you in for a very engaging journey that will have you begging for more when the credits finally, and reluctantly roll. A classic.
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