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Game Debate to the Death! Metal Gear Solid 2 VS Shadow of the Colossus photo

Last week we discussed the pairing of an amazing action game and a breathtakingly emotional adventure game. Even though about half of the votes said it was a really hard choice, the "debate is half empty" crowd definitely resounded a little more loudly. If there was ever a landslide to be proud of, though, I suppose last week was a golden example of how good gameplay can't easily trump good story. Here are the results:

  • Shadow of the Colossus (128 votes) -- Winner!
  • God of War (28 votes)

I can't remember the last time I saw a game win by a full one hundred votes! Clap, clap, clap -- slap each other on the back -- the Dtoiders have spoken.

This week we move on to the PS2 odd game debate finals. On one side there's the Katamari killer Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and on the other side is the gargantuan God-slayer Shadow of the Colossus. The setting and gameplay of the two games couldn't be more different. One focuses on silent, stealthy fights in a technological story full of characters and plot. The other takes place in a barren land devoid of life but full of loud and lively towering fights.

Which game do you think is better, and why? Give it some serious thought, get some PS2 childhood friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner. Then it's on to the GameCube round of odd debates with four new contenders fighting for the trophy over three weeks of brackets.

Bonus Question: Which colossus was your favorite fight? Why?


Continue: More Metal Gear stories





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133 comments | showing # 51 to 100

Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 00:26
Dan CiTi
MGS2 has depth and replay value. SotC has no depth and no replay value. MGS2 has a powerful, meaningful story & message. SotC has a shitty, almost non existent story & message. MGS2 is innovative, fun, and influential. SotC is fun and sort of influential.

MGS2 still wins!
tonynojutsu's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 00:33
tonynojutsu
man this is a tough one. but if i had to decide which game i could instantly pick up and really remember every little detail, it would be Shadow of the Colossus.
y2bj's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 00:41
y2bj
This is another really though one - both great games. Again, though, I have to give it to Shadow of the Colossus. The game was so damn perfect for its time - beautiful visuals, amazing and innovative gameplay, emotional story. Metal Gear was amazing, and the fact that Zone of Enders sold so many copies over hype of its demo disc shows a lot, but while the game was stellar, it never quite delivered as much as that opening tanker bit.

As far as favorite colossus, it would have to be fifth beast. The rush of waiting for it to swoop at you and having to jump and latch onto its shoulder as it came right at you was awesome.
Cough's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 00:50
Cough
Metal gear solid 2. SoC is a beautiful, wonderful experience, but MGS2 is just batshit insane. And i like insane.

Bonus question: The one that flies over the sand? And you use agro to follow him and then jump on his back... yeah.
DonHonk's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 00:54
DonHonk
MGS2.


SNAKE? SNAKE! SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shinryu108's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 01:04
shinryu108
This one is tough. Anyone who thinks it isn't, I suggest you go back and play the other game properly. This is one of those occurrences where I'd say they're "too different to compare", but since I have to choose...I'm gonna have to say MGS2. More polished, more extras, more to offer. SotC was harmed by the FPS issues and the lizard killing was tedious at times, while MGS2 hardly had any boring parts. That said, SotC is a brilliant work in its own right.

Favourite Colossus: it's a toss-up between Phalanx (#13)


and Avion (#5); I was literally gaping while hanging off his wing while he was flying at high speed with no one to catch me
Grimspoon's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 01:16
Grimspoon
Shadow of the Colossus is the better game by far.

+1 for SotC.
Gwardo Jones's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 01:22
Gwardo Jones
Shadow of the Colossus. Look MGS is probably my favorite game series. I pretty much needed a change of underwear for every scene in MGS4 but MGS2 is sort of the black sheep of the series. I like the game and was still great but come on Shadow was frickin original and MGS2 doing do anything to blow my mind except for making me play as the nancy addition of Raiden (not to be confused with pimp daddy cyborg Raiden) and tied up all the loose ends of its story with three words,"What the hell?!?!?". Nuff said.
saxiums's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 01:25
saxiums
MGS2
carpwrist's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 01:40
carpwrist
No these kids and their boners for Hideo Kajima got it all wrong. SoTC is win. If you somehow could combine every good scene in the Metal Gear Series, make them 16 boss fights strung together in a beautiful, strange world, then you would have a contest.
Funky Goodness's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 02:16
Funky Goodness
Tough, but I gotta give it to Colossus again just for its sheer WOW factor and emotional depth.

Bonus: I liked the Colossus (can't remember which one) on the giant canopy with the huge club. It was such a rush to run up his weapon and take him down...
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 02:49
Kyousuke Nanbu
SotC wins easily, MGS2 was a game you played through once and then in ensuing playthroughs the game would just get worse and worse, not to mention how poorly its aged compared to SotC.
mikeyed's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 02:55
mikeyed
MGS 2 is more like a series of portraits, while SotC is one very large continuous portrait. It's hard to say which one's truly better, but MGS 2 just has too much history with me. MGS 2, if I had been a fan of ICO before playing SotC, maybe it would have gotten my vote.
Edarios's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 03:08
Edarios
mgs2, amazing characters.
eXaX's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 03:39
eXaX
Regardless of how much I love the Metal Gear Solid series, I'll have to vote for Shadow of the Colossus.

I think most people know how epic SoTC is so I don't need to point that out. However there was another thing that made SoTC (atleast in my mind) unique and that was that feeling of calmness and perhaps even a hint of melancholy, especially when you were traversing the forgotten land.

The ending of SoTC was also far greater.
ran24's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 03:48
ran24
MGS 2. Overall gameplay is more fun than Shadow, and the characters are hilariously batshit insane.

Bonus: The first colossus. Seeing a humongous boss for the first time and being like "I have to kill THAT?" and then doing it with nothing but a sword was just plain awesome the initial time around.
Charles Sharam's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 04:04
Charles Sharam
My vote goes to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Shadow of the Colossus was a cool experience, but does its artsy signature hold up against the Metal Gear formula of great stealth gameplay, bold storytelling, and a cast of unforgettable characters? Not to me.
CharleyTony's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 04:05
CharleyTony
Shadow of the colossus

artsy games > cinematic games
Analitic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 04:45
Analitic
liam2015's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 04:50
liam2015
Sonofabitch. Two of my most favorite games...

No matter how much I consider MGS2 the masterpiece of the series, I have to vote Shadow of the Colossus again. I am awestruck literally every time I play it.

Bonus:I'm not sure which Colossus this is, but the one over the dry lake bed, and you have to get it ontop of a gyser to knock it over. It's really tense.
Analitic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 04:52
Analitic
Shadow without a doubt, or without a shadow of doubt, SotC.

@Atlas

have to agree, the last C was cheap shit, un worthy of being in this game. However, 3 C remain drilled in my head. The first one, because he was first and the whole achilles heel weak spot was genius. The flying eagle, never had i ever had an exhilirating experience of hanging on for dear life and lasttly, the C at the pillars with a huge sword and the jump from the tower..exeptionally hard. Vote goes to flying eagle...the first one being a damn close second.
Unicorn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 05:00
Unicorn
SotC

any debate with SotC as a potential loser is a JOKE

A JOKE

you hear me?!

A FUCKING JOKE!!!!
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 05:16
linuxguy
metal gear solid 2
plese no more tough choices
the Golden Avatar's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 05:58
the Golden Avatar
Shadow of the Colossus - one of my favorite games.
Metal Gear Solid 2 - one of my least favorite games.

So, yeah, Shadow of the Colossus.
Maidenar's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 06:26
Maidenar
MGS2...
Once you got past the fact that Raiden was the main guy, it was awesome...
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 06:56
Tubatic
SotC

MGS2 was special for sure. But I honestly can't jump back into that game fondly. I've started it over a few times, and save for the cinematics, the stealth slanted gameplay is something I tolerated more than purely enjoyed.

SotC was a straight up adventure.

Bonus: I really enjoyed the flying Collossi, but my major "OH SHIT!" moment was the one in the cave with the long hallway, that would peak through the column structure at the end of the room to try to find you.
DrScience123's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 07:11
DrScience123
I vote MGS2. MGS 2 was totally revolutionary. Every aspect of the game is top notch. Metal Gear is so much more then just a video game. SotC in comparison is basically walk around kill a monster walk around kill a monster. While that may be fun it's got nowhere near the immersion level that a metal gear game creates.
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 07:17
Roryzilla
SotC
L0cky's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 07:33
L0cky
is this even serious ?
MGS2 is one of the most diapointing sequels in videogame history.
Transbot's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 07:40
Transbot
Shadow of the Colossus

I think the first colossus is just an unforgettable experience. There's nothing in gaming that compares to the first time you fight that thing.
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 08:09
Demtor
Since I went against the grain last time with my love of gore in God of War, I will happily go along with everyone this time.

Vote: Shadow of the Colossus

MGS2 is a joke compared to it. If we were talking about MGS1... then, MAYBE, just maybe I could see that beating out the beloved Colossi.

Running around as Raiden took my years to get over. Only after playing through MGS4 did I really appreciate the character and even then, I'll pass on the chance to play as him again.

Bonus Question: The first time I figured out how to jump on to the swooping giant flying Avion (#5) I think I wet myself. It was a rush trying to time exactly when you should run across his wings and when to hold on for dear life. Then he does a barrel roll! I can't even begin to count the number of times I was thrown off of him. It was a truly epic battle.
maxio098ui's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 08:26
maxio098ui
mgs2. best mgs next to mgs1
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 08:49
Qraze
MGS2 was one of best games i've ever "experienced". my vote shouldn't count though because i've never played SotC yet.... DO NOT COUNT MY VOTE.
damm's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 09:04
damm
Trying to keep it simple...
Shadow of the Colossus: Flawless Victory!

Seriously. The convoluted decade-long story of the MGs kept me away from it for a while. The one I tried really hard to enjoy was just exactly MGS2, and I just couldnt manage to do it. And unlike many other games where each sequel is almost independent from its predecessor, MGSs keep trying to make it an epic storyline wich it simply isn't. They are good games with amazing cutscenes.


Shadow of the Colossus has an uniqueness that goes beyond that (and, YES, I'd love a sequel, just don't know how they would do it, and uniqueness has got nothing to do with that).
It´s moody, it´s classical, it´s lonely (don't you feel the character is the last person in that world, what makes his loss even more dramatic and that the colossi feel sorry about him sometimes), and the sadness in the colossi is really cool.

Bonus question. I think I´m going for a different one. The Sand snake (the tenth one) The coolest part was that against that colossus the horse really had to work. Bonus bonus: I simply hated the giant turtle with the geysers.
exodus1925's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 09:04
exodus1925
Again, I didn't think this needed debating. Shadow every time.
Mirax's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 09:07
Mirax
Shadow Of The Colossus.
Best PS2 game along with Okami.

Bonus question: Don't remebr the colossus names or numbers, but the one that looked like a giant bird was awesome.
Matthew Blake's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 09:34
Matthew Blake
Shadow of the Colossus. Haven't played MGS2, so I can't say how good it is. All I know is that SotC is bloody brilliant.
pandarelated's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 09:46
pandarelated
Shadow, no doubt. i hated that MG game.
fortelv999's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:13
fortelv999
vote: SotC

one good thing about MGS2 are the improved mechanics, you know, hanging, extended mobility, holding-up guys, being an "apprentice" of snake, real nice stuff. the only reason i would have liked to own a gamecube was to play MGS : twin snakes, which i heard was MGS1 with the mechanics and graphics of MGS2 (what more could one ask?)
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:33
Tha Meat
Tough! Both games rocked. Its like comparing a huge blockbuster movie with a crazy viral marketing campaign behind it The deciding factor is going to be based on how long I actually played each game. With this in mind MGS2 gets my vote. Those dog tags took a long ass time to get.
Primo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:37
Primo
SotC..

The flying one!

Did anyone else want to destroy their game playing the last colossi?
Hitogoroshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:39
Hitogoroshi
SotC no question.

I'd also take God of War over MGS2
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:41
Monodi
I think a really bloody debate would be God of War VS Shadow of the Collosus, mainly as they got fucking mirrored in reception and style.
mrberns's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:44
mrberns
Of Course SotC. What could even compare in any way shape or form. Theres nothing that even comes close.
D Sane's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:45
D Sane
I never played shadow of the colossus, but there's no way it could possibly be better than metal gear solid 2

MGS2 FTW!
draycott's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 10:59
draycott
SotC gets my vote...
MGS2 is great and everything but, it mistreated me by making me play Raiden and not Snake...

Wanderer would never do that to me...
And Wanderer gets a horse...
It felt like a ps2 Ocarina of Time...
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 11:05
Holyetheline
I'm going with Shadow of the Colossus again. It's way too amazing.
joshandrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 11:39
joshandrox
MGS 2 FTFW!!!!!! (yeah)
VerdeMusgo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 11:47
VerdeMusgo
sHADOW oF tHE cOLOSSUS! For really sure! Its an Epic!
M-Extra's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/26/2008 12:04
M-Extra
Shadow of the Colossus. It had an excellent, sparse story and character development without many words, as opposed to any Metal Gear game ever, where it's a mess of silly dialogue and character development = cloning. Also, SotC had the best ending since the 16 bit era.

It's so hard to pick the best colossus but Phalanx is it for me. I felt like a total asshole winning that fight.
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