Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

 PC
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 145 Ratings

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  • Summary: Solid Snake returns in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with all-new game modes, hidden characters and storylines. Top-secret weapons technology is being mysteriously transported under cover of an oil tanker to an unknown destination.Solid Snake returns in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with all-new game modes, hidden characters and storylines. Top-secret weapons technology is being mysteriously transported under cover of an oil tanker to an unknown destination. It's up to Snake to infiltrate the transport and keep this deadly weapon of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands! Featuers 350+ VR Missions and 150+ Alternate Missions, as well as 5 all-new "Snake Tales" side stories. [Konami]… Expand

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Metal Gear Solid 2 Movie 5

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. IGN
    89
    This is definitely a console style game with the fixed camera and funky controls, but it certainly packs a punch. The gameplay is still superb, although outmatched by "Splinter Cell" in some cases.
  2. GameZone
    85
    Were it not for the rocky translation and major bugs, I would’ve rated MGS: Substance a whole point higher. Unfortunately, these problems couldn’t be overlooked and cost the game some footing.
  3. GameSpy
    84
    For console owners, it's simply not worth the bucks to upgrade your PC to play this game -- Enjoy it on your console. On the other hand, if you've got the hardware for it (including a gamepad) and don't own a console, I'd recommend getting your hands on this game in an instant.
  4. Game Chronicles
    79
    A great "console" game, but I'm not convinced the PC is the proper system to be playing it on.
  5. GameSpot
    78
    Could have been ported over a lot more gracefully. Yet this is such an unusual, intriguing, and shocking game that despite the rough translation, it still makes for a one-of-a-kind experience on the PC.
  6. ActionTrip
    77
    Technically, this porting job sucks, and it's the biggest problem I've had with this game, but that would hardly stop me from buying it anyway.
  7. Computer Gaming World
    50
    The problem here isn't so much with the game's content, which remains as ambitious and poignant as ever, but rather with Konami's sloppy porting efforts to the PC. [Aug 2003, p.78]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 13 out of 41
  1. SzakalS.
    Apr 20, 2003
    10
    To jest najlepsza gra w jak¹ gra³em. Jest najlepsza nie tylko pod wzglêdem grafiki i szegó³ów, ale To jest najlepsza gra w jak¹ gra³em. Jest najlepsza nie tylko pod wzglêdem grafiki i szegó³ów, ale tak¿e trzymajacej do samego koñca fabu³y. :)))… Expand
  2. Brown
    Jun 24, 2003
    10
    It is good.
  4. StefanP.
    Sep 25, 2003
    10
    I just finished it 10 minutes ago . And I'm still shaked by the experience ! Extremely deep and strong story . And it leaves you with I just finished it 10 minutes ago . And I'm still shaked by the experience ! Extremely deep and strong story . And it leaves you with something to think of . Greate existential ideas to put in a new modern way of thinking. The story is close to Deus Ex . The controls however were a little bit tricky but once you rearrange them to your taste everything is OK !… Expand
  5. AstiX
    Oct 26, 2020
    8
    I'm speechless. What an unexpected rollercoaster ride this is. It starts off so innocently until it starts changing and throwing unexpectedI'm speechless. What an unexpected rollercoaster ride this is. It starts off so innocently until it starts changing and throwing unexpected sh1t at you at every turn. It pushes the limit of how many plot-twists inside plot-twists you can have to the point it becomes hilarious, but also somehow good at the same time.

    It's one of the most unique games I've ever played. It's charming with the way it focuses on tiny seemingly unimportant details you'd never see in another game. Sometimes it goes way too far with the overly long cutscenes, but they can be endurable if you find other stuff to do while watching them, treating them like a movie and enjoying the game for the clusterfvck that it is.

    For all the ridiculousness its plot brings it somehow manages to slap you in the face with a deep thought-provoking philosophical conclusion which leaves you in disbelief of what you just witnessed. Seriously, this game had me yelling out "WHAT??" so many times.

    "Rose?"    … Expand
  6. MarcoS.
    May 3, 2003
    6
    I played Metal Gear Solid on the PSX and loved it. I loved it so much I went and baught Metal Gear Solid 2 for the PC as soon as it was out. I played Metal Gear Solid on the PSX and loved it. I loved it so much I went and baught Metal Gear Solid 2 for the PC as soon as it was out. Well, it looks good, but i still can't play it because the port over from the PSX2 to the PC was done so bad. I have no idea what key does what since the instruction manual that came with MGS2 is for the PSX2 and not for the PC. The option tab that allows me to define my keyboard and joypad layout is like something I've never seen before and haven't got it to work properly. Something tells me KONAMI put in little effort to make this a decent game for the PC.… Expand
  7. gui2310gBR
    Apr 5, 2015
    1
    Most boring game MGS What ever seen the graphics are terrible horrible gameplay and complicated to use and good until the story but that doesMost boring game MGS What ever seen the graphics are terrible horrible gameplay and complicated to use and good until the story but that does not save the game prefer MGS 4… Expand
  8. Anotheratiuser
    Apr 19, 2003
    0
    I've heard lots of stories about this game, i suppose thats what drove me to buy it, how ever when i got home and sat throught the 7GB+I've heard lots of stories about this game, i suppose thats what drove me to buy it, how ever when i got home and sat throught the 7GB+ install only for it to not work, i was kind of disapointed. aparently Konami are working on a patch for it so i guess i'll have to wait for the action :(… Expand

See all 41 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best PC Game of 2003
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003

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