5/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

System: PlayStation 3 (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection) Started: November 8, 2015 Ended: November 26, 2015 Flashback Review The original Metal Gear was not disappointing and I was excited to try out Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. At the time, nobody talked about this entry in the series since the Metal Gear Solid games and Metal Gear Rising were the hype. I booted up Metal Gear 2 without knowing about this game and I had the feeling that it would be similar to the first Metal Gear. But I was wrong; Metal Gear 2 is completely different and changed the franchise to what it’s well-known for: cinematic gaming. The intro to the game felt impressive with its upbeat soundtrack, presentation, and rolling opening credits. After playing through this, I think Metal Gear 2 is underappreciated and deserves to be recognized as one of the best entries in the franchise. The original Metal Gear felt like a video game without the cinematic qualities of the ‘Solid’ games. You basically go around rescuing hostages, earning key cards, and fighting bosses until you destroy the Ultimate Weapon. However, Metal Gear 2 changed the franchise by incorporating cutscenes between segments of gameplay, including an actual instruction manual for key segments, like understanding Morse Code—similar to Metal Gear Solid for finding frequency numbers—and featuring an opening intro with an awesome soundtrack and engaging animations during the credits. I remember seeing a copy of the NES Snake’s Revenge in a local retro store, but it is actually a made-up sequel to the NES game for Western audiences and has nothing to do with the official timeline. Luckily, Kojima was informed about it and decided to create the official sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which was released a few months later after Snake’s Revenge. Metal Gear 2 introduces new features, including a better soundtrack and a more interesting story. You play as the returning character Solid Snake, who infiltrates Zanzibarland. You will even notice characters that future game installments mention, like Roy Campbell, who makes his debut, as well as Master Miller. You also get to learn what happened to Gray Fox before he became a cyborg ninja. The user interface looks different; it's now equipped with a radar system. Snake can now crawl. Thankfully, there is no longer a rank system after rescuing prisoners; you only get upgrades after beating a boss. While this game may appear retro and outdated, I believe it has aged remarkably well in the retro gaming space. It even looks better than the original game. As for its flaws, this game still has some of those cryptic "where-do-I-go" moments. It becomes even more cryptic when you have to mix chocolate with acid in order to progress, which is odd. This is a game where you must literally use the codec for guidance; otherwise, you’ll get lost. Lastly, the enemies are way more alert and reactive than before. This time, enemy soldiers can spot Snake even from a 45-degree angle, whereas in the original, they could only spot you in four straight-line directions. At least this adds to the challenge and makes it more realistic, so I gave it a pass. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is criminally underrated in the franchise. Everyone I know mostly praises the first three Metal Gear Solid games, as well as both Metal Gear Rising and Metal Gear Solid V, thanks to memes on social media. However, no one mentions or praises Metal Gear 2 unless someone brings it up. Mostly because nobody really played it. I genuinely love this game, and I recommend it to stealth and retro gaming enthusiasts. I’m just glad it was included in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, as it allows people overseas to experience this underrated gem.