Gameplay. You start the game in the Tanker chapter with Solid Snake. The beginning is more likely a tutorial on how to play. You can flatten yourself against a wall or get in a locker as a way of stealth mode. You can decide on knocking out your enemies with your Beretta M9 Tranquilizer gun. Best part to immediately knock out your enemies is by shooting them in the head. You can take the dog tags which unlocks cool stuff in the game after beating it, you have to stand behind a soldier and point your gun at him and he will freeze in fear. Sometimes, you have to intimidate them the harder way give you the dog tags by shooting their hands with a more SOCOM or USP guns. Boss fights can be quite tough depending which difficulty you are playing at. You can also equip a sword which Raiden can only use. With the sword you can deflect bullets and kill or knock out your enemies.
Concept. At first when you start the game, you begin the Tanker Chapter with Solid Snake. In the Tanker, the mission objective is to take some photographs of the new model of Metal Gear, but then when beginning, you discover that a group of Russian Ultranationalists led by Colonel Sergei Gurlukovich and his daughter Olga have seized the ship. Among the raiding party, there's Revolver Ocelot, from the first Metal Gear Solid. After you finish the Tanker Chapter, you begin the Plant Chapter, in which you take control of Raiden. In the Plant Chapter, your mission is to disarm the bombs planted in the area, and rescue the President. But then you'll be discovering many disturbing secrets, and it will not be easy to get out.
Plant Chapter: A new mercenary known as Raiden is sent to the Big Shell, where it has been seized by terrorists led by Dead Cell, among the hostages is the President. In exchange for the hostages and the President's safe return, they demand a large sum of money, otherwise they will blow the Big Shell. If the plant is destroyed, lethal chemicals will spill on the sea, and it would lead to a global environmental catastrophe. However, there will be more secrets revealed
Music. The musical score has a movie style thanks to the composer, Harry Gregson Williams. He is known for composing for movies such as: Armageddon, Enemy of the State, The Rock, Chronicles of Narnia and so on.
Design. The graphics of the game were more improved since the first game. Cinematic sequences showed more realism compared to the first game. The 3D environment of the game makes it unique, in it's own style. Also, the gameplay has suffered changes since the last game. Players can now hang from fences and rails.
Final Changes. The game was meant to be released on September, but then it was pushed to November, because on that year, the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. The scene where Arsenal Gear was crashing into Manhattan, was cut due to the 9/11 scare at that time.
Rantings. What's bad of this game is that you only play 20% of the game as Solid Snake and 80% of the game as Raiden. In some scenes, people want to know what happened and how Snake gets captured by Fortune. The scene were Arsenal Gear approaches Manhattan was cut due to the 9/11 scare. And when Emma Emmerich is crossing the oil fence, Snake who is a marksman sniper himself, it takes him more than one shot to take down a cypher and a guard.
Good Aspect. I really enjoyed how the scenes were made and when I played this game the first time, I actually thought I was watching a movie. The real-time facial looks of Snake and other characters were excellent. The characters had cool aspects as well. Good job Konami.
Overall. Metal Gear Solid 2 is a Tactical Espionage Action game, better than Splinter Cell and a perfect surpassing rival for Goldeneye. The music is enjoyable and so is the game. I give this game a 9.8 out of 10