Generally solid game, nothing really sticks out but nothing is really wrong with it either (except some visibility issues here and there). Not being able to avoid interfacing with the hyper system is a bit annoying when going for bombless runs, but otherwise I think it's a much better take on that sort of system than trances in 13 or the release system in 16 (and everything is perfectly doable without hypers except maybe the penultimate pattern). Also has one of the best soundtracks; every song from stage 4 on is impeccable.

Despite hating stealth gameplay, I look back on MGS2 with nothing but fondness for every element of it, simply because I got incredibly invested in the narrative. That to me demonstrates the potential of video games as an interactive storytelling medium; I could appreciate how the gameplay and narrative fed into one another even without appreciating the former in isolation.

People will deride Kojima's games for being cutscene-heavy, saying that he just wants to make movies or whatever, but I think that the MGS series at least is exploring avenues of expression unique to video games. There's a texture and richness to the world brought about by the codec calls and simulated environments, a verisimilitude that makes the player that much more invested. I don't enjoy stealth gameplay at all, but at the same time, I feel a cutscene compilation would not serve as a replacement for actually playing MGS2.

Of course, maybe this is all just rationalization on my part -- maybe I'm just shallow and willing to power through gameplay I hate if I enjoy the writing in a game. Perhaps I'm the one failing to understand the synergy between mechanics and narrative. Either way, though, I loved Metal Gear Solid 2.