History VideoGame / MetalGear2SolidSnake

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time.[[note]]Most notably, Solid Snake is Creator/MelGibson, Dr. Madnar is Albert Einstein, [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch, and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Creator/TomBerenger.[[/note]] This was likely not an issue in 1990, since the game was Japan-exclusive, and celebrities in the western world likely would not have cared, or even have known about it. But once the franchise became an international hit and Konami ported the game to modern consoles (by including an updated version in re-releases of VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater), they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. So every portrait was changed to the style of Yoji Shinkawa (the character designer for Metal Gear Solid), with the characters having portraits of their modern designs.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time.[[note]]Most notably, Solid Snake is Creator/MelGibson, Dr. Madnar is Albert Einstein, [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch, and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Creator/TomBerenger.[[/note]] This was likely not an issue in 1990, since the game was Japan-exclusive, and celebrities in the western world likely would not have cared, or even have known about it. But when Konami ported the game to modern consoles (by including an updated version in re-releases of VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater), they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. So every portrait was changed to the style of Yoji Shinkawa (the character designer for Metal Gear Solid), with the characters having portraits of their modern designs. Even the Japanese Virtual Console version, which is otherwise a straight emulation of the original [=MSX2=] version, uses the new portraits.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time.[[note]]Most notably, Solid Snake is Creator/MelGibson, Dr. Madnar is Albert Einstein, [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch, and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Creator/TomBerenger.[[/note]] This was likely not an issue in 1990, since the game was Japan-exclusive, and celebrities in the western world likely would not have cared, or even have known about it. But when Konami ported the game to modern consoles (by including an updated version in re-releases of [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater]]), they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. So every portrait was changed to the style of Yoji Shinkawa (the character designer for Metal Gear Solid), with the characters having portraits of their modern designs. Even the Japanese Virtual Console version, which is otherwise a straight emulation of the original [=MSX2=] version, uses the new portraits.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time.[[note]]Most notably, [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Creator/TomBerenger.[[/note]] The rip-offs were so obvious that when Konami re-released the game on later platforms, they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. Even the Japanese Virtual Console version, which is otherwise a straight emulation of the original [=MSX2=] version, uses the new Yoji Shinkawa-style portraits.

** Solid Snake's origin as a clone of [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is non-existent in this game and the two are simply former commanding officer and subordinate.

''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' is the official sequel to the original ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear|1}}''. It was released for the UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2 home computer in 1990 exclusively in Japan. Following the huge overseas success of the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem version of ''Metal Gear'',[[note]]It had sold 1 million copies in the U.S. alone.[[/note]] Creator/{{Konami}} commissioned the development of a sequel titled ''VideoGame/SnakesRevenge'' for the Western markets without the involvement of Creator/HideoKojima. After learning that a sequel without his input or consent was in development from another employee who was working on ''Snake's Revenge'', Kojima immediately began working on his own sequel, resulting in one of the most critically acclaimed 8-bit games of all time.

''Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake'' is the official sequel to the original ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear|1}}''. It was released for the UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2 home computer in 1990 exclusively in Japan. Following the huge overseas success of the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem version of ''Metal Gear'',[[note]]It had sold 1 million copies in the U.S. alone.[[/note]] Konami commissioned the development of a sequel titled ''VideoGame/SnakesRevenge'' for the Western markets without the involvement of Creator/HideoKojima. After learning that Creator/{{Konami}} developed a sequel without his consent from another employee who was working on ''Snake's Revenge'', Kojima immediately began working on his own sequel, resulting in one of the most critically acclaimed 8-bit games of all time.

** The [=MSX2=] version also featured comparisons between Big Boss and William Alexander Morgan (a real life American mercenary who fought for the Cuban revolution) in both the in-game script and the manual. The references to William Morgan were removed in later versions.

*** [[spoiler:In universe, it’s possible that this explanation was used to cover up any possible discovery of Venom Snake’s body (which contained, among other things, a cybernetic arm). In other words, this deliberately fake or botched intel is continuing the cover up of Big Boss’ phantom.]]

*** [[In universe, it’s possible that this explanation was used to cover up any possible discovery of Venom Snake’s body (which contained, among other things, a cybernetic arm). In other words, this deliberately fake or botched intel is continuing the cover up of Big Boss’ phantom.]]

*** In universe, it’s possible that this explanation was used to cover up any possible discovery of Venom Snake’s body (which contained, among other things, a cybernetic arm). In other words, this deliberately fake or botched intel is continuing the cover up of Big Boss’ phantom.

** For [[spoiler:Dr. Madnar]], after Outer Heaven, he defected/immigrated to America (depending on whether the Soviet Union was still in existence or not), leaving his daughter behind. When he did join America... well, let's just say that the promises of liberty and freedom were empty for him. Basically, he was treated with total contempt by the American government, and also implied to have been abused by the government as well, basically forcing him to make brain bombs, SDI, and NEDW. He was then ostracized by the scientific community when he wanted to recreate Metal Gear (ironic, considering the fact that America was working on [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Metal Gear REX]] since at least May 1996). He then decided he had enough of it and secretly defected to Zanzibar Land, since they at least would allow him to work on the weapon.

* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign[=/=]GratuitousForeignLanguage: The "Czech" spoken by Dr. Marv in the [=MSX2=] version was actually broken Russian transliterated to Japanese, something that even the fan-translation project [[LampshadeHanging poke fun at]] on their website. In the later ports it was replaced with actual Czech dialogue.

* GratuitousForeignLanguage: When Gustava contacts Dr. Marv over the radio to learn of his location, they both speak untranslated Czech.

* LongRunnerTechMarchesOn: Understandable if you played the prequels up to this point, since items such as the [=iDroid=] don't exist yet. It even extends to the Metal Gears such as ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain Sahelanthropus]]'', the first canonical ''Metal Gear'' to stand upright. This is lampshaded by Black Ninja, who mentions the transmitter on Dr. Marv is outdated.

** Some aspects of the guards' AI may seem strange to players more familiar with the ''Metal Gear Solid'' games. For example, guards will react to suspicious elevator noises.[[note]]Such as Snake pressing the call button.[[/note]] Another oddity is guards have to be on the same ground or platform level as Snake in order to see him.[[note]]If a guard is on platform higher than Snake, even if Snake is in full view, he won't be seen.[[/note]]

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time (notably [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Creator/TomBerenger). The rip-offs were so obvious that when Konami re-released the game on later platforms, they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. Even the Japanese Virtual Console version, which is otherwise a straight emulation of the original [=MSX2=] version, uses the new Shinkawa-style portraits.

** Some aspects of the guards' AI may seem strange to players more familiar with the ''Metal Gear Solid'' series. For example, guards will react to suspicious elevator noises (such as Snake pressing the call button). Another oddity is guards have to be on the same ground or platform level as Snake in order to see him (if a guard is on platform higher than Snake, even if Snake is in full view, he won't be seen). The ''Solid'' games avert this.

* Some aspects of the guards' AI may seem strange to players more familiar with the ''Metal Gear Solid'' series. For example, guards will react to suspicious elevator noises (such as Snake pressing the call button). Another oddity is guards have to be on the same ground or platform level as Snake in order to see him (if a guard is on platform higher than Snake, even if Snake is in full view, he won't be seen). The ''Solid'' games avert this.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The portraits in the [=MSX2=] version are obviously modified photographs of popular celebrities at the time (notably [[spoiler:Big Boss]] is Creator/SeanConnery with an eyepatch and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] is Tom Berenger). The rip-offs were so obvious that when Konami re-released the game on later platforms, they had to change them to avoid any likeness infringement. Even the Japanese Virtual Console version, which is otherwise a straight emulation of the original [=MSX2=] version, uses the new Shinkawa-style portraits.

* CharacterTitle: ''Solid Snake'' was actually intended to be the main title of the game rather than ''Metal Gear 2'', as evident by the fact that it's spelled in larger letters on the game's logo and was more frequently referred to as such on MSX-focused publications in Japan at the time of its release. Even the print ads for the game and the spine for the official soundtrack had the title written as ソリッドスネーク　メタルギア2 or ''Solid Snake: Metal Gear 2''. However the franchise's later revival as ''Metal Gear Solid'' negated this.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: You know the stinger missiles Snake has to use to shoot down the Hind D around the heliport area? Well, those Stinger missiles he gained were originally supposed to be installed onto the war machines of Zanzibar Land, including the Goriate tanks and the Hind D gunships. This is also how Red Blaster ended up being defeated; he attempts to "cook you slowly with his grenades" when you enter his wire trap boss room in the Tower Building 30th floor (you enter the room from an elevator) while searching for a carrier pigeon, but all you have to do is throw your own grenades at him on the ceiling (you have to trip his trap and kill him; his room is on the way to the roof of the Tower Building, where you'll find the pigeon with the code you need to be able to contact Dr. Marv).

* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace & TakeItToTheBridge: The Bridge of Sorrow separates the mainland from the detention camp and final areas of the game. Dr. Madnar manages to scurry across first. [[spoiler:When Gustava goes next, the bridge gets destroyed by a missile launched by Metal Gear D, sending her flying back to Snake's side of the crevice. Dr. Madnar is then re-captured by armed guards.]]

* ArtifactTitle: While a new version of the titular Metal Gear appears in this game, it is never treated as an ultimate threat like the one from the first game, simply being an obstacle that Snake must deal with in his mission. In fact, many Japanese publications at the time of the game's release (such as ''MSX Fan'' and ''MSX Magazine'') actually referred to the game as ''Solid Snake'' as if it was the main title and even the official soundtrack is titled ''Solid Snake: Metal Gear 2'' on the spine, suggesting an attempt to rebrand the series under Solid Snake's name before its later revival as ''Metal Gear Solid''.

* CharacterTitle: Subtitle in this case.

* PointOfNoReturn: Despite the broken bridge, the player can still travel back and forth between the Detention Camp and the other places in Zanzibar Land by using the cardboard box to transport himself via one of the shipping trucks, which is a necessity if one has forgotten to [[spoiler:change the shape of Gustava's brooch]]. However, once Snake has acquired the [[spoiler:MSX cartridge]], he will fall into a trap door where he is forced to face the final gauntlet of boss challenges.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: You know the stinger missiles Snake has to use to shoot down the Hind D around the heliport area? Well, those Stinger missiles he gained were originally supposed to be installed onto the war machines of Zanzibar Land, including the Goriate tanks and the Hind D gunships. This is also how Red Blaster ended up being defeated; he attempts to "cook you slowly with his grenades" when you enter his wire trap boss room in the Tower Building 30th floor (you enter the room from an elevator) while searching for a carrier pigeon, but all you have to do is throw your own grenades at him on the ceiling (you have to trip his trap and kill him; his room is on the way to the roof of the Tower Building, where you'll find the pigeon with a message you need).

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: You know the stinger missiles Snake has to use to shoot down the Hind D around the heliport area? Well, those Stinger missiles he gained were originally supposed to be installed onto the war machines of Zanzibar Land, including the Goriate tanks and the Hind D gunships. This is also how Red Blaster ended up being defeated.