User Reviews (21 - 31 of 92)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Who said mullets can't be heros?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Pros:
Tactical, stealthy
Interesting storyline
Good voice acting

Cons:
Difficult to control
Questionable aspect in story
Overly dramatic cutscenes

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (MGS2) is a welcome addition to any XBOX gamer,
especially for those who like Japanese Anime, especially those overly dramatic
Animes that for me personally, is annoying. Moreover, unconventional and
somewhat confusing style of control takes a little getting used to--after bouts
of frustrating trials and errors.

The game has two main levels, Tanker and Plant. There are other smaller levels,
under Missions and Snake's Tales which I have not played yet (and not covered
in this review). There are additionally reference materials that add to the
background.

In the first level, you play as Snake (the guy with the mullet) to infiltrate
inside a cargo ship that has the superweapon, Metal Gear. Unknown to the
operators (US Marines), the Russians have secretly infiltrated as well in an

attempt to steal the weapon. Your mission is to find and photograph the weapon
while avoiding enemies. Simple.

The second level has you playing another character also named Snake, but has his
name (these are mission names) changed to Raiden. Raiden is somewhat annoying,
and I found the story/plot development strange with the involvement of his
girlfriend as a mission specialist--which I will cover later.

The game is played in a 3/4-format--most of the time. At times as the character

moves, the camera angle switches automatically. Sometimes the placement is not
where you'd expect, and you end up with a character that had been sneaking along
the wall to his left, suddenly sneak along to his right, or worse, start running
somewhere you don't want to. I think it may have to do with the
preference--having played Splinter Cell where I had total control over the
camera angles, it took a while to get familiarized with the controls. Moreover,
you have to switch between 3rd person and 1st person view if you want to shoot
and hit your target. But while in the 1st person view, you can only look--no
movement is allowed--which makes it incredibly frustrating: The 3rd person view
does not allow you to see exactly where your character is looking, so often
times as I switch he's looking the wrong way! Luckily, the enemy AI is so dumb
that he can't see you (let along hear you) 20 feet away.

As you progress, you are confronted with "boss" enemies which I believe are
ridiculous given the nature of this game ("Tactical Espionage Action"). In
between, there are myriads of cutscenes that are beautifully rendered and for
the most part, acted well, and if seeing for the first time, add valuable
insight to the story. If not, you can mercifully skip them.

And the cutscenes is where I find overly dramatic nature of some Japanese Animes
so irritating. I think that's personal preference, though. However, the story
between Raiden and his girlfriend Rose leaves a lot to be desired. I don't know
about you, but if my significant other was involved in a mission that was
life-or-death, I probably would not keep asking "Do you know what day tomorrow
is?" and other very personal--yet so engmatic questions that only females are
capable of asking. She reminds me of my past loves--always asking questions that
I had no answers to leaving it up to me to figure it out... but I should stop
talking about that!

The game is very tactical. A radar appears on the top left corner to let you see
where your enemies are, and their field of vision. It's not terribly hard to see
your enemies, which sometimes diminishes the suspense. Thankfully, the radar can
be turned off. On the other hand, I didn't find the game terribly
stealthy like Splinter Cell, but both reward you if you're patient and put in a
lot of thought. This is NOT a game where you can walk in and start
shooting. Patience and strategy is rewarded.

Naturally, action sometimes can't be avoided. Because the game requires you to
constantly switch between 3rd person and 1st person because at critical moments,
you can't exactly tell where your character is looking at. Additionally, the
game controls the camera angles, not you. In that sense, I didn't find the
controls even remotely intuitive, and led to many frustrating bouts of trials
and errors.

Graphics is good as any good XBOX game, with complex objects (most of which are
not interactive) and good lighting effects. Music is superb, as well is the menu
and general interface (NOT the character movement).

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is a game for those who enjoy strategic games. It
takes a bit of getting used to, but you should give it a try regardless.

{SUBSTANCE+XBOX=PERFECTION!}

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Solid Snake comes to XBOX in Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance, the expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty with all-new game modes, hidden characters and storylines. Top-secret weapons technology is being mysteriously transported under cover of an oil tanker to an unknown destination. Armed with an arsenal of new weapons, supplies and stealth moneuvers, it's up to Snake to infilutrate the transport and keep this deadly weapon of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands!

350+ VR missions and 150+ alternative missions, Play through 5 new playable characters and game modes. Contains the entire Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons Of Liberty game plus the debut of the casting theater and Boss Survival mode! Utilize stealth and inflitration methods, such as diving sumersaults, hanging from ledges and using disguises. Powerful musical score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (Armageddon, The Rock), and XBOX's version includes in-game Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, enhanced graphics, smoother animation, and many other exclusive XBOX features!

Very good, but is it worth it if you have the original?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

MGS2 Substance is a nice release with plenty of bonuses for the game. While the original was good enough for me, I'll review this one too since I got the chance to play this and check out the VR missions. However, the story-mode is about the same as the PS2 version, which could turn people away.

Graphics: 5/5

As with the PS2 version the graphics are superb. They're actually a tad bit better on the XBOX (as if there was any need for improvement). So again, this scores a five.

Sound: 4.5/5

Again, it's about the same. The music is awesome! You'll love the track. But as with the PS2 version, there are moments where there is no BGM, which doesn't always help the atmosphere of some parts. The sound effects are great, and the VR mission training levels have nice music as well.

Gameplay: 4/5

Well, to be truthful this depends soley on whether or not you played the original. You'll note that MGS2 is mostly drowned out in cutscenes. The good news is that you can skip these scenes and continue to play. Still, there are WAY too many cutscenes and they go on about unimportant events at times. Not only that but we're forced to sit through a lot of scenes where we're viewing the codec screen. But the good news, again, you can skip them.

However, as with the PS2 version, the whole "Raiden" issue will get to some gamers. Several people disliked the PS2 version based on this fact alone and I find it rather sad that so many gamers let a single character ruin the entire game for them. Raiden may not be that likeable at first but I could still do everything with Raiden that I could do with Snake. Just because I'm a different character doesn't mean the game itself is bad, or that it's less fun. He may not have had Snake's attitude or anything, but the point is, I still had fun playing the game.

Now for the VR Missions. It's advertised that there are over 400 missions. This is true to an extent, but there are actually only 150. The only reason there are more is because a lot of missions you play again and again but with different characters. The VR missions are fun, but don't let this be your only reason for buying Substance.

Now the Snake Tails. The Snake Tails seem to only be there to give people the joy of playing the game as Snake. They're actually just a lot of VR Missions connected together. The Snake Tails aren't bad by any means, but they make no sense if you were to compare it to the story mode. It truly seems like they were stuffed in there to satisfy the gamers that didn't like Raiden. Again, it's good but it is not the only reason to buy Substance.

Story: 3/5

Being nice to the main storyline. The Snake Tails story makes almost no sense, and the main game story throws too much for you to absorb. The game has masterful plot twists, but they stack up on each other at the end of the game to overall give the game a poor story. Much too many plot twists give the story too much hype really. The overall story seems like a joke. The only reason I gave the story a three was because of the masterful plot twists. The plot twists really are great but it will take some time to absorb the story.

Replay: 4/5

While it's nice to have VR missions and Snake Tails, the only reason to replay MGS2: Substance is to play the difficulty levels in the main storyline or beat out your old score on the VR Missions. European Extreme Mode is nice if you're really looking for a challenge. It's also really cool just to replay the game and do stupid things that involve messing around with the guards. It's okay to mess around in a game, it's supposed to be fun. When you're done caring about the story go for the gameplay!

OVERALL: 4/5

If you own the original on the PS2 there isn't much of a reason to pick this up. Aside from the extras there is nothing that we haven't really seen before. The story is still the same, the secrets are still the same as well. VR Missions are a nice plus but unless you care about VR Training the original SOL on the PS2 should be enough.

The Good:
+New Extras
+Still awesome graphics and sound
+Masterful plot twists
+Great Gameplay
+Good replay

The Bad
-The story overall is weak
-Many will still be picky about the character you play as (I bet we'll still see a number of one star reviewers whose only con is Raiden)
-Unless you really care about the VR Missions it isn't worth picking up if you have the original

Perfection.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Medal Gear Solid 2: Substance is like an apology for a game that wasn't really that bad to begin with. The fans were bothered by Snake, the tough as nails hero of MGS1, not being the main character. Not a problem this time. Snake (or Raiden for that matter) can play through the entire original game, and Snake also gets Snake's tales, a series of new side quests. There are a varied 350 VR missions, everything from ninja hacking fun to trying to avoid getting caught while streaking (not kidding). It's everything the fans wanted. Its Medal Gear Solid 2, with substance. This one has a huge amount of gameplay packed in it, so you'll have it in your X-Box for a long while. A must buy, even if you've played MGS2: SOL.

the BOMB

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is by far 1000000 times better then the PS2 version. There are so many missions. Sub-missions, alternate missions. You can play the scenes from the game with different characters, even obscure characters like the hostages. It is kinda funny to watch an elderly woman run, jump and land on the boat in the opening sequence. If you have the chance I highly suggest you get this game. It has too many things to do to just rent it. If you were to rent it, you would have to keep renting it over and over, and you would have eventually paid for the game by the time you are done with all the options of this game.

GOOD GAME, BUY IT!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

It's a really good game better than the last!!The graphics are wonderful and gameplay fantastic!!

A lot of problems

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: November 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

A number of reviews have already mentioned the worst thing about this game: the obscenely long cut-scenes. I started to time one of the longer ones, but after 30 minutes I couldn't take it anymore! The cut-scenes add little to the game play. Mostly they're gushy emotional diatribes that have some sort of message like "give peace a chance" or "all you need is love" or "don't poop in the tub."
The weaponry in this game was pretty exciting - but you never really USED IT! Despite having guided missles, automatic assault weapons, and grenade launchers - you spend most of the game with a tranquilizer dart, sneaking around. (In fact, I didn't use the grenade launcher once the whole game!)
Finally, the story-line is about as convoluted as it gets. By the end of the game, I really don't know what's been going on. With so many "twist-turns" they turn a straight-forward game on its head.
Save your money. This game is too preachy, and lacks exciting gameplay. ...

One of the worst games ever!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 13
Date: November 21, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Thank goodness I rented this game and didn't waste [your money]. It is the worst game I have every played. I don't even know where to begin. I am literally shocked that some folks actually liked playing this game. I think in some unknown realm hype somehow convinces some folks that the game is actually good when it's not.

My BIGGEST compliant is the storyline and its constant interruption of game play. EVERYTIME you are trying to immerse yourself in actual game play, the gamming stops and the over blotted storyline takes over. It you are lucky there is a minute or so of game play and the action stops. Granted, you can stop the story and continue playing but then you have no glue as to what direction you are headed. I don't know why they couldn't take a page from Halo or MOH and either have someone talking to you as you are playing to have the ability to press a button and review your objectives.

Another issue I have is all this hype with the VR (virtual reality) missions. Another silly, pointless, and waste of a good programmer's time. What is so great about the VR aspect of the game? I'm confused. My advice to every company out there making games; sit down with the Bungie/Microsoft folks (creators of Halo) and learn something.

THE reason to own an X-Box

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: August 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Well, like everyone else in the world, I haven't played this game. But, I CAN say it will be great. In case you don't know (check out konami.com if you don't believe me), the ps2 hit 'Sons of Liberty' IS included in 'Substance!' Yep, and that has me now wondering why I ever CONSIDERED buying a ps2. True, GTA 3 is the best game to date (I own it for PC) and Vice City is sure to be better (maybe). Anyway, 'Substance' includes over 200 VR missions, 5 "Snake Tales" (using the original Sons of Liberty arenas, Konami made 5 new stories), and of course Sons of Liberty. There is actually skateboarding in the game (weird), but i'm sure it'll be pretty cool. Anyway, this game has me now battling between the Cube and the X-Box now. X-Box owners, BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!

Metal Gear Solid 2.5

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: August 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

MGS 2 was a really good game, but not as deep as the first one on the PSX. MGS Substance is basically the japanese release of the game (american version didnt have all the extras!!). You can skate, play as new characters, watch the movies with different characters, and more VR type missions. I am sure those things add some replay value to the game, but other than that, there is nothing new going on. Story is exactly the same, graphics are same, control and sound are carbon copy of original MGS 2. If you havent played or owned MGS 2, then substance is the one to get.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 

Actions