2) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty – PlayStation 2
After the unprecedented success of Hideo Koijma’s original Metal Gear Solid title on PSOne, the gaming community were chomping at the bit for more tactical espionage action, and in 2001 we finally got it. For many, this was the reason to own a PlayStation 2. It was also easily one of the most highly anticipated games of all-time, going on to smash just about every sales record before it.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was groundbreaking in its combination of scintillating gameplay and cinematic presentation. The game was lauded for a host of clever additions to its stealth gameplay including a stunningly advanced AI system that felt way ahead of its time. The attention to detail was hugely impressive as well; shooting enemy radios to prevent back up and holding up guards for items seemed otherworldly at the time. From both an aesthetic and gameplay standpoint, MGS2 made every other title on the PlayStation 2 look completely outdated.
Above all else, MGS2’s plot and characters are perhaps its biggest talking point. The game’s complex narrative has been subject to huge debate in subsequent years, with some hailing it as a masterpiece and the first example of a post-modern video game, while others lament it as convoluted and distracting. Snakes replacement as the game’s main protagonist was also hugely controversial, but regardless of where you stand on the subject, we can all agree that Raiden’s surprise appearance might just have been one of the best kept secrets in the history of entertainment.
MGS2 took video games in a bold new direction and demonstrated their ability to incorporate tough social and philosophical into their narrative. It’s still a must play title to this day, and one of PlayStation 2’s most memorable experiences.
