Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a 2001 action-adventurestealth game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2. Directed, produced, designed, and written by Hideo Kojima, it is the fourth mainline game in the Metal Gear series, the eighth chronologically, and the sequel to Metal Gear Solid (1998). The game was originally released in November 2001 for North America and Japan and March 2002 for Europe, while an expanded edition, titled Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance was released the following year for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows. A high-definition remaster, titled Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - HD Edition, was first released in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection compilation, with a PlayStation Vita port releasing the following year, and versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S following in 2023 as part of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1.

Divided into two chapters, the prologue "Tanker" section focuses on Solid Snake as he infiltrates a hijacked Marine Corps ship to obtain evidence of a new Metal Gear mecha named Metal Gear RAY. The primary "Plant" section revolves around rookie FOXHOUND agent Raiden infiltrating the Big Shell, a massive offshore clean-up facility seized by the terroristic Sons of Liberty, who hold the President of the United States hostage and threaten to destroy the facility if their demands are not met. However, the motives and identities of many foes and allies change throughout the game, as the protagonists discover a world-shaking conspiracy constructed by a powerful organization known as the Patriots, exploring many themes such as memetics, social engineering, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the internal struggle of freedom of thought.

Metal Gear Solid 2 received acclaim for its gameplay, graphics, and attention to detail. However, critics were initially divided on the protagonist and the philosophical nature and execution of the game's storyline. The game was a commercial success, selling seven million copies by 2004. It has since been considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time, as well as a leading example of artistic expression in video games. The game is often considered ahead of its time for dealing with themes and concepts such as post-truth politics, fake news, alternative facts, synthetic media, and echo chambers, that became culturally relevant in the mid-to-late 2010s. A prequel to the series, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, was released in 2004, while a direct sequel, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, was released in 2008.