Following just one year on from the PlayStation 2 release of Hideo Kojima's super-sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PC is an expanded version of a game that is fundamentally the same as its console counterpart.

The unchanged plot in the main game sees Solid Snake make way for his expectedly unpopular foes. Revolver Ocelot makes welcome return, as do several new foes including Vampire and Metal Gear REX successor, Metal Gear RAY. Expect plot twists and deceptions aplenty as Snake d ... more >>

Following just one year on from the PlayStation 2 release of Hideo Kojima's super-sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance for PC is an expanded version of a game that is fundamentally the same as its console counterpart.

The unchanged plot in the main game sees Solid Snake make way for his expectedly unpopular foes. Revolver Ocelot makes welcome return, as do several new foes including Vampire and Metal Gear REX successor, Metal Gear RAY. Expect plot twists and deceptions aplenty as Snake discovers there's more than meets the eye in his latest stealth-em-up venture.

The main game, which lasts around fifteen hours, has players not just sneaking around military buildings and taking down enemy forces, but listening to and watching lengthy cut-scenes. Character development is important to Kojima and his team, and the end result emphasises that. And to bring a little replay value and add a little extra challenge, there is a sub-quest in which you must coerce enemy troops into giving you their dog tags. This is generally accomplished by pointing a gun in their face or towards other valued parts of the body... great fun.

In addition to this 'adventure mode', and what gives Substance its, erm, substance, are over 350 VR Missions - a truly staggering amount. These come together to form what is essentially the most complete training mode ever seen in a videogame. Broken down into the elements of MGS gameplay - sneaking, weapons use, using the first-person mode and so-on - VR Missions are set in a virtual reality suite at Solid Snake's HQ. If you're skilled enough to get through these, the main game will be a breeze.

Substance is without doubt the best release to be seen in the series since it debuted on the Famicom (NES) over a decade ago. << less