Scenario: After Olga sacrifices herself to save Raiden and all hell breaks loose, our hero awakens atop Arsenal Gear. All of a sudden, Ocelot shatters Raiden's ideas of just what's going on and exactly what he's been fighting for. Cue another really long cut-scene.
Sterling: It's here that I think a lot of people really split with the game. On an intellectual level, you might've loved the idea that Raiden's entire mission was a massive simulation designed to recreate the first game, as Kojima played with our ideas of what a sequel should be. On a surface level, you might've hated the concept that the majority of the game gave you the finger at the end. Over the years, I've wrestled with the plot twist at the end of MGS2, but I'd advise anyone to go back and try to play this one again before hitting MGS4.
AJ: I'll try to. But given that I wasn't super-fond of the game the first time around I think I mainly just want to check out the skateboarding and other crazy bits they added in MGS2: Substance.
Sterling: Snake Tales have not aged well. Finding out that the entire mission is a huge fraud designed to break the fourth wall and laugh at people who expect a sequel to be a clone of the last one? Worth the cost of admission.
He's Certainly Not Darth Solidus
Scenario: During the torture sequence, Solidus says that Raiden is his son. If you've been paying attention, the Les Enfants Terribles (Solid, Liquid, Solidus) are as sterile as mules. So, just how did Solidus adopt Raiden to create a super-soldier?
Sterling: Gray Fox wasn't the only one in the business of killing families and adopting orphans. Although the message of child exploitation is addressed in the end of the game, the theme of dysfunctional families rears its head in this situation. It might not be patricide, but it seems that way. It's an unexpected contrast between Solid Snake and Raiden as heroes. Even if Snake is the ultimate soldier, he has no legacy to leave behind. Raiden, on the other hand, just found out that he's going to be a dad. Somewhere in there is some pretentious symbolism that Miguel will incessantly mock me for noting.
Miguel: I think the message that the game is trying to impart is something along the lines of, "have more babies, and purchase more Metal Gear toys made from PVC plastic."
AJ: Done and done.
That's it for this week, but come back every Thursday and Friday during May to check out our Top MGS Moments! Next week is MGS3: Snake Eater!