Metal Gear Solid 2:Substance

by Konami

buy from amazon.com
Average Rating: * * * * half star
Sales Rank:6552 (lower is better)
Price Used:$10.00
Shipping:Free Shipping on most orders over $25*
Availability:
Label:Konami
UPC:083717200512
Binding:Video Game
Published By:Konami
ASIN:B00007KUU8
Category:Video Games

Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions

Amazon.com Review

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is the PS2 espionage action game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with new playable characters, new VR missions, and a few twists. More than 350 new and moderately interesting VR missions fill in some of the gaps in the original game's story. There are also five separate "Snake Stories" that act as new missions. These take place apart from the main story, making them feel less like an expansion to the sprawling events in Sons of Liberty and more like an unconnected romp designed to pad the original game. Unfortunately, the "Snake Stories" lack the thrill, tension, and exposition that made Sons of Liberty so special.

The "substance" is nothing more or less than a collection of disconnected additions to the core game Sons of Liberty, which remains unchanged from its original release: you play as Solid Snake in stealthy espionage/assault missions, infiltrating the lairs of bad guys to take down nuclear-powered bipedal creations called Metal Gears. Snake has all kinds of tricks up his sleeves: high tech weapons, the ability to sneak around undetected--he can even flip over the side of a railing to hide (a "Grip Meter" counts down, increasing the tension and making you pray the enemy walks away). Both a boon and a detriment to the game is its reliance on cinematic scenes to further the convoluted plot. They're well-rendered and professionally done, but you'll seemingly find yourself spending more time watching the game than playing it.

Substance is worthwhile for anyone who doesn't already own Sons of Liberty. That goes double for Xbox and GameCube fans, because the game looks much better on those consoles than it did on PS2. For those who've already played the original, this reissue just doesn't add enough, pardon me, substance, to merit purchasing it again. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

  • New modes and missions
  • Graphics improvements on Xbox and GameCube
  • Skateboard mode on PS2
Cons:
  • New content too sparse for players who already have the original game.

Customer Reviews

great game - Reviewed on 2008-07-17
* * * * *

The only complaint I have is that the gamecase wasn't in such great condition. otherwise the gamedisc, coverart and manual were in great condition. Overall very good.
My favorite Metal Gear Solid game, yes even with Raiden. - Reviewed on 2008-03-30
* * * * *

As I stated above, this is my favorite game in the Metal Gear Solid series. It be due to the fact that it was also my first. My friends all raved about the original Metal Gear Solid, and they said Sons of Liberty was too.. Well, I had bought a Playstation 2 already so that I could play GTA III, so I figured I'd at least look into this, and I'm glad I did.

The graphics are top notch, some of the best you'll see on a Playstation 2. The art design is very clean looking, but dark and gloomy at the same time, there's something about it I find appealing.

The soundtrack is awesome, I just love it. Its a legendary soundtrack in gaming now, and rightfully so. Its fast paced and very suspenseful, I couldn't imagine Metal Gear Solid without it.

The game play is classic stealth at its finest. While Tenchu was really the first stealth game, this is the series that really made the genre explode. It keeps that polished game play here and improves on it. As good as the stealth is, its not the main focus of the game. The main focus of the game is storyline. Many will love the storytelling, others will hate it, but I was one of the people who loved it. In my opinion this is the game in the series where the wacky storytelling is at its wackiest and finest. Seriously, the last 20 minutes or so are so insane, they remind me of the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey. For those itching for more Metal Gear Solid there's some added content in Substance. There's the VR missions, Snakes Tales, and the MGS Skateboarding game.

Overall, if you enjoy stealth game play, and at the very least don't mind a storyline, you might enjoy this. I'm aware however, of the enormous amount of hate this series receives, and so apparently this game won't be for everyone. Those who do try it, don't go in expecting to hate it, give it a chance, you might end up loving it as much as I did.
One of the GREATEST games of our time!!! - Reviewed on 2006-08-23
* * * * *
1 customer found this review helpful.

Right! The title is true! It's even better than MGS3! The game really great and I thank Konami and Hideo Kojima for all the hard work and time they dedicated to create this wonderful game.
You play as Solid Snake(who I really love playing as) and Raiden(someone I don't think anyone would like at all). Each of them are similar and different in every way. Now, let's go to the review:

Story: 5/5
The story of the game is easy to understand. It has a very good plot and it has some movie elements crammed in the game.

Gameplay: 5/5
A very fun game. Once an enemy spots you, your radar becomes jammed and an alert screen will replace the radar, and you run as fast as you can and look for a crate, wall, or fence to hide behind. You wait till they've given up searching for you, but if you are spotted again while in EVASION or CAUTION mode, you will return to ALERT mode. Once they've given up, you equip your SOCOM or M9 and tranquillize or kill patrolling guards. Once they're all dead, you go on and continue on your path. That's just a bit of all the fun in the game.

Graphics: 5/5
The best graphics that you'll ever see in a video game yet. blood and waterdrops are very realistic and when you see gunshots shooting out of the gun it looks like it shoots out in the real way.

Sound: 4.5/5
Hearing was never like this in a video game. You could really hear what the characters are hearing when you go into FPV and intrusion mode. Plus, with the directional mic item accquired in the game you will hear realistic sounds.

Replay: 5/5
This game is long including VR missions and Snake Tales. If you're an expert at stealth-action games you'll be able to finish the game in a week. But if you're new to these games you might be finishing this in a month I think.

Overall: 6/5
This game you should buy NOW!!! Once you've read my review, you'd be going crazy and if you're a kid, I think you would be forced to whine and panic around just to get this game, so come on. Get you carkeys, turn on the car, and drive to the nearest game shop and look for the game. If you can't find it anywhere, well, you're just too slow and REALLY unlucky, so come on and get this game, NOW!!!

Well, that's it, that's my review. Now I know you're feeling crazy inside, so just calm down and drive relaxingly to the game store. THE END


METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SUBSTANCE
Good update to MGS2:"Sons of Liberty" but RARE! - Reviewed on 2006-06-24
* * * *
2 customers found this review helpful.

If you don`t have MGS2:Sons Of Liberty and want to play MGS2,just go for this one;Substance,afterall it contains the entire Sons Of Liberty game along with a couple of extras:
Here is what you get if you buy MGS2:Substance :

*Entire "Sons Of Liberty" game(main game)-rated 9/10
*VR Missions(digital-style mini-missions)-7/10
*Snake Tales(All the games boss fights which star Solid Snake)-7/10
*SNAKEboarding mode(Raiden/Snake on a skateboard)-7/10

Its a good update and all,But its nowhere near as good as Metal Gear Solid 3:Snake Eater`s update "Subsistence" as you get much more worthy contents,the main game "Snake Eater" has a new low angle 3D camera,MG1 and MG2,Online play,secret theater and demo theater modes-all for only 30$.

Only buy Substance if you don`t own MGS2,if you own Sons Of Liberty,than you can live without Substance.
Need I say more?
This isn't really a sequal - Reviewed on 2006-01-30
* * * * *

This is more like the conclusion of mgs 2:sons of liberty.what i mean by that is its pretty much the hole story with alot of extras but if you already have the original copy then yes this still worth buying but i might suggest selling the original.Unless you like colect or somethin like that but this is a great add to the series.
Read More Customer Reviews »
Go To Amazon Product Page

* - See Amazon Product Page for shipping and pricing details.