like the ability to walk on water and survive gun shots to the head and possess people through surgical arm implants?

Maybe he isn't human, but a robot.

And maybe Liquid and Ocelot are MAGIC.

I'm noticed that Americans (not all, but a lot) are usually surprisingly intolerant to differing styles of art and presentation, and usually dismiss those that they aren't used to as "crazy" or "ridiculous".

you forgot religion lol

In the end though, I'm sure most of this can be contributed to the perception that Japanese are wild and crazy kids to most Americans.

awesome

What's so weird about Vamp? He was/is a Vampire.
The End could do photosynthesis, The Sorrow could speak with the dead, Psycho Mantis could do telepathy and telekinesis, Fortune had Lady Luck , there was that ventriloquist murderer in MGAC!D, etc etc.
Metal Gear isn't 'weird', it just isn't realistic. There's a fantasy edge to this series that keeps it perfectly balanced between serious and silly. That's why I love it.

What's so weird about Vamp? He was/is a Vampire.
The End could do photosynthesis, The Sorrow could speak with the dead, Psycho Mantis could do telepathy and telekinesis, Fortune had Lady Luck

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(though this is questionable since she really just had that machine to reflect bullets and crap... even though it still worked after the machine was shut down.)

, there was that ventriloquist murderer in MGAC!D, etc etc.
Metal Gear isn't 'weird', it just isn't realistic. There's a fantasy edge to this series that keeps it perfectly balanced between serious and silly. That's why I love it.

People think Vamp is weird because he's a homosexual... apparently.

That was one part I always liked about Metal Gear, the enemies are ridiculous but there's always this little bit of TRUTHINESS like this one guy is a psychic and I guess those people exists and this other guy is being controlled by another person's arm and that's the idea of a some Japanese horror movie that got remade with Jessica Alba in it and she's hot so I guess it's possible

And Vamp is bisexual he's like David Bowie and every chick in a porno movie

Vamp is bisexual he's like David Bowie and every chick in a porno movie

That was the second reason for his name, I believe.

His moniker has dual meanings, being a short form of the English word vampire as well as refering to his bisexual orientation.

I voted MGS 1, becuase I just thought it was better than 2 and haven't played 3....

I never really picked up that MGS2 is a satire before. But now you explain, it makes a lot of sense. A load of crazy shit happened, which I didn't question initially. It kind of makes the game cooler. They spent shit loads on a 'serious' game that was the follow up to one of the biggest games ever and it they add in all these little quirky things and no one really notices....

like the ability to walk on water and survive gun shots to the head and possess people through surgical arm implants?

The series takes place in another reality where things like photosynthesis can keep an old man alive. Vamp, as I said, was a vampire. Originally, he was supposed to be this martial arts guy. Maybe they wanted his running across water to be like ninjetsu? lol

As for possess people through surgical arm implants.
Liquid is by that time a ghost, and would have the unfinished business of Outer Heaven. Ocelot on the other hand was the offspring of The Joy and The Sorrow, right? Ocelot has the special power from his father (was a spirit medium) to play host to a ghost. Binding Liquid Snake's arm to his body would bring with it the undeparted ghost of a man fixated on living on achieving his father's goal.

There's a lot of crazy shit in MGS, but it's usually just presented as crazy. There's a sort-of logic behind everything.
MGS2 was loopy and off kilter, but as other's have stated, it was part of the simulation.

Lastly, someone said something about Raiden being totally gay. That's just a too-bad mistake. Kojima was actually trying to make him a seriously cool character.

I always interpreted MGS2 as partly being a commentary on the relation between video games and reality, but not necessarily as a "satire" about it. One of postmodernism's main tenets is that a work can simultaneously be 'serious' and tongue-in-cheek, and Kojima seems to follow that principle rather consistently throughout his movies games.

Honestly, with all the controversy that MGS2 is getting, I am surprised it is winning over MGS3, which had more gameplay and a plot that would  be more likely to appeal to the masses (not that that's a bad thing).

why is no one talking about the infamous dick grab in mgs2 (by the president no less)

this pretty much seals the deal

MGS2 is definitely my favourite. I had a lot of fun with it.

I have gone my entire life without playing a single Metal Gear title.

I normally wouldn't post in a topic like this in that situation, but it feels like such a feat is worth some kind of merit.

Your loss, really. It's a pretty fantastic series.

I didn't really dig Metal Gear 1/2 (although I played them emulated) but I find it hard to get into that era of games in general so it's probably my fault.

Metal Gear Solid was incredible the first time I played it - I played it through with my dad (family bonding aWwW) and he said it was the best game he'd ever played (although the only game he'd enjoyed before that was Gran Turismo, really). Metal Gear Solid 2 was great as well, messed up story but still pretty awesome throughout. Metal Gear Solid 3 sorta refined everything and for me was the best overall experience - I don't play MGS like you should (i.e, stealth) so I really enjoyed the combat options and general setting of the game.

I don't play MGS like you should (i.e, stealth) so I really enjoyed the combat options and general setting of the game.

I believe that stealth is actually intended to be the "proper" way to play the game.  MGS is almost a sandbox gameplay style and not narrowly a stealth action game.  The cool thing about MGS is that there is not a "proper" way to play the game; like many games, there is a huge array of options, but unlike other games of that type, most of your different options are just as valid or at least just as fun.  In Splinter Cell for example you pretty much *have* to kill the enemy guard and your options boil down to which weapon you feel like using.  Since he is blocking your linear path, there is nothing you can do except for kill him.  In MGS your strategies tend to be more elaborate, and just as equally as sneaking or choking or shooting are valid, you can also distract the enemy with a pornography magazine or throw a beehive at him or cut the ropes holding a bridge up.

why is no one talking about the infamous dick grab in mgs2 (by the president no less)

this pretty much seals the deal

Don't forget his name was President JOHNSON lol