
The beginning of Metal Gear Solid 2 cleverly sets up Solid Snake as the main hero, making players feel comfortable and familiar with the series. However, the game takes a surprising turn after just an hour. The story jumps forward two years, and Snake is believed to be dead. From then on, you play as Raiden, a new character who, while less experienced and charming than Snake, is more agile and capable. Raiden’s biggest advantage in gameplay is his ability to quickly roll between cover. But many players were initially frustrated by the change because Raiden lacked Snake’s personality and iconic voice. It felt like a beloved character had been put on the sidelines with no promise of a return. Looking back, we now appreciate Raiden’s development and his impressive role in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, but in 2001, there was no guarantee that Solid Snake would ever regain the spotlight.