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DraculaMedusa
Reviews
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Disappointing.
Ironically, I didn't have to wait in a long line to pick up my copy of Metal Gear Solid 2. I started the game in the middle of November, and finished it on Thanksgiving Day. In the end, I was disappointed.
The game isn't a flop 100%. There's fun gameplay, and great music and graphics factors. Players were allowed to do more than just sneak past an enemy and kill him. Stick him up, steal his dog tag, etc. Hang onto ledges and railings so guards can't see you. Shoot fire extinguishers to distract them. I was rather blase about most of the boss fights. And yes, I did like Raiden -- he's a good character in the wrong game.
*SPOILERS FOLLOW*
The story is where the game falls on its face, but not from the start. You start out as Solid Snake aboard an oil tanker sailing the Hudson River. The player has to infiltrate the ship and find the Marines' Metal Gear RAY. Of course, something goes wrong. A Russian infantry led by Colonel Sergei Gurlukovich and Revolver Ocelot takes over the ship, coming for RAY. Ocelot then turns on Gurlukovich which starts a series of plot twists and the like, and then the tanker is destroyed. Snake is left to die, but did he?
This is the question Raiden asks himself as he hears the leader of the Sons of Liberty is Solid Snake. Raiden's the new member of Fox-Hound and is also on his first assignment: rescue the President of the United States. From there, Hideo Kojima adds a series of ridiculous plot twists guised as the Patriots. They control the world, and if things go wrong, they meant for it to happen, or do they? Who knows. It's as if Kojima didn't know where to take the story, but he sure knew to make it preachy. I so love the part where Revolver Ocelot gets a new hand, which happens to be Liquid Snake's hand, so he is able to talk just like him at times...
My question is: does every form of entertainment have to spoof The Matrix?
-Rating: ** 1/2 / ****
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader (2001)
*** 1/2 out of ****
Rogue Leader is one of the reasons to get a Nintendo Gamecube. The game is the fantastic sequel to the Nintendo 64 title Rogue Squadron that continues the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles. Pilot several starfighters from the A-Wing to the X-Wing on several missions that span throughout the Star Wars trilogy. Players will get to be part of the key moments in the Star Wars films like the Death Star Trench Run and the Battle of Hoth among other missions. Being the leader, it's your job to give orders to your wingmen in order to succeed. Do you want them to take on the TIEs or the guns? Want them to form up, or flee? Tell them. Play through the game earning medals to unlock new missions and ships like the Millennium Falcon and the Slave I. The game features very good gameplay. Controls aren't difficult to learn and the missions range from easy to hard -- bringing on the challenges. The Star Wars elements are included like the famous introductions scrolling vertically in the galaxy. The Star Wars music we all know and love is present during key moments in missions. The visuals are downright great. You're in large environments with beautiful details like water. On the waters of Kothlis, the sunlight spreads about, and the colors are astounding. Then an AT-AT escapes a collapsed Star Destroyer and you'll note the amazing work done when its reflection is seen as it crosses to the beach. Earning medals and unlocking ships helps keep the replay value alive. Overall, Rogue Leader is an impressive launch title.