The games that shaped a generation: PS2

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Sony's big boy on the block won out in sheer volume of titles, but the best still shone through

3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Kojima Productions | Konami | 2006

In many ways the definitive Metal Gear, this re-release of MGS3: Snake Eater packed in the original 8-bit Metal Gears and a fully developed online game

What made it so great?
Sending players back in time to the '60s to play as Naked Snake (aka Big Boss), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is an incredible game, and Subsistence manages to make it better. There are a ton of fan service additions, not the least of which are newly translated versions of the original '80s Metal Gear games. But the biggest draw here is easily the addition of Metal Gear Online, which takes the franchise's venerable stealth-action formula and uses it to create team-based multiplayer deathmatches. Think of it as CounterStrike with gadgets, traps and a weird sense of humor.

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At the heart of Subsistence is Snake Eater, a near-perfect stealth-action epic that answers a lot of lingering questions about the series' conspiracy-laden plot while introducing fans to lush Russian jungles (yes, Russian jungles), dynamic camouflage and edible wildlife. The action is fine-tuned (and a lot more hands-on, thanks to the addition of close-quarters combat), the story is brilliant and the boss battles are some of the most memorable in videogame history. Seriously, look up "The End" sometime to see what we mean.

Get ready to play
Snake Eater plays a lot like previous MGS installments, except that now, you've got a lot more to worry about. Staying hidden in the wilderness comes down to carefully managing your camouflage on the fly to blend in with your surroundings; do it well enough, and people won't notice you when you're standing right in front of them. You'll also need to keep an eye on hero Snake's stamina, which can be kept up by hunting and eating the creepy fauna that roam the jungle.

Camouflage and stamina don't apply in Metal Gear Online, though. Instead, you'll need to stay hidden the old-fashioned way - under tables, behind walls, etc. - and get the drop on your opponents as quickly as possible. Good luck.

Been there, done that?
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty pissed a lot of fans off with its confusing plot and the now-infamous Raiden bait-and-switch, but neither of those things prevented it from being a damn good game. If you're any kind of Metal Gear fan and you've never played it, then you really, really should.