Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is the refinement of the first game, and sets the bar of what is to expect from the rest of the series.

Metal Gear 2 to Metal Gear Solid is what Zelda a Link to the Past is to the Zelda Ocarina of time. The foundation of mechanics and structure that the series will build upon starts here.

You will instantly notice there is much more story here than the first game. In both cutscenes and codec calls, each character is more refined and has a personality. This is where Kojima's director strengths shine, and where he establishes that he is out to make a game that is more than just a generic stealth game.

The gameplay is slightly improved from the first. Controls are mostly the same but now you can go prone, which adds a lot for a stealth game. You can also knock on walls to get attention. These 2 additions alone add a lot more depth to the gameplay.

The game is still full of backtracking like the first, but it's not as frustrating as backtracking is now rewarding with the game constantly providing new items for you.

There are still many "cryptic" moments here so I still suggest using a guide when needed.

The biggest downside is that the game is like 12fps. It feels like I'm playing a Nokia mobile game most of the time. This honestly almost ruined the experience for me. However I think it got improved in the new ports of the game. For full clarity I was playing the MSX2 version.

Overall MG2 is just a better version of the first game and is a must play for any metal gear fan. If you like the first Metal Gear Solid, I highly suggest checking this out.

Played: 10 hours 38 minutes
Platform: Xbox360 (as a part of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection)

A large upgrade from the previous installment that laid the groundwork for where the series was ultimately headed. The lengthy exposition dumps of military lore, the familiar faces of the characters, the insane levels of betrayal and backstabery from all sides, and of course the newly incorporated mechanics that would deepen the stealth of the series. Although the gameplay is still a bit clunky, I still had a lot of fun with it more than 30 years after its initial release!

I enjoyed seeing where the series started with the first Metal Gear, but this game has a lot more of the troupes that the series is known for. It also contains a lot more depth with its characters, story, and convoluted lore/timeline that would only get more and more hectic as the series progresses. It feels a lot more in line with the epic, 80s action-flick vibe that Kojima was trying to accomplish in the first game, except it's much more fleshed out and focused narratively. The gameplay adds crawling and crouching, which adds a surprising amount of depth to the stealth. It also adds the ability to knock on surfaces to attract attention, which also plays a huge role in the series from this point forward. The ability to crawl through vents, hide behind crates, and lure your enemies with distractions gives the player so many different options to take on the scenarios, and that only deepens the immersion for the player. Thankfully the gameplay never stopped evolving from this point on!

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake isn't a necessary game to sit down and play, especially in a time where we have much more engaging and polished versions of this sort of gameplay, but if you're a fan of the series I would highly suggest checking this one out! Out of the two original games released on the MSX, this is obviously the superior game. It has a much more in-depth story, the gameplay is more challenging and complex, and the characters are becoming more filled out and memorable. The series only gets better from here!

It's far far better than the first Metal Gear, it still has those frustrating moments but it keeps you interested till the end, it has a better narrative and story, definitely set the narration language for the future games in the series.
Play it on the HD Collection or Legacy Collection, avoid the MSX version.

Metal Gear's aquivalent to Zelda's Link to the Past. It perfected the formula in 2D and provided the blueprint for the first 3D game to follow in its foot steps.

На свій час гра просто неймовірно крута. Навіть зараз, у 2023, вона грається вельми захопливо, завдяки виваженому геймплею, зламам 4 стіни та цікавим головоломкам. У ній натурально можна заблукати :)