Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

 Xbox
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
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  1. Gamer's Pulse
    74
    The biggest sins of the game are that the plot becomes progressively silly as the game progresses, and you only get to play Snake for about an hour before you have to switch to playing Raiden (who is totally uninteresting).
  2. GameCritics
    65
    Kojima seems to have recognized that he started running so fast that he forgot to tie his shoes, and thus Substance finally gives players the opportunity to more deeply explore the beautifully nuanced stealth engine that was so sorely undermined by his penchant for melodrama.
  3. Maxim Online
    60
    The only "improvements" consist of a slew of extra outfits, yawn-inducing training missions, and a handful of bonuses that only the most avid Gear geek could appreciate. If that’s you, fine.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best Xbox Game of 2002
8
#8 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2002
22
#22 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 50
  3. Negative: 7 out of 50
  1. Guo56
    Jun 9, 2020
    10
    An awesome game on an underrated console that deserves more recognition in the console genre of gaming. Game still has cool twist.
  2. Broyax
    Apr 6, 2017
    3
    Le seul endroit agréable du jeu est du côté des missions VR, simples mais distrayantes sauf l'une des dernières qui implique de passer en vueLe seul endroit agréable du jeu est du côté des missions VR, simples mais distrayantes sauf l'une des dernières qui implique de passer en vue subjective et donc de contrôler la vue avec le stick gauche (!)... et comme je ne ne suis point gaucher, la visée est un calvaire. Dans la campagne elle-même on est souvent obligé de passer en vue subjective la faute à une vue par défaut placée trop haut comme dans un diablol, ce qui est très maladroit.

    En fait, les choses mal faites sont innombrables, aussi bien dans l'interface et la présentation que dans les cinématiques bavardes (le mot est faible) interminables. A tout cela s'ajoute la niaiserie globale du titre mélangée aux pires clichés hollywoodiens et les boss (bien japoniais dans leur mauvais goût) incompatibles avec toute notion d'infiltration d'ailleurs. Le jeu reste très beau, on ne peut le nier... il aurait juste fallu en faire un jeu, un vrai jeu. C'est là tout le problème de ce MGS : la non-jouabilité dans toute son horreur.    … Full Review »
  3. WriterTheWolf
    Jun 21, 2011
    8
    Being fair, this game was good, it had good gameplay and an extremely well polished interface system. However the plot line was far to longBeing fair, this game was good, it had good gameplay and an extremely well polished interface system. However the plot line was far to long and involved to the point that I could hardly understand anything that was going on. The story changed direction at so many points, had so many random thing stuffed in it, and tended to be so overly dramatic at some points that it was only moderate at best. It was, however, (putting the story aside) a good game and was rather enjoyable. If you want to play this game, it is good. Just disregard the story (or at least the part in the big shell).… Full Review »
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