Released in 2001, Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons of Liberty was considered a crowning achievement in the medium. The game world presented an unprecedented level of interactivity with the environment and AI, but gameplay was not the only area where it pushed the medium forward.
The narrative Hideo Kojima crafted is a deep and complex web discussing themes about culture, free will, censorship, and the way modern technology will shape the world. Despite the plot's place as one of the most profound stories of the PS2 generation, plenty of things about it still stick out to us as simply not making any sense.
10 How Has Raiden Never Met His Commanding Officer?
Before the revelation of Colonel Campbell's true identity, Raiden questions why he has never met the person leading him on this assignment. It feels pretty weird to never have met the person who is assigning you to a major mission to rescue the President of the United States and thwart a terrorist plot. The situation is an emergency, so perhaps they just did not have time to engage in the formalities of introductions?
9 Raiden Really Does Not Recognize Solid Snake?
Snake introduces himself to Raiden as Iroquois Plisken, a nod to the character's inspiration, Snake Plissken from Escape From New York. At this time in the lore, Solid Snake is a wanted criminal, so it only stands to reason for a soldier like Raiden to know his face both as the legend and the fugitive. However, a simple hairstyle and outfit change is enough to fool the protagonist. The original design had Snake looking unrecognizable even to the player.
8 Why Would The AI Tell Raiden About S3 And GW?
Before the final fight with Solidus Snake atop Federal Hall, Raiden has a long talk with the AI who has been guiding him through the mission. At this point, Rose's conversation is also with the computer and not with the woman Raiden fell in love with.
It is a pivotal point in the game, but why does the AI feel it necessary to tell him all this? You could chalk it up to the damage done by the virus Emma installed, perhaps.
7 Snake Continues To Freeze The Last Bomb Even After Being Told Not To
Near the end of the bomb disposal chapter, Snake freezes the last explosive, activating the big bomb that kills Peter Stillman. The exchange occurs in a weirdly timed manner. Stillman yells at Snake to stop, and another five seconds pass of Snake freezing the bomb over codec. It seems like there was enough time for Snake to hear the pleas and stop. It makes it feel like Stillman did not have to die.
6 The Vamp Easter Egg
Observant fans knew Vamp was still alive long before he was revealed in MGS4's trailers. He is visible during the ending cutscene as a cardboard cutout. It is easy to see in The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, which lets you control the camera in every cutscene. How does he get here and how do neither Snake nor Raiden notice him there? We'd think the cops would have noticed him as well.
5 The Cops Don't Question The Two Dudes Standing Around In Stealth Suits
The final cutscene takes place on a Manhattan street as people and police officers start crowding up the area. There is certainly a lot of commotion going on after Arsenal Gear crashes into the island, but we'd think at least one cop would stop to question Raiden and Snake, the two people standing around in weird uniforms. They definitely stand out, and people must have seen Raiden fighting on the roof of the capital hall with a sword.
4 Why Does Ocelot's Voice Change When Liquid's Personality Takes Over?
Metal Gear Solid 4 explains why Liquid's personality takes over Revolver Ocelot, and we can accept it as a part of Metal Gear's ridiculousness. However, why does his voice change too? It's not like he physically transforms into the character. Don't get us wrong; we're glad Cam Clarke had another gig inside the Metal Gear universe, but it simply does not make sense. It is even stranger, then, for Patrick Zimmerman to exclusively voice Ocelot in the fourth game.
3 How Does Olga Survive The Tanker Chapter
After Ocelot hijacks Metal Gear Ray, he destroys the tanker and kills just about everyone on board. How does Olga, who is unconscious at the time, survive?
Maybe she was rescued by the Patriots, or maybe Otacon managed to bring her body to the shore while rescuing Solid Snake, but it is never explicitly explained how she lived through a ship sinking. Whatever the case, it only bought her a few extra years of life.
2 It Really Feels Like Peter Stillman Has Enough Time To Run From The Bomb
Peter Stillman dies while on the codec with Raiden, lamenting how Fatman got the better of him and regretting how he spent much of his life playing the victim. Perhaps if he had used that time to beeline into a different area, Stillman would still be alive. This is shortly after he explains how his limp is faked and he can walk just fine.
1 The Patriots Died One Hundred Years Ago, Until They Didn't
The game ends with one of the wildest plot twists of the time. The Patriots are not only dead, but they died one hundred years ago. Metal Gear Solid 4 throws this twist away with one line explaining how the information was false. It most likely referred to the Philosophers, the group formed after World War I that is at the center of the prequel games' drama. Of all the things on this list, this one perhaps has the most rational explanation. GW and the Patriots' AI could have been spreading this information to keep the characters off of their real trail.