Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
North American cover art
Developer(s) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (West)
Success (PC port)
Publisher(s) Konami
Designer(s) Hideo Kojima (producer, writer, director)
Composer(s) Harry Gregson-Williams
Norihiko Hibino
Rika Muranaka
Series Metal Gear
Platform(s) MGS2: Sons of Liberty
PlayStation 2
MGS2: Substance
Xbox
PlayStation 2
Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Stealth action
Mode(s) Single-player
Rating(s)
Media 1 DVD, DVD DL

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (メタルギアソリッド2　サンズ・オブ・リバティ Metaru Gia Soriddo 2 Sanzu Obu Ribati?, commonly abbreviated as MGS2) is a stealth action video game directed by Hideo Kojima, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 in 2001. It is the fourth Metal Gear game produced and directed by Kojima and the direct sequel to Metal Gear Solid. Its release was followed by an expanded edition, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, a prequel to the entire Metal Gear series, followed in 2004. In 2008, a direct sequel, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released.

The story revolves around a massive offshore clean-up facility that has been seized by a group of terrorists that call themselves "Sons of Liberty", backed by a rogue special forces anti-terrorist unit "Dead Cell". They demand a massive ransom in exchange for the life of the President of the United States, and threaten to destroy the facility and create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their demands are not met. The motives and identities of many of the antagonists and allies change rapidly, as the protagonists discover a world-shaking conspiracy constructed by a powerful organization known as the Patriots.

The game was well-received, shipping over 7 million copies worldwide[2] and scoring an average of 96% in Metacritic's aggregate, making it the third highest-rated game on the PlayStation 2[3] and the 14th highest-rated game of all time.[4] While the gameplay was almost universally acclaimed, critics were divided on the philosophical nature and execution of the game's storyline, which explores themes such as memes, social engineering, political conspiracies, and artificial intelligence. It has been considered the first example of a postmodern video game,[5][6][7] and has been cited as a primary example of artistic expression in video games.[5][7][8][9] The game was controversial due to its complex postmodern narrative and unconventional protagonist.[10]

Contents

Gameplay

Solid Snake peeking around a corner in the game's Tanker Chapter.

Metal Gear Solid 2 carries the title of "Tactical Espionage Action," and most of the game involves the protagonist sneaking around avoiding being seen by the enemies.

Most fundamental are the wider range of skills offered to the player. The new first-person aiming mode allows players to target specific points in the game, greatly expanding tactical options; guards can be blinded by steam, distracted by a flying piece of fruit or hit in weak spots. Players can now walk slowly, allowing them to sneak over noisy flooring without making a sound, or hang off walkways to slip past below guards' feet. The corner-press move from the original title, which allowed players a sneak peek around the next bend is expanded to allow players to fire from cover.[11]

In Metal Gear Solid 2, the enemy guards were given more advanced AI "to prevent an imbalance of power,"[12] and unlike the original Metal Gear Solid, work in squads. They call on their radios for a strike team upon seeing the player, then attempt to flank him and cut off his escape while avoiding the player's attacks. Often strike teams will carry body armor and riot shields, making them an even greater threat. Even if the player escapes to a hiding place, a team will sweep in to check the area. The game has a collective enemy AI,[13] where enemy guards work together in squads, can communicate with one another,[14] and react in a more realistic manner towards the player. The game's enemy AI is still considered one of the finest examples in the stealth game genre.[15]

Boss battles and set-pieces remain a case of finding a strategy that bypasses the defenses of the enemy. However, in a major break from action game standards, it is also possible to clear the entire game, including boss fights, without causing a single deliberate death, through use of tranquilizer guns, stun grenades, and melee attacks.

Plot

Characters

The protagonist of MGS2 is a young rookie agent named Raiden[16]. He is supported by his commanding officer, the Colonel, and Rosemary[17], his girlfriend. Allies formed on the mission include Lt. Junior Grade Iroquois Pliskin,[18] a Navy SEAL of mysterious background who provides his knowledge of the facility; Peter Stillman,[19] a NYPD bomb-disposal expert; Otacon,[20] a computer security specialist; and a cyborg ninja imitating Gray Fox's persona, but calling itself Mr. X.[21][22]

The antagonists of the piece are the Sons of Liberty[23], a group of terrorists who seize control of the Big Shell Disposal Facility, including anti-terror training unit Dead Cell, and a Russian mercenary force.[24] The Dead Cell team members are Vamp[25], an immortal man exhibiting vampire-like attributes; Fatman[26], a rotund man with exceptional knowledge of bombs; and Fortune[27], a woman capable of cheating death by apparent supernatural means. The leader of Sons of Liberty claims to be Solid Snake[28], previously declared dead after a terrorist attack, later revealed to be Solidus Snake, a third clone in "les Enfants Terribles" project.[29] Assisting the Sons of Liberty are Olga Gurlukovich, commander of a rogue Russian mercenary army[30], and Revolver Ocelot[31], a disenfranchised Russian nationalist and former FOXHOUND agent, Solid Snake's old archnemesis, and henchman of Solidus Snake.

Other characters include Emma Emmerich, Otacon's stepsister and a computer wiz-kid[32]; Sergei Gurlukovich, Ocelot's former commanding officer and Olga's father[33]; President James Johnson, held hostage by the Sons of Liberty[34]; and DIA operative Richard Ames[35]. Solid Snake returns[36], along with Liquid Snake, who communicates via Ocelot through unknown means[37], and a third Snake, Solidus[38], is introduced.

This game features cameos by Mei Ling, the communications expert who aided Snake in the first game[39], and Johnny Sasaki, the luckless soldier with chronic digestive problems.

Story

Metal Gear series fictional chronology

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid (The Twin Snakes)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid: Rising
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Prologue - Tanker chapter

Sons of Liberty opens with a flashback, on the George Washington Bridge in New York City[40] in 2007, two years after the Shadow Moses incident that was described in the original Metal Gear Solid. Solid Snake and Otacon, now members of the non-governmental organization Philanthropy, are investigating the development of a new Metal Gear[41] described as an amphibious counter-Metal Gear unit[42]. The unit was constructed in response to the multiple Metal Gears that had been built since Metal Gear REX's design was leaked[43]. Shortly after Snake's arrival on the disguised oil tanker U.S.S. Discovery via bungee jumping from the bridge while using stealth camouflage which busted from landing impact, a group of Russian ex-military terrorists under the command of Russian nationalist Sergei Gurlukovich attack the ship[44]. After sneaking up to the bridge, Snake encounters Olga, Sergei's daughter, who has refused to leave the tanker despite being pregnant. A gun battle ensues between Snake and Olga.

After successfully tranquilizing Olga in combat, Snake sneaks down to the hold in order to record pictures of the new Metal Gear RAY[45]. Matters rapidly escalate as Revolver Ocelot and Sergei Gurlukovich sneak into the holds and hold marine commander Scott Dolph at gunpoint. Revolver Ocelot and Sergei Gurlukovich have different motives, with Sergei wanting to sell Metal Gear RAY to the highest bidder and Ocelot saying he is "taking it back". Revolver Ocelot then betrays and murders Sergei Gurlukovich along with Scott Dolph, as well as the GRU in the holds[46]. It is revealed that Ocelot has received a new hand after he lost one in Shadow Moses by the cyborg ninja Gray Fox in Metal Gear Solid; the hand is that of the late Liquid Snake, Solid Snake's twin brother and main antagonist of Metal Gear Solid who died back in Shadow Moses. The implant causes a change in Revolver Ocelot's demeanor and behavior, with Liquid somehow 'possessing' him[47]. Under Liquid's control he sinks the tanker[48] and escapes with RAY before regaining command of his body[49].

Plant chapter

The game moves to the present, and the player finds themself in control of Raiden, supposedly operating under a reformed FOXHOUND two years after the Tanker Chapter on April 29, 2009.[50] Initially referred to as "Snake",[51] Raiden has orders to rescue hostages, including the US president, from the terrorist group Sons of Liberty, backed up by the rogue anti-terror training unit, Dead Cell, who are also threatening to destroy the Big Shell clean-up facility they have seized.[52] Raiden infiltrates the Shell via sea while SEAL Team 10 enters by air.[53] The SEAL team manages to rescue the President, but before they are able to extract him, all of the SEALS except for Lieutenant Junior Grade Iroquois Pliskin[54] are killed by Dead Cell members Vamp and Fortune. Raiden joins forces with Pliskin and bomb specialist Peter Stillman to disable explosives planted on the Shell by Stillman's former pupil, Fatman, now a terrorist. While Raiden successfully eliminates Fatman, Stillman is killed as a result of one of Fatman's traps.

With the assistance of a mysterious cyborg ninja calling itself Mr. X,[55] Raiden is told by Mr. X that a man by the name of Ames is in the b1 core, and he knows the president's location. The security is tight so Raiden is given a disguise and finds an AK to pass off as a guard in the core. Mr. X does not know what Ames looks like but knows Ames has a pacemaker, so he uses a directional mic to find him. Ames confirms that the Big Shell is a cover up for the development of a new Metal Gear. He overhears a conversation with "Solid Snake", Revolver Ocelot, and Olga. Raiden is discovered by Ocelot, Ames dies from a heart attack, and Ocelot is ready to finish Raiden before Mr. X helps him escape. Raiden is attacked at the bridge by a man who claims to be Solid Snake. Pliskin appears and argues that the mystery man is not Solid Snake. Raiden must then destroy a Harrier driven by Vamp. After the battle, Pliskin reveals that he is indeed Solid Snake. Eventually, Raiden locates the president, and discovers that the Big Shell is actually a disguise built right on top of a new Metal Gear. Known as Arsenal Gear, it houses a powerful AI supercomputer, "GW", capable of controlling information transmitted digitally. The president also claims the democratic process is a sham, and the true rulers of the United States are an organization known as the Patriots.[56] Revolver Ocelot kills him soon after, and Raiden proceeds to his final objective: disabling Arsenal Gear and thus halting a nuclear strike. Pliskin, having revealed himself as Solid Snake, and Emma Emmerich, an Arsenal Gear engineer, assist Raiden in attempting to destroy the "GW" AI by uploading a virus. On the way to the computer room, Vamp attacks Emma. The virus is still installed, but aborts partway through; Emma dies due to a fatal knife wound from Vamp. Snake and Raiden are left with no choice but to disable Arsenal physically. As Snake's partner Otacon escapes with the surviving hostages by helicopter,[57] Mr. X returns, revealing itself to be Olga Gurlukovich,[58] and knocks Raiden unconscious. The Big Shell has been destroyed.

Awakening in an Arsenal torture chamber hours later, Raiden is probed by Solidus Snake, the true terrorist leader. Solidus reveals that he once adopted Raiden, a former child soldier, as his son during the Liberian civil war[59] and that Raiden is now a Patriot agent. Olga, working as a Patriot double-agent within the Sons of Liberty, helps Raiden escape, and he locates Snake within Arsenal Gear. As they fight through the mammoth vessel, Raiden's commanding officer begins to act extremely erratically, often speaking complete nonsense.[60] Some of his nonsensical speech is derived from commands given in previous Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid games. It becomes apparent that the "Colonel" that Raiden has been taking orders from is actually a creation of the GW super-computer, pieced together from information about Colonel Roy Campbell coupled with Raiden's own expectations in order to manipulate him. The erratic behavior of the simulation is the result of the virus uploaded earlier beginning to damage GW's systems.

With Snake holding off a vengeful Fortune,[61] Raiden is forced into battle with the 25 Metal Gear RAY units guarding Arsenal Gear. Olga intervenes to protect him, but is restrained by one of Solidus' robotic tentacles. Olga explains that two years ago, right after giving birth to her child, the Patriots took her away and have been holding her child hostage ever since. Olga continues to explain that the Patriots blackmailed her, ordering her to become a double-agent and make the S3 plan a success or her child would be killed. Then, Solidus shoots Olga and throws her corpse out of the way. The RAY units begin to malfunction, attacking each other and Solidus as the virus tears through the GW AI's program.[62] Arsenal begins an emergency ascent,[63] and Snake, restrained by Fortune,[64] Solidus, and Raiden are carried to the roof of the fortress as it surfaces. To Solidus' increasing rage, Ocelot reveals that he too is a Patriot agent, the entire episode was a carefully-coordinated attempt to reenact the events of the Shadow Moses incident; Ocelot calls it the 'S3 Plan', or "Solid Snake Simulation", which hopes to create super-soldiers in the image of Solid Snake by subjecting them to similar circumstances.[65] (Continuing the series' tradition of breaking the fourth wall, Ocelot's description of the S3 Plan can be interpreted as addressing not just Raiden, but also the player controlling him.) Ocelot kills Fortune and boards the prototype Metal Gear RAY stolen from the tanker two years previously, and attempts to finish off the survivors of the exercise. However, Liquid possesses him, and announces his plan to hunt down the Patriots based on his host's knowledge.[66] Setting Arsenal on a collision-course with New York, Liquid launches RAY into the ocean, followed by Snake.[67]

Arsenal comes to a halt in downtown New York, launching Raiden and Solidus onto the roof of Federal Hall.[68] Solidus reveals to Raiden his reasons for trying to steal Arsenal: a nuclear electro-magnetic pulse would take down Manhattan's digital infrastructure and allow Solidus to lead it as a republic against the Patriots, a nation of "Sons of Liberty".[69] Likewise the Patriots, via another AI, contact Raiden to reveal the truth of their actions, the AIs being programmed to becoming "digital censors", removing trite and needless information from the electronic world in what they call "Selection for Societal Sanity", or "S3 Plan". The information fed to Ocelot was another part of this plan.[70] However, with such a control over the flow of digital information, they could as easily be manipulating perceived history for the Patriot's needs. Believing the only option available is to track down the Patriots using the information in Raiden's neural implants, Solidus offers his son one final duel.[71]

Raiden kills Solidus, and as crowds descend upon the wreckage of Arsenal Gear, Snake and Raiden meet one last time, where his mentor informs him that only he can choose what to believe in, and that he must pass on what he believes to be true.[72] Having planted a tracking device on Liquid's Metal Gear, he and Otacon plan to follow him, and to hunt down the Patriots, whose details were hidden in the GW computer virus disc.[73] As Snake disappears into the crowd, Raiden is finally reunited with Rose, on April 30, 2009—the 220th anniversary of George Washington's inauguration as President of the United States, and the anniversary of Rose and Raiden's first meeting.[74]

In a brief epilogue, Otacon and Snake discuss the decoding of the virus disc, which contains the personal data on all twelve members of the Wisemen's Committee (the Patriots' high council). It is revealed on this disc that one of the members of the committee was a major sponsor of Philanthropy. Another shocking revelation found on the disc indicates that not only are all twelve members of the Wisemen's Committee dead, but have been dead for approximately 100 years.[75]

Production

Original story

According to Hideo Kojima in the documentary Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1, the original plot of the game revolved around nuclear weapon inspections in Iraq and Iran and had Solid Snake trying to stop the Metal Gear while it was located on an aircraft carrier, in a certain time limit, while trying to stop Liquid Snake and his group. However, about six months into the project the political situation in the Middle East became a concern and they decided that they couldn't make a game with such a plot. The tanker in the released game is based on this original plot.

Significant changes to the game's ending were made late in development following the September 11 attacks in New York, where the finale occurs. A sequence depicting Arsenal Gear's displacement of the Statue of Liberty and crashing through half of Manhattan was removed, as was a short coda to appear after the credits, a breaking newscast showing the Statue of Liberty's new resting place, Ellis Island. At the point where Solidus dies, Raiden was supposed to have cut the rope on Federal Hall's flagpole, causing an American flag to fall over Solidus' body, and American flags which were supposed to be on all the flagpoles in New York were removed from the title.[76]

MGS2 was also intended to reference the novel City of Glass, notably in the naming of its characters.[77] Raiden's support team originally featured a different field commander named Colonel Daniel Quinn; Maxine "Max" Work, an Asian woman who saves game data and quotes Shakespeare, and William "Doc" Wilson, the creator of GW. All take their names from key characters in the book, and all three would have turned out to be artificial intelligences. None of these characters survived to the final edition, their roles being absorbed by other characters, namely the "Colonel Campbell" simulation, Rose, and Emma Emmerich. Peter Stillman, however, takes his name from another City of Glass character.[78] Kojima has also cited another novel, Kōbō Abe's Kangaroo Notebook, as an influence on the game.

Music

Hideo Kojima's choice of composer for Metal Gear Solid 2 was highly publicized in the follow-up to the game's release. Kojima decided upon Harry Gregson-Williams, a Hollywood film composer from Hans Zimmer's studio, after watching The Replacement Killers with sound director Kazuki Muraoka. A mix CD containing 18 tracks of Gregson-Williams' work was sent to his office. Flattered by the research put into creating the CD (as some of the tracks were unreleased, and that what tracks he'd worked on for some films were undocumented), he joined the project soon after.[79]

In order to bypass the language barrier and allow the score to be developed before the cut-scenes were finalized, Gregson-Williams was sent short phrases or descriptions of the intended action. The resultant themes then shaped the action sequences in return. Gregson-Williams also arranged and re-orchestrated the original "Metal Gear Solid Main Theme" for use in the game's opening title sequence.

Norihiko Hibino, who had worked on previous Konami games such as Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, was responsible for all of the in-game music. He also worked on the majority of the game's cut scenes, re-orchestrating Gregson-Williams' "Main Theme" remix for use in several sequences.

As with Metal Gear Solid, the cut scene music includes orchestral and choir pieces, while the in-game soundtrack is scored with ambient electronic music. However, the score as a whole incorporates more electronic elements (particularly breakbeat) than its predecessor, in order to reflect the plot's thematic thrust of a machine-dominated society. Rika Muranaka again provided a vocal ending theme, a jazz track entitled "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday", sung by Carla White. The game's music was released via 4 CDs: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Original Soundtrack, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Soundtrack 2: The Other Side, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Limited Sorter (Black Edition) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Ultimate Sorter (White Edition).

Release history

Original version

The Japanese release was held back two weeks following the initial American release. As a result, the developers added new features and cut scenes, including two new modes: Boss Survival and Casting Theatre (the latter allowed players to select cut scenes and change the character models used). Like the original Metal Gear Solid, a Premium Package of the game was issued in addition to the stand-alone version. The box came with the reversible cover art on the DVD case, a DVD video, an A4-sized pamphlet and a metallic-colored Solid Snake figurine.

The game's initially scheduled European release date of February 22, 2002, nearly three months after the other releases, was delayed another two weeks. The added features from the Japanese release were carried over to the European version, along with a new difficulty setting (European Extreme). In addition, the European edition featured a Making Of DVD video by French television production house FunTV. As well as collating all of the game's promotional trailers and a Gamespot feature on the title's closing days of production, it featured a documentary filmed at KCEJ West's Japanese studio. The DVD was included as an apology to European gamers for the several month delay that had occurred between the American and Japanese releases, which saw numerous European gaming magazines detail the various twists in the game.

The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2

This was Released on September 12, 2002 in Japan and September 24 in North America, The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 is an interactive "making of" documentary released for the PlayStation 2. The disc is a database of the game's development process where the user can view polygonal models used for characters, mechanics and areas in the game, as well as listen to the game's soundtrack. The disc also features all of the game's real time cut-scenes from the game (without audio) and their respective storyboards. Other features include a collection of behind-the-scenes footage, preview trailers, a partial script, Hideo Kojima's original draft of the game (available only in Japanese), a development timeline, and a gallery of Metal Gear Solid related products and merchandise. The disc also includes five "VR Training" levels that served as a preview of Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. The disc was included in the European PlayStation 2 version of Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, but was not available at retail in that region. It was also included in the 20th Anniversary Edition re-release of the original Metal Gear in Japan.

Substance

A screenshot from one of the training missions in Substance. Snake is dressed in a tuxedo.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is a multi-platform updated version of the original MGS2 first released for the Xbox, then followed by PlayStation 2 and PC. The game contains the main Sons of Liberty game with some subtle alterations, as well as the inclusion of Boss Survival and Casting Theater modes from the Japanese and PAL versions of the original game.

The main addition of Substance is the inclusion of an extra missions mode with 300 virtual reality training missions set in a computer-constructed environment and 200 "Alternative Missions" set in areas taken from the main game. The player can choose to play these missions as Solid Snake or Raiden, with alternate outfits for both characters becoming available as the player progresses. Mission objectives include reaching the goal undetected, target practice, eliminating enemies, bomb disposal and a set of miscellaneous missions that include protecting a wounded ally from enemies or fighting a series of enemies. There are also a set of missions simulating a first-person shooter game.

In addition to the missions mode, there is also a set of "Snake Tales", which are five story-based missions featuring Solid Snake as the main character. This includes missions set in the Big Shell area from the Plant chapter, featuring characters such as Fatman, Emma, Vamp and Solidus Snake, as well as an alternate version of the Tanker chapter which replaces Olga Gurlukovich with Meryl Silverburgh (from Metal Gear Solid) as the boss. These missions, which are not canonical in respect to the main storyline, have no voice acting but are instead narrated via on-screen text. They are side stories created by directors of Kojima Productions such as Shuyo Murata and Shinta Nojiri.

The PS2 version also featured a skateboarding minigame based on Konami's Evolution Skateboarding game.[80] The player can use Solid Snake or Raiden in a pair of Big Shell-themed levels and has to complete a set of objectives before time runs out. These objectives range from collecting dog tags scattered throughout the level to blowing up parts of Big Shell.

Substance was originally released as an Xbox timed-exclusive in North America on November 5, 2002. The PS2 version was released on March, 2003 and released alongside the PC version. All three versions of the game were released almost simultaneously in Europe, the PS2 version being bundled with The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 to once again make up for a substantial delay in its release. Only the PS2 version of Substance was released in Japan on December 19, 2002, replacing the original Japanese voices with the English dub.

Reception

Critical response

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 95%[81]
Metacritic 96%[82]
Review scores
Publication Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly 9.5/10
Famitsu 38/40[83]
Game Informer 10/10
GamePro 5/5[84]
GameSpot 9.6/10[85]
GameSpy 97/100[86]
GameZone 9.8/10
IGN 9.7/10[87]
Official PlayStation Magazine (US) 5/5

As a result of promising trailers and the huge commercial success of its predecessor Metal Gear Solid, there was a high level of anticipation in the gaming community surrounding the release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.[88] Metal Gear Solid 2 received a large amount of critical and fan praise, having also sold over 7 million copies worldwide and maintaining a critical average of 96% on Metacritic, where it is the third highest-rated game on the PlayStation 2,[3] and the 14th highest-rated game of all time.[4] Game Informer Magazine gave the game a score of 10/10, and it received high reviews from nearly all major publications and websites. Gamespot gave the game a high 9.6 rating, stating that Metal Gear Solid 2 is a must-play game.[89] Critics praised the title's stealth gameplay, particularly the improvements over its predecessor, as well as the game's level of graphical detail, in particular the use of in-game graphics to render plot-driving cut scenes.[90] In a viewer poll conducted by Japan's Famitsū magazine of top 100 games of all time, Metal Gear Solid 2 was ranked at #42 in the poll.[91] In Game Informer Magazine's list of top 200 games of all time, the game ranked at #50 on the list.[92]

Despite the gameplay being universally acclaimed, the title's storyline was the source of mixed opinions and controversy. The storyline explores many philosophical and cyberpunk themes in great detail, including meme theory, social engineering, sociology, artificial intelligence, information control, conspiracy theories, political and military maneuvering, evolution, existentialism, censorship, the manipulation of free will, and the nature of reality.[5][8][10][93][94][95] Hideo Kojima's ambitious script has been praised, some even calling it the first example of a postmodern video game.[5][6][7][8][9][10] The artistic influence of Metal Gear Solid 2 can be seen in later postmodern video games such as Goichi Suda's killer7,[6] while similar themes also appear in other later video games such as Eternal Darkness and BioShock.[96] However, some critics considered the plot to be "incomprehensible" and overly heavy for an action game, and also felt that the lengthy dialogue sections heavily disrupted the gameplay, and that the dialogue itself was overly disjointed and convoluted.[97][98] The surprise introduction of Raiden as the protagonist for the majority of the game (replacing long-time series protagonist Solid Snake) was also controversial with fans of Metal Gear Solid. Some of these fans perceived the new protagonist Raiden as "blonde, effeminate and far less confident," taking the place of "acclaimed hero" Snake.[10]

Awards

E3 2001 Game Critics Awards

E3 2000 Game Critics Awards

IGN Best of 2001

GameSpot 2001 Game of the Year Awards

GameSpy 2001 Game Awards

Game Informer 2001: Game of the Year Awards

EDGE Magazine

Metal Gear Solid 2 is ranked seventh on Game Informer's list of The Top 10 Video Game Openings.[101]

Related media

IDW Publishing published a 12-issue comic book adaptation from 2006 to 2007, titled Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty, illustrated by Ashley Wood (who also worked on the comic book adaptation of the previous game) and written by Alex Garner. This version deviates from the game, where many scenes involving Raiden are substituted with Snake.

A digital version of the comic, titled Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée, was released on June 12, 2008 in Japan. Originally announced as a PlayStation Portable game, similar to the Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, the digital comic was released as a DVD film instead. A fully voiced version of the graphic novel adaptation of the first Metal Gear Solid is featured as well.[102]

A novelization of the game written by Raymond Benson and published by Del Ray. The American paperback edition was published on November 24, 2009. The novel is almost completely faithful to the game, and a majority of the character interaction in the novel is taken verbatim from the Codec conversations in the game itself.

References

  1. ↑ SCEE. "SCEE 2002 - Key facts and figures". SCEE Press Room. http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=100&NewsAreaID=22. Retrieved 2006-11-25. 
  2. ↑ Big Gaz. "Metal Gear Solid 3 Exclusive For Sony". GamePlanet New Zealand. http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/Features/1751.html. Retrieved 2006-10-31. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 [1]
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Search Results". Metacritic. http://apps.metacritic.com/search/process.shtml?page=2&sid=MTI1OTA5NzY3MzIyMS45MTY0MA**&metascore_s=&ts=&release_date_s=&release_date_e=&metascore_e=&y=14&ty=3&x=17&sb=5&tfs=game_all. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Dr. Chris Zimbaldi Konkle (April 30, 2004). "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty as a Post-Modern Tragedy". metalgearsolid.org. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. http://66.102.1.104/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=cache:W6PRCvOXa38J:e.1asphost.com/Snake5985/SOLboards.doc. Retrieved 2007-02-21. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mark Ryan Sallee (June 29, 2006). "Kojima's Legacy". IGN. http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/716/716022p3.html. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 James Howell & Ryan Payton (2008-03-20). "The Kojima Productions Report Session 084". Kojima Productions. http://www.kjp.konami.jp/gs/hideoblog_e/2008/03/000153.html. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Matthew Weise (2003). "How Videogames Express Ideas". Level Up: Digital Games Research Conference. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. http://www.digra.org/dl/db/05150.07598.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Games as Art: The videogames that prove Rogert Ebert wrong". IGN. July 31, 2007. http://uk.games.ign.com/articles/809/809655p1.html. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 David Radd (November 10, 2009). "'Controversial' Games: Dealing with Fan Backlash". Industry Gamers. http://www.industrygamers.com/galleries/controversial-games-dealing-with-fan-backlash/6/. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
  11. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid 2 PS2 Game Guide". Absolute PlayStation. http://www.absolute-playstation.com/metal_gear_2/metal_gear_2_feature_1.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  12. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/player_review.html?id=517965
  13. ↑ Shane Patterson (2009-02-03), The Sneaky History of Stealth Games, GamesRadar, Retrieved 2009-06-21
  14. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid 2 R review". NTSC-UK. http://www.ntsc-uk.com/review.php?platform=ps2&game=MGS2. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  15. ↑ Mark Ryan Sallee. "Kojima's Legacy". http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/715/715932p3.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  16. ↑ Official Site (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  17. ↑ Raiden: Rose! You’re not supposed to be involved! What’s going on!? // Rose: Jack, I’m a part of this mission. // Raiden: Colonel, what the hell is going on? // Colonel: Raiden, meet the mission analyst. She’ll be overseeing the data saving and support. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  18. ↑ Iroquois Pliskin: I'm not an enemy. Calm down. My name is S... My name is Pliskin. Iroquois Pliskin, Lieutenant Junior Grade. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  19. ↑ Peter Stillman: My name is Peter, Peter Stillman. // Iroquois Pliskin: A lecturer at NSEOD, Indian Head. Also consultant to the NYPD Bomb Squad. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  20. ↑ Iroquois Pliskin: Raiden, let me introduce you to my partner -- Otacon. // Raiden: Otacon? // Otacon: Hey, Raiden. Nice to meet you. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  21. ↑ Mr. X: I'm like you...I have no name. // Raiden: Are you Mr. X? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  22. ↑ Mr. X: Be careful! There are Claymore mines around there. // Raiden: Who is this! // Mr. X: Stealth-equipped Claymores, invisible to the naked eye. Use the mine detector. // Raiden: Identify yourself. // Mr. X: Just call me "Deepthroat". // Raiden: Deepthroat? You mean from Shadow Moses? // Mr. X: Mr. X, then. // Raiden: Mr. X now, is it? Why would it matter if I called you Deepthroat? Mr. X: Never mind about that. [...] Mr. X: Let's just say I'm one of your fans. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  23. ↑ Colonel: The terrorists call themselves “Sons of Liberty”. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  24. ↑ Colonel: Former members of the Navy SEAL’s special anti-terrorist training squad, “Dead Cell”. Russian private army members may also be involved. It’s a highly trained group and they have the Big Shell under complete control. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  25. ↑ Raiden: What was that man just now? // Iroquois Pliskin: That blood sucking freak? That was Vamp. [...] // Raiden: What is he? // Iroquois Pliskin: One of the members of Dead Cell. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  26. ↑ Fatman: I am Fatman. I am the greatest humanity has to offer and the lowest. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  27. ↑ Fortune: Maybe you can give me death. My name is Fortune. Lucky in war and nothing else. And without a death to call my own. Hurry. Kill me, please. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  28. ↑ Colonel: The name of their leader is Solid Snake. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  29. ↑ Colonel: Right. But it can’t be THE Solid Snake. He died two years ago, on that tanker, after he blew it sky-high. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  30. ↑ Raiden: I saw a female soldier -- Russian. // Iroquois Pliskin: Must be Olga Gurlukovich. // Raiden: How do you know? // Iroquois Pliskin: Unlike you, I've been briefed. // Raiden: She's not a Dead Cell? // Iroquois Pliskin: No, she commands a Russian private army. // Raiden: They must be the ones patrolling the Big Shell. // Iroquois Pliskin: That's right. She's led the group ever since her old man, Colonel Gurlukovich, died. Watch yourself with her. She's a tough one. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  31. ↑ "Solid Snake": Ocelot, I leave this place in your hands. I have the intruder to take care of. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  32. ↑ Raiden: Wait a second. Isn't Emma Emmerich -- // Otacon: My sister. // Raiden: What's she doing here? // Otacon: You got me. She's a computer whiz who specializes in neural-AI and ultra-variable volume data analysis using complex logic. How she got involved in weapons development is beyond me. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  33. ↑ Otacon: We’ve ID’d the old man. // Solid Snake: Who is he? // Otacon: Sergei Gurlukovich. // Solid Snake: Gurlukovich! One of Ocelot’s allies? // Otacon: Yeah...the GRU colonel. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  34. ↑ Raiden: Hostages, huh? // Colonel: A VIP from one of the major conservation groups, and one from our own government -- the Most Important Person in a sense. // Raiden: The most important person -- ? // Colonel: James Johnson. // Raiden: The President! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  35. ↑ Revolver Ocelot: I always knew the DIA turned out second-rate liars. // Richard Ames: What are you talking about? // Revolver Ocelot: No need for denials. You know what you are -- Colonel Ames. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  36. ↑ Solid Snake: This is Snake. Do you read me, Otacon? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  37. ↑ "Liquid Snake": It’s been a while, brother. // Solid Snake: Who are you? // "Liquid Snake": You know who I am. // Solid Snake: Liquid? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  38. ↑ President Johnson: My predecessor... George Sears. That was the name the public came to know him by. But I knew him by his codename, "Solidus Snake". He was the third Snake, preceded by Solid and Liquid... a survivor of the Les Enfants Terrible project. Neither Solid nor Liquid, he was a well-balanced masterpiece. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  39. ↑ ???: What a crock! What did you do with that little cheat sheet I made you! // [...] Snake : What's going on over there? // Mei Ling: Oh, hi, Snake. Do you know that Otacon's been -- // Otacon: Er, Mei Ling, we're in the middle of a mission and everything! So can we, you know... // Mei Ling: Fine. Sure. And Snake, the real meaning of "Care avoids err" is that if you're cautious, you can avoid making serious mistakes. Even if you've gotten used to the mission, watch what you do. Good luck! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  40. ↑ -- George Washington Bridge -- (Caption, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  41. ↑ Otacon: The mission objective is to make visual confirmation of the new Metal Gear being transported by that tanker, and bring back photographic evidence. [...] Don't you forget that you're a part of "Philanthropy" now, an anti-Metal Gear organization and officially recognized by the United Nations. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001),
  42. ↑ Otacon: This new one seems to have been designed to wipe the floor with all the other models. The only consistent description is that it's an amphibious, anti-Metal Gear vehicle... (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  43. ↑ Otacon: Too true. Okay, Snake, let's get to work. You know the technical specs of Metal Gear were sold on the black market after Shadow Moses? // Solid Snake: All Ocelot's doing... // Otacon: Exactly. And now every state, group, and dotcom has its own version of Metal Gear. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  44. ↑ Solid Snake: Looks like were not the only ones after Metal Gear tonight. // [...] Russians? // Otacon: You sure? // Solid Snake: No Marine barber touched that head of hair. [...] Otacon, the ship appears to be under their control. The men have Russian gear, but I haven’t been able to find out anything else about their origin. // Otacon: I know who they are. // Solid Snake: You do? // Otacon : We’ve ID’d the old man. // Solid Snake: Who is he? // Otacon: Sergei Gurlukovich. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  45. ↑ Otacon: Ok, we’re finally there. // Solid Snake: So this is the new Metal Gear... // Otacon: Yep. And we’re going to show the whole world its baby pictures. Get the prototype on camera. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  46. ↑ Sergei Gurlukovich: Ocelot, you...! Have you sold us out? // Revolver Ocelot: I was never in your employ, Gurlukovich... (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  47. ↑ "Liquid Snake": It’s been a while, brother. // Solid Snake: Who are you? // "Liquid Snake": You know who I am. Solid Snake: Liquid? // [...] "Liquid Snake": I -- I live on, through this arm. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  48. ↑ "Liquid Snake": You’re going down, Snake, with this tanker! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  49. ↑ Revolver Ocelot: No problems...proceeding as planned, sir. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  50. ↑ -- Verrazano Bridge, April 29th -- (Caption, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  51. ↑ Colonel: And by the way Snake, we're changing your code name for all following communication. // Raiden: What’s wrong with "Snake"? // Colonel: Just a precaution. You are now designated "Raiden". (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  52. ↑ Colonel: You have two missions objectives. One: infiltrate the offshore decontamination facility “Big Shell” and safeguard the President and other hostages. And two: disarm the terrorists by any means necessary. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  53. ↑ Colonel: You should know... that SEAL Team 10 is also conducting a rescue operation. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  54. ↑ Iroquis Pliskin: I'm not an enemy. Calm down. My name is S... My name is Pliskin. Iroquois Pliskin, Lieutenant Junior Grade. // Raiden: Are you a Navy SEAL? How did you get in? // Iroquis Pliskin: Fast rope descent from a Navy chopper. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  55. ↑ Raiden: Identify yourself. // Mr. X: I'm like you...I have no name. // Raiden: Are you Mr. X? // Mr. X: Hmm...if you like. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  56. ↑ President Johnson: I don't have any control. The real power is in the Patriots' hands. [...] Politics, the military, the economy—they control it all. They even choose who becomes President... Putting it simply, the Patriots rule this country. [...] This country is shaped and controlled as the Patriots see fit. The people are shown what they want to believe. What you call government is actually a well-staged production aimed at satisfying the public! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  57. ↑ Solid Snake: Otacon, take care of the hostages. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  58. ↑ Raiden : You! // Olga Gurlukovich: Ready for some shut-eye? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  59. ↑ Solidus Snake: This is my son... I taught him everything. Jack... I never thought I'd see you again... [...] You don't remember...? Your name... your skills... everything you know... you know from me. [...] I was your godfather, I named you. [...] I should've known they would recruit you. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  60. ↑ Colonel: Raiden, turn the game console off right now! Raiden: What did you say? Colonel: The mission is a failure! Cut the power right now! Raiden: What's wrong with you? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  61. ↑ Fortune: It's been a long wait, Solid Snake—the root of all my sorrows. // Snake : What? // Fortune: Two years ago, you killed my father. That was the beginning of hell for us. Everyone I love has been taken from me, one by one... and no matter how hard I try, I can't follow them. An endless nightmare... The only thing we live for is to see it end. Our wait is almost over. [...] Solid Snake: Raiden, get out of here! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  62. ↑ Solidus Snake: What's going on!? What's wrong with it!? // Revolver Ocelot: The AI—GW—it's out of control. [...] Solidus Snake: Stupid machines! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  63. ↑ Revolver Ocelot: It's too late! Arsenal's system control is going haywire! ...It's on an emergency ascent course! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  64. ↑ Fortune: I've captured Snake. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  65. ↑ Revolver Ocelot: Everything you've done here has been scripted—a little exercise set up by us. // Solidus Snake: Exercise!? // Revolver Ocelot: The S3 Plan was conceived as a means to produce soldiers on par with Solid Snake. That's what I told you. But the VR Training the boy was put through is not the meat of the project. You think this terrorist incident is your own doing, Solidus? THIS is the S3 training kernel—an orchestrated recreation of Shadow Moses. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  66. ↑ Revolver Ocelot: No! No, not now!! // "Liquid Snake": Brothers!! // Solid Snake: Liquid! [...] "Liquid Snake": I'm off to bury the Patriots for good. // Solidus Snake: You know where they are? How? // "Liquid Snake": Why do you think I choose Ocelot as my host? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  67. ↑ "Liquid Snake": Like surfing? It's a good way to go. // Solid Snake: Liquid! Stop this thing! // "Liquid Snake": Hey, Snake! You coming? (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  68. ↑ Solidus Snake: Federal Hall! (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  69. ↑ Solidus Snake: We were going to declare another independence—the dawn of a new nation—here. The end of the Patriots' secret rule, liberation of this country—this was where it was supposed to begin, this is where freedom could have been born. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  70. ↑ "JFK": It's our responsibility as rulers. Just as in genetics unnecessary information and memory must be filtered out to stimulate the evolution of the species. [...] The S3 Plan does not stand for Solid Snake Simulation. What it does stand for is Selection for Societal Sanity. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  71. ↑ Solidus Snake: I have other reasons for wanting you dead. The clues to the Patriots inside GW have been erased, but there are other traces. Inside YOU. [...] The information is being carried by the nanomachines in your cerebral cortex, and throughout the neural network they formed. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  72. ↑ Solid Snake: No one quite knows who or what they are. The memories you have and the role you were assigned are burdens you have to carry. It doesn't matter if they were real or not. That's never the point. There's no such thing in the world as absolute reality. [...] We can tell other people about—having faith. What we had faith in. What we found important enough to fight for. It's not whether you were right or wrong, but how much faith you were willing to have, that decides the future. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  73. ↑ Raiden: Do you know where Liquid went? // 'Solid Snake: I put a transmitter on his RAY. [...] This [disc] contains a list of all the Patriots. This virus is coded to destroy only a specific part of GW—namely the information about the Patriots identity. Which means, that there is a parameter coded in here that defines what that information is. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  74. ↑ Rose: Do you remember this place? // Raiden: Of course. This is where we first met... I remember now—Today is the day I met you. That's it. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  75. ↑ Otacon: Of course. It contains the personal data of twelve people. There was a name on it—Snake, it was one of our biggest contributors. [...] They're already dead. All twelve of them. // Solid Snake: When did it happen? // Otacon: Well, ah...about a hundred years ago. (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Konami, 2001)
  76. ↑ Hideo Kojima. (2002). The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2. [DVD]. New Zealand: Konami. 
  77. ↑ http://www.answers.com/topic/metal-gear-solid-2-sons-of-liberty
  78. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid 2 : Grand Game Plan Page 26" (PDF). http://www.mgstus.org Metal Gear Solid: The Unofficial Site. http://www.mgstus.org/downloads/misc/MGS2_orginal_gameplan/metal_gear_solid_2_grand_game_plan.pdf. Retrieved 15 February 2007. 
  79. ↑ Harry Gregson-Williams' interview in The Making of Documentary in the Bonus Making Of DVD.
  80. ↑ Greg Kasavin. "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PlayStation 2)". http://reviews.cnet.com/playstation-2-games/metal-gear-solid-2/4505-9581_7-30984449.html. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  81. ↑ http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/913941.asp
  82. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/metalgearsolid2
  83. ↑ "Famtisu Scores". http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=metal+gear. Retrieved 2009-11-23. 
  84. ↑ http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/2226/info.shtml
  85. ↑ http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/review.html
  86. ↑ http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/november01/mgs2sol/index3.shtm
  87. ↑ http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/164/164538p1.html
  88. ↑ "25 Most Overrated Games of All Time". GameSpy. 2003. http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/index25.shtml. Retrieved 28 December 2006. 
  89. ↑ http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/review.html?mode=web&tag=critic-reviews;score
  90. ↑ "Metal Gear Solid 2 Review". Gamespot. 2001. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/review.html. Retrieved 28 August 2006. 
  91. ↑ "Japan Votes on All Time Top 100". Edge. March 3, 2006. http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100. Retrieved 2009-11-26. 
  92. ↑ "Top 200 Games". Game Informer. December 2009. 
  93. ↑ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty. Cyberpunk Review.
  94. ↑ Artemio Urbina (2002). Metal Gear Solid 2 Ending Analysis. Junker HQ. Retrieved on 21 February 2007.
  95. ↑ Dr. Chris Zimbaldi (2004). "MGS2 Story / Ending / Symbolism Analysis". metalgearsolid.org. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. http://www.metalgearsolid.org/Articles/Features/mgs2-story-ending-symbolism-analysis.html. Retrieved 2007-02-21. 
  96. ↑ "GameSpy's Top MGS Moments: Metal Gear Solid 2 (Day Two)". GameSpy. May 16, 2008. http://www.gamespy.com/articles/874/874851p3.html. Retrieved 2009-11-25. 
  97. ↑ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (ps2: 2001): Reviews
  98. ↑ "25 Most Overrated Games of All Time". GameSpy. http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/index25.shtml. Retrieved 25 January 2006. 
  99. ↑ "Games of 2001." Game Informer. January 2002: p. 52
  100. ↑ "METAL GEAR SOLID2 -SONS OF LIBERTY-". 2002-06-12. http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mgs2/english/index.html. Retrieved 2008-03-24. 
  101. ↑ "The Top Ten Video Game Openings," Game Informer 187 (November 2008): 38.
  102. ↑ "「◆送料無料　METAL GEAR SOLID 2 BANDE DESSINÉE （DVD）」商品情報 - コナミスタイル" (in Japanese). http://www.konamistyle.jp/ecitem/item50248.html. 

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Metal Gear series
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Metal Gear (weapon) · List of media · Soundtracks · Kojima Productions · Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy
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