Vocal minority on MGS2?

[Tyler Clemmons]

When I was writing my essay on Metal Gear Solid 2 I came across something that made me wonder what other people thought about this.

I feel like both haters of the game's visible differences from its predecessor and supporters of it as a higher class of Metal Gear game have been labeled at times as the "vocal minority" in the great MGS2 debate.

Obviously this is a statement made by the opposition in each case concerning those on the other side of the argument... but which do you think is true? Do people generally like this game, and it just so happens that some insulted fanboys can't get over Raiden? Or is this considered (other than commercially, of course) the "bust" of the series that pseudo-sophisticated people like to prop themselves on?

[zanzibarbreeze]

I think those two groups you mentioned certainly tend to be a lot louder than the quiet group in the middle that seems to like the game for what it is. The answer is that it's a great game, and whether you like it as the best in the series depends on your tastes.

But I get especially disappointed when I see individuals make arguments that aren't true, or are just plain silly. Like 1UP's Jeremy Parish, for whom I have great respect - he had this big rant about how MGS2 was Kojima throwing a temper tantrum, about him being able to make whatever game he wants, and then Parish himself went on to throw a temper tantrum about not being able to play as Snake through the whole game. It was quite funny, actually. (That was all on the Retronauts' podcast episode of Metal Gear - you can listen to it here: download.gamevideos.com/Podcasts/Retronauts/060508.mp3)

Then you have other people like Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann who loves MGS2 because it screwed over all the people who wanted to play as Snake - I guess he loves mindfuck stuff like that.

As I say, both of your outlined groups are accurate. The label of a vocal minority is also accurate - that's what happens with most games held in such high regard. I don't think high flyers lean on the game as some treasure, though. It has its problems, but I think that there are certainly people who appreciate the game more than others, if you know what I mean.

[Tyler Clemmons]

Aug 19, 2009 1:02:06 GMT -5 zanzibarbreeze said:

he had this big rant about how MGS2 was Kojima throwing a temper tantrum, about him being able to make whatever game he wants, and then Parish himself went on to throw a temper tantrum about not being able to play as Snake through the whole game. It was quite funny, actually.

I always love it when a fanboy who hates Raiden acts exactly like Raiden. This isn't exactly the same, but it's close.

So I guess you're suggesting that both groups are "recognized, but still fringe" to quote Snake in the very game in question. (Wait, Snake was in that game?)