Freeware Game Pick: Merry Gear Solid 2 (Arthur Lee)
Merry Gear Solid 2: Ghost of Christmas Past is a fan-made tribute to a popular series of stealth espionage games, created by a developer who has a clear understanding and respect for canon material. Many of the tools used on the field have been renamed and redesigned with the Christmas theme in mind, but the way these equipment are handled will feel very similar to their original counterparts.
Arthur has written the storyline to be as convoluted as possible, and cutscenes do go on quite a bit, although the only real issue with the game is that about a quarter of it involves backtracking through rooms you've visited earlier in the mission. (Windows, 77.9MB)
Comments
played the first one, very funny game :D
Posted by: joop | December 27, 2009 11:28 AM
I don't suppose there's an alt-download anywhere? I'm not able to get it to download more than a few KB at a time.
Posted by: karpad | December 27, 2009 10:47 PM
Doesn't look that way, karpad. You're free to host it though once you finished downloading - for the others! Ah well~
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this download to finish. I got high expectations and a feeling they will be met. I know I shouldn't be posting BEFORE I played the game, but oh well.
Posted by: MisterFox | December 27, 2009 11:12 PM
i don't know when you guys've posted those comments but a new version was JUST uploaded. luckily there's a 3 MB patch available too.
Posted by: Mr. Podunkian | December 27, 2009 11:15 PM
I can't help but think the first boss took influence from Psychonauts.
Posted by: fish | December 28, 2009 2:57 AM
So far I am loving the polish put into this game, but the one thing stopping me right now is the first boss. I don't know if I'm doing it wrong but no matter what I set my clock to, nothing happens.
Posted by: TheRad | December 28, 2009 5:33 AM
Nevermind, figured it out. This game is incredible! Thanks!
Posted by: TheRad | December 28, 2009 5:54 AM
If you run it in WINE under Linux and you get the error message concerning "StringReplace.mfx", you need the MSVCP60.dll, which can be downloaded here:
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msvcp60
Put it in your .wine/drive_c/windows/system32 folder and it should run just fine.
Posted by: Solid Error | December 28, 2009 12:12 PM
Holy! The first one was okay, but the second one had a serious metal gear solid finish. The guy who did "Cold Snake's" voice sounded feakin' close to David Hayter! I'm impressed.
Posted by: Ness2991 | December 28, 2009 2:47 PM
This game is an example of taking a joke too far. It plays exactly like MGS2. Meaning it is an incredible pain in the ass to play, with 8 minute cutscenes full of bad puns throughout the game, requires insane wall-breaking gimmicks to beat bosses, a plot that doesn't make any sense, and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.
I enjoyed it, and don't recommend anyone actually play it.
Posted by: Deceased Crab | December 28, 2009 5:21 PM
I kinda agree with Crab - but just like MGS2 I find it enjoyable most of the time and would recommend it to others just like I would recommend MGS2. It's fun and it's a must.
The backtracking, however, is ludicrous at times. Even worse than MGS2, haha.
I'm still not done (and that's great) but so far, I like it a lot. Absolutely worth the wait.
Posted by: MisterFox | December 28, 2009 5:49 PM
Oh, why couldn't the file be any smaller :(
Now, I'll have to wait till I get home to play it...
Posted by: jrjellybeans | December 28, 2009 6:52 PM
I played a bit.
Got bored.
Got stuck.
Gave up ~_~
Posted by: Anonymous | December 28, 2009 8:58 PM
Diseased Crab that seems a bit harsh. I thought this game was hilarious through and through, and it was quite a bit of fun to play as well.
Though I was playing it with a controller on a 50 inch screen, which may have made it a bit better haha
Either way I'd recommend this game.
I made it all the way to the end surprisingly (didn't think I'd stick with it for that long) and when you have all the items at your disposable it makes it quite a bit more fun as well.
Very lengthy for the time constraints on making it.
Posted by: Inanimotion | December 29, 2009 2:56 AM
I like this game, but for the life of me I don't understand how to destroy that power control thing. Let's walk over the electrified floor panels so we can blow up the switch OH WAIT. Also he said something about knocking on walls and different sounds, but so far I've noticed absolutely no difference in that room or the one to the right of it... /gives up.
Posted by: Me | December 30, 2009 2:15 AM
THIS IS FREAKING DOPE! Funny, wery well done, everything is just perfect, dialogs - love them! THANK YOU!
Posted by: ori | December 30, 2009 1:01 PM
I think somebody was too quick to announce best indie games of 2009.
Posted by: Ilya Chentsov | December 30, 2009 1:24 PM
Oh arthur lee never dissapoints. It's a perfect homage to metal gear solid. Terribly long rambling cutscenes, a ridiculous plot, and fantastic sneaking action just like its supposed to be.
It could have done with a little less backtracking though. The whole game is fairly linear and you have to backtrack through that way to many times. I know MGS makes you do that to but atleast there are some shortcuts in MGS.
It's a fantastic game, but you need to have played the MGS games, and the first merry gear solid to fully enjoy it though.
Posted by: Captain_Duck | December 31, 2009 1:17 AM
I agree with Crab. The gameplay is fantastic and the soundtrack brilliant but the overkill complex and non-sensical plot the game forcefully shove down your throat through never ending and unskippable cutscenes just bring the whole experience down.
The game is worth playing, if only for the gameplay and soundtrack, just have something else to do when you encounter those never ending cutscenes. My only wish is for the sequel to feature a storyless mode, for those who love the gameplay but don't give a damn about the plot.
Posted by: blueskirt | January 3, 2010 2:07 AM
a Game-Dream!!!Just Great
Posted by: Anonymous | January 3, 2010 9:23 PM