8 Video Games That Totally Fell Apart After Incredible Openings

2. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty

So far, 'off the rails' in this list's context has mostly related to naff plots and unfulfilling story moments - but MGS 2 is literally just a game that goes off the rails in a purely narrative sense overall.

Back in 2001, we just went with it, but play back through Sons of Liberty now and you'll realise just how much you've either 1. Matured, or 2. Grown apart from Hideo Kojima's ridiculous method of storytelling.

Ol' Koj loves to just drop things in and go with them, so within the space of a couple of hours, the entire final third of MGS 2 goes from 'tactical espionage action' to one man (Raiden) discovering he's part of an A.I. simulation, fighting an ex-President of the U.S. on the roof of Federal Hall, having it explained that said A.I. was born as the living embodiment of American patriotism, and ends with a 20 minute philosophical explanation of how to live his life.

It stands to reason (kinda) that Kojima thought this was to be his final Metal Gear Solid, so it's packed to the rafters with pseudo-psychiatric warblings for the duration. Those last couple hours though? Eeesh.