OUR RATING: 9 EXCELLENT About our ratings

TANGIBLES: Gameplay: 9 Visuals: 10 Audio: 10 Value: 8 Quality: 9

Why you should buy it: Not Available Why you should rent it: Not Available

UNIQUE RATING: 9 SUGGESTION: N/A

Since 1998, Hideo Kojima has made a name for himself as the supreme director of stealth-action video games. Upon its release, Metal Gear Solid was widely heralded as one of the best action games on the Playstation and it was later reconized has one of the best of all time. After nearly 3 years in the pot, Kojima unleashes yet another adventure with Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

When the first trailers were shown shortly before the release of the game, gamers everywhere knew this was a sure bet, there wasn't a chance this game would be anything short of amazing. Luckily for them, it's true. Sons of Liberty is a fantastic sequel and stands out as a remarkable game on its own rights.

Following the events on Shadow Moses in Metal Gear Solid, you resume the role of Solid Snake sent to investigate a tanker ship. The game starts out with a breathtaking cutscene in which Snake slips in to some optic camouflage and drops off a tall bridge to the ship. It's quite unbelievable how well it was done, the production values are sky high in this game.

To steer clear of all spoilers, I won't say too much about the story. It's a really crazy ride that you're going to want to play through more than once, or else you'll be left estranged and confused. Sons of Liberty is a lot more plot intensive than the first game, and at times it can be a bit too much. The story can wind up feeling a bit pretentious and a little too much for your typical gamer, but for the hardcore Solid Snake and Metal Gear fan, this is going to be the thrill of your life.

It's not that the story is bad for casual gamers, though. It's actually still going to provide an amazing adventure that you're sure to enjoy, but it can get a little confusing at times, so be forewarned about it.

The gameplay in Metal Gear Solid 2 is reminiscent of the first. It has been tweaked and refined very much so, and a lot of new things have been added, but it still feels like a Metal Gear Solid game, which is a very good thing. You control the character in the third person, but this time you can aim in first person. Aiming has been beefed up and it's quite well done in the game.

Little gameplay touches have been added as well, such as the ability to fall down stairs and hang over railings. They aren't that important when it comes down to it, but they're certainly welcome additions, especially the rail hanging.

The fully integrated 3D cutscenes are a very nice touch to Sons of Liberty, as they were in the first game. They drive the gameplay and the story from beginning to end with an impeccable sense of style and flair which is very intriguing for anyone who is either playing or even watching the game.

The graphics in Sons of Liberty are breathtaking. It's by far the best looking game on the Playstation 2 right now, although it probably won't stay that way for long. Characters all look smooth and the framerate keeps up well, the environments are fantastic as well. It's safe to say that Sons of Liberty's graphics hang with the best of the best even on other systems, they're really that good. Kojima and his crew really pushed out the graphics on the system making it the best looking game thus far on the Playstation 2.

The sound is just as good as the graphics. The voice acting is incredible, not a single bad one in the bunch. They make the game feel exactly like a movie and you'll want to keep hearing them discuss what's going on in the game for as long as possible. The soundtrack is on par with the original Metal Gear Solid game, which is very important. Also the sound effects, like the guard's footsteps, gun shots, and that sort of things are also top notch.

It's not an incredibly long game, but it's a game that is worth your purchase no matter what it's priced at ' within reason of course. It's a game you'll keep playing over and over again, and even though you're going to be flying solo, it's not a bad game to play with your friends either. It's almost as fun to watch as it is to play.

It doesn't edge out the original game, but that's okay. Metal Gear Solid Sons of Liberty is an amazing game in its own right, it's well done, has outstanding technical achievements, and most of all, it's fun to play. If you're looking for a great stealth-action game to play, look no further, this is the best one thus far this generation. Sons of Liberty is just a kick-ass sequel to the best stealth-action game ever made.