Courtesy of GOG and Konami, Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance are now available on the PC, making fans wonder if the series is gearing up for a comeback. The latter two titles have not been available for Windows in almost two decades and the debut entry has never been released on the platform.
Metal Gear Solid 2, originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, often ranks among the most important games of all time for its groundbreaking narrative and innovative gameplay focused on environmental interaction. For any new players interested in diving into the 2001 classic, the ten details below will help one better understand the overall game and the recently released port.
10 It Is A Bare Bones Port
Do not expect an entirely new version of Metal Gear Solid 2. Everything here is based off Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance released on Windows in 2003. On the plus side, this means the game costs less than ten dollars. More negatively, however, nothing new exists in this package those who have played it in the past have not already seen. Considering the game’s status in the gaming pantheon, fans were hoping for a little more effort in the port.
9 Snake Tales Are A Must
After beating the main campaign, do not ignore the bonus narrative missions called Snake Tales. While not canon, they tell extremely interesting stories using the characters and environments from Metal Gear Solid 2, often giving one a new perspective of the popular personalities populating the series. One particularly wild one is “External Gazer”, which is bizarre even by the franchise’s standards.
8 The VR Missions Are So-So
For those who enjoy the gameplay, VR and Alternate Missions are available, presenting numerous gameplay scenarios ranging from sneaking missions to bomb disposal challenges. Over three hundred exist in all, though many of them are repeated with a higher difficulty depending on the character one uses. Ultimately, these average bonus missions start to feel repetitive as one unlocks a new character and finds themselves doing the same challenges several times over.
7 You Should Play Metal Gear Solid First
Many series are easy to understand if one starts with the second entry. Metal Gear Solid is not this kind of franchise. Before jumping into Metal Gear Solid 2, it is imperative for one to have played the Metal Gear Solid, first released on the original PlayStation, from 1998.
The sequel follows up on many aspects of the series’ first 3D outing. It is not quite as important to play the original Metal Gear, however, since Metal Gear Solid recaps those events thoroughly.
6 Windows Is Not The Best Way To Play It
While now the most accessible way for most people, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on Windows is far from the best way to experience this incredible adventure. If anybody still has a PlayStation 3 lying around, playing the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is the optimal version, thanks to the work done by Bluepoint Games. This release has most of the extras from Substance and comes with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
5 Play With The AI
One of the game’s major innovations was the level of interaction with the environment and enemies. This feature is still impressive today, as many players will find out as they knock on walls to distract guards, hide them in lockers, shoot their radios, and utilize numerous other tricks to toy with the game and progress. It almost feels like spoilers to reveal all the ways one can play with the AI, as the element of discovery is always joyous in a video game.
4 It Is Still Worth Playing If One Knows The Twist
The plot in Metal Gear Solid 2 is so wild, mentioning a twist could describe any number of key moments in the narrative. Do not feel too down if any of the major plot beats have been spoiled. The game and plot are still wholly enjoyable even if one knows some of the twists and turns. Experiencing it for oneself is a whole other ballgame than simply hearing about it secondhand.
3 Watch All The Cutscenes
The gameplay is incredibly innovative and fun, but one of the major draws of the series is the narrative.
Metal Gear Solid 2 in particular stands out as one of the best stories ever told in gaming, speculating about the future of society in the twenty-first century and the potential impacts of the Internet’s rising ubiquity. Those who are tempted to skip the cinematics and jump right into the action should try to resist the urge and soak in the wonderful story.
2 Use The Codec Often
The codec is the player’s line to the NPCs supporting the protagonist on their mission. Anytime one is stuck, whether it be from a difficult boss or or simply being lost, call the support team for some hints. Communicating plenty with the supporting cast also expands the lore in magnificent ways. Some of the characters relay real world information about the weapons and how the story relates to certain historical events.
1 Know Which Difficulty Is Right For You
The game comes packed in with numerous difficulty modes for all skill levels, and knowing which one is right for the player is essential to an ideal first play through. Very Easy and Easy are for those entirely unexperienced in gaming; bosses are cakewalks and enemies seem to have nothing between the ears. Normal is perfectly described in its name. Hard is good for veterans of the series, while Extreme provides the ultimate challenge even for those who know the game like the back of their hand. Just be warned, several button mashing mini games are nigh impossible on the highest difficulty setting.
