Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a video game that consists of 10 releases
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The long awaited sequel to the beloved PlayStation game Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was released on November 13th, 2001. MGS2 does not, as many players had hoped, star the former FOXHOUND agent Solid Snake. Instead, Hideo Kojima took players into the mind of supersoldier Raiden, a stealth operative on his first live combat scenario. His objective is to stop a group of terrorists, calling themselves the Sons of Liberty, from blowing up a large oil cleanup facility and killing the President of the United States. MGS2 wowed owners with its stunning visual quality and unparalleled (for the time) cutscenes (with the most believable animation yet seen in a video game). However, the game's convoluted story, excessive use of Codec conversations, awkward controls, and new protagonist turned off many players, relegating Raiden to a joke character(even with Kojima himself).
The game opens with Snake as the main character in the prologue mission. Snake and Otacon have formed their own non-profit organization called Philanthropy between MGS1 and MGS2; the purpose of this organization is to find and hunt Metal Gears. Also between the two games, Revolver Ocelot has recovered the plans for Metal Gear REX and leaked them on the internet. As a result the world has gone Metal Gear crazy and new varieties of them are being produced. Snake, on this mission, is sent to take photographs of a new Metal Gear called Metal Gear RAY. This one was developed by the U.S. Navy thus it is aquatic and this mission takes place on a large freighter. The boat is hijacked by Russian terrorists led in part by Ocelot. Upon reaching where Metal Gear RAY is being held, Snake takes the photographs he came for. However, Ocelot then reveals himself and hijacks RAY whilst under the control of Liquid Snake (Ocelot having taken Liquid's arm after his was cut off by the Cyborg Ninja in MGS1). Liquid Ocelot escapes with Metal Gear Ray after sinking the tanker,and Snake is presumed dead.
The game's true mission opens with our new hero Raiden infiltrating the Big Shell research facility. The president has been taken hostage and the terrorists, k nown as Dead Cell, are threatening to launch a nuclear weapon. The leader of the operation is the third clone of Big Boss, Solidus Snake. Raiden must confront Dead Cell, which features an immortal psychic named Fortune, a mad bomber named Fatman, and a man who acts like a vampire conveniently named Vamp. Snake is also along for the ride, disguised as a Marine by the name of Iroquois Pliskin. While you don't play as Snake he does provide key support and advice to Raiden during the mission.
Raiden finds his way to the President and learns several important things. First, Big Shell is actually a giant Metal Gear called Arsenal Gear. Second Arsenal houses a powerful super computer called GW which is responsible for controlling and organizing all information we humans are aware of in the digital age. Lastly, the president informs Raiden that the United States is in fact run by a small organization of people called The Patriots. Raiden and Snake recover Otacon's sister, Emma and install a virus to destroy GW but not before Emma is killed by Vamp. The destroying of GW causes Colonel Campbell to constantly call Raiden and speak irrelevant phrases and state things irrelevant to the mission, often not making any sense at all. T his also appears Colonel Campbell's face to appear disfigured and buggy over the Codec.
A number of intense action sequences shortly follow with Raiden fighting off 25 Metal Gear RAYs alone. He then confronts Solidus, who was a twist ed father figure of sorts for him, in a climactic battle on the roof of Federal Hall. Raiden learns that The Patriots were attempting to control what kind of information is kept and what is left behind on the internet in an attempt to make future historians see a history that The Patriots want them to see. The Patriots also reveal that the entire Big Shell Incident was an elaborate scheme of theirs to make Raiden into a soldier who was equally as skilled as Solid Snake. This new Snake would be forged in battle (as opposed to using VR Training), which explains how the events of this game were at their core so similar to those of the first Metal Gear Solid. This was Hideo Kojima's kick in the balls to everyone who said they wanted a sequel to MGS to be completely different and revolutionary but would in reality turn against him if the formula was tampered with. Solidus was trying to overthrow the Patriots and use Manhattan as his base of operations, and since he believed Raiden's neural implant could lead him back to the Patriots, they duel. Solidus is killed and Raiden meets Snake again to learn that he and Otacon are going to try to track down the Patriots. At the end of the game, Raiden and Rose are reunited.
After the credits, Otacon talks to Snake about the GW virus disc and reveals that all twelve members of the Patriots have been dead for approximately 100 years.
MGS2 refined the control scheme from the original Metal Gear Solid rather than completely overhaul it. Players will once again try to sneak by enemy guards, avoid being seen on cameras, hide bodies, and fight ridiculous bosses. Players still viewed the action from a top-down perspective (though occasionally the camera would switch to more cinematic perspectives during key moments of the game).
The most important refinement in MGS2 was to the game's shooting mechanic. In the original game, Snake had to fire at enemies from the same top down view. The perspective was optimal for sneaking, but
cumbersome in a situation that required accurate shooting. MGS2 added the ability to fire weapons from a First-Person perspective. Snake could still shoot without entering First-Person, but holding down the fire button while in a First Person View mode would cause Snake to raise his gun up, allowing him to aim using the weapon's sights or laser pointer. This posed a new problem however, as the only way to lower the gun without shooting would be to go to the weapons menu and unequip it while still holding down the First-Person button and the fire button. This pretzel grip was hard to grasp for some, but in general, players seemed to agree that this first person firing was preferable to the shooting mechanics of the previous game.
Raiden may have been able to dish out the lead, but MGS2 also provided players with a number of options should sneaking be the optimal course of action. Most obviously, Raiden came into combat with a silenced, one-shot tranquilizer pistol, which could knock opponents unconscious (faster or slower depending on where they were hit). Bodies could now be stored in lockers to keep them out of sight from other guards. Raiden could, like snake, press up against walls and peak down hallways, but MGS2 provided Raiden the ability to pop out into the hallway and fire shots. Raiden could also move much more slowly and quietly than Snake, keeping him moving without heard by guards.
MGS2 also offered significant upgrades to the guard routines featured in Metal Gear Solid for the PlayStation. Similar to how guards could become suspicious when seeing footprints in the snow in the original, MGS2's guards will notice noises made by the player (hence Raiden's new ability to walk slowly and silently). Guards who spotted Raiden would automatically radio for additional units to combat the player. Avoiding the guards in their alert phase (by hiding in lockers, under tables, etc.) would trigger the guard's caution phase. Guards won't be actively pursuing Raiden, but will be much more alert in this phase, searching rooms and lockers, and constantly radioing back to headquarters. If the player stays for too long in the alert phase, additional, stronger units (armed with better weapons and shields) will try to overwhelm Raiden.
Players with a steady aim can stop a guard from calling for more units by quickly shooting his walkie-talkie before he has time to use it. If the guard starts requesting for backup and the player then shots the walkie-talkie, HQ will become suspicious and send reinforcements either way. If the player shoot the walkie-talkie before the request for backup, the guard will run to the nearest exit from the level and request backup from there.
Bosses
Here's a List of the Dead Cell bosses you'll encounter throughout the game
- Olga Gurlukovich
- Gurlukovich Soldiers
- Fortune
- Fatman
- The Harrier ( a British fighter jet)
- Vamp
- Arsenal Tengu
- Metal Gear Ray Units ( mass produced)
- Solidus Snake
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MGS2: The E3 Frenzy
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Metal Gear Solid 2 E3 2000 Reveal
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The follow up to the 1998 bestseller, Metal Gear Solid 2 blends action and tactical stealth with intense, masterful cutscenes. The second game in the Metal Gear Solid takes the action to a research facility seized by terrorists who are holding the President for ransom.
Overview
Aboard the tanker
Plot
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty does not star MGS hero, Solid Snake, but instead a new character codenamed Raiden. Raiden himself received a lot of flak because gamers complained he was too whiny and effeminate. Additionally the game was touted as being far too convoluted by some, especially in its ending, and many elements of sci-fi and fantasy such as vampires and other immortal beings were introduced that didn't mesh well with some of the Metal Gear Solid community.
Metal Gear RAY
Solid Snake as Iroquois Pliskin
The game's true mission opens with our new hero Raiden infiltrating the Big Shell research facility. The president has been taken hostage and the terrorists, k nown as Dead Cell, are threatening to launch a nuclear weapon. The leader of the operation is the third clone of Big Boss, Solidus Snake. Raiden must confront Dead Cell, which features an immortal psychic named Fortune, a mad bomber named Fatman, and a man who acts like a vampire conveniently named Vamp. Snake is also along for the ride, disguised as a Marine by the name of Iroquois Pliskin. While you don't play as Snake he does provide key support and advice to Raiden during the mission.
Raiden finds his way to the President and learns several important things. First, Big Shell is actually a giant Metal Gear called Arsenal Gear. Second Arsenal houses a powerful super computer called GW which is responsible for controlling and organizing all information we humans are aware of in the digital age. Lastly, the president informs Raiden that the United States is in fact run by a small organization of people called The Patriots. Raiden and Snake recover Otacon's sister, Emma and install a virus to destroy GW but not before Emma is killed by Vamp. The destroying of GW causes Colonel Campbell to constantly call Raiden and speak irrelevant phrases and state things irrelevant to the mission, often not making any sense at all. T his also appears Colonel Campbell's face to appear disfigured and buggy over the Codec.
Solidus Snake, the Perfect Clone of Big Boss.
A number of intense action sequences shortly follow with Raiden fighting off 25 Metal Gear RAYs alone. He then confronts Solidus, who was a twist ed father figure of sorts for him, in a climactic battle on the roof of Federal Hall. Raiden learns that The Patriots were attempting to control what kind of information is kept and what is left behind on the internet in an attempt to make future historians see a history that The Patriots want them to see. The Patriots also reveal that the entire Big Shell Incident was an elaborate scheme of theirs to make Raiden into a soldier who was equally as skilled as Solid Snake. This new Snake would be forged in battle (as opposed to using VR Training), which explains how the events of this game were at their core so similar to those of the first Metal Gear Solid. This was Hideo Kojima's kick in the balls to everyone who said they wanted a sequel to MGS to be completely different and revolutionary but would in reality turn against him if the formula was tampered with. Solidus was trying to overthrow the Patriots and use Manhattan as his base of operations, and since he believed Raiden's neural implant could lead him back to the Patriots, they duel. Solidus is killed and Raiden meets Snake again to learn that he and Otacon are going to try to track down the Patriots. At the end of the game, Raiden and Rose are reunited.
After the credits, Otacon talks to Snake about the GW virus disc and reveals that all twelve members of the Patriots have been dead for approximately 100 years.
Gameplay
The quality of MGS2's cutscenes is great now, but in 2001 they were head-exploding.
The most important refinement in MGS2 was to the game's shooting mechanic. In the original game, Snake had to fire at enemies from the same top down view. The perspective was optimal for sneaking, but
Refinements aside, MGS2 still plays like its PlayStation predecessor.
Raiden may have been able to dish out the lead, but MGS2 also provided players with a number of options should sneaking be the optimal course of action. Most obviously, Raiden came into combat with a silenced, one-shot tranquilizer pistol, which could knock opponents unconscious (faster or slower depending on where they were hit). Bodies could now be stored in lockers to keep them out of sight from other guards. Raiden could, like snake, press up against walls and peak down hallways, but MGS2 provided Raiden the ability to pop out into the hallway and fire shots. Raiden could also move much more slowly and quietly than Snake, keeping him moving without heard by guards.
Artificial Intelligence
That guard won't know what hit him.
Players with a steady aim can stop a guard from calling for more units by quickly shooting his walkie-talkie before he has time to use it. If the guard starts requesting for backup and the player then shots the walkie-talkie, HQ will become suspicious and send reinforcements either way. If the player shoot the walkie-talkie before the request for backup, the guard will run to the nearest exit from the level and request backup from there.
Bosses
Here's a List of the Dead Cell bosses you'll encounter throughout the game
- Olga Gurlukovich
Fatman
- Fortune
- Fatman
- The Harrier ( a British fighter jet)
- Vamp
- Arsenal Tengu
- Metal Gear Ray Units ( mass produced)
- Solidus Snake
Soundtracks
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack
- Metal Gear Solid Main Theme
- Opening Infiltration
- Russian Soldiers from Kasatka
MGS2: Sons of Liberty Soundtrack - Olga Gurlukovich
- Metal Gear
- Revolver Ocelot
- RAY Escapes
- Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Piano Version)
- Big Shell
- Fortune
- Kill Me Now!
- Vamp
- The World Needs Only One Big Boss
- It's the Harrier!
- Arsenal is Going to Take Off
- Who Am I Really?
- Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Full Version)
Metal Gear Solid 2: The Other Side
- Tanker Incident
- The Elevator Up To Hell
- Vamp's Dance
- Infiltration
- Battle
- Peter's Theme
- Countdown To Disaster
- Lady Luck Revisited
- Yell "Dead Cell"
- Metal Gear's Already Active
- Arms Depot
- Memories of Hal
- Twilight Sniping
- Will the Virus Still Work
- Comradeship
- Reminiscence
- Arsenal's Guts
- Prelude to the Denouement
- Father and Son
- Freedom to Decide
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
- Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Mix)
- Opening Infiltration A (Original Mix)
- Opening Infiltration B (Original Mix)
- Revolver Ocelot (Original Mix)
- Arsenal is Going to Take Off! A (Original Mix)
- Arsenal is Going to Take Off! B (Original Mix)
- The World Needs Only One Big Boss! (Original Mix)
- Yell "Dead Cell" (VR Mix)
- VR Weapon Mission (Mix)
- VR Sneaking Mission (Mix)
- VR Variety Mission (Mix)
- Tanker Incident (Alt Mix)
- Electronica Emma
- Next Generation (Part 1)
- Next Generation (Part 2)
- MGS Main Theme (Doc Mix)
- MGS Main Theme
- VR Weapon Mission - Snake
- VR Sneaking Mission - Snake
- VR Weapon Mission - Raiden
- VR Sneaking Mission - Raiden
- VR Variety Mission
- VS Genola
- Tuxedo Snake
- Mission in the Dark - Sneaking
- Mission in the Dark - Action
- Alternative Mission - Photo Shoot
- MGS1 Weapons VR Mission
- MGS1 Sneaking VR Mission
- MGS Main Theme (Skate Mix)
- Basic Actions - Beginner
- Basic Actions - Intermediate
- Basic Actions - Advanced
| Game Name | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty |
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| Original US Release |
Nov. 13, 2001
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| Original US Release |
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| Aliases | MGS2 |
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MGS 2 walkthrough
A simple walkthrough for the PS2 version of the game.
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