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Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

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Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
North American cover.
North American PlayStation 2 cover.
Developer(s) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (West)
Publisher(s) Konami
Designer(s) Hideo Kojima (director, producer)
Writer(s) Hideo Kojima
Artist(s) Yoji Shinkawa
Composer(s) Harry Gregson-Williams
Norihiko Hibino
Rika Muranaka
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s) NA November 5, 2002
JP December 19, 2002
EU March 28, 2003
Genre(s) Stealth action
Mode(s) Single-player
Rating(s) BBFC: 15
CERO: 15+
ESRB: B
OFLC: R16
Media DVD
Input methods Gamepad, keyboard, mouse

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is a multi-platform updated version of the original Metal Gear Solid 2 released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows. The game contains the main Sons of Liberty game with some subtle alterations, including new infrared effects for the thermal goggles, additional cutscenes, and a new set of dog tags, as well as the inclusion of Boss Survival and Casting Theater modes that were missing in the North American version of the original game. The Substance subtitle was inspired by Hideo Kojima's love of the bands Joy Division and New Order, both bands sharing members and releasing singles compilations titled "Substance."

Contents

[edit] Overview

The main addition of Substance is the inclusion of nearly 500 stand-alone missions (similar to those from VR Missions/Special Missions) with 300 missions set in a VR environment (including a set of missions played for a first person view) and 200 "Alternative Missions" (including bomb disposal missions) that take places in areas from the main game. In Missions mode, the player can choose between Solid Snake and Raiden, as well as five alternate versions of both (such as Raiden in the Cyborg Ninja exoskeleton or Snake in his original sneaking suit from Metal Gear Solid). Substance also includes five plot-based Snake Tales missions starring Solid Snake. Due to the low production value of these missions, there is no spoken dialogue (plots are narrated through on-screen text displayed at key points) and all of the enemies and areas are from the main game (the majority taking place in the Big Shell). Exclusive to the PS2 version is the inclusion of a bonus skateboarding mode, based on the Evolution Skateboarding engine and featuring Snake and Raiden on the Big Shell.

Many changes were added to the main game. The intro of Substance now has a type writer sound when a name is appearing on the main intro. These sounds were not in Sons of Liberty. A new series of dog tags (2002) have been put in the game and the player has the option to choose between the 2001 and the 2002 series dog tags after they beat the game. Some Marines now have dog tags to collect when the player is in the holds (note this is only in the 2002 series dog tags). Snake can get a silencer for his USP on a second playthrough. Snake's bandana is not the only thing that stays visible when stealth in activated, the ammo packs on his chest are visible now even with stealth. New and different posters are seen through out the game. The Nikita has been moved to a new location. In the Tanker chapter, the number of bombs the player must deactivate to get in to the holds depends on the diffculty setting. The player can choose the two different chapters before even playing the game. The Thermal Goggles have been improved and remade to give a more realistic impression of heat. Sunglasses can be seen on the player on the third playthrough (this is not an item that can be taken off and on, and will stay on the player for the rest of the playthrough).

Substance was originally released as an Xbox timed-exclusive in North America on November 5, 2002. The PS2 version was held back until March 2003 and released alongside the PC version. All three versions of the game were released almost simultaneously in Europe, the PS2 version being bundled with The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 to make up for a substantial delay in its release. Substance was released in Japan on December 19, 2002 for the PS2 only. The Xbox version is not compatible with the Xbox 360.

[edit] Missions

These objective-based missions are divided up into alternative missions where the action takes place in the environments from the game and VR training.

The different mission modes are as follows:

  • Photo Mode - The player must take a photo using the Camera to complete the stage.
  • Bomb Disposal mode - Similar to an objective in the main game, the player must disarm bombs on the stage using Coolant spray.
  • Weapon mode - Standard VR mission consisting of weapons training.
  • Sneaking mode - Standard VR mission consisting of sneaking training.
  • Eliminate all - Missions themed where the player must kill, tranquilize, or knockout all of the guards in the area before moving on.
  • Holdup mode - The player must hold up all of the guards before they can proceed.
  • Variety mode - These missions can vary from eliminating all of the enemies on the stage while in the dark with limited ammo, to protecting a bowl of curry from incoming guards using a PSG-1.

[edit] Snake Tales

Main article: Snake Tales

Due to many fans dislike of Raiden as the main character of Metal Gear Solid 2, a series of stories were created involving Snake in the Big Shell environments, named Snake Tales. The missions are described using screens of text instead of the usual Codec, as no voiceovers were recorded for these missions.

[edit] Boss Survival

The player must fight all the bosses from the main game in sequence as either Snake or Raiden.

[edit] Skateboarding

In the North American version of Substance, a demo of sorts was released for Evolution Skateboarding, an upcoming Konami skateboarding game. The player can choose from either Snake or Raiden, and the player can skateboard around Big Shell strut environments completing different objectives, such as grinding on rails, doing tricks, and destroying enemy Cyphers.

The Skateboarding minigame was only included exclusively on the PS2 version. Xbox and PC users were left out, even though the Xbox version was the first to be released.

[edit] Casting Theater

This is a mode that allows the player to select cutscenes from the main game and select different character models for each of the roles. Included in the models the player can choose, besides the main cast of characters, are MGS1 Snake, Tuxedo Snake, and 1998 Snake and Ocelot.

[edit] Gallery

North American Xbox cover

North American PC cover

[edit] See also

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