Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

Metal Gear Solid 2 was one of the biggest releases in 2001. While Konami hasn’t officially announced MGS3 yet, everyone is expecting it to be officially unveiled at E3 2003. In the meantime, Konami has tried to cash in on the popularity of Metal Gear Solid 2. After releasing the Document of Metal Gear Solid--an inside look at the making of the title, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance arrives on the scene. While it contains the original game and several new features, only die-hard fans of the original or those who don’t own the original Metal Gear Solid 2 need to look at this one.

So what all comes in the new Substance package? As I mentioned above, the original version of Metal Gear Solid 2 is all here and just as good as the 2001 original. However, to entice players to purchase the new package, Substance includes 350 VR missions and 150 alternative missions, the ability to play five “Snake Talesâ€? levels, new playable characters and game modes, and a skateboarding mode.

Everything about how Substance looks, plays, sounds, and feels is identical to the original. So Konami is really banking on the new additions to the game causing players to spend their 39 bucks to pick up this re-release. The biggest draw is the VR missions. They range from really easy to insanely challenging.

However, while I enjoyed playing the VR missions, one of the best parts of Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is the new Solid Snake levels called “Snake Tales.â€? This allows the player to play as Solid Snake when during the original we did not get to see events through his perspective.

Overall though, this game is Metal Gear Solid 2. If you have played this and still own the original, you are better off overlooking this one unless you absolutely must play as Solid Snake in the five bonus levels and go through the VR missions. Even if you are interested in these elements, since the original Metal Gear Solid 2 can be picked up for around 19.99 brand new, it might be best to give Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance a rental before committing forty bucks to it.

But if you are looking for assistance in completing Substance, the best way to achieve this goal is through BradyGames Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Official Strategy Guide. This guide is packed full of 128 color pages and not only includes a walkthrough of the VR Missions, the bonus Snake Tales levels, skatebarding maps, keys to acquire every dog tag, and other information useful to getting passed this title. If you choose to pick up a copy of Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, don’t forget the BradyGames strategy guide.