MGS2 labels itself as a "Tactical Espionage Action" game, which is pretty accurate.  Myself, it would more describe it as an example of modern day interactive fiction, a graphical extension of the text adventure games of Infocom and such.  In many ways, this new genre is much like a movie where you control the characters.

In the game, you play Raiden, a member of a covert anti-terrorist group called FOXHOUND.  Sent to rescue the president from a group of radicals holding him hostage on an deep sea platform, you have to use stealth (and) force to meet your objectives.

While some people might be turned off by the extensive dialogue and sparse action, the story is professionally written, is actually interesting, and has plenty of gripping twists. Most of the fun of the game is making your character do fun little 'easter-egg' sorts of things, and there are lots of them.  For example, in one part of the game, your character is sneaking around a narrow walkway outside of a large building.  Above you, a guard decides no one is looking and relieves himself over the edge-- your only option is to crawl along the walkway and get 'wet' in the process.  If you stop in the middle of the stream and look up, you can see the guard looking from side to side to keep an eye out.  You can make a noise to startle him, but this might alert the guards.  Getting on the radio while you're standing there creates for some funny conversations between Raiden and his partners.

Lots of fun stuff to do in this little toy.

Rating 9/10 stars

Buy it at Amazon.com

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