What's the difference between Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, and Sons of Liberty?

[Emperor Megas]

I was wondering what the differences (if any) between these two version of Metal Gear Solid 2 were.

I've just finished a game (Genji: Dawn of the Samurai) and in keeping with my one (main) game at a time rotation, I've decided to start MGS2. For some reason, I have both the XBOX and the PS2 version, and I'm not sure which I'll go with.

As of now it's just a question of whether I want to use a wireless DS3 controller, or a wired XBOX Duke controller (I'm leaning towards the Duke, honestly). So then, is there some other tie breaker I should know about, or are they essentially the same game?

[G-Boobie]

You can skateboard in Substance. That's all I remember.

[Oobgarm]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_2:_Sons_of_Liberty#Substance

[Emperor Megas]

Ah, thanks. I admit I didn't do much research prior. Heck, I didn't even realize that Substance was released on the PS2.

[Kitsune Sniper]

200% more bitching from people who hate Raiden.

[Icarus Moonsight]

http://www.mgstruefans.com/gallery/albums/TF%20Gallery/MGS2/normal_mgs253.jpg

[Darkman2K5]

The Xbox version has framerate issues, especially in the first part of the game.

[Edmond Dantes]

Regarding the core game, I don't think there's much difference... although I've read that in Sons of Liberty, if at the beginning you say you've never played MGS before, it skips immediately to the Plant Chapter, while in the Substance version you play both the Tanker and Plant chapter regardless.

[duffmanth]

Stick with playing the PS2 version, like previously mentioned the Xbox version runs pretty sluggishly. The skateboarding is the only add on that I can remember.

[fahlim003]

Never played the Xbox version but the PS2 iteration seems to be fairly consistent in the normal MGS2 game. The biggest feature for me would be the hundreds of VR missions. That was my whole reason for getting it. There's also 5 Snake Missions where as you may guess you play as Snake in a short scenario. There's the skateboarding and then the sometimes amusing theatre mode.

[Emperor Megas]

Right, so I finished MGS2:SoL this morning, and dude...what the hell? I know that I'm a decade late to the party, but Jesus. This was the most convoluted storyline I've ever seen. It almost made my head hurt. I'm sure that I can expect the same with the sequels, so I might have to take a Metal Gear break for a little while before I tackle the others.

[Edmond Dantes]

Yes, that is the wonder and glory of MGS--it fucks with your mind and then leaves the room, leaving your mind chained naked to the bed.

Admittedly, Snake Eater wasn't near as mind-fuckey but it still had its moments. I've never played Guns of the Patriots but I've heard it's even more messed up than MGS2. The PSP games are kinda tame plotwise (well, I dunno about the two Acid games).

[wingzrow]

This should help. You REALLY missed out on the main theme of the game by not playing this the day it came out, what with the media blackout on playing as raiden and all.

http://www.metagearsolid.org/reports_mgs2.html

[Emperor Megas]

This should help. You REALLY missed out on the main theme of the game by not playing this the day it came out, what with the media blackout on playing as raiden and all.

http://www.metagearsolid.org/reports_mgs2.htmlI never play games the first day they released (unless they're about 20 bucks), and I don't really follow gaming news either, so it may as well have been day one for me. I didn't know anything about the game until I started it last month; I certainly didn't know you played as Raiden. Whiny, emo little fucker, BTW, that Raiden guy.

...and poor Emma! :bawling:

[Edmond Dantes]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only guy on the internet who genuinely liked Raiden.

I hear they ruined him by turning him into a cyborg ninja in the fourth game. Which, naturally, got him a huge fanbase overnight. I tell ya, people nowadays have no artistic sense anymore.

[Oobgarm]

I liked him as well, but that whole cyborg thing with him as actually pretty cool.

[Fontaine Le Funk]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only guy on the internet who genuinely liked Raiden.

I liked him just fine. And since the plot starts from Snake's perspective, we still know it's an MGS game, just roll with the story.
At the part we finally meet Pliskin on the stairwell, did anyone else shoot him in the head?

[Kitsune Sniper]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only guy on the internet who genuinely liked Raiden.

I hear they ruined him by turning him into a cyborg ninja in the fourth game. Which, naturally, got him a huge fanbase overnight. I tell ya, people nowadays have no artistic sense anymore.

No, I liked him too. I don't get the whiners who complained the game didn't star Solid Snake. He's had enough games already. :P

I know he was turned into this cyborg in part 4, but I don't know why he'd do that. I don't own a PS3, nor want to spoil the story. :(

[G-Boobie]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only guy on the internet who genuinely liked Raiden.

I hear they ruined him by turning him into a cyborg ninja in the fourth game. Which, naturally, got him a huge fanbase overnight. I tell ya, people nowadays have no artistic sense anymore.

No, I liked him just fine, too.

His girlfriend, though? Not so much."Hey Jack... Do you remember what day it is yet? For the five hundredth time?"

"I remember now, Rose. It's SHUT UP ABOUT MY SCARY ROOM I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE GODDAMN WORLD YOU IDIOT DAY."

[substantial_snake]

I think fan reaction to raiden would of been much warmer if he didn't fill the "pretty boy" semi-androgynous Japanese stereotype. Look of what kinda jarring change that is from expecting to play as badass seasoned snake to what in many ways amounts to a androgynous-noob in the MGS universe. I liked his character as well, especially after learning his back story, but I completely understand when people say that they just don't get Raiden.

That being said Hojima trolling all the fans with the opening chapter tease in MGS2 was fantastic, and again in Snake Eater with the Raiden Mask. lol

[Fontaine Le Funk]

His girlfriend, though? Not so much."Hey Jack... Do you remember what day it is yet? For the five hundredth time?"

Hahaha, MGS2 HD achievement: Ignore the girlfriend's codec.