Why Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake Deserves Your Attention...

[@axsprime]

People always debate between MGS 1-3 as being the influential games in the series but the amount of stuff MG2 established that every game after it use and regularly go back to in both gameplay and story shouldn't be glossed over.

[@Gatherway]

Yes indeed. There are so many gameplay elements and moments in Metal Gear 2 that were later implemented directly back into Metal Gear Solid, it's unreal. I'm of the opinion that while the original Metal Gear can be skipped, Metal Gear 2 should be played by any die-hard fans at least once, to gain an appreciation for where Metal Gear as we know it truly began.

[@randalabra3852]

playing them in release order makes it really feel like MGS1 is basically a 3d pseudo "remake" of MG2, like how Ocarina of Time is to ALttP

[@cfilorvyls457]

​​@@randalabra3852pretty sure it literally is, down the the boss fights design. That's why they called it Solid, since it was remade into a solid 3D perspective

[@gergelyboros8138]

Yes, MGS is basically the MG2 in 3D.

[@LordGrim1313]

For that first hidden wall, the radar does show a room there. A curious player would probably try to blow up the wall just to see if theres loot there

[@shuboy05]

When Chole wondered how Big Boss was still alive after dying in the previous game, I felt myself and millions of Metal Gear fans quickly shift our eyes from left to right in rapid succession....

[@dantesparda8524]

A snake full of venom...

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

V has come to....

[@DJ4461]

Oh no... Not "me"...

[@kaimcdragonfist4803]

“Call me Ishmael.”

[@allenhughes60]

"I am big boss, and so are you."

[@RamenReignss]

So many things from MG2 Solid Snake were repeated in MGS1. Although I really wish they would remake the first two Metal Gear games for newer consoles so that we can see these games come to life and really experience the story between Snake and Big Boss

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

Kojima has stated that metal gear was extremely faithful to mg2's gameplay because most of the world never played an msx. A lot of mgs is a shot for shot remake

[@camm8642]

@@BLACULA-Skeewoah this is true but I do think so much could expanded on those first 2 games...

[@shsrpr]

9:06 I'm like 99% sure you can go back down the elevator during the Red Blaster fight. I just played through the game a few weeks ago, and I got there early and turned right back around and reentered the elevator. You can also break those wires by just bumping into them a few times.

[@heavyc4450]

Yep. Saved my ass

[@mariomares6572]

You absolutely can. I just played that section and beat that boss literally today, I didn't have the grenades yet when I found him so I had to leave and return later. That's also true for the helicopter fight and the Running Man so I'm pretty sure you can do it for most if not all the bosses in the game.

[@jesseferguson8668]

You can use the cardboard boxes on the trucks with conveyor belts to quick travel around the base to help with back tracking. This is actually available in Metal Gear Solid 1-3 as well

[@maskednil]

Don't forget MGSV too!

[@jesseferguson8668]

Oh yeah. The fast travel is pretty cool in that one

[@aaronskuse2207]

I played this on the MGS HD Collection for the Xbox 360, and it’s an incredibly futuristic game for the time. If I never knew anything about it, I would swear it’s a modern Indie game.

[@gertytk5528]

This game's soundtrack is absolutely awesome.

[@nicosimioni7363]

Overall my favorite in the whole series. It can get super creepy at certain moments and I love it. The eerie music with the mannequins, the children roaming around and the dark rooms... somehow it manages to be creepier than some horror games I've played. Super atmospheric and memorable throughout the whole game. Edit: now that I think about it, it reminds me of Super Metroid, especially all the Maridia themes. That's probably the biggest compliment I can give to it.

[@Resimaster]

One of saddest moments in the series is when Gray Fox is dying and says he's going to be alone again. Snake, wanting to comfort his friend, tells him that he won't be alone because "Natasha's waiting for you on the other side". He does a similar thing when he tells Naomi about what Fox said in MGS too.

[@CERap22]

This is the 1st synopsis of this game ive seen that is the legit ORIGINAL version. I didn't know you could still play this unless you were playing the re-release part of MGS3 subsistance. Really interesting seeing these original character portraits

[@blackhawk65589]

I think there was a fan translation patch that used thr original codec images with fan/offician English text a few years back.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Did you know that the sewers are meant to be fast travel between buildings? The fast current saves a ton of time

[@blackhawk65589]

I never noticed that! That's really clever and not forth wall breaking either.

[@TheCyclicGamer]

There's also the box-van mechanic as well where you could equip your cardboard box, sit in a vehicle, and be taken to where you want to go.

[@Johnnybomb1]

I first played this game with a fan translation back on an MSX-2 emulator, between Metal Gear Solid 2, but right befoe Snake Eater came out. My mind was blown at not only how good it was, but also how much of thr formula was carried over to Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation. Having said that, there are many things about thisbgame that are incredibly frustrating (mainly the backtracking). Looking back on it now, this game is also responsible for some of the bad an overused design choices of the MGS1 ans MGS2, mainly the bad fixed camera perspectives of those games. When you go back and play Metal Gar Solid on PlayStation, you quickly realize that it's essentially designed like MG2 but in 3D.

[@Neck41]

Yeah the thing about Kojima was right, he said he and the guy talked on the train and after the conversation he came up with the entire story by the time he got home. Although i'm sadden this game was never ported to America until MANY years later.

[@vaultdweller94]

The idea that Zanzibarland single handedly just disabled all the nukes of every country that had them is absolutely insane and would probably not be a plot point today

[@joshhunt4146]

You just press down on the codec and it brings up all the codec channels you have acquired - unless this is a new feature that they installed for the re release

[@mauryciojauregui7317]

Your reviews are super high quality my guy, hope your channel gets the recognition it deserves. Keep it up! It’s also refreshing to hear a reviewer not have an ego and admit when games do need walkthroughs to progress.

[@mooganify]

Bro just read the plot summary for 20 minutes

[@LuisVega-so3tt]

Love the metal gear playlist you have here, can't wait til you get to snake eater, ground zeros and phantom pain

[@Jzx1103]

Snake looks like Stallone, Grey Fox looks like Wes Studi, and Big Boss look like Sean Connery lol. I've only played the re-released version from MGS3 Subsistence and they all had different faces.

[@CptJistuce]

As I recall it, the Snake's Revenge art was (probably literally) tracing Kyle Reese off a Terminator poster.

[@Jzx1103]

@@CptJistuce no that was Metal Gear 1 NES cover. Snakes Revenge Snake cover looks like Tom Berenger lol

[@CptJistuce]

@@Jzx1103 My mistake. Appreciate the correction.

[@samuele4001]

Ooh boy, it will take them a lot of time to just explain how Big Boss survived after MG1

[@Sleygar]

Backtracking didn't bother me as much because I used a bunch of shortcuts every time, like using the current on the sewers or a number of trucks to get transported around.

[@CucasNerdyCorner]

Again, just like with MG1, you can press down to get list of codec numbers that you already called before. But since you're playing the MSX2 original with a fan translation. Maybe that feature isn't there. But definitely is there on the PS3/later versions of the game.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Wait if you started this because of the master collection coming out? Why didn’t you just play the updated port with the lore accurate sprites and slight retcons for consistency? Plus the localization work is essentially spotless on the HD/master collection version. Probably easier to get working than fiddling with an msx2 emulator and a fan patch

[@maskednil]

Nah, he should play the fan translated MSX version, AND the Subsistence version. More power 💪

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@maskednil i get the sentiment, but the fan-translated version is NOT accurate nor consistent with the entries that canonically follow it. It's like setting yourself up for an entirely different plotline going forward that will never come.

[@maskednil]

@@2yoyoyo1Unplugged That shouldn't be a problem. It's just an exercising in expanding knowledge and having fun looking at the differences. I've played the fan translated version, MG1 the NES version, and Snake's Revenge, and Portable Ops. All non canon, alongside Ac!d and Ghost Babel and Twin Snakes. Are we supposed to stay away from them all?

[@8butt]

​@2yoyoyo1Unplugged its definitely more accurate then the new version, what are you on about.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@8butt Because the old version was written and the sprites made before any of the now canon stuff that MGS1 added. The rewritten version with more stylized, MGS consistent sprites was changed to fit in better with the whole series. Hence, LORE accurate.

[@krono5el]

Honestly metal gear 2 msx was my favorite mg game till 5 rolled around. they both play and feel like actual video games.

[@DefinitelyReagan]

11:06 - You've spent a while here describing how cryptic and poorly communicated it is that you need to bomb that wall, but the map clearly shows a room there. Naturally you're going to want to get there as a player, and bombing the wall is the obvious choice.

[@MachFiveFalcon]

You're narration and editing skills are at a level of quality I've seen in veteran KZbin channels - can't wait to see more from you. Great work!

[@dzmcroy]

If you got softlocked during the Red Blaster fight, you may have just missed that you can get right back on the elevator! lol It also feels like you missed the fact that there is a directory of Codec numbers if you press down on the Codec screen?

[@notcole]

yeah I definitely missed both of those 😅 Good to know about the Codec so I can correct it later though!

[@blackhawk65589]

This is one of those must play on Christmas Day. I really enjoyed my playthroughs with MG2. I was surprised how many small unorthodox puzzles Kojima made for players to think.

[@1celess]

Just finished this now and hoo boy! I shouldn't have slept on this one. Honestly really good when using a guide. It's fascinating seeing how many of the things MG2 was carried into Metal Gear Solid 1

[@danielpayne1597]

Such an ambitious 1990 game. I'm super confused about Gray Fox killing his own lover... for helping the enemy, perhaps?

[@DarkapostlesASMR]

I think the first Metal Gear needs a remake. It did not age very good. But the second is amazing in every aspect

[@ThunderRod]

Just beat Metal Gear 2 tonight, and it was far and away a more enjoyable experience than Metal Gear 1, both in story and gameplay. Everything is expanded on, the characters feel more relatable. The gameplay is more engaging. I found myself excited to come back to MG2 after I hopped of it, rather than MG1 where I just felt an obligation to finish it since I bought the Master Collection. I feel as though I have another playthrough in me with MG2. For MG1, I do not. As far as backtracking goes, I actually didn't feel it was that bad with MG2. As long you use the underground river to go between the tower and zanzibar buildings, and the trucks for the tower and prison, its pretty easy to get to where you need to go. Seems that was a conscious decision by the devs to alleviate that frustration from MG1. Overall I'd give it an easy 9/10. Super enjoyable and charming, and I can't freaking wait to see what Metal Gear Solid has in store for me.

[@SpiderMan-gf1lc]

idk if it's different in the original release, but the version I played (master collection) allows you to go back to previous areas even in the middle of a bossfight, so your issue of not having the right item for a certain boss is nonexistent in such version.

[@chefaku]

10:09, 11:00 I don't know if it is like that in that version, but in the master collection vol. 1 if you ask about in the transmitter they will give you quite obvious clues without telling you the solution

[@Enderson5040]

I'm agree with you, this game deserves more attention. Reminds me of the first 2 prince of Persia, I was surprised in both cases. Great video and greetings from Venezuela

[@BasedProletarianJacob420]

This is the only mainline Metal Gear i’ve never beaten cuz when I was younger I never knew how to get past the very beginning and didnt want to look it up.

[@sgoc9499]

9:26 I haven't tryied it in the original version, but at least in the rereleases you could have just called the elevator and survived until it arrived. I don't remember for the other bosses tho

[@Nacalal]

Now I know why those faces on the codec look so familiar, Gray Fox is based off Sgt Barnes from Platoon while Snake is based on Chris. Pretty sure Big Boss is based on Sean Connery but no clue which film.

[@StylishYeoman]

Would be really interested in a short video explaining how you go about giving your ranking at the end of each game!

[@snake7686]

Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake is an underrarted classic 😎

[@drewstar8611]

Metal Gear 2 - a link to the past Metal Gear Solid - Ocarina of Time

[@blackhawk65589]

MG2-A Snake To The Past MGS1-Genes of Time

[@astrea555]

Happy new year man! Always love it when your vids pops up. I admit I skipped the original metal gears..

[@christianxfb]

7 out of 10 in 2024. If it were 1994 this game is a solid 10!

[@wesleyskeen4065]

I thought you can use the box to get shipped back to the first building and vice versa.

[@thegreatnamelessone4675]

For someone with less than 10k subs, your production quality and content is insanely good and i cant wait to see you move forward. Keep it up man!

[@TrazynTheKleptomanichad]

Morning Chole, happy new year!

[@mushuwu]

Chloe: "Hows Big Boss still alive after the events of MG1?" MGS Fans: "...ahem, uh, yes. Quite the mystery. Yes "

[@apukami3643]

This was the most slept on hit of its era fr

[@Jouzou87]

This is truly an amazing game considering the hardware limitations of the time.

[@PerpetualAlfa]

MG2 is the game MGS1 gets all the credit for

[@muratonuryilmaz5385]

I wish to play this game as I have it on my steam (as part of mgs packet vol1) but I have no time now

[@RacerC45]

Why did you look at the re-release in MGS3: Subsistence?

[@MeitsMSX]

Nice to see you play the MSX version in stead of the "MSX" version from the playstation. :) Which previous two games are you talking about? There was only one before this one, if you're talking about Kojima Metal Gear games.

[@notcole]

oh we're doing ALL the Metal Gear games, canon or otherwise 😎 (it's Snake's Revenge)

[@Gusmed007]

08:49 I´m playing the Master Collection version, so I don´t know if the soft lockes where fixed for it, but there where 2 times I thought I was soft locked in the game, and both times I just wasn´t using the elevators. One in the tower (once you go in with the cardboard box, you can´t go out until you get the Level 4 card, and I was only using the elevators up. Took a while for me to try to use one of them dowm) and that same boss (you can stil exit the room with the same elevator you used to get in).

[@jierenzheng7670]

I am wondering if there's some kind of ROM Hack for the MGS series on PSP or PSX as a 3D remake to MG2

[@angb36th]

Dude i honestly cant wait to see you play metal gear solid 2 sons of liberty. Oh dear help me lord 🙏

[@deadspace4755]

The final boss end though is really tragic and hurts emotions, imagine that in a 8 bit game, that means it is excellent how it does it. This game, l have played it on my PS3. Amazed how it is the best game of 8bit era. It has everything ahead of its time, such game, would probably be similar game l would make just to start my game design skills

[@KBXband]

I enjoy this game's challenge of fair amount however I hate that swamp. It usually always frustrates me to the point I turned the game off and come back to it later. My favorite part that was towards the end where you fight metal gear and then Big Boss. I think the part was madnar was trying to strangle snake is pretty hilarious

[@gergelyboros8138]

We seriously need a Metal Gear 1-2 remake.

[@SenorWaffleCook]

Learning from this video that I’ll probably never touch 8-but games

[@iker900]

i think you have the msx one in english on hd collection inside 3 snake eater

[@darkmega97]

that's all good and all but why is Big Boss just Sean Connery?

[@treesurgeon2441]

"Killing him for good this time" Well...

[@legomania2427]

Another great Chole video.

[@markcent9623]

For some reason I think of Pink Floyd’s “welcome to the machine” song when I play this one

[@Beeyo176]

I forget what actor Snake is copied after (Mel Gibson?) in this game, but boy oh boy is he constipated

[@PACKERMAN2077]

I am super surprised that after all this damn time Natasha markova is not Naomi's mom like they could have easily and stereotypically put that in and made it that not only did gray fox murder Naomi's parents but it was actually his wife that died on the battlefield at his hand from collateral damage or even worse he had to kill her because it was a joy and ocelot style Battlefield berth or something of that nature

[@DarthPferd]

The only bad thing about this game is that there was no port for Snes.

[@justinslife8898]

Can I play these older MG 1 & MG2 solidsnake on playstation?

[@ryancentnarowicz]

Yes buy the metal gear solid master collection volume 1.

[@Shoutatclouds]

That plot?!?!

[@samuelp3098]

They cooked with this game 🧙

[@Pullaka]

Good analysis, but making a review of this game (and any Metal Gear) without dedicating a few minutes to the music, should be considered a crime!

[@lancelindqvist8848]

The best 8-bit game ever made

[@plixplux]

Ah yes, Big Boss.... or as I like to call him, the Big Daddy himself, Sean Connery

[@maskednil]

You actually kinda play MG2 3 times. MG2, MGS,1 which is kind of like a remake of MG2, and then MGS2, which also copies things from MGS1and by extension MG2.

[@subtegral]

MG2 takes place in 1999, not 1998.

[@notcole]

This is one of the MANY retcons of MGS1! MG2 originally took place in 1998, but when MGS1 came around, Kojima changed it to have taken place in 1999 instead (no idea why). I believe they also carried this change across to the official English translation of MG2 that's available in MGS3 Subsistence and the Master Collection 🙂

[@subtegral]

It's always been 1999. And the Subsistence versions are the superior versions (that you should have played but didn't)

[@kfcmusicfitness]

The game was awesome .. still better than MG5 lol

[@type.silver]

play SNATCHER

[@ElimGarakSpoonHead]

140.85

[@Desmaad]

The story comes off as too convoluted and pulpy for my taste.

[@mojokharma]

Everyone talks shit about MGS2 for being a "simulation" like MGS1 wasn't just MG2 with a facelift

[@grantstafford-renard9095]

5 minutes of opening cutscenes? In a metal gear game? Wow, metal gear really has progressed over the years. Have fun with, oh, I don’t know, half hour opening cutscenes. And brace yourself, because those will be on the short end, depending on which game you are playing.

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

kojima hates it

[@PerpetualAlfa]

He doesn't. It's probably his favourite in the series and a game he holds dearly. You are perhaps thinking of the NES port of Metal Gear which he called garbage. There was also Snake's Revenge on the NES which inspired Kojima to make Metal Gear 2