entry 11 - rays for days
I made it to a platform where I’m fighting a seemingly infinite number of Rays. I get how to damage them but keep dying as they keep showing up. I don’t know what to do and this isn’t very fun. Any obscure tips would be appreciated!
entry 12 - mgs2 credits rolling
Watching the credits for MGS2 right now. Took me probably 14 hours total. Figured out the Ray fight by targeting all of them in a sequence rather than waiting for them to join the stage. Solidus sword fight took me a few tries but was quite easy once I got the patterns down.
The story… my brain is soup. Will see how I’m feeling after sleeping on it. Initial reaction is that while I understand how the game is justifying itself, I’m not sure it was ultimately a satisfying experience for me. It certainly didn’t reach the heights of MGS1 for me.
Looking forward to reading/watching reviews of the game and people’s perspectives on the game.
entry 13 - mgs2: the morning after
I slept on it, and I chewed on it, and I’ve got some slightly coherent thoughts, but first, my play results:
(Love the brush art Raiden background there)
Brain dump of thoughts:
I can easily imagine how MGS2 would be incredibly impactful if you played MGS1 when it came out, had some years and hype leading up to MGS2, and then the result was this game that plays quite well and is intentionally messing with your expectations.
But that impact is severely lessened by playing MGS2 days after beating MGS1 one. The callbacks with a bit of nostalgia would hit a lot harder, rather than a bit rote. Also, having MGS4 context and a little bit of understanding of the broader strokes of the story, lessens the experience. The context of a game (access to information, where one is at in their life, what other contemporary games are like, time between experiences, etc.) are all important in how one experiences it.
I think I get what the game is attempting to do—subvert expectations, flip them on their head, introduce a fair amount of doubt/confusion, play with things, experiment. It’s trying to walk a fine line between fun gameplay, suspicion, serious story moments, surrealism, silly moments, callbacks, references, and subversion. It manages to do this all quite well in a way I’ve never see a game do. There’s a full range of emotions—joy, sorrow, frustration, confusion. I don’t think any of that is accidental, and that would explain why Kojima is viewed as masterful.
There’s not much I’m a superfan of, but the few artistic/cultural things I love are: Haruki Murakami’s novels, David Lynch’s films and Twin Peaks, Ursula K Le Guin, Blade Runner, Nihei’s manga, and William Gibson novels. They’re my touchstones and favorite pieces of artistic works. I really love sci-fi, surrealism, etc. And I see bits and pieces of all of them within Metal Gear Solid 2. But MGS2 didn’t resonate or impact me in the way those works have. I wonder why…
Is it possible those works all take themselves slightly more seriously than Kojima does? And that Kojima’s works are just a bit more “dumb” and less self-serious and that breaks it for me? Lynch’s works aren’t devoid of humor—Twin Peaks is quite hammy. Eraserhead’s chicken dinner scene comes to mind.
Loving art or entertainment isn’t some mathematical formulae of it has the right graphics, references, story, mechanics, etc.; therefore I love it. Just because something is masterful, postmodern, different, etc. doesn’t therefore mean it will be beloved. Games are this interesting medium where I want to have some fun (play), but I’m also open to them being artistic and impactful at deeper level. But I’m also here for enjoyment with novels, films, games, etc.
Twin Peaks: The Return Episode 8, the black and white episode, also comes to mind when I write this. The feeling of being “what the fuck is happening here” but absolutely glued to the screen, I felt a bit of that with MGS2. But I think Lynch pretty consistently sticks the landing, where I’m not so sure MGS2 did. The reveal of Campbell being AI, maybe Rose too, if I’m understanding; that got me. I thought they were both odd and something was off, but when you’re in Arsenal and Campbell starts breaking down, that moment was great. Also, the twist that MGS1 was all an elaborate plan to gather data, that hit hard.
It is possible to get MGS2 is going for something. It is possible for MGS2 to be groundbreaking. It is possible for MGS2 to be masterful. And it is possible to recognize and appreciate all of that and still not enjoy it.
Did I enjoy MGS2?
I don’t know, honestly. I did at times, but I sure didn’t enjoy freezing the bombs or fighting Fatman. I didn’t enjoy Big Shell as an environment to explore, especially compared to Shadow Moses, which had a progression and exploration aspect I much preferred. I didn’t much care for the boss fights, which I think were also much better in MGS1. I don’t despise Raiden, but he’s sort of a nothing character without much personality. I like his model and hair and stuff, he’s certainly got a “cool” look to him.
I did enjoy a lot though:
I’m left feeling appreciation but not adoration for Metal Gear Solid 2.
I’m surprised MGS3 is a prequel to the games, as I could imagine a direct follow up to MGS2 being pursuing Liquid Ocelot as both Snake and Raiden. But I can also understand the desire to not give fans what they want (i.e., Snake is now old in MGS4). I forget the details, and I wonder if MGS3 ties into all this madness. I’ll see!
I’ve got this urge to replay MGS2 right away. I want to see what I missed, see if there are more cracks. Have a little bit more fun than b-lining the story. Revel in the tanker.
remember…
solidus at the bar
cool shots & framing:
blew up the dang pressie
the game summarized:
this hit hard, especially as I’ve gotten more involved in local politics lately
bros 
I was freaking out “how did I die?!”
This is really making me want to play MGS2 again. It was 108’s review of the game in the early 2000’s that first brought me to this site.
entry 14 - the snakies - MGS2
no one’s favorite award show!
Snakies MGS2
MGS1 being a data collection exercise for how to build/train super soldiers was like 
because it explains why MGS2 is so similar to MGS1—to basically shape the game and IMO make it worse and less original for that plot twist takes guts
“Iroquois Pliskin” — not only problematic but further evidence of Kojima being a bit too on the nose
also, I am sure people loved this but snake saying, basically, “don’t worry I have infinite ammo bandana on” was too much for me; cringe bro
boss fights were not a highlight in this game like they were in MGS1—intentional? maybe! idk.
fav: fortune because I didn’t have to do it
most hated: Fatman because I couldn’t find the bombs in some locations and had to keep retrying over and over
Kill Me Now perfectly encapsulates the early 2000s cyberpunk/sci-fi vibes that I dug about the game
snake and otacon hugging
also, just all of the Tanker
olga being ninja; that was just dumb IMO
I’m a simple man, and this rubber duck in the swimming section really sparked joy:
when heading over to Shell 2, I saw this guy pop out and immediately went: THAT’S MY GUY!!
RIP My Guy, more guts than anyone else in the whole game 
Thanks for tuning into the second Snakies. It’s an honor just to be nominated. Would love to hear your picks and highlights from MGS2!
For all that there is to talk about in the game, and for as much as I enjoy it, that MGS2 is the de facto example (among a certain crowd) of narrative depth in video games is a little goofy. It is unique and worth examining, but discussing it criticially means not being precious about it and addressing negatives as well as positives (which you have done above). Anyway that’s more about video game culture than the game itself.
I haven’t read it in a long time but I recall Driving Off the Map being pretty good.
My estimation of MGS2 is ultimately very positive if somewhat conflicted. Really having fun with the game sort of demands forgetting about all the narrative stuff and treating it like the VR Missions in MGS1 and 2: each room is a level, and the various ways you can manipulate guard behavior are your mechanics. As was mentioned in the Currently Playing thread, overreliance on the tranq pistol flattens the possibility space the game otherwise offers. I’ve played it four or five times and haven’t varied my play style a whole lot, next time I’ll try to go off-script.
When I think of MGS2’s unique mechanics, I remember the grip gauge, and that for some mysterious reason you can upgrade it by doing a million pull-ups. Who has the time for that? Why do it? Dropping from one ledge and catching yourself on another augments your grip strength more quickly than doing pull-ups. Strange.
that video is quite simply amazing, thank you
first 2 results are both proclaiming it is a “masterpiece” and “misunderstood”
also, the first one is two hours and thirty five minutes long, the other thirty six minutes
I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to stick this through to the end but I’ll give them a shot!
If i remember right Super Eyepatch Wolf has some good mgs videos. None of them are too terribly long either.
You’re thinking Super Bunnyhop lol
You may have taken a look already but I’ll say you can safely ignore those
entry 15 - MGS2 VR Missions
VR Missions Not For Me
I don’t like them, nope. Failing right away when spotted makes sense, but it’s too frustrating and not rewarding enough for me. The fun for me is messing up, getting spotted, and having to get out of a sticky situation. Combined with exploration. That’s all gone with the VR missions.
But I could absolutely see how someone would enjoy them so no disrespect. 
I poked around the menus and saw Snake Tales, so I’m going to give those a try next.
I was sitting there last night looking at my Switch Home Screen and saw Big Boss looking at me and thought “huh, I’m ready for MGS3” so maybe that’s gonna happen sooner than I thought. I’m excited!
I gotta say, I like the 10~14 hour game. That’s a great length for where I’m at in my life and what I’m looking for right now. I’m not sure how long the rest of the games in the series are, but I wouldn’t be upset if they were all roughly that length. I’ve been trying to not check How Long to Beat because it creates this weird mental game where I anticipate the end and worry I’m going too slow or too fast or something.
This, in a nutshell, is exactly why I love the Genius Kojumbo so darn much. His work is simultaneously the most self important, over-serious, pretentious gobbelty-goop ever made and a satirical love letter of self parody. Every time I play one of his games I feel like this:
MGS2 is my least favorite MGS. It’s got neat things that it does, when it swings it swings for the fences, and there’s a lot of praise that it deserves for trying to do something unique and interesting. All it needed to do was be MGS1 on the PS2… Which they kinda did, but all Kojima’d, which in an of itself is hilarious and amazing. But, uh, it’s kind of not really that much fun to play. And after the twists are experienced and you know what happens in the end, the narrative doesn’t really inspire me to play through it again.
Now MGS3. THAT’S-AH SPICY MEAT-AH BALL-EH! I’m excited for you to play that game. By far my favorite in the series, and a very good prequel.
entry 16 - battle of the framerates
The Switch port being capped at 30 FPS has been eating at me. YouTube thumbnails calling it an inferior port causing me great despair.
So I put it to the test. PS2 emulated, Vita, 360, and Switch. All at the Tanker! (Why do I own so many versions of this game I only just played?!)
Here are my findings:
The game is totally playable on all of them. A sort of spoil of snake riches. I also own the HD collection on PS3… assuming that’s the same as the Xbox 360 version.
So the question becomes: what do I play MGS3 on?
I could go PS3 and get those 60 FPS and transfar to Vita for when I’m not in my basement (50% of my gaming time). But the Vita feels worse than the Switch in terms of comfort. Or just stick with Switch and accept lower framerate but less hassle. But I do kind of want trophies. 
Tough decision to make! But a weird/fun(?) way to spend a Friday evening.
it is, although the PS3 has pressure-sensitive buttons!!! (lightly hold square to aim but not fire a rifle, pretty silly but it’s fun)
You want to go with the one that lets you say you’ve Transfarred, imo
Yep that’s the one lol, i though eye patch didn’t sound right…
@brettch i understand that with VR Missions. But don’t just do the sneaking mode! So the weapons and variety. Plus the hold up and eliminate all modes are fun too.
They’ve got a bomb disposal section but by the sounds of it, you won’t like those ones much haha
entry 17 - dying in the jungle
I started MGS3 a few days ago. I went with normal mode on PS3 and Vita, and the game is just absolutely kicking my butt. I’m going to restart on an easier difficulty since I’m not enjoying the challenge but am enjoying the game overall. Buncha thoughts:
All right, let’s start MGS3 over!
entry 18 - MGS3 fast forward
In one hour on Easy with skipping cutscenes and codec calls I was able to get to where I was on Normal difficulty in four hours. Knowing the map and being a bit more cavalier certainly accelerated things. I even blew past the Ocelot boss fight and am now in the cave.
Playing on Easy + comfort of the Switch Split Pad is just what I was needing and am enjoying the game quite a bit more. Curious if it’ll feel too easy or just right. I could see myself playing again on Normal next time through. But for now, onward into this cave.
ditching the soliton sight cones was one of two great choices mgs3 makes bc it obscures how much you can actually get away with so you reckon with some level of uncertainty at all times… you will be surprised at what you can get away with after a while! Getting Away With It is the most fun part of video games and snake eater is a game about exactly that
Did you get Snake Eater, or Subsistence?
There’s a significant (in my opinion) difference in how they feel and play. In the original release, Snake Eater, the camera was a similar top down view to MGS 1 & 2. Subsistence was a trial run at an over-the-shoulder type third person camera, as would be implemented in MGS4.
Subsistence with the feee range camera. But there is an option to fix it in place like MGS1&2. I’ve been using the over the shoulder mode and enjoying it quite a bit for looking around the environment.
