EGM scores. Some pretty big games.

[OB1]

Not so disturbing, just trying to bring more depth to the characters. Was also an obvious Shakespearian reference.

Yeah I really didn't have a problem with it. Whenever things got overdramatic in MGS2 it was for a very specific reason and not the fault of bad dialogue or acting. People tend to look at everything from one specific, narrow point of view. That's why people called MGS2's plot inane and crappy, when it's actually probably the most brilliantly-done story in gaming history.

The only problem with MGS2's plot that I can think of is that it's somewhat derivitive from 2001: A Space Odysey. Though, I think he acknowledges that subtly and obviously in the game. So that's ok.

Could you elaborate on that?

Metroid Prime takes the storyline and, in a way makes it an OPTIONAL part of the game. I don't like that. Just tell me what the hell is going on.

Exactly. It's neat to get all of the bits of info in the game, but much like NES games that basically put all of the story into the instruction manual, you cannot say that the games told a good narrative.

MGS2 had a good story but...it just got so damn ZANY. I know I shouldn't expect realism from the MGS series but come on, it really kind of pushed it.

You should really check out this thread: http://tcforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2260
There's a terrific article linked in there that basically articulated and eloquently explained what I've always thought about MGS2's storyline. I was always defending the craziness to my friend who hated all of the over-the-top and over-dramatized parts of the game until I showed him that article which basically argued my points better than I was ever able to, and once he realized what the game was trying to do he went "Ohhhhhhh, so that's what the deal was!".

Okay, but come on, you can't tell me that you didn't shudder just a bit when he made his stunning pronouncement?

A bit, yeah. But they weren't related, so it wasn't that disgusting. Cousins liking each other is far more disturbing (and comedic, in the case of Arrested Development) to me.