Unique and masterfully crafted game. Don't let the cut-scenes or the learning curve get to you. Over-the-top plot/action
I played this on my new PC, graphic settings maxed out, windowed, and with the resolution taking the most of my 1920 x 1200 space. The game is very nice looking, nothing super-fancy in shaders, bump-mapping or whatnot, but the aesthetics and styling are all there. Characters lip-synch with dialogue, faces have enough polygons to show expressions and although it has all the signs pointing towards a crudely ported game from a console some generation ago, the styIe, good 'cinematography' and overall great gameplay makes this version of the game worth playing. The only real complaint in terms of visuals is the colour pallete, or lack thereof, there is so much GREY throughout the game - and if not GREY, GREEN but of the sort that looks washed out. The game does suffer from compatibility problems, some random crashes and in many peoples' experiences (after reading through support forums), a green screen in a projector room which although not critical to game progress does dent the overall experiences from easter eggs and the off-jokes laden throughout the game. There is supposed to be an in-game joke on the projected screens (which can be found by youtubing) and this bug/glitch effectively removes it. I played the game with a 360 controller plugged in via USB. Using the keyboard is more challenging than the game itself and is a fustrating experience in immense proportions - get yourself a gamepad, it is most definitely needed.
I'll say this, this is a game in which you either 'hate' or you absolutely love it: personally, i fall in the latter. I actually first played MGS2 on the PS2 but i abandoned progress as i couldn't find the time or effort to overcome a somewhat clumsy control setup, and the seemingly excessive amounts of dialogue and full motion video. Put some effort into it, overcome the learning curve and try and pay attention to the actual story and that is when everything clicks into place. You'll remember guard routines, how many guards are in the room, where are the cameras pointing or where lies claymore mines and soon you'll be snapping necks, dragging dead bodies and holding multiple guards up at gun point - left, right and centre.
The game is split in 2: the Tanker and the Plant episode. The game starts with you controlling Snake at a tanker out at sea, it's your mission to infiltrate without being detected and confirming the existence of a Metal Gear (Huge, robot-like tank on legs) by photo. It all sounds straightforward but progression shows that not all is as it seems. The Plant episode may upset fans of the series as you're actually playing as Raiden, a completely new face to the series. The scenario?~ Raiden (who is also called Jack during your nanomachine communications), is sent into an oil plant after terrorists claim hold of hostages including the President. Your mission is to retrieve the president alive while acting as an unknown individual. And again, plot twists ensue. If you have the patience to take in the plot and the story then you're rewarded with an engaging, thoughtful experience - not far off from a movie production actually. The story/game scenario is actually very similar to MGS1 and there is a deeper reason for it however it does not feel like MGS1 at all.
The learning curve is steep, the game teaches you the very basics, but slight unorthodox changes may annoy you at first. Advanced moves are also present however, the game does not tell you how to pull them off and requires experimentation after you've finally configured the controls in a confortable way. Holding up guards require you raising your weapon at an unexpectant guard, snapping necks require you grabbing enemies at a certain position, create diversions with objects, etc, all these have to be learnt. The game does walk you through on how to grab ledges, knock on walls for distractions, shoot your weapon, how to open doors and basic movements through water.
One important aspect of the stealth action genre is the sound. Voice-acting is excellent - convincing, yet has a slight cheese to it. The game is a bit cheesy, but it is thrown around and gobsmacked to the point at which it is amusing and stangely addicting due to it's uniqueness. There is a lot of excellent voice-work, but the music and sound effects are just on-par. Hiding in a locker, or cardboard box or even under a plane while a guard walks on by would trigger a 'heartbeat' sound effect which lifts up that tension tremendously. Getting spotted will make an unrealistic, loud 'alarm' sound effect but it's emotionally well-suited in triggering a sense of panic. The music will hasten or slow down according to the enemies' alert level. This point also brings in another point which this game excels in - A.I.
The AI of a stealth game is pretty much the Alpha and Omega of a solid game (no pun intended). Guards will alert by radio of enemy presence and a team of guards will come to that section of the map. They'd scout out the area and so you should quickly escape the area or incapacitate the guard/radio before it's too late. If you do manage to take out the guard before he finishes his cry of alarm, you can hear the person on the reciever-end become suspicious and then send out a low-level alert. Running across 'loud-floors' will alert a guard of another's presence. Shooting a loud weapon without a silencer would cause the same effect. One flaw to the AI however, is the vision of these guards. You can see enemies' field of vision on your map/radar which is both short and narrow; all too easily can you be standing a distance from a guard face-to-face without being caught.
The pace of the game is pretty much spot on if you find the cutscenes engrossing. Actual gameplay is short and if you were to play this game a second time while knowing fully what to do (and skipping the cutscenes), you can easily complete it in a few hours. The first few hours would most likely have you scratching your heads on the controls, 'special moves', and general progress on the game. If you manage to beat the Tanker episode, you'll fully enjoy the Plant episode after what you have learnt thus far - and it is then in which the game actually starts 'becoming a game'. Bosses are excellently unique and are portrayed in such a way that would leave you in awe; there will be times when you feel hopeless against them. Gaining objectives such as disarming bombs, getting to locations in time, escorting through water, singling out and contacting a specific hostage without detection, and protecting someone with a sniper as she makes her way to safety are all definitely fun and breaks up the pure 3rd person stealth action. The game also throws you some decent weaponry such as automatics, snipers, rockets, grenades, and even a samurai sword! all of which come in handy at specific parts of the game (actually some are essential to progress).
System-specifics aside, this game is masterfully crafted. The plot is well presented, the characters are individual characters that play their part well. Controls will feel a little loose at first although they can be learnt with practice. The game is very unique, pacing is strong, the sense of achievement at the end is worthwhile and you are rewarded with a very good ending. Did i mention unlockable items such as the bandana and cloaking device - yes, you can have unlimited ammo or be invisible! If you could choose between which versions of this game to pick up - first and foremost, get the original PS2 version. If you don't have a PS2 (who doesn't!?), get the PC version, the porting issues are apparent but they can be overcome with some effort - effort that is actually worthwhile. There is an Xbox version, but i don't know much of it so i wouldn't comment. The PC version does have 'Snake Tales'(story mode for snake on Plant episode), and many VR missions. I've heard, other versions of the game don't have it - so that's a nice addition. Awesome game, at least try to get into it - if you can't, that's too bad because this game is one those that have to be played by gamers all over.