Understanding Ocelot in MGS2

What Even Happens in MGS2? Part Three - Shell Game
Support me on Patreon for exclusive content, works cited, podcasts, Q&As, and more!
/ futurasound
Follow FSP on Twitter:
/ futurasound
20 years ago, one game changed everything: METAL GEAR SOLID 2. Join Jorin Lee of Futurasound Productions, creators of the acclaimed miniseries WTF Happens in MGSV, on another unparalleled MGS analysis project. This time? We'll be unpacking the 'substance', that is the storyline, of MGS2.
This video follows the overview of the game's prologue, 'Tanker', with the second of three scenarios from the Manhattan Incident: Information Games in the Big Shell...and in particular, the 'Ames' section, which secretly reveals the involvement of Revolver Ocelot beyond what we're told explicitly in game.
*****************************
"The long awaited sequel to the PlayStation game Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was released on November 13th, 2001. MGS2 does not star the former FOXHOUND agent Solid Snake. Instead, Hideo Kojima took players into the mind of super soldier Raiden, a stealth operative on his first live combat scenario. His objective is to stop a group of terrorists, calling themselves the Sons of Liberty. This includes blowing up a large oil cleanup facility and killing the President of the United States.
MGS2's innovations included its introduction of the laser sight mechanic for more accurate aiming, and a refined cover system that allowed both players and enemies to shoot from cover. It also introduced collective enemy AI routines that relied on squad tactics rather than working individually, while individual enemies expressed fear and even birds had their own AI routines. MGS2 was considered to have the best enemy AI in gaming for many years. The physics was also a major step forward for gaming, particularly the sophisticated particle effects for its time (including for individual drops of rain) and the way objects moved.
The game earned both critical and commercial acclaim upon release, with the highest sales and review scores in the series. However, the game's convoluted story, excessive use of Codec conversations and new protagonist Raiden was criticized by a number of fans, temporarily relegating him to a joke character (even with Kojima himself) until his popular transformation in Metal Gear Solid 4.
Despite the controversy surrounding the unexpected bait-and-switch and convoluted storyline at the time, Sons of Liberty is today seen as a landmark title in the history of video games. It is considered the first truly postmodern video game, is frequently cited as a primary example of artistic expression in video games, and is generally considered one of the most influential games of the past decade, both for its artistic influence on later video game storylines (most notably Eternal Darkness, Killer7, Portal, and especially BioShock, which even featured a very similar plot twist) as well as its influence on the gameplay mechanics of many action games since."
www.giantbomb....

[@Lordlaneus]

I am about 90% confident that in the original draft of the MGS2 script, Solidus would have been specifically targeting financial records at world trade center, fight club style.

[@TheFloodFourm]

I’d love to here further elaboration on your theory :) that’s interesting

[@Lordlaneus]

Solidus was trying to escape the control of the Patriots AI system, by releasing an EMP onto Manhattan financial district. There's no way that the skyscrapers filled with global trading data wasn't originally part of that plan. the WTC has already been the target of a failed terrorist attack prior to 9/11, and there's no way Hideo could have resisted using a landmark that's literally shaped like the roman numeral for 2. That said, I'm also convinced that Skullface was the Fury from MGS3, then later also Mimic Octopus in MGS1, and Drebin in MG4, so take my ramblings with a grain of salt. @@TheFloodFourm

[@mintgoddess9523]

​@@TheFloodFourm cut content yo look it up

[@Autonomous_617]

711 was an inside job yo

[@hectorzamarron9484]

Always beyond excited for any video dropped by Jorin . Right after my work shift , I’m going to watch the rest , after a good blaze . Then I’ll play mgsv .. ty

[@willthomas3399]

Felt that one on a personal level

[@hectorzamarron9484]

@@willthomas3399 well turns out I was too busy to go through with my plan . So tonight the plan continues , after a quick 7 hour shift. Then I am free to blaze and play MGSV after the new Futurasound video .. I hope ..

[@UlanSays]

@@hectorzamarron9484 here a month later hoping the plan came to fruition lol👍🤘

[@hectorzamarron9484]

@@UlanSays yes , it sure did ! Now , I’m just waiting for the next Futurasound video to come out … lol

[@hectorzamarron9484]

@@UlanSays it sure did

[@chipe420]

Man, you are the GOAT mgs commentator. You really illuminate the inner workings of these surreal and intricate stories. The way you take aspects of the games themes and styles and mix in just enough of your own personal interpretations and feelings to color in the less well defined grey areas… bravo. This video in particular is REALLY, REALLY cool. I LOVE how this game brutally screws with the player through Ocelot and the AI’s S3 plan and dares you to try and figure out what really happened.

[@ne_bknnlive3920]

You are a legend in the eyes of those who love mgs

[@AHZUH]

Snow in lower New York for the first time this year and Jorin dropping a banger? The Patriot AI must be behind this…

[@HyperDefective]

19:42 - Lmao "Gorge Sears" I've never noticed that before

[@NikoNoxious]

where is part 4 and 5 and 6 of what even happened in MGS2

[@jacobpresley7112]

so glad to see deep dives still being made about this game

[@dhoulmagusrhapthorne9082]

This is my absolute favorite MGS game

[@harrysachz6395]

MGS2 remains so dense, even 2 decades later. These videos are a testament to that. Incidentally, will there ever be part 8 of Cutscenes of MGSV? That's a very insightful series

[@weebsofthestoneage651]

I discovered this channel a couple of days ago and I am completely addicted to these videos.

[@dhoulmagusrhapthorne9082]

Yeah, I've been watching for about 3 months now and I check the channel all the time just in case I missed an upload. Some of the best on YT

[@HyperDefective]

Ah man, I envy that. I discovered his channel about 2 years ago and have already binge watched all of the videos a couple of times. Have fun!

[@mbe102]

Feels so damn good to see Futurasound Productions popping up frequently in my new video notifications.

[@Mathadar]

Yes! Watch and share at once my friends. I always stop the moment I see a new Futurasound video. The mix of geopolitics, history gaming, and great writing all coalesce into this channel that beats with the heart of the atomic age.

[@razorguy5328]

Been waiting for this since episode two of mgs2 analysis, great job as always

[@IngramSnake]

The best of the best has come back. Always enjoy watching your videos at night right before I fall asleep. I am stunned at the research you do. Stuff I’m only now studying in postgrad, and you’re covering it in your videos some times. It’s astonishing. Your channel is underrated.

[@fishy0929]

Wow I think this might be the first time a part IV is going to be made...the big question is when will it come out? I humbly wait for it's release!

[@enjoylife6374]

I think theres one thing that can we can agree upon when giving MGS2 'best in the series' status - its codec convos are actually on 1000% of tension and discovering them after the whole thing its like a game within the game.

[@Megaritz]

Glad to see you back. Will you ever make a video about why Ocelot decided to adopt the Liquid persona in his plan to defeat the Patriots? This is a plot point that never made much sense, and it seems worth analysis.

[@loregasmic]

It never made sense because Liquid was supposed to have possessed Ocelot against his will. Ocelot was the son of The Sorrow, a spirit medium, strongly implying that he unknowingly inherited the ability to some extent and channeled Liquid's soul via the arm. But then for MGS4 Kojima decided there was no room for any supernatural elements in his series, only cutting edge technology i.e. everything is nanomachines.

[@Bob.sakamento]

This channel is underrated

[@feedthefishy]

The shell is merely an illusion

[@DDRMR]

AHHHHHHHH I LITERALLY ASKED FOR THIS LAST NIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭

[@patrickforney8202]

It's good to see you again. Boss.

[@kylewilliams7265]

God I've missed you! Thank you for all the work you do here on mother base boss

[@GuiltyGaming]

Aww man, the long-awaited next episode is here!

[@erichunt9003]

I have been a fan of MGS2 *specifically* for almost 2 decades now, it was only til I saw the beginning of this video that defined “shell game” that I realized what they meant by calling the location “the Big Shell” 🙃 very very nice detail

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Always wondered why ocelot saw us talking to Ames but didn't do anything until a few minutes later...... almost like he waited for us to get the information we need in order to serve the patriots

[@leyvonfeylskar8316]

God, I can't believe my eyes when I see this title, the 3 part after a year. And now I become obsess with game theories again.

[@jasonbrowning6247]

Actually been waiting on this one

[@2adre]

I was waiting on this one super excited for this drop thank for this

[@anonfrom2chan924]

Kept us waiting, huh? :^) Welcome back, Boss o7

[@theredcomet4301]

the amount of anticipation for this >>>>

[@klqeast]

Is there a part 4? The playlist seems to have 3 videos hidden. Anyone knows? Thanks, this series has been amazing, even ive played the game so many times, yet, ive learned so much more by these videos, just wow

[@dlm9293]

Commenting cause I'm wondering the same thing, where are the rest of the videos??

[@ethanhernandez9889]

@@dlm9293I swear it’s like the patriots censored him or something

[@Lazurmang]

I just want to say, as a 20+ year fan of MGS/Kojima and a fan of youtube video essays - there were many times where I would scour youtube trying to find MGS essays and would only come across the few megahits (superbunnyhop, mgs4 was a mistake etc etc). Until a week ago the YT algorithm showed me a thumbnail of one of your videos. Since then - I'm subbed, and have gone through most of your content. This is the channel I've been looking for for a LONG time.

[@masongraham]

I’ve been waiting for this!

[@mikevivona-z2u]

"Are you Mr. X??" "Nope; Mr. X wears a trench coat and has beef with Leon."

[@guitarwithjamesoffical]

Lol

[@TehUltimateSnake]

Yesss I've been looking forward to this episode for a while now.

[@BeefHammer1]

Thank you for being THE mgs guy.

[@WeeBoss64]

Just like the games; you're pretty good.

[@NeoRazor]

21:42 Rex? Did you mean Ray?

[@bankshot4203]

I hope this is what we have been waiting for boys and girls

[@unulng3057]

Прекрасное видео! Прошу не забрасывайте серию выпусков, а то без вас в сюжете мгс разобраться почти невозможно!

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Do you subscribe to the theory that on the Tanker Ocelot _was_ really possessed and that is why he had Liquid's arm replaced with a prosthetic? Well, to me it's not really a theory, it's backed up by official documentation, but what is debatable is whether he had the arm replaced after the Tanker or after the Arsenal incident. You can see the prosthetic clearly in MGS4, and the official MGS4 database confirms it to be a prosthetic.

[@r_jd279]

Thanks for continuing to make content. You got some great ideas and wordplay bro and I'll usually re-listen to more than a few while I'm working. Also 21:41, you meant RAY right?

[@cliftonsargent1572]

Holy sh*t…..I am very happy to see this

[@FilipinoFinesse]

Love your videos man! I appreciate every upload!

[@dominickdarpino5584]

its always a good day when jorin drops a vid

[@lpnp9477]

Welcome back Jorin! Did something with your microphone change? The quality is much lower than previous videos to the point that it's uncomfortable to watch on mobile

[@McXtreme13]

Part 4 when? 🥹

[@tetsusiega2]

We’re finally getting the remake and a set of remasters. I’m beyond excited, and I know Jorin probably shed a tear of joy today watching the trailer. I wonder what Delta signifies?

[@maymayman0]

I fucking love Jorin Lee !

[@TwiddleFingersDB]

oooh I've been waiting for this

[@knightshousegames]

In the list of MGS1 memes, you forgot about the death of a president....just instead of the Arms Tech President, it's the actual US president Also, using Nikita Missiles to destroy an electrified floor, and of course, insertion by water.

[@raditzhoneyham]

Have you ever given the world of "Cyberpunk" a chance? I think there's a lot you could sink your teeth into with 2020 and 2077

[@ComfortZoneComic]

This time I searched" Futurasound Ocelot"......food for thought

[@bogbastard4243]

been waiting for part 3 of this for a while. really do enjoy this particular series you do

[@RobSomeone]

The true protagonist. Ocelot's my favorite!

[@bro4life693]

I love your videos so much man. I would love to see these continue 💪🏻

[@PACKERMAN2077]

I wish I could get a pole on everyone's favorite ninja throughout these games. Although Grey Fox look more advanced with his body being more svelt and slender because he was a full cyborg my favorite would always be Olga suit because it was buff, jacked, and I loved the holographic Dome face mask as opposed to the physically opening panels of the Iron Man style Fox helmet. It makes sense, though, for Olga's suit to be beefier because it's powered armor that she is piloting, and it also is to hide her identity.

[@brosghost]

Been playing MGS since 98.

[@kennysorel]

21:42 *meant to be RAY

[@riffraffgolfers]

No game ever gave me a feeling like the MGS series

[@ZayIvory7]

The "WTF Happened" is the absolute best series in your videos, loves these.

[@freddywilson6784]

Will your other mgs2 videos become available for viewing again?

[@YourJamaicanChief]

Is there a part 4 ?

[@jgt1120]

Not yet at least

[@marciorodrigo6863]

Thanks!!!

[@KnoxCarbon]

What happened to the other parts?

[@cowboy4187]

You're pretty good

[@shreddybrek]

Is Part 4 out yet?

[@MillMeels]

I'M READY

[@b2bvic]

Kept us waiting, huh

[@GMrDrew]

Where my honeycomb smile at... 😊

[@finnlass2565]

Thanks dad

[@revan6289]

Mike quality is a bit bad ... lots of static..

[@Squirberus]

YES

[@cuttysharp]

Unhide the other 3 videos!

[@vincentcisneros1099]

Welcome back boss. H TOWN HOLD IT DOWN

[@mp44christos]

Did he ever do an episode about mgs? I can't find it and it is supposed to be before mgs2 chronologicaly.

[@jasonmalice]

Cool

[@AlexanderGriff]

Finally 😎

[@evilnoey4873]

I hate MGS2 but I’ll listen to you talk about it lol

[@TehUltimateSnake]

*M e o w w w w*

[@strudlesallday1598]

👍

[@Damien8er]

hi

[@connor8614]

!

[@SolidLoach]

KZbin looooooooooves deleting my comments! It’s so much fun! 😄

[@guitarwithjamesoffical]

11/10 video 2/10 title.

[@mellow63656]

Not first

[@Plebs_]

😁

[@EdwardNygma888]

Laughable... i couldn't believe my eyes when at about 6:45 you started listing off similarities between MGS1 and MGS2 and unironically mentioned "#7: Snake comments on your uniform", and "#8: the double-tap elevator button". What??? My guy, the Patriots didn't do that; it was the game developers. i liked the slight deep dive into Ames, but man, it feels like this video lost its direction in the first 5 minutes. it should have been 10 or 15 minutes tops.

[@RedundancyDept]

Yeah, I'm not sure this guy understands the story at all. These videos are vaguely amusing to watch, but they definitely leave the impression that the author is sniffing his own farts. Regardless, it shouldn't take more than three hours (!!!) to summarize a video game plot, lmao.

[@eazyelof4283]

I love your videos but I wish I could enjoy them without watching at work. The occssional onscreen text that isn't read allowed prevents that. I'd be able to watch your videos a lot more if I didn't have to set aside time specifically for it

[@MrRenatopepin]

Not to be discouraging or anything but this game's story is so convoluted and full of unecessary details, its almost depressing to follow. Unfiltered Kojima is one of the worst things in writing i've ever seen. I mean, no wonder MGS2, MGS4, MGS5 and Death Stranding are torturous to go through: the pacing is terrible. He and his rabid fan base won't ever admit it but he is not a real writer. He needs real assistants and editors, nay sayers to filter this mess, cut corners and develop better characters. Olga is a great example of how terrible he is at writing characters. All her motivations are off screen, her development is almost non existent, things she does is oftenly told to the player, the ninja thing is basically a façade with no purpouse but to hide her identity to the player and when her identity is revealed it fall flat as a pancake because she is barely a character at all. Her "sacrifice" is so tone deaf, i caught myself wondering if i was supposed to feel anything for her. The Stillman- Fatman thing? Bro, in any writers room / book editor / academic review that shit would be trimmed ASAP. Its extremely convoluted and it feels like a discarded idea that was kept in the game for no reason as it barely connects with the story. Vamp is another one, the character has barely any background or apparent motivation. He appears only to fuck shit up. You can actually see the hand of the writer when he appears to kill Olga after being defeated. To this day, i'm yet to find a MGS2 big head to explain to me how Fortune deflects those Ocelot missiles he fires against her. Speaking of fortune, what happened between her and Snake as she was left with him while Raiden went to meet Solidus? Also, what was that arena where Raiden fights RAYs? Was that supposed to be real? Was it inside or outside Arsenal? The self referential stuff and MGS1 callbacks are also so convoluted and overwriten, it feels more like a writing crane as he can't bother coming up with new setpieces. As the game is about simulations, voi-la, you're supposed to understand this as "good and intentional" afterall, "thats the point". I'm sorry, i know the fanbase is deeply indoctrinated at this point, but this not a good story. In fact, tying this simulation-conspirational-self referential thing this way only scales the paranoid and alienation of the player/reader/ spectator. People start seeing things that are not really there. Kojima really has some great set of ideas inside him. Its not like he came up with those post modern takes mixing artificial inteligence, game theory and meme theory but he blended very well Richard Dawkins works, Matrix some Jean Baudrilar themes, anime tropes and John Carpenter film style. Its just that he is not good into fitting those ideas into a coeherent story. It took years to debug this whole mess of a game and people still can't understand some plot details and cause-consequence events. Thats how you can actually tell how much Blaustein did for him MGS1.

[@SFlRanger82l49]

Hey man, actually I would like to explain you the game series but I guess you will never understand it with that kind of thinking. I mean, if you think you could do it better then Kojima and his team, why dont you go ahead and create your own game, your own story, let us, so called "rabid fan base", know about it and we will see how good you´re at it! I only goin to explain you one thing here about Olga. Her motivations are to get her child back from the Patriots, who took it away from her right after she gave birth to it. The Patriots then gave her orders or otherwise she would never see her child again! It is explained in the game very well. If you dont see that as a motivation, I have to guess that you are pretty heartless in things like that! But anyway, go ahead and make your own game. Let me know about it. Maybe you´re a better writer.

[@MrRenatopepin]

@@SFlRanger82l49 I think you misread what i wrote. I don't question her motivation, i know its about her daughter. What i've said is that the character feels hollow because none of its development is on screen but rather told to the player using the "insert motivations here" method. I don't care enough about her because there are barely any emotional stakes envolving the character. Also, its not like i hate the series, i actually love it (specially MGS1 and 3). But i have to concede: Kojima is not a well developed writer. He has amazing ideas just like Cixin Liu from "3 body problem" but he also needs serious help from other writers to lay his concepts down. But sure, honest to god, if you have answers for what i've asked i would be glad hear. No smugish or sarcasm intended.

[@SFlRanger82l49]

I also had no intense to be angry or hatefull about your comment! Well maybe about the fan base you mentioned ^^. I played pretty much every game, except Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2 and the Portable Ops Games, at least 30 to 50 times through. And yes, I have to say that I didnt understand MGS2 Sons of Liberty at the first time. I was way more shoked about that I had to play with a blond long haired dude that sounded a little bit like a kid in my opinion! But wouldnt you agree that this isn´t something new. The Japanese franchise has been always weird in my eyes! I mean for an example that Ruffy in One Piece is being in a fight and taking like 2 times 25 min for one punch just because he´s trashtalking to his opponent! And there are so many more of examples! I could imagine that people from Japan think the same way like you when they watched some western movie or played a game.

[@SFlRanger82l49]

You just have to imagine how long and masive big a game had to be, if you going to explain every charakter by a story behind the actual scene! That would be a game that takes at least 20 hours of cutscenes!

[@MrRenatopepin]

@@SFlRanger82l49 i gotta say that i kinda went too far calling the fan base "rabid". Its just that any kind of criticism or questioning is almost always dismissed by "thats a dumb take, you don't get it. Play it again" and this pisses me off a bit. From a meta point of view, MGS2 is great i'll admit it. I've played through it 4 times by now and its amazing. The problem is that the story by which it conveys the ideas of memes, projection and simulation is not. It feels doctored, unatural and some plot points looks ilogical or missing (like that Fortune thing in the end). I can apreciate the game only when i put it under a microscope and try some theme valuation of what its trying to say. Its not like MGS1 that had me invested in some more well articulated drama like Naomi's. But i agree the game is something else.

[@Plebs_]

Oh fuck yeahhh!! Been waiting for this.

[@jacobringenwald]

I was confused about why Ames snaps at Ocelot for the longest time, this video cleared it up

[@Helsinki40268]

Hey man I love these mgs videos but what happened to the other videos of mgs 2?

[@YogurtGaming69]

This😢

[@etaoinshrdlu927]

I've never seen this mentioned, but Olga/Ninja is wrong about pacemakers: they're not audible. Easy hypothetical fix: artificial heart valves are audible, or I guess you could use nanosenses to see Ames' pacer's EMF signal. Also never mentioned: MGS2 Ocelot has the classic Doomed Anime Mom ponytail. I don't know what it means but it has to mean *something*.

[@nasti362]

As someone who’s played this game more than a dozen times this video showed me subtle nuances and themes that make this game even better. That’s how you know this game is a true masterpiece

[@charliebee5154]

Your hard work is a blessing for a weary, and yet still curious mind. Thank you for showing us what true dedication is, Boss.

[@ElricSowrd]

Yeah, I've also noticed that the carpet in the computer room looks similar to the one from Otacon's lab from Shadow Moses. And I've noticed that the Hi-Tech Soldiers don't have accents.

[@rosaria8384]

So you mean to tell me that MGS2 has everything MGS1 to it? Superb storytelling ngl. I played this in HD collection and I didn't expect such similarities to MGS1...

[@Cold_Cactus]

Metal gear stories are like poetry, they rime

[@Snakeskin94]

Jorin is always at his best when he talks about MGS2.

[@knightshousegames]

A thought I had about why the uniform is so small You get it from the Ninja, who we know is Olga, so she probably was just giving you one of her spares.