RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty OST 2 "The Other Side"
Reviewed by: Zhuzhen
This soundtrack is sort of a "second disc" to the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack. While the first one contained no music from actual in-game scenes, that is all this soundtrack has on it. All the music contained on this album is found while you have full control over the character that you play in this game. Another thing I should mention is the fact that some of these songs have been enhanced from their version on the game itself. If you need a good example, listen to track five in-game and then listen to it on the soundtrack. I believe this is why this soundtrack was released so long after the game was.
~01. Tanker Incident
I have so many gripes about this song that I can hardly put them into words. Is the music good? Yes. Is the way Konami chose to present it on this album good? No. Just because you are only on the tanker itself for like a fourth of the game doesn't mean the songs shouldn't have been broken up. Instead, Konami decided to roll up all the music from the tanker into one nine and a half minute song. That makes it kind of hard to review it because there were songs I liked and disliked on the tanker. Overall, however, I did enjoy the music on the tanker. I especially like the tanker's battle theme (which can be heard from six minutes and forty seconds to the end and it also plays about two and a quarter minutes in to it). When I hear a song like that, I immediately know that it has to be from a Metal Gear game. Metal Gear's battle themes have a style of their own much like the composer Hitoshi Sakimoto does.
~02. The Elevator up to Hell
This is much like the intro song played in Metal Gear Solid where Snake first goes up the elevator. Nothing really ground breaking here but it does tie in well with the ending of the last song.
~03. Vamp's Dance
Track three is sort of a mystical song. It has a ton of instruments in it. To be honest, it reminds me of an Irish dance song. When I heard it in-game I was half expecting Michael Flately, the lord of the dance himself, to pop out of nowhere and do a little jig. Even though he didn't, I still really enjoyed this song. It reminds me of the Mantis' Hymn track from the first Metal Gear Solid Original Soundtrack.
~04. Infiltration
Ah, the background music for much of the Big Shell. The style of this song makes it almost seem out of place. To me, it would be much better suited on a ranch of some sorts with horses and rodeos. Still, I found the song to be mighty comforting when I was trying to sneak up on a guard and get his dog-tag or just knock his lights out.
~05. Battle
While not as good as the tanker's battle theme, this song does come close. If I were to ever get in a fight with five armed guards, this is the song I'd like to hear while I got my butt kicked.
~06. Peter's Theme
This is one of the more enjoyable slow-paced songs on this album. This song really does capture Peter's attitude and the style of his character. The only downfall is that it plays at a time that sort of made the music seem awkward.
~07. Countdown to Disaster
This song plays when you're between battle but not quite into the free and clear zone. Not a bad song but I think they should've chosen a different one to play at this time. In my opinion, this song just doesn't fit.
~08. Lady Luck Revisited
Not much do this song. It is one of those quiet, slow-paced songs but it drowns in comparison to track six of this album and track ten (Fortune) of the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack. Still, it does contain a sample (albeit a small one) of track ten on the previous Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack.
~09. Yell "Dead Cell"
This is the song I was waiting for. It is by far the greatest song on this album. "Yell 'Dead Cell'" is a theme for a boss on in the Big Shell level and it really represents him well. It has such a hypnotic feel to it that you can't help but love it.
~10. Metal Gear's Already Active!
Interesting song right here. While it does contain elements from track four, it still sticks out as a different song. Starting slow then gaining speed is typical for most of these songs and this track is no different. I especially love the last minute the most. To me, it just sounds like it fits with the rest of the song and the area in which it plays.
~11. Arms Depot
Not really sure what to say about this. It isn't a bad song per-se, but it didn't turn my buttons a whole bunch. It has a good beat with good rhythm, but it really is nothing special or out of the ordinary.
~12. Memories of Hal
Another piano song. This is the third piano song that you hear in Metal Gear Solid 2 and I've got to say that this is by far the best one. Songs like this make me wish I knew how to play the piano.
~13. Twilight Sniping
This is another one of those hypnotic type songs. However, track three is about a hundred times more hypnotic. Still, this song can hold its own in the swimming pool of great songs to snipe by. The ending contains sounds from what could only be the main theme (or the first track of the other Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack).
~14. Will the Virus Still Work?
The first minute of this song did absolutely nothing for me. After that initial minute, however, I really got into this song. The digital beats really add to the percussion that, in my opinion, the Metal Gear series is most known for. As for the piano at the end, I found that to be too short. That really should have been made longer.
~15. Comradeship
If you like the main theme then you're sure to like this song. The last minute may very well be the best minute I've ever heard. The way Hibino remixed the main theme is simply breath-taking. Not only that, he adds piano much like he did in the previous track. I've got to give props to Hibino for making this song sound the way it does.
~16. Reminiscence
To me, it seems weird that this song is placed this far down in the soundtrack for the previous two track's piano pieces were derived from this song. If track twelve isn't the best piano song on these Metal Gear Solid 2 albums then this one is.
~17. Arsenal's Guts
This plays at exactly the right time. Perfect timing by both Hideo to place it and Hibino to compose it. It too contains that familiar Metal Gear sound but it adds something different: class. Just a good song all around.
~18. Prelude to the Denouement
Apocalyptic is the best way to describe the beginning of this song. Then it drifts into the same saxophone as heard on the Fortune track from the first Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack only with an added harp and an added trumpet. Just a fine piece of composing is this song.
~19. Father and Son
Ah, the final battle. All the questions you may have will be answered shortly, you've just got to take out the final bad guy. What a great song to achieve victory to. While, "Yell 'Dead Cell'" is still better, this song isn't too shabby. Another excellent Metal Gear battle theme.
~20. Freedom to Decide
This song is another example of how easy mixing the main theme into another song can be. Not only is it easy to do, it enhances the song so very much. The track title also fits in very well with the scene it plays during.
-(The Bottom Line)-
To pick between the first Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack and this soundtrack is nearly impossible. In fact, if you do need to decide, I'd say it all comes down to whether or not you like piano. This soundtrack contains much more piano then the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack but the first soundtrack has many more gripping tracks and it has that great vocal track. I'm giving this soundtrack a 75% as well because I really can't decide between the two.
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty OST 2 "The Other Side" Published by: Konami Music Entertainment Release Date: January 26th 2002 Composed by: Norihiko Hibino Arranged by: Norihiko Hibino 1 Disc, 20 Tracks Catalog: KMCA-144 |
75 |
Reviewed by: Zhuzhen
This soundtrack is sort of a "second disc" to the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack. While the first one contained no music from actual in-game scenes, that is all this soundtrack has on it. All the music contained on this album is found while you have full control over the character that you play in this game. Another thing I should mention is the fact that some of these songs have been enhanced from their version on the game itself. If you need a good example, listen to track five in-game and then listen to it on the soundtrack. I believe this is why this soundtrack was released so long after the game was.
~01. Tanker Incident
I have so many gripes about this song that I can hardly put them into words. Is the music good? Yes. Is the way Konami chose to present it on this album good? No. Just because you are only on the tanker itself for like a fourth of the game doesn't mean the songs shouldn't have been broken up. Instead, Konami decided to roll up all the music from the tanker into one nine and a half minute song. That makes it kind of hard to review it because there were songs I liked and disliked on the tanker. Overall, however, I did enjoy the music on the tanker. I especially like the tanker's battle theme (which can be heard from six minutes and forty seconds to the end and it also plays about two and a quarter minutes in to it). When I hear a song like that, I immediately know that it has to be from a Metal Gear game. Metal Gear's battle themes have a style of their own much like the composer Hitoshi Sakimoto does.
~02. The Elevator up to Hell
This is much like the intro song played in Metal Gear Solid where Snake first goes up the elevator. Nothing really ground breaking here but it does tie in well with the ending of the last song.
~03. Vamp's Dance
Track three is sort of a mystical song. It has a ton of instruments in it. To be honest, it reminds me of an Irish dance song. When I heard it in-game I was half expecting Michael Flately, the lord of the dance himself, to pop out of nowhere and do a little jig. Even though he didn't, I still really enjoyed this song. It reminds me of the Mantis' Hymn track from the first Metal Gear Solid Original Soundtrack.
~04. Infiltration
Ah, the background music for much of the Big Shell. The style of this song makes it almost seem out of place. To me, it would be much better suited on a ranch of some sorts with horses and rodeos. Still, I found the song to be mighty comforting when I was trying to sneak up on a guard and get his dog-tag or just knock his lights out.
~05. Battle
While not as good as the tanker's battle theme, this song does come close. If I were to ever get in a fight with five armed guards, this is the song I'd like to hear while I got my butt kicked.
~06. Peter's Theme
This is one of the more enjoyable slow-paced songs on this album. This song really does capture Peter's attitude and the style of his character. The only downfall is that it plays at a time that sort of made the music seem awkward.
~07. Countdown to Disaster
This song plays when you're between battle but not quite into the free and clear zone. Not a bad song but I think they should've chosen a different one to play at this time. In my opinion, this song just doesn't fit.
~08. Lady Luck Revisited
Not much do this song. It is one of those quiet, slow-paced songs but it drowns in comparison to track six of this album and track ten (Fortune) of the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack. Still, it does contain a sample (albeit a small one) of track ten on the previous Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack.
~09. Yell "Dead Cell"
This is the song I was waiting for. It is by far the greatest song on this album. "Yell 'Dead Cell'" is a theme for a boss on in the Big Shell level and it really represents him well. It has such a hypnotic feel to it that you can't help but love it.
~10. Metal Gear's Already Active!
Interesting song right here. While it does contain elements from track four, it still sticks out as a different song. Starting slow then gaining speed is typical for most of these songs and this track is no different. I especially love the last minute the most. To me, it just sounds like it fits with the rest of the song and the area in which it plays.
~11. Arms Depot
Not really sure what to say about this. It isn't a bad song per-se, but it didn't turn my buttons a whole bunch. It has a good beat with good rhythm, but it really is nothing special or out of the ordinary.
~12. Memories of Hal
Another piano song. This is the third piano song that you hear in Metal Gear Solid 2 and I've got to say that this is by far the best one. Songs like this make me wish I knew how to play the piano.
~13. Twilight Sniping
This is another one of those hypnotic type songs. However, track three is about a hundred times more hypnotic. Still, this song can hold its own in the swimming pool of great songs to snipe by. The ending contains sounds from what could only be the main theme (or the first track of the other Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack).
~14. Will the Virus Still Work?
The first minute of this song did absolutely nothing for me. After that initial minute, however, I really got into this song. The digital beats really add to the percussion that, in my opinion, the Metal Gear series is most known for. As for the piano at the end, I found that to be too short. That really should have been made longer.
~15. Comradeship
If you like the main theme then you're sure to like this song. The last minute may very well be the best minute I've ever heard. The way Hibino remixed the main theme is simply breath-taking. Not only that, he adds piano much like he did in the previous track. I've got to give props to Hibino for making this song sound the way it does.
~16. Reminiscence
To me, it seems weird that this song is placed this far down in the soundtrack for the previous two track's piano pieces were derived from this song. If track twelve isn't the best piano song on these Metal Gear Solid 2 albums then this one is.
~17. Arsenal's Guts
This plays at exactly the right time. Perfect timing by both Hideo to place it and Hibino to compose it. It too contains that familiar Metal Gear sound but it adds something different: class. Just a good song all around.
~18. Prelude to the Denouement
Apocalyptic is the best way to describe the beginning of this song. Then it drifts into the same saxophone as heard on the Fortune track from the first Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack only with an added harp and an added trumpet. Just a fine piece of composing is this song.
~19. Father and Son
Ah, the final battle. All the questions you may have will be answered shortly, you've just got to take out the final bad guy. What a great song to achieve victory to. While, "Yell 'Dead Cell'" is still better, this song isn't too shabby. Another excellent Metal Gear battle theme.
~20. Freedom to Decide
This song is another example of how easy mixing the main theme into another song can be. Not only is it easy to do, it enhances the song so very much. The track title also fits in very well with the scene it plays during.
-(The Bottom Line)-
To pick between the first Metal Gear Solid 2 Original Soundtrack and this soundtrack is nearly impossible. In fact, if you do need to decide, I'd say it all comes down to whether or not you like piano. This soundtrack contains much more piano then the first Metal Gear Solid 2 soundtrack but the first soundtrack has many more gripping tracks and it has that great vocal track. I'm giving this soundtrack a 75% as well because I really can't decide between the two.
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