10 Video Games That Were WAY Ahead Of Their Time

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty didn't just surpass its predecessor - it elevated the entire gaming industry.

The first thing that stood about Hideo Kojima's sequel was its cinematic presentation. Although there had been many games which emulated cinema before, MGS2 used the same level of care at setting up wide shots, crash zooms, and close-ups as a feature film, which helped pushed the idea that video games were an art form.

Then there's the twist.

Although gamers assumed Solid Snake was the protagonist, players were shocked to learn MGS2's hero was a new character called Raiden. Kojima avoided this detail getting leaked by releasing trailers that deliberately mislead viewers into believing Snake was the main character. Hollywood movies are known for creating deceptive trailers to hide key plot points, but Metal Gear Solid did it long before this practice became commonplace.

Because so many people focus on MGS2's twist and cinematics, it's easy to forget the game's defining aspect - the themes. Rather than having a generic message, Sons of Liberty juggles a staggering multi-narrative, which delves into complex matters that video games rarely touched upon. Throughout, the game looks at meta-narratives, fifth-generation warfare, social engineering, memetics, and compromising freedom for political security.

Despite the fact the best games can still age badly, MGS2's themes hit harder than ever today, since it also deals with modern concepts like "fake news", "alternative facts", post-truth politics, echo chambers and personalised media. Because these themes feel more relevant than ever, its easy to see why Metal Gear Solid 2 is regarded as the most ahead-of-its-time game ever made.