I know I already mentioned this in my 200 subscriber video, but I really can't put enough emphasis on how much it means to me that this video is doing so well. It's easily my most personal video, and the most important one to me so far, so the fact that it's the one that got me to 100 subscribers, and is still doing so well is just... Inspiring. Thank you all
Metal Gear Solid 2 has become shockingly accurate with time. This is a game from 2001 that took place in 2009, and somehow in 2020 it feels more relevant than ever. The world has all but caught up with the one depicted in this game. I mean, this story openly discusses the dangers of social media before that term even existed, among several other social commentaries. This has always been one of my favorite games, and it's continued importance only makes me love it more.
I hold it like a bible MGS2, it's a game that when I look at its cover quietly in the night. It's like looking at a mirror that has immense implications. I loved it and terrified by it.
@@Sid_Streams Oh man, I remember when the game first came out. I was immensely upset for years that nothing else that I played at the time felt so smooth like it.
I found it nuts when Raiden mentioned that he did training similar to the oil fence sniping section in “PSG1 Level 4” in VR, then when I went to MGS VR Missions and re-checked the 4th PSG1 mission under the “weapon” category, it really was a level that involved taking out guards around a thin perimeter while isolated on a separate, small landmass. VR missions is canonically Raiden’s VR training
i could be misremembering but i believe snake also mentions that vr doesnt support crouching with the sniper rifle, meaning that raiden also canonically played all of mgs1 as a vr mission, since you cant crouch in that game, and they were training him to be snake. this also implies that the twin snakes is the canon version of shadow moses🤣
I'm equally convinced and conflicted by the arguments and connections you've made. I don't think I've seen a finer modern discussion of the death of the author, or a more mature assertion of the game as a genuine work of art.
One of the best MGS2 analysis I've ever seen, i never thought of how good MGS2 makes an incredible relationship between Raiden and the player and their dependence of one each other, keep up the good work!
Well I just rewatched his analysis. Definitely a great video, and he points out a lot of the same details as me, but we definitely come to different conclusions about a lot of things. The biggest difference being that his conclusion was about the genetic nature of memetic evolution, and mine was about the personal nature of memes, and how others analyses shouldn't influence your own subjective truths. While I obviously havent seen every Mgs2 analysis, a lot of this video, including my ultimate conclusion is a new take on this game as far as I know
Leadhead yours is good I don’t mean to be writing it off. I just found it funny that I had the sense of Deja Vu sort of like MGS2 and it’s mirrored narrative to one just with a twist at its structure:) I didn’t want to be negative in my last comment
I've considered myself an average MGS fan until recently while going through MGSV and peace walker, as well as watching through MGS2 and 1. 2's narrative and themes are great and I was aware of the commentary on gaming/the player. But this video takes it to the next level in terms of how the game is clearly aware 'you aren't snake'. Well done and i'll probably be watching more of your stuff
Thanks man, MGS2 is a good contender for my all time favorite game. It's one of the few things that I can talk about for this long, and still feel like I haven't said enough
I was 21 when this game came out. I loved how wild and exotic the information started getting at the end. The later Metal Gear Solid games felt dumbed down for the majority of people. I love Death Stranding, best graphics, the story was perfect & the end reveal with Cliff made my eyes water and then the Lou scene right after made me cry haha. P.ost S.cript I loved your perspective on this game, your perspective is just as valid as anyone’s, your break down of the game gave even more depth. I just turned 40 and I didn’t remember much about the game other then knowing I really liked the crazy deep AI conversations at the end when Raiden was naked. Thx for making this video, I subbed.
It's clear a whole lot of work went into this. Your video here has opened my eyes to things I hadn't even considered about one of my favorite games of all time. I hadn't even realized there was such a strong relationship between the View Perspective and Raiden but it makes a whole lot of sense. A+ video you have here.
Man I love love love MGS2. It's amazing what they could do in the early ps2 and the story makes it simply one of the best art pieces of the 21st century.
How funny that MGS2 has connected me To many different ideas, by breaking down the experience. Love the work dude. To be honest it was a very refreshing piece that has lead me to a number of understandings. Once again thank you, and Kojima for making this possible. ✌️️
It certainly feels awkward moving first person into the nooks and crannies, going into bathrooms, etc. My subjective feeling was very different though. Realistically, it would be incredibly dangerous and daring to risk your life defusing bombs hidden everywhere, so I felt important and heroic.
This is honestly one of the best MGS related videos I’ve ever watched. I watched countless MGS in depth analysis and reviews, this is one of a kind. It answers a lot of questions that I’ve keep asking myself about MGS2 (my favorite in the series) and always had a hard time finding it. Huge thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
I have literally never seen anyone run through the ground level of the first screen of arsenal gear. The amount of times I have played MGS2 and I have always taken the stairs up towards the right.
Great video! This game is incredible, it blew me away age 13/14, freaked me out a bit when it said turn off the playstation and a car turned up outside at 4am. Good fun. The message around echo chambers and a lack of cultural progression/advancement is true today, the latter notion analogous to the theory that genetic evolution in terms of survival of the fittest has stopped now. This really did help shape a part of my personality. Having said all that, I didn't remember or link the annoyance of Raiden when you go first person and his journey with and against the player, I didn't see the way the game was structured as the synergy grew between Raiden and the Player and couldn't work out why some of the walls etc had code. Thank you for this video, amazing that an avid fan can learn new things about a 19 year old game from someone who holds it in the regard it deserves.
I don't remember Raiden's controls changing during the Solidus fight. In fact, I'm 99% sure they're exactly the same as they've always been except that you use the Katana, which when equipped obviously behaves in a unique way as a weapon. But so do almost any weapon in MGS. For instance, machine guns change your melee attack. The Nikita is a controllable missile. Knives and stun guns in MGS3 behave uniquely etc etc. They still operate within the MGS control scheme though. It's a huge stretch to say that the control scheme has changed entirely into a non MGS control scheme. That's like saying any weapon introduced on top of other weapons, with unique functions somehow stray from the MGS control scheme.
This is without a doubt the most thought provoking, original, and in depth interpretation of MGS2 Ive ever heard - and ive heard them all. Amazing work Lead
This is an epic reading on this game, some brilliant observations in there! I wondered where you were going with the whole 1st person/3rd person and thought you were reading too much into it but glad I'm glad I continued watching the point you make about the dog tags definitely won me over! :) Didn't know about that extra photo mode map in MGS1 either. And lololololol at 25:45 :O
My MGS analyses always ride a fine line between way over analyzing, and staying sane, and honestly I think that thats what makes the series artistic side so fun! Did you know that you can get Emma's parrot to say "You must be Ames" back to you if you spam it on him for long enough?
Hey, I just saw this video 2 years after you uploaded this. your outro really hits home to me. As someone who only bought the PS2 for this game back in 2001, how i experienced and took away my own thoughts in this game are always criticized for not having the same conclusion as others. But I cherished it as it made me look at the world differently after that. Gosh, this game is the only game that made me get into reading about the world and understand our place as a species. I was 11 when I played this game. HAHAH. Thank you. I will donate to your Patreon and hope your channel grows further.
Your outro was great. I’ve seen many different analysis on the metal gear series and every single one gives me an new POV. It’s amazing to show how people can make connections in many diff ways
This is a wonderfully thorough analysis of MGS2 and the subjective themes and lessons that truly embody the entire experience of life itself. Thank you for putting so much time into this video. I greatly, greatly enjoyed it.
Thanks! MGS2 has to be the most fun game to talk about. I mean, it's the game where the funny anime man does naked cartwheels, and fights the ex president on top of liberty hall, yet it also managed to shake my entire perception of art. Oh Kojima
This game needs to be remade for the new generation of players to see how far we've come as people with the idea of escapism. To generate our own thoughts and feelings and pass those on. Not what someone else tells us to think or feel. This game just gets more and more important as time goes in with the state of the world we live in now. It's amazing to see and terrifying at the same time. But I'm glad more and more people are seeing the impact gaming and story telling can have as much music and movies do.
Damn... this was very deep... Your analysis seems to be on the same plane of thought that many of Mei Ling’s wise quotes from MGS1 come from. This has helped me see MGS2 in an entirely new light, for the better. Thank you!
Man I played this game when I was 12, far too young to recognize any of this. Now that I understand postmodernism I really gotta play this game again. Appreciate it in all new ways
Your videos, especially the ones about MetalGearSolid, made me thinking. While the concept of subjective truth seems logical and I have no doubt about it, it also feels natural for me to seek an actual common truth. I wrote on another video, how MetalGearSolid might even be my most favorite game series. But no matter how hard I tried to decipher the story, everything that's happening, no matter how I enjoyed the gameplay and the soundtrack.... I never thought of it as philosophical art. I really enjoy your videos. Even though I feel like much of it sounds far fetched and over-thought, I barely got a glimpse of how those games contain more than meets the eye. Something I won't ever grasp entirely. Maybe because it's not meant to be grasped.
Raiden still has the broken handcuffs on when he hugs Rose at the very end. When be brings his hands together to touch her face, it makes the handcuffs look like they're fixed. Maybe the point is that even though he knows she was fed to him as a lie, he's still attached to her, still wants to be with the real woman behind the illusion he loves - but only because of his love for the illusion. He's dispensed with his Solid Snake delusion, but he's still handcuffed to his Rose delusion.
Damn, how do the graphics hold up so well? I mean yeah, it's low-poly, but the visuals have aged decently, when compared to something like bioshock. Damn.
I dont know if its still up. But you could get mgs3 and mgs2 on xbox game pass. I honestly thought they had improved the graphics slightly. But they hadnt. So yea honestly both of them have graphically held up very well.
Knew I shoulda played this game more. I only played it maybe twice, back when it came out. I really liked it, but the first half was rough. This video totally clarified so many more things for me. It's a very compelling perspective you've given me.
This video is fucking amazing man cheers 🥂 definitely my favorite take on this game just makes this amazing piece of art all the more amazing... the way it’s aged is beyond beautiful I can’t wait to play it again 10 years from now and see what it says about us as humans
Now this video, this video is truly a work of art. I never really understood metal gear solid 2, but after the ending of this video I finally understand, and more, its a real philosophy. Great video Man ! Really thank you
I think this is the first vid of yours I've seen, and it's really well made. Had to FF the beginning a bit because you over explained a very simple concept, but everything else was very entertaining!
Thanks man! That's Kojima for you, it's such a clever way to look at the relation between player and character. How much can we really feel like somebody if we're constantly popping in and out of their head?
Well a big part of why I do videos like this is simply because it's fun to over analyse, for me at least. However, with Kojima I think that no stone should be left unturned.
bro im disappointed in myself that i'm discovering this video now. I already came into this video knowing the greatness of this games story and you enlightened me on many thoughts i never considered. Yet again this game seems more relevant to not only the events going on in the world but in my life this very second. Thank you, outstanding video. You got a sub my friend.
I know a lot of folks have commented on it but dude the theories put forward about playing as Raiden and our relationship to him- can't say I agree with every point, but a lot of it hits home. I was, literally, 7, 8 years old when I played this game. So, of course, i didn't fully understand things, and until I played the games again on PS3, I didn't really start analyzing it until the, let's just say, the last half of the last decade. But the beats of slowly coming around to Raiden, and when, was almost exactly how I felt. I won't go on too long, but dude, fantastic video- I've seen a lot of analysis videos of this game, and man, you need more views. I haven't seen a take quite like this before, I love it. This game is a damn masterpieces. It always was. #MGS2Hipster
I share your passion for MGS2 as an artwork. I've loved this game since I was 10 years old. I'm 21 now and having just replayed it. I cried during the final scene of the game, this time things just hit like a ton of bricks. I always liked it before, but I never understood the importance of it or asked myself how it applied to me. I've never felt like a valid person, I always felt the impression I left on others was that im an idiot and my thoughts just dont come out quite right. That I just don't matter. Always I've loved roleplaying and characters in fiction, because for that moment I could pretend that i was someone else. That lack of a self tore me apart and caused me to fall into an extreme depression and I've only recently gotten on antidepressants and taken steps towards pulling my life together. Solid Snake was always my favorite character in any game I've ever olayed and thats double now. His words to Raiden and arguably to the player, literally helped me understand all of this. Believing and sharing and experiencing life is so so much more important than being right. You don't have to be something for anyone. All of us must only remain true and loyal to our own beliefs, and in doing so, we become our true selves. Thank you Snake, Kojima, and Leadhead. Count yourselves all as having saved a life. I'm off to find what I believe in and find it for myself
I love your viewpoint on this game and one thing to note about that ending. I have a tinfoil hat theory as to why snake suddenly "appears" to Raiden at that time. I believe Raiden was still having a reality breakdown in his mind and he started to have an illusion of snake. His conversation with him was like a deep psychological philosophy debate going through his head and when he finally comes to, snake is gone and Rose is there. He finally woke up and see his reality. Not the player's, not snake's, but his own perspective.
The comparison of Fortune to Vulcan Raven was great, and something that wasn't mention is that just like MGS1, There are fights with each boss, twice in their games. You fight Raven twice in MGS1. In MGS2 you fight Fortune - but then SNAKE gets to fight her @ Big Shell for the 'second' encounter.
Crazy thought. If you notice in the hangar deck section of the snake portion of metal gear, the cameramen are dressed exactly like snake is in the plant chapter. Perhaps the real way snake got photos of rex was by disquising himself as a cameraman marine, which when shown to Raiden was the first clue that the virus had been implemented.
You’ve done a great service to all the critics who failed to approach this game critically.. and for those who have, this only expands understanding and opens new vistas of metal gear contemplation.. I salute you soldier
I will say, I personally think the Tengu fight sort of mirrors the fight with the Stealth Camo Soldiers in the elevator, but as a result of the "simulation breaking down," there are many more soldiers and none of them are invisible as they were probably "supposed to be."
I swear, with each Metal Gear Solid 2 analysis video I find, I'm learning more new things about the game. Especially different interpretations, like that part about the Marine Commander's speech and Raiden's relationship to the player.
Very very interesting interpretations. Many game analyses talk about player agency, but I'm not sure I've heard arguments for the player character's agency counter to the player's before. The first person vs third person struggle I feel is a bit of a stretch, I don't agree that's in any way inferred in the game, but I see where you're coming from.
Beautiful video about possibly the best game of all time, almost made me cry. Just one question, I realize how seemingly this goes against your personal conclusion about the point of MGS, but don't take this the wrong way, I don't want to try and invalidate your analysis, but rather share my own or start a discussion, there was always an aspect of these themes in MGS 2, which brought a sense of dread and insecurity, it talks about subjective truths and how we need to uphold them but also questions what are the laws that let us arrive at those thruths, like when the GW says to Jack something like "is that what you think, or is it just something Snake told you", really made me think and then the end of the game is just Snake telling you stuff! Then there's the reality braking stuff like "infinite ammo", ruminating on the fact this is a game and therefore Raiden doesn't have free will, only what we do to him, but at the same time, we are at the whims of the developer. And what's funny some of these ideas never occured to me first time playing the game, but rather after seeing analysis like those of Super Bunnyhop and Max Derrat, so that kind of ties into that too somehow, really fascinating stuff...
It's so sad to see so much work and passion go unnoticed , thank you Leadhead for an amazing video and for your views , Please do more , and hopefully people will appreciate ur essays and takes on things more . Keep it up , Thank you again.
35:34 I think the tengu fight is a perfect opposite to the stairwell in mgs1. Where as your running and escaping as snake spamming stun grenades. Here your holding your ground and fighting your way out. Also both are right after the torture scene.
Wow! Didn’t know you could somersault over that gap! I always just shimmied along the broken railing and dropped down onto the bird poop pipe Edit 1: I wonder if there is an additional significance in the segment you pointed out where Riden is at the center of that triangular shape given that previously Naomi and Mei Ling had appeared at the center of one and that Riden is also regularly perceived as feminine Edit 2: I started playing VR Missions for the first time the other night and am recognizing a lot of things from having played mgs2. The theme song is the same... playable ninja... I wonder if the ninja controls are the same
Now that i think about it with your perspective. Did we ever get to really play as the real snake? Meanwhile everyone got so mad about venom snake. But his whole point was the full circle of the player made snake. You are snake. We are snake. And the ideal snake that we all wanted to play as in mgs2 and v doesn’t exist because its the ideal version of us that is fundamentally unobtainable to keep us reaching for new heights
Watching this for the 3rd or 4th time & I just had this thought: The Tengu fight is an inverse of the mini boss fight with Meryl (after the DARPA chief dies). In MGS1, you're the veteran fighter and Meryl is the rookie. In MGS2, you're the rookie (but Snake is still the veteran). The enemies are (supposedly) advanced & enhanced in ways you are not. They come in waves but you and your partner work together to take them down. Sorry if someone else has already come up with this, but if they haven't, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it. :) Great video!
Oh, and it comes at the end of the game instead of the beginning! Which makes the rookie/veteran dynamic even more interesting, because even if it's your first MGS game, you're not a rookie by that point. (Except ...you are, because you have a brand new weapon. Layers!)
The works have their own message in mind. It is alive, and it speaks the language of your self. Time is holographic and reflective, experience is made of implications. True to form we see it happening backward where we interpret an artist to be the creator and the medium to be the tool.
These videos make me wish I grew up playing Metal Gear games. I missed out on a whole ton. Sure, I can still go back and play them, and I might, but especially for MGS1 you can't recapture that experience on modern consoles
same here. i started playing through the games last year when the pandemic started and while i'm glad im playing through them at all i cant help but kick myself in the pants because i neglected to play them for so long
How do know that Raiden hates the Player using First Person View? I thought that Raiden was made to make a connection with the Player in the game. 15:50- I already knew about that. 22:30- Actually you only need to destroy one on Very Easy while just "Easy", you only need to destroy six. 27:25-27:30- Of you'd know which door to go, Otacon tells you! 35:01- I thought it parallels the Weapon Mode Level 4 with the PSG1.
Now, befor I even watch the whole thing, I need to comment on the description of the video. There supposedly never will be a 100% objectively right analysis of this game... That's both a nonsensical statement but probably correct. Objectivism or rather objective analysis is disconnected from subjectivity. Looking at the game with no personal opinion and just analysing its quality, in writing, game play, technical function and so on. The matter with art tho is the fact its supposed to be looked at subjectively. It's supposed to make us feel things and focus on these feelings, wich then Form our opinion of the art piece. As a mechanical game, we can objectively critizise MGS or any game. As an art piece tho, we can't. It is both, and we will always make these connections somehow... But objective truth exists, just like subjective truth does. And denial or ignorance of that will ruin us all in the long run. After having watched the video, I am happy to see that the creator looked at the game as a piece of art, and discussed what he believed the game was possibly trying to tell us. This was a subjective analysis and it's a good one. While there is objective criticism to be made to improve the video essay quality, but the opinion is an interesting one and a neat perspective that I believe can be valued. This is the great thing about art and especially the electronic art media. It is defisive, different, can be looked at from many different angles. Something we as people can discuss for years, evidently.
Raiden about Rose: It's still real to me DAMMIT!!! But in all seriousness, great video man, the whole point about the viewpoints is something I never even thought about but makes total sense with how you put it.
"There are too many things that aren't written into our DNA. It's up to us to teach that to our children. What kind of things? About the environment, our ideas, our culture, poetry, compassion, sorrow... joy..." All of MGS3 and The Boss' struggle to show Jack loyalty to the end is foreshadowed here.
i've listened to this vid far more than i like to admit congrats man if anything you helped keeping my brain stimulated and got me thinking about an action game on the ps2 more deeply thus enhanced my experience thanks man i thoroughly enjoyed it
We never even got to see the Shell 2 Struts :( I really wish we could play as Snake and see those Struts G, H, I, J, and K along with the rest of L and the unflooded Shell 2 Core :( Snake also gets to fight Olga and Ocelot while in Shell 2 and then Fortune over in Arsenal. Who wouldn’t want to experience that through a DLC content for the MGS2 HD collection?
Yo Lead, besides the other games you mentioned, what some other games that have inspired analysis? MGS and Shadow of the Colossus are the two that come to mind for me. Any movies or anime? Cheers.
Well, some of the big ones would be Silent Hill 2, The Stanley Parable, Bioshock, the last guardian, Ico, and death stranding, but I've got a whole lot of videos, all of which cover games that I absolutely love. As far as movies, you've got the classics: Eraserhead, Stanley Kubrick films, a couple of Tarantino's and Scorsese's, I'm not really familiar with anime though
@@Leadhead awesome Lead, look forward to more of you're unorthodox interpretations in the future. May your videos grow and all inspire us to overthink just a little bit more.
@@Leadhead if you want a fun film/anime to analyze, Angel's Egg is my all time favourite animated film and interpreting it is most of the experience (and makes it highly rewatchable). Different people get very different things from it, and sometimes that changes between viewings. Also has gorgeous animation and generally appealing visuals.
I just recompleted Mgs2 and decided to watch this, it hits so hard. Id also like to apologise about my comment on your max payne video, i dont agree with that one but if you feel its true then its cool.
Great video dude, but at 12 minutes you say, Raiden missed when he shot at Fortune. But that is not what happend. Her little gizmo thingy, is the reason, the bullet hit Vamp. Just wanted to point that out. Keep up the good work ;)
![The Fabrication of MGS2 [METAL GEAR SOLID 2 RETROSPECTIVE 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QKyI64rNVqk/mqdefault.jpg)
I know I already mentioned this in my 200 subscriber video, but I really can't put enough emphasis on how much it means to me that this video is doing so well. It's easily my most personal video, and the most important one to me so far, so the fact that it's the one that got me to 100 subscribers, and is still doing so well is just... Inspiring.
Thank you all
I had been watching these videos for a while and didn't even know you were the one who made them.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands is pretty much another game with military chatter and stealth play...
Hey man, love your stuff!
Found your channel maybe a week ago and subscribed almost instantly. Quality content, well deserved. Keep up the good work.
Snake: Choose your own destiny. Become your own person.
Raiden: Then I'm gonna be a cool anime cyborg.
Raiden is living the dream that whe cannot
ko da His subjective truth is better than ours... :’(
Metal Gear Solid 2 has become shockingly accurate with time. This is a game from 2001 that took place in 2009, and somehow in 2020 it feels more relevant than ever. The world has all but caught up with the one depicted in this game. I mean, this story openly discusses the dangers of social media before that term even existed, among several other social commentaries. This has always been one of my favorite games, and it's continued importance only makes me love it more.
I hold it like a bible MGS2, it's a game that when I look at its cover quietly in the night. It's like looking at a mirror that has immense implications. I loved it and terrified by it.
The game was bland, shit and game play was downright tedious, but the end game reveal and dialogue more than made up for it.
@@Sid_Streams nah game was great and still rivals games made today
@@Sid_Streams Oh man, I remember when the game first came out. I was immensely upset for years that nothing else that I played at the time felt so smooth like it.
Yeah, when I replayed this game last year it dawned on me just how good it really was outside of the gameplay.
Mgs2
The gift that keeps on giving
I found it nuts when Raiden mentioned that he did training similar to the oil fence sniping section in “PSG1 Level 4” in VR, then when I went to MGS VR Missions and re-checked the 4th PSG1 mission under the “weapon” category, it really was a level that involved taking out guards around a thin perimeter while isolated on a separate, small landmass. VR missions is canonically Raiden’s VR training
i could be misremembering but i believe snake also mentions that vr doesnt support crouching with the sniper rifle, meaning that raiden also canonically played all of mgs1 as a vr mission, since you cant crouch in that game, and they were training him to be snake. this also implies that the twin snakes is the canon version of shadow moses🤣
I'm equally convinced and conflicted by the arguments and connections you've made.
I don't think I've seen a finer modern discussion of the death of the author, or a more mature assertion of the game as a genuine work of art.
Wow... in 18 years I had never interpreted Scott Dolphs speech in that context. Fantastic analysis, loved it.
One of the best MGS2 analysis I've ever seen, i never thought of how good MGS2 makes an incredible relationship between Raiden and the player and their dependence of one each other, keep up the good work!
Have you seen SuperBunnyHop’s video? It’s years prior to this one and hits the similar points in a slightly condensed amount of time.
Well I just rewatched his analysis. Definitely a great video, and he points out a lot of the same details as me, but we definitely come to different conclusions about a lot of things. The biggest difference being that his conclusion was about the genetic nature of memetic evolution, and mine was about the personal nature of memes, and how others analyses shouldn't influence your own subjective truths. While I obviously havent seen every Mgs2 analysis, a lot of this video, including my ultimate conclusion is a new take on this game as far as I know
Leadhead yours is good I don’t mean to be writing it off. I just found it funny that I had the sense of Deja Vu sort of like MGS2 and it’s mirrored narrative to one just with a twist at its structure:) I didn’t want to be negative in my last comment
No worries! It's the sort of game where you can read into a ton of the same elements in a bunch of different ways. That's why it's so fun to analyse!
I've considered myself an average MGS fan until recently while going through MGSV and peace walker, as well as watching through MGS2 and 1. 2's narrative and themes are great and I was aware of the commentary on gaming/the player. But this video takes it to the next level in terms of how the game is clearly aware 'you aren't snake'. Well done and i'll probably be watching more of your stuff
Thanks man, MGS2 is a good contender for my all time favorite game. It's one of the few things that I can talk about for this long, and still feel like I haven't said enough
I was 21 when this game came out. I loved how wild and exotic the information started getting at the end. The later Metal Gear Solid games felt dumbed down for the majority of people. I love Death Stranding, best graphics, the story was perfect & the end reveal with Cliff made my eyes water and then the Lou scene right after made me cry haha.
P.ost S.cript I loved your perspective on this game, your perspective is just as valid as anyone’s, your break down of the game gave even more depth. I just turned 40 and I didn’t remember much about the game other then knowing I really liked the crazy deep AI conversations at the end when Raiden was naked. Thx for making this video, I subbed.
It's clear a whole lot of work went into this. Your video here has opened my eyes to things I hadn't even considered about one of my favorite games of all time. I hadn't even realized there was such a strong relationship between the View Perspective and Raiden but it makes a whole lot of sense. A+ video you have here.
Man I love love love MGS2. It's amazing what they could do in the early ps2 and the story makes it simply one of the best art pieces of the 21st century.
How funny that MGS2 has connected me
To many different ideas, by breaking down the experience. Love the work dude. To be honest it was a very refreshing piece that has lead me to a number of understandings.
Once again thank you, and Kojima for making this possible. ✌️️
I dont agree that raidens somehow resisting player control during the defusing bomb stage, but its an interesting take
It certainly feels awkward moving first person into the nooks and crannies, going into bathrooms, etc.
My subjective feeling was very different though. Realistically, it would be incredibly dangerous and daring to risk your life defusing bombs hidden everywhere, so I felt important and heroic.
This is honestly one of the best MGS related videos I’ve ever watched. I watched countless MGS in depth analysis and reviews, this is one of a kind. It answers a lot of questions that I’ve keep asking myself about MGS2 (my favorite in the series) and always had a hard time finding it. Huge thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
"There is no truth, only interpretations"
-Friedrich Nietzsche
I love Metal Gear Solid 2 videos!
Mgs2 essays are like asmr to me. I even fall to sleep to them
Same here. Mgs2 was my all time favorite!
ww wifi I put them on to listen to when going to bed and fall asleep to them. I didn’t think anyone else did that too.
I have literally never seen anyone run through the ground level of the first screen of arsenal gear. The amount of times I have played MGS2 and I have always taken the stairs up towards the right.
Great video! This game is incredible, it blew me away age 13/14, freaked me out a bit when it said turn off the playstation and a car turned up outside at 4am. Good fun.
The message around echo chambers and a lack of cultural progression/advancement is true today, the latter notion analogous to the theory that genetic evolution in terms of survival of the fittest has stopped now.
This really did help shape a part of my personality.
Having said all that, I didn't remember or link the annoyance of Raiden when you go first person and his journey with and against the player, I didn't see the way the game was structured as the synergy grew between Raiden and the Player and couldn't work out why some of the walls etc had code.
Thank you for this video, amazing that an avid fan can learn new things about a 19 year old game from someone who holds it in the regard it deserves.
Another Great Video! MGS is my fav series of all time. Keep It up!
One of the finest deconstruction videos I've seen on this platform! I didn't want it to end, I was just hoping for it to keep going!
I know this video is 2 years old but this is so incredibly good. So much insight with such depth behind it this video amazes me.
I don't remember Raiden's controls changing during the Solidus fight. In fact, I'm 99% sure they're exactly the same as they've always been except that you use the Katana, which when equipped obviously behaves in a unique way as a weapon. But so do almost any weapon in MGS.
For instance, machine guns change your melee attack. The Nikita is a controllable missile. Knives and stun guns in MGS3 behave uniquely etc etc.
They still operate within the MGS control scheme though.
It's a huge stretch to say that the control scheme has changed entirely into a non MGS control scheme.
That's like saying any weapon introduced on top of other weapons, with unique functions somehow stray from the MGS control scheme.
This is without a doubt the most thought provoking, original, and in depth interpretation of MGS2 Ive ever heard - and ive heard them all. Amazing work Lead
When I see a Leadhead video about Metal Gear pop up in my feed, I get a drink and some snacks, lean back, and enjoy myself. Keep up the great work!
This is an epic reading on this game, some brilliant observations in there! I wondered where you were going with the whole 1st person/3rd person and thought you were reading too much into it but glad I'm glad I continued watching the point you make about the dog tags definitely won me over! :) Didn't know about that extra photo mode map in MGS1 either. And lololololol at 25:45 :O
My MGS analyses always ride a fine line between way over analyzing, and staying sane, and honestly I think that thats what makes the series artistic side so fun! Did you know that you can get Emma's parrot to say "You must be Ames" back to you if you spam it on him for long enough?
Hey, I just saw this video 2 years after you uploaded this.
your outro really hits home to me. As someone who only bought the PS2 for this game back in 2001, how i experienced and took away my own thoughts in this game are always criticized for not having the same conclusion as others. But I cherished it as it made me look at the world differently after that. Gosh, this game is the only game that made me get into reading about the world and understand our place as a species. I was 11 when I played this game. HAHAH.
Thank you. I will donate to your Patreon and hope your channel grows further.
Your outro was great. I’ve seen many different analysis on the metal gear series and every single one gives me an new POV. It’s amazing to show how people can make connections in many diff ways
This is a wonderfully thorough analysis of MGS2 and the subjective themes and lessons that truly embody the entire experience of life itself. Thank you for putting so much time into this video. I greatly, greatly enjoyed it.
Thanks! MGS2 has to be the most fun game to talk about. I mean, it's the game where the funny anime man does naked cartwheels, and fights the ex president on top of liberty hall, yet it also managed to shake my entire perception of art. Oh Kojima
This game needs to be remade for the new generation of players to see how far we've come as people with the idea of escapism. To generate our own thoughts and feelings and pass those on. Not what someone else tells us to think or feel. This game just gets more and more important as time goes in with the state of the world we live in now. It's amazing to see and terrifying at the same time. But I'm glad more and more people are seeing the impact gaming and story telling can have as much music and movies do.
Dude, this is by far the greatest analysis of any metal gear. I love the series, but never has my perception had such depth as yours. Thank you
Don’t ever disrespect steak like that again. This analysis has the same problem that MGS4 had, too much love
@@8ball279what?
Damn... this was very deep... Your analysis seems to be on the same plane of thought that many of Mei Ling’s wise quotes from MGS1 come from. This has helped me see MGS2 in an entirely new light, for the better. Thank you!
I didn't even know there was a PC port for MGS2.
You're one of the lucky ones then. It's better than nothing, but even with a fan patch it's a mess
Weird, I get all sorts of visual glitches. Might've noticed the commandant's speech only had bright green on the projectors
@@Leadhead that issue has finally been fixed in the latest update. about a week ago.
Oh wow I never would've expected that. I'll have to update next time I need footage. Thanks for the info!
Man I played this game when I was 12, far too young to recognize any of this. Now that I understand postmodernism I really gotta play this game again. Appreciate it in all new ways
Your videos, especially the ones about MetalGearSolid, made me thinking. While the concept of subjective truth seems logical and I have no doubt about it, it also feels natural for me to seek an actual common truth. I wrote on another video, how MetalGearSolid might even be my most favorite game series. But no matter how hard I tried to decipher the story, everything that's happening, no matter how I enjoyed the gameplay and the soundtrack.... I never thought of it as philosophical art.
I really enjoy your videos. Even though I feel like much of it sounds far fetched and over-thought, I barely got a glimpse of how those games contain more than meets the eye. Something I won't ever grasp entirely. Maybe because it's not meant to be grasped.
Raiden still has the broken handcuffs on when he hugs Rose at the very end. When be brings his hands together to touch her face, it makes the handcuffs look like they're fixed. Maybe the point is that even though he knows she was fed to him as a lie, he's still attached to her, still wants to be with the real woman behind the illusion he loves - but only because of his love for the illusion. He's dispensed with his Solid Snake delusion, but he's still handcuffed to his Rose delusion.
Damn, how do the graphics hold up so well? I mean yeah, it's low-poly, but the visuals have aged decently, when compared to something like bioshock. Damn.
I dont know if its still up. But you could get mgs3 and mgs2 on xbox game pass. I honestly thought they had improved the graphics slightly. But they hadnt. So yea honestly both of them have graphically held up very well.
Your videos of MGS1 and 2 have made me appreciate the games so much more than before. Thank you, and great work on your channel
Knew I shoulda played this game more. I only played it maybe twice, back when it came out. I really liked it, but the first half was rough.
This video totally clarified so many more things for me.
It's a very compelling perspective you've given me.
This video is fucking amazing man cheers 🥂 definitely my favorite take on this game just makes this amazing piece of art all the more amazing... the way it’s aged is beyond beautiful I can’t wait to play it again 10 years from now and see what it says about us as humans
Now this video, this video is truly a work of art. I never really understood metal gear solid 2, but after the ending of this video I finally understand, and more, its a real philosophy. Great video Man ! Really thank you
I think this is the first vid of yours I've seen, and it's really well made. Had to FF the beginning a bit because you over explained a very simple concept, but everything else was very entertaining!
Thank you for the post. The perspective on camera and PoV was particularly interesting.
Thanks man! That's Kojima for you, it's such a clever way to look at the relation between player and character. How much can we really feel like somebody if we're constantly popping in and out of their head?
Well a big part of why I do videos like this is simply because it's fun to over analyse, for me at least. However, with Kojima I think that no stone should be left unturned.
bro im disappointed in myself that i'm discovering this video now. I already came into this video knowing the greatness of this games story and you enlightened me on many thoughts i never considered. Yet again this game seems more relevant to not only the events going on in the world but in my life this very second. Thank you, outstanding video. You got a sub my friend.
Amazing analyzation I never get tired of learning new things about this game as well as people’s perspective of it. Kojima is an absolute genius.
I know a lot of folks have commented on it but dude the theories put forward about playing as Raiden and our relationship to him- can't say I agree with every point, but a lot of it hits home.
I was, literally, 7, 8 years old when I played this game. So, of course, i didn't fully understand things, and until I played the games again on PS3, I didn't really start analyzing it until the, let's just say, the last half of the last decade.
But the beats of slowly coming around to Raiden, and when, was almost exactly how I felt.
I won't go on too long, but dude, fantastic video- I've seen a lot of analysis videos of this game, and man, you need more views. I haven't seen a take quite like this before, I love it.
This game is a damn masterpieces. It always was.
#MGS2Hipster
I share your passion for MGS2 as an artwork. I've loved this game since I was 10 years old. I'm 21 now and having just replayed it. I cried during the final scene of the game, this time things just hit like a ton of bricks. I always liked it before, but I never understood the importance of it or asked myself how it applied to me. I've never felt like a valid person, I always felt the impression I left on others was that im an idiot and my thoughts just dont come out quite right. That I just don't matter. Always I've loved roleplaying and characters in fiction, because for that moment I could pretend that i was someone else. That lack of a self tore me apart and caused me to fall into an extreme depression and I've only recently gotten on antidepressants and taken steps towards pulling my life together. Solid Snake was always my favorite character in any game I've ever olayed and thats double now. His words to Raiden and arguably to the player, literally helped me understand all of this. Believing and sharing and experiencing life is so so much more important than being right. You don't have to be something for anyone. All of us must only remain true and loyal to our own beliefs, and in doing so, we become our true selves. Thank you Snake, Kojima, and Leadhead. Count yourselves all as having saved a life. I'm off to find what I believe in and find it for myself
I love your viewpoint on this game and one thing to note about that ending. I have a tinfoil hat theory as to why snake suddenly "appears" to Raiden at that time. I believe Raiden was still having a reality breakdown in his mind and he started to have an illusion of snake. His conversation with him was like a deep psychological philosophy debate going through his head and when he finally comes to, snake is gone and Rose is there. He finally woke up and see his reality. Not the player's, not snake's, but his own perspective.
27:56 OH DAAAAMN! That speech with the video playing is a nice double meaning
The comparison of Fortune to Vulcan Raven was great, and something that wasn't mention is that just like MGS1, There are fights with each boss, twice in their games.
You fight Raven twice in MGS1. In MGS2 you fight Fortune - but then SNAKE gets to fight her @ Big Shell for the 'second' encounter.
Crazy thought. If you notice in the hangar deck section of the snake portion of metal gear, the cameramen are dressed exactly like snake is in the plant chapter. Perhaps the real way snake got photos of rex was by disquising himself as a cameraman marine, which when shown to Raiden was the first clue that the virus had been implemented.
You’ve done a great service to all the critics who failed to approach this game critically.. and for those who have, this only expands understanding and opens new vistas of metal gear contemplation.. I salute you soldier
I will say, I personally think the Tengu fight sort of mirrors the fight with the Stealth Camo Soldiers in the elevator, but as a result of the "simulation breaking down," there are many more soldiers and none of them are invisible as they were probably "supposed to be."
Man! Thank you for making this video! So pure in heart and eye-opening! Thanks Leadhead
This is ironically the second metal gear vid I’ve seen from you and I just have to say I love how artsy they feel
I swear, with each Metal Gear Solid 2 analysis video I find, I'm learning more new things about the game. Especially different interpretations, like that part about the Marine Commander's speech and Raiden's relationship to the player.
One of the main things I hoped to do with this video was say something that nobody had heard before about mgs2. Thanks :)
This video needs more attention from the community, great job
Very very interesting interpretations. Many game analyses talk about player agency, but I'm not sure I've heard arguments for the player character's agency counter to the player's before. The first person vs third person struggle I feel is a bit of a stretch, I don't agree that's in any way inferred in the game, but I see where you're coming from.
Beautiful video about possibly the best game of all time, almost made me cry.
Just one question, I realize how seemingly this goes against your personal conclusion about the point of MGS, but don't take this the wrong way, I don't want to try and invalidate your analysis, but rather share my own or start a discussion, there was always an aspect of these themes in MGS 2, which brought a sense of dread and insecurity, it talks about subjective truths and how we need to uphold them but also questions what are the laws that let us arrive at those thruths, like when the GW says to Jack something like "is that what you think, or is it just something Snake told you", really made me think and then the end of the game is just Snake telling you stuff! Then there's the reality braking stuff like "infinite ammo", ruminating on the fact this is a game and therefore Raiden doesn't have free will, only what we do to him, but at the same time, we are at the whims of the developer. And what's funny some of these ideas never occured to me first time playing the game, but rather after seeing analysis like those of Super Bunnyhop and Max Derrat, so that kind of ties into that too somehow, really fascinating stuff...
It's so sad to see so much work and passion go unnoticed , thank you Leadhead for an amazing video and for your views , Please do more , and hopefully people will appreciate ur essays and takes on things more . Keep it up , Thank you again.
Thank *you*. It's been a wild ride so far, but I'm just getting started. Rest assured, I don't plan on stopping for a long, long time
35:34 I think the tengu fight is a perfect opposite to the stairwell in mgs1. Where as your running and escaping as snake spamming stun grenades. Here your holding your ground and fighting your way out. Also both are right after the torture scene.
Great video!
Wow! Didn’t know you could somersault over that gap! I always just shimmied along the broken railing and dropped down onto the bird poop pipe
Edit 1:
I wonder if there is an additional significance in the segment you pointed out where Riden is at the center of that triangular shape given that previously Naomi and Mei Ling had appeared at the center of one and that Riden is also regularly perceived as feminine
Edit 2:
I started playing VR Missions for the first time the other night and am recognizing a lot of things from having played mgs2. The theme song is the same... playable ninja... I wonder if the ninja controls are the same
Now that i think about it with your perspective. Did we ever get to really play as the real snake? Meanwhile everyone got so mad about venom snake. But his whole point was the full circle of the player made snake. You are snake. We are snake. And the ideal snake that we all wanted to play as in mgs2 and v doesn’t exist because its the ideal version of us that is fundamentally unobtainable to keep us reaching for new heights
Thank you for sharing what you took from MGS2 with us.
Watching this for the 3rd or 4th time & I just had this thought:
The Tengu fight is an inverse of the mini boss fight with Meryl (after the DARPA chief dies). In MGS1, you're the veteran fighter and Meryl is the rookie. In MGS2, you're the rookie (but Snake is still the veteran). The enemies are (supposedly) advanced & enhanced in ways you are not. They come in waves but you and your partner work together to take them down.
Sorry if someone else has already come up with this, but if they haven't, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it. :) Great video!
Oh, and it comes at the end of the game instead of the beginning! Which makes the rookie/veteran dynamic even more interesting, because even if it's your first MGS game, you're not a rookie by that point. (Except ...you are, because you have a brand new weapon. Layers!)
The works have their own message in mind. It is alive, and it speaks the language of your self. Time is holographic and reflective, experience is made of implications. True to form we see it happening backward where we interpret an artist to be the creator and the medium to be the tool.
Just reassuring hermano. I can see. No need to inform you.
This video was perfect, it is a high quality and i hope you keep doing that.
Actual and video! I enjoyed every single minute in agree with you throughout everything
These videos make me wish I grew up playing Metal Gear games. I missed out on a whole ton. Sure, I can still go back and play them, and I might, but especially for MGS1 you can't recapture that experience on modern consoles
same here. i started playing through the games last year when the pandemic started and while i'm glad im playing through them at all i cant help but kick myself in the pants because i neglected to play them for so long
How do know that Raiden hates the Player using First Person View? I thought that Raiden was made to make a connection with the Player in the game.
15:50- I already knew about that.
22:30- Actually you only need to destroy one on Very Easy while just "Easy", you only need to destroy six.
27:25-27:30- Of you'd know which door to go, Otacon tells you!
35:01- I thought it parallels the Weapon Mode Level 4 with the PSG1.
On Normal you need to destroy 6, on easy you need to destroy 4 of 'em I think.
@@zlodrim9284 Oh. Right.
For future reference, it's not a somersault it's an aerial. A cart wheel with no hands
Now, befor I even watch the whole thing, I need to comment on the description of the video.
There supposedly never will be a 100% objectively right analysis of this game... That's both a nonsensical statement but probably correct.
Objectivism or rather objective analysis is disconnected from subjectivity. Looking at the game with no personal opinion and just analysing its quality, in writing, game play, technical function and so on.
The matter with art tho is the fact its supposed to be looked at subjectively. It's supposed to make us feel things and focus on these feelings, wich then Form our opinion of the art piece.
As a mechanical game, we can objectively critizise MGS or any game. As an art piece tho, we can't. It is both, and we will always make these connections somehow...
But objective truth exists, just like subjective truth does. And denial or ignorance of that will ruin us all in the long run.
After having watched the video, I am happy to see that the creator looked at the game as a piece of art, and discussed what he believed the game was possibly trying to tell us. This was a subjective analysis and it's a good one. While there is objective criticism to be made to improve the video essay quality, but the opinion is an interesting one and a neat perspective that I believe can be valued.
This is the great thing about art and especially the electronic art media. It is defisive, different, can be looked at from many different angles. Something we as people can discuss for years, evidently.
Incredible stuff, mate.
What a fascinating interpretation. Kojima san is one of the most pronounced introverted intuitive artists of our age.
Raiden about Rose: It's still real to me DAMMIT!!!
But in all seriousness, great video man, the whole point about the viewpoints is something I never even thought about but makes total sense with how you put it.
@SuperBunnyHop
One of the best analysis of metal gear I’ve watched🙌🏾 crazy how I keep seeing and learning new things from this game, the depth of this game is crazy.
18:55 wow I always ran to the stairs for that part never knew you can dodge it that way too
"There are too many things that aren't written into our DNA. It's up to us to teach that to our children. What kind of things? About the environment, our ideas, our culture, poetry, compassion, sorrow... joy..." All of MGS3 and The Boss' struggle to show Jack loyalty to the end is foreshadowed here.
i've listened to this vid far more than i like to admit
congrats man if anything you helped keeping my brain stimulated and got me thinking about an action game on the ps2 more deeply thus enhanced my experience
thanks man i thoroughly enjoyed it
Subscribed. What a fantastic and thought provoking video
We never even got to see the Shell 2 Struts :(
I really wish we could play as Snake and see those Struts G, H, I, J, and K along with the rest of L and the unflooded Shell 2 Core :(
Snake also gets to fight Olga and Ocelot while in Shell 2 and then Fortune over in Arsenal. Who wouldn’t want to experience that through a DLC content for the MGS2 HD collection?
This game was ahead of its time.
By far the best MGS2 Analysis with the one made by @CriticalNobody
Imo Raiden shooting Fortune was kinda badass
Long MGS2 videos is my drug
After all these years it is still refreshing to see someone interpret the game differently. Nice job!
I always thought that Fortune and Octopus felt similar. Since they're non-fight bosses.
Yo Lead,
besides the other games you mentioned, what some other games that have inspired analysis? MGS and Shadow of the Colossus are the two that come to mind for me. Any movies or anime?
Cheers.
Well, some of the big ones would be Silent Hill 2, The Stanley Parable, Bioshock, the last guardian, Ico, and death stranding, but I've got a whole lot of videos, all of which cover games that I absolutely love.
As far as movies, you've got the classics: Eraserhead, Stanley Kubrick films, a couple of Tarantino's and Scorsese's, I'm not really familiar with anime though
@@Leadhead awesome Lead, look forward to more of you're unorthodox interpretations in the future. May your videos grow and all inspire us to overthink just a little bit more.
@@Leadhead if you want a fun film/anime to analyze, Angel's Egg is my all time favourite animated film and interpreting it is most of the experience (and makes it highly rewatchable). Different people get very different things from it, and sometimes that changes between viewings. Also has gorgeous animation and generally appealing visuals.
I just recompleted Mgs2 and decided to watch this, it hits so hard.
Id also like to apologise about my comment on your max payne video, i dont agree with that one but if you feel its true then its cool.
I liked using the BDU even after ocelot took the balaclava
Raiden mentions sorrow and joy at the end of this video
This seriously needs more views
53:05 my left ear was having a great time
Great video dude, but at 12 minutes you say, Raiden missed when he shot at Fortune. But that is not what happend.
Her little gizmo thingy, is the reason, the bullet hit Vamp.
Just wanted to point that out.
Keep up the good work ;)
This is an utterly superb analysis 👌 really enjoying this. 👍
Can we get a 4K re-releases of these games or just have them redone for PC / Console!
Such a rich interpretation and analysis. Thank you!
Great video man! Keep it up!