Why Metal Gear Solid 2 remains hyper-relevant today

Metallic Equipment Strong 2: Sons of Liberty started lifestyle on the PlayStation 2, but 20 yrs afterwards the game has aged most gracefully on the Computer system, and in my view the Computer system is the greatest spot to participate in this common game these days.

Not only does the Computer system model hold up the greatest on present day hardware, but the tale this game tells and the themes that it explores, are additional applicable these days than they had been in 2001 when it was originally launched.

At first launched in 2003 on Home windows, the Computer system model continue to runs terrific on present day hardware and operating methods, and you can get it from GOG for a very good deal. Entry to more mature games is generally a little something the Computer system has the edge in, and having your palms on the PlayStation model of this game these days is likely likely to require a excursion to eBay wherever you may likely have to shell out a bit additional to achieve the disk model.

An additional great matter about this model of the game on Computer system is that it is DRM-free of charge, that means that you do not have to stress about activation concerns having in the way of your pleasure, and you absolutely do not have to stress about the game out of the blue ceasing to function just one day when the DRM servers go down.

The simple obtain, affordable value tag, and deficiency of any DRM will make this a poster little one for Computer system gaming releases.

Snake aboard the Tanker, avoiding soldiers

(Graphic credit: Konami)

The Finest Variation of MGS2

An additional terrific advantage of the Computer system is that games only get better as hardware enhances above time. This was a slicing edge game in 2001, but it ran at 480p on the PlayStation 2 (480i for most people at the time) and that just won’t slice it for most people these days. Even the PS3 and Xbox 360 Hd variations from 2011 are capped at 720p and have some general performance imperfections.

But the Computer system model, which is primarily based on the PS3 and Xbox 360 builds, can operate at significantly greater resolutions and any fairly present day Computer system in 2021 can simply get sleek 60fps gameplay from the start out of the game to the finish.

This is not likely to surprise anybody who spends a good deal of time on the Computer system, but as an individual who played through the game two times previous yr, at the time on a PS3 and at the time on Computer system, the difference is exceptional and created me enjoy Computer system gaming even additional than prior to.

Raiden in a VR Elimination mission on Big Shell

(Graphic credit: Konami)

The Magnificence of Computer system Gaming

While I did mention that I was in a position to participate in MGS2 at really substantial resolutions that weren’t supported when this game was originally launched, you may perhaps be bewildered if you go to GOG these days and get the game.

Managing it only shows a resolution that is very similar to 720p. But this is wherever we step into mods and just why Computer system gaming is particular.

Mods are sometimes a sensitive matter, and you may perhaps consider that these are only beneficial for turning menacing foes into Thomas the Tank Motor, but that’s just just one flavor of mod. My individual favourite mods are not as flashy, but they are vital to game preservation and lets people to delight in previous games in a way that will make them experience additional present day.

PCGamingWiki is a terrific useful resource for this, and the Metallic Equipment Strong 2: Material site contains some very good data on the game. As stated, the GOG model of the game will make it participate in great with present day operating methods, but it doesn’t broaden the resolution options of the unique game (options that had been regretably limited in the unique game).

To get current resolution choices, you simply just will need to set up the mgs2 v’s deal with which adds a number of quality-of-lifestyle matters to the game, this sort of as controller aid, cheats, and a basic resolution selector. With this new alternative in spot, I was in a position to participate in at any resolution my observe supported, and it is an complete dream to participate in the Tanker and World chapters in 4K.

Snake sneaking aboard the Tanker

(Graphic credit: Konami)

Why MGS2 is However Critical

Exterior of a nostalgia kick for previous folks like me who want to relive their youth, why would you want to participate in this game these days?

I feel that Metallic Equipment Strong 2: Sons of Liberty is a masterpiece and it holds up better than most games from that era. Young gamers won’t totally enjoy the shock that we had when it turned out that ninety% of the game took spot in someone’s shoes who was not named Strong Snake, but this game is significantly additional than a clever (and frankly daring) plot twist.

I consider it life on these days because its tale and over-all information resonate even additional these days than they did when this launched in late 2001.

Twenty yrs afterwards, the thoughts of dwelling your lifestyle online, of digital manipulation of media for political gain, how emotionality and common masculinity interacted, and environmentalism all ring even additional genuine. In 2001 there had been hints of these matters changing in 2001, and game director Hideo Kojima was all above them at a time when online video games had been a good deal fewer introspective or comfortable commenting on the true environment. It is a testomony to this game that most of it (there is some humor that’s a bit cringy) rings really genuine these days.

If you have the chance to participate in Metallic Equipment Strong 2: Sons of Liberty on Computer system these days, or anyplace frankly, it will get my maximum recommendation.

  • Welcome to TechRadar’s Computer system Gaming 7 days 2021, our celebration of the biggest gaming platform on Earth. Despite the world wide pandemic and ongoing GPU shortages, Computer system gaming has never ever been additional lively and remarkable, and all through the 7 days we’ll be reflecting this with a variety of in-depth posts, interviews and vital buying guides.