Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Other changes made to the gameplay include:

• The player can switch from standing to crawling mode, by pressing the weapon and punch buttons simultaneously in the MSX2 version or by pressing a crouch button in the PlayStation 2 version.
• In the crawling position, the player can enter air ducts, pick up landmines, and hide under desks, seats and trucks.
• The player can also avoid making noises on any terrain by crawling instead of walking. However, weapons cannot be used while in the crawling position.
• The player is now equipped with a 3x3 grid radar which displays the player's current screen and position, the surrounding area and the position of enemy guards.
• The player can use the radar to display the positions of landmines with the mine detector or launch Stinger missiles with a cross-hair.
• A number of new weapons can be used later in the game in addition to the Stinger missiles, which includes gas grenades and plastic explosives that can be detonated remotely.
• An oxygen bar is added whenever the player is underwater or in gas-covered areas.
• The player no longer has to save hostages to gain a promotion. Instead, the player is automatically promoted after defeating a boss, increasing their life meter and carrying capacity, much like its sequel Metal Gear Solid.
• During certain points of the games, the player must decipher secret messages through Tap Codes which are listed in the game's instruction manual.
• At some point in the game, the player must check the back of the game's package in order to learn a character's new frequency. This gameplay element was used again in Metal Gear Solid, along with other similar attempts at breaking the fourth wall in the Metal Gear Solid titles.
• At some point in the game, the player must use a temperature-sensitive key to unlock a certain area. This gameplay element was also used again in Metal Gear Solid.

Plot

Characters

Note: The characters are primarily listed by the names or spellings used in the original MSX2 version, followed by the names used in the remakes in parentheses.

FOXHOUND

Civilians

Zanzibar Land

Story

By 1999, the Cold War had thawed, and nuclear disarmament by the major world powers promised a bright beginning to the 21st century. Despite this, all was not well in the world. A series of shocks to the oil market spurred the development of new high-tech energy sources, including fusion power. However, most vehicles still relied on oil for power.

Oil reserves were at a critical low, and the world community was prepared to take drastic measures, either by drilling into sand and shale for more oil, despite the difficulty -- or moving on to renewable fuels.

Such steps proved unnecessary when Czech scientist, Dr. Kio Marv, successfully bio-engineered a new species of algae, OILIX, that could produce petroleum-grade hydrocarbons with little expense and effort. Marv presented the algae to the World Energy Conference in Prague, and was on his way to a demonstration in the United States when he was kidnapped by soldiers from Zanzibar Land. NATO discovers that Zanzibar Land's leaders plan to hold the world hostage by controlling the supply of oil and nuclear brinksmanship, via a stockpile of nukes raided from nearby missile sites.

Solid Snake is brought out of retirement by FOXHOUND's new commander, Roy Campbell, and is sent to Zanzibar Land to rescue Dr. Marv.

On the course of his mission, Snake teams up with Holly White, a CIA operative posing as a journalist, and Gustava Heffner (Natasha Marcova in the MSX2 version), an StB agent and Dr. Marv's bodyguard. He is also reunited with Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar, the Metal Gear inventor from Outer Heaven, who claims to had been once again kidnapped and forced to work on another Metal Gear project (named Metal Gear D) for Zanzibar Land, as well as oversee mass-production of smaller, non-nuclear-equipped Metal Gear units. Snake learns from Dr. Madnar that Big Boss, Snake's former FOXHOUND commander, has survived and is the man in charge in Zanzibar Land.

Upon reaching the suspension bridge leading to the Detention Camp, Gustava is killed by a missile fired by Metal Gear D and Dr. Madnar is recaptured by the enemy. The new Metal Gear's pilot is revealed to be none other than Snake's former mercenary buddy Gray Fox. Determined to finish his mission, Snake fights against Zanzibar Land's elite mercenary force and manages to reach Dr. Marv's cell.

Snake arrives too late, unfortunately, as he finds the corpse of Dr. Marv, who was unable to survive the repeated torture. Dr. Madnar is also there, who explains he was unable to save him. Just before Snake could retrieve the OILIX formula left by Dr. Marv, Holly reveals via a radio message that Dr. Madnar was not captured after all, but voluntarily resumed his work on Metal Gear and was personally overseeing its development. After the truth comes out, Dr. Madnar attacks Snake, but fails in killing him.

With the OILIX formula in Snake's hands, Snake is confronted by Gray Fox piloting Metal Gear D. After successfully destroying Metal Gear D, Snake finds himself in a minefield. The two engage in hand-to-hand combat against each other, and Snake eventually emerges as the victor.

Upon defeating Fox and retrieving the OILIX formula, Snake is met by Big Boss while trying to escape. Having lost his equipment and with no weapons at his disposal, Snake is forced to improvise using the only items he can find, a lighter and aerosol can. Fashioning a makeshift flamethrower, Snake defeats Big Boss for the second and final time. Snake and Holly escape together, and they deliver the OILIX formula to Campbell.

Production

After the release NES version of Metal Gear in North America, Konami commissioned the development of a sequel for the NES, Snake's Revenge (a game made specifically with the American market in mind), without the consent of the series creator Hideo Kojima.

According to Kojima's account of the events, he did not have any plans to design a Metal Gear sequel at the time and was unaware that a sequel was being produced until he became acquainted with a member of the Snake's Revenge development team on a train ride in Tokyo. Kojima was then informed about the development of Snake's Revenge and was told "it's not the authentic Snake, so please create a new Snake game of your own." . After being given the go-ahead by his bosses at Konami, he began developing Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake with the MSX division of Konami. Metal Gear 2 serves as a follow-up to the original Metal Gear, ignoring the events of Snake's Revenge (which was unreleased in Japan), and every canonical Metal Gear released afterwards game follow up on Metal Gear 2, relegating Snake's Revenge to a non-canonical status.

Unlike the first game, which had an English version produced for the European market, the MSX2 version of Metal Gear 2 was never officially released outside Japan and a fan translation was produced instead. In Metal Gear Solid, plot summaries of the first two MSX2 games are accessible via the main menu. Its inclusion in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence in 2006 was the first time the game was officially localized in English.

Re-releases

A version of Metal Gear 2 for mobile phones was released in Japan on October 1, 2004 for the i-mode, EZweb and Vodafone services prior to the release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This was the first time the game was ported to another platform since its original release for the MSX2 in 1990. In 2005, Konami released an expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 3 subtitled Subsistence, which included, among other extras, the original MSX2 versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2. The release of Subsistence in North America and the PAL region marked the first time Metal Gear 2 received an official English localization.

Both re-releases feature several subtle differences between them and the original MSX2 version. The biggest change was in the game's artistic presentation. The character portraits used in the re-releases, instead of the realistic style used in the MSX2 version, features an art style similar to Yoji Shinkawa's character designs in the later Metal Gear Solid games. Numerous characters were renamed as well, notably Natasha Marcova (Dr. Marv's female bodyguard and Gray Fox's former lover) became Gustava Heffner and Black Color (Schneider's identity) became Black Ninja. The re-releases also feature two selectable difficulty settings ("Original" and "Easy"), a bonus boss rush mode and an infinite bandanna that provides Snake with unlimited ammo when equipped.

The PlayStation 2 version of the game, much like the MSX2 original, required the player to use the instruction manual for reference to solve certain puzzles (such as deciphering tap codes). Because the North American version only came with a thin manual that did not cover the MSX2 games in-depth, Konami posted the solutions to those puzzles in an FAQ on their official website.

Legacy

Arranged music based on Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake were used for the VR Training disc in Metal Gear Solid: Integral (which was released in North America as Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions). Additionally, Integral features two hidden tunes based on Metal Gear 2 available via a secret codec frequency in the main game. One is an arranged version of the "Theme of Solid Snake", while the other is an arrangement of "Zanzibar Breeze".

Similarities to Metal Gear Solid

Some of the plot elements and set pieces in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake that were later used again in its sequel Metal Gear Solid include:

• A retired Solid Snake is forced back into active duty.
• The game opening with a cliff-side open environment before moving inside to a tank-storage room with an elevator.
• Master Miller giving advice on improving one's health and professional life.
• The frequency 140.15 for a female accomplice of Solid Snake.
• Saving a hostage who appears on radar. In addition, the first hostage of the game is a disguised member of the terrorist faction.
• Meeting a disguised female contact in a women's washroom.
• Helpful messages from an anonymous source via the radio claiming to be a fan of Snake (both which ultimately turn out to be Gray Fox).
• The return of a major character from the former game decked out as a ninja (Kyle Schneider in Metal Gear 2 and Gray Fox in Metal Gear Solid).
• A chase up a spiral staircase with soldiers in pursuit.
• An ambush by four attackers in an elevator.
• A fight with a soldier wearing stealth camouflage.
• A battle with a Hind D chopper using Stinger missiles.
• An unarmed hand-to-hand showdown between Solid Snake and Metal Gear's pilot (Gray Fox in Metal Gear 2 and Liquid Snake in Metal Gear Solid).
• Having to look at the back of the game's package to learn an important radio frequency.
• Having to change the temperature of an object to turn it into a key.
• Having to heat up frozen rations before eating them.
• The use of the line "It's not over yet, Snake" stated by Big Boss, later to be said again by Liquid Snake when in a final battle with the antagonists.

References

External links

• Official Website for the Mobile Phone version (Japanese)
• Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake at MobyGames
• Metal Gear Week on 1UP.com, with Hideo Kojima interview
• GOTW: Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake