METAL GEAR & METAL GEAR 2: Solid Snake

About

Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are classic stealth action games that pioneered the genre. The first game, released in 1987, follows protagonist Solid Snake as he infiltrates enemy territory undetected. The second game builds on the first, introducing features such as crouching to avoid detection and enemies reacting to footsteps. Both games have been updated for modern systems while maintaining their original gameplay. Note: certain aspects have been altered for improved playability and adjusted difficulty.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 422 reviews

story20 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

Both games are considered classics and are important to the Metal Gear series, providing foundational gameplay mechanics and storytelling elements that influenced later titles.
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is praised for its improved gameplay, graphics, and story, making it a more enjoyable experience compared to the first game.
The games have a unique charm and are fun for fans of retro gaming, especially when played with a guide to navigate the challenging puzzles and backtracking.

Metal Gear 1 is criticized for its outdated gameplay, lack of direction, and frustrating mechanics, making it difficult to enjoy without a guide.
Both games suffer from excessive backtracking and cryptic puzzles that can lead to confusion and frustration for new players.
The ports have been described as lazy, lacking quality-of-life features such as control remapping and proper resolution settings, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
3%
The story in the Metal Gear series is generally considered basic, particularly in the first game, but it becomes more engaging and complex in Metal Gear 2, which introduces significant themes and character development that are vital to the overarching narrative of the franchise. While some players find the storytelling light and reliant on guides for progression, others appreciate the historical context and the groundwork laid for future installments. Overall, Metal Gear 2 is praised for its storytelling advancements, making it a crucial part of the series' lore.
- “The storytelling (especially in MG2) was something else for that time; war crimes, global issues, it actually managed to tell a compelling story where so few games did back in the day.”
- “The plot of Metal Gear 2 is one of the most important of the series, recontextualizing the previous game’s events and shaping the characters for the rest of the series through the events in this game.”
- “Metal Gear 2, I believe, is a masterpiece of its time, and while the game certainly shows its age, it deserves a special shout-out for carving the path of storytelling and gameplay that its successors would follow and expand upon.”
- “The story is very basic and is known to almost all the fandom.”
- “In terms of story, it's not much to tell.”
- “The story and writing, though, was still as immature as the first one.”
gameplay
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
85%
3%
The gameplay of the Metal Gear series, particularly in its early entries, is characterized by innovative stealth mechanics that were ahead of their time, despite some clunky controls and a reliance on trial-and-error navigation. While the level design and numerous gameplay elements laid the groundwork for future installments, players often noted issues with backtracking and unclear progression, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mix of solid foundational mechanics and frustrating design choices, making it a significant yet imperfect precursor to modern stealth games.
- “The gameplay is such a huge leap that its influence dominates the design philosophy of the next three games in the series.”
- “Numerous gameplay mechanics and the detailed script and gameplay make the immersion deep, allowing you to experience the game world and empathize fully with the characters.”
- “The sheer amount of detail, the genius in the stealth mechanics, and the innovative ways to engage the player, it all stands out as revolutionary for its time.”
- “But the gameplay was mediocre at best with a lot (and I mean a lot) of backtracking and unclear parts on how to progress next.”
- “Even with the guides to help you, the amount of pointless backtracking needed to progress in each story and the fact that very little of the game's mechanics is explained is extremely frustrating.”
- “I know it's an 80's game, but I still think it has bad game design with its extremely cryptic gameplay and directions.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The music in the game has received high praise, particularly for its varied and memorable soundtrack, with many considering it the standout feature, especially in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 8-bit chiptune vibes and catchy tracks, others feel that the sound effects can be jarring and suggest muting the in-game music in favor of external options. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant enhancement to the gaming experience, with a desire for even more tracks noted by some reviewers.
- “The music is much more varied and, although the first game had some good tunes, this one has quite a few bangers (for an 8-bit chiptune).”
- “The second game seemed very well polished, and the music is just awesome.”
- “Best part of the games is the soundtrack, especially Metal Gear 2.”
- “So much of MGS 1, 2, and 4 are tied to these games, which is why I come back to them every once in a while, but in my opinion, stealth gameplay just doesn't work well in this format, and the sound effects and music (especially for MG1) hurt my ears.”
- “I also would have appreciated more music tracks in the game.”
- “The soundtrack is alright.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, yet they effectively convey mood and atmosphere, with some reviewers appreciating the detailed pixel art and unique style. While there are technical issues such as save file corruption and visual desync, many players find the visuals to be decent for their time and even superior to some modern AAA titles. Overall, the graphics may not impress by today's standards, but they complement the game's solid mechanics and storytelling.
- “The graphics are better, as in more detailed pixel art with a genuine sense of style within the world.”
- “Don't be intimidated by the release year or its graphics because if you play it today, it’s superior to most AAA titles currently on the market.”
- “Even though the graphics may be a bit dated now, the games still hold up in the gameplay and story departments, making it one of the most influential games ever.”
- “The graphics haven't aged all that well, but the mechanics are surprisingly 'modern' for a top-down stealth game living with the limitations of its time.”
- “I've tried a number of workarounds from hitting various keys at startup of crashing application, to disabling fullscreen optimizations, changing the game settings from full screen to windowed, updating graphics drivers, etc. Nothing seems to work to get this game up and running again and I can't recommend anyone purchase this game until its issues are resolved.”
- “Constant save file corruption, weird desync of visuals, and some other small issues.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is severely lacking, with numerous users reporting persistent crashes and audio issues such as stuttering and slowdown. Despite various troubleshooting attempts, including adjusting settings and updating drivers, players are unable to resolve these problems, leading to strong recommendations against purchasing the game until these issues are addressed.
- “I've tried a number of workarounds from hitting various keys at startup of the crashing application, to disabling fullscreen optimizations, changing the game settings from fullscreen to windowed, updating graphics drivers, etc. Nothing seems to work to get this game up and running again, and I can't recommend anyone purchase this game until its issues are resolved.”
- “There are a lot of issues with the audio slowing down and stuttering in this port.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, although they acknowledge that having a good guide can enhance the experience. Despite the frustration, many still consider the games to be decent overall, blending military and Zelda elements.
- “If you have a good guide, the game is pretty decent but kind of tedious in some aspects.”
- “Tedious military Zelda games that are pretty good, and also I hate them.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers praise the atmosphere of the games, highlighting their unique aesthetics and the distinct ambiance each title creates. The atmospheric design is noted for enhancing the overall experience, contributing to the individual flair of each game.
- “It sets each game in its own atmosphere, and gives each game its own unique flair.”
- “I love the aesthetic and atmosphere of these two MSX gems.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurdities and flaws, with players finding enjoyment in its "amazingly bad" quality and ridiculous moments, such as an excessively long elevator ride. While some aspects are frustrating, the overall experience is described as entertainingly wacky, leading to a nostalgic appreciation for its old-school design and storytelling quirks.
- “This game is actually amazingly bad; I can't tell if it's a joke or not, but the fact that there is an elevator ride that's like 4 screens long is really funny. There are lots of other bad things and very poor quality of life, but it's pretty funny because of it. I honestly think it's pretty terrible, but I would still recommend it because I enjoyed it in hindsight.”
- “The stories for both games were enjoyable enough, even though there were some pretty hilariously wacky moments. I suppose no one bothered to tell Hideo Kojima that Zanzibar doesn't even come close to bordering Russia, China, or the Middle East because, you know, it's in central Africa off the Tanzanian coast.”
- “The stories for both games were enjoyable enough, even though there were some pretty hilariously wacky moments. I suppose no one bothered to tell Hideo Kojima that Zanzibar doesn't even come close to bordering Russia, China, or the Middle East because, you know, it's in central Africa off the Tanzanian coast.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Users express concerns about the future replay value of the games, suggesting that while they are playable, certain elements may impact their long-term appeal. The presence of Hideo Kojima's name is noted, but it does not significantly enhance replayability for all players.
- “And may affect its future replay value for me.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game experiences random freezing issues specifically on Linux, indicating a significant stability problem for that platform.
- “The game freezes randomly on Linux.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is marred by frustrating mechanics, such as hidden walls and instant death traps that lack clear communication, leading to feelings of confusion and annoyance for players. This design choice can detract from the overall experience, as players may feel trapped or forced to restart due to unclear gameplay elements.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is notable for its depth and progression, particularly for its time, effectively establishing Solid Snake as a formidable character even before the events of Metal Gear Solid (1998). The storytelling lays a strong foundation that enhances the player's understanding of the character's significance.
- “The stories alone have some character development and deep progression not really seen in games from that time, and it's honestly surprising that it really does lay a foundation to make Solid Snake seem like the greatest soldier ever, even before you get to MGS (1998).”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a "lazy cash grab," indicating that players feel the game prioritizes profit over quality and player experience.
- “This game feels like a lazy cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is just a blatant cash grab.”