Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

"Metal Gear at its finest"

X-Box owners have a reason to be happy. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has arrived on the X-Box. Not content to merely port over just the existing game, which was quite possibly the greatest game released for the PS2 last year, Konami went ahead and added some extras to give X-Box owners something to get even more excited about. MGS2 was an event for gamers all over last year. So how does it fair a year later, with games sporting better graphics and technology? Read on...

GRAPHICS: 9/10. This is easily one of the best looking games I've seen this side of Halo. The character models look great, the cinematics are excellent, backgrounds are beautiful...this game looks amazing. This is still probably the best looking game on the PS2 and it's no small wonder. Konami pulled out every last stop to make this game look the best it possibly could.

However, what was done to make things look good on the PS2 (namely rain and smoke effects) doesn't work so well on the X-Box. Slowdown occurs during the outside environments on the tanker and during large explosive scenes (like when the harrier jet launches its missiles at you). It's not a sloppy port job or bad programming. What it is is the way the effects were programmed. These effects were programmed a certain way to take advantages of certain parts of the PS2 hardware. Translated to the X-Box, it doesn't work out so well due to the differences in the nature of the hardware. Konami could have done something, this is true, but it probably would have required entire chunks of code being rewritten. Not an easy task. Otherwise, this is a gorgeous game that conveys a lot graphically. The movie quality cinema only enhances the experience.

GAMEPLAY : 10/10. How does one improve upon the gameplay of the original Metal Gear Solid? By taking everything that was good about the game and adding so much more than you could ever bargain for. The original MGS gave you a freedom to approach certain objectives anyway you chose and MGS2 offers the same options in this one. Mainly gameplay elements remain similar from the first but more have been added. The First Person View is a nice addition for getting a look around your surroundings as well as for precision shooting enemies. The enemy AI is much smarter than in the first one as well. They wake up those you knock out, call in reinforcements if they find one of their own dead, and will hunt you down if spotted.

The control for this version of the game works quite well. You have four different schemes to choose from, and each works quite well with the X-Box controller (The default setting worked out quite well for me. The game controlled like a breeze). Being able to easily hold up soldiers and snag their dog tags, fire off rockets with easy and go slice and dice with a Katana (later in the game) are a breeze.

STORY: 10/10. I was going to score this lower, but after reviewing the ending a bit more and finding some supplemental information, I really liked the story in this one. Easily one of the most cinematic game experiences I've ever played, MGS2 has a killer story to go with it. Plot twists are wonderfully done, cinemas drive the story home and superb voice acting emphasizes just how good this game is. Strong character development (especially that of Raiden) is a big factor in this story, and even though you don't play as him all the time, you still learn more about Snake. If the buildup to the final battle leaves you feeling used and quite angry at this game, don't fret, you're supposed to feel that way. A lot of great concepts are going on, they're just not always executed that well (namely during the end). All in all, it's fabulous. I'm really looking forward to a part 3.

EXTRAS: 350 VR missions, 150 alternate missions, 5 Snakes tales, dog-tags galore to collect, new items found each time you beat the game, a casting theatre, a photo gallery...good lord this game gives you a lot to work with. Needless to say, even after you beat the main game, you'll be back for more.

OVERALL: 10/10. So the graphics didn't make a huge leap from PS2 to XBox. From my standpoint, the game still looks phenomenal. And the framerate was a problem in some areas. And the plot is a bit convoluted at times. Really though, those don't detract from this game being as stellar as it is. MGS2:Substance is an excellent port and addition to the Metal Gear family. If you haven't played MGS2 for the PS2 and you don't own a PS2, then this is a worthy investment. If you have played MGS2 for the PS2, but are looking for more stuff to do (some VR missions?) and another trip through Sons of Liberty, then by all means pick this up. Just don't expect the main game to be completely different. All in all, the wait was worth it. Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance lives up to the legacy of the Metal Gear games.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/02, Updated 11/21/02