Konami knew why people were going to buy Zone of the Enders – even though Z.O.E. is a great game, the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo packed with it is the main draw. So when I cracked open the DVD case for the first time it came as no surprise to me that the MGS2 demo disc is the first thing I saw, positioned in a removable carrier on top of the Z.O.E. disc.

The demo contains what is presumably the first area of the game, up to and including the first boss battle. It’s a good-sized chunk of game for a mere demo, and it really gives you a feel for what the final game will be like. The game opens with a pretty cool display of Snake’s acrobatic prowess as he bungee jumps from a bridge onto a ship, which is then overtaken by terrorists.

Snake starts his mission with a tranquilizer pistol, a pack of smokes and little else. The ship is crawling with terrorists, and they’re more alert than the enemies in the original MGS. Luckily, Snake has a few new tricks up his sleeve to make him a bit stealthier. Foremost is his ability to pop around corners, take a quick aimed shot and then automatically move back around the corner. No more awkward running around corners and hoping the guard doesn’t turn around before you can aim and shoot; this new method gives a much better feeling of control. Snake can also peek around corners for a better view of the area, and a new first-person viewpoint (from which you can fire weapons) makes navigation and reconnaissance a lot easier than the first game. Another new ability which really doesn’t get much use in this demo, but probably will later in the full game is the context sensitive Triangle button – it’s primarily used to open doors in the demo, but Snake can also leap over railings for quick escapes.

The atmosphere of the demo is nicely done, and really shows off some of the PS2s abilities. Outside, a torrential downpour ravages the ship, and the rain effect is the best I’ve seen done in a video game. Once Snake moves into the ship, the worn metal walkways and rain-beaten exteriors give way to clean hallways and locker rooms. Snake eventually moves into a posh area with marble floors and a well-appointed lounge, complete with a mini-bar. Finally, the demo takes Snake onto the ships bridge, and back out into the storm for a confrontation with a mysterious (and very obviously European) woman named Olga. Interestingly, Snake is separated from his opponent (he’s on a higher deck), and the resulting gunfight is a cat and mouse affair of ducking for cover and then popping out to fire when an opportunity presents itself. There are manu crates and other obstacles littering the area to hide behind; at one point in the battle, Olga shoots the ropes holding a tarp in place and it begins flapping wildly in the wind, making her difficult to spot as she unloads her clip in Snake’s direction.

After the battle, a short cutscene indicates that Snake is in for a world of trouble, and the demo ends. My impressions? It’s pretty much what I expected. Although the visuals are vastly improved over the PS original, the controls and gameplay will be instantly familiar. Snake’s new moves and abilities feel like natural extensions of the first game’s control scheme. Many familiar items also play a part in the demo – Snake uses his cigarette smoke to see infrared beams, the cardboard box stealth unit is back in full force, and items like Rations, Diazepam and Chaff Grenades are there for the collecting.

None of this is bad, though, since I liked MGS a lot, and the changes can only make the sequel better. However, based on the demo, I’d say the Konami is headed into solid "8" territory with this title. There are a few gameplay issues (mostly the awkward camera angles in most of the interior areas) that need to be worked out, and some of the animations are iffy (especially the hand-to-hand combat, which features some truly horrible hit detection and bizarre no handed throws). My prediction – MGS2 will be a solid PS2 title, probably a system seller (if there are PS2s available for purchase by the time this game comes out…), but not the "killer app" the PS2 desperately needs to prove its worth.

Solid Snake is back, sporting the (n)ever popular mullet haircut and a couple days worth of solid stubble.