Time has been weird to MGS2, some parts at release being way more talked about, with now it having way different discussions, and I think I will have the same effect when I replay this years from now. But for what it is, its moreso a upgraded version of mgs1 to me, with a focus of memes (youve played mgs2, you know what I mean), instead of genes, slightly different location, larger stakes, Raiden instead of Snake, a lot of little things.
I find it odd that Kojima tredded so much old ground with MGS2 when you could say that MGS already tredded the same ground that the original Metal Gear walked through. Even if there is a story reason for all the parallels to MGS1, it was still disappointing, even if the controls are way better. With the tanker section strangely being the most original part of MGS2 and also the best part mechanically. The main set pieces, bosses, and story are similar but the parts connecting each do not. With the Big Shell (very funny name) feeling very different than Shadow Moses (even if its very uninteresting gameplay and visual design wise compared to Moses), Raiden feeling like he has more freedom to tackles sections with more tools and first person aiming. The game being way more fun to play than MGS1, and changing most of the gimmicky sections such as ascending the tower, and that one room with 30 cameras in it. But it's not solving all of its problems with the camera being especially close in to conform to the Big Shell causing more alerts than I like, and the large amount of backtracking (yes i know its intentional), and obsessive amount of cutscenes. I'm gonna play mgs3 and I hope it actually feels like a sequel.
Some Spoilers ahead
I know there was a lot of backlash about Raiden being the protagonist, but I feel like no-one has that reaction now. He's in Fortnite right next to Snake, and I like his character way more than Snake, especially in this game, he is just average cool guy here. And having a self insert for the actual player is very bold considering the gameplay and subject, with Raiden being pretty clueless about most things that needs to happen and constantly stating how he did VR missions and that's enough to go into battle (Especially used in the start of the game where they compare him to Snake a lot). Mimicking how people play video games and feel as though they too can just join the army and know how to do everything just because they played it. Even I felt that Raiden shouldn't have joined the mission with is perceived lack of experience, I like this guy.
I don't like most of the new characters though, thank god Kojima didn't make longass cutscenes explaining returning characters because he already gives so much time to useless characters. I did not need 30 minutes on Stillman and his relationship to Fatman and how he is the guy for bomb disposal, and now he faked his disability, and how he got bald. This goes for most of the Emily Emmerich, President, Vamp, and Fortune stuff too, somebody needs to keep Kojima in line.
I don't know how to describe this but the tone of this game is worse than MGS1. There are less moments of reflection, so moments feel less impactful, in MGS1, Im thinking about how after you defeat the bosses, especially the Hind D or Sniper Wolf, you're given these (somewhat ham fisted but effective) speeches and then hard cut from the cinematic cutscene music back to the cold, dark ambience of Shadow Moses, and you're alone again and given a slightly more quiet area to go through before moving on. In MGS2, EE dies and Otacon cries for a couple minutes confesses he had sex with her mother (???), and immediately Arsenal Gear is activated. This doesn't mean it's all bad, I especially like the moment searching for Ames, you're in a quiet room, and you have to switch from your disguise and can't move when searching for him, while trying to pay attention to the guard and listen for the rhythm of his pacemaker. The result for failure isn't much but it was extremely suspenseful. But there are only a few moments like this.
Thematically, mostly talking about the ending, is pretty interesting stuff next to Kojima being kinda pretentious. I feel like no one really talks about how the story, especially the end, was received at release (how was there no backlash, 9/11 was 2 months ago) and it mostly being people now saying how forthcoming it is and society is this really fr. But I don't think I really says much different with it's main theme from MGS1 but with memes. Gov wants to control memes, poeple dont want gov to control memes, memes makes us who we are but we shouldn't be tied to them, memes can be good and bad, I want to rewrite my memes. I weirdly thought about some stuff like this randomly a few months ago so maybe why it doesn't hit as hard, but for me, memes are kinda scary in how much control they allow you to give to other human beings, children, your own children, they are morphed by the memes and genes of your parents, and while I dont think your genes define you at all (wtf is your problem otacon), parents' memes control a child in a totally different way and freedom a parent has to morph their own child, and the control they can have when they unintentionally harm them or teach them damaging ideals formed by the parents is terrifying. do you trust or should millions of parents not to just put their memes, the good and the damaging, into their children and to let them have the freedom to take their own memes, look at their own interests? Do you trust the child to not look into more damaging memes than ones controlled by another? Is it fully bad if the gov wants to control the internet and memes to not let society turn back on itself? is nazism a meme? MGS2 can illude to some of these ideas that makes memes a more interesting subject to me, but just looks like the surface level after Kojima read a book on the subject. But everything before that having an AI slant for a game released in 2001 is, yeah, its forthcoming I guess. And using ideas of fake news isn't new, but it feels more present way after the game has released. I don't think Kojima is a prophet or anything but its cool how MGS2 is more relevant.
The way Kojima forces his themes all at the end is annoying, where he doesn't even try to make it feel like hes having a conversation, and is just telling the player what he thinks, but I guess it kinda works with the 4th wall stuff he likes to do, and this falling into that, but I think that's being chartable. He does use the theme to good effect in the game, with Big Boss and Snake being connected by their genes and Raiden and Solidius (oohhh he looks like big boss) being connected with memes, with them both being soldiers because of their (god)parents but for different reasons, yay more parallels to MGS1. And how the patriots is described like a primordial soup, but being formed by the ideas of America and its ideals.
Sorry if this isn't readable and very disorganized, but I had a lot of thoughts.
Anyway cool game better than 1 but also the same, but also cool themes, but still also the same?

The game was played on legal copy bought on GOG, before delisting. I used V's Fix, because the game doesn't support modern controllers and resolutions.
The gameplay is inproved MGS1 gameplay with new First-Person View aiming feature. Both main characters play almost identically. The stealth system is much more ruthless. Guards can see much further, though they still notice you only in their "cone" of sight, and alert is provoked only after the guard requests backup on the radio. The story is much more confusing, than the story of MGS1, but everything is explained in late game. The bosses are fun, but on higher difficulties, they are unfair. After Playing MGS3, I can say, that MGS2 is the hardest game in the series.
Still, I think that this game is necessary to play through, if you have completed MGS1.

An incredible work on how the democratization of information, can also mean that, through the same means we can make it accessible, we can also share disinformation. Through media, it is possible, for those with money and power, to control the public opinion, regarding any topic, even politics.

The gameplay is a huge improvement from the first game, and the boss fights are now hard, but rewarding, no longer feeling like you're being punished for even the slightest mistakes, that are sometimes, not even your fault. The caracters are engaging, and Raiden fits very well into the memes and themes of the series. A masterpiece all around, a must play.

Simply fantastic. The leap between the PS1 and the PS2 is always baffling to me. In my opinon MGS2 is better than it's predecessor in almost every way - the graphics are breathtaking for 2001, if I saw that rain back then my head would explode. The gameplay - the most important aspect - is TIGHT. MGS2 gives you so many more options, so much more freedom, everything feels so responsive and smooth, in no small part thanks to the 60 fps, and you finally get to engane in Tactical Espionage Action, with it taking center stage instead of the bosses this time around. A good call in my opinion. The combat is also much better though, with the addition of new weapons and first-person aiming.

I have already touched on presentation before, but let me emphasize - the jump from 1 to 2 is astonishing, not only graphically but also in terms of cutscene direction, animation and basically everything surrounding it, including music and voice acting.

While I appreciate the simplicity of MGS1's story, I must say I enjoyed 2's way more. Without getting into details - it's a fantastic conspiracy plot that surprised me and kept me intrigued throughout, asking difficult questions and leaving me off with a beautiful, if a bit obvious, message from Kojima. Also, Raiden really grew on me during the course of the story. I like him.
Although I did get a bit annoyed at all the cutscenes at a certain point. Felt like a damn movie sometimes.

The one thing that MGS1 did better was the atmosphere. Shadow Moses was such a fantastic setting and comparing the Shell to it feels almost unfair.

Here I am, thinking that MGS was a wacky game with its narrative but Konami stepped up their game with MGS 2, even though both stories share a lot of similarities. This one was a plot twist generator(it becomes a bit ridiculous tho) with a lot of surreal moments. At some point, when you're in Arsenal Gear, the game feels like a sci-fi horror with the codec calls. It was trippy as hell and I really liked it.

When it comes the idea of Patriots, I guess Kojima borrowed some ideas from The Matrix and Brave New World. Especially their philosophy reminded me the system of Brave New World. Creating an absolute autonomy on people's lives and eradicating the free will for the sake of consistent coexistence of humankind. It is the same dilemma with the book. Really interesting stuff indeed.

Not only the story, gameplay quality elevates quite a bit. Including new mechanics like lunging forward, hanging down and climbing makes the experience more nuanced. And obviously the biggest change is, being able to shoot in first person view. That is definitely a game changer feature.

The only thing that is lacking compared to the prequel is the map design, both aesthetically and functionally. Big Shell feels bland and soulless compared to Shadow Moses. Even the first ship section with Snake is more memorable that Big Shell. Also, I'm not super fond of the bosses in this game for some reason. Even though they are more comfortable to fight against mechanically, they felt lacking in personality compared to the cast of the prequel. There is no guy like Psycho Mantis in this one.

In short, I think this game is a definite upgrade of MGS with its creative story, polished mechanics and again, crazy amount of unique character interactions and details. My favorite section was taking the photos of Metal Gear. There are a lot of goofy pictures you can take and surprise Otacon.

Let's see if the third game is able to put even more unique stuff to the table since everyone goes nuts over it. I'm looking forward to it.

PS: I kinda respect Solidus, I would consider joining him if I was Raiden lol. It would be choosing the lesser evil.