View source for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

{{short description|1990 stealth action game}}
{{Redirect|Metal Gear 2|the 2001 video game|Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty|the NES game released in 1990|Snake's Revenge|}}
{{Infobox video game
| title      = Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
| image      = Metal Gear 2 Boxart.JPG
| caption    = Packaging illustration by Yoshiyuki Takani
| developer  = [[Konami]]
| publisher  = Konami
| designer   = [[Hideo Kojima]]
| artist     = {{ubl|Shuko Fukui|Tomohiro Nishio|Tae Yabu|Yoshihiko Ota}}
| programmer = {{ubl|Isao Akada|Toshinari Oka|Hiroyuki Fukui}}
| writer     = Hideo Kojima
| composer   = {{ubl|Masahiro Ikariko|Mutsuhiko Izumi|Yuko Kurahashi|Tomoya Tomita|Kazuhiko Uehara|[[Yuji Takenouchi]]|[[Tsuyoshi Sekito]]}}
| series     = ''[[Metal Gear]]''
| platforms  = {{ubl|[[MSX2]]|[[Mobile phone]]{{efn|Available via [[i-mode]], [[EZweb]] and [[Vodafone]]}}}}
| released   = '''MSX2'''{{Video game release|JP|July 20, 1990<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=MSX Magazine|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]]|issue=1990–08|pages=25–26|url=https://archive.org/details/MSX_Magazine_1990-08_ASCII_JP/page/n23/mode/2up|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>}}'''Mobile phone'''{{Video game release|JP|October 1, 2004}}
| genre      = [[Action-adventure]], [[Stealth game|stealth]]
| modes      = [[Single-player]]
}}

'''''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'''''{{efn|{{nihongo|'''''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'''''|メタルギア２　ソリッドスネーク|Metarugia Tsū: Soriddosunēku|lead=yes}}. Some Japanese publications, such as ''MSX Magazine'' and ''MSX FAN'', as well as the spine for the [[soundtrack album]], uses ''Solid Snake'' over ''Metal Gear 2'' as the main title, listing it as ソリッドスネーク　メタルギア2 or simply ソリッドスネーク.}} is a 1990 [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[stealth game]]{{efn|Marketed as a "Tactical Espionage Game".<ref name=mg2msxfrontbox>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|developer=Konami|platform=MSX2|level=Front packaging}}</ref>}} developed and published by [[Konami]] for the [[MSX2]]. It serves as a sequel to the MSX2 version of the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'', written and designed by series's creator [[Hideo Kojima]], who conceived the game in response to ''[[Snake's Revenge]]'', a separately-produced sequel that was being developed at the time for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] specifically for the [[North America]]n and [[Europe]]an markets. The MSX2 version of ''Solid Snake'' was only released in Japan, although Kojima would later direct another sequel titled ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]'', which was released worldwide for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] in 1998 to critical acclaim. This later led to ''Solid Snake'' being re-released alongside the original ''Metal Gear'' as additional content in the ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence|Subsistence]]'' version of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]] in 2006 with a full English translation and other revisions. The game has since been re-released as additional content for the ''[[Metal Gear Solid HD Collection|HD Edition]]'' re-release of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' for the [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation Vita]], as well as part of the [[Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection|Master Collection]] edition of the original ''Metal Gear Solid'' for the [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox Series X/S]], [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] (via [[Steam (service)|Steam]]).

Set in 1999, a few years after the events of the original game,{{efn|The in-game dialogue establishes that events in the original game occurred three years before,<ref name=madnar_en>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|developer=Konami|platform=MSX2/PS2|quote='''Dr. Madnar''': "そう・・・METAL GEARじゃよ。SNAKE。あるのじゃ、あれが・・・ここに。 あたらしいMETAL GEARはすでにカンセイしておる。3年前、あんたがハカイしたのはたんなるシサクヒン・・・ [Yes... Metal Gear. Snake, it is here... In Zanzibar Land.  They've already completed a new Metal Gear. The one you destroyed three years ago was only a prototype...]}}</ref><ref name=kasler_en>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|developer=Konami|platform=MSX2/PS2|quote='''Kasler''': "3年前のOUTER HEAVENカンラクでかれはヒン死のジュウショウをおった [Three years ago, when Outer Heaven fell, Big Boss was seriously wounded.]}}</ref><ref name=snake_en>{{cite video game|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake|developer=Konami|platform=MSX2/PS2|quote='''Snake''': "オレは3年間とりついているアクムをはらいにきた。 [I came to get rid of the nightmares I've been having for the past three years.]"}}</ref> but portions of the manual places the events of the "Outer Heaven dispute" to 1995 (four years prior).<ref name=1995date>{{cite book|title=Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake User's Manual|publisher=Konami|language=ja|pages=29, 35}}</ref> The later ''Metal Gear Solid'' games use the latter date.}} [[Solid Snake]] must infiltrate a heavily defended territory in [[Central Asia]] known as Zanzibar Land to rescue a kidnapped scientist and destroy the revised "[[Metal Gear (weapon)#Metal Gear D|Metal Gear D]]". The game significantly evolved the stealth-based game system of its predecessor, and uses a storyline dealing with themes such as the nature of warfare and [[nuclear proliferation]]. It is considered by some to be one of the best [[History of video game consoles (third generation)|8-bit games]] ever made.<ref name=GameSpy/>

==Gameplay==
[[Image:MSX2 Metal Gear 2.PNG|thumb|273px|left|The ability to crawl under tight spaces and hide from enemies was first added in ''Solid Snake.'']]

''Solid Snake'' builds upon the stealth-based gameplay system of its predecessor. As in the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'', the player's objective is to infiltrate the enemy's stronghold, while avoiding detection from soldiers, cameras, infrared sensors and other surveillance devices. The biggest change in the game was done to the enemy's abilities. Instead of remaining stationed in one screen like in the first game, enemy soldiers can now patrol different screens across a single map. Moreover, guards now have an expanded 45 degrees field of vision instead of just seeing in straight lines, along with the ability to turn their heads left or right to see diagonally. Enemy guards can also detect sounds, being able to hear any noise made by the player (such as a punch to the wall or a gunshot made without a suppressor) and will investigate the source of the sound once it is made. Guards can also hear sounds made by the player when walking on certain surfaces, which means that one has to be careful when navigating certain areas. If the player is discovered by the enemy, then a counter will be displayed on the upper right side of the screen that will go down after the enemy has lost track of the player. When the counter reaches zero, the alert phase will go off and the game will return to normal.<ref name=GameSpy>{{cite web|author=Paul Soth |title=GOTW: Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |url=http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=31 |access-date=2009-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016103146/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=31 |archive-date=2008-10-16 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=2005|title=MSX Appeal|journal=[[Retro Gamer]]|volume=2|issue=3|page=32|issn=1742-3155}}</ref>

The player is given a variety of new maneuvers and tools to help them remain undetected and complete the game. For example, the player can now kneel and crawl in addition to walking, allowing the player to avoid making noise over certain terrains, pick up land mines, and hide in tight spaces such as under desks or inside air ducts. A radar with a 3x3 grid on the upper right of the screen shows the player's current area in the center grid (as a red dot), with enemy soldiers as white dots, allowing the player to determine what's ahead. However, the radar is disabled when the game enters alert phase. The radar can also be used with the mine detector equipped to determine the locations of enemy mines or launch [[Stinger missile]]s onto an airborne target. Many of the weapons and equipment from the first game are brought over along with new items such as robotic mice used to distract enemies, a camouflaged mat and three different types of [[military ration|ration]]s, each with special attributes. Health and carrying capacity are increased each time a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] is defeated.<ref name=GameSpy/>

The transceiver has also been greatly revamped from the first game as well, with conversations now being context-sensitive rather than being simply area-oriented. The transceiver screen now displays the faces of Snake and the radio contact he's currently communicating with. The player can also talk to children living in the fortress to gain new information; the player is penalized with a loss of health if they kill a child. The areas are more varied than in the previous [[MSX2]] game and a number of puzzles must be fulfilled to complete the game, such as luring a [[carrier pigeon]] with a specific kind of ration, chasing after a female spy to the ladies' lavatory, and deciphering secret [[tap code]]s to gain new frequency numbers.<ref name=GameSpy/>

The MSX2 version requires the use of either a [[floppy disk drive]] or a [[Konami Game Master|Game Master II]] utility cartridge to save progress. In the absence of either media, a [[password (video gaming)|password]] can also be written down to reload progress. Later versions of the game removed the password feature in favor of standardized storage media such as [[memory card]]s and internal [[hard disk drive]]s.

==Plot==
{{Metal Gear chronology}}

===Setting===
''Solid Snake'' is set in a near-future world in which the Cold War continued into the 1990s, with the game's events taking place in 1999{{snd}}three years after the events of the original ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' (later retconned to four years in ''Metal Gear Solid'').

===Characters===
{{see also|List of characters in the Metal Gear series}}

Solid Snake, formerly retired [[FOXHOUND]] agent and hero of the original ''Metal Gear'' returns as the playable character. His new mission is to rescue the kidnapped Czechoslovak biologist Dr. Kio Marv from the forces of Zanzibar Land. He is assisted by a radio support crew consisting of [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Roy Campbell|Roy Kyanbel]] (spelled "Roy Campbell" in later versions), his new commanding officer; [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Master Miller|McDonnell Miller]], a survival coach and drill instructor; George Kesler ("George Kasler" in later versions), a military strategist; and Yozev Norden (renamed Johan Jacobsen in the later revised versions), a wildlife expert. Also assisting him on-site are Horry White ("Holly White" in later versions), a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent posing as a journalist; Natasha Marcova (Gustava Heffner in later versions), an [[StB (Czechoslovak State Security)|StB]] agent and Dr. Marv's bodyguard; and [[List of characters in the Metal Gear series#Dr. Madnar|Dr. Petrovich Madnar]] ("Drago Pettrovich Madnar" in later versions), the Metal Gear designer from the first game, who was captured along with Dr. Marv. Also appearing in the game are [[Big Boss (Metal Gear)|Big Boss]], the renegade former commander of FOXHOUND, and [[Gray Fox (Metal Gear)|Grey Fox]] ("Gray Fox" in later versions), who disappeared following the events of the Outer Heaven incident.

The bosses of this installment consist of Black Color (Black Ninja in later versions), an experimental drug-enhanced ninja from a disbanded [[NASA]] project (who is revealed to be Kyle Schneider from the original ''Metal Gear''); Running Man, a former [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] runner turned terrorist; Red Blaster, an explosive expert from [[Spetsnaz]]; Ultra Box (the Four Horsemen in later version), an assassination squad specializing in confined spaces; Predator (Jungle Evil in later versions), a jungle warfare expert from the [[South African Special Forces|South African Reconnaissance Command]]; and Night Sight (Night Fright in later versions), an assassin from Vietnam who uses a state of the art stealth suit that renders him invisible to both radar and the human eye.

===Story===
A major [[oil price increase of 1990|oil crisis]] seriously affects the global economy in the late 1990s, with petrol deposits running out faster than previous estimates. Efforts to adopt alternative energy sources and attempts to drill for more oil fail to take up the slack. To counter the problem, Czech scientist Dr. Kio Marv bio-engineers a new species of [[algae]], OILIX, that could produce petroleum-grade hydrocarbons with little expense and effort. He unveils the algae to the World Energy Conference in [[Prague]] and was on his way to a demonstration in the United States when he was kidnapped by soldiers from Zanzibar Land, a Central Asian country established in 1997 after a successful independence war against the [[Soviet Union]].{{efn|The plot summary in ''Metal Gear Solid'' replaces all references to the Soviet Union with the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]].}} [[NATO]] discovers that Zanzibar Land's leaders plan to hold the world hostage by controlling the supply of oil through OILIX and nuclear warheads pillaged from old stockpiles marked for dismantling in light of global efforts toward nuclear disarmament. FOXHOUND's new commander, Roy Campbell, brings Solid Snake out of retirement and sends him to Zanzibar Land to rescue Dr. Marv on Christmas Eve 1999.

Over the course of his mission, Snake teams up with Holly White, a CIA operative posing as a journalist, and Gustava Heffner, an StB agent and Dr. Marv's bodyguard. He is also reunited with Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar, the Metal Gear inventor from [[Outer Heaven]], who claims to have been once again kidnapped and forced to work on another Metal Gear project (named Metal Gear D) for Zanzibar Land, as well as oversee mass-production of smaller, non-nuclear-equipped Metal Gear units. Snake learns from Dr. Madnar that Big Boss, Snake's former superior, survived the events of the first game and now leads Zanzibar Land.

[[Image:MG2 Gray Fox.PNG|thumb|Solid Snake confronts Gray Fox in one of the final battles.]]
As Snake, Heffner, and Dr. Madnar head toward Zanzibar Land's main prison, Heffner is killed by a missile fired by Metal Gear D and Dr. Madnar is recaptured by the enemy. The new Metal Gear's pilot is revealed to be Gray Fox. Determined to finish his mission, Snake fights against Zanzibar Land's elite mercenary force and manages to reach Dr. Marv's cell.

Snake arrives too late, as he finds Dr. Marv's corpse and the OILIX data. Holly later tips him off that he actually died under Dr. Madnar's torture. In addition, Snake learns that Madnar volunteered his services to Zanzibar Land to finish work on Metal Gear as revenge against the scientific community shunning him after the events of the first game. Snake incapacitates Madnar when the latter attempts to attack him.

Snake faces off against Gray Fox in Metal Gear D and eventually destroys the mech. Both men later fight hand-to-hand in a minefield, and Snake defeats him. As he tries to escape, Snake meets Big Boss. Having lost his equipment and with no weapons at his disposal, Snake is forced to improvise using the only items he can find: a [[lighter]] and aerosol can. Fashioning a makeshift [[flamethrower]], Snake defeats Big Boss for the second time. Snake and Holly escape together, and they deliver the OILIX formula to Campbell.

==Development==
Following the success of the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version of ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'', which sold over a million units in North America, Konami began the development of a sequel for the same platform titled ''[[Snake's Revenge]]'' designed specifically for the overseas market.<ref name=GameSpy/><ref name="gamerstoday_interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerstoday.com/world_tour/kojima/index.html|title=Hideo Kojima: Game Guru, Movie Maniac|access-date=2013-01-06|author=Steven Kent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103013555/http://www.gamerstoday.com/world_tours/tour9a.html|archive-date=2005-11-03}}</ref> [[Hideo Kojima]], who directed the first MSX2 game but was not involved with either of the two NES games, did not have any plans to develop a sequel himself at the time until he became reacquainted with a junior coworker who was assigned to work on ''Snake's Revenge'' on a train ride in [[Tokyo]]. The coworker revealed his involvement with the project and encouraged Kojima to create his own sequel. By the end of the train ride, Kojima had already envisioned the basic premise for the game. After undergoing a business trip to the sales division of Konami, Kojima successfully convinced his superiors to approve the development of ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake''.<ref name="gamerstoday_interview"/><ref name=beepmd199304>{{cite magazine |author=Hideo Kojima|title=今明かされるMSX秘語② 我が青春のMSX|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ABeepMD_JP_1993-04.pdf&page=71 |magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|location=Japan |publisher=Softbank |date=April 1993 |access-date=2021-04-06}}</ref>

In order to accurately portray realism in the game, Kojima and his crew consulted various references, including a former Green Beret turned author, and even participated in a series of survival games in a forest located in a mountain near their workplace.<ref name=guardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/may/24/hideo-kojima-interview-part-2|author=Simon Parkin|title=Hideo Kojima: video game drop-out - interview part 2|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=2012-05-24|accessdate=2021-04-06}}</ref> Originally ''Solid Snake'' was announced with a February to March 1990 release window, but was delayed to July, undergoing an increase in ROM size from 3-Megabit to 4-Megabit. ''Solid Snake'' also employs Konami's proprietary SCC sound source that has been used in all of their MSX titles since ''[[Nemesis 2 (MSX)|Nemesis 2]]''. Development of ''Solid Snake'' was briefly suspended in order to help out on the development of ''[[SD Snatcher]]'', which was being developed at the same time by a separate team.<ref name=beepmd199305>{{cite magazine |author=Hideo Kojima|title=今明かされるMSX秘語③ 我が青春のMSX|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ABeepMD_JP_1993-05.pdf&page=83 |magazine=[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]|location=Japan |publisher=Softbank |date=May 1993 |access-date=2021-04-06}}</ref>

Kojima originally wanted the title of the sequel to be simply ''Solid Snake'', the decision to use the protagonist's name for the title of a sequel being inspired by the ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' movie series, but ''Metal Gear 2'' was added as a fore-title under the insistence of Konami's sales and marketing department.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/1549580024906657792|title=Even "METAL GEAR2 SOLID SNAKE" has been on the market for 32 years already? In fact, I had planned to make this sequel title in the style of "Indiana Jones" only with the name of the main character. I didn't want to put "METAL GEAR2" in the title, but the sales staff said to put "METAL GEAR2" in the title! So we ended up with both.|website=Twitter|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/status/1549578271440117760|title=「METAL GEAR2 SOLID SNAKE」でさえ、発売からもう３２年？！！実は、この続編タイトルは「インディ・ジョーンズ」風に主人公の名前だけにしようと画策していました。「METAL GEAR2 」とは入れたくなかったのですが、営業からは「METAL GEAR2 を入れてくれ！」といわれ、両方の表記になりました。|website=Twitter|language=Japanese}}</ref>

In the original MSX2 release of ''Metal Gear 2'', the character portraits for various characters were based on the likeness of various movie characters: [[Solid Snake]] was based on [[Mel Gibson]] in ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'', [[Big Boss (Metal Gear)|Big Boss]] based on [[Sean Connery]] in ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]'', [[Grey Fox (Metal Gear)|Grey Fox]] based on [[Tom Berenger]] in ''[[Platoon (film)|Platoon]]'', [[Roy Campbell (Metal Gear)|Roy Campbell]] based on [[Richard Crenna]] in ''[[Rambo (franchise)|Rambo]]'', and [[Holly White (Metal Gear)|Holly White]] based on [[Brenda Bakke]] in ''[[Gunhed (film)|Gunhed]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Derboo |first1=Sam |title=Tracing the Influence |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/tracing6.htm |website=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] |date=October 2012 |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref>

==Releases==
[[File:Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake comparison.PNG|frame|Snake's portrait in the original MSX2 version (left) was based on the likeness of actor [[Mel Gibson]]. In the re-released versions, Snake was redesigned to resemble his future self in the original ''Metal Gear Solid''.]]

The MSX2 version of ''Solid Snake'' was released in Japan on July 20, 1990. Unlike the first MSX2 game, no official English localization was produced (as Konami had already discontinued sales of their MSX games in Europe), although a [[fan translation]] was later produced in 1997 by the MSX hobbyist group G&T International.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gtinter.msxnet.org/mgear2us.htm|title=English Metal Gear 2 Development Committee|publisher=G&T Soft|access-date=2014-09-04}}</ref> Unofficial imports of the game had reached Europe by 1996, with some fans at the time requesting a port for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=MSX and the PSX |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=11 August 1996 |issue=178 (September 1996) |page=15 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_178_1996-09_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n14}}</ref>

The first port of ''Solid Snake'' to another platform was the Japanese [[feature phone]] version released on October 1, 2004 as a downloadable app on [[i-mode]], [[KDDI|EZweb]], and [[Yahoo! Mobile]] services. This version features a few additions over the original MSX2 version, such as an easy mode and an unlockable [[boss rush]] mode after clearing the main game once, but also include some other adjustments and changes, most notably the replacement of the portraits used during the conversation sequences. While the portraits in the MSX2 version were modeled after real life celebrities, the new portraits were instead designed to more closely resemble ''Metal Gear Solid'' illustrator [[Yoji Shinkawa]]'s character designs in the later installments. These changes would also be implemented in the version included in  ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater#Subsistence|Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]], an expanded edition of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'' released in Japan in 2005 that included full ports of both the original ''Metal Gear'' and ''Solid Snake'' as part of its newly-added content.

''Subsistence'' would later be released in North America and Europe in 2006 with full English localizations of both MSX2 games, marking the first time that ''Solid Snake'' was given an international release. The two MSX2 games would later be included in the [[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater#HD Edition|HD remastered version]] of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' released for the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] in 2011 and [[PlayStation Vita]] in 2012. Both MSX2 games were also released as a part of the ''[[Metal Gear Solid Master Collection]]'' series for the [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on October 24, 2023. It was available as additional content with the stand-alone re-release of the original ''Metal Gear Solid'', as well as part of the compilation ''Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1'', which also includes ''Metal Gear Solid 2'' and ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' among other content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 |url=https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10007607 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=store.playstation.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title=Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Announced For "The Latest Platforms" |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/05/metal-gear-solid-master-collection-vol-1-announced-for-the-latest-platforms |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

''Solid Snake'' was also released for the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] exclusively in Japan on March 30, 2010. Like all Virtual Console games, ''Solid Snake'' is emulated from the original MSX2 hardware rather than being ported from the mobile phone version like the ''Subsistence'' and ''HD Edition'' ports, although this version of the game has been patched to use the revised character portraits rather than the original ones.

===Soundtrack===
{{main|Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake Original Soundtrack}}
The game's music was written by [[Konami Kukeiha Club]] members [[Tsuyoshi Sekito]], Masahiro Ikariko, Mutsuhiko Izumi, Yuko Kurahashi, Tomoya Tomita, Kazuhiko Uehara, and [[Yuji Takenouchi]]. The cartridge for the MSX2 version carried a custom sound chip, the SCC (previously employed in games such as ''[[Nemesis 2 (MSX)|Nemesis 2]]'' and ''[[Snatcher (video game)|Snatcher]]''), which enhanced the music and sound effects beyond the MSX's standard PSG chip.

Arranged music based on ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' was used for the VR training disc in ''[[Metal Gear Solid: Integral]]'' (which was released in North America as ''[[Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions]]''). Additionally, ''Integral'' features two hidden tunes based on ''Solid Snake'' available via a secret codec frequency in the main game. One is an arranged version of the "Theme of Solid Snake", while the other is an arrangement of "Zanzibar Breeze" (both listenable by contacting CODEC frequency 140.66 in certain locations). "Theme of Solid Snake" also made an appearance in [[Nintendo]]'s 2008 crossover fighting game ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and a re-arranged version is included in the 2018 fighting game [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]].

==Reception==
During its initial release, ''Solid Snake'' was ranked on ''[[ASCII Corporation|MSX Magazine]]'''s Top 30 best selling MSX games list for six months, premiering at the no. 1 spot on the October 1990 issue. ''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' would later receive near universal-acclaim by [[Retrogaming|retro game]] reviewers. According to Paul Soth of ''[[GameSpy]]'', the game surpassed its predecessor ''Metal Gear'' in every way. In addition to praising the gameplay, he also praised the game's "gripping, well written storyline" for its "rich characterization" and its "same quality of storytelling that made [[Metal Gear Solid|MGS]] so compelling." He concluded that players will not be disappointed by "the great gameplay and story," and that it remains "one of the best [[History of video game consoles (third generation)|8 bit games]] ever made."<ref name=GameSpy/> ''[[Game Informer]]'' was more critical of the game, however, giving it a 7 out of 10. They wrote that in order to reach the most pivotal moments in the game's story, "you must endure some of the most ridiculous situations Solid Snake has ever seen," and that "the game's focus on constant backtracking and keycard acquisition makes it too repetitive." They concluded that "only diehard fans will find the experience rewarding" and that the best way to play the game is through the bonus disc of ''Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence''.<ref name=GameInformer>{{citation|title=Game Informer|year=2009|issue=190|page=94}}</ref>

The game mechanics of its sequel ''Metal Gear Solid'', despite its transition to [[3D computer graphics|3D]], remained largely similar to its [[2D computer graphics|2D]] predecessor<ref name=IGN>{{cite web | title=Metal Gear Solid | url=http://psx.ign.com/objects/000/000569.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=October 22, 2006}}</ref> and included plot summaries of the first two MSX2 games (accessible in the Special mode under "Previous Operations"). As such, ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' regarded ''Solid Snake'' to be "as close as anyone can get to playing ''Metal Gear Solid'' in 2D", putting it above the [[Metal Gear Solid (Game Boy)|Game Boy Color game]] released a decade later in 2000.<ref name=":0" /> ''Retro Gamer'' also included it among top ten MSX games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.retrogamer.net/top_10/top-ten-msx-games/|title=Top Ten MSX Games &#124; Retro Gamer|date=9 April 2014 }}</ref> Jeremy Parish of ''[[1UP.com]]'' referred to ''Metal Gear Solid'' as "basically a [[Video game remake|high-spec remake]] of ''Solid Snake''."<ref>{{cite web|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|title=Metal Gear Solid 3: The Boss of Stealth Action Games|url=http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-solid-3-boss-stealth-action|website=[[1UP.com]]|access-date=17 March 2012|date=February 17, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014155727/http://www.1up.com/features/metal-gear-solid-3-boss-stealth-action|archive-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> Nickolai Adkins of ''1UP'' also noted how much of the scenario and plot elements in ''Solid Snake'' were recycled in ''Metal Gear Solid'', ranging from "Snake emerging from retirement to rescue a kidnapped non-soldier personnel" in the beginning to "an escape sequence where Snake is accompanied by his female accomplice/love interest" at the end.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adkins|first=Nickolai|title=Lost in Translation? A look at the digital re-dux and the trends that inspire them|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9095000|website=[[1UP.com]]|access-date=6 May 2012|date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024657/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9095000|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' notes that ''Solid Snake'' introduced stealth mechanics such as making noise to attract guards, crouching and crawling on the ground, disarming mines, and enemies having [[Viewing cone|view cones]].<ref>{{cite web |title=7 Weird Metal Gear Games You Probably Never Knew Existed |url=https://ign.com/articles/2014/08/25/7-weird-metal-gear-games-you-probably-never-knew-existed |website=[[IGN]] |date=August 25, 2014}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/mg2/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070209080646/http://www.konami.jp/mobile/appli/metalgear2/index.html Official website for the mobile phone version] (archived) {{in lang|ja}}
*[https://www.mobygames.com/game/metal-gear-2-solid-snake Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Metal Gear|state=expanded}}
{{Hideo Kojima}}
{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Speculative fiction|Video games}}
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[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Alternate history video games]]
[[Category:Christmas video games]]
[[Category:I-mode games]]
[[Category:Metal Gear video games]]
[[Category:MSX2 games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Stealth video games]]
[[Category:Top-down video games]]
[[Category:Sequel video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set in 1999]]
[[Category:Video games set in Central Asia]]
[[Category:Video games set in fictional countries]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Video games directed by Hideo Kojima]]
[[Category:Video games designed by Hideo Kojima]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Tsuyoshi Sekito]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Yuji Takenouchi]]