Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty

Despite the lack to play as Snake for an actual FULL game, this is a pretty awesome game. You get to use Snake in one chapter(which is incredibly short and can be completed in around an hour or two, maybe even less), the Tanker chapter, where you get to use a camera to take pictures of Metal Gear. There are a lot of crazy things that happen, but you'll have to play to find out; I won't ruin anything in this.

After the Tanker chapter, you begin the Plant chapter, where you play as a different Snake, who's codename is changed to "Raiden." Raiden himself has some pretty crazy acrobatic moves, such as his cartwheel and his way of fighting.

Gameplay has taken a big step forward. Many things have been improved, and new controls have been added. You can now look in first-person mode AND use a weapon too! Something I've been waiting for after playing the first MGS.
Also, now when you rest against walls, you can scurry to the end of the wall and look to the side to check for any enemies in the vicinity.

Not only that, but by holding the Weapon button, you can perform a Jumpout Shot, which can be used for great tactical advances. There are new weapons that you can acquire, from a tranquilizer gun, to a grenade launcher, as well as a sword near the end of the game. You can also sneak up behind enemy soldiers and perform a hold-up, when they'll be completely defenseless. After performing a hold-up, you can actually walk in front of them and they won't call backup unless you unequip your gun.

By going into first-person mode and aiming your gun for their head(or crotch), you can get them to drop items. Some soldiers will have dog tags, which you can use to get special items after acquiring a certain amount. Also added is a new health style. When your health gets low enough, the bar will turn red and you'll start to bleed. Bloodstains left behind are just like footprints; enemies will track them. Also, as you bleed, your health will start going down. You can stop bleeding by crouching until your health goes back to normal.

The story takes place two years after Shadow Moses(MGS) in the Tanker chapter, and four years in the Plant chapter. The story is full of plot twists that create a large amount of drama. MGS2 is pretty close to watching an actual movie at the theater, only you control it. The cutscenes are pretty awesome to look at, and you get to learn more about basically, every character you encounter.

The graphics are a huge step forward from Metal Gear Solid for the PSX, which was full of graphical errors and blocky shapes.

The characters have actual facial expressions, the CODEC is re-done to be "live-action," in other words, you get to see their actual game faces.

You can also play around with the CODEC, by zooming in to character faces with the right and left analog sticks, move them around, or press R1 and R2 to hear Snake or Raiden say some stuff in their heads, such as "Why don't you do it?" or "You make no sense!" The guns have more detail in them and the drop-down menus are altered.

Overall, this is a great game. I'd give it 5 stars, but the lack of full Snake-gameplay is a bit of a bother, and it's still missing <i>something.</i>

4 out of 5.

4 star(s) out of 5

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