4-Mar-2003 Xbox and Solid Snake. Ugly brutes, just made for each other. Both big and hard; both able to kill a man with one blow.
True, Snake may not have a green badge on his gut, and the Xbox is surely lacking in the patented Snake stubble, but otherwise these two are kindred spirits. They had to meet sooner or later, and now they have with the release of the definitive version of Metal Gear Solid 2.
Year of the Snake While it's true that Substance is swollen to bursting point with extra missions, the actual platinum core of the game itself, Metal Gear Solid: Sons Of Liberty, remains virtually unchanged.
There's no discernible improvement in graphics, and the game plays identically to the PS2 version, but then there's not much even Hideo Kojima can do to tinker with perfection.
Virtual insanity Still, some of the extras are worth a second look. The VR missions take place in colourful arenas with cel-shaded virtual enemies that are a great improvement on the stark fluorescent green of PSone's MGS VR missions.
You can play as either Snake or Raiden, and if you complete 50 per cent of each character's missions, you'll unlock further secret modes, including Raiden's Ninja Mode. Too bad that each character plays virtually the same in VR missions.
You also get Alternative Missions for both Snake and Raiden. These mini adventures are set in the actual game environment and are possibly the coolest element of the whole package. Initially consisting of Bomb Disposal, Elimination and Hold-Up Modes, you can unlock more later on.
It's a huge thrill to dip into these brief episodes and play around with familiar characters. You remember just how much you love the game and appreciate all the delicate nuances, from Snake's heaving chest as he hides from a guard to the mesmerising whirling wisps of Chaff Grenade debris. The five Snake Tales are really more of the same, only with convoluted text-driven ramblings from Snake, which explain the bizarre storylines.
It all adds up to a lovingly crafted package and the definitive version of a classic game but there's no doubt it could have been even better.
Maura Sutton
// Overview
Verdict
Probably not essential if you're already a big MGS2 fan, but worth it if you're in the mood to treat yourself. A luxury rather than a necessity.
One of the more unusual side quests featured in Metal Gear Solid 2 was the collection of Dog Tags. This was achieved by sneaking up on unassuming guards and pointing a gun at their heads and other bits to make them drop their tags in fright. In Substance, the Alternative Missions' Hold-Up Mode turns this hobby into a points-scoring art form.
Surprise! They clearly didn’t teach him anything useful in Evil Sentry School
Carefully creep up behind him, trying not to laugh out loud – that’s the hard bit
Look at that poor innocent guard. Let’s go stick a great big gun in his face
// External Gazer
You'll no doubt recall how Metal Gear Solid 2 could get a bit, well, weird sometimes? Well Substance has a touch of that strangeness about it, too. Cue the Fifth Snake Tale, External Gazer, a rather trippy interlude that starts off with Otacon and Mai Ling going all goofy over the sighting of a monster and culminates in a strangely surreal battle between 50-foot grunting guard bosses. Er, far out, Kojima-san.
It all starts with Snake trying to take photo snaps of a sea monster just to please Otacon and Mai Ling, who have gone a bit barmy
Then you get mysteriously plunged back into a couple of Alternative Mission scenarios. Sounds confusing? It is rather…
Snake ends up battling against the 50-foot behemoth Gurlugon, or Guardus Giantus, to give him his Latin name
// VR Missions
The all-new VR Missions are where you get to hone your sneaking and weapon-handling skills in simulated battle scenarios. Points are awarded for speed, stealth and bullets used. If you succeed in earning a High Score, you'll be given a password to enter it on the official MGS2: Substance website.
In Variety Mode Ninja Raiden takes out enemies with his High Frequency blade and AP Sensor
First-person view is a little cumbersome – you need to get used to the new controls
Weapon Mode is the best, featuring five sub-missions for each of eight weapons
In Sneaking Mode you get props such as girlie mags you can drop to distract the guards
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