Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake [MSX] - Big Boss Rank, No Damage, No Humans Killed - Cinematic Walkthrough

This is a no damage, no kills, Big Boss Rank walkthrough of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, originally released on the MSX but ported to the West for the first time in the HD collection of Metal Gear Solid. [1990, 2011 - KONAMI]
The strategies in this playthrough can be replicated on any platform version.
I've tried to balance challenge alongside cinematic immersion - no conversations are skipped, extra CODECS are called for added backstory.
No Damage means no damaging hits are taken throughout the playthrough.
No Human Kills means we don't kill a single regular soldier.
Big Boss Rank is a set of conditions that need to be met throughout the playthrough. A full breakdown can be found in the video.
A total of 8 saves were made throughout the playthrough, I edited out all but one out for smoother viewing:
1 - Zanzibar Bldg. 3F 0000 03 42
2 - Zanzibar Bldg. 1F North 0000 21 55
3 - Zanzibar Bldg. 4F 0000 39 22
4 - Zanzibar Bldg 1F North 0000 52 32
5 - Tower Bldg 10F Elevator 0001 01 11
6 - Prison Entrance 0001 10 11
7 - Underground Base 0001 24 50
8 - To Rendezvous Point 0001 38 38
I believe the game can be done no damage, with 1 save, but it'd be tough and RNG dependent, and such runs are better attempted for livestreams.
I've included Chapters, though the commentary will make more sense as part of the full journey.
Chapters:
Opening (0:00:00)
Big Boss Rank Requirements: (0:04:00)
Game Start (0:04:47)
Black Ninja (0:09:00)
Following Green Beret (0:13:26)
Running Man (0:22:55)
To the Tower Building (0:25:28)
HIND D (0:28:48)
Saving Holly (0:30:03)
Red Blaster (0:37:50)
Finding the STB Agent (0:39:22)
A way to cross the broken bridge (0:57:30)
4 Horsemen (1:04:49)
Rooftop Jump (1:07:03)
Jungle Evil (1:14:06)
Infiltrating the Prison (1:15:36)
Night Fright (1:21:20)
Card 9 (1:22:51)
The Betrayal (1:28:05)
Metal Gear D (1:33:38)
Gray Fox (1:35:42)
Big Boss (1:39:32)
Escape (1:47:22)
Ending and Credits (1:51:50)
Rank Screen (2:00:02)
Closing Words (2:00:40)
#metalgear #nodamage #mastercollection

[@SelectorJohnson]

Damn, Grey Fox’s speech after his defeat hit home.

[@SelectorJohnson]

Love the commentary. It’s not overkill, which I appreciate.

[@SonicTheHedgehog17]

I like the narration you put on. It's non-intrusive and adds to the atmosphere of the game. Loving nods to MGS1 as well, I'd be cool to see you do that game as well some day.

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you so much. 🔥 I'm working on MGS1 - to be released sometime in the early months of 2024. Stay tuned! 🙏

[@JarfunklePeebs]

You’re pretty good. My controller wouldn’t have made it through this game without your help, thank you!

[@SoulSignal]

Awesome to hear that, man. Thank you! 🔥

[@themixmaster]

Very useful walkthrough, thank you!

[@VeryMasterNinja]

these videos are great, keep up the good work, can't wait for the mgs1 one!

[@Devilboy1995]

Liked, subscribed and finished the run just as you did. Awesome video !

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you so much! And well played!

[@Boymanbeard]

For Kyle great video man as usual a pleasure to binge at night

[@SoulSignal]

Love to hear that, man. Thank you. As someone who has created through streaming, it's really wonderful to make things that can be accessed any time. For Kyle 🫡🔥

[@Tiucaner]

Thanks for this. Even though I enjoy these games, they are often rather cryptic on what to do and where to go. Without this to guide me I'd be lost a lot.

[@MSZ]

Impressive, very nice.

[@Xxandrew01]

Great job with this walkthrough man! Great to see people give MG2 Solid Snake more love, it is really underrated in the MG fandom (Along with the first MG on MSX). You just earned a sub. ;)

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you, man. 🙏 It's easy for these gems to be overlooked due to their limited releases, and being on the MSX couldn't have helped. By the time we got access to them in the West, the SOLID series was already a legend long established. But their importance to the fundamentals of MGS cannot be overstated - Metal Gear 2 holds up especially well, and the OST is killer - truly was a joy to explore it with a no damage approach. Appreciate your words and sub - thank you again. 🔥

[@hezakiya5637]

I am really impressed with your knowledge and play through I will subscribe to your legendary and epic channel!!!

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you!! 🫡 🔥

[@Esakosarara]

Great video, keep it up!

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you! More to come, 100%. 🔥

[@metalhead420ish]

This was an excellent walk through. Very detailed.

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you so much! 🔥

[@metalhead420ish]

No problem . I used this walk-through to play through the whole game. I been a fan of metal gear solid since it came out but never got to play the originals till recently . This took skill to make this video

[@SoulSignal]

@@metalhead420ish That's awesome to hear this helped you navigate the game, man. It's quite hard to know where to go compared to the Solid games, and knowing some tricks against the bosses always helps. Really happy you could put it to use. Also brilliant that you could finally play these gems - so much of the originals lead into the Solid games. Like you, been a long time fan of MGS series, since release on PS1, and the first MGS is one of my all time favourite games. I'm looking forward to covering that one soon.

[@metalhead420ish]

Oh this walk through was essential. I was surprised how much they put In these originals. I found it Impressive . Also it was informative how you put little details about the plot in this walk through as well. And now all the others will make more sense as I play through them . The whole trilogy is like better than a movie in my opinion .

[@AztaRoth_Kunt]

Perfect walkthrough

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you so much. 🙏 🔥

[@fabianramis3473]

Small channel, huge gem

[@SoulSignal]

I really appreciate this, man - thank you. 🙏

[@CrimsonDevil_Rias]

During the Final Escape, that last guard walked over a pit trap! Do they have special shoes or something? Also, Metal Gear Solid is actually Metal Gear 3. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake was just the seed planted to let Metal Gear Solid flourish into the game it became in 1998.

[@CrazedFloridaMan]

Cant wait for mgs1 big boss. You're pretty good!

[@SoulSignal]

Working on it. 🫡 🔥

[@rottenasstuna]

next i’d love to see you keep it going and play mgs1!

[@mrchristopherrichards5250]

"So snake does not become a snake sandwich" - BarrySignal. Great video sir.

[@SoulSignal]

Thanks, Chris. Awesome to hear you enjoyed it, man. 🫡 🔥

[@chaosgreyblood]

50:31 "I must take take of my natural desire." Remember that line? 🤣🤣🤣

[@SoulSignal]

Wait, what version did you play? Amazing. 😂

[@chaosgreyblood]

@@SoulSignal The original PC emulated version with a fan translation. It's been 20 years since I played it, so it might be a bit hard to find out here. But if you do, play it and be amazed/amused by it all. I also liked the original line by Snake in Gustava's death. "Fox! I will not give up!" I don't know why they didn't keep it.

[@adalwin1875]

pretty good

[@KaraCroft]

LFG! 🎉🎊

[@UkuleleAversion]

GG!

[@mycardboardbox]

great video you're underrated my friend id love to do a Collab video with you on mgs, your vocabulary is on point 👍 👍

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you - really appreciate your kind words. 🙏 Just getting started and still learning a lot, but it's great to feel like I'm on the right track. 👍

[@Oguz286]

Fantastic play through and narration, you're pretty good! What's the very first song that plays at 00:00? I know the song but I cannot find it on the MG2:SS OST.

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you so much! 🙏 The theme I use at 00:00 is from 'Past, Present, Future' Metal Gear 20 Years History composed by Norihiko Hibino. It's an incredible piece of music that charts the series across its 20th anniversary.

[@StrongArmElijah]

Big Boss? no damage? Excellent Soul! I see age hasn't slowed you down one bit.

[@matrixvadrigaar9452]

Hello! I can't continue the game. I am at the point After the use of handglider. Instead to open the gates at the legt, I used the cardboard box inside the truck and the game make me return outside the palace. It's impossible to me return there since bridge was broken and the hang glider is lost after first use. Help me please :(

[@SoulSignal]

No worries, you can get back! There is a truck in the Tower Building area that will now take you back across. Its conveyor belt activates after you've used the handglider.

[@matrixvadrigaar9452]

@@SoulSignal thanks!!

[@ApacheSmash]

"You might want to watch this section at x2 speed" Me who watches every video at x2 speed 🙃

[@SoulSignal]

I knew this and thought of you as I made this comment. I could have shouted you out personally. 'Apache, as you are.' 🤣

[@mynameisberry9740]

Hi. That had infinite save to get big boss rank like the first msx game?

[@SoulSignal]

Hello, Berry. Yes, like the first MSX game, you can save as much as you want in MG2 and it will not effect rank. Later MGS titles limit the amount of saves so Big Boss rank will need to be worked around key points where saves are most helpful, but here save as much as you want or need.

[@UncleJunior1999]

You're pretty good 😏

[@SoulSignal]

Thank you~ 👉👉 🫡

[@srujan00]

What part of Britain are you from?

[@SoulSignal]

East of England, man. 👍

[@srujan00]

nice. I was in London / Salisbury / Bath / Dover last May. The White Cliffs were really nice, the Roman baths are cool, but I thought Stonehenge was overrated.@@SoulSignal

[@SoulSignal]

@@srujan00 Beautiful locations all - I have to say I'm a big fan of Stonehenge, not so much the place itself which is difficult to access now and you can only view it from a distance, but the story of the place holds a magic to it. The White Cliffs are stunning. 🙏

[@liquidocelot6294]

Is this the master collection?

[@SoulSignal]

This version is the one found in the MGS HD Collection (BluePoint, 2011), played on PS3 hardware. It's the same port as the Master Collection, but it's a little slower during loads. I also feel the Master Collection version is more responsive, but that might be my old DualShock wearing out. 😅

[@srujan00]

The controls in this game are clunky and unresponsive, that's why I liked MG1 better. I thought building designs and stuff were better too. Maybe the MSX2 was just a weird machine.

[@SoulSignal]

That's interesting. I feel like this is a true sequel in every aspect, every element is built upon and improved imo, but MG1 still has its own charm. My fault with the control was primarily with the Dualshock 3 I had to use, which is getting on a bit. Playing this on the Master Collection with a PS5 DualSense was perfect. Maybe that version is a more responsive port, too. Now that I think about it, there was some "feeling" of input lag with some of the encounters in the PS3 version.

[@srujan00]

input lag with MG2 on the PS3 Legacy Collection, for sure. Shooting felt really awkward, trying to line up bosses with gunshots - watching them literally run into them at 90 degree angles, and the the way it had Snake turn around in place before moving felt clunky. Granted there were innovations with crawling and stuff, but I didn't feel it was a huge leap in quality from MG1 to 2. I guess I just liked the atmosphere of MG1 better - it felt like a military complex/barracks more than most areas of MG2 to me. Thanks for the walkthrough, you really know what you're doing. I don't have any desire to replay MG2 though.@@SoulSignal

[@costadinover]

Hell yeah! The best one! The youtuber is great too.

[@costadinover]

This game's start is so cinematic ;_;

[@SoulSignal]

It's so damn good at setting the scene I needed to include it without any commentary. @@costadinover 🔥

[@costadinover]

@@SoulSignal I really liked what you did with the start screen using the soundwaves.