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This MOVIE was bad... oops, I mean this video game was bad

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: November 22, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Before I bought this game I checked here and saw the game had 5 stars, so I bought it. I played it and it was boring, more of a movie than a game. So I checked back here to see what reviewers actually had to say (which I should have done the first time) and saw that just about every review was from someone who gave 5 stars after only playing the demo, and even a few from people saying that they "heard it is going to be amazing"; how can you review a game with out playing it? So the 4.5 star rating this game has now would more likely be around a 3 - 3.5 if you only count the reviews that were posted by people who actually played the game.

There are two points of interest i'd like to write about:

1. The movie-sequences, if timed, would last longer than the time it takes to actually PLAY the game. I did beat the game, and several times I would find myself bored and frustrated that I had to sit and watch video clips that had NO value to the story line.
The worst part of this is that two of these clips last nearly an entire hour each. I am not kidding. Think about when you sit down and are ready to have some fun playing a game and instead you play for five minutes, watch a 10 min video sequence, play for 15 min, watch a 45 minute video sequence, etc. It gets very frustrating, especially when it has no game value, like when Raiden saves his game over the codec, he chats with Rose about their relationship and pointless things like that, this while your supposed to be in combat?

2. I would have given this game no stars if it weren't for the excellent graphics and exciting game play (what little of it there is). The game should be longer, though.

My advice is to rent this game over a weekend, because the actual game play is enjoyable, but beware that it's more movie than game.

Previewed Metal Gear Demo

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 28
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I haven't played the actual game yet, but from playing the demo I was very impressed with the level of detail involved with animations and actions. I noticed Konami payed attention to small details such as background damage and rain effects. When developers pay that much attention to small details, I can expect just as much detail in other areas. If you haven't played Metal Gear Solid, give it a try.

Shut up already!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 13
Date: April 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Everyone raves that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Uhmm, no. This game has great gameplay, but gameplay is only part of the game. The rest is dominated by a horrible movie. When I first popped it in, I was all excited. Trudging through the fake weapons, the plot of characters I could care so little, the tired excuses to show artwork, just zapped all that. The first two hours literally consists of 15 minutes of play. No joke or exaggeration. Of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many long drawn out interruptions that it ruined the rhythm of what would have been a good, though not great game.

During the few interludes where you can actually play, you get to see a good game. Even though I wish the movements and game was faster, it still combines many elements of platform, adventure, and first person shooter ups. You have to use stealth, accuracy, thought, and quick reflexes to pass this game. The very base of gameplay makes it enjoyable

I do have some troubles with the controls. First off, and this is picky, the X button should never, ever, be the abort button when it comes to the front end! Every other game on earth uses it as the enter button to navigate menus, but not this game. There are so many times where I was about to save it, only to be aborted for pressing X. Also, swimming controls are just plain backwards and clumsy. I struggled through the swimming scenes purely because of this. Also, there are other things, like you'd be walking, and all of sudden you'd be flat against a wall just because you turned away from the wall.

The general feel I got from the game was that all the effort was made to make it a movie, and then add the game as a side note. There are only two parts, a ship, and a large complex. The ship takes only an hour to finish, and the complex consists of about 10 structures that are pretty much similar. That's it. No complex environment, no contrasting views. Basically, 80 percent of the game play takes place in gray metal rooms.

Pros:
Great gameplay
Combines action, stealth, and puzzles

Cons:
Awkward controls (x button, swimming)
Too many movies
You will yell "Shut up" many times at your TV
Lack of variation in environments

Time: 12 hours

Frustration: High (mostly from the interruptions)

Quit whining about the story

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: December 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First of all I'd like to say that this is the best game i've ever played, period, and I've been playing for well over ten years now. Everything about it fits together perfectly. The graphics are absloutely mindblowing, the controls feel natural after five seconds of practice, and the story, although a little convoluted, isn't hard to follow if you don't eat Doritos during the cutscenes. (You shouldn't do that anyway. You have no idea what cheese powder does to buttons.)
While reading through some of the earlier reviews of MGS 2, I came across one which says that there's only 4 hours of gameplay, and the rest is cutscenes. This is BS. There's easily over 10 hours of actual gameplay, with no backtracking, not even counting the cutscenes. He was probably playing on very easy. The reason for all the cinematography is because the creators of the game wanted it to feel more like an interactive movie that a simple game. And a twenty+ hour interactive movie is alright by me.

This particular reviewer also likes to complain about the "twisted" story. He says it's too Japanese, and not Amercan enough. News Flash: The game was made in Japan! They're not going to change the whole plot of the game to make it more appealing to Americans. I happen to live in Japan right now as part of a military transfer, and I can honestly tell you that the plot twists in MGS 2 are really tame compared to stuff you find anywhere else. The Japanese happen to like a lesson in morality once in a while.

Is it a movie? Is it a game? Who cares!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: February 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Metal Gear Solid 2 is the most hyped game ever, with hype comes responsibility. They actaully have to live up to the hype it is getting. Well Hideo Kojima, you hyped up gamers pretty well and all I can say is that Mr. Kojima's baby lived up to the Hype. MGS2 is an excellent package, great story, realistic and humorous gameplay, breath taking sequences, and jawdropping visuals. It has flaws though, since the story is so good and so complex, many cut scenes are required and shown. In fact, half of this 14 hour game is based on watching cut scenes. Nevertheless when you actually play the game, it plays like a dream. The enemy AI is improved a whole bunch, they can do more and alert their comrades. This game gives so muh realsim that you can almost do anything in this game. MGS2's music is also solid and same goes with the voice acting, although neither are as great as the original. In fact, MGS1 still excels better in characters, music, voice acting, and ending. Overall a great package and a true game to get.

Breakdown

Story/Plot- 5/5- although it got too wierd in the last parts, with all the twists in the game, it is still very original and shocking. Makes you want a sequel.

Visuals- 5/5- WOW!!! so much animation and movments in the game. THe special effects look great and feels like a movie.

Audio- 4/5- Music and voices not as good as MGS1. The music is very involving but not all that memorable. Voices could have been better at most parts, even David Hayter(Snake) sis not sound as great as the original.

Gameplay- 5/5- Yes! The super long cut scenes may overshadow actual playing time, but man when you start playin you will love it.

Replay Value- 4/5- Still wanna play it again, but not that much onl to find what I missed.

A spoiler-free review

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Sometimes I get stunned at how much people take for granted. Just by looking over these public reviews on Amazon, and cruising through some other message boards, I am shocked by the utter lack of appreciation for this terrific game. Let me explain.

I have seen people that think this game's storyline is weak, and not as good as the first one. Yeah, _right_. The reason they didn't like the storyline was either because they rushed through the game like a dolt, or it all went right over their head. The story in this game is so incredibly twisted and complex, I don't think I'll ever have a full and complete understanding of what transpired... But it grips you. Things turn out to be completely backwards, upside-down and inside-out all at once, and all you can do is sit there and ogle at how a human mind could produce such a brilliant plot. If I'm making it sound like one of those movies where you ask yourself, "What just happened?", then I apologize; This storyline is very comprehendable, but there is a TON of stuff under the tip of the iceberg. I hope that makes sense... and if it doesn't, play the game and you'll understand.

I have seen people that think this game is too short. Well let's see here, we waited 3 years for this sequel and it arrived with an unfathomable level of detail... With arguably the best graphics ever seen on a console system... The plotline of a twisted madman... The most intense 15 hours you'll ever spend in front of your Television, and you're expecting more? What do you want, some cheesy RPG that draws the story out so much that you just don't care anymore? Heck no, you want THIS, a game that grabs your mind, your thoughts, your actions until the very end (And even after...).

I could go off on a tangent about the level of detail alone... Shoot a bag of flour and your character starts sneezing. Stay too long in the cold temperatures, and you get the flu. Shoot a bucket of ice and watch the spilled ice cubes melt all over the counter. Lay a "gentlemen's magazine" on the floor and distract the guards. Shoot a guard's radio out and he'll have no way to call for backup when you strangle him from behind. I could go on and on! All these little things come together and make you really wonder how you ever played games before.

The only part of this game I didn't intially like was the First-Person View that you use _A LOT_. At first I thought it was pretty awkward, but once you really get into it, and get used to how it works, you'll be very thankful for it. (A little gaming tip: Pressing L1 in First-Person Mode will lock onto the nearest target. Hold it down and you'll follow the target with your weapon. This is a lifesaver in some places =)

It's hard to say that everyone will like this game, because obviously, everyone won't. There are some people who don't like games that make you think... They don't like games that require a lot of reading or story-telling... They don't like games that aren't Quake. This is not a game for these people. To each his own, I suppose... But needless to say, the people that don't play through this game at least once will be missing out on one of the greatest experiences that modern technology has to offer.

Unfortunately terrible

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I don't know what more to say.

Okay, maybe I do:

This game is horrible. HOWEVER - you don't realize how horrible it is until you finish it. Then you look back and realize that all the muck you just sat/played through wasn't worth the egregiously ambiguous ending.

Now, about "Raiden." Maybe I wouldn't have been so angry had I expected him to take over most of the game. But I didn't. I had no idea Raiden EXISTED until I had the game in my hands. (he's in the instruction manual. not even on the back of the box! and he's the star of the game!!)

It might've been cool if you got to play as Raiden for a shorter portion of the game, and then back to Snake, but no. Snake is just the prologue. The next 85% of the game features Raiden, with Snake as a supporting character.

The Codec discussions are WAY too long and repetetive, the Raiden/Rose subplot is nothing short of torturous (in a nutshell: she's a drama queen and he's a sap). I don't have as much of a problem with the cut scenes as others do. Not until the end. THE LAST HOUR OF THIS GAME WILL BE THE MOST CONFUSING, ANNOYING, FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE. Not because it's hard. The gameplay is fairly easy, and easily the most enjoyable part of the game. What goes wrong is with the story. It's very bizarre, to say the least. I guarantee you will not understand it, because it's one of those things that even the writer himself had to study YEARS for before knowing what HE'S talking about. Why he had to force his philosophical (arguably anti-american) views on people who just want to play a VIDEO GAME is beyond me.

At least give us the pleasure of being Snake for it. Is it too much to ask to play as Mario in the Super Mario games? Why was Snake cast aside for this game?? Why?!?!

The gameplay is AWESOME, but the storyline is TERRIBLE. Raiden is TERRIBLE when played for too long. I will never buy a Metal Gear game again unless Snake is guaranteed as a starring role.

Feh!

MGS2 lives up to all the hype and more!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Metal Gear Solid 2 is undeniably one of the best games the PS2 has to offer. Its one of those games that, aside from completely absorbing you, takes your console and proves exactly how much its truly capable of.

The story starts off a little while after the whole Shadow Moses incident in MGS1. You're back, once again, as Solid Snake undertaking just another typical mission involving Metal Gear, or so it would seem. Once you play long enough though, you'll quickly realize that this isn't just going to be a walk in the park. Also, say hello to a new hero, Raiden. You'll spend a larger portion of the game playing as him. I won't spoil any of the storyline, but I must say that anyone who accuses this game of having a weak, or simply too complex story to follow, just isn't worth your time paying any attention to. The whole thing is really in depth and makes you wonder just what really goes on with the government and the military.

Most of what you'll learn in the game takes place in cinema cutscenes and nanocommunication conversations that come up in the game quite frequently at times. But is that really so bad? The voice acting is extremely well done and the graphics throughout the entire game are enough to elicit your patience to sit back and enjoy what many gamers have been craving for YEARS. This is also where you watch your characters develop and express themselves in an array of different emotions that make you love and hate them. The music fits in perfectly wherever its being played. The intro is one of the best examples.

Don't worry, the whole thing isn't just one big movie. I'd say that about half or 2/3rds of the game IS dedicated to solid game play(The whole game will last you for about 20-25 hours. It just depends on your style of game play. You also have the option of skipping the cutscenes . . . but that just might ruin it if its your first time playing). The controls are easy to catch on to and you may or may not like the camera angles at first, but even that will quickly grow on you.

Lets talk about some of the stuff you get to do here. Your strategy options can range from sneaking around every enemy and never being spotted OR being the Bast**d you are and stalking behind them and snapping their necks or simply shooting them. The blood's real and so are the sounds of your victims gasping for their last breath. Some of your weapons include handguns, sniper riffles, AKs, mines, rocket launchers and even a sword! The enemy AI is also realistic. If you plan on killing everyone in sight, make sure you have a good place to hide them such as a locker or overboard. Remember, this isn't a James Bond game where your impulsive actions won't have consequences. If you fire your gun in certain places, make sure you hit your target. If not, be prepared to fight off (Or run/hide from) Search and Destroy units that will quickly follow the alarms once you've been spotted. These enemies are pretty smart and you'll be amazed at where they'll look for you(Inside vents, underneath boxes or over the railing. This won't render things impossible, just challenging). Walk in front of the wrong light or move too loudly, and you're gonna see some deadly action here too. These are just some examples to give you an idea of the many challenges you'll need to overcome with your wits and brains . . . or not. One of the best things is also, at a certain point, being able to fight alongside Snake as you fight your way through a horde of enemies!

There really aren't any serious prerequisites for playing this game. Like innovative characters and an awesome storyline? Perfect. Don't usually like that? Check this one out anyways. You might be surprised. You enjoy the art of stealth or outright killing or something in between that? Get this. Most importantly, are you simply looking for a game that you can sit down and enjoy for just a quick five minutes or five hours and still have the some of the best game play you've experienced in a long time? Yes? Then this one's for you. Trust me. Ignore the random criticism and get a game that you can simply have some fun playing and watching. What I've said is just a preview of the real thing. You'll be far more intrigued once you've finally seen it for yourself.

Overall, I give this game a 10 out of 10 in every category.
SOLID!

MGS2 -- A parting thought

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: November 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I've heard comments about the sheer silliness of having serious emotional reactions to MGS2 (or any video game, for that matter). And, to a degree, I concede that it's a valid point. After all, there are much more important things to be concerned about these days. Indeed, the question of whether or not MGS2 lives up to its hype seems inconsequential when compared to the real threat of terrorism, bio-warfare, AIDS, cancer, hunger, homelessness, and the rising cost of health care.

And yet ... and yet I feel compelled to speak emotionally about MGS2. Sure, it's JUST a video game. But you know what? It's a video game that I (and many people) have been waiting to play for nearly three years. Think about that. THREE years. That ain't chump change, bub. That's a significant chunk of a human being's life. And so if there are a few of us out there who are just a little disappointed in Hideo Kojima, I think we deserve to give vent to our displeasure.

I should state from the outset that I have no beef with the technical aspects of MGS2. Graphics, sound, particle effects, texturing -- all of it is infused with a kind of mad genius.

Alas, I cannot say the same for the story ... nor for the characters Kojima chose to populate that story with. All the marketing and advertising surrounding MGS2 for nearly a year-and-a-half has lead fans of METAL GEAR to one unmistakable conclusion: that SOLID SNAKE was the central character. The previews; the literary features; the movie trailers; the nonstop talk about the history of SNAKE's past; the toys, posters, and t-shirts; hell, even the box art of the game itself. All of it spelled one thing: SOLID SNAKE.

And then the game finally came out. And ... POOF! ... Snake is in it for about a half-hour. Forty-five minutes tops. Sorry, folks. I don't buy it. In fact, I think it stinks. In his desperate -- borderline maniacal -- attempt to fashion an in-depth story, Mr. Kojima apparently lost sight of what he was originally trying to say. And he obviously lost sight of his main character. This game is such a colossal let down. There was SO much Kojima could have done with SNAKE; but instead, in his effort to keep people guessing, he wound up injecting the METAL GEAR universe with a lead character that had absolutely no business being there. If Kojima had reversed his ridiculous formula, and introduced RAIDEN as a supporting character, perhaps the game's story could have worked better. As it stands, it is a failure.

To those of you who think MGS2 is excellent, I envy you. I envy you because when you pick up that controller you feel nothing but joy. I envy you because you don't have to feel the sting of the slap-in-the-face some of us feel we received upon playing this game. I envy you because you won't lay awake at night, wondering about what MGS2 COULD have been, but wasn't. And finally, I envy you because you won't feel that two years of your life have been wasted on waiting for a game that you prayed in your heart of hearts would be the best damned game EVER created.

And so ... life goes on. As it always does. And, yeah, there's really no reason to get all sobby and emotional because a video game didn't live up to your expectations. There are, after all, much more important things happening in the world. And besides, there will always be new video game to get excited about, right.

True. But you know what? In my more imaginative moments, I didn't see MGS and MGS2 as mere video games. And I didn't see SOLID SNAKE as a cluster of polygons. I truly loved the game, and the character, and, in my heart of hearts, I know MGS2 COULD have been the experience of a lifetime.

And that's what hurts the most.

Sincerely,
Ray Giuliano

One of the best gaming experience you will ever have.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: November 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Suffice to say, I have been anticipating the release of Metal Gear Solid 2, MGS2 for short,
for quite sometime now. Such is the life of an avid gamer, always waiting for something. And when I did get it in my grubby hands on that Wednesday afternoon, November 14, 2001, gratification was nearly served. As soon as that precious DVD disc that is MGS2 started playing on my PS2, the experience just started with a big WOW!!! The intro was so professionally done, I had to watch it several times over, further delaying the experience of playing the game itself. And after seeing such a well done movie like intro, my hopes for the rest of the game was pretty high.
Where to start in reviewing an awesome game with such a high production value is tough. Almost every aspect of this game from the gameplay to the story and to the smallest of details in the game environment was all very well done by a group of developers who really shows up to work earning their money and loving it. But, for me, gameplay will always be the main determinant on just how much I love a game. And MGS2 really shines in that department. The movements from MGS have been transferred over to this game, plus some few nifty moves that actually does add some newness to this game if you have already experienced MGS. But the gameplay aspect that really stood out for me in this game is the much more smarter AI. Your enemies in this game are no longer the pushover that they were in MGS. They are a lot more aware of their environment than in the previous game which makes MGS2 much more difficult than its predecessor.
Next up, we have the graphics. I always knew that polygons will someday rival the look of CG images, but I never knew that day will be now. Graphics that could easily be mistaken for a real-life movie at some instances. Before MGS2, Devil May Cry was the game that I think raise the standard for game graphics. Devil May Cry is still prettier than MGS2, but it's not as detailed and life-like than MGS2. And the way Hideo Kojima directed the way this game looks in motion convinces me that the Hollywood action-movie machine has some serious rivals in the form of Japanese game developers.
The story of this particular saga of Solid Snake can also go up against some of Hollywood movie making machine. The writing of this game rivals, if not put to shame, the works of the most highly paid and talented writers of that industry. Such a well though out and intelligent story with so many twist and turns, not giving you any chance to rest your mind, and your emotions. But, the story aspect of this game is also its Achilles' heels. Some of the Codec conversation does tend to get too winded and long for my taste. Character build-up is one things, but having characters converse for three solid minutes in an environment that just scream action is just overkill.
For the most part, MGS2 is a truly spectacular experience. For any problems and criticism I have of the game is so small compared to the positive aspects of it. This game is truly a good argument for gamers and game developers alike to show to the general public that videogames can be and is a work of art. My most sincere gratitude goes to Hideo Kojima and his Konami team for making a such a visceral and though provoking, and fun, lets not forget that it's fun, gaming experience. And was my gratification well served? Even after months of waiting, I am confident to say that it was very well served, and then some.

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