fbpx
Wikipedia

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

November 23, 2023

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[b] is a 2001 action-adventure stealth video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2. Originally released on November 13, 2001, it is the fourth Metal Gear game produced by Hideo Kojima, the seventh overall game in the series and is a sequel to Metal Gear Solid (1998). An expanded edition, titled Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance,[c] was released the following year for Xbox and Windows in addition to the PlayStation 2. A remastered version of the game, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - HD Edition, was later included in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Vita. The HD Edition of the game was included in the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 compilation for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, which was released on October 24, 2023.[2]

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
North American box art
Developer(s)Konami Computer Entertainment Japan[a]
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Hideo Kojima
Producer(s)Hideo Kojima
Designer(s)Hideo Kojima
Programmer(s)Kazunobu Uehara
Artist(s)Yoji Shinkawa
Writer(s)
  • Hideo Kojima
  • Tomokazu Fukushima
Composer(s)
SeriesMetal Gear
Platform(s)
Release
November 13, 2001
  • PlayStation 2
    • NA: November 13, 2001
    • JP: November 29, 2001
    • EU: March 8, 2002
    Substance
    Xbox
    • NA: November 5, 2002
    • EU: March 7, 2003
    PlayStation 2
    • JP: December 19, 2002
    • NA: March 4, 2003[1]
    • EU: March 28, 2003
    Windows
    • NA: March 27, 2003
    • EU: March 28, 2003
Genre(s)Action-adventure, stealth
Mode(s)Single-player

The story revolves around the Big Shell, a massive offshore clean-up facility seized by a group of terrorists who call themselves the Sons of Liberty. They demand an enormous ransom in exchange for the life of the President of the United States and threaten to destroy the facility and create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their demands are not met. The motives and identities of many of the antagonists and allies change throughout the game, as the protagonists discover a world-shaking conspiracy constructed by a powerful organization known as the Patriots.

Metal Gear Solid 2 received acclaim for its gameplay, graphics, and attention to detail. However, critics were initially divided on the protagonist and the philosophical nature and execution of the game's storyline, which explores themes such as the Information Age, memetics, social engineering, political conspiracies, censorship, artificial intelligence, existentialism, postmodernism, virtual reality, and the internal struggle of freedom of thought. The game was a commercial success, selling seven million copies by 2004. It has since been considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time, as well as a leading example of artistic expression in video games. The game is often considered ahead of its time for dealing with themes and concepts, such as post-truth politics, fake news, alternative facts, synthetic media, and echo chambers, that became culturally relevant in the mid-to-late 2010s.

Gameplay edit

 
Solid Snake takes cover and peeks around a corner in the Tanker chapter.

Metal Gear Solid 2 carries the subtitle of "Tactical Espionage Action," and most of the game involves the protagonist sneaking around to avoid being seen by the enemies. Most fundamental is the broader range of skills offered to the player. The first-person aiming mode allows players to target specific points in the game, greatly expanding tactical options; guards can be blinded by steam, distracted by a flying piece of fruit or hit in weak spots. Players can walk slowly, allowing them to sneak over noisy flooring without making a sound, or hang off walkways to slip past below guards' feet. The corner-press move from Metal Gear Solid, which allowed players a sneak peek around the next bend is expanded to allow players to fire from cover.[3] Other abilities included leaping over and hanging off of railings, opening and hiding in storage lockers, and sneaking up behind enemies to hold them at gunpoint for items and ammunition.[3] Players can shoot out the enemy's radio, so they are unable to communicate with others on their team. The environment also has a more significant impact on the stealth gameplay, taking into account factors such as weather, smell, atmosphere, and temperature.[4]

In Metal Gear Solid 2, the enemy guards are given more advanced AI "to prevent an imbalance of power,"[5] and unlike the original Metal Gear Solid, work in squads. They call on their radios for a strike team upon seeing the player, then attempt to flank him and cut off his escape while avoiding the player's attacks. Often strike teams will carry body armor and riot shields, making them a greater threat. Even if the player escapes to a hiding place, a team will sweep in to check the area. The game has a collective enemy AI,[6] where enemy guards work together in squads, can communicate with one another,[7] and react more realistically towards the player. The game's enemy AI was considered one of the best in gaming for many years.[8]

The game expanded its predecessor's cover mechanic,[9] with Solid Snake or Raiden able to take cover behind walls or objects and pop out to shoot at enemies,[10][11] while the improved enemy AI allowed enemies to also take cover from the player character. The enemies will often take cover to call for backup,[12] but during battle, they will take cover then pop out and shoot at the player or blindly throw grenades from behind their cover.[10][13] The game features a laser sight mechanic, where a laser sight helps assist with manually aiming a gun.[14] Boss battles and set-pieces remain a case of finding a strategy that bypasses the defenses of the enemy. However, in a major break from action game standards, it is also possible to clear the entire game, including boss fights, without causing a single deliberate death, through use of tranquilizer guns, stun grenades, and melee attacks.

Synopsis edit

Setting edit

Sons of Liberty takes place within an alternate history of events, in which the Cold War ended during the late 1990s. The game's story focuses on two narratives that occur around and near New York City  – the first in 2007, two years after the events of Metal Gear Solid; and the second in 2009. The game's plot is the fourth chapter of an overarching plot concerning the character of Solid Snake.

Characters edit

Main article: List of characters in the Metal Gear series

The main protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2 is a young rookie agent named Raiden.[15] He is supported by his commanding officer, the Colonel, and Rosemary,[16] his girlfriend. Allies formed on the mission include Lt. Junior Grade Iroquois Pliskin,[17] a Navy SEAL of mysterious background who provides his knowledge of the facility; Peter Stillman,[18] an NYPD bomb-disposal expert; Otacon,[19] a computer security specialist and friend of Solid Snake; and a cyborg ninja imitating Gray Fox's persona, first calling itself Deepthroat, then changing its name to Mr. X.[20][21]

The antagonists are the Sons of Liberty,[22] a group of terrorists who seize control of the Big Shell environmental cleanup facility, including anti-terrorist training unit gone rogue Dead Cell, and a Russian mercenary force that patrols the facility.[23] The Dead Cell team members are Vamp,[24] a seemingly immortal man exhibiting vampire-like attributes; Fatman,[25] a rotund man with exceptional knowledge of bombs; and Fortune,[26] a woman whose uncontrollable psychic ability prevents any bodily harm from befalling her. The leader of Sons of Liberty claims to be Solid Snake,[27] previously declared dead after a terrorist attack, later revealed to be Solidus Snake, a third clone of the "Les Enfants Terribles" project.[28] Assisting the Sons of Liberty are Olga Gurlukovich, commander of the Russian mercenaries,[29] and Revolver Ocelot,[30] a disenfranchised Russian nationalist and former FOXHOUND agent, Solid Snake's old nemesis, and henchman of Solidus Snake.

Other characters include Emma Emmerich, Otacon's stepsister and a computer whiz-kid;[31] Sergei Gurlukovich, Ocelot's former commanding officer and Olga's father;[32] President James Johnson, held hostage by the Sons of Liberty;[33] and DIA operative Richard Ames.[34] Liquid Snake returns, seemingly by possessing the body of Ocelot through a transplanted hand.[35] The game also features cameos by Mei Ling, the communications expert who aided Snake in the first game,[36] and Johnny Sasaki, the luckless soldier with chronic digestive problems.

Plot edit

In 2007, Solid Snake infiltrates a tanker carrying a new Metal Gear model, RAY. The tanker is attacked by Russian mercenaries, led by Colonel Gurlukovich, his daughter Olga, and Ocelot. Ocelot betrays his allies and scuttles the ship. Upon seeing Snake, Ocelot is possessed by the will of Liquid Snake and escapes with RAY.

Two years later, an environmental clean-up facility called the Big Shell has been erected to clear up the oil spill. During a tour by US President James Johnson, the Sons of Liberty raid the facility, take Johnson hostage, and threaten to destroy it. FOXHOUND's Raiden is ordered by the Colonel to rescue the hostages and disarm the terrorists. The surviving members of a responding Navy SEAL team, Iroquois Pliskin and Peter Stillman, help Raiden disable explosives planted by Fatman. A timed bomb goes off, killing Stillman. Raiden kills Fatman and encounters a mysterious cyborg ninja. Raiden and Pliskin arrange to transport hostages via helicopter, but are confronted by Dead Cell's leader identifying as Solid Snake, flying a Harrier. Raiden shoots down the Harrier, but "Solid Snake" escapes with the stolen Metal Gear RAY. Pliskin reveals he is the real Solid Snake and, along with Otacon, helps locate Johnson.

Johnson reveals to Raiden the United States' democratic process is a sham staged by an organization called "the Patriots", who secretly rule the country. Furthermore, the Big Shell is a facade to hide Arsenal Gear, a submersible mobile fortress that houses an AI called "GW". He explains the leader of Dead Cell is his predecessor George Sears, a clone of Big Boss known as Solidus Snake, who plans to seize Arsenal and overthrow the Patriots. Ocelot then kills Johnson.

Raiden rescues computer programmer Emma Emmerich, step-sister of Otacon, who plans to upload a virus into GW to disable Arsenal. Vamp stabs Emma, before being shot by Raiden. Emma uploads the virus, but dies from her injury as the virus is cut off prematurely. Otacon leaves to rescue the hostages while Raiden is captured by the ninja, revealed to be Olga, when Snake seemingly betrays him. Big Shell collapses as Arsenal departs.

Raiden awakens on Arsenal before Solidus who reveals he had killed Raiden's parents and raised him as a child soldier during the Liberian civil war. Solidus leaves and Olga frees Raiden, explaining she is a Patriot double-agent forced to aid Raiden in exchange for her child's safety. After the Colonel begins acting erratically, Raiden discovers he is a construct of GW, damaged by the virus. Rose tells Raiden she had been ordered by the Patriots to become his lover and spy on him, and that she is pregnant with his child. Raiden finds Snake, who had helped Olga capture Raiden, so they could gain entry to Arsenal. Fortune battles Snake, while Raiden is forced into battle with AI-controlled Metal Gear RAYs. The virus causes the RAYs to malfunction, and Olga sacrifices herself to save Raiden from Solidus.

Snake and Raiden are captured, and taken to the top of Arsenal by Solidus, Fortune, and Ocelot. Ocelot reveals himself to be a Patriot agent and that the entire affair was orchestrated by the Patriots to artificially replicate a soldier (Raiden) on par with Solid Snake, titled the S3 Plan. Ocelot kills Fortune before being possessed again by Liquid Snake. Liquid explains that Ocelot's severed right arm was replaced with his own, and plans to hunt down the Patriots using his host's knowledge and the stolen RAY. Snake pursues Liquid, as Arsenal loses control.

Arsenal crashes into Manhattan. Raiden is contacted by an AI impersonating the Colonel and Rose. It states that GW was the only AI destroyed, and that the S3 Plan's real purpose is to control human thought to prevent society's regression in the digital era from trivial information drowning knowledge and truth. They order Raiden to eliminate Solidus; refusal will result in the deaths of Olga's child and Rose. After Raiden defeats Solidus, Snake appears after tracking Liquid's RAY. Snake and Otacon plan to rescue Olga's child, and locate the Patriots, whose details were hidden in the GW virus disc. Raiden is reunited with the real Rose.

In the epilogue, having decoded the disc, Otacon and Snake find it contains data on all twelve members of the Patriots' highest council, the Wiseman's Committee. However, the members have allegedly been dead for 100 years.

Themes and analysis edit

"In the current, digitized world, trivial information is accumulating every second, preserved in all its triteness. Never fading, always accessible. Rumors about petty issues, misinterpretations, slander. All this junk data preserved in an unfiltered state, growing at an alarming rate. It will only slow down social progress, reduce the rate of evolution. The digital society furthers human flaws, and selectively rewards development of convenient half-truths."
"Everyone withdraws into their own small gated community, afraid of a larger forum. They stay inside their little ponds, leaking whatever "truth" suits them into the growing cesspool of society at large. The different cardinal truths neither clash nor mesh. No one is invalidated, but nobody is right. Not even natural selection can take place here. The world is being engulfed in "truth." And this is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper."

Colonel and Rose,
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[37][38]

Metal Gear Solid 2 is often considered the first example of a postmodern video game[39][40][41] and has often been cited as a primary example of artistic expression in video games.[39][42][41][43] The storyline explored many social, philosophical and cyberpunk themes in significant detail, including meme theory, social engineering, sociology, artificial intelligence, information control, fifth-generation warfare, conspiracy theories, political and military maneuvering, evolution, existentialism, censorship, the nature of reality,[39][42][44][45][46][47] the Information Age,[48] virtual reality,[49][50] child exploitation,[51] taboos such as incest,[52] sexual orientation,[53] and the moral dilemma between security and personal liberty.[54] Since its release, the game's themes have been studied and analyzed by numerous writers, journalists, and academics. MGS2, along with its predecessor, has been featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's exhibition, The Art of Video Games, in 2012.[55]

In his paper How Videogames Express Ideas, Matthew Weise of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described Sons of Liberty as "perhaps the most vivid example of a game that uses tension between different levels of player agency to fuel a multi-faceted ideological argument," noting Solidus Snake's suggestion of the United States being a "totalitarian regime of thought control" and pointing to the "very meta concept" of "how the designer’s imposed plan or path for the player maps to the tyrannical nature of the government," where, "like the player, Jack has no agency other than what his puppet masters give him."[42] In the book Joystick Soldiers: The Politics of Play in Military Video Games, Tanner Higgin examined the game's "resistant and subversive counter-history of military engagement," describing its "convoluted narrative and unconventional gameplay logics" as a "critique" of "the very networks of biopolitical and informational control that comprise the postmodern military, and posthumanity generally," and noting that it "purposefully manufactures frustration and negative affect" to "highlight the typically unexamined codes, conventions, and hidden pleasures of the military game genre."[56]

Steven Poole commented in a 2012 Edge column, "the story of MGS2, with its mythic wit and sweep, is still in a different league from the vast majority of videogame yarns. ... [H]owever, the fact that MGS2 still seems so avant-garde today might well prompt a worry: does it represent the pinnacle of a now-vanished era, the age of the experimental mainstream? This was, after all, a big-budget commercial boxed product that gleefully took risks and subverted genre conventions at every turn. Modern blockbuster games play it painfully safe by comparison."[57] Gamasutra notes that the game deals with issues concerning the Information Age,[48] and has compared the game's themes to the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.[58] The existential themes of the game align with the political philosophy and theses of Isaiah Berlin and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, focusing on the struggle between freedom and equality, and Berlin's concept of the "pursuit of the ideal", as the player's internal conflict of ideals are one of the main driving forces of the plot.

The game is considered to be ahead of its time for dealing with themes and concepts that later became culturally relevant in the 2010s.[59][60] The game has been described as "profound,"[61][62] particularly the final dialogue scene between Raiden and the AI posing as the Colonel and Rose.[61] In 2011, Dugan Patrick of Gamasutra drew comparisons to social media and social gaming, and found that the game predicted elements of Facebook, such as allowing "people to intentionally censor their own experience within the self-curated walls of Facebook."[58] In 2016, Alex Wiltshire of Glixel found the game to be "strangely prescient of not only its own time but also today," noting how it dodged "truth at every turn" and comparing it to post-truth politics, Facebook's curated News Feed, and the 2016 United States presidential election.[60] Further comparisons have been drawn to concepts that became mainstream during the 2010s, such as fake news, echo chambers, and alternative facts.[38][59][63][64] According to Cameron Kunzelman of Vice, Metal Gear Solid 2 is still politically relevant in 2017.[65] In March 2018, GamesRadar drew comparisons to recent political events including the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal and the investigations involving Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[37]

In 2018, Adrian Mróz published a paper in the academic journal Kultura i Historia, where the "idea of Selection for Societal Sanity" from the game is "applied into a philosophical framework based on select concepts from Bernard Stiegler's writing and incorporating them with current events such as post-truth or fake news in order to explore the role of techne and filtration within social organizations and individual psyches." He notes that, despite being released in an era of neoliberal dominance, the game's themes resonate with current affairs in the late 2010s, such as post-truth, the collapse of political correctness, cognitive dissonance, and "the problem of filtering within a society flooded by information."[64] IGN said its "fourth-wall-obliterating final act posed a number of terrifying questions about the overload of data in the information age, and how technology has led to an increasingly shaky definition" of "reality," and has drawn comparisons to deep fakes, machine learning, and information warfare.[66]

Development edit

The creator Hideo Kojima's original design document for the game was completed in January 1999. The Japanese document was published by Konami in 2002, and translated into English in 2006.[67][68] It mentioned that the game was originally going to be called Metal Gear Solid III to symbolize Manhattan's three tallest skyscrapers."[67] The document outlines new game mechanics and features, such as bodies that need to be hidden, enemies being able to detect shadows, lights in an area that can be destroyed to affect enemy vision, realistic enemy AI that relies on squad tactics rather than working individually, and multi-level environments that add an element of "vertical tension" to the stealth gameplay. It also outlines themes, such as passing on memories, environmental issues, and particularly social themes regarding the "digitization of the military," digital simulations, the "digitization of operational planning," the "digitization of everyday life," and the "effects of digitization on personality." The document stated that the "aim of the story" involves "a series of betrayals and sudden reversals, to the point where the player is unable to tell fact from fiction" (departing from the "very clear and understandable story" of its predecessor), that "every character lies to (betrays) someone once," blurring the line between "what is real, and what is fantasy," and "ironies aimed at the digital society and gaming culture."[68]

The game's production budget was $10 million, similar to the budget of a Japanese Godzilla film.[69] Kojima states that when he "heard about the hardware for the PlayStation 2," he "wanted to try something new. Up to that point, all cutscenes had focused more on details like facial expressions, but I wanted to pay more attention to the surroundings, to see how much I could change them in real time."[70] The game was in development for four years and over 100 people worked on the game.[71]

Protagonist switch edit

For Metal Gear Solid 2, the established protagonist of Solid Snake was only made playable for the prologue portion of the game. A new protagonist named Raiden would substitute him as the player character for the main portion. The decision to introduce a new protagonist came from the idea of portraying Solid Snake from another character's perspective, but also to get around the dilemma of having to write gameplay tutorials directed at Snake, as Kojima felt that having to explain mission procedures and weapon handling to a veteran soldier like Snake would have felt unnatural after three mainline titles. Raiden was also deliberately designed to appeal to female players after the team overheard a pair of female debuggers remark that the more middle-aged protagonist of the original Metal Gear Solid was not appealing to them.[69] Raiden's presence in the game was kept a secret before release, with preview trailers showing Snake in situations and battles that occurred to Raiden in the published game, such as a battle against a Harrier on George Washington Bridge and an encounter with the new Cyborg Ninja inside the tanker.

Plot changes edit

According to Kojima in the documentary Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1, the original plot of the game revolved around nuclear weapon inspections in Iraq and Iran and had Solid Snake trying to stop the Metal Gear while it was located on an aircraft carrier, in a certain time limit, while trying to stop Liquid Snake and his group. However, about six months into the project, the political situation in the Middle East became a concern, and they decided that they could not make a game with such a plot. The tanker in the released game is based on this original plot.

MGS2 was also intended to reference the novel City of Glass, notably in the naming of its characters.[72] Raiden's support team originally featured a different field commander named Colonel Daniel Quinn; Maxine "Max" Work, an Asian woman who saves game data and quotes Shakespeare, and William "Doc" Wilson, the creator of GW. All take their names from key characters in the book, and all three would have turned out to be AIs. None of these characters survived to the final edition, their roles being absorbed by other characters, namely the "Colonel Campbell" simulation, Rose, and Emma Emmerich. Peter Stillman, however, takes his name from another City of Glass character.[73]

A character named Chinaman, originally planned to be included as a villain, was later on omitted and his abilities incorporated in Vamp, namely the ability to walk on water and walls. Chinaman would have movements modeled after Jet Li and have a body tattoo of a dragon that would come alive as soon as he dove into the water.[74]

Significant changes to the game's ending were made late in development following the September 11 attacks in New York, where the finale occurs. A sequence depicting Arsenal Gear's displacement of the Statue of Liberty and crashing through half of Manhattan was removed, as was a short coda to appear after the credits, a breaking newscast showing the Statue of Liberty's new resting place, Ellis Island. Other deleted scenes included Solidus shreds the New York Stock Exchange flag with his sword during the crash of Arsenal Gear and the fall of this flag over his body after his death, and American flags that were supposed to be on all the flagpoles in New York were removed from the title.[75] The Japanese spelling of the name "Raiden" was changed from katakana (ライデン) to kanji (雷電) due to the former form of the name resembling "Bin Laden" in Japanese.[d][76]

Music edit

See also: Discography of the Metal Gear series
 
TAPPY / Harry Gregson-Williams
"Metal Gear Solid Main Theme"
30-second sample from the main theme of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, composed by TAPPY and Harry Gregson-Williams.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Kojima's choice of composer for Metal Gear Solid 2 was highly publicized in the run-up to the game's release. The original intention was to have film composer Hans Zimmer but his rate was exceptionally high.[77] Kojima decided upon Harry Gregson-Williams, another composer from Zimmer's studio, after watching The Replacement Killers with sound director Kazuki Muraoka. A mix CD containing 18 tracks of Gregson-Williams' work was sent to his office. Flattered by the research put into creating the CD (as some of the tracks were unreleased, and that what tracks he'd worked on for some films were undocumented), he joined the project soon after.[78]

To bypass the language barrier and allow the score to be developed before the cutscenes were finalized, Gregson-Williams was sent short phrases or descriptions of the intended action. The resultant themes then shaped the action sequences in return. Gregson-Williams also arranged and re-orchestrated the original "Metal Gear Solid Main Theme" for use in the game's opening title sequence.

Norihiko Hibino, who had worked on previous Konami games such as Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, was responsible for the in-game music. He also worked on the majority of the game's cutscenes, re-orchestrating Gregson-Williams' "Main Theme" remix for use in several sequences.

As with Metal Gear Solid, the cutscene music includes orchestral and choir pieces, while the in-game soundtrack is scored with ambient music. However, the score as a whole incorporates more electronic elements (particularly breakbeat) than its predecessor, to reflect the plot's thematic thrust of a machine-dominated society. Rika Muranaka again provided a vocal ending theme, a jazz track entitled "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday," sung by Carla White. The game's music was released via four CDs: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Soundtrack 2: The Other Side, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Limited Sorter (Black Edition) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Ultimate Sorter (White Edition).

The game's main theme was chosen by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for their Greatest Video Game Music compilation,[79] and the theme is a key regular in the Video Games Live concert when the Metal Gear Solid segment is introduced.[80] A segment of the song's main chorus is included in the closing sequence of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.[81][82]

Release edit

In contrast to the original Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty was released in North America first, on November 13, 2001. Because of the later release in the region, the protagonist switch was not kept a secret in the Japanese version in the weeks before its release. A preview event was held in Zepp Tokyo on the day of the game's North American release in which the character of Raiden was unveiled to the Japanese public.[83] As a result, the Japanese packaging artwork depicts Raiden standing prominently next to Solid Snake, as opposed to only having Snake like on the cover artwork used for the American (and later European) version. A questionnaire was also added in the Japanese version, in which players are asked about their experience with the original Metal Gear Solid and action games in general; the answers to the questionnaire determines the difficulty level of the game and whether the player starts the game on the Tanker chapter or skips directly to the Plant chapter (an option that is only available after clearing the game once in the American version). The Japanese version has a few other additional features over the American version, including two extra game modes unlocked after completing the main game: Boss Survival, in which the player replays through the boss battles from the main game as either Snake or Raiden, and Casting Theater, in which the player can view certain cutscenes from the main game and replace the character models.

The Japanese version was released on November 29, two weeks after the American version. As with the original Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty was sold in a limited "Premium Package" edition in addition to the standard release, which was packaged in a black box containing the game itself with a reversible cover art on the DVD case (with Snake on one side and Raiden on the other), a video DVD known as the Premium Disc, which features a collection of Metal Gear Solid-related commercials and trailers, a metallic Solid Snake figurine, and an 80-page booklet titled Metal Gear Chronicle featuring artwork and commentary about the series.

The European version, which was initially scheduled for February 22, 2002, was released on March 8, nearly four months after the other regions. The added features from the Japanese release were carried over to the European version, along with a new difficulty setting (European Extreme). The European version came packaged with a video DVD titled The Making of Metal Gear Solid 2. As well as collating all of the game's promotional trailers and a GameSpot feature on the game's final days of development, it features a titular documentary produced by French television production house FunTV, which was filmed at KCE Japan West's Japanese studio. The DVD was included as an apology to European consumers for the several months delay that had occurred since the original November release in North America and Japan, which saw numerous European gaming magazines detail the various twists in the game.

Substance edit

 
A screenshot from one of the training missions in Substance. Snake is dressed in a tuxedo.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the expanded edition of the game, was released on the original Xbox and Windows in addition to the PlayStation 2.[e] The Xbox version was initially released in North America as a timed exclusive for the console on November 5, 2002.[84] This was followed by the PlayStation 2 version, released in Japan on December 19 of the same year. Substance was eventually released on PlayStation 2 and Windows in North America and on all three platforms in Europe in March 2003. The console versions were developed internally by KCE Japan, whereas the Windows port was outsourced to Success.

Substance contains several supplemental game modes in addition to the main story mode from the original Sons of Liberty releases. The main game contains all the changes and additions that were made in the Japanese and European versions of the original release (e.g., Boss Survival, Casting Theater, European Extreme), along with further additional changes. Players can now start the main story mode at the Tanker or Plant chapters without the need to answer a questionnaire first, and a new set of collectible dog tags have been added (exclusively on the PlayStation 2 version) based on names submitted from a second contest in addition to the original (2001) set. The visual effect for the thermal goggles was also changed in Substance, and the FHM-licensed posters that adorned several locations in the original Sons of Liberty version have been replaced with public domain images (these were also replaced in The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2). The Xbox and Windows versions feature slight dialogue changes during specific control explanations in which the term "analog stick" was substituted with "thumbstick" (Microsoft's preferred term). The controls were also slightly altered for the Xbox version, due to its fewer shoulder buttons (clicking on the left thumbstick switches between normal and first-person view, while the Y button serves as a lock-on for the player's aim). The Xbox version has support for 5.1 surround sound.

The primary addition of Substance is the inclusion of an extra missions mode with 350 VR missions set in a computer-constructed environment and 150 "Alternative" missions set in areas from the main story. The player can choose to play these missions as Solid Snake or Raiden, with alternate versions of both characters (in different outfits) becoming available as the player progresses. These missions are divided into eight categories (although not all of them are available to every character): Sneaking, Weapon, First Person View (which simulates a first-person shooter), Variety, Hold Up, Bomb Disposal, Elimination, and Photograph.

The other new addition is "Snake Tales", which is a set of five story-based missions featuring Solid Snake as the player character. These missions are primarily set in the Big Shell and involve characters from the main story in new roles such as Fatman, Emma, Vamp and Solidus Snake, while one mission set in the Tanker features Meryl Silverburgh. These missions, which are unrelated to the main campaign and are non-canonical, have no voice-acted cutscenes - instead, the story is told through text-only interludes.

Exclusive to the PlayStation 2 version is a skateboarding minigame in which the player control Snake or Raiden in a pair of Big Shell-themed levels. The player has to complete a set of objectives before time runs out, which range from collecting dog tags scattered throughout the level to blowing up parts of Big Shell. The minigame uses the same engine from Evolution Skateboarding, which was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka.[85]

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the PlayStation 2 version of the game a 35 out of 40.[86]

HD Edition edit

Main article: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - HD Edition was released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011 and for the PlayStation Vita in 2012. This version is included in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection but is also available as a digital download on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions feature an increased 720p resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, providing a clearer and wider view of the player's surroundings compared to the original 480p resolution and 4:3 ratio of the PlayStation 2 version,[87] while the PS Vita version runs at qHD resolution.[88] Cutscenes can now be viewed in fullscreen or letterboxed format, while online achievements/trophies have been added as well. Most of the additional content from Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance has also been ported in this version, such as the Missions and Snake Tales modes, although the Skateboarding minigame that was present in the PlayStation 2 version of Substance is absent. The PS3 and Vita versions have a "transfarring" option that allows players to transfer save data between both versions through a Wi-Fi connection or a cloud network. The Vita version has touchscreen and touchpad support for certain gameplay functions such as switching between items and weapons or zooming into cutscenes.

Related media edit

Documentary edit

 
The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 cover art

The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 is an interactive documentary developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami, originally released on September 26, 2002.[89] The game covers the development of Metal Gear Solid 2 in great detail, containing internal material developed during the production of Sons of Liberty.

It includes 3D models of characters, scenery, and objects that were used in the game (as well as unused assets), along with corresponding concept art when available. All the real-time cutscenes (or polygon demos) are also available to view (without audio), with the option to pause them at any point, change the camera angle and move them frame by frame. Other content includes storyboards, behind-the-scenes footage, preview trailers, music tracks (with the option to play alternate patterns when applicable), the finalized screenplay, Hideo Kojima's original draft (available in Japanese only), a development timeline, and a gallery of Metal Gear Solid related products and merchandise.

The disc also includes a few VR training missions that were later featured in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. In Europe, the disc was bundled with the PlayStation 2 version of Substance instead of having a stand-alone release. It was also included in the Japanese 20th Anniversary re-release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in July 2007.

Comics edit

IDW Publishing published a 12-issue comic book adaptation from 2006 to 2007, titled Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty, illustrated by Ashley Wood (who also worked on the comic book adaptation of the previous game) and written by Alex Garner. This version deviates from the game, where many scenes involving Raiden are substituted with Snake.

A digital version of the comic, titled Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée, was released on June 12, 2008, in Japan. Originally announced as a PlayStation Portable game, similar to the Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, the digital comic was released as a DVD film instead. A fully voiced version of the graphic novel adaptation of the first Metal Gear Solid is featured as well.[90]

Novels edit

A novelization of the game was written by Raymond Benson and published by Del Rey. The American paperback edition was published on November 24, 2009. A majority of the character interaction in the novel is taken verbatim from the Codec conversations in the game itself.

A second novelization by Kenji Yano (written under the pen name Hitori Nojima), titled Metal Gear Solid Substance II, was published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan on September 24, 2015.[91] This novelization is narrated in real-time during the events of the Plant chapter from the perspective of a young man living in Manhattan.

Reception edit

Critical reception edit

Metal Gear Solid 2 received "universal acclaim" according to review aggregator Metacritic, where it is one of the highest-rated games on the website,[110][111] and remains the highest-rated exclusive on the PlayStation 2.[112] Game Informer gave the game a score of 10/10, while GameSpot gave the game a 9.6 rating, stating, "It boils down to this: You must play Metal Gear Solid 2."[101] Critics praised the title's stealth gameplay and the improvements over its predecessor, as well as the game's level of graphical detail, particularly in the use of in-game graphics to render plot-driving cutscenes.[113]

The title's storyline, however, was initially divisive[114] and became the source of controversy. Hideo Kojima's ambitious script received praise for exploring numerous social, philosophical, and cyberpunk themes in significant detail, and it has often been called the first example of a postmodern video game.[39][42][44][40][41][43][115] However, some critics considered the plot to be "incomprehensible" and overly cumbersome for an action game, and also felt that the lengthy dialogue sections heavily disrupted the gameplay and that the dialogue itself was overly disjointed and convoluted.[116][117] The surprise introduction of Raiden as the protagonist for the majority of the game (replacing long-time series protagonist Solid Snake) was also controversial with fans of Metal Gear Solid.[44]

Blake Fischer reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "MGS2 is everything we hoped it would be, and more. Great action, an enthralling story, and plenty of surprises makes this the PS2 game to get this holiday season."[105]

Sales edit

As a result of promising trailers and the enormous commercial success of its predecessor Metal Gear Solid, there was a high level of anticipation in the gaming community surrounding the release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.[118] The game's E3 2000 demo surprised many spectators with its level of realism and played a vital role in the PlayStation 2 console's early success.[119] It was the most anticipated game for the PlayStation 2 in 2001.[120]

In Japan, the game sold 400,000 units in its first day, in addition to its 600,000 pre-orders in the country.[121] Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty ultimately sold 687,000 units in 2001, making it the tenth-best-selling video game of 2001 in Japan, and the best-selling Konami game in Japanese Market of that year as well, outselling Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists, The best-selling Game Boy Color game in Japan by approximately 155,000 units.[122][123] In the United States, the game sold 500,000 units within two days of release, and 680,000 copies within five.[121] It was the top-selling game in November 2001,[124] with 1.8 million units sold,[125] and topped the video game rental chart the same month.[126] It went on to be one of the top four best-selling games of 2001 in the United States.[127] By July 2006, it had sold 2 million copies and earned $85,000,000 (equivalent to $140,000,000 in 2022) in the United States alone. Next Generation ranked it as the 16th highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in the country.[128]

In Europe, the game received 1.57 million pre-orders, surpassing Konami's initial expectations of 1 million units.[129][108] In the United Kingdom, it set a fastest sales record with 200,000 copies sold and £9 million or $13,000,000 (equivalent to $21,000,000 in 2022) grossed within three days.[130] The PlayStation 2 version received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[131] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[132] It also received a Platinum Award in Germany for sales above 200,000 units in the country.[133]

Worldwide, the game had sold over 7 million units by 2003.[134] As of 2004, the original release had sold 5.64 million and Substance had sold 1.39 million for a combined 7.03 million units sold worldwide,[135] making it the highest-selling game in the series.[134]

Awards edit

GameSpot named Metal Gear Solid 2 the fourth-best console game of 2001, and presented the game with its annual "Best Music" and "Biggest Surprise" awards among console games. It was nominated in the publication's "Best PlayStation 2 Game", "Best Sound", "Best Story", "Best Graphics, Technical", "Best Graphics, Artistic" and "Best In-Game Water" award categories.[139] During the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences honored Sons of Liberty with the "Sound Design" award, along with nominations for "Art Direction" and "Character or Story Development".[140]

Substance was nominated for the 2002 "Best Music on Xbox" and "Best Story on Xbox" awards.[141]

Legacy edit

In a 2006 viewer poll conducted by Japan's Famitsu magazine of top 100 games of all time, Metal Gear Solid 2 was ranked at No. 42 in the poll.[142] In the 200th issue of Game Informer Magazine in 2009, its list of top 200 games of all time ranked the game at No. 50 on the list.[143] Metal Gear Solid 2 was ranked No. 7 in Game Informer's 2008 list of the top ten video game openings.[144] In 2010, GamesRadar included the game in its list of top seven games "with mega plot twists you never saw coming."[145] The game was included in Tony Mott and Peter Molyneux's 2011 book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.[146] It has also been listed as one of the best games of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly,[147] Empire,[148][149] GameFAQs,[150][151][152][153] GameRankings,[154] IGN,[155][156][157] Metacritic,[111] Slant,[158] and Stuff.[159][160]

According to John Linneman of Digital Foundry, the game was a technical milestone for its time. It served as a killer app showcasing what the PlayStation 2 hardware was capable of, with the game setting "a new standard in cinematic presentation" and attention to detail, and demonstrating "huge numbers of enemies on screen with bodies that remain in the scene, the interaction of light and shadow, physics interactions with real world objects, multi-tiered environments and advanced enemy AI." This made possible new "gameplay opportunities" and a sense of freedom offered by levels "designed as mini-sandboxes with a tremendous amount of interactivity."[161] The early anticipation that surrounded Metal Gear Solid 2 since its E3 2000 demo has been credited as a critical factor in the PlayStation 2's best-selling success and dominance during the sixth console generation, as well as the demise of Sega's Dreamcast.[119] According to John Szczepaniak, "MGS2 was the game which single-handedly sold Sony's new PlayStation 2 to the masses."[162]

In 2009, Wired included the game in its list of "The 15 Most Influential Games of the Decade" at No. 13, concluding that every "videogame story that subverts a player's expectations owes a debt to the ground broken by Metal Gear Solid 2."[163] The artistic influence of Metal Gear Solid 2 can be seen in later video games such as Goichi Suda's similarly postmodern game Killer7,[40] the similarly metanarrative game Portal,[164] the survival horror title Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, and particularly the first-person shooter BioShock,[165] which featured a similar plot twist to Metal Gear Solid 2.[166] Several game mechanics developed in Metal Gear Solid 2, such as the cover system and laser sight mechanic, have since become staples of stealth games as well as shooters, including Kill Switch (2003), Resident Evil 4 (2005) and Gears of War (2006).[9][14] The reveal of Metal Gear Solid 2 also led to the development of Splinter Cell, which Ubisoft originally intended to be "a Metal Gear Solid 2 killer."[167][168] According to Kojima, Metal Gear Solid 2 paid more "attention to the surroundings" in real-time and later "games like Call of Duty have followed this trend of making your surroundings more realistic."[70] Neil Druckmann cited the revelation of Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 2 as an inspiration for the bold surprise in The Last of Us Part II (2020).[169] In a 20-year retrospective, Christian Smith of Collider said that Metal Gear Solid 2 remains a "controversial masterpiece" that played a pivotal role in "redefining the art of making video games after the turn of the millennium".[170] In 2021, PC Gamer listed the PC version as one of the worst PC ports: "MGS2 worked fine on some systems, but on others you could expect flickering textures, disappearing shadows, missing effects, frequent crashes and flaky audio."[171]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Windows version developed by Success.
  2. ^ Japanese: メタルギアソリッド2　サンズ・オブ・リバティ, Hepburn: Metaru Gia Soriddo Tsū: Sanzu obu Ribati
  3. ^ Japanese: タルギアソリッド2 サブスタンス, Hepburn: Metaru Gia Soriddo Tsū: Sabusutansu
  4. ^ See the Japanese language Wikipedia for information about spelling variations of Osama bin Laden.
  5. ^ Except in Japan, where Substance was exclusive to the PlayStation 2 as well. This version features Japanese text and English voice acting, similar to the earlier Metal Gear Solid: Integral (the expanded edition of the original Metal Gear Solid).

References edit

  1. ^ . February 3, 2004. Archived from the original on February 3, 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol. 1 Confirmed for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b . Absolute PlayStation. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  4. ^ David Low (April 2, 2007). "GO3: Kojima Talks Metal Gear History, Future". Gamasutra. from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "Mana_'s reader review of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2". Gamespot.com. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Shane Patterson (February 3, 2009). "The Sneaky History of Stealth Games". GamesRadar. from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  7. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2 R review". NTSC-UK. from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  8. ^ Mark Ryan Sallee. . Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Lindsay, Stuart (December 2, 2009). "Did Gears of War Innovate the Cover System". Planet Xbox 360. from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  10. ^ a b . IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  11. ^ . IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  12. ^ . IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  13. ^ . IGN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  14. ^ a b Gordon, Shawn (October 11, 2009). "Greatest "Retro" Console Games of All Time". Game Informer. from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  15. ^ Official Site (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  16. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Raiden: Rose! You're not supposed to be involved! What's going on!? // Rose: Jack, I'm a part of this mission. // Raiden: Colonel, what the hell is going on? // Colonel: Raiden, meet the mission analyst. She'll be overseeing the data saving and support.
  17. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Iroquois Pliskin: I'm not an enemy. Calm down. My name is S... My name is Pliskin. Iroquois Pliskin, Lieutenant Junior Grade.
  18. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Peter Stillman: My name is Peter, Peter Stillman. // Iroquois Pliskin: A lecturer at NSEOD, Indian Head. Also consultant to the NYPD Bomb Squad.
  19. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Iroquois Pliskin: Raiden, let me introduce you to my partner -- Otacon. // Raiden: Otacon? // Otacon: Hey, Raiden. Nice to meet you.
  20. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Mr. X: I'm like you...I have no name. // Raiden: Are you Mr. X?
  21. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Mr. X: Be careful! There are Claymore mines around there. // Raiden: Who is this! // Mr. X: Stealth-equipped Claymores, invisible to the naked eye. Use the mine detector. // Raiden: Identify yourself. // Mr. X: Just call me "Deepthroat". // Raiden: Deepthroat? You mean from Shadow Moses? // Mr. X: Mr. X, then. // Raiden: Mr. X now, is it? Why would it matter if I called you Deepthroat? Mr. X: Never mind about that. [...] Mr. X: Let's just say I'm one of your fans.
  22. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Colonel: The terrorists call themselves "Sons of Liberty".
  23. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Colonel: Former members of the Navy SEAL's special anti-terrorist training squad, "Dead Cell". Russian private army members may also be involved. It's a highly trained group and they have the Big Shell under complete control.
  24. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Raiden: What was that man just now? // Iroquois Pliskin: That blood sucking freak? That was Vamp. [...] // Raiden: What is he? // Iroquois Pliskin: One of the members of Dead Cell.
  25. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Fatman: I am Fatman. I am the greatest humanity has to offer and the lowest.
  26. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Fortune: Maybe you can give me death. My name is Fortune. Lucky in war and nothing else. And without a death to call my own. Hurry. Kill me, please.
  27. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Colonel: The name of their leader is Solid Snake.
  28. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Colonel: Right. But it can't be THE Solid Snake. He died two years ago, on that tanker, after he blew it sky-high.
  29. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Raiden: I saw a female soldier -- Russian. // Iroquois Pliskin: Must be Olga Gurlukovich. // Raiden: How do you know? // Iroquois Pliskin: Unlike you, I've been briefed. // Raiden: She's not a Dead Cell? // Iroquois Pliskin: No, she commands a Russian private army. // Raiden: They must be the ones patrolling the Big Shell. // Iroquois Pliskin: That's right. She's led the group ever since her old man, Colonel Gurlukovich, died. Watch yourself with her. She's a tough one.
  30. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Solidus Snake: Ocelot, I leave this place in your hands. I have the intruder to take care of.
  31. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Raiden: Wait a second. Isn't Emma Emmerich -- // Otacon: My sister. // Raiden: What's she doing here? // Otacon: You got me. She's a computer whiz who specializes in neural-AI and ultra-variable volume data analysis using complex logic. How she got involved in weapons development is beyond me.
  32. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Otacon: We've ID'd the old man. // Solid Snake: Who is he? // Otacon: Sergei Gurlukovich. // Solid Snake: Gurlukovich! One of Ocelot's allies? // Otacon: Yeah...the GRU colonel.
  33. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Raiden: Hostages, huh? // Colonel: A VIP from one of the major conservation groups, and one from our own government -- the Most Important Person in a sense. // Raiden: The most important person -- ? // Colonel: James Johnson. // Raiden: The President!
  34. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. Revolver Ocelot: I always knew the DIA turned out second-rate liars. // Richard Ames: What are you talking about? // Revolver Ocelot: No need for denials. You know what you are -- Colonel Ames.
  35. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. "Liquid Snake": It's been a while, brother. // Solid Snake: Who are you? // "Liquid Snake": You know who I am. // Solid Snake: Liquid?
  36. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. ???: What a crock! What did you do with that little cheat sheet I made you! // [...] Snake: What's going on over there? // Mei Ling: Oh, hi, Snake. Do you know that Otacon's been -- // Otacon: Er, Mei Ling, we're in the middle of a mission and everything! So can we, you know... // Mei Ling: Fine. Sure. And Snake, the real meaning of "Care avoids err" is that if you're cautious, you can avoid making serious mistakes. Even if you've gotten used to the mission, watch what you do. Good luck!
  37. ^ a b "How Metal Gear Solid manipulated its players, warning us of an age of Fake News, Cambridge Analytica and data surveillance". GamesRadar. March 30, 2018. from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  38. ^ a b "People think this scene from Metal Gear Solid 2 predicted a lot of 2017". JOE. December 2017. from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  39. ^ a b c d Dr. Chris Zimbaldi Konkle (April 30, 2004). . metalgearsolid.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  40. ^ a b c Mark Ryan Sallee (June 29, 2006). "Kojima's Legacy". IGN. from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  41. ^ a b c James Howell & Ryan Payton (March 20, 2008). . Kojima Productions. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  42. ^ a b c d Matthew Weise (2003). "How Videogames Express Ideas" (PDF). Level Up: Digital Games Research Conference. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  43. ^ a b . IGN. July 31, 2007. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  44. ^ a b c David Radd (November 10, 2009). . Industry Gamers. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  45. ^ . Cyberpunk Review. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  46. ^ Artemio Urbina (March 15, 2002). "Metal Gear Solid 2 Ending Analysis". Junker HQ. from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  47. ^ Dr. Chris Zimbaldi (2004). . metalgearsolid.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  48. ^ a b Iovanovici, Zoran (June 28, 2010). "Analysis: What Metal Gear Solid 2 Teaches Us About The Information Age". Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  49. ^ Huntemann, Nina B.; Payne, Matthew Thomas (2009). Joystick Soldiers: The Politics of Play in Military Video Games. Routledge. p. 358. ISBN 978-1-135-84281-9. from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  50. ^ Wright, Talmadge J.; Embrick, David G.; Lukacs, Andras (2010). Utopic Dreams and Apocalyptic Fantasies: Critical Approaches to Researching Video Game Play. Lexington Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7391-4702-3. from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  51. ^ "GameSpy's Top MGS Moments: Metal Gear Solid 2 (Day Two)". GameSpy. May 16, 2008. p. 5. from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  52. ^ Kris Pigna (April 15, 2010). . 1UP.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  53. ^ Xav de Matos (January 28, 2009). . Joystiq. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  54. ^ Parkinson, Matthew (March 19, 2018). "Top 10 Movies for Fans of Metal Gear Solid". Gameranx. Complex Media. from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  55. ^ "Exhibitions: The Art of Video Games / American Art". from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  56. ^ Higgin, Tanner (2010). ""Turn the Game Console Off Now": War, Subjectivity, and Control in Metal Gear Solid 2". In Nina B. Huntemann & Matthew Thomas Payne (ed.). Joystick Soldiers: The Politics of Play in Military Video Games. New York: Routledge. pp. 15–6 & 252–71. ISBN 978-0-415-99659-4. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  57. ^ Poole, Steven (August 31, 2012). "Still Playing: Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons Of Liberty". Edge. Bath: Future Publishing Ltd. from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  58. ^ a b Patrick, Dugan (July 29, 2011). "Analysis: 'Socially Awkward' - How Metal Gear Solid 2 Predicted Facebook". Gamasutra. from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  59. ^ a b "Best Death Stranding plot theories analysed, from virtual reality, to parallel universes, and religious purgatory". GamesRadar+. May 30, 2019. from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  60. ^ a b Wiltshire, Alex. . Glixel. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  61. ^ a b "Why Metal Gear Solid 2's ending speech still matters". Destructoid. March 27, 2018. from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  62. ^ Meekin, Paul (December 6, 2017). "YouTuber Explains How Metal Gear Solid 2 Predicted 'Fake News' Phenomenon". Heavy.com. from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  63. ^ https://nowloading.co/posts/4199069/amp[permanent dead link]
  64. ^ a b Mróz, Adrian (2018). "Filtration Failure: On Selection for Societal Sanity". Kultura i Historia. 34 (2). from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  65. ^ Kunzelman, Cameron (June 30, 2020). "The Scary Political Relevance of 'Metal Gear Solid 2'". Waypoint. Vice Media. from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  66. ^ Scoville, Max (May 31, 2019). "OPINION: Death Stranding Won't Be As Fun As Death Stranding Theories". IGN. from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  67. ^ a b Orland, Kyle (August 15, 2006). . Joystiq. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  68. ^ a b Kojima, Hideo (January 8, 1999). (PDF). Konami Computer Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2006.
  69. ^ a b Keighley, Geoff (May 16, 2012) [November 22, 2001]. "The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2". Gamespot. from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  70. ^ a b Grajales, Lorenzo (July 23, 2012). "Hideo Kojima Reflects on 25 Years of Metal Gear". PlayStation Blog. from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  71. ^ "Let the battle begin". The Independent. April 18, 2004. pp. 116, 118. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty: Information from". Answers.com. from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  73. ^ . The Kojima Productions Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  74. ^ "6:20, Retrieved: Feb 17, 2010". Youtube.com. June 28, 2009. from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  75. ^ Hideo Kojima (2002). The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 (DVD). New Zealand: Konami.
  76. ^ Leone, Matt (November 21, 2011). . How Japan's Earthquake Changed its Developers. 1UP.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  77. ^ Moore, Jared (September 22, 2021). "Hideo Kojima Originally Wanted Hans Zimmer to Compose Metal Gear Solid 2's Music". IGN. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  78. ^ Harry Gregson-Williams' interview in The Making of Documentary in the Bonus Making Of DVD.
  79. ^ "London Philharmonic Orchestra To Release Video Game-Themed Album". from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  80. ^ . Video games live. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  81. ^ "4:40 Mark and 6:53 Mark; the MGS2 theme creeps in upon Big Boss' praise". YouTube. from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  82. ^ "Track 37 "Debreifing"". Amazon. from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  83. ^ "SBG:MGS2完成披露パーティ開催！新キャラも発表" [Metal Gear Solid 2 Completion Announcement Event! New Character Unveilment]. IT Media (in Japanese). November 13, 2001. from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  84. ^ . web.archive.org. March 11, 2005. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  85. ^ Greg Kasavin. "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PlayStation 2)". from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  86. ^ プレイステーション2 - メタルギア ソリッド2 サブスタンス. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.85. June 30, 2006.
  87. ^ Leadbetter, Richard (March 17, 2012). "Tech Analysis: Metal Gear Solid Remastered". Eurogamer.net. from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  88. ^ Leadbetter, Richard (June 21, 2012). "Tech Analysis: Metal Gear Solid HD on PS Vita". Eurogamer.net. from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  89. ^ . March 8, 2005. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved March 8, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  90. ^ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  91. ^ Hitori Nojima (2015). メタルギア ソリッド サブスタンスII [Metal Gear Solid Substance II] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. ISBN 978-4-04-103229-9.
  92. ^ a b c "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. November 12, 2001. from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  93. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  94. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  95. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  96. ^ Anon. (December 29, 2001). "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty Review". Edge. Future plc. from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012. Originally published in Anon. (2001). "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Edge. No. 106. Bath: Future Publishing. from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  97. ^ プレイステーション2 - メタルギアソリッド2 サンズ・オブ・リバティ. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.67. June 30, 2006.
  98. ^ . Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  99. ^ a b c d e f "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. November 12, 2001. from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  100. ^ . GamePro. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  101. ^ a b "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review". GameSpot. November 12, 2001. from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  102. ^ Buecheler, Christopher. "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review". GameSpy. from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  103. ^ . GameZone. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  104. ^ . IGN. November 16, 2001. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  105. ^ a b Fischer, Blake (January 2002). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 5, no. 1. Imagine Media. pp. 72–73.
  106. ^ Official PlayStation 2 Magazine, issue 17 (February 2002), pages 82-89
  107. ^ a b "Games of 2001." Game Informer. January 2002: p. 52
  108. ^ a b "News Release". Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami. February 14, 2002. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  109. ^ a b c d . June 12, 2002. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  110. ^ "Top PlayStation 2 Games". Metacritic. from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  111. ^ a b "Game Releases by Score". Metacritic. from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  112. ^ Dietz, Jason (March 28, 2017). "All-Time Best Games on Every Platform: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Metacritic. from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  113. ^ Greg Kasavin (November 13, 2001). "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review". GameSpot. from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  114. ^ Liam Martin (August 30, 2009). "Feature: Divisive Games". Digital Spy. from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  115. ^ Myles, Aaron (January 4, 2012). "Metal Gear Solid's postmodern legacy". Nightmaremode.net.
  116. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (ps2: 2001): Reviews". Metacritic.com. November 12, 2001. from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  117. ^ . GameSpy. 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  118. ^ "E3 2000". IGN. from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015. The hottest ticket at E3 2000 was a five-minute video clip that Konami every hour on the hour on a gigantic screen outside its booth. That video showed scenes from Metal Gear Solid 2.
  119. ^ a b Parish, Jeremy (September 2010). . 9.9.99, A Dreamcast Memorial: A decade later, what is the Dreamcast's legacy?. 1UP.com. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  120. ^ "R.I.P. PlayStation: The best of 1995-2001". Hyper. No. 90 (April 2001). February 28, 2001. pp. 44–51.
  121. ^ a b Walter, George; Wong, Amos (January 2002). "Metal Gear: Solid". Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine (16): 33, 34.
  122. ^ "【GBC20周年企画(2)】いちばん売れたゲームボーイカラー専用ソフトは『遊☆戯☆王DM4』！ では2位は？ GBC専用ソフト販売ランキングTOP10！". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. October 21, 2018. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  123. ^ "2001年間ゲームソフト売上ランキング (2001 Annual Game Software sales ranking)". EntameData (in Japanese). FC2.
  124. ^ . NPD Press Release. The NPD Group. December 19, 2001. Archived from the original on February 20, 2002. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  125. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2 hits the 1.8 million mark". Gaming Intelligence Agency. November 28, 2001. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  126. ^ . Interactive Entertainment (IE). November 30, 2001. Archived from the original on December 1, 2001. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  127. ^ (Press release). Port Washington, New York: NPD Group. February 7, 2002. Archived from the original on August 14, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  128. ^ Campbell, Colin; Keiser, Joe (July 29, 2006). . Next Generation. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007.
  129. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (2002). "Metal Gear Solid 2 worldwide sales". GameSpot. from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  130. ^ "Solid sales for Metal Gear". BBC News. BBC. March 11, 2002. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  131. ^ . Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009.
  132. ^ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). . Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
  133. ^ . Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on August 2, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  134. ^ a b Big Gaz. . GamePlanet. Archived from the original on August 2, 2003. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  135. ^ . Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (KCEJ). Konami. December 31, 2004. Archived from the original on March 15, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  136. ^ "2000 - Game Awards". Game Critics Awards. from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  137. ^ "2001- Game Awards". Game Critics Awards. from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  138. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". Academy of Interactive Arts & Science. from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  139. ^ GameSpot VG Staff (February 23, 2002). . GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002.
  140. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  141. ^ GameSpot Staff (December 30, 2002). . GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 7, 2003.
  142. ^ . Edge. March 3, 2006. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  143. ^ "Top 200 Games". Game Informer. No. 200. December 2009.
  144. ^ "The Top Ten Video Game Openings," Game Informer 187 (November 2008): 38.
  145. ^ Meikleham, Dave (November 15, 2010). "The Top 7... Games with mega plot twists you never saw coming". GamesRadar. from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  146. ^ Mott, Tony; Molyneux, Peter (December 5, 2011). 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. Octopus Publishing Group, Hachette. ISBN 978-1-84403-715-5.
  147. ^ . Electronic Gaming Monthly. February 6, 2006. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  148. ^ , Empire, 2009
  149. ^ "The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time". Empire. August 15, 2014. from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  150. ^ . GameFAQs. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  151. ^ . GameFAQs. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  152. ^ "Spring 2009: Best. Game. Ever". GameFAQs. from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  153. ^ Top 100 December 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, GameFAQs, 2014
  154. ^ All-Time Best August 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, GameRankings
  155. ^ . IGN. 2005. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  156. ^ . IGN. 2006. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  157. ^ The Top 100 Games of All Time December 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, IGN, 2007
  158. ^ 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time July 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Slant, 2014
  159. ^ "100 Greatest Games", Stuff, pp. 116–126, October 2008
  160. ^ "100 Best Games Ever", Stuff, February 2014, pp.87-99
  161. ^ Linneman, John (April 23, 2017). "Metal Gear Solid 2 was the game that changed everything for PS2". Digital Foundry. Eurogamer. from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  162. ^ . Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014.
  163. ^ Kohler, Chris (December 24, 2009). "The 15 Most Influential Games of the Decade". Wired. from the original on September 8, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  164. ^ Good, Owen (November 8, 2009). "The Meta-Narrative That Pulls Back The Curtain For All Games". Kotaku Australia. Australia: Kotaku. from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  165. ^ "GameSpy's Top MGS Moments: Metal Gear Solid 2 (Day Two)". GameSpy. May 16, 2008. p. 3. from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  166. ^ Kessler, Matthew (April 15, 2009). "The End of Metal Gear Solid 4 makes me Crazy". Gamasutra. from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  167. ^ Dyer, Mitch (February 3, 2014). "House of Dreams: The Ubisoft Montreal Story". IGN. from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  168. ^ "Interview with Clint Hocking". GameCritics. from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  169. ^ "The Last of Us 2 director explains its strict review embargo and sneaky trailers". GameRevolution. June 25, 2020. from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  170. ^ Smith, Christian (August 8, 2021). . Collider. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  171. ^ Elliott, Matt (April 23, 2021). "The worst PC ports ever". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved February 20, 2023.

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
  • Official website

November 23, 2023
metal, gear, solid, sons, liberty, 2001, action, adventure, stealth, video, game, developed, konami, computer, entertainment, japan, published, konami, playstation, originally, released, november, 2001, fourth, metal, gear, game, produced, hideo, kojima, seven. Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty b is a 2001 action adventure stealth video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 Originally released on November 13 2001 it is the fourth Metal Gear game produced by Hideo Kojima the seventh overall game in the series and is a sequel to Metal Gear Solid 1998 An expanded edition titled Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance c was released the following year for Xbox and Windows in addition to the PlayStation 2 A remastered version of the game Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty HD Edition was later included in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita The HD Edition of the game was included in the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1 compilation for Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Windows and Xbox Series X S which was released on October 24 2023 2 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of LibertyNorth American box artDeveloper s Konami Computer Entertainment Japan a Publisher s KonamiDirector s Hideo KojimaProducer s Hideo KojimaDesigner s Hideo KojimaProgrammer s Kazunobu UeharaArtist s Yoji ShinkawaWriter s Hideo KojimaTomokazu FukushimaComposer s Norihiko HibinoHarry Gregson WilliamsSeriesMetal GearPlatform s PlayStation 2XboxMicrosoft WindowsReleaseNovember 13 2001 PlayStation 2NA November 13 2001JP November 29 2001EU March 8 2002SubstanceXboxNA November 5 2002EU March 7 2003PlayStation 2JP December 19 2002NA March 4 2003 1 EU March 28 2003WindowsNA March 27 2003EU March 28 2003Genre s Action adventure stealthMode s Single playerThe story revolves around the Big Shell a massive offshore clean up facility seized by a group of terrorists who call themselves the Sons of Liberty They demand an enormous ransom in exchange for the life of the President of the United States and threaten to destroy the facility and create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their demands are not met The motives and identities of many of the antagonists and allies change throughout the game as the protagonists discover a world shaking conspiracy constructed by a powerful organization known as the Patriots Metal Gear Solid 2 received acclaim for its gameplay graphics and attention to detail However critics were initially divided on the protagonist and the philosophical nature and execution of the game s storyline which explores themes such as the Information Age memetics social engineering political conspiracies censorship artificial intelligence existentialism postmodernism virtual reality and the internal struggle of freedom of thought The game was a commercial success selling seven million copies by 2004 It has since been considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time as well as a leading example of artistic expression in video games The game is often considered ahead of its time for dealing with themes and concepts such as post truth politics fake news alternative facts synthetic media and echo chambers that became culturally relevant in the mid to late 2010s Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Synopsis 2 1 Setting 2 2 Characters 2 3 Plot 2 4 Themes and analysis 3 Development 3 1 Protagonist switch 3 2 Plot changes 3 3 Music 4 Release 4 1 Substance 4 2 HD Edition 5 Related media 5 1 Documentary 5 2 Comics 5 3 Novels 6 Reception 6 1 Critical reception 6 2 Sales 6 3 Awards 6 4 Legacy 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksGameplay edit nbsp Solid Snake takes cover and peeks around a corner in the Tanker chapter Metal Gear Solid 2 carries the subtitle of Tactical Espionage Action and most of the game involves the protagonist sneaking around to avoid being seen by the enemies Most fundamental is the broader range of skills offered to the player The first person aiming mode allows players to target specific points in the game greatly expanding tactical options guards can be blinded by steam distracted by a flying piece of fruit or hit in weak spots Players can walk slowly allowing them to sneak over noisy flooring without making a sound or hang off walkways to slip past below guards feet The corner press move from Metal Gear Solid which allowed players a sneak peek around the next bend is expanded to allow players to fire from cover 3 Other abilities included leaping over and hanging off of railings opening and hiding in storage lockers and sneaking up behind enemies to hold them at gunpoint for items and ammunition 3 Players can shoot out the enemy s radio so they are unable to communicate with others on their team The environment also has a more significant impact on the stealth gameplay taking into account factors such as weather smell atmosphere and temperature 4 In Metal Gear Solid 2 the enemy guards are given more advanced AI to prevent an imbalance of power 5 and unlike the original Metal Gear Solid work in squads They call on their radios for a strike team upon seeing the player then attempt to flank him and cut off his escape while avoiding the player s attacks Often strike teams will carry body armor and riot shields making them a greater threat Even if the player escapes to a hiding place a team will sweep in to check the area The game has a collective enemy AI 6 where enemy guards work together in squads can communicate with one another 7 and react more realistically towards the player The game s enemy AI was considered one of the best in gaming for many years 8 The game expanded its predecessor s cover mechanic 9 with Solid Snake or Raiden able to take cover behind walls or objects and pop out to shoot at enemies 10 11 while the improved enemy AI allowed enemies to also take cover from the player character The enemies will often take cover to call for backup 12 but during battle they will take cover then pop out and shoot at the player or blindly throw grenades from behind their cover 10 13 The game features a laser sight mechanic where a laser sight helps assist with manually aiming a gun 14 Boss battles and set pieces remain a case of finding a strategy that bypasses the defenses of the enemy However in a major break from action game standards it is also possible to clear the entire game including boss fights without causing a single deliberate death through use of tranquilizer guns stun grenades and melee attacks Synopsis editSetting edit Sons of Liberty takes place within an alternate history of events in which the Cold War ended during the late 1990s The game s story focuses on two narratives that occur around and near New York City the first in 2007 two years after the events of Metal Gear Solid and the second in 2009 The game s plot is the fourth chapter of an overarching plot concerning the character of Solid Snake Characters edit Main article List of characters in the Metal Gear series The main protagonist of Metal Gear Solid 2 is a young rookie agent named Raiden 15 He is supported by his commanding officer the Colonel and Rosemary 16 his girlfriend Allies formed on the mission include Lt Junior Grade Iroquois Pliskin 17 a Navy SEAL of mysterious background who provides his knowledge of the facility Peter Stillman 18 an NYPD bomb disposal expert Otacon 19 a computer security specialist and friend of Solid Snake and a cyborg ninja imitating Gray Fox s persona first calling itself Deepthroat then changing its name to Mr X 20 21 The antagonists are the Sons of Liberty 22 a group of terrorists who seize control of the Big Shell environmental cleanup facility including anti terrorist training unit gone rogue Dead Cell and a Russian mercenary force that patrols the facility 23 The Dead Cell team members are Vamp 24 a seemingly immortal man exhibiting vampire like attributes Fatman 25 a rotund man with exceptional knowledge of bombs and Fortune 26 a woman whose uncontrollable psychic ability prevents any bodily harm from befalling her The leader of Sons of Liberty claims to be Solid Snake 27 previously declared dead after a terrorist attack later revealed to be Solidus Snake a third clone of the Les Enfants Terribles project 28 Assisting the Sons of Liberty are Olga Gurlukovich commander of the Russian mercenaries 29 and Revolver Ocelot 30 a disenfranchised Russian nationalist and former FOXHOUND agent Solid Snake s old nemesis and henchman of Solidus Snake Other characters include Emma Emmerich Otacon s stepsister and a computer whiz kid 31 Sergei Gurlukovich Ocelot s former commanding officer and Olga s father 32 President James Johnson held hostage by the Sons of Liberty 33 and DIA operative Richard Ames 34 Liquid Snake returns seemingly by possessing the body of Ocelot through a transplanted hand 35 The game also features cameos by Mei Ling the communications expert who aided Snake in the first game 36 and Johnny Sasaki the luckless soldier with chronic digestive problems Plot edit In 2007 Solid Snake infiltrates a tanker carrying a new Metal Gear model RAY The tanker is attacked by Russian mercenaries led by Colonel Gurlukovich his daughter Olga and Ocelot Ocelot betrays his allies and scuttles the ship Upon seeing Snake Ocelot is possessed by the will of Liquid Snake and escapes with RAY Two years later an environmental clean up facility called the Big Shell has been erected to clear up the oil spill During a tour by US President James Johnson the Sons of Liberty raid the facility take Johnson hostage and threaten to destroy it FOXHOUND s Raiden is ordered by the Colonel to rescue the hostages and disarm the terrorists The surviving members of a responding Navy SEAL team Iroquois Pliskin and Peter Stillman help Raiden disable explosives planted by Fatman A timed bomb goes off killing Stillman Raiden kills Fatman and encounters a mysterious cyborg ninja Raiden and Pliskin arrange to transport hostages via helicopter but are confronted by Dead Cell s leader identifying as Solid Snake flying a Harrier Raiden shoots down the Harrier but Solid Snake escapes with the stolen Metal Gear RAY Pliskin reveals he is the real Solid Snake and along with Otacon helps locate Johnson Johnson reveals to Raiden the United States democratic process is a sham staged by an organization called the Patriots who secretly rule the country Furthermore the Big Shell is a facade to hide Arsenal Gear a submersible mobile fortress that houses an AI called GW He explains the leader of Dead Cell is his predecessor George Sears a clone of Big Boss known as Solidus Snake who plans to seize Arsenal and overthrow the Patriots Ocelot then kills Johnson Raiden rescues computer programmer Emma Emmerich step sister of Otacon who plans to upload a virus into GW to disable Arsenal Vamp stabs Emma before being shot by Raiden Emma uploads the virus but dies from her injury as the virus is cut off prematurely Otacon leaves to rescue the hostages while Raiden is captured by the ninja revealed to be Olga when Snake seemingly betrays him Big Shell collapses as Arsenal departs Raiden awakens on Arsenal before Solidus who reveals he had killed Raiden s parents and raised him as a child soldier during the Liberian civil war Solidus leaves and Olga frees Raiden explaining she is a Patriot double agent forced to aid Raiden in exchange for her child s safety After the Colonel begins acting erratically Raiden discovers he is a construct of GW damaged by the virus Rose tells Raiden she had been ordered by the Patriots to become his lover and spy on him and that she is pregnant with his child Raiden finds Snake who had helped Olga capture Raiden so they could gain entry to Arsenal Fortune battles Snake while Raiden is forced into battle with AI controlled Metal Gear RAYs The virus causes the RAYs to malfunction and Olga sacrifices herself to save Raiden from Solidus Snake and Raiden are captured and taken to the top of Arsenal by Solidus Fortune and Ocelot Ocelot reveals himself to be a Patriot agent and that the entire affair was orchestrated by the Patriots to artificially replicate a soldier Raiden on par with Solid Snake titled the S3 Plan Ocelot kills Fortune before being possessed again by Liquid Snake Liquid explains that Ocelot s severed right arm was replaced with his own and plans to hunt down the Patriots using his host s knowledge and the stolen RAY Snake pursues Liquid as Arsenal loses control Arsenal crashes into Manhattan Raiden is contacted by an AI impersonating the Colonel and Rose It states that GW was the only AI destroyed and that the S3 Plan s real purpose is to control human thought to prevent society s regression in the digital era from trivial information drowning knowledge and truth They order Raiden to eliminate Solidus refusal will result in the deaths of Olga s child and Rose After Raiden defeats Solidus Snake appears after tracking Liquid s RAY Snake and Otacon plan to rescue Olga s child and locate the Patriots whose details were hidden in the GW virus disc Raiden is reunited with the real Rose In the epilogue having decoded the disc Otacon and Snake find it contains data on all twelve members of the Patriots highest council the Wiseman s Committee However the members have allegedly been dead for 100 years Themes and analysis edit In the current digitized world trivial information is accumulating every second preserved in all its triteness Never fading always accessible Rumors about petty issues misinterpretations slander All this junk data preserved in an unfiltered state growing at an alarming rate It will only slow down social progress reduce the rate of evolution The digital society furthers human flaws and selectively rewards development of convenient half truths Everyone withdraws into their own small gated community afraid of a larger forum They stay inside their little ponds leaking whatever truth suits them into the growing cesspool of society at large The different cardinal truths neither clash nor mesh No one is invalidated but nobody is right Not even natural selection can take place here The world is being engulfed in truth And this is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper Colonel and Rose Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty 37 38 Metal Gear Solid 2 is often considered the first example of a postmodern video game 39 40 41 and has often been cited as a primary example of artistic expression in video games 39 42 41 43 The storyline explored many social philosophical and cyberpunk themes in significant detail including meme theory social engineering sociology artificial intelligence information control fifth generation warfare conspiracy theories political and military maneuvering evolution existentialism censorship the nature of reality 39 42 44 45 46 47 the Information Age 48 virtual reality 49 50 child exploitation 51 taboos such as incest 52 sexual orientation 53 and the moral dilemma between security and personal liberty 54 Since its release the game s themes have been studied and analyzed by numerous writers journalists and academics MGS2 along with its predecessor has been featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum s exhibition The Art of Video Games in 2012 55 In his paper How Videogames Express Ideas Matthew Weise of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described Sons of Liberty as perhaps the most vivid example of a game that uses tension between different levels of player agency to fuel a multi faceted ideological argument noting Solidus Snake s suggestion of the United States being a totalitarian regime of thought control and pointing to the very meta concept of how the designer s imposed plan or path for the player maps to the tyrannical nature of the government where like the player Jack has no agency other than what his puppet masters give him 42 In the book Joystick Soldiers The Politics of Play in Military Video Games Tanner Higgin examined the game s resistant and subversive counter history of military engagement describing its convoluted narrative and unconventional gameplay logics as a critique of the very networks of biopolitical and informational control that comprise the postmodern military and posthumanity generally and noting that it purposefully manufactures frustration and negative affect to highlight the typically unexamined codes conventions and hidden pleasures of the military game genre 56 Steven Poole commented in a 2012 Edge column the story of MGS2 with its mythic wit and sweep is still in a different league from the vast majority of videogame yarns H owever the fact that MGS2 still seems so avant garde today might well prompt a worry does it represent the pinnacle of a now vanished era the age of the experimental mainstream This was after all a big budget commercial boxed product that gleefully took risks and subverted genre conventions at every turn Modern blockbuster games play it painfully safe by comparison 57 Gamasutra notes that the game deals with issues concerning the Information Age 48 and has compared the game s themes to the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes Friedrich Nietzsche and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel 58 The existential themes of the game align with the political philosophy and theses of Isaiah Berlin and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel focusing on the struggle between freedom and equality and Berlin s concept of the pursuit of the ideal as the player s internal conflict of ideals are one of the main driving forces of the plot The game is considered to be ahead of its time for dealing with themes and concepts that later became culturally relevant in the 2010s 59 60 The game has been described as profound 61 62 particularly the final dialogue scene between Raiden and the AI posing as the Colonel and Rose 61 In 2011 Dugan Patrick of Gamasutra drew comparisons to social media and social gaming and found that the game predicted elements of Facebook such as allowing people to intentionally censor their own experience within the self curated walls of Facebook 58 In 2016 Alex Wiltshire of Glixel found the game to be strangely prescient of not only its own time but also today noting how it dodged truth at every turn and comparing it to post truth politics Facebook s curated News Feed and the 2016 United States presidential election 60 Further comparisons have been drawn to concepts that became mainstream during the 2010s such as fake news echo chambers and alternative facts 38 59 63 64 According to Cameron Kunzelman of Vice Metal Gear Solid 2 is still politically relevant in 2017 65 In March 2018 GamesRadar drew comparisons to recent political events including the Facebook Cambridge Analytica data scandal and the investigations involving Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections 37 In 2018 Adrian Mroz published a paper in the academic journal Kultura i Historia where the idea of Selection for Societal Sanity from the game is applied into a philosophical framework based on select concepts from Bernard Stiegler s writing and incorporating them with current events such as post truth or fake news in order to explore the role of techne and filtration within social organizations and individual psyches He notes that despite being released in an era of neoliberal dominance the game s themes resonate with current affairs in the late 2010s such as post truth the collapse of political correctness cognitive dissonance and the problem of filtering within a society flooded by information 64 IGN said its fourth wall obliterating final act posed a number of terrifying questions about the overload of data in the information age and how technology has led to an increasingly shaky definition of reality and has drawn comparisons to deep fakes machine learning and information warfare 66 Development editThe creator Hideo Kojima s original design document for the game was completed in January 1999 The Japanese document was published by Konami in 2002 and translated into English in 2006 67 68 It mentioned that the game was originally going to be called Metal Gear Solid III to symbolize Manhattan s three tallest skyscrapers 67 The document outlines new game mechanics and features such as bodies that need to be hidden enemies being able to detect shadows lights in an area that can be destroyed to affect enemy vision realistic enemy AI that relies on squad tactics rather than working individually and multi level environments that add an element of vertical tension to the stealth gameplay It also outlines themes such as passing on memories environmental issues and particularly social themes regarding the digitization of the military digital simulations the digitization of operational planning the digitization of everyday life and the effects of digitization on personality The document stated that the aim of the story involves a series of betrayals and sudden reversals to the point where the player is unable to tell fact from fiction departing from the very clear and understandable story of its predecessor that every character lies to betrays someone once blurring the line between what is real and what is fantasy and ironies aimed at the digital society and gaming culture 68 The game s production budget was 10 million similar to the budget of a Japanese Godzilla film 69 Kojima states that when he heard about the hardware for the PlayStation 2 he wanted to try something new Up to that point all cutscenes had focused more on details like facial expressions but I wanted to pay more attention to the surroundings to see how much I could change them in real time 70 The game was in development for four years and over 100 people worked on the game 71 Protagonist switch edit For Metal Gear Solid 2 the established protagonist of Solid Snake was only made playable for the prologue portion of the game A new protagonist named Raiden would substitute him as the player character for the main portion The decision to introduce a new protagonist came from the idea of portraying Solid Snake from another character s perspective but also to get around the dilemma of having to write gameplay tutorials directed at Snake as Kojima felt that having to explain mission procedures and weapon handling to a veteran soldier like Snake would have felt unnatural after three mainline titles Raiden was also deliberately designed to appeal to female players after the team overheard a pair of female debuggers remark that the more middle aged protagonist of the original Metal Gear Solid was not appealing to them 69 Raiden s presence in the game was kept a secret before release with preview trailers showing Snake in situations and battles that occurred to Raiden in the published game such as a battle against a Harrier on George Washington Bridge and an encounter with the new Cyborg Ninja inside the tanker Plot changes edit According to Kojima in the documentary Metal Gear Saga Vol 1 the original plot of the game revolved around nuclear weapon inspections in Iraq and Iran and had Solid Snake trying to stop the Metal Gear while it was located on an aircraft carrier in a certain time limit while trying to stop Liquid Snake and his group However about six months into the project the political situation in the Middle East became a concern and they decided that they could not make a game with such a plot The tanker in the released game is based on this original plot MGS2 was also intended to reference the novel City of Glass notably in the naming of its characters 72 Raiden s support team originally featured a different field commander named Colonel Daniel Quinn Maxine Max Work an Asian woman who saves game data and quotes Shakespeare and William Doc Wilson the creator of GW All take their names from key characters in the book and all three would have turned out to be AIs None of these characters survived to the final edition their roles being absorbed by other characters namely the Colonel Campbell simulation Rose and Emma Emmerich Peter Stillman however takes his name from another City of Glass character 73 A character named Chinaman originally planned to be included as a villain was later on omitted and his abilities incorporated in Vamp namely the ability to walk on water and walls Chinaman would have movements modeled after Jet Li and have a body tattoo of a dragon that would come alive as soon as he dove into the water 74 Significant changes to the game s ending were made late in development following the September 11 attacks in New York where the finale occurs A sequence depicting Arsenal Gear s displacement of the Statue of Liberty and crashing through half of Manhattan was removed as was a short coda to appear after the credits a breaking newscast showing the Statue of Liberty s new resting place Ellis Island Other deleted scenes included Solidus shreds the New York Stock Exchange flag with his sword during the crash of Arsenal Gear and the fall of this flag over his body after his death and American flags that were supposed to be on all the flagpoles in New York were removed from the title 75 The Japanese spelling of the name Raiden was changed from katakana ライデン to kanji 雷電 due to the former form of the name resembling Bin Laden in Japanese d 76 Music edit See also Discography of the Metal Gear series nbsp TAPPY Harry Gregson Williams Metal Gear Solid Main Theme source source 30 second sample from the main theme of Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty composed by TAPPY and Harry Gregson Williams Problems playing this file See media help Kojima s choice of composer for Metal Gear Solid 2 was highly publicized in the run up to the game s release The original intention was to have film composer Hans Zimmer but his rate was exceptionally high 77 Kojima decided upon Harry Gregson Williams another composer from Zimmer s studio after watching The Replacement Killers with sound director Kazuki Muraoka A mix CD containing 18 tracks of Gregson Williams work was sent to his office Flattered by the research put into creating the CD as some of the tracks were unreleased and that what tracks he d worked on for some films were undocumented he joined the project soon after 78 To bypass the language barrier and allow the score to be developed before the cutscenes were finalized Gregson Williams was sent short phrases or descriptions of the intended action The resultant themes then shaped the action sequences in return Gregson Williams also arranged and re orchestrated the original Metal Gear Solid Main Theme for use in the game s opening title sequence Norihiko Hibino who had worked on previous Konami games such as Metal Gear Ghost Babel was responsible for the in game music He also worked on the majority of the game s cutscenes re orchestrating Gregson Williams Main Theme remix for use in several sequences As with Metal Gear Solid the cutscene music includes orchestral and choir pieces while the in game soundtrack is scored with ambient music However the score as a whole incorporates more electronic elements particularly breakbeat than its predecessor to reflect the plot s thematic thrust of a machine dominated society Rika Muranaka again provided a vocal ending theme a jazz track entitled Can t Say Goodbye to Yesterday sung by Carla White The game s music was released via four CDs Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Soundtrack 2 The Other Side Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance Limited Sorter Black Edition and Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance Ultimate Sorter White Edition The game s main theme was chosen by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for their Greatest Video Game Music compilation 79 and the theme is a key regular in the Video Games Live concert when the Metal Gear Solid segment is introduced 80 A segment of the song s main chorus is included in the closing sequence of Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater 81 82 Release editIn contrast to the original Metal Gear Solid Sons of Liberty was released in North America first on November 13 2001 Because of the later release in the region the protagonist switch was not kept a secret in the Japanese version in the weeks before its release A preview event was held in Zepp Tokyo on the day of the game s North American release in which the character of Raiden was unveiled to the Japanese public 83 As a result the Japanese packaging artwork depicts Raiden standing prominently next to Solid Snake as opposed to only having Snake like on the cover artwork used for the American and later European version A questionnaire was also added in the Japanese version in which players are asked about their experience with the original Metal Gear Solid and action games in general the answers to the questionnaire determines the difficulty level of the game and whether the player starts the game on the Tanker chapter or skips directly to the Plant chapter an option that is only available after clearing the game once in the American version The Japanese version has a few other additional features over the American version including two extra game modes unlocked after completing the main game Boss Survival in which the player replays through the boss battles from the main game as either Snake or Raiden and Casting Theater in which the player can view certain cutscenes from the main game and replace the character models The Japanese version was released on November 29 two weeks after the American version As with the original Metal Gear Solid Sons of Liberty was sold in a limited Premium Package edition in addition to the standard release which was packaged in a black box containing the game itself with a reversible cover art on the DVD case with Snake on one side and Raiden on the other a video DVD known as the Premium Disc which features a collection of Metal Gear Solid related commercials and trailers a metallic Solid Snake figurine and an 80 page booklet titled Metal Gear Chronicle featuring artwork and commentary about the series The European version which was initially scheduled for February 22 2002 was released on March 8 nearly four months after the other regions The added features from the Japanese release were carried over to the European version along with a new difficulty setting European Extreme The European version came packaged with a video DVD titled The Making of Metal Gear Solid 2 As well as collating all of the game s promotional trailers and a GameSpot feature on the game s final days of development it features a titular documentary produced by French television production house FunTV which was filmed at KCE Japan West s Japanese studio The DVD was included as an apology to European consumers for the several months delay that had occurred since the original November release in North America and Japan which saw numerous European gaming magazines detail the various twists in the game Substance edit nbsp A screenshot from one of the training missions in Substance Snake is dressed in a tuxedo Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance the expanded edition of the game was released on the original Xbox and Windows in addition to the PlayStation 2 e The Xbox version was initially released in North America as a timed exclusive for the console on November 5 2002 84 This was followed by the PlayStation 2 version released in Japan on December 19 of the same year Substance was eventually released on PlayStation 2 and Windows in North America and on all three platforms in Europe in March 2003 The console versions were developed internally by KCE Japan whereas the Windows port was outsourced to Success Substance contains several supplemental game modes in addition to the main story mode from the original Sons of Liberty releases The main game contains all the changes and additions that were made in the Japanese and European versions of the original release e g Boss Survival Casting Theater European Extreme along with further additional changes Players can now start the main story mode at the Tanker or Plant chapters without the need to answer a questionnaire first and a new set of collectible dog tags have been added exclusively on the PlayStation 2 version based on names submitted from a second contest in addition to the original 2001 set The visual effect for the thermal goggles was also changed in Substance and the FHM licensed posters that adorned several locations in the original Sons of Liberty version have been replaced with public domain images these were also replaced in The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 The Xbox and Windows versions feature slight dialogue changes during specific control explanations in which the term analog stick was substituted with thumbstick Microsoft s preferred term The controls were also slightly altered for the Xbox version due to its fewer shoulder buttons clicking on the left thumbstick switches between normal and first person view while the Y button serves as a lock on for the player s aim The Xbox version has support for 5 1 surround sound The primary addition of Substance is the inclusion of an extra missions mode with 350 VR missions set in a computer constructed environment and 150 Alternative missions set in areas from the main story The player can choose to play these missions as Solid Snake or Raiden with alternate versions of both characters in different outfits becoming available as the player progresses These missions are divided into eight categories although not all of them are available to every character Sneaking Weapon First Person View which simulates a first person shooter Variety Hold Up Bomb Disposal Elimination and Photograph The other new addition is Snake Tales which is a set of five story based missions featuring Solid Snake as the player character These missions are primarily set in the Big Shell and involve characters from the main story in new roles such as Fatman Emma Vamp and Solidus Snake while one mission set in the Tanker features Meryl Silverburgh These missions which are unrelated to the main campaign and are non canonical have no voice acted cutscenes instead the story is told through text only interludes Exclusive to the PlayStation 2 version is a skateboarding minigame in which the player control Snake or Raiden in a pair of Big Shell themed levels The player has to complete a set of objectives before time runs out which range from collecting dog tags scattered throughout the level to blowing up parts of Big Shell The minigame uses the same engine from Evolution Skateboarding which was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka 85 On release Famitsu magazine scored the PlayStation 2 version of the game a 35 out of 40 86 HD Edition edit Main article Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty HD Edition was released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011 and for the PlayStation Vita in 2012 This version is included in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection but is also available as a digital download on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions feature an increased 720p resolution and a 16 9 aspect ratio providing a clearer and wider view of the player s surroundings compared to the original 480p resolution and 4 3 ratio of the PlayStation 2 version 87 while the PS Vita version runs at qHD resolution 88 Cutscenes can now be viewed in fullscreen or letterboxed format while online achievements trophies have been added as well Most of the additional content from Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance has also been ported in this version such as the Missions and Snake Tales modes although the Skateboarding minigame that was present in the PlayStation 2 version of Substance is absent The PS3 and Vita versions have a transfarring option that allows players to transfer save data between both versions through a Wi Fi connection or a cloud network The Vita version has touchscreen and touchpad support for certain gameplay functions such as switching between items and weapons or zooming into cutscenes Related media editDocumentary edit nbsp The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 cover artThe Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 is an interactive documentary developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami originally released on September 26 2002 89 The game covers the development of Metal Gear Solid 2 in great detail containing internal material developed during the production of Sons of Liberty It includes 3D models of characters scenery and objects that were used in the game as well as unused assets along with corresponding concept art when available All the real time cutscenes or polygon demos are also available to view without audio with the option to pause them at any point change the camera angle and move them frame by frame Other content includes storyboards behind the scenes footage preview trailers music tracks with the option to play alternate patterns when applicable the finalized screenplay Hideo Kojima s original draft available in Japanese only a development timeline and a gallery of Metal Gear Solid related products and merchandise The disc also includes a few VR training missions that were later featured in Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance In Europe the disc was bundled with the PlayStation 2 version of Substance instead of having a stand alone release It was also included in the Japanese 20th Anniversary re release of Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty in July 2007 Comics edit IDW Publishing published a 12 issue comic book adaptation from 2006 to 2007 titled Metal Gear Solid Sons of Liberty illustrated by Ashley Wood who also worked on the comic book adaptation of the previous game and written by Alex Garner This version deviates from the game where many scenes involving Raiden are substituted with Snake A digital version of the comic titled Metal Gear Solid 2 Bande Dessinee was released on June 12 2008 in Japan Originally announced as a PlayStation Portable game similar to the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel the digital comic was released as a DVD film instead A fully voiced version of the graphic novel adaptation of the first Metal Gear Solid is featured as well 90 Novels edit A novelization of the game was written by Raymond Benson and published by Del Rey The American paperback edition was published on November 24 2009 A majority of the character interaction in the novel is taken verbatim from the Codec conversations in the game itself A second novelization by Kenji Yano written under the pen name Hitori Nojima titled Metal Gear Solid Substance II was published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan on September 24 2015 91 This novelization is narrated in real time during the events of the Plant chapter from the perspective of a young man living in Manhattan Reception editReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScoreMetacritic96 100 92 87 100 Substance Xbox PS2 93 94 77 100 Substance PC 95 Review scoresPublicationScoreComputer and Video Games9 10Edge8 10 96 Electronic Gaming Monthly38 5 40 92 Famitsu38 40 97 98 Game Informer10 10 99 GamePro nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 100 GameRevolutionA 99 GamesMaster96 99 GameSpot9 6 10 101 GameSpy nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 102 GamesRadar 96 100 92 GameZone9 8 10 103 IGN9 7 10 104 Next Generation nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 105 PlayStation Official Magazine UK10 10 106 Official U S PlayStation Magazine nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 99 PlayStation The Official Magazine10 10 99 PSM396 99 AwardsPublicationAwardGame InformerGame of the Year 107 PSMGame of the Year 108 CESA AwardExcellence Award 109 EdgeInnovation of the Year 109 Critical reception edit Metal Gear Solid 2 received universal acclaim according to review aggregator Metacritic where it is one of the highest rated games on the website 110 111 and remains the highest rated exclusive on the PlayStation 2 112 Game Informer gave the game a score of 10 10 while GameSpot gave the game a 9 6 rating stating It boils down to this You must play Metal Gear Solid 2 101 Critics praised the title s stealth gameplay and the improvements over its predecessor as well as the game s level of graphical detail particularly in the use of in game graphics to render plot driving cutscenes 113 The title s storyline however was initially divisive 114 and became the source of controversy Hideo Kojima s ambitious script received praise for exploring numerous social philosophical and cyberpunk themes in significant detail and it has often been called the first example of a postmodern video game 39 42 44 40 41 43 115 However some critics considered the plot to be incomprehensible and overly cumbersome for an action game and also felt that the lengthy dialogue sections heavily disrupted the gameplay and that the dialogue itself was overly disjointed and convoluted 116 117 The surprise introduction of Raiden as the protagonist for the majority of the game replacing long time series protagonist Solid Snake was also controversial with fans of Metal Gear Solid 44 Blake Fischer reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation rating it five stars out of five and stated that MGS2 is everything we hoped it would be and more Great action an enthralling story and plenty of surprises makes this the PS2 game to get this holiday season 105 Sales edit As a result of promising trailers and the enormous commercial success of its predecessor Metal Gear Solid there was a high level of anticipation in the gaming community surrounding the release of Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty 118 The game s E3 2000 demo surprised many spectators with its level of realism and played a vital role in the PlayStation 2 console s early success 119 It was the most anticipated game for the PlayStation 2 in 2001 120 In Japan the game sold 400 000 units in its first day in addition to its 600 000 pre orders in the country 121 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty ultimately sold 687 000 units in 2001 making it the tenth best selling video game of 2001 in Japan and the best selling Konami game in Japanese Market of that year as well outselling Yu Gi Oh Duel Monsters 4 Battle of Great Duelists The best selling Game Boy Color game in Japan by approximately 155 000 units 122 123 In the United States the game sold 500 000 units within two days of release and 680 000 copies within five 121 It was the top selling game in November 2001 124 with 1 8 million units sold 125 and topped the video game rental chart the same month 126 It went on to be one of the top four best selling games of 2001 in the United States 127 By July 2006 it had sold 2 million copies and earned 85 000 000 equivalent to 140 000 000 in 2022 in the United States alone Next Generation ranked it as the 16th highest selling game launched for the PlayStation 2 Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in the country 128 In Europe the game received 1 57 million pre orders surpassing Konami s initial expectations of 1 million units 129 108 In the United Kingdom it set a fastest sales record with 200 000 copies sold and 9 million or 13 000 000 equivalent to 21 000 000 in 2022 grossed within three days 130 The PlayStation 2 version received a Platinum sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association ELSPA 131 indicating sales of at least 300 000 copies in the United Kingdom 132 It also received a Platinum Award in Germany for sales above 200 000 units in the country 133 Worldwide the game had sold over 7 million units by 2003 134 As of 2004 update the original release had sold 5 64 million and Substance had sold 1 39 million for a combined 7 03 million units sold worldwide 135 making it the highest selling game in the series 134 Awards edit E3 2000 Game Critics Awards Special Commendation for Graphics 136 E3 2001 Game Critics Awards Best Console Game Best Action Adventure Game 137 Edge Innovation of the Year 109 Game Informer 2001 Game of the Year Awards Game of the Year 107 Japan Game Awards 2001 2002 Excellence Award 109 AIAS 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design 138 GameSpot named Metal Gear Solid 2 the fourth best console game of 2001 and presented the game with its annual Best Music and Biggest Surprise awards among console games It was nominated in the publication s Best PlayStation 2 Game Best Sound Best Story Best Graphics Technical Best Graphics Artistic and Best In Game Water award categories 139 During the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards the Academy of Interactive Arts amp Sciences honored Sons of Liberty with the Sound Design award along with nominations for Art Direction and Character or Story Development 140 Substance was nominated for the 2002 Best Music on Xbox and Best Story on Xbox awards 141 Legacy edit In a 2006 viewer poll conducted by Japan s Famitsu magazine of top 100 games of all time Metal Gear Solid 2 was ranked at No 42 in the poll 142 In the 200th issue of Game Informer Magazine in 2009 its list of top 200 games of all time ranked the game at No 50 on the list 143 Metal Gear Solid 2 was ranked No 7 in Game Informer s 2008 list of the top ten video game openings 144 In 2010 GamesRadar included the game in its list of top seven games with mega plot twists you never saw coming 145 The game was included in Tony Mott and Peter Molyneux s 2011 book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die 146 It has also been listed as one of the best games of all time by Electronic Gaming Monthly 147 Empire 148 149 GameFAQs 150 151 152 153 GameRankings 154 IGN 155 156 157 Metacritic 111 Slant 158 and Stuff 159 160 According to John Linneman of Digital Foundry the game was a technical milestone for its time It served as a killer app showcasing what the PlayStation 2 hardware was capable of with the game setting a new standard in cinematic presentation and attention to detail and demonstrating huge numbers of enemies on screen with bodies that remain in the scene the interaction of light and shadow physics interactions with real world objects multi tiered environments and advanced enemy AI This made possible new gameplay opportunities and a sense of freedom offered by levels designed as mini sandboxes with a tremendous amount of interactivity 161 The early anticipation that surrounded Metal Gear Solid 2 since its E3 2000 demo has been credited as a critical factor in the PlayStation 2 s best selling success and dominance during the sixth console generation as well as the demise of Sega s Dreamcast 119 According to John Szczepaniak MGS2 was the game which single handedly sold Sony s new PlayStation 2 to the masses 162 In 2009 Wired included the game in its list of The 15 Most Influential Games of the Decade at No 13 concluding that every videogame story that subverts a player s expectations owes a debt to the ground broken by Metal Gear Solid 2 163 The artistic influence of Metal Gear Solid 2 can be seen in later video games such as Goichi Suda s similarly postmodern game Killer7 40 the similarly metanarrative game Portal 164 the survival horror title Eternal Darkness Sanity s Requiem and particularly the first person shooter BioShock 165 which featured a similar plot twist to Metal Gear Solid 2 166 Several game mechanics developed in Metal Gear Solid 2 such as the cover system and laser sight mechanic have since become staples of stealth games as well as shooters including Kill Switch 2003 Resident Evil 4 2005 and Gears of War 2006 9 14 The reveal of Metal Gear Solid 2 also led to the development of Splinter Cell which Ubisoft originally intended to be a Metal Gear Solid 2 killer 167 168 According to Kojima Metal Gear Solid 2 paid more attention to the surroundings in real time and later games like Call of Duty have followed this trend of making your surroundings more realistic 70 Neil Druckmann cited the revelation of Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 2 as an inspiration for the bold surprise in The Last of Us Part II 2020 169 In a 20 year retrospective Christian Smith of Collider said that Metal Gear Solid 2 remains a controversial masterpiece that played a pivotal role in redefining the art of making video games after the turn of the millennium 170 In 2021 PC Gamer listed the PC version as one of the worst PC ports MGS2 worked fine on some systems but on others you could expect flickering textures disappearing shadows missing effects frequent crashes and flaky audio 171 Notes edit Windows version developed by Success Japanese メタルギアソリッド2 サンズ オブ リバティ Hepburn Metaru Gia Soriddo Tsu Sanzu obu Ribati Japanese タルギアソリッド2 サブスタンス Hepburn Metaru Gia Soriddo Tsu Sabusutansu See the Japanese language Wikipedia for information about spelling variations of Osama bin Laden Except in Japan where Substance was exclusive to the PlayStation 2 as well This version features Japanese text and English voice acting similar to the earlier Metal Gear Solid Integral the expanded edition of the original Metal Gear Solid References edit Press release MGS2 Substance February 3 2004 Archived from the original on February 3 2004 Retrieved March 4 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Yin Poole Wesley June 21 2023 Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 1 Confirmed for Nintendo Switch IGN Retrieved June 21 2023 a b Metal Gear Solid 2 PS2 Game Guide Absolute PlayStation Archived from the original on January 5 2009 Retrieved August 20 2009 David Low April 2 2007 GO3 Kojima Talks Metal Gear History Future Gamasutra Archived from the original on September 17 2011 Retrieved August 3 2011 Mana s reader review of Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2 Gamespot com Retrieved June 7 2011 Shane Patterson February 3 2009 The Sneaky History of Stealth Games GamesRadar Archived from the original on May 10 2020 Retrieved June 21 2009 Metal Gear Solid 2 R review NTSC UK Archived from the original on June 4 2011 Retrieved August 20 2009 Mark Ryan Sallee Kojima s Legacy Archived from the original on February 25 2012 Retrieved August 20 2009 a b Lindsay Stuart December 2 2009 Did Gears of War Innovate the Cover System Planet Xbox 360 Archived from the original on July 7 2012 Retrieved December 12 2009 a b Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Walkthrough Walkthrough Tanker Part 2 IGN Archived from the original on July 13 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Walkthrough Walkthrough Plant Part 6 IGN Archived from the original on July 13 2011 Hands on The Metal Gear Solid 2 Demo IGN Archived from the original on July 13 2011 Retrieved March 8 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Walkthrough Walkthrough Tanker Part 1 IGN Archived from the original on July 13 2011 a b Gordon Shawn October 11 2009 Greatest Retro Console Games of All Time Game Informer Archived from the original on January 12 2016 Retrieved September 15 2011 Official Site Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami 2001 Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Raiden Rose You re not supposed to be involved What s going on Rose Jack I m a part of this mission Raiden Colonel what the hell is going on Colonel Raiden meet the mission analyst She ll be overseeing the data saving and support Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Iroquois Pliskin I m not an enemy Calm down My name is S My name is Pliskin Iroquois Pliskin Lieutenant Junior Grade Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Peter Stillman My name is Peter Peter Stillman Iroquois Pliskin A lecturer at NSEOD Indian Head Also consultant to the NYPD Bomb Squad Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Iroquois Pliskin Raiden let me introduce you to my partner Otacon Raiden Otacon Otacon Hey Raiden Nice to meet you Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Mr X I m like you I have no name Raiden Are you Mr X Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Mr X Be careful There are Claymore mines around there Raiden Who is this Mr X Stealth equipped Claymores invisible to the naked eye Use the mine detector Raiden Identify yourself Mr X Just call me Deepthroat Raiden Deepthroat You mean from Shadow Moses Mr X Mr X then Raiden Mr X now is it Why would it matter if I called you Deepthroat Mr X Never mind about that Mr X Let s just say I m one of your fans Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Colonel The terrorists call themselves Sons of Liberty Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Colonel Former members of the Navy SEAL s special anti terrorist training squad Dead Cell Russian private army members may also be involved It s a highly trained group and they have the Big Shell under complete control Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Raiden What was that man just now Iroquois Pliskin That blood sucking freak That was Vamp Raiden What is he Iroquois Pliskin One of the members of Dead Cell Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Fatman I am Fatman I am the greatest humanity has to offer and the lowest Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Fortune Maybe you can give me death My name is Fortune Lucky in war and nothing else And without a death to call my own Hurry Kill me please Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Colonel The name of their leader is Solid Snake Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Colonel Right But it can t be THE Solid Snake He died two years ago on that tanker after he blew it sky high Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Raiden I saw a female soldier Russian Iroquois Pliskin Must be Olga Gurlukovich Raiden How do you know Iroquois Pliskin Unlike you I ve been briefed Raiden She s not a Dead Cell Iroquois Pliskin No she commands a Russian private army Raiden They must be the ones patrolling the Big Shell Iroquois Pliskin That s right She s led the group ever since her old man Colonel Gurlukovich died Watch yourself with her She s a tough one Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Solidus Snake Ocelot I leave this place in your hands I have the intruder to take care of Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Raiden Wait a second Isn t Emma Emmerich Otacon My sister Raiden What s she doing here Otacon You got me She s a computer whiz who specializes in neural AI and ultra variable volume data analysis using complex logic How she got involved in weapons development is beyond me Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Otacon We ve ID d the old man Solid Snake Who is he Otacon Sergei Gurlukovich Solid Snake Gurlukovich One of Ocelot s allies Otacon Yeah the GRU colonel Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Raiden Hostages huh Colonel A VIP from one of the major conservation groups and one from our own government the Most Important Person in a sense Raiden The most important person Colonel James Johnson Raiden The President Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Revolver Ocelot I always knew the DIA turned out second rate liars Richard Ames What are you talking about Revolver Ocelot No need for denials You know what you are Colonel Ames Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami Liquid Snake It s been a while brother Solid Snake Who are you Liquid Snake You know who I am Solid Snake Liquid Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami What a crock What did you do with that little cheat sheet I made you Snake What s going on over there Mei Ling Oh hi Snake Do you know that Otacon s been Otacon Er Mei Ling we re in the middle of a mission and everything So can we you know Mei Ling Fine Sure And Snake the real meaning of Care avoids err is that if you re cautious you can avoid making serious mistakes Even if you ve gotten used to the mission watch what you do Good luck a b How Metal Gear Solid manipulated its players warning us of an age of Fake News Cambridge Analytica and data surveillance GamesRadar March 30 2018 Archived from the original on November 27 2018 Retrieved August 6 2018 a b People think this scene from Metal Gear Solid 2 predicted a lot of 2017 JOE December 2017 Archived from the original on March 24 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 a b c d Dr Chris Zimbaldi Konkle April 30 2004 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty as a Post Modern Tragedy metalgearsolid org Archived from the original on April 15 2012 Retrieved February 21 2007 a b c Mark Ryan Sallee June 29 2006 Kojima s Legacy IGN Archived from the original on March 17 2012 Retrieved June 20 2009 a b c James Howell amp Ryan Payton March 20 2008 The Kojima Productions Report Session 084 Kojima Productions Archived from the original on June 4 2009 Retrieved November 24 2009 a b c d Matthew Weise 2003 How Videogames Express Ideas PDF Level Up Digital Games Research Conference Massachusetts Institute of Technology Archived PDF from the original on July 10 2012 Retrieved November 21 2009 a b Games as Art The videogames that prove Rogert Ebert wrong IGN July 31 2007 Archived from the original on December 16 2009 Retrieved November 24 2009 a b c David Radd November 10 2009 Controversial Games Dealing with Fan Backlash Industry Gamers Archived from the original on November 18 2009 Retrieved November 21 2009 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons Of Liberty Cyberpunk Review Archived from the original on November 23 2013 Retrieved February 21 2007 Artemio Urbina March 15 2002 Metal Gear Solid 2 Ending Analysis Junker HQ Archived from the original on February 23 2007 Retrieved February 21 2007 Dr Chris Zimbaldi 2004 MGS2 Story Ending Symbolism Analysis metalgearsolid org Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved February 21 2007 a b Iovanovici Zoran June 28 2010 Analysis What Metal Gear Solid 2 Teaches Us About The Information Age Gamasutra UBM Technology Group Archived from the original on March 26 2020 Retrieved March 26 2020 Huntemann Nina B Payne Matthew Thomas 2009 Joystick Soldiers The Politics of Play in Military Video Games Routledge p 358 ISBN 978 1 135 84281 9 Archived from the original on July 15 2020 Retrieved July 3 2020 Wright Talmadge J Embrick David G Lukacs Andras 2010 Utopic Dreams and Apocalyptic Fantasies Critical Approaches to Researching Video Game Play Lexington Books p 88 ISBN 978 0 7391 4702 3 Archived from the original on November 7 2020 Retrieved July 3 2020 GameSpy s Top MGS Moments Metal Gear Solid 2 Day Two GameSpy May 16 2008 p 5 Archived from the original on March 19 2012 Retrieved November 25 2009 Kris Pigna April 15 2010 Kojima I ll Have to Leave the Industry if Next Game Goes Wrong 1UP com Archived from the original on May 30 2013 Retrieved March 8 2011 Xav de Matos January 28 2009 Gamasutra examines sexuality homophobia in Persona 4 Joystiq Archived from the original on June 29 2011 Retrieved March 8 2011 Parkinson Matthew March 19 2018 Top 10 Movies for Fans of Metal Gear Solid Gameranx Complex Media Archived from the original on March 20 2018 Retrieved May 31 2019 Exhibitions The Art of Video Games American Art Archived from the original on May 28 2016 Retrieved June 25 2011 Higgin Tanner 2010 Turn the Game Console Off Now War Subjectivity and Control in Metal Gear Solid 2 In Nina B Huntemann amp Matthew Thomas Payne ed Joystick Soldiers The Politics of Play in Military Video Games New York Routledge pp 15 6 amp 252 71 ISBN 978 0 415 99659 4 Retrieved December 22 2011 Poole Steven August 31 2012 Still Playing Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons Of Liberty Edge Bath Future Publishing Ltd Archived from the original on September 2 2012 Retrieved September 1 2012 a b Patrick Dugan July 29 2011 Analysis Socially Awkward How Metal Gear Solid 2 Predicted Facebook Gamasutra Archived from the original on May 10 2012 Retrieved June 1 2012 a b Best Death Stranding plot theories analysed from virtual reality to parallel universes and religious purgatory GamesRadar May 30 2019 Archived from the original on June 2 2019 Retrieved June 3 2019 a b Wiltshire Alex Flashback How Metal Gear Solid 2 Foretold Our Post Truth Future Glixel Rolling Stone Archived from the original on November 19 2016 Retrieved November 16 2016 a b Why Metal Gear Solid 2 s ending speech still matters Destructoid March 27 2018 Archived from the original on March 24 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 Meekin Paul December 6 2017 YouTuber Explains How Metal Gear Solid 2 Predicted Fake News Phenomenon Heavy com Archived from the original on March 25 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 https nowloading co posts 4199069 amp permanent dead link a b Mroz Adrian 2018 Filtration Failure On Selection for Societal Sanity Kultura i Historia 34 2 Archived from the original on November 7 2020 Retrieved March 24 2019 Kunzelman Cameron June 30 2020 The Scary Political Relevance of Metal Gear Solid 2 Waypoint Vice Media Archived from the original on November 27 2018 Retrieved March 23 2019 Scoville Max May 31 2019 OPINION Death Stranding Won t Be As Fun As Death Stranding Theories IGN Archived from the original on June 3 2019 Retrieved June 3 2019 a b Orland Kyle August 15 2006 MGS2 design secrets translated Joystiq Archived from the original on June 12 2008 Retrieved December 21 2011 a b Kojima Hideo January 8 1999 Metal Gear Solid 2 Grand Game Plan PDF Konami Computer Entertainment Japan Archived from the original PDF on August 14 2006 Retrieved August 14 2006 a b Keighley Geoff May 16 2012 November 22 2001 The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2 Gamespot Archived from the original on September 21 2016 Retrieved August 29 2016 a b Grajales Lorenzo July 23 2012 Hideo Kojima Reflects on 25 Years of Metal Gear PlayStation Blog Archived from the original on August 30 2012 Retrieved September 14 2012 Let the battle begin The Independent April 18 2004 pp 116 118 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Information from Answers com Archived from the original on May 20 2012 Retrieved June 7 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Grand Game Plan Page 26 The Kojima Productions Network Archived from the original PDF on July 23 2011 Retrieved September 14 2010 6 20 Retrieved Feb 17 2010 Youtube com June 28 2009 Archived from the original on November 20 2019 Retrieved June 7 2011 Hideo Kojima 2002 The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 DVD New Zealand Konami Leone Matt November 21 2011 Patchwork Fixes How Japan s Earthquake Changed its Developers 1UP com p 2 Archived from the original on June 24 2012 Retrieved November 30 2011 Moore Jared September 22 2021 Hideo Kojima Originally Wanted Hans Zimmer to Compose Metal Gear Solid 2 s Music IGN Retrieved October 18 2023 Harry Gregson Williams interview in The Making of Documentary in the Bonus Making Of DVD London Philharmonic Orchestra To Release Video Game Themed Album Archived from the original on October 15 2011 Retrieved October 16 2011 Video Games live http Video games live Archived from the original on May 31 2012 Retrieved June 17 2012 4 40 Mark and 6 53 Mark the MGS2 theme creeps in upon Big Boss praise YouTube Archived from the original on August 5 2016 Retrieved November 30 2016 Track 37 Debreifing Amazon Archived from the original on November 7 2020 Retrieved September 4 2017 SBG MGS2完成披露パーティ開催 新キャラも発表 Metal Gear Solid 2 Completion Announcement Event New Character Unveilment IT Media in Japanese November 13 2001 Archived from the original on February 2 2017 Retrieved August 21 2016 Xbox News Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance Ships for Xbox web archive org March 11 2005 Retrieved November 22 2023 Greg Kasavin Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance PlayStation 2 Archived from the original on March 29 2012 Retrieved June 9 2008 プレイステーション2 メタルギア ソリッド2 サブスタンス Weekly Famitsu No 915 Pt 2 Pg 85 June 30 2006 Leadbetter Richard March 17 2012 Tech Analysis Metal Gear Solid Remastered Eurogamer net Archived from the original on September 1 2016 Retrieved July 31 2016 Leadbetter Richard June 21 2012 Tech Analysis Metal Gear Solid HD on PS Vita Eurogamer net Archived from the original on August 4 2016 Retrieved July 31 2016 Press release Document of MGS2 March 8 2005 Archived from the original on March 8 2005 Retrieved March 8 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link 送料無料 METAL GEAR SOLID 2 BANDE DESSINEE DVD 商品情報 コナミスタイル in Japanese Archived from the original on January 2 2014 Retrieved June 10 2008 Hitori Nojima 2015 メタルギア ソリッド サブスタンスII Metal Gear Solid Substance II in Japanese Kadokawa Shoten ISBN 978 4 04 103229 9 a b c Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2 Reviews Metacritic November 12 2001 Archived from the original on May 5 2019 Retrieved June 7 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance for Xbox Reviews Metacritic Retrieved February 20 2023 Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance for PlayStation 2 Reviews Metacritic Retrieved February 20 2023 Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance for PC Reviews Metacritic Retrieved February 20 2023 Anon December 29 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons Of Liberty Review Edge Future plc Archived from the original on January 27 2012 Retrieved September 1 2012 Originally published in Anon 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Edge No 106 Bath Future Publishing Archived from the original on January 27 2012 Retrieved September 1 2012 プレイステーション2 メタルギアソリッド2 サンズ オブ リバティ Weekly Famitsu No 915 Pt 2 Pg 67 June 30 2006 Famtisu Scores Archived from the original on February 20 2009 Retrieved November 23 2009 a b c d e f Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty for PlayStation 2 GameRankings November 12 2001 Archived from the original on June 12 2019 Retrieved June 7 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Review GamePro Archived from the original on November 23 2008 Retrieved June 7 2011 a b Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Review GameSpot November 12 2001 Archived from the original on January 25 2019 Retrieved June 7 2011 Buecheler Christopher Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Review GameSpy Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved June 7 2011 PlayStation 2 Video Game Reviews Gamezone offers video game reviews for all of your favorite systems GameZone com GameZone Archived from the original on April 10 2009 Retrieved June 7 2011 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Review IGN November 16 2001 Archived from the original on February 15 2012 Retrieved June 7 2011 a b Fischer Blake January 2002 Finals Next Generation Vol 5 no 1 Imagine Media pp 72 73 Official PlayStation 2 Magazine issue 17 February 2002 pages 82 89 a b Games of 2001 Game Informer January 2002 p 52 a b News Release Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Konami February 14 2002 Retrieved November 8 2021 a b c d METAL GEAR SOLID2 SONS OF LIBERTY June 12 2002 Archived from the original on December 28 2017 Retrieved March 24 2008 Top PlayStation 2 Games Metacritic Archived from the original on April 16 2016 Retrieved July 31 2015 a b Game Releases by Score Metacritic Archived from the original on December 4 2017 Retrieved December 17 2011 Dietz Jason March 28 2017 All Time Best Games on Every Platform Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Metacritic Archived from the original on June 27 2018 Retrieved March 11 2020 Greg Kasavin November 13 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Review GameSpot Archived from the original on January 25 2019 Retrieved October 1 2015 Liam Martin August 30 2009 Feature Divisive Games Digital Spy Archived from the original on October 23 2012 Retrieved April 1 2011 Myles Aaron January 4 2012 Metal Gear Solid s postmodern legacy Nightmaremode net Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty ps2 2001 Reviews Metacritic com November 12 2001 Archived from the original on August 19 2012 Retrieved June 7 2011 25 Most Overrated Games of All Time GameSpy 2003 Archived from the original on August 18 2004 Retrieved October 2 2015 E3 2000 IGN Archived from the original on September 25 2015 Retrieved October 1 2015 The hottest ticket at E3 2000 was a five minute video clip that Konami every hour on the hour on a gigantic screen outside its booth That video showed scenes from Metal Gear Solid 2 a b Parish Jeremy September 2010 Enter PS2 9 9 99 A Dreamcast Memorial A decade later what is the Dreamcast s legacy 1UP com p 3 Archived from the original on March 11 2014 Retrieved September 16 2011 R I P PlayStation The best of 1995 2001 Hyper No 90 April 2001 February 28 2001 pp 44 51 a b Walter George Wong Amos January 2002 Metal Gear Solid Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine 16 33 34 GBC20周年企画 2 いちばん売れたゲームボーイカラー専用ソフトは 遊 戯 王DM4 では2位は GBC専用ソフト販売ランキングTOP10 Famitsu in Japanese Enterbrain October 21 2018 p 1 Retrieved October 21 2018 2001年間ゲームソフト売上ランキング 2001 Annual Game Software sales ranking EntameData in Japanese FC2 NPDFunworldSM Reports Positive Impact of New Gaming Console Systems Adds to an Already Profitable Video Game Industry NPD Press Release The NPD Group December 19 2001 Archived from the original on February 20 2002 Retrieved November 3 2021 Metal Gear Solid 2 hits the 1 8 million mark Gaming Intelligence Agency November 28 2001 Retrieved November 8 2021 VidTrac Results Interactive Entertainment IE November 30 2001 Archived from the original on December 1 2001 Retrieved November 9 2021 NPD REPORTS ANNUAL 2001 U S INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SALES SHATTER INDUSTRY RECORD Press release Port Washington New York NPD Group February 7 2002 Archived from the original on August 14 2004 Retrieved January 27 2015 Campbell Colin Keiser Joe July 29 2006 The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century Next Generation Archived from the original on October 28 2007 Varanini Giancarlo 2002 Metal Gear Solid 2 worldwide sales GameSpot Archived from the original on December 24 2015 Retrieved October 31 2020 Solid sales for Metal Gear BBC News BBC March 11 2002 Retrieved January 2 2021 ELSPA Sales Awards Platinum Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association Archived from the original on May 15 2009 Caoili Eric November 26 2008 ELSPA Wii Fit Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK Gamasutra Archived from the original on September 18 2017 Platin Award Sony PlayStation 2 Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland in German Archived from the original on August 2 2003 Retrieved November 6 2021 a b Big Gaz Metal Gear Solid 3 Exclusive For Sony GamePlanet Archived from the original on August 2 2003 Retrieved January 20 2018 Million Seller Genealogy Konami Computer Entertainment Japan KCEJ Konami December 31 2004 Archived from the original on March 15 2005 Retrieved September 11 2021 2000 Game Awards Game Critics Awards Archived from the original on November 2 2017 Retrieved August 17 2012 2001 Game Awards Game Critics Awards Archived from the original on November 2 2017 Retrieved August 17 2012 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Academy of Interactive Arts amp Science Archived from the original on May 10 2012 Retrieved August 17 2012 GameSpot VG Staff February 23 2002 GameSpot s Best and Worst Video Games of 2001 GameSpot Archived from the original on August 3 2002 D I C E Awards By Video Game Details Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty interactive org Academy of Interactive Arts amp Sciences Retrieved September 19 2023 GameSpot Staff December 30 2002 GameSpot s Best and Worst of 2002 GameSpot Archived from the original on February 7 2003 Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 Edge March 3 2006 Archived from the original on February 23 2012 Retrieved November 26 2009 Top 200 Games Game Informer No 200 December 2009 The Top Ten Video Game Openings Game Informer 187 November 2008 38 Meikleham Dave November 15 2010 The Top 7 Games with mega plot twists you never saw coming GamesRadar Archived from the original on October 13 2012 Retrieved July 12 2011 Mott Tony Molyneux Peter December 5 2011 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die Octopus Publishing Group Hachette ISBN 978 1 84403 715 5 The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time Electronic Gaming Monthly February 6 2006 Archived from the original on October 17 2012 Retrieved November 19 2013 The 100 Greatest Games Empire 2009 The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time Empire August 15 2014 Archived from the original on September 24 2014 Retrieved September 25 2014 Spring 2004 Best Game Ever GameFAQs Archived from the original on February 9 2009 Retrieved July 16 2008 Fall 2005 10 Year Anniversary Contest The 10 Best Games Ever GameFAQs Archived from the original on July 16 2015 Retrieved July 16 2008 Spring 2009 Best Game Ever GameFAQs Archived from the original on January 2 2016 Retrieved December 13 2014 Top 100 Archived December 8 2014 at the Wayback Machine GameFAQs 2014 All Time Best Archived August 5 2014 at the Wayback Machine GameRankings Top 99 Games of All Time Readers Picks IGN 2005 Archived from the original on February 18 2009 Retrieved December 13 2014 IGN s Top 100 Games Reader Submitted Poll 2006 IGN 2006 Archived from the original on April 25 2015 Retrieved November 19 2013 The Top 100 Games of All Time Archived December 3 2007 at the Wayback Machine IGN 2007 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time Archived July 12 2015 at the Wayback Machine Slant 2014 100 Greatest Games Stuff pp 116 126 October 2008 100 Best Games Ever Stuff February 2014 pp 87 99 Linneman John April 23 2017 Metal Gear Solid 2 was the game that changed everything for PS2 Digital Foundry Eurogamer Archived from the original on March 24 2019 Retrieved March 23 2019 Metal Gear Hardcore Gaming 101 Archived from the original on January 2 2014 Kohler Chris December 24 2009 The 15 Most Influential Games of the Decade Wired Archived from the original on September 8 2011 Retrieved September 10 2011 Good Owen November 8 2009 The Meta Narrative That Pulls Back The Curtain For All Games Kotaku Australia Australia Kotaku Archived from the original on March 20 2013 Retrieved June 1 2012 GameSpy s Top MGS Moments Metal Gear Solid 2 Day Two GameSpy May 16 2008 p 3 Archived from the original on September 7 2012 Retrieved November 25 2009 Kessler Matthew April 15 2009 The End of Metal Gear Solid 4 makes me Crazy Gamasutra Archived from the original on June 25 2012 Retrieved December 22 2011 Dyer Mitch February 3 2014 House of Dreams The Ubisoft Montreal Story IGN Archived from the original on November 7 2018 Retrieved November 26 2018 Interview with Clint Hocking GameCritics Archived from the original on January 11 2020 Retrieved November 26 2018 The Last of Us 2 director explains its strict review embargo and sneaky trailers GameRevolution June 25 2020 Archived from the original on July 3 2020 Retrieved July 3 2020 Smith Christian August 8 2021 Metal Gear Solid 2 20 Years Later Still a Controversial Masterpiece Collider Archived from the original on August 21 2021 Retrieved August 21 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Elliott Matt April 23 2021 The worst PC ports ever PC Gamer Future plc Retrieved February 20 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Official websitePortals nbsp Japan nbsp Speculative fiction nbsp Society nbsp Video games Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty amp oldid 1186377393 Plot, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.