Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review

In conclusion, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was a game that was truly ahead of its time. Its postmodern narrative might have sounded superfluous and overly philosophical to the nay-sayers at the time, but remain as true as steel in the Information Age we live and breathe in. It takes the elaborate stage that Kojima founded with Metal Gear Solid in 1998, and cranks all of the directorial devices to eleven - delivering a game with better dialogues, a cast of complex and double-crossing characters, Raiden's compelling character arc, and so much more.

The addition of a proper first-person aiming mode and the added tools and opportunities of tactical espionage are a perfect match to the improved enemy AI - and as a result, sneaking past the many arenas of Big Shell remains a joy and an act of personal expression to this date. The boss fights might not be as memorable as the original, but they aren't a slouch by any means either.

[xMiketheManx]

Man...the first section on the ship blew my mind! This game was way ahead of it's time.

[leonkennedy]

After the masterpiece of MGS1, this was my most anticipated game of all time. The only reason I bought Zone of Enders was to play the bonus Demo of MGS2. Which I must have played over a dozen times

[mau]

I could’ve sworn I clicked on an old review that was thrown into my feed by ‘recommended’, but didn’t realize you guys *just* posted this. Either way, it’s always fun watching a review that’s revisiting a classic. Love the MGS series.

[satiivaindiica]

It's hard to believe this was a PS2 game and not a PS3 game. I'm still blown away with how much this was ahead of it's time. Just shows you what Hideo can accomplish.

[shareofmoney]

My favorite game of the series and my first exposure to the franchise. It has an amazing legacy.

[MegaMarshGaming]

MGS 2 is one of the greatest sequels of all time. Well done Hideo Kogima 🙏👏

[snake]

One of the most important games of all time, 20 years later it has definitely aged well 👍

[SuperStarO]

MGS2 & 1 are just honestly so legendary. I’m happy I was a kid when these incredible games released & they got to help keep me occupied & feeding my mind for so many hours for so many years. Love you KOJIMA

[cls]

MGS1 and MGS2 are both very iconic games of my childhood. Each easily being the best games of PS1 and PS2 both. Games nowadays lack what these games had back in the day- originality, unbeatable storylines, plot twists and turns, having you on the edge of your seat, fiction being tied into real life, etc. I could go on and on. I've tried a lot of newer games and while the graphics are now better than ever- they just keep copying other games and trying to 1-up each other. No originality, no great plot, just fancy gameplay. I sure do miss the era of the 90s-early 2000s. Only ppl from my generation understands that. Kids nowadays don't know what real games are

[Sharpster]

I’m playing this in 2022, going for the platinum on the HD collection version. Still holds up amazingly well after 20 years. Such an incredible series

[joseenrico]

Love love this game, especially the truth bombs in the end, this game is way ahead of its time

[nicarlos]

I still remember as a 12 year old on my PS1 watching the reveal trailer for MGS2 on a demo disk... I can't remember which one, but it was prior to the release of the PS2 if I remember correctly. The huge leap graphically in what MGS2 was gonna bring to the table simply blew me away. In my head it was close to real life visuals in comparison to the PS1. Surprisingly MGS2 holds up well for a 21 year old game. That speaks to the incredible work from the dev team.

[frenchfrysz]

This was the first game I got with my PS2 in like 2002.

[alfmustdie]

21 year for this review … awesome game !!! Jack remember what day is tomorrow?!

[michaelvillalobos]

Getting a ps2 with this game for Christmas is cherished memory.

[solidaz]

The most hyped game in history....the anticipation, excitement and wait for this will never be eclipsed....After the Legendary Epic Masterpiece of MGS I loved this game....way ahead of its time....Best Intro ever...Tanker chapter still legendary....not gonna lie the character switch was hard to take but I understood it...if only we had a game showing what snake was doing at the same time or going after Olgas baby and finding the patriots!

[Wade]

Remember when my dad got the game and the box had two DVDs with the 2nd being like the Special Features with the Making Of as well as trailers and other videos....

Why don't we get stuff like that anymore?

Even instruction manuals that were digitised and came with PS3 games at first are long gone now....

[patrick]

Man this was is my favorite game ever by far! I have finished at least 200 times, it blew up my mind when I was a kid and I was obsessed with it to the point of finishing the game and immediately start a new game and enjoying as much as the previous time.
Nothing comes close to this master piece in my opinion.

[LINKchris]

MGS1 is my favourite game of all time and still this game managed to amaze me just as much as it. MGS2 is a masterpiece.

[AllThingsInfamous]

Loving these retro reviews. Takes me back to when they first came out.