It has been said many a time before, but Metal Gear Solid 2 is even more brilliant today than it was when it was released in 2001. The gameplay has several new layers and QoL features that make it feel surprisingly modern (most of the time). All the frustratingly rough edges that MGS1 had have been smoothed out, resulting in an extremely polished experience.
The story and characters are where this game shines the most however. As convoluted as the plot is, the story is a beautifully sincere piece about living life as you see fit and believing in your own truth instead of just following the ideals of the masses. There are so many touching moments, from Otacon's last conversation with Emma to Snake's monologue at the end of the game. The meta-narrative soars these themes to levels never-before-seen in gaming, allowing the player to relate to Raiden and his feelings as he learns more about the world around him. It also basically predicted Twitter.
10/10.
The story and characters are where this game shines the most however. As convoluted as the plot is, the story is a beautifully sincere piece about living life as you see fit and believing in your own truth instead of just following the ideals of the masses. There are so many touching moments, from Otacon's last conversation with Emma to Snake's monologue at the end of the game. The meta-narrative soars these themes to levels never-before-seen in gaming, allowing the player to relate to Raiden and his feelings as he learns more about the world around him. It also basically predicted Twitter.
10/10.