I just finished replaying Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and wow — this game hits differently than I remembered. Like the first Metal Gear Solid, I hadn’t touched this one in probably 20 years, and it’s wild how much it holds up. I thought it would be massive, sprawling, and complex — but honestly, the Raiden sections are surprisingly short. And not in a bad way — it’s just straight into the action. From the moment you get into the Arsenal Gear mission, you’re right in the thick of it with Fatman, running across conveyor belts, defusing bombs, and trying not to get obliterated by a roller-skating madman.
The game is a masterclass in storytelling. Kojima was so far ahead of the curve when he made this — AI, reality, and manipulation are at the heart of everything. Playing this now, in 2026, while talking to an AI, it’s insane how prescient all this feels. Controlling information, shaping truth, questioning reality — all of that is baked into Raiden’s journey. Only Snake seems to see through the whole thing, but even then, he plays the quiet observer. The mirroring of Shadow Moses is genius: Raiden is literally retracing the steps of Solid Snake, teaching both him and the player that anyone can step up to be a hero. And when Snake finally suits up and fights alongside Raiden? Unforgettable. The cutscenes here are cinematic perfection.
The villains in this game are just incredible. Fatman, Vamp, Lady Fortune (Lady Luck), Solidus, Olga/Ninja — it’s a rogues gallery on steroids. You fight multiple Metal Gears, not just one like the first game. Each boss fight is memorable, cinematic, and often heartbreaking in its own way. Vamp can’t die but wants to. Fortune can’t die but wants to. Solidus is a formidable and surprisingly cool final antagonist. And Raiden? He goes from being “the other guy” to cementing himself as a total badass — a character who not only holds his own, but owns his story.
Gameplay is a noticeable step up from the first game. Multiple Metal Gears, faster action, better graphics — HD makes everything pop. The cutscenes with Snake and Raiden are iconic, the music is epic (that main theme hits harder than anything I remembered), and the emotional beats, like Otacon’s sister, really land. Classic Kojima quirks are still here — sometimes frustrating, always clever — but every challenge pays off with unforgettable moments. Fatman on roller skates, Vamp’s resilience, Lady Fortune’s twists — it all flows together seamlessly.
I also have to give credit to the way the game handles Raiden and Snake. Unlike the first game, you don’t get to play as Snake for most of it, which could have been risky. But it pays off beautifully. Seeing Raiden grow, watching Snake guide him, and then finally suiting up as Snake in HD is just next-level storytelling. And playing Raiden now, seeing him later in MGS4, it all comes together — this character arc is insane.
What really elevates MGS2, though, is how it’s all about shaping your own journey and discovering who you are. So many characters don’t really know where they come from, who they are, or what their purpose is — especially Raiden. He knows pieces of his past, and it’s troubled, but he’s constantly asking himself: What is my story going to be? What’s my path? All the while, he’s being manipulated by the Patriots and their puppets, whether it’s AI controlling reality, filtering information, or showing only what they want you to see. And yet, at the end of the day, Raiden chooses to form his own path, which is just incredible after everything that’s happened. The Patriots themselves are mostly dead guys, replaced by AI, which is even scarier — their post-credits explanation that they died a hundred years ago is just chillingly on the nose. Even Solidus, Ocelot, everyone thinks they know the plan, but no one actually does. That level of clever storytelling, that constant flipping of expectations, makes Raiden’s choice to take control of his own fate feel earned, profound, and utterly satisfying.
Metal Gear Solid 2 is perfect. It’s aged amazingly well. Its themes are more relevant now than ever. The action, the story, the characters, the emotional punches, the music — it all comes together in a way few games ever manage. The only “flaws” are simply the age of the game — it’s 20+ years old, so the controls aren’t as crisp as 2026 standards, but that’s negligible compared to how brilliant it is overall.
If you’ve never played this game, or even if it’s been decades, do yourself a favor: dive back into this masterpiece. Raiden is amazing. Snake is legendary. The villains are unforgettable. And the story? Still blows my mind. Kojima really set the standard here — and I can’t wait to dive into Metal Gear Solid 4 this summer.
Metal Gear Solid 2 = 10/10
Here’s my review of MGS 1!
‘Metal Gear Solid’ “Does It Still Hold Up?
