Introduction

Start the full playlist here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma

This page is meant to teach the any% category of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake's PS2/HDC versions.
PS2 Pal runs faster than any other version, but the strategies all work the same.
This page is still work in progress, feel free to ask questions on the MGSR Discord.

Video Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GylJn5DyFU&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=2

click for full resolution image

Timing is everything on the first map

• Turn left and immediately up after the codec is over to make your way to the top right corner of the fence
• On your way, inside the truck to the right there's your first Ration B1
• It is recommend to grab it in the beginning, but can be skipped
• timing might be tight with the fence guard for new runners
• We'll explain how to acquire another B1 ration at the end of the route
• Once the top right corner has been reached, go under the fence and walk left as soon as possible
• punch the guard before he sees you
• Continue on to the left side of the map
• Distract the incoming guard with a wall punch
• head further inside the fences back to the center
• From there follow the path north and turn right at the trucks
• The most right truck contains the pistol
• Grab it and get out, crawl under the center truck to not get spotted
• Enter the vent and continue onwards inside Zansibar's first main building.

Key aspects:

• Try not to get an alert - the Black Ninja manipulation requires 0 alerts and 2 “What was that noise”
• be fast in the beginning
• Meeting the guard cycles is daunting at first
  but once getting used to it
  every guard should be automatically out of your way
  or easy to avoid with a punch
• grab pistol
• get inside the vent

Video tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYsm1NKbRE&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=3

click for full resolution image

• Key is to get inside the elevator without getting an alert
• Stand up and walk the path to the right until you get to the main ground
• Go left and up, walking to the center
• reach the next higher ground that leads to the elevator
• Make sure to punch all guards on your way
• Do not enter the screen with the elevator access too early or you will run into the incoming guard
• Check the radar to make sure the guard is at his most top cycle and turning right
• that way you can not touch the guard accidentally and avoid getting an alert
• Take the elevator up to 2F.

Key points:

• punch all guards on your way to avoid being seen
• avoid the alert from the elevator guard by checking the radar
• crawl into elevators to not waste time (crawling allows for quicker control over snake)

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYsm1NKbRE&t=62s

click for full resolution image

• punch the elevator and head east
• Follow the path and just head into the right housing to get the level 1 door card
• Exit back to the elevator
• You will automatically be heard by the guard getting your 2nd “What was that noise” for the Black Ninja manipulation
• Enter the elevator by crawling into it and take it up to 3F.

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYsm1NKbRE&t=82s

Click for full resolution map

• On PS2 from a fresh load from the Subsistence menu, you can manipulate Black Ninja
• You must get to Black Ninja without any alerts and two “What's that noise?”
• Black Ninja takes 6 bullets to kill

You can't manipulate Black Ninja on PS3.

It is faster to not wait for the camera and take the alert (since you're not frozen) - just punch the one following guard on the final gas chamber screen and run to the elevator.

Video Example and timing:

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SudoC2qzUY&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=5

Head out of the Black Ninja room.
But be careful not to run into the camera on your way out.
Check the radar first to see that the camera is moving away
from the door to be absolutely sure.
Then follow the path back to where
the elevator is and take it back down to 1F again.

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SudoC2qzUY&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=5

click for full resolution image

• Get out of the elevator and make sure to stick to the lower wall when leaving the elevator access screen
• the goal is to not run into the incoming guard
• Turn south and punch the wall to distract the guard that is about to leave the screen
• It'll keep the guard on that screen so you can punch the guard later to avoid an alert
• Move on and wait at the steps for the next incoming guard
• Punch and follow to the east corner again
• This time punch the guard that we just distracted
• follow the path north to get to the north west door
• That door leads to the jungle entrance and the green beret guard we need to follow
• Be aware that the guard right at the exit door can be standing in your way!
• enter the screen carefully, punch the guard and then continue.

Video Tutorial:

https://youtu.be/kF1wGcyxHqU?t=110

Key Points:

• follow the green beret close but don't run into him
• do not take too long to follow to the next screen
  or the guard will despawn and you have to restart tracking him down
• call codec 140.82 after you found the hut to call Dr. Madnar

After you called Dr. Madnar - go straight to the swampland and drown.
The game's checkpoint system has made a checkpoint the moment you called Dr. Madnar.
On NTSC/HDC it can save up to 10s (a bit less on PAL) in IGT.
You will spawn back at the door of the building - but have correctly
called Dr. Madnar already. After this, you can continue as normal.

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RGpHbPgopc&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=5

Follow the video to get to the desert map.

Click for full resolution image

Video Tutorial:

https://youtu.be/0RGpHbPgopc?t=37

• Enter the screen and start crawling right to get your first mine.
• Menu to the mines and grab at least 3 more mines.
• It is recommended to grab a 5th since we need 1 extra mine to finish the game at the end.
• It will make your menus also cleaner to navigate having 1 extra mine after the Running Man fight.
• But for Running Man only 4 mines are necessary.

Follow the video to get through the Swamp

Video tutorial from the playlist: https://youtu.be/0RGpHbPgopc?t=98

Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/0RGpHbPgopc?t=303

• Running Man takes 4 mines to kill on easy

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNvnG63ESXs&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=6

Just like above, but in reverse.

After that, follow the map for the fastest way to return back to the Zanzibar Building.

Click for full resolution image

Key Points:

• walk in close lines to the door
• turn right
• go under the cover
• on going down, shoot once
• it'll distract the guards
• run to the stinger, grab them return
• on your way up

EITHER:

• Follow the blue line up
• if the left guard didn't turn right, shoot the guard on your way up
• run into the camera and get a “no-freeze” alert
• leave to the top and follow the line back into the lost woods
• (the following guard won't see you with this alert)

OR:

• follow the red line back to top again
• punch the guard to bypass on going right for a non-lethal approach
• get back outside and leave the screen directly

click for full resolution image

Follow the top line to get back to the singing sands faster

click for full resolution image

Either follow the red line to avoid damage and pick up the mines
(knowing it will lose you time, or run straight through all mines.
Your health should ideally be good enough that you can tank damage
and finish Hind-D without further damage.

• follow the blue line for a direct path
• follow the red line to avoid early mine damage
• at the first barrel section, either pick up the mines or walk over them
• the damage you take on easy difficulty is negligible
• walk up and bypass the first guard screen
• on the 2nd screen with guards either storm up and take the alert
• or enter from the left and punch the first guard to avoid an alert
• keep following up and stay to the right side of the screen
• the goal is to enter the Hind-D screen as right as possible

*Hind D takes 4 missiles to destroy

Video Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNvnG63ESXs&t=290s

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7vrHi-rWvQ&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=7

click for full resolution image

• go up until you meet the barrels
• stick close to the barrels and enter the right screen
• instantly shoot on entering the screen
• enter the left truck to acquire the cardboard box
• exit the truck and head right to the conveyor belt
• shoot the most right guard
• take the call from the colonel, after the call the belt starts running
• equip the cardboard box and step on the conveyor belt

• go up until you meet the barrels
• stick close to the barrels and enter the right screen
• wait for the closest left guard to look right
• punch that guard
• then punch the truck to get the other guards attention
• punch the lower guard
• enter the left truck to acquire the cardboard box
• exit the truck and head right to the conveyor belt
• take the call from the colonel, after the call the belt starts running
• equip the cardboard box and step on the conveyor belt

Alternative Non-Lethal, No Alert method:
https://clips.twitch.tv/BitterAbrasiveHerdCharlieBitMe-1aJGzl9yGMEXtQju

click image for full resolution map

• once inside the building, unequip the cardboard box and go to the level 3 door card
• follow the guard north and ideally punch the guard on the next screen
• crouch into the vent shaft and get the Ration B2
• take the codec call from Holly
• then leave towards the elevator down the spiral
• punch 3 guards on your way marked on the map
• then take the elevator down to the B2 level

click the image for full resolution map

• step out the elevator and follow the path down left
• enter the left door to grab one pack of plastic explosives
• continue out and turn left
• turn up and enter the top right room
• equip the level 1 card and the plastic explosives
• once in the room, turn up slightly and then right
• explode the wall
• enter and chat with holly - she will give you the level 4 door card
• exit back out again to the sewers
• follow the path to the bottom left ladder
• menu to the level 4 card and the pistol
• take a swim to the bottom elevator
• stay in the dark water as long as possible to be as fast as possible
• once turning right, hold right or stay immediately on holding up
• as you hold up, even when diving, you will automatically enter the small gap
• follow the path to reach the elevator
• and take the elevator up to B1

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7vrHi-rWvQ&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=7

click image for full resolution

Method 1:

• go left to punch the elevator button
• go into the armory, ideally with the level 2 door card pre-equipped from the elevator ride
• once inside, go right, switch to level 4 door card
• Alert Strat
  just run by the guard and get an alert
  enter the grenade room
  make sure to leave by not touching the guard
  leave
• No-Alert Strat
  wait for the guard in the pre-grenade room to go high enough
  punch the guard and shoot him
  grab the two grenade packs
  leave
• switch to level 2 door card
• on entering the elevator, make sure to crawl into it
• suggestion: hold left, crouch, then hold up - you may crawl a bit longer but you are guaranteed to crawl into the elevator
• go down again to B2

Method 2:

• if not yet done, equip the level 2 door card
• first enter the bottom door after the elevator
• turn right
• on the right screen, immediately punch to distract the guard
• equip the level 4 door card and enter the top right room
• get two packs of grenades
• on leaving, the guard should be looking up
• while you make your way back, the timing of the bottom guard will have him look right
• when he looks right you can walk past the guard
• equip the level 2 door card and get out of the armory
• access the elevator
• during the elevator ride, menu to the level 4 door card
• equip the grenades

and finally:

• swim back up to the Tower Building elevator and take it up to 1F again

Swim back around counter clockwise to meet the Tower Building elevator. Take the elevator up to 1F.

Exit the elevator and turn left, follow the path to the next elevator. Take the elevator up to the 30th floor (just punch once).
Then the Red Blaster fight will begin on exiting the elevator.

• Red Blaster takes 12 grenades to kill

Video tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7vrHi-rWvQ&t=641s

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7vrHi-rWvQ&t=680s

general map

• after leaving the red blaster fight room
• equip the Ration B2
• equip the plastic explosive
• after having found the pigeon call codec 140.51
• then call Dr. Madnar from your saved codec list
• leave the pigeon room
• take a continue
• hold down on respawn (your position is set to the tower door)
• menu back to the level 4 door card and menu to the mines
• L2 - Left - Up 2x - R2 - Down - R2

Addendum: Continue faster by using explosives rather than walking into the pit:

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jg1Jgw8pSA&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=8

• go back out the elevator and trace your steps back to the center elevator to take it down to the B2 level

take another swim to the Zansibar building and take the elevators up to the 4F floor

Click the image for the full resolution map

• leave the elevator and turn immediately left
• enter the door
• press down on load and punch, the goal is to get the guard as early as possible to continue quickly
• if done correctly, you should not be caught by the laser trap
• continue up and equip the level 1 door card
• wait for the camera at the top end to move up
• walk left and wait behind the box
• check the radar to see where the incoming guard from the left screen is positioned
• once the guard is close enough you can continue walking (check video tutorial for example)
• follow the path around and to the bottom
• enter the door
• in the next room, switch to the level 4 door card
• enter the dark room
• on entering the dark room turn right and go into the vent shaft
• during the crawl equip the level 3 card
• stand up and walk left until you're about at the center of your life bar
• enter the door and follow along
• equip the level 4 card after entering the 2nd mannequin room
• check the radar, that the mensa hall has no guard seeing you on entering
• follow the top part along the wall and turn south at the end
• wait at the toilets for Gustava to enter the ladies bathroom
• once the door is open you can enter and start the dialog with her

If you want to practice 4F Mannequin Room,
you can enter and exit the rooms to get different RNG seeds

Ideal Spot to go up in Mannequin Room

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGjfz0XFyjs&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=9

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQiUYatSfdw&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=9

follow the left path south and exit the bottom door with the level 4 door card

Follow the path south. Optimize your menu by getting rid of the Ration B2 since we don't need it anymore.

Assuming you picked up the Ration B1 in the beginning

From the level 4 door card go up 2 to get to the Ration B2
Follow the path south and walk over mines until the ration gets automatically used.
Open your menu again and go left one slot to equip the level 2 door card.

If you didn't pick up the Ration B1 in the beginning

From the level 4 door card go up/down 3 to get to the Ration B2
Follow the path south and walk over mines until the ration gets automatically used.
Open your menu again and go left one slot + down one slot to equip the level 2 door card.

click image for full resolution map

take the top path of this map to return back to the Zansibar building

Latest side by side comparisons for strategies:

In this example when normalized all menus and movement where applicable, the fastest method is:

• walk without alerts until you get one alert from the glider door guard

the 2nd fastest method is:

• you can just take all alerts from the green berret guard
• the realert when walking south
• the alert from the glider door guard
• you'll just need to punch one guard on your way to the elevator.

click for full resolution image

• on entering the main map again walk right
• at the top right screen distract the guard with a wall punch
• continue south and use the level 6 card to get access to the hang glider
• after the hang glider, access the central elevator again to go to 4F
• equip the level 4 card after having left the hang glider hall

Click here to get to the above strat for 4F.

• on entering mensa hall, access the freezer with the level 1 door card
• on entering turn around and open the door again
• menu to the level 5 card
• grab the yellow ration, Ration B3
• wait ~5s and check your menu, the brooch should have changed to the key now
• leave the freezer and turn south
• follow the path again to the women's bathroom and take the elevator down

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGjfz0XFyjs&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=9

follow the same path up again to reach the top of the island at the crevice.

enter the spiral and punch the left guard.
then follow the path to the elevator that would take you to level 20.

• Each Horseman takes 3 explosions to kill (mines or grenades)

Video tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGjfz0XFyjs&t=571s

New Method:
do circles to bait each of the horseman earlier into the mines rather than waiting for one side to be done first.

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zXZT_ufv6U&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=10

new route to save 1s:

utilize the fact that cameras turn blind for a moment on room transition, then walk over to the right room to save the “what's that noise” prompt for a 1s timesave.

click for full resolution image

• follow along and distract the first guard with the spider wire
• before hitting the 2nd spider wire, punch the wall to the bottom to distract the second guard
• leave the screen at the most right
• walk up to the railing and punch the third guard to your left
• then equip the cigarettes before transitioning the screen
• and walk up to the ledge
• when Snake begins his smoking animation, equip the glider and walk off the edge

• Jungle Evil takes 6 grenades to kill

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLg63m0jVi0&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=11

Testing shows that spending more time on the Prison map results in a better guard position at the laser fence.
Since the egg timer continuosly counts up we won't delay the egg hatching.

Make your way up to the top right corner to get your third Ration B1.
While there, punch the wall to the left to get the guards attention.
That way, this guard won't be at the elevator door. Without this distraction,
you'd need to wait for the guard to come closer and punch him to avoid a costly alert.

• Night Fright takes 6 grenades to kill
• After the fight, open the elevator first to save yourself the wait time

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vGxNDx0PiI&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=12

• Dr. Madnar takes 4 explosions to kill (mines, grenades or C4)

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vGxNDx0PiI&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=12&t=220s

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBn-SS3uPE&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=13

• Metal Gear D takes 11 grenades to kill.

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBn-SS3uPE&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=13

• Gray Fox dies with 3 hits from mines

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEoPnAZ_cr8&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=14

• Big Boss takes 8 hits from the selfmade flame thrower

• Room Route Map by SolidSpiderZnake

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEoPnAZ_cr8&list=PLp02-dI93qVSciifmhO0gMUSXRXU__Sma&index=14

Key Notes:

• the IGT continues even after the “No Ammo” dialog until the screen fades to black
• try to end up with Snake's final position where he'd go to after the “No Ammo” dialog as to minimize walking

Side by Side comparison if walking up to the final position saves time (It saves around half a second)

Latest Tutorial Session

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