The Scale:
100-85 – Excellent, worth a pre-order.
84-70 – Average, worth it once the price goes down.
69-55 – Below average, buy it Used
54 and Under – Rent it or avoid it.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is actually an expansion of MGS2: Sons of Liberty. Along with the actual game, it has added features such as selectable boss fights, changeable cut-scenes, and over three-hundred virtual reality (VR) training missions. As with all Metal Gear games, the object is stealth, rather than blasting your way through. You'll have a team of helpful experts to help you out as Solid Snake, and then, for the latter half of the game, a new character, Raiden.
As always, although stealth is the key, you still get an arsenal of weapons and items to help you in your travels. Of course you get the standard pistols and rifles, but you'll also get to use Chaff Grenades, Rocket Launchers, Sniper Rifles, and even, Coolant Spray. Now what could that be for?
As mentioned earlier, there are two parts to the game. Your first task is to infiltrate a U.S. Marines' Tanker ship playing as Solid Snake with the help of Otacon. Then, you must infiltrate an off-shore clean-up facility known as the Big Shell with Raiden, who is helped out by some old friends.
Introduction/Opening
The opening to the game is very breath-taking. First, we hear a few words from the legendary Solid Snake, then it goes right into it. Following espionage tradition, it's a fairly long opening, which introduces you with mystery and wonder right away. You'll wonder just how you can sneak around on a Marines' ship without being captured or caught.
The introduction gets a 9 out of 10.
Storyline
The storyline is amazing. There are plot twists around every corner, and some old faces mixed with new makes it interesting as well. You'll have to uncover the secrets of a triple agent, Metal Gear, Arsenal Gear, and The Patriots, a secret organization who secretly controls the world. This one will have you wanting to play the game straight through just to see the ending.
Storyline gets a 10 out of 10.
Graphics
The graphics are about as real as they come for the Playstation 2. Through the cut-scenes and even gameplay, you'll think you're Snake or Raiden because of the sheer look of the game. The environments are vividly done, as well as the look of the characters. There is one problem however. Because the game was originally done in Japan, it's easy to tell that some parts are just dubbed over. However, this is more than compensated for by the real look of just about everything else, even down to the weapons you use and the bullet cartrigdes that actually eject from your gun and litter the ground. They even manage to make flames and water look realistic.
Graphics receives a 10 out of 10.
Originality
This is not your standard tactical espionage action game. There's much more to saving the world from an evil genius here. There aren't too many games with a storyline this intriguing or battles this intense. As a first-person shooter, it breaks new ground with movie-like quality, and manages to hold it's own against other stealth actions games like Splinter Cell or Ghost Recon. The plot twists are also very unique to the story. The only thing that is worn out is the whole one-man army bit. But without it, where would 90 percent of our first person shooters be?
Originality receives a 9 out of 10.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is also phenominal. The music is done by Harry Gregson-Williams, who is also responsible for music from The Rock and Armageddon. Also, the sound effects are done quite well. Unlike most games nowadays, the gun-fire is amazing real sounding, as well as the many metal objects in the game. Some of the explosions are questionable, but everything is done down to a tee. What really wins over the soundtrack in this game is the voice acting. With familiar actors like David Hayter, Phil La Marr, and Quinton Flynn, voices sync up perfectly with characters personalities and looks, and emotions are shown very well.
The soundtrack receives a 10 out of 10.
Individualistic Characters
The major roles in the game are very individualistic, but the enemy A.I. is not. The enemy army is one in the same as every man (except back-up units) is armed with the same weapons and will use the same tactics against you. Some of them, however, do react differently when held up at gunpoint. Every major character is given a full set of emotions, and even some non-important ones as well. Konami and director Hideo Kojima really took the extra mile on character development.
Individualistic Characters receives a 10 out of 10.
Replay Value
The replay value is extremely high for this game. Once you beat it the first time around, there are still plenty of easter eggs and side-scenes to look for. Try electrocuting Raiden on the electric floor or sending Snake to a watery grave over the edge of the boat just for fun. Other than the actual game, what really counts for replay value is all the extra features. There are over 300 V.R. missions with all different types of training including Weapon, Stealth, Darkness, Bomb Defusal, etc etc. Also, there's the scene-changer. You can replace characters in several major scenes with other characters. If you wanted to, you could watch Snake kill Snake, with Snake looking on. Imagine seeing Otacon in Snake's place with pistol and all. You can do it with this feature. There's also Snake Tales, which are five somewhat complicated stories set in the Big Shell just for Solid Snake. There's a section for back-chapters of the previous game and even a Skateboarding mode, where you can see Solid Snake or Raiden try to skate their way around the Big Shell, although this isn't as entertaining as it sounds.
Replay Value gets a 10 out of 10.
Difficulty
The difficulty is well rendered. At first, you're able to choose Very Easy, Easy, Normal, and Hard, but after beating the game once or twice, you'll unlock other settings. For a real challenge, try Extreme, or, for the ultimate challenge, try European Extreme. In European Extreme, you can only be shot once, you get a game over if you're discovered, and you're only able to carry one clip of ammunition for each weapon. At the other end of the spectrum, Very Easy is, well, very easy. But, for offering several different levels of play for those who may not be used to this sort of game,
Difficulty gets a 10 out of 10.
Excitement Factor
This one will, indeed, have you on the edge of your seat the entire game. While it is mostly stealth, you always have to be watching over your shoulder or around corners. And if you're caught, it won't be that easy to escape. The army you're going up against may be slow, but their not hopeless. They won't regret calling for back-up to help subdue you. Also, the boss fights are very adrenaline-pumping and nonstop action. It ranges from everything to a pistol fight, to fighting five giant robots at a time, to a sword fight.
The excitement Factor receives a 10 out of 10.
Controls
The controls for the game are easy once you get the hang of it, but I don't recommend it for new-to-the-genre players. The buttons are touch-sensitive. Pressing down a button two hard will make your gun discharge instead of just raising in an enemies face. And if you don't have a silencer, then it's the worst situation to get caught in. Some buttons even have two functions, and every single one on the controller is used.
Controls gets an 8 out of 10.
Metal Gear Solid: Substance receives a total of 96.
Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance is the ultimate MGS2 that fans have longed for. Includes the original game, plus the Boss Survival and Casting Theater mo...More at eBay
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