This release of the game here on GOG has been my first experience with Metal Gear Solid 2, just like the prequel. Say what you will about their decision to tweak the old PC port and just distribute that, but with the fan patch applied, I was rolling on through with this game, despite some minor graphical weirdness. This game is very much like its prequel--a stealth-action experience with powerful telling of its story. And it takes this combination to an even higher level than the prequel does. For example, if you get noticed by one enemy trying to sneak by, you don't have to suffer everyone ganging up on you right away, you have the chance to silence that one guy through your weapon and continue as you were. I feel that part in particular significantly enhanced the gameplay. As for the plot...hoo boy, it sure is quite the experience. So yeah, I really enjoyed playing through this game, and I highly recommend it, even if the circumstances of this particular version creates uncertainty.
This port was my first-time playthrough of this game ever. It might not be quite up to snuff with the PS1 original, the butchered music quality being one particular offender, and the inability to do diagonals with the controller's Dpad being another (got around that with my F310's mode button, though), but nothing of such hindered my enjoyment of what the game offered. So, you may have heard people talk about how this is one of the greatest games of all time. Having played to the end, I can see why. The game play is superb, straight to the point with the emphasis on getting to where you need to be rather than just mowing down enemies. And while the graphics may reek of the PS1's aesthetic (the polygons even jitter in this version lol), they weren't an eyesore to me, and the other presentative aspects, the music and the story, are excellent. The story and dialogue in particular, I'm amazed at how many deep, philosophical topics and life lessons were thrown into this game. And the voice acting was quite splendid for a 90s English dub. So, if you're looking to play this game, it's not a bad idea to try this version here on GOG. They may have simply done the bare minimum to get this old PC port working on modern systems out-of-the-box, but it's perfectly playable the way I see it, and the overall experience is still there. This GOG rerelease is a blessing.
Epic has finally taken the time to put this classic up for digital download, and it's definitely worth buying. It's basically a combination of Sonic and Turrican, you run really fast and shoot around the level until you reach the end. It's gameplay seen in many other games, but it's still very fun. Also, the music is outstanding, the graphics are fluid for a game this old, and the cinematics are charming. Overall, considering this was a DOS game in the early 90s, it's very well-designed, and I recommend it to fans of these more obscure retro games.
