minor spoilers ahead
i've always despised the reputation of this game, many people call it a 'predictive masterpiece" and similar other things when it's quite far from the truth, everything related to MEMES in this game is stuff that was already familiar to many people by the time this game released, and many other games came out before it and tackled similar postmodernism themes (The Silver Case, Deus Ex, etc).
what IS impressive however is HOW this game executes its themes, and i think it's one of the most fascinating things ever. it fully takes advantage of its medium and its role as a sequel and delivers powerful scenes and plotpoints that would never really work in any other game.
with that being said, these aren't really my reasons for loving this game as much as i do. it's fascinating stuff for sure but what made me really adore this game so much is the identity aspect of the game.
games about identity are always fascinating to me and appeal to my brain as a trans person, they can be healing and validating, and it's done so brilliantly here with Raiden, the ending was probably the hardest i ever sobbed at anything ever and Raiden getting such a happy ending after EVERYTHING that happened in his life and during the game is beautiful as fuck and makes for one of the most powerful stories i've ever seen.
Metal Gear Solid 2 is a game about many things, a lot of people to this day keep misinterpreting it by calling the patriots right, and it also hurts that that's all what people talk about whenever someone mentions the game and never mention the identity stuff ever. but it's also understandable that not that many people would care about it so it's whatever.
so what am i trying to say from all of this? well mainly i just hope people would stop saying "oh my god this game predicted social media" whenever it comes up for discussion and appreciate what it's actually trying to say, because it's really not that at all.
i've always despised the reputation of this game, many people call it a 'predictive masterpiece" and similar other things when it's quite far from the truth, everything related to MEMES in this game is stuff that was already familiar to many people by the time this game released, and many other games came out before it and tackled similar postmodernism themes (The Silver Case, Deus Ex, etc).
what IS impressive however is HOW this game executes its themes, and i think it's one of the most fascinating things ever. it fully takes advantage of its medium and its role as a sequel and delivers powerful scenes and plotpoints that would never really work in any other game.
with that being said, these aren't really my reasons for loving this game as much as i do. it's fascinating stuff for sure but what made me really adore this game so much is the identity aspect of the game.
games about identity are always fascinating to me and appeal to my brain as a trans person, they can be healing and validating, and it's done so brilliantly here with Raiden, the ending was probably the hardest i ever sobbed at anything ever and Raiden getting such a happy ending after EVERYTHING that happened in his life and during the game is beautiful as fuck and makes for one of the most powerful stories i've ever seen.
Metal Gear Solid 2 is a game about many things, a lot of people to this day keep misinterpreting it by calling the patriots right, and it also hurts that that's all what people talk about whenever someone mentions the game and never mention the identity stuff ever. but it's also understandable that not that many people would care about it so it's whatever.
so what am i trying to say from all of this? well mainly i just hope people would stop saying "oh my god this game predicted social media" whenever it comes up for discussion and appreciate what it's actually trying to say, because it's really not that at all.