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Metal Gear Solid 2 - Sons of Liberty (PS2)
by dirtyripper
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a stealth action game for the Playstation 2 released in 2001 by Konami. It is the sequel to the widely-acclaimed Playstation1 game Metal Gear Solid and features many of the same characters. In Sons of Liberty, a terrorist cell who call themselves the Sons of Liberty have seized an enormous offshore ... cleanup facility wherre they are also holding the President of the United States hostage. They threaten to kill the Presidnet and also create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their ransom demands are not met. You play as Raiden, a member of special forces unit FOXHOUND who is sent into the facility to rescue the hostages. On his mission he discovers an enormous conspiracy where nothing is as it seems.
Sons of Liberty is an outstanding game. The storyline is one of the best I have ever experienced in a game, and in my opinion is better than that of any of the other Metal Gear Solid games. One thing which many people don't like about the Metal Gear Solid games is that you do have to be somewhat acquainted with the plot of the previous games in order to really understand what is going on, as the plot is very complex and contains n8unerous references to previous games. However, for someone like me who is a massive fan of the series, this was not a problem and I found the storyline to be hugeley entertaining. The graphics in Sons of Liberty are outstanding with a tremendous level of intricate detail rendered. Although the majority of the game takes place on the offshore facility, there are quite a wide variety of settings, including an oil tanker and the streets of New York. The sound quality is also excellent with atmospheric music throughout.
The stealth aspect of the game is one of the best things about it. Rather than most games where you would just go in all guns blazing and killing the enemies left, right and centre, in Metal Gear Solid you have to rely on stealth to get your mission done. Hiding behind obstacles and taking your enemies out silently is much more exciting, although it does require some level of patience. The game is not all stealth, as there are some great fight scenes with some outstanding bosses including Fatman - a rollerblading bomb expert, Fortune - a woman is able to cheat death by her supernatural levels of luck, and Vamp - a seemingly immortal man with vampire-like attributes. The game is very long so you certainly get your moneys worth, and it is consistently entertaining with some very humorous moments.
Overall, Sons of Liberty is an amazing game that I personally could not find faults with, although players who are not accustomed to the series might be a little confused by some aspects of the plot. The graphics are amazing as is the gameplay and story and I would certainly recommend this game to anyone who has not yet played it.
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Suikoden Tactics (PS2)
by WayneKWilkins
As a long time fan of the Suikoden series and owner of every game in the series, I was rather confused when I heard of Suikoden Tactics. While this is essentially a spin-off of the main series, it ties in directly with Suikoden IV, and I actually found it to be a very worthwhile addition to the series. The gameplay is excellent, the ... storyline is my favorite bit and it conforms to conventional Suikoden style graphics, music, settings, scenarios and even characters. For fans of Suikoden 2 and 3, the battle system is very much like the "Major Battles", so it is very versatile, very enjoyable and very nostalgic.
If you want another example of the battles, you need only turn to the likes of "Shining Force" and "Final Fantasy Tactics". This is basically the battle system, so you get a traditional Suikoden game, only with Shining Force battles, which to me is a win-win as I adore both series.
In the opening of the game, you control a young version of the Hero from Suikoden IV, as well as Snowe, his best friend from Suikoden IV too. As the storyline progresses, you eventually control other characters and a whole mysterious storyline begins to unfold. The storyline as I mentioned above is my favorite aspect. It has that same Suikoden feel that the entire series has, but I found this storyline to be much darker and much more sinister, a storyline aspect which is only hinted at subtly in the Suikoden series such as with the Neclord storyline and the ghost storyline in Suikoden 2. If you enjoyed those stories, you will enjoy Suikoden Tactics' storyline.
The graphics are flawless. They are what you would expect from a Suikoden game. The music is again a major strong point and again, the Suikoden series is known for its unique RPG graphics and its brilliant musical scores; Tactics does not disappoint in this department.
Gameplay wise, you can move from city to city, you can interact with storyline events and you can level up and customize your party and your characters. Again, it has a distinct Suikoden feel, only with elements of Shining Force thrown in, which is not a bad thing at all. You progress by completing battles, which is again a convention in the Suikoden "Major Battles" and in Shining Force, so again, it is a win-win.
Overall, if you are a fan of the Suikoden series, it is impossible to not like this. Do not judge it just because it is a spin-off and has a different battle system because you will miss out on the fun. This game is like any vintage Suikoden, only with elements of Shining Force thrown in, and that my friends is a very good thing, a very, very good thing. I actually preferred this to Suikoden IV. If you can get it, get it and play the hell out of it because this will become a most-loved addition to any PS2 collection!
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Metal Gear Solid 2 - Sons of Liberty (PS2)
by WayneKWilkins
I love the Metal Gear Solid series. At the time of the release of Metal Gear Solid on the PS1, there was no other game like it. It quite literally blew my mind. Needless to say, when I bought MGS2 on release, I was very impressed. I actually like this even more than the first even though many people prefer the original. I still play this ... game from time to time. i find that it is one of the most long-living in my collection when it comes to replayability because it is like playing a movie storyline meaning you can never really get bored of playing it. I think that for anyone with a PS2 or any fan of later MGS games, this is a must-play.
The gameplay is a major attraction for me. I love the fact that you can just wonder around and shoot anything. The game puts somewhat of an emphasis on stealth although this is not necessary on easier difficulties as I have found that you rarely die and can pretty much do what you want. Harder difficulties however are incredibly difficult and require lots of skill and practise.
There is also so much fun to have in regards to the gameplay. On later playthroughs, I now find myself just having a laugh when exploring such as in the "Metal Gear Briefing" where you are meant to be being stealthy. I love to see how many people I can shoot in the crowd without being noticed. Similarly, playing knock-knock with the guards and hiding behind lockers or in boxes is incredibly fun. There is lots of fun to be had if you want a break from the drama and storyline of the game.
The storyline however is perhaps my favourite aspect. The story is truly epic. It somewhat follows on from the first game and features many of the main characters from that game, including some villains and enemies too. The storyline is similar to the first, but I found this one much darker and much more sinister than the first which I really enjoyed. I believe that the storyline will appeal to long-term MGS fans and brand new ones alike. You do not need to play the first to enjoy this, but it is obviously advantageous to give you that continuity feeling.
Overall, I believe that Metal Gear Solid 2 is a must-have PS2 necessity for any gamer. This is one of the very best in the series and my personal favourite in the series. It is brilliant to follow the storyline, the gameplay is immense, there are lots of secrets to uncover and find, plenty of Easter eggs too and when you want a break from the story, you will always find a place to have some fun and just annoy the enemy a little bit. This is one of my all-time favourite games and I cannot recommend this enough!
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