I assume this is the standard less damage to you and more to enemies and bosses. Is it any less stressful on easy if i just want to play it for the story?

Rations heal you fully, bosses are easier - and you gain full health back after beating one. You can farm items by leaving and returning to the area. Snake takes small amounts of damage. I'd recommend Normal just for the lack of cake walk and not experiencing the game like you probably should.

Yeah, it's a decent amount easier(though Normal isn't that punishing, Drew just...struggled), you get hurt less for sure. Don't know if you do more damage or not. If you do, I don't think it's incredibly significant, just enough to move things along a little quicker. I also want to say that you might start out with more health. However, I might just be thinking of the remake, Twin Snakes, where you don't get the health upgrades after every boss. That was a carry over from the old MSX games, which they dropped by the time MGS2 came out. Either way, yeah, Easy will make it more relaxing for just checking out the story.

@baillie: I did play it to completion on Normal. I like replaying games on easy when i just want to experience the crazy story.

Does it make the Ocelot Torture scene any more forgiving?

@jedted: I feel the same way about playing through them sometimes. To answer your question, I believe it does make it easier by making it so you don't need to mash buttons so fast. I also believe there are less guards throughout the game when you play on easy.

@jedted: I recall there being one less sequence in the torture scene if you go from hard to easy, but I can't recall whether it's from hard to normal or normal to easy.

@jedted: Yeah, it makes it easier to withstand. MGS2 is the same way with the similar scene in that. The higher the difficulty, the more you have to hammer the button.

I will echo other people here and say you should play on Normal. I would only suggest easy to someone if they are really new to video games.

@bceagles128: There's only 3 torture button mash sequences on Easy, 1 less than Normal. I think that's the right numbers, either way, yes it is easier.

@jedted: http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/differences-in-difficulty-levels-in-metal-gear-solid-1998.453545807/

I remember MGS2 has different item placement depending on what difficulty you were on.