Playing as Raiden instead of Snake.

Snake and Raiden ALWAYS reminded me of Batman And Robin. in MGS1 and the Tanker for MGS2 it feels like i'm Batman. for the plant, i feel like Robin.

My vote history http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=37035818

In my opinion BOTH Snake and Raiden did alot of whinning. in the first metal gear, snake did bug the colonel alot. there were multiple times where Snake knew the colonel was hiding something from him.

To Me Raiden is very softed-hearted, probably more then how Snake was in the very first one, but he did soften up later on in the Game when Meryl was shot. as for his personality not being being evovled, well that probably has something to do with his childhood right? i mean the guy really did have the chance to watch squirrels run up the trees and play on the playground with others. he was in war was long as he could remember. so i'm sure hes going to be a bit messed up. You mention he's better in MGS4? I just bought the game a few weeks ago and when he first contacts Snake, i do hear it in his voice that hes changed, now that you mention it. but i'm still playing the game.

Well, I was introduced to the MGS series with 2. My friend told me about it and a brief synopsis of the first game. I found it used and started playing it. I had no expectations, but was surprised when the Raiden character was called Snake and all that. I played the game all the way through and it was one of the best gaming experiences of my life... mostly because I was so confused and always searching for explanations and more information. In a way, I WAS Raiden... thrown into a world I didn't understand and everything was new to me...

Looking back after having played 2, 4 and now I'm going to play 3 (I know, I'm all out of order!) I can see it was a really bold move to switch the main protagonist of the story like they did for the sequel... They COULD have just made a Shadow Moses 2 style game, they COULD have let you play as Snake in every game like your typical franchise... but this move to me speaks a lot about the developers focusing on giving us a gaming experience we do not expect... trying something new and steering away from the conventions. Focused on the story and gameplay.

For me, the MGS series has forever shown the world how amazing it can be when you are able to blur the line between gamer and avatar. (no matter who that Avatar might be)

To the original poster.

I think MGS2's plot went over you head a bit.

I think the main purpose of Raiden was to enhance Snake's character. In MGS1, you knew Snake was a legendary hero and all that, but what made him so legendary? In MGS2 you get to see the story of Solid Snake, Foxhound, and the Patriots from the view of an outsider and you see why Snake is so revered in the way he is. The fact that Raiden was so new to the experience just made it better IMO, if you played as a hardened vet like Snake, it would've just made Snake seem like another guy.

As for Snake's personality change, that was a good move as you see he's in much more control and in it for himself this time. Before it just seemed like he was some above average merc following orders (which he was) unable to see the puppet role he was playing. Now he's like Liquid and Solidus but using his skills for a cause greater than himself. I just hate that by MGS4 he's reverted to MGS1 Snake following orders out of his grudge with Liquid, this is only made worse with his aging storyline making it seem like he's out of control with himself. In the end, you realize Snake is the ultimate tragic character as he was being controlled the whole time by the Patriots and that Liquid, Solidus, and Big Boss were actually trying to do some good.

I've recently got into Metal Gear Solid's storyline and I'm still amazed that such a story could be produced from a video game.

Playing as Raiden sucks he is so pathetic no matter what happens.

I bought a ps2 just for this game back in 2001 and was count down the days till mgs2 came out. The tanker level was pure bliss for me and then Raiden came along... I was so upset by not getting to play as Snake anymore. To me Solid Snake was THE coolest most bad as character ever and now I was forced to play as this whiner! It ruined the game for ms back then. Though I did a through it again recently and the game itself is really good.

[deleted]