Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

Last winter Metal Gear Solid 2 was shipping to the U.S. Normally this wouldn't be such a big thing, except for the fact that Konami is a Japanese company and the game hadn't come out in Japan yet. Well, this time around, the joke's on the American users as Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance has already hit shelves in Japan, but won't see the light of day on American Playstation 2s until February.

Your Documents, Are They in Order?

When you first pop in MGS2: Substance, a lot of the fun stuff is going to be locked up, and you're going to have to play through all of the VR Missions and stuff to get to it. That is, unless you picked up The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2. MGS2: Substance will scan your Memory Card for a save off of Document, and if it finds that you shelled out the $20 for the disc, well, you've got everything unlocked already.

Since the XBox gamers didn't have that disc released on their system, that means that the PS2 gamers can have fun stuff like the Skateboarding levels unlocked already.

"Get Your Hands Off My RAMEN!"

If you like VR Missions, you're in for a real treat. There are over 350 of them if I'm reading this Japanese box correctly. The Japanese version will allow you get passwords to match your best time up against other users on the net once you have surpassed the top score on the disc. (I'm sure the US version will allow for similar functionality.)

Some of the missions will be simple stuff, ranging from having Raiden navigate through a course as fast as he can, to using Snake to shoot out 15 targets and hit the checkpoint as soon as he can.

Other missions will require Nude Raiden streaking through 5 VR levels in a row without getting caught, and Tuxedo Snake trying to kill 20 men with the PSG1 before they reach his bowl of ramen, and dunk their face into it. (Honestly...use the chopsticks, guys.)

But Wait, There's More!

In addition to the VR Missions, there are about 150 "Alternate Missions", which are basically like the VR Missions, but they're not using the "Tron Style" graphics. You'll go through the level maps from the game, and have to do stuff like catch guards in a "Hold Up" move, dispose of a bunch of explosives within the level, or just shoot a certain number of people.

And then, after you're done messing around with all of that...there's skateboarding! This is arguably the most fun mode of the game, mainly because it's nothing like the rest of the game. I mean, the rest of the stuff on the disc is fantastic, but for some quick fun, nothing beats Skateboard Mode.

You have 2 routes, Snake has access to Route A, and Raiden gets Route B. You have 6 goals to accomplish on the level within 3 minutes. As Snake, I had to grind on rails for 150 meters, score 8000 points worth of tricks, destroy all 3 Cyphers, pick up the 4 dog tags, get the gold coin on the level, and set off the 4 sets of explosives.

Raiden gets basically the same objectives. The controls are set up nicely, and it works really damn well. One of the best gimmicky add-ons to a game I've seen in quite a while. On top of that...the music for that part of the game ROCKS!

Still Not Satisfied?

In addition to all that, there is of course, the original MGS2, and Snake Tales.

At first, people thought "Snake Tales" was going to be a way to let you play through the game as Snake. I saw the commercial over here for the game, and it looks like that's what they wanted you to think. However, you don't really get to do that. "Snake Tales" are 5 missions that you play outside of the MGS: Sons of Liberty area while using Snake. They're harder than the normal game, but they are outside of it, too. So, if you're just buying this game to run through as Snake because you didn't like Raiden, well, you're outta luck.

Overall

This is the BEST version of Metal Gear Solid 2 you can buy, so if you didn't play through the game yet, well, go get this one. If you haven't played through the first one yet, and you're wondering what this game would get, I'd say probably a 9.3. MGS2 is a fun game, very well done, and you have all this extra side stuff you can do in the game because the designers felt like putting in cool stuff.

On top of that, you get an additional 500+ missions and the Skateboarding levels. It almost makes you feel bad for the people who played through the game last year.

Speaking of people who played the game last year, you might be wondering if the new add-ons are worth you shelling out more cash for the game. My best advice, as always, is to rent the game first. I will, however, add the caveat: "Do not rent from Blockbuster". The Netjak staff have had way more problems with them than any company should be allowed. In any case, if you bought The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, there's a good chance you're going to really, really dig the stuff they threw in, especially if they keep the US version the same as the Japanese version, and unlock everything with the Document save file.

Also, if you really liked MGS2, but not enough to buy Document, this game should still fall into the category of one that'd you'd enjoy thoroughly. Like I said though, you may want to rent first before deciding to throw $50 at essentially what amounts to a really good expansion pack. I'd say that this add-on packs in a lot more value than Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends did. If ever there would be an expansion pack that you could actually consider shelling out $50 for, this would be it.

A pretty darn good showing for the guys at Konami. I really wish this had been how they released the game initially, because putting out a package like this makes the true fans feel kind of slighted. I mean, they bought the product first, and after they've given Konami their cash, they see all the people who didn't give any money get rewarded by having a really awesome version of the game come out. Game companies... if you're going to do this in the future, please allow the people who bought the original game (and registered it) the ability to get a coupon for like, $15 off the remake...you kinda owe it to them. That's why the score's a full point lower than what I'd give it if it were the only version released. Still...a pretty impressive game...and definitely worth a rental even if you've played it already.